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Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: WoolX Peyton - Women's Merino Wool Turtleneck - Ultimate in Warmth & Style - Amazingly Soft; Brand: WoolX; Review: Its soft and while its slightly bigger than me I ordered it this way for comfort. Taking it to Norway and I know it will be my favorite piece of clothing,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Columbia Women's Minx Mid II Omni-Heat Winter Boot; Brand: ; Review: As suggested by other purchasers I ordered a size and half larger than normal since I will be wearing them with heavy socks in Norway. I have tried them on and tested with the heavy socks. So far, so good. I believe these will work out but haven't put them through the actual conditions yet so only giving 4 stars. Will let you know how they work out.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Janus Wool Tights Women's Made in Norway; Brand: Janus; Review: I like the quality but they do not fit as well as I had hoped.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: HEAT HOLDERS - Women's Thermal Fleece Cable Knit Winter Hat 3.4 Tog - One Size; Brand: HEAT HOLDERS; Review: This hat is so warm that if the weather isn't cold, your head will be hot. Never had a winter hat this useful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zando Mens/Womens 5 Pairs Vintage Style Knitting Wool Warm Winter Crew Socks; Brand: Zando; Review: Cute, warm, soft wool socks. Well-made.and reasonably priced.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Minnetonka Double Fringe Bootie (Infant/Toddler); Brand: Minnetonka; Review: My daughter is 8 months old and typically wears a size 3 in most shoes. I based the size that I ordered off the sizing chart instead of reading the reviews first. I ordered the size 4 which was at least 2 sizes too big!! Read the reviews first and order a size or 2 down if you want immediate use out of them. I plan on ordering a size 2 because they are adorable!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Minnetonka Double Fringe Bootie (Infant); Brand: Minnetonka; Review: I wanted to love them, I really did, but I could not get them on my daughter's feet. I originally bought a size bigger but ended up sending them back because they were too small. Now, the smaller size won't even go on. Read the reviews before you purchase these. The zipper will not stay up. Safe to say that I was really disappointed!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Big Boys' Gorilla Costume - S; Brand: Seasons; Review: Great quality, even better price!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Northside Women's Kathmandu Waterproof Snow Boot; Brand: ; Review: Perfect for these snowy winters!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stacy Adams Danton Bicycle Toe Slip-on Uniform Dress Shoe (Little Kid/Big Kid); Brand: STACY ADAMS; Review: These were too big for my son, and it's the normal size that he wears in all other shoes.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: FAIRY COUPLE Short Chiffon Sweetheart Party Cocktail Dress D0261; Brand: Fashion Plaza; Review: The color of the dress is more purple than navy. Had to return...; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Riu Tequila; City: Playa del Carmen Yucatan Peninsula; Review: have had a great holiday can definitely recommend this hotel real quality friendly staff and nobody waiting around for tips such a break from normal The staff best we have come across for friendly disposition nothing took the smile off their faces would go back to this hotel without a second thought. Thompson reps must be the most miserable I have come across but we didnt need them at all. The entertainment team are fantastic and work very hard to keep you happy but take no for an answer if your not in the mood to join in. all in all nothing to complain about.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Magic Tulip Beach Hotel; City: Oludeniz Mugla Province Turkish Aegean Coast; Review: Just been to magic tulip very clean very friendly excellent location no complaints at all. If you looking for a central hotel cant pick better small and friendly.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: H10 Gran Tinerfe; City: Costa Adeje Adeje Tenerife Canary Islands; Review: Very nice hotel very friendly staff food good only slight niggle needs a little up dating but the staff make up for that little downfall. Very good location right on beach near some very good nightlife. We were lucky and got upgraded to Junior Suite but friends had normal room which was very nice too. Went on the privlage deal and made it a little bit more special would recomend hotel without fear; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Marietta Studios Rooms; City: Skala Cephalonia Ionian Islands; Review: The apartments did everything you require basic clean and larger than other greek apartments i have been in. Pool area really nice staff smiled during the day but did not encourage you to use their facilities. Safe hire was expensive at 7euro per day but that might be normal for skala this was our first visit so cant compare. The problem was the safes were in reception and that closed between 1 and 5 so you had to plan in advance for your money and carry perhaps more than you would have done. The lady owner called stavruler (that is not the correct spelling) was friendly enough but her husband could turn milk sour by looking at it. Having being to many Greek Islands he was by far the most unfriendly greek i have met. The snack bar also closed at inconvenient times the only time we went for a hot food snack they were only open for cold sandwiches but they were always open for drinks. We stayed out most days because it was too hot around the pool and found the beach much cooler. We had a lovely stay in Skala and cant wait to go back again but we will use another hotel.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Salisbury Guesthouse; City: Keswick Lake District Cumbria England; Review: We stayed in the Salisbury b&b we were very pleased with the help we got from Peter and the standard of the accommodation. Breakfast was really good and peter even got up earlier for our very early start on our second day . We will be definitely returning on our next visit; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Sunbay Guest House; City: Weymouth Dorset England; Review: We were greeted by Linda on arrival, room was fab, we had four pister bed, really pretty room. Fab view over weymouth bay. Highly recommended. Best room we have ever stayed in. Linda very knowledgable of the area. Fab breakfast.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Butlin s Minehead Resort; City: Minehead Somerset England; Review: Could have been more Christmasy, lack of Christmas feel, been going for many Christmases, but this year felt different, ate in the Yacht Club food not up to previous standards, so dissapointed, scrambled egg tasted like powdered egg, toast cold, what have u done to the toasters??? Apartment not as good as previous years, could write Merry Christmas with the dust on tv stand, BIG dissapointment NO FUN FAIR would have be courteous to inform us before our stay. Staff behind serving area stood arms folded ignoring guests, plates freezing cold = meant hot food on cold plates, = cold food not happy.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Channel View Guest House; City: Weymouth Dorset England; Review: Martin and Alison very welcoming, beautiful clean room, stunning views accroos Weymouth bay, even down to a bottle if water in the room. We stayed on a Saturday night. The breakfast was amazing and plentiful. Will book again :-D; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Twitchen House Holiday Village; City: Woolacombe Devon England; Review: I booked a caravan at short notice to arrive 2 days later. Went with a beach resort Caravan, thinking it was basic accommodation, well we were surprised at it. Location was fabulous overlooking the sea, we also had a verandah which was fabulous as we had glorious sunshine all weekend. Only moan was mattress was.very uncomfortable, we rectified it by using single duvets as mattress topper. The site.was really clean and tidy. A lovely walk into Woolacombe. Would recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cloudlands; City: Torquay English Riviera Devon England; Review: What a gem, a fantastic lovely place to stay. Located just set back from the beach, very close to station. Nigel & Elvira are fantastic hosts. On arrival we were met by them both. We were shown to our room. What a surprise, it was elegant and luxurious. The whole house has been restored with tlc. Everywhere you look is stunning. Breakfast is amazing. Lots to choose from and all piping hot. Would highly recommend Cloudlands. Will definitely be going back here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Butlin s Minehead Resort; City: Minehead Somerset England; Review: We have been staying here at xmas for the last 10 years, the past couple of years there has been a gradual decline. I will start with positive, Christmas spirit excellent, entertainment fab, bungalow was fabulous, we ate in the yacht club. This is a great all rounder place to say but little cracks start to build into big holes. Negatives :no potatoe slices for breakfast :no scrambled egg :bacon overcooked and dried out, like cardboard. :no mushrooms :where's the toasters gone to get hot toast. Now it's on the servery cooling down. :had to queue for a table. All other years premium dining were allocated their own table, we're told it's now stopped first come first served, this I would expect from the food court, not premier with extortionate rates :we watched over our time there 1 young lady who had a sour face would rather stand with her arms folded whilst everyone worked really hard. No smiling face from her at all. :the door on the bungalow could do with a curtain as the wind billows through the gaps. Just 1 slice of Turkey per person for Christmas lunch, otherwise meal was lovely. Unfortunately for the price I won't be booking for next xmas, think I will give it a miss. Such a shame as lots of happy memories of Christmases past here. We left a day easy as not missing much with the food and breakfast just not worth it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ash Hotel; City: Exmouth Devon England; Review: A lovely hotel. Greeted by gentleman who was very helpful. Room was en suite overlooking the sea, and nature reserve at Dawlish Warren. Room was clean with fab view. Breakfast was continental rather then full English which was a little dissapointing, but was made up by the selection of options. Hotel was in a quiet location. Would recommend this hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Marina Court; City: Weymouth Dorset England; Review: What a fabulous hotel. From the moment we walked through the door Jane & Mike made us very welcome. Our room was spotlessly cleaned to a very high standard. They have rooms to cater for everyones individual needs. Breakfast was amazing Jane was always there with a smile on her face. Lovely open bar to have drinks just leave a note for them to add to your bill. Directly opposite the beach. A gentle stroll from the town center, clise to all amenities. Would recommend already booked to go back. Thank you to you both for making our stay so wonderful. Xx; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Marina Court; City: Weymouth Dorset England; Review: A lovely hotel. Jane & Mike can't do enough for you. So helpful and go out of the way to help you. Breakfast is amazing. Rooms are beautifully decorated. Would highly recommend can't wait to go back x; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Casio Men's MCW-100H-9AVCF Heavy Duty-Design Chronograph Black Watch; Brand: Casio; Review: Good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Soda Women's Creason-S Boot; Brand: SODA; Review: Good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Timex Women's TW2P60400 Cavatina Black Croco Pattern Leather Strap Watch; Brand: Timex; Review: Good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Soda Women's Grimm-H Boot; Brand: SODA; Review: Excellent; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Timex Men's T40051 Expedition Metal Field Brown Leather Strap Watch; Brand: Timex; Review: Good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Timex Expedition Rugged Metal Watch; Brand: Timex; Review: good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Timex Expedition Rugged Chronograph Watch; Brand: Timex; Review: Good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Casio Men's MCW100H Heavy Duty Design Watch; Brand: Casio; Review: Excellent; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ivanka Trump Women's Tarissa Boot; Brand: ; Review: Excellent; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Incase City Collection Compact Backpack, Heather Black/Gunmetal Gray, One Size; Brand: Incase; Review: Excellent; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: 31 Days of Forgiveness: {through the eyes of grace}; Author: Visit Amazon's Tracie Stier-Johnson Page; Review: Starting my day with 31 Days of Forgiveness helps me stay focused on living the life I want: one full of faith, love for others, and respect for myself. I didn't realize I was holding on to 'unforgiveness', but as I worked my way through this book, one day at a time, it became clear that I needed to let go of those grudges I wasn't even aware I was holding. I now view my relationships with others in a new light, and I pray that they too will come to find the comfort I have discovered through truly forgiving.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Girl on the Train; Author: Visit Amazon's Paula Hawkins Page; Review: This book was good, but I didn't think it was quite as great as everyone was making it out to be.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Art Nouveau Animal Designs Coloring Book (Dover Coloring Books); Author: Visit Amazon's Marty Noble Page; Review: This is a great adult coloring book. My girls have even gotten in on the fun and they love this one because of the animals.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In Between (A Katie Parker Production) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Jenny B. Jones Page; Review: Read all these books :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: On the Loose (A Katie Parker Production) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Jenny B. Jones Page; Review: The Katie Parker Production books are great. I suggest reading them all.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Big Picture (A Katie Parker Production) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Jenny B. Jones Page; Review: I enjoyed all these books.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Can't Let You Go (A Katie Parker Production) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Jenny B. Jones Page; Review: Love all these books.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards; Author: Visit Amazon's Jen Hatmaker Page; Review: I love Jen Hatmaker and I love this book. She is so darn funny and smart and well, funny. Read this book you won't regret it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: See Me [Paperback] [Jan 01, 2015] SPARKS NICHOLAS; Author: SPARKS NICHOLAS; Review: I love me some Nicholas Sparks, but this book was different and I was slightly dissapointed. Friends make fun of me for being such a big fan because they say you already know what's going to happen in every book; two people fall in love and then someone dies and you cry. This story is more of a mystery than a love story, although the love story is still there. It was a good book, just not what I was expecting.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: ESV Single Column Journaling Bible (Brown, Flap with Strap); Author: ESV Bibles by Crossway; Review: I love this journaling bible!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption; Author: Visit Amazon's Katie Davis Majors Page; Review: Katie is such an inspiration. I love reading her story, and now checking out her blog for updates. The world could use a lot more Katie's.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Forgotten Girls (Louise Rick series); Author: Visit Amazon's Sara Blaedel Page; Review: I first want to say that when I searched for this book I came across the one by the same title written by Alexa Steele. I read it first before realizing I was not reading the same book that everyone else seemed to be talking about. If you enjoy mysteries go read the other book, as I enjoyed it more than this one. I have not read any other books by this author and this will be my last. The story was so difficult to follow with a lot of unnecessary details and story lines that just made the book drag on. The story jumped around so much that I had a difficult time understanding what was going on several times.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Balance (Angie's Extreme Stress Menders); Author: Visit Amazon's Angie Grace Page; Review: This is my favorite adult coloring book. I love the repetition and how I can make different parts stand out or blend in based on the colors I chose to use.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Stoner Car Care 94213 Xenit Citrus Cleaner and Remover - 10-Ounce; Brand: Stoner Car Care; Review: This is a great product that really works well. Been using it for a very long time now.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Permatex 81150 Dielectric Tune-Up Grease, 0.33 oz. Tube; Brand: Spray Nine Corporation/Knight; Review: Good Price for a great product!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SOLAR BA7 100-1200 CCA Electronic Battery and System Tester; Brand: Clore Automotive; Review: Too much navigation for a simple command. I'm sure it's a good product though. Returned.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Design Engineering 050501 Floor & Tunnel Shield II - Heat and Sound Insulation, 21" x 24" (3.5 sq. ft.); Brand: Design Engineering; Review: Good Product, looks professional. Will buy again when needed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Classic Accessories QuadGear UTV Hand Holds (Black) (2 in a pack); Brand: Classic Accessories; Review: Very good and well working product; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Adam's Detail Spray 16oz - Enhance Gloss, Depth, & Shine - Extends Protection With Wax Boosting Technology; Brand: Adam's Polishes; Review: Great product, would be happier with a larger version.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 3 Pair Motorcycle Riding Glasses Smoke Clear Yellow; Brand: Private Label; Review: Product is priced well although it is a little "obtrusive" due to the small size lenses. I do not use it full time - just when necessary.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Upgr8 Universal 4-Ply High Performance 90 Degree Elbow Reducer Coupler Silicone Hose (2.25"(57MM) to 2.5"(63MM), Blue); Brand: UPGR8; Review: Product exceeded my expectations. Extremely durable and fits well! Fast shipping! Thanks!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dynamat 10455 18" x 32" x 0.067" Thick Self-Adhesive Sound Deadener with Xtreme Bulk Pack, (Set of 9); Brand: Dynamat; Review: Dynamat is a very useful product and works as expected. I've bought so many of these sheets over the years and expect to buy many more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Truck-Lite 15200R Marker/Clearance Lamp; Brand: Truck-Lite; Review: Perfect fit and I was able to keep my 3 light bar instead of replacing the entire unit. Great product!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ATEQ Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Sensor Relearn Training Magnet; Brand: ATEQS; Review: Works as described.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dupli-Color NGFM306 Cardinal Red Ford Exact-Match Touch-up Paint - 0.5 oz.; Brand: Dupli-Color; Review: Good product!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dupli-Color NGFM306 Cardinal Red Ford Exact-Match Touch-up Paint - 0.5 oz.; Brand: Dupli-Color; Review: Good product!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: GPS Head-Up Display Speedometer (quick and easy installation); Brand: SEI; Review: This is a simple HUD unit that that does not obstruct your windshield view with too much unneeded information. If you own a car with an analog speedometer this is a must to have. You don't have to look down too long trying to process your speed and loosing your focus on the road! It is extremely accurate and I'm very pleased with the performance of it. You can setup the unit for km or mph and it only needs to be programmed once, it stays that way even if the power is disconnected. I highly recommend it and will be purchasing another soon.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dorman 603-102 Coolant Reservoir Bottle; Brand: Dorman; Review: So far so good. Basically a plug n' play unit. Very easy to install and makes the under the hood look fresh by replacing that old yellow tank.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Flitz Blue BU 03515 Metal, Plastic and Fiberglass Polish Paste-5.29 oz; Brand: Flitz; Review: I've tried other products for years but this one seems to work best! Turns dull surfaces into a shiny luster and very easy to wipe off. Amazon has it priced competitively too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Astro 9502 Hose Removal Hook Set, 2 Piece; Brand: Astro Pneumatic Tool; Review: Very useful and works well. I use them often for multiple applications.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CTEK (56-926) LITHIUM US 12 Volt Fully Automatic Lithium Ion Phosphate Battery Charger; Brand: CTEK; Review: Worked perfectly to charge my McLaren MP4-12C.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: New Balance Women's WW847 Health Walking Shoe,Grey/Pink,7 B US; Brand: ; Review: As described redesign with wider toe box and narrower in the heel, this WW847 model is devine wear for my narrow foot and extremely serviceable. Much better over-all than the WW846 model. Thank you for the modifications. I am smiling and my feet are happy. Have already purchased second pair.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: New Balance Women's WW847 Health Walking Shoe; Brand: ; Review: As described redesign with wider toe box and narrower in the heel, this WW847 model is devine wear for my narrow foot and extremely serviceable. Much better over-all than the WW846 model. Thank you for the modifications. I am smiling and my feet are happy. Have already purchased second pair.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: New Balance Women's WW847 Health Walking Shoe; Brand: ; Review: As described redesign with wider toe box and narrower in the heel, this WW847 model is devine wear for my narrow foot and extremely serviceable. Much better over-all than the WW846 model. Thank you for the modifications. I am smiling and my feet are happy. Have already purchased second pair.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clarks Women's Sixty Sonoma Slip-On Loafer; Brand: ; Review: mostly comfortable but could use more support for my high arched foot---don't wear them for all day due to that factor; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: var aPageStart = (new Date()).getTime(); var ue_t0=ue_t0||+new Date(); window.ue_ihb = (window.ue_ihb || window.ueinit || 0) + 1; if (window.ue_ihb; Brand: ; Review: size 8.5 was short in toe-box but size 9 was too big in the heel and foot for my foot; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: CLARKS Women's Wave.Peak; Brand: ; Review: fits great for all day wear--glad to get this pair at good value price---would like it in other colors too; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Minerve Hotel; City: Paris Ile de France; Review: We have just returned from our trip to Paris, out of which we stayed one night at "2-star" Hotel Familia next door and two nights at its sister hotel, the "3-star" Hotel Minerve. The good parts: the staff is wonderfully friendly, quite helpful, and fluent in English. The location is central, and there is a wonderful bakery across the street. The murals in the rooms and around the hotel are indeed nice. The flower boxes on street-side are full of red geraniums, and the hotel exterior is pleasantly lit at night. On stars and sisters: the rooms at Familia and Minerve are pretty much identical, ironically there were more amenities in the Familia room we stayed in. The prices, luckily, are pretty much the same in either hotel. The lobby in Minerve is very nice and seems newly renovated. Warnings: 1.I don't understand why so many travelers rave about the cleanliness of either hotel. Both were rather grimy: the carpets in the rooms sorely need replacing. 2. At Hotel Minerve, my toddler got so ravaged by bedbugs, she insisted on spending the rest of the night in her stroller. 3. The rooms are teeny, shoe-box sized, although that might be normal for that part of town and price-range. 4. Lastly, don't believe the hotel staff when they say the street-side rooms are quiet: Rue de Ecole is a busy, noisy street, and the double-paned windows don't do enough to mask this. I won't stay at these hotels again, but if I had to, I would ask for a 6th floor room facing the courtyard.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Familia Hotel; City: Paris Ile de France; Review: We have just returned from our trip to Paris, out of which we stayed one night at "2-star" Hotel Familia next door and two nights at its sister hotel, the "3-star" Hotel Minerve. The good parts: the staff is wonderfully friendly, quite helpful, and fluent in English. The location is central, and there is a wonderful bakery across the street. The murals in the rooms and around the hotel are indeed nice. The flower boxes on street-side are full of red geraniums, and the hotel exteriors are pleasantly lit at night. On stars and sisters: the rooms at Familia and Minerve are pretty much identical, ironically there were more amenities in the Familia room we stayed in. The prices, luckily, are pretty much the same in either hotel. The lobby in Minerve is very nice and seems newly renovated. Warnings: 1.I don't understand why so many travelers rave about the cleanliness of either hotel. Both were rather grimy: the carpets in the rooms sorely need replacing. 2. The rooms are teeny, shoe-box sized, although that might be normal for that part of town and price-range. 3. Don't believe the hotel staff when they say the street-side rooms are quiet: Rue de Ecole is a busy, noisy street, and the double-paned windows don't do enough to mask this. I won't stay at these hotels again, but if I had to, I would ask for a 6th floor room facing the courtyard.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sheraton Grand Seattle; City: Seattle Washington; Review: Stayed here for a conference that was occurring in the building, so location was fabulous. Lots of great restaurants and shops in the vicinity, we happily wandered and discovered many great Seattle restaurants within 1-6 blocks of the hotel. Seems near transit too. Our room was lovely, a corner unit. But the bed was uncomfortable, and found the bedding a little tired. The lobby was nice.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel M s Plus Shijo Omiya; City: Kyoto Kyoto Prefecture Kinki; Review: Our family stayed here for 3 nights, and loved checking out a brand-new hotel with clever amenities such as laundry facilities and super-comfy pyjamas for every bed. We used a 3-bed room, which had a generous-sized bathroom, and were pleased with the cleanliness of everything and the modern-chic design choice. The dining room is a great place for large groups to gather when rooms prove too small, and we enjoyed the (quite good) morning croissant and coffee, but supplemented with yogurt etc from nearby convenience stores. This hotel is near the tram station that takes you to Arashiyama, and convenient to connect to other train systems like JR. It's also close to Gion and the Kyoto shopping district. Our only complaint was it was really hard to figure out how to get the rooms cleaned! There were cute magnetic instruction cards to place on the doors with your cleaning choice, but somehow the room beds didn't get made for the entire time of our trip. Hope they can make those clearer soon: we wanted our beds made and room cleaned, but wanted the eco-option of not getting new sheets and new towels every day.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Posada El Quijote; City: Escazu San Jose Metro Province of San Jose; Review: This is Beautiful hotel with a nice swimming pool.There are very friendly cats and dogs and a delicious breakfast with an amazing view.There are also very friendly owners and staff with nice rooms😃 and there is a trampoline in the back yard.We had a relaxing stay.😎🤩😜If you come to costs rica you should think about staying here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Arenal Observatory Lodge Spa; City: La Fortuna de San Carlos Arenal Volcano National Park Prov; Review: We enjoyed our visit very much, the beds were comfy and the pool was extremely fun and featured a gorgeous view of Arenal volcano, a super nice jacuzzi and refreshing pool. All day we could see hummingbirds whizzing around, coatis in the garden, colorful flowers and silly howler monkeys. We even spotted a rare cochinga bird from our deck (rm 25)! The tours were interesting and the food was tasty esp the generous breakfast buffet. We hope this review was helpful!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harrison Hot Springs Resort Spa; City: Harrison Hot Springs British Columbia; Review: The resort seems to have forgotten it’s in the ‘hospitality’ business, as we experienced little hospitality during our stay. Our family has been going to Harrison HS Resort since the children were babies. We have always had a good time, so much so that one child asked to spend their birthday at the resort. Booking was a hassle, as it now goes through a dispatch company that isn’t easy to interact with. When we arrived, we found check in service quite lacklustre (LinLin), and when only one of our rooms was ready, the cleaning lady in the other room that wasn’t ready yet was frankly hostile. A terrible and very unwelcoming start to a celebratory and expensive birthday getaway. We were made to feel like intruders, not guests. The silver lining is the catering staff still retain some of the resorts former quality - Afternoon tea remained a highlight, and our waitress at the breakfast buffet was excellent. It is too bad the resort has the monopoly on the hot springs. Current management seems to be coasting on reputation and location, with few upgrades, deterioration in staff quality, raising of prices, and general tiredness to the facilities. The staff also seems to be frustrated by a culture gap with some of their clientele. Perhaps cultural training for the staff would be helpful. Sadly, our will be very hesitant to return to HHSR or recommending it in the future because it simply isn’t worth the amounts being charged.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hanoi Marvellous Hotel Spa; City: Hanoi; Review: This hotel did not show up in our research, or else we would have booked here! Good location in old quarter next to the theater. Beautiful colonial architecture, well lit and well maintained. Check it out if you are planning a trip to Hanoi.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cox Bay Beach Resort; City: Tofino Clayoquot Sound Alberni Clayoquot Regional District Vancou; Review: Steps from the beach? Check. Enjoy the sounds of ocean waves from your room. Full kitchen? Check. Pet and kid friendly? Check. Surfer friendly? Check. Surf lockers and extra showers available, and a hot tub to warm up in after. Spic and span with friendly staff? Check! Especially impressive how they have kept the beach sand at bay! (Pun intended!) All this and more at this smartly-designed, stylish and modern resort! Our family has stayed at a number of places in town over the years- the Wick, Pacific Sands, Black Rock, Terrace Beach, Airbnb’s, but I think Cox Bay Beach Resort is like Goldilocks’ porridge: JUST RIGHT! If only they would get EV charging set up in their lot! The rooms don’t have a view per se, but beach is literally steps away. The shared amenities are so fun- don’t miss the Lookout for sunset on the beach, and the kids loved the DVD and sand toys collection. The dishwasher and fridge could have been quieter, but we are getting into small details in an overall fantastic experience. We look forward to returning!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: The Lamb Inn; City: Sandford Crediton Devon England; Review: This is now my favourite gastro pub ever !! I'm not sure exactly why I say this. The food is very talented and very tasty and just that bit unusual. The sunday roast is supremely good the weekday evening menu I think even better.The quirky atmosphere of genuine old pub and interesting looking people is augmented by easy happy and helpful staff. I don't want it to change. The drive is not that far for us but I do feel extremely tempted to try one of the bedrooms which come highly recommended by a good friend-and can you imagine what their breakfasts must be like ? If this all sounds too good to be true,read the other reviews-and don't feel you have to try it just leave it to those of us who want to keep going !; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Kings Arms; City: Christchurch Dorset England; Review: stop over visit-ideally situated in lovely town. Staff friendly and helpful. Room really very good- I would come back for this quality anytime. Having read somewhere this is a Gary Rhodes restaurant I had high expectations of the food. Maybe misinformed we found a Brasserie with short uninspiring wine list for white wine. The food itself was actually excellent.E:G cheese souflee so tasty then the pie of the day [fish] could could not be faulted. All round pleasant staff coped well with a busy evening-I would definitely come back here as my expectations of a gourmet restaurant were not the fault of the hotel who put on very good brasserie food and it was reasonably priced for this.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Lugger Hotel; City: Portloe Roseland Peninsula Truro District Cornwall England; Review: spontaneous decision to spend dinner bed & breakfast here-only one luxury room available so accepted it would not have a good view-Nice size and well appointed in annex to main hotel. location in tiny cornish bay is ideal for walking in all weathers and very picturesque. Sadly we had some issues with the food. We both chose the same throughout. In retrospect it would have been better to have had some differences to compare with each other. However we both agreed it was not up to our expectations. The starter of chicken and fois gras turine-was a very small thin slice with minimal garnish. The cold chicken was chewy and the fois gras so thin I had difficulty tasting it. The rabbit confit followed-sausage shaped and meat flavoured-I was expecting memories of rabbit flavour from my youth-why did it have to be cooked to extinction? We chose a cheese selection which looked amazing-to be fair it was very good-but we didn't get the selection we asked for. My wife was appalled both by the burnt effect melba toast it was served with and then the 2 slabs of "mother's pride" white bread complete with crusts as alternative. The starter bread was all strong flavoured and wouldn't have gone with cheese. The service was a bit slow. On a good note the wine was excellent and the breakfast superb. I think the hotel seriously needs to re-think it's dining style-If I had been a hungry walker the portions are too small-if a gourmet foodie wants superb nouvelle cuisine he might too be disappointed.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Old Quay House Hotel; City: Fowey Cornwall England; Review: We had a dinner B & B in september [see our restaurant report] . We wanted to try the accommodation after a good lunch in june. We opted for the penthouse and it was well worth it in our opinion. A suite with nice size ultra modern sitting room with big windows overlooking the estuary [the house binoculars a nice touch!]. Everything was so well appointed, everyone so friendly and the very short drive to free parking amazing & very easy. This adds up to high quality with a warm and cosy atmosphere. In good weather the terrace over the estuary unbeatable. The only niggle were church bells in the am [dont open rear windows in this room?- if you are a light sleeper].; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Duisdale House Hotel; City: Sleat Isle of Skye The Hebrides Scotland; Review: We had three nights here in late september it was a surprise for my wife's birthday and it certainly proved a great choice for our stay on Skye. The room with sea view was wonderful-more of a suite with space and a fabulous bathroom with both shower and freestanding bath-very modern!! The view was fantastic and changed with the moods of the weather. On the subject of weather, I had booked a day on the owners yacht which would have been the high spot of the whole holiday but it was right a the end of the season and sadly the weather was too rough. Nevermind the friendly staff and fabulous food helped make our stay memorable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ardanaiseig Hotel; City: Kilchrenan Argyll and Bute Scotland; Review: I had a lot riding on this choice-the location and the set dinner for one night on a very special trip to Scotland-last night before returning to Edinburgh. We were not disappointed. The room chosen in advance [ Ichrachan ] exceeded expectation-the green colour works! The view of the loch at the end of the garden I totally loved-just perfect. Well worth the out of the way location and so quiet at night. The food was superb,we have eaten so well in Scotland if the[unripe] peach desert had been a bit better it probably would have won the prize for the best food on a foodie holiday. The outside slight decay of the building just makes the splendour of the rooms and furnishings more exciting. Grand in a homely way. The staff were just lovely,helpful and friendly. I would love to return and will do my best to find myself near enough to do so !; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bonham Hotel; City: Edinburgh Scotland; Review: The Bonham gave us our first and last night on a tour of Scotland. I cannot fault the friendly welcome. In fact all the staff were so helpful, even on one night when they were very busy with a conference [which did not intrude at all on us]. The room had a fantastic view from a 3rd floor bay window over the City. The hotel car park behind the hotel with rear entrance is a definite plus and the location is less than 5 minutes walk from Princes street. The general feel of the hotel is victorian with modern art here and there-I think that works-comfortable,well appointed, not ultramodern. On top of all this the restaurant decor is delightful and the food is really good-fine dining in the evening and a great breakfast. My wife and I loved this place and if we are in Edinburgh we will always come here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 15Glasgow; City: Glasgow Scotland; Review: Found this wonderful B&B on trip advisor as didn't know Glasgow. Did we "fall on our feet". The room we had called the "drawing room" was a very large beautifully restored suite on the first floor taking up three windows overlooking small park in the middle of the square. Quiet and dark at night using original shutters the furnishings and on suite were both ultra modern and completely in keeping with the venerable building. We awoke to a fabulous breakfast served in our room overlooking the square.THIS IS 5 STAR ACCOMMODATION BY ANY STANDARD and our host Laura was very helpful in every way-including booking our taxi the next morning. I can't imagine staying anywhere else in Glasgow even if there are other cheaper places to stay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hillside Hotel; City: Ventnor Isle of Wight England; Review: chosen from trip advisor because of the fantastic reviews [apart from the odd less than 5star rating which I find difficult to believe in this case]. We wondered how it would match up. While like so many have already said this is an absolute gem.A period building which has been totally restored with a modern interior-this works so well. Gert the danish owner is rightly proud of what he has created and it is a privilege to stay here and submit to the care of a lovely team. Nothing is too much trouble. We there for 3 nights. Ate one evening in the Bistro [also owned by the hotel] and twice in the hotel-the standard of the food was superb on all three occasions-the wine list smallish but comprehensive in choice and very good value [the white burgundy was so good we had it all 3 nights! ]. Our room [12] on the ground floor spacious with massive windows overlooking the sea. Gert leads his team by example-everyone seemed to share his ethos of care and attention to detail without hurry and with such a friendly manner you feel like you are special guests in his home.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Ashton; City: Lancaster Lancaster District Lancashire England; Review: We chose because it was halfway to Glasgow. We stayed on the way up & on the way back. We were so lucky to find such dedicated excellence. Everything gets our five stars. Most of the reviews mention things like the carrot cake on arrival, the brilliant furnishings and the incredibly comfortable bed-all the 5 star reviews time & again support this view. Actually the breakfast was the the best we have ever been offered anywhere. So if you want to stay near Lancaster then you HAVE to stay here !!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Ashton; City: Lancaster Lancaster District Lancashire England; Review: Perhaps I shouldn't write another review but I just cannot resist mentioning it again-we have been back recently to another quite perfect stopover-in fact I will always try to stay here on the way to Scotland or the North. Like everyone has said it is the combination of brilliant decor and supreme service-with such attention to detail.The tranquility soothes tired nerves-the beds are so comfortable and the breakfast unbeatable [anywhere !!]. Thanks again James, we will be back.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Royal an Lochan; City: Tighnabruaich Argyll and Bute Scotland; Review: This is a special place where the food is really excellent.The room we had overlooked the kyles of Bute with 2 chairs in style side by side [no fighting there then !]. From the very warm welcome when we arrived nothing was too much trouble for the rest of the week. We ate in the hotel every night and explored this wonderful area right up to Inverary and across to Tarbet. This included a 2 day course at the local sailing school which had prompted our visit to this lovely village. The whole team were friendly and helpful and it it demonstrated to us how extra special this level of attention can be.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Boat House Super Suites; City: Rothesay Isle of Bute Argyll and Bute Scotland; Review: The warm welcome set the scene for 2 excellent nights B&B in this highly rated guest house. The room overlooking the harbour and bay was very comfortable with ensuite shower. I cannot come up with any shortcomings at all. Thank you and rest assured I will recommend the Boat house to friends and family.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: No 2 Troon Road; City: Troon South Ayrshire Ayrshire Scotland; Review: This is a dedicated business from a friendly owner who can justifiably be proud of his B&B. Our room [the family room because other rooms all booked] was spacious and light with an excellent large on suite bathroom. We ate at the pub nearby [easy walking distance] which did very well for us. All in all a definite positive experience.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel du Vin at One Devonshire Gardens; City: Glasgow Scotland; Review: There were a few issues with our one night dinner & bed which were a little disappointing. Expecting a real touch of luxury in one of their best rooms not everything was perfect.The hotel is a very lovely amalgamation of victorian terrace houses. The room was large with a big bay window overlooking an avenue of trees. The bed was very comfortable. The shower excellent. So far fine-but the room was very dark and the furnishings more shabby than chic. The light over the sink was not working. All this passed onto reception at check out. I gather a refurbishment is planned for some rooms. The dinner was a mixture. Wine list excellent and our pouilly fuisse was outstanding and reasonable for the quality. The escargots were over cooked and chewy-we mentioned this and the price was deducted at the end without anymore comment from us. The lamb was a bit too pink and the beans too squeaky but this is a personal preference. THE DESSERTS WERE SUBLIME. All the staff were friendly and helpful and professional THE LOCATION-in some ways superb in a fabulous area.We had the car to go into Glasgow [parking cost £20 for 6hours]. It is not near to walk to any main events as far I could see-the options taxi or bus mean a strong temptation not to go out to dinner so the restaurant may have too much of a monopoly for guests. WOULD WE GO BACK ? Possibly but we may search nearer the centre next time; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blythswood Square Hotel; City: Glasgow Scotland; Review: We have stayed here twice this year. Both occasions for two nights and our impressions are similar. This last time the room was a deluxe double. We just love the layout of marble bathroom with large "hatch" to bedroom which made the space seem larger.It looked out over the square which very attractive and thankfully quiet.All very modern, the hotel was a Georgian building converted to its current splendour.THE STAFF INVITE A SPECIAL MENTION. They were ALL so courteous and helpful, not least our waitress on both evenings in the restaurant . The food was quite superb from a creative chef. The small dessert menu worried us briefly but both chocolate and panacotta dishes so original and exquisite we would go back just for them overall this is an expensive hotel but we will save up to go again-there is no where in Glasgow quite like it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Salutation Inn; City: Topsham Exeter Devon England; Review: An important family birthday lunch was a great success with the help of the friendly and very well organised staff [ Jen in particular served all our different courses very slickly and knew exactly what everyone had had right through to the end]. All with patient tolerance. The presentation and quality of the food was superb. No pressure to leave. The decor under the glazed was exactly right for the occasion. I did think the wine expensive but the house wine was good enough I WOULD HAVE NO HESITATION IN GOING BACK OR RECOMMENDING THIS VENUE.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Greenock; City: Greenock Inverclyde Scotland; Review: The staff did their best and were friendly-the 2 stars go to them ! We arrived on speck as we had to stay overnight near the hospital.I have stayed in the holiday inn express glasgow airport several times and without a problem. The Greenock hotel experience was not good. More expensive at £90 a room than the nearby Premier Inn [which was full sadly]. The room bed small and the mattress bouncy. A few minor grumbles like the door entry needing several attempts with a second key.WE HAD LITTLE SLEEP.every 15minutes or so a strange screeching sound which receptionist thought was a fox was only finally eclipsed at 5 am by a large excitable group of tourists outside our room for 20minutes or so-We got up. breakfast was poor-with the exception of the toast; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn Stafford North Hurricane Hotel; City: Stafford Staffordshire England; Review: as so often with Premier Inns" it does what i says on the tin". Friendly staff,nice comfy bed and clean.Convenient location. Breakfast was the only down side-obviously cooked a few hours earlier.I should have asked to have some freshly cooked but we didn't have time; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Broadway House Luxury Serviced Rooms; City: Topsham Exeter Devon England; Review: The recent reviewers seem to have picked up all the good features of this fabulous stop over.Location and house superb. We actually stayed a week as it's location was perfect for a family visit. Huge room and fantastic queen bed.Hot drinks,little frig,glass of port etc...Carpark at the rear is rare bonus in Topsham. Nothing too much trouble for host Roz. Access up stairs a bit steep.We would stay again if we were in the area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Ashton; City: Lancaster Lancaster District Lancashire England; Review: Another wonderful stay from the welcoming mulled wine and crumpets through the superbly appointed bedroom to the BEST BREAKFAST EVER ! James is so professional and attentive. THE BEST REASON TO GO SOUTH FROM SCOTLAND in the car.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Miami Mar; City: Sant Carles de la Rapita Terres de l Ebre Province of Tarragona Catalo; Review: The very pleasant staff made our week stay hugely comfortable.The modern decor on the beautiful promenade on the front was nautical-all rooms face over the gardens,pool and sea in an L shape. Large balconies and room sizes which would be equivalent to a junior suite with large ensuite in UK. It couldn't be better and was recommended to us as "the best hotel in town". As we were staying near family we only ate once in the restaurant [it opens at 9.30pm which is a bit late for us !!].It was excellent. Despite a lot of residents over a bank holiday weekend it was very very quiet in our room. The obvious pride in their business is well deserved. We would go back if we are nearby again; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel; City: London England; Review: Welcomed warmly by the manager. Thank you for the room upgrade.We had 2 nights of supreme comfort [the bed was amazing !]. Modern as in picture and definitely NOT shabby or in need of upgrading. In Belgravia location was perfect for various events we had planned.The staff were all helpful, friendly and professional.The security and fire safety excellent.I look forward to another trip to London sometime .We will stay here again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Windlestraw; City: Walkerburn Scottish Borders Scotland; Review: We were on our way from Western Scotland to Berwick on Tweed.This was a special find and like other reviews there is so much to say about the outstanding quality of this Edwardian gem set in the Borders.A beautiful house very sympathetically restored to the highest standard of interior design. The welcome was friendly and professional with a start in the sunroom overlooking the valley.It just got better.The room was fantastic from the seriously comfortable brass super king bed to the amazing antique pedestal bathroom to the mirror over the wall in front of the comfy chairs -it turned out to be the television with a flick of the remote !! Then there was the food and drink. 5 courses well thought out and beautifully cooked. With help from John we had excellent wines from his specially selected list.That night was such a treat-I cannot think of anything that wasn't perfect,it may sound corny but it is true ! We shall be back as soon as we can. John & Sylvia have a great talent to make you feel pampered. Thank you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ardanaiseig Hotel; City: Kilchrenan Argyll and Bute Scotland; Review: Though the food was, as before, outstanding, the long access road [about an extra 45 minutes from the main road] and the very overgrown and shabby exterior does feel a bit off putting. We chose a deluxe room with a view over the lawn to the Loch which we knew from before. It is a large room and a superbly comfortable bed. The staff were very friendly and efficient. It's difficult to be critical The continuous rain made outdoor exploration uninviting so I think we felt just slightly less enthusiastic than on our previous 2 visits. The quirky antique feel is still as special so I would not like to put people off coming but we may not be back for awhile to spend £459.95 for dinner bed & breakfast for one night.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pool House; City: Poolewe Ross and Cromarty Scottish Highlands Scotland; Review: This was a visit to the West coast and after the magic of the glens and Lochs we were amazed by the unique furnishings and memorabilia,the paintings and the decoration of this wonderful hotel. Peter "mine host" was so charming and so knowledgable.The whole team so friendly. Dinner in the large dining room with its astrological ceiling suitable for the high quality food and good wine choices.We had the Ashanti suite with balcony overlooking the loch. The amazing victorian bath/shower etc .The sitting room and Bedroom with extraordinary oriental antique furniture. It felt like a place that would normally be on show to visitors with signs to say "do not touch"-in reality were being allowed to share a very special family home with something to look at [and touch!] around every corner. Thank you for the privilege and experience.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn Glasgow Braehead; City: Glasgow Scotland; Review: First time here for an overnight stay. The hotel is very clean and modern. The central heating excellent.The quietness is very quiet-I was amazed how close to the motorway and yet I could here no traffic noise ! The staff were all so pleasant and professional. The food was the best I have had in a Premier and exceeded expectations. It is really good value in my opinion; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Windlestraw; City: Walkerburn Scottish Borders Scotland; Review: After our previous visit in September last year we booked in for 2 nights this time.Would they manage to impress as much as last time? They certainly did.We were pampered by Sylvia and John from start to finish.From tea and apple juice glorious shortbread on arrival then the same room [Macintosh] to the food. The set menu is no problem with such a brilliant chef. He has a light touch and a great ability to blend tastes together. I can be fussy at times but not here. I would be happy to eat without seeing the menu.Examples were whisky cured salmon,artichoke soup with flaked lamb,Border beef,rack of lamb,divine desserts all served in the fabulous decor of the restored Edwardian country house.The wines are so well researched. The Montagny was one of the best we have ever drunk and we had it both nights . We will be returning [of course !]; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Vine Hotel; City: Funchal Madeira Madeira Islands; Review: Location is fantastic,hotel was busy but our room was very quiet [4th floor].The staff, as everyone says, were so friendly and helpful. We had a junior suite with Juliette balcony Bath in the sleeping area and complex lighting-we occasionally had to turn everything off to reset what we wanted! We loved the design.The theme of the vine and pebbles was everywhere-from the under root sculpture of the lower dining room ceiling and the vines in the outside breakfast area to the corridor areas and even the pebbles in the floor of our shower room.The food was excellent-the best for us was a french evening-a very talented chef-produced a plethora of tastes with every course.No hot spices but plenty of imagination.We will return to the Vine hopefully in the autumn-Madeira has so much to offer.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Glasgow Airport; City: Paisley Renfrewshire Scotland; Review: We have stayed here several times in transit from Glasgow airport. The added parking on site rate for 8 days with overnight hotel is good value.The huge bonus is being able to walk 3 minutes of covered walkway straight into departures. The last 2 times they have greatly improved breakfast and serve a small all day food menu. The staff are friendly and efficient [good if you are in a hurry].So pleased they have been consistent at this standard.THE ROOMS-my battle with the air conditioning is improving ! The room looking out to the terminal is amazingly quiet.The room was very clean and the decor simple and cheerful -All you could ask.All in all good value.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bristol Harbour Hotel Spa; City: Bristol England; Review: Conversion from old bank gives rise to quirky style in busy central City area surrounded by old buildings and bustling street markets and eating and drinking places. There is quite a bit which is positive about the hotel.The room was well appointed with excellent bed and bathroom.The decor is "retro modern" with garish clashing colours [ not to our taste] .It was quieter at night than we expected until around 6 am the barrel deliveries etc awoke us all three mornings.The restaurant has a small menu which suffered from the loss of three choices our first night.However the three that had steak dishes were delighted.The wine list while expensive was not in my opinion very interesting. The staff were friendly but the restaurant at breakfast had supply and communication issues.You can only eat light bites in the bar, not restaurant items which meant our party opted out of a second dinner.There are plenty of restaurants around the hotel. My wife tried the lite bites on the third night with house wine. Mostly tempura fried excellent though expensive to have as a meal.Parking is unavailable and the NCP 5 mins away -dropping off luggage first a challenge to GPS !! I doubt we we would return as for us there are other choices to try in Bristol.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dakota Edinburgh; City: South Queensferry Edinburgh Scotland; Review: Very pleasant staff.Modern well furnished and with plenty of space-decor dark and that might be not everyone liking but the design and lighting was complimentary to this and the room was very cosy we thought' .We shall try the Glasgow Dakota soon as this is nearer to home.The parking is excellent but they don't do a holiday park and ride which is such a shame with the airport so near. They do have a shuttle to the airport The food in the evening was really good.The breakfast very busy but very good. The staff coped bravely with the influx and you could not feel irritated. Overall I would definitely stay again if I needed a room in this area; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: New Moon (The Twilight Saga); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephenie Meyer Page; Review: After reading Twilight, I couldn't wait to read the second book of the series. The love triangle definately makes for an awesome twist!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eclipse (Twilight Sagas); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephenie Meyer Page; Review: I really enjoyed this book! This book completely kept me hanging on and wanting to find out what would happen next.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Breaking Dawn Special Edition (The Twilight Saga); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephenie Meyer Page; Review: I really enjoyed reading the Twilight series, but I felt like this book dragged on. I still enjoyed it, but I felt like the same could have been accomplished in less words.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SHOPGIRL.; Author: Visit Amazon's Steve. Martin Page; Review: Maybe it's the lack of much dialogue, but I'm having a hard time getting into this book. I started over a month ago, and am about half way through.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1); Author: Stephanie Meyer; Review: I love this series! Can't wait to read more by the author! The relationship between the two main characters and even the supporting characters is amazing. It really kept me wanting to read more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vivian's List (Vol. 1) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Haleigh Lovell Page; Review: I really didn't enjoy this book much. There was nothing to it but sex. The characters weren't developed, the back stories were week, and the description of the intimacy scenes were sometimes just disturbing. I won't be wasting my time or money on the other books in the series. At least this one was free.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: The St Enodoc Hotel; City: Rock Cornwall England; Review: Great one night stay at this fabulous hotel, and I wish we could have stayed longer. Our room had a beautiful estuary view and fabulously comfy bed, but was quite hot, we had to turn the heating off and open the window! The beautifully scented toiletries from St Kitts Herbery were a welcome change from the usual corporate brands and our overall impression that this was a unique place to stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Lugger Hotel; City: Portloe Roseland Peninsula Truro District Cornwall England; Review: We spend a lovely two night break at the Lugger and would be happy to recommend it to anyone who wants to spend their time feeling cosseted away from the world. Our room in the Boat House was small and cosy with a very comfy bed and the sweet addition of hot water bottles and hot chocolate and marshmallows provided with the turn down service! We were perfectly situated for hearing the sound of the waves on the slipway and loved not being able to get internet access! Every attention had been given to the little things that make a place special, from the hand baked biscuits to the little jokes written on the daily forecast. Breakfasts and dinners were excellent with a lot of love on the plate! All in all a wonderful experience.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Forte de Sao Joao da Barra; City: Cabanas Tavira Faro District Algarve; Review: A fabulous oasis of peace and calm! We had the place to ourselves on the first day, and it really felt like being invited to a country house weekend. A steady trickle of other guests arrived but it still felt very intimate and hospitable. Beautiful views of the Ria and beach, the olives groves and fruit orchards and the stars at night. There are no TVs in the rooms, and limited WiFi so it was very peaceful. Loved it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Travelodge Telford Shawbirch; City: Telford Shropshire England; Review: We stayed here when we were visiting family who live within walking distance. For convenience and cost we couldn't fault it. The room was clean and comfortable and the shower was great. Our only gripe was that we couldn't pick up the wi-fi as out room wasn't near enough to the hub and that the shower gel provided in a dispenser smelled like toilet cleaner - so much so we didn't use it! The staff were very friendly.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Le Jardin des Douars; City: Essaouira Marrakech Tensift El Haouz Region; Review: This is a little oasis of calm and served us nicely for a break away from it all in November. We went for a week of peace so we could read and relax and although the weather was quite unusual, lots of rain and some localised flooding, it really didn't matter. The adult pool is heated, the hamman is lovely, and the room had an open fire with a woodpile that was stocked up daily. It's not in Essaouira though there is a shuttle (pay locally) or you can use a taxi to get into town which is about 15 mins drive away. The restaurant is ok, some nights better than others and you can feel a bit of a captive audience! Good wine (UK prices) made it all bearable! Only one complaint - my husband went for a back massage that was supposed to be for 30 mins and the masseuse spent 15 minutes with him then told him to 'rest' for the other 15 mins. We did tell the management and they refunded the cost of treatment but it did feel like he was being ripped off. My own experiences in the spa were good. Overall it was a nice break,away from it all, we stayed for a week and 5 days would have been perfect.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Churchills Hotel; City: Cardiff South Wales Wales; Review: My son and I stayed at the Chuchill recently and we found the hotel a warm and inviting place to stay. The staff are super friendly and efficient. I suppose if you look hard enough you can find little faults like peeling paint and the marks on the walls etc but who really cares when you stay in an old manor house like the Churchill? We think it adds to the character that is often lacking in the typical mainstream hotels on similar room budgets. Breakfast was hot and served with a smile and we had enough food to keep us going way past lunchtime .If your looking for a nice place to stay for a few nights that's ideally located for the city centre, look no further. Thoroughly recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Reef Oasis Blue Bay Resort; City: Sharm El Sheikh South Sinai Red Sea and Sinai; Review: My son Charlie & I had a weeks holiday from 11th September. We both had a lovely relaxing week in the sun. Our room was clean and functional with decent twin beds and good air con included in the inclusive price so no hidden extras that you sometimes find. We ate at all the restaurants for dinner including the main restaurant and found the food was perfectly acceptable with a reasonable choice. The staff in the restaurants are most helpful. Our favourite was the Italian. Be careful of extras charged for certain wines and spirits but if you stick to local beer and wines it's included in the inclusive price. All the pools are very nice and all a little different. We found the adult only relax pool nice but the loop of pan pipe music drove us mad after an hour or two. Also, you get people putting towels down at 7.30 am on sun beds to reserve them and don't often return until 10.30am after a long breakfast. Most annoying and often saw people who couldn't get a sun bed at 9.30 onwards. We usually went to the infinity pool where the attitude was more relaxed and you didn't get so many sun bed reservists! The main asset of the hotel is the staff. All of them will say hello and make you feel welcome. Hady the infinity pool bar waiter is wonderful, he's attentive and nothing is too much trouble for him. He looked after us all week and always with a smile, what more can you want? I have read the odd comment regarding prices of taxis from the hotel. The prices are fixed but we paid less than most of the so called cheaper prices mentioned from taxis hailed outside the hotels gates!! All in all we had a lovely time in a good standard hotel with hard working staff. I would recommend without any hesitation and we will return.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lampet Arms; City: Banbury Oxfordshire England; Review: I stayed just for one night as I was on business next day on Banbury. Wish I could have stayed another night! Decent warm rooms that are clean and functional. Great hosts in Des and Phyllis (thanks both). Des keeps his ales in tip top condition and the food all home cooked is great. I had steak n ale pie and enjoyed every last mouthful. Go out of your way and give this place a visit for a warm welcome from the locals and the hosts. You won't be dissapointed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hunters Lodge; City: Southampton Hampshire England; Review: I booked a single room for one night and when I arrived I was given a larger twin room for the same price. The room was clean and warm. The bed was comfortable after a fairly long journey. Both hosts are nice and friendly. The freshly cooked breakfast set me up for the morning. As good as it gets without paying hotel prices.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Gatehouse Hotel; City: Ipswich Suffolk East Anglia England; Review: I stayed for just one night having pre-paid online. Check in was quick and efficient. I was shown to my room within minutes and I was pleased with my room. Ground floor at the rear of the building and very quiet. Bed was comfortable and my only gripe is the poor quality of the tea bags supplied in the room itself, undrinkable and should be replaced. The shower was functional and plenty of towels supplied. I opted for a cooked breakfast and I'm pleased to report my pot of tea in the morning was much better. Breakfast was ok, with enough choice for most people. All in all a decent place to stay on business at a reasonable price and I would recommend.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Regency House Hotel; City: Bury St Edmunds Suffolk East Anglia England; Review: I stayed for just the one night on business having read previous reviews. I wasn't dissapointed, check in was easy and my room at the rear of the premises was quiet. I decided to visit the bar and had a decent pint of IPA but the atmosphere in the bar was missing. A decent little pub is within a minutes walk if you prefer something more lively and you can watch the football on sky there too. I slept very well in a comfortable bed. The shower was large and hot. Breakfast was served by a very nice lady (Michelle I think) who was attentive and managed the room very well. Breakfast itself was fine. This is a decent hotel which is centrally placed with plenty of parking. I have no hesitation in recommending.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dragonfly Hotel Bury St Edmunds; City: Bury St Edmunds Suffolk East Anglia England; Review: I stayed just the one night and having read previous reviews I wasn't expecting much. The booking clerk was friendly and honest and told me the hotel was trying to improve their image. My room was also freezing cold on arrival until I turned up the radiator. Bathroom light was on the blink but the bed was comfy. Wifi was also reliable. No hotel itinary in the room had to guess what time breakfast was served from! The noise from the A14 was noticeable through the poorly insulated room window, not a good touch in February with snow on the ground. Breakfast was poor, having been told the price has been reduced from £10 extra to £7 I was expecting something fresh and cooked to order. What greeted me and the other guests were powdered egg which had been microwaved to death. No fried eggs or poached options. There was one member of staff looking after the breakfast room and guest having to ask for cups, plates etc. Chaos as the poor guy couldn't cope or cook and for £5 I could have had a better breakfast across the road in Sainsburys. I can't recommend this hotel because for the same money I have stayed in far better hotels or b&b's in Bury. This place needs investment it's tired and simply won't get repeat custom,at least not from me!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Northampton South; City: Northampton Northamptonshire England; Review: I stayed here for the one night on business, the room was as I requested,a double in a quiet location with breakfast included in the fee. The room was very clean and the bed as always comfortable. There is a Harvester on site so a decent hot meal is always on hand. The location for the M1 is perfect, the staff are friendly and helpful. This is one of the best holiday inns I know of.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Station Hotel; City: Dudley West Midlands England; Review: I think I'm a very fair reviewer and this is one of the worst hotels I have had the displeasure to stay in. The hotel has no resemblance to the website whatsoever! I suppose you get what you pay for. My room although large was alongside a very busy noisy road which resulted in very little sleep that night. The windows are single glazed and noise just pours in. My morning shower was either boiling hot then freezing cold. The place is large and needs some money spent on it just to bring into the 21st century. My advice for what it's worth is simple.....avoid at all costs.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Quality Hotel Coventry; City: Allesley Coventry West Midlands England; Review: Book in was quick and a very helpful lady printed out a quick route to the Ricoh Arena and also advised me re the sauna etc. My room was clean and had decent wifi coverage,TV has limited choice of channels though.Noise from other rooms was minimal and I slept well. I has the sauna to myself and think it's a nice touch to the hotel. There was plenty of residents in the bar in the evening watching the football and the food looked decent although I never ate there. For the price I think it's not bad and would largely ignore the poor reviews. I will stay again if in the area.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: York Hotel; City: Wolverhampton West Midlands England; Review: Stayed the one night and found hotel staff friendly and check in was quick. Great wi-fi reception in the room. Room was small but warm and adequate. Breakfast is continental and limited choice but again does the job with no frills. Was nice touch to have sky TV in the room. I would stay again if in the area.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Days Inn Peterborough; City: Peterborough Cambridgeshire England; Review: I stayed the one night and check in was easy with a helpful chap on reception. Plent of food outlets on the doorstep so no need to starve. My room was perfectly adequate for my needs. It was clean and the bed was comfortable. Plenty of hot water for the shower in the morning too. Although based on the services my room was very quiet and I slept well. I will stay here again if working in the area.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Birmingham Oldbury; City: Oldbury Sandwell West Midlands England; Review: I had a very pleasant one night stay whilst on business in the area. All the staff are attentive and polite. My room was good and the bed and linen very comfortable. Wifi is ok the coverage was a bit dodgy but otherwise no problem. Breakfast is the usual buffet style but again perfectly edible and decent value. I'll stay here again when next in the area.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Northampton; City: Northampton Northamptonshire England; Review: I stayed for just one night on business. Upon my arrival I was checked by Laura and shown to my room. My room was very hot and unfortunately the window handle was broken and I was unable to open the window. I went back to reception to mention this and I was upgraded to an executive suite. Laura didn't have to do this but it shows a level of customer service that rarely exists. Laura is a credit to the company as there were I believe issues with internet and the internal computers and the staff had to deal with the resulting problems. My room was very nice and I slept so well. Having the extra room and little touches was a real treat. I would recommend this hotel as the staff are very good and attentive.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Barut Arum; City: Side Manavgat Turkish Mediterranean Coast; Review: We had a nice 10 day break at Barut Arum and I decided to review after being home for a few days. My first thoughts on arrival were not that great to be honest. The reception area is not as nice as some hotels I've stayed in but that's just my opinion. Our rooms (2) we're not next to each as requested but was 4 rooms along the corridor from each other, not the start I hoped for. However, both rooms were nice with decent views over the pool area with a sea view to one side. The rooms are appointed well with decent beds and pillows. Bathrooms are nice with huge walk in shower. Air con is powerful and much needed in the heat of August and we slept very well. Our rooms were in the main hotel block but some rooms are situated in the hotel grounds. Fridges in the rooms are stocked fresh every morning with beers, water, fanta etc. The staff at Barut Arum are this hotels main us point. All are welcoming and polite. Service is usually very good but at busy times in the main buffet restaurant the service seemed to slacken slightly. I must mention in person Mustaffa and Hatice. Both work in the main restaurant and also in the pool bar and during our stay their level of standards and service was excellent and they are both a credit to the hotel. I was surprised at how busy the pool area is. Not many guests ventured down the beach and unless you get up about 5am to reserve your poolside sun beds you won't get any! Luckily this was a chore my wife was happy to do each morning and we personally always got sun beds. The pool itself it nice. It's very big but as a result gets busy at peak times and the chances if getting hit on the head by a wayward ball are high. Also, the pool is warm in fact too warm. I don't know why this is the case but I suspect due to it's size it's difficult to maintain the temperature. The pool bar is a nice way to cool down and meet other guests. The hotel was mostly frequented at our stay by mainly Germans. With some British and other European guests, so quite a good mix. The food during our stay was very nice. A good mix of choices to suit most guests except the very fussy. All our meals at the various eateries were good and the ice cream is to die for! All inclusive deals here are good value as I don't expect bargains in July or August. We as a family enjoyed our holiday here. For me personally this hotel needs another decent sized pool to alleviate the overcrowding around the pool. I don't enjoy sunbathing almost touching the person next to me due to a lack of "space". So, a decent holiday but not perfect and that's what I expect.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Board Inn; City: Hawes Yorkshire Dales National Park North Yorkshire England; Review: We popped in for a lunchtime drink while in the area. Our dog was welcomed with no problems. Service was swift and polite and although we didn’t eat here the food looked fine. Surprised to see a few negative reviews as our short experience was pleasant and the pub is located in a lovely village.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Serenity Makadi Beach; City: Makadi Bay Hurghada Red Sea and Sinai; Review: Had a week here with my son for a much needed break in the sun from work. We have been to Egypt before and the level of customer service here is just so high. Mr El Ashry (Aladin), the hotels manager has such high standards and makes sure that the hotel staff adhere to his levels. The staff are a credit to you Aladin. I can’t help but single out for praise for both Mahmoud and Ahmed at the serenity pool. They made our stay complete and I’m happy to call them both friends. They are friendly and really do all they can to keep guests happy and satisfied. Thanks to you both. I’m also pleased to see the non smoking at the pool bar enforced. The grounds and all the pools are spotless again thanks to the teams involved. The wi-fi is a bit patchy to be honest but I’m told that this is being corrected shortly to ensure a more stable connection in the rooms. Food for us was fine. Lots of choice and the beach bar was great for lunches. The staff there are also very nice. The beach and the jetty area (also due for redevelopment I believe) are kept clean and the clear sea is like no other in my experience. This hotel has all you need for a quality relaxing holiday in lovely surroundings.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel One Shot Colon 46; City: Valencia Province of Valencia Valencian Country; Review: Stayed here for 3 nights. The hotel is in a great location 2 minutes from Colon metro station. You can get a tourist travel card from the tourist centre at the airport which allows travel on the metro and city buses but not tourist buses. Get one of these! We travelled from the airport to Colon metro station in 20 minutes. It’s so easy. All the staff are helpful and ignore any negative reviews. Victoria made us welcome and was a mind of local knowledge. Thank you Victoria. The rooms are adequate for a city break,decent size bathrooms and nice big beds. We walked a lot on our trip and slept well and heard little noise but you will always get noise from other guests in any hotel. Great hotel for a base and in a perfect location for shopping and seeing the sights. Good restaurants all within a 15 minute walk. Supermarket 5 minute walk away.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: UTG Low-Profile Deluxe Universal Picatinny & Swivel-Stud Bipod; Brand: UTG; Review: I have the new Colt mc 901 , And this bipod was the right fit for it, Its made tuff and is great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SigTac Mag 3 Mode Reticle, Black/Green/Red; Brand: SigTac; Review: Put this on my Sig Sauer p556 xi , after 200 rounds it held zero , Its great for the $$$$$; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: GunSkins Hunting Rifle Skin Camouflage Kit DIY Vinyl Wrap precut Pieces; Brand: GunSkins; Review: not bad but could be better; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Solomone Cavalli 223 Bore Sight Laser Red Dot In-Chamber Cartridge .223 REM / 5.56 Red Dot Laser Sighter; Brand: Solomone Cavalli; Review: Instead of a dot it shows a half moon at 10'' and nothing at 15'' ????; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: ICOtec GC300 - Call of the Wild Electronic Game Call; Brand: Icotec; Review: this is a great call , I killed a Bobcat with it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Caldwell Lead Sled Plus Recoil Reducing Rifle Rest; Brand: Caldwell; Review: Very well made , I put a 10 pound weight in it, I shoot .308 sniper M-40 Rimington , I now have 1/2 groups at 200 yards; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: UTG 30mm/2PCs Hi Pro Max Strength Picatinny Rings,22mm Wide; Brand: UTG; Review: Great for the Money; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Legendary Whitetails Endurance Performance Quarter Zip; Brand: Legendary Whitetails; Review: Great Fit; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sightmark SM18008 Photon XT 4.6x42S Digital Night Vision Riflescope; Brand: Sightmark; Review: I put this Photon on my Springfield M1A EBR 308. with a Streamlight IR . I can see out to over 150 yards clear with out any problems; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Streamlight Strmlght Supertac/Tl2 Light Mnt Blk; Brand: Streamlight; Review: Works Great with the Streamlight IR , That I put on my Sightmark Night Vision Scope; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sightmark CVR640 Electronic Unit for Digital Night Vision Devices; Brand: Sightmark; Review: Works ok with my Sight mark, A little blury; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: ATN X-Sight II HD 5-20 Smart Day/Night Rifle Scope w/1080p Video, Ballistic Calculator, Rangefinder, WiFi, E-Compass, GPS, Barometer, IOS; Brand: ATN; Review: Wow. I just put this on my Bushmaster 6.8 Spc , I got out to 400 yards with a full moon, and could see a rabbit clear. I give it 5 stars; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Howard Leight by Honeywell Impact Sport Sound Amplification Electronic Shooting Earmuff, Classic Green (R-01526); Brand: Howard Leight; Review: like them alot; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ewin E01 Polarized Sports Sunglasses with 3 Interchangeable Lenses for Men Women Golf Baseball Volleyball Fishing Cycling Driving Running Glasses; Brand: Ewin; Review: There just ok...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Legendary Whitetails Men's Non-Typical Series Long Sleeve T-Shirt; Brand: ; Review: Fits Great; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: It; Author: Stephen King; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I've tried to get through this book countless times. I always lose interest by chapter three.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Doomsday Book (Oxford Time Travel, #1); Author: Connie Willis; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I've read this book so many times it fell apart in my hands the last time I picked it up.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Heart is a Lonely Hunter; Author: Carson McCullers; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: I am re-reading this for about the thousandth time. It's one of my favorites.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Widow for One Year; Author: John Irving; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Generally, I love John Irving but this book actually made me grind my teeth. I didn't care for any of the characters or the ending of the book.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Snow Falling on Cedars; Author: David Guterson; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, mystery; Review: It took me forever to get through this book.I ended up deciding I didn't care for any of the characters.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Lumsing Full Motion Articulating Tilt Swivel TV Wall Mount Bracket for 10-39 inch TV LCD LED Plasma Flat Screen MAX; Brand: Lumsing; Review: Lightweight, not super sturdy, watch what size TV you attach to it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: [2 in 1 Pack] Anker USB-C (Male) to Micro USB (Female) Adapter, Allows Micro USB to USB-C Data; Brand: Anker; Review: Great adapters!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: JJC MSA-1 Canon Camcorder Mini Hot to Universal Shoe Adapter; Brand: JJC; Review: Fits my Canon camcorder easily. Seems to be sturdy and well manufactured,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reolink 4MP; Brand: REOLINK; Review: I'm really liking this camera. I use it with blue iris and the quality is great. The mobile app worked easily and is easy to navigate. I have 3 camera's from 3 different manufacturer's. This one is my favorite. Quick to setup.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: PLR 72" Photo / Video ProPod Tripod Includes Deluxe Tripod Carrying Case; Brand: PLR; Review: This is a very sturdy tripod for the price! Everything seems tight and easy to move. The quick lock legs are great and there is a lock in the center to keep it from folding up.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Milwaukee 48-11-2412 Twin Pack of 3.0 Amp Hour Extended Capacity 12V Lithium Ion Batteries; Brand: Milwaukee; Review: These batteries are an upgrade to what I had and fit the purpose perfectly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cool Attic CX242DDWT Drive Drive 2-Speed Whole House Fan with Shutter, Exhaust Fan, 24-Inch; Brand: Cool Attic; Review: Very easy to understand and install.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LASCO 03-1257 Snap in Style Shower Drain Grate, White Finish; Brand: LASCO; Review: A perfect fit!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Liberty P11747C-SN-B 1-1/4 Garrett Kitchen Cabinet Hardware Knob, 25 Pack; Brand: Liberty; Review: These handles are perfect for retrofit product; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cosco 3-in-1 Aluminum Hand Truck/Assisted Hand Truck/Cart w/ flat free wheels; Brand: Cosco; Review: This is, hands down, the Best Hand Truck ever. Versatile, Heavy Duty and Lightweight; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DEWALT DW7053 Universal Dust Bag All DEWALT Miter Saws; Brand: DEWALT; Review: Fits the Saw perfectly. Keeps most of the debris in the bag for easy disposal.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Moen T90331 Tub and Shower Drain Cover, Chrome; Brand: Moen; Review: Retrofit perfection. Upgrades the look instantly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Delta Faucet R10000-UNBX MultiChoice Universal Tub and Shower Valve Body; Brand: DELTA FAUCET; Review: Smooth value; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Delta Vero 17T Series Dual-Function Shower Trim Kit with Single-Spray Touch Clean Rain Shower Head, Stainless T17T253-SS (Valve Not; Brand: DELTA FAUCET; Review: Beautiful Rain Shower; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hogarths Hotel; City: Dorridge Solihull West Midlands England; Review: This is one of my favourite restaurants. It happens to be very close to home so I've eaten here many many times. Last week my husband and I wanted to celebrate the actual day of my birthday there without making too much noise about it. We didn't even tell them why we had chosen to eat there. The rain was pouring and we were so fortunate to ring at short notice and get a table. We enjoyed two courses for the moderate price of £17.50 each and had a wide enough selection of choices to please and satisfy our taste buds. The restaurant is light and attractively decorated. The seating is unusual in the centre because of the S shape seating which can accommodate groups of 6 people around two circular tables. There is a beautiful view of the attractive grounds. This is a delightful place for Christmas and family celebrations, as well as weddings. Nothing is ever too much trouble for the staff. There is always attention to detail and a friendly and genuinely caring welcome. As you drive up the long tree-lined driveway towards this hotel you will have escaped into a charming haven of tranquility. It is also worth looking at the website for some special evenings of entertainment and this December there will also be a special Craft Fayre on Fridays and weekends.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nuthurst Grange Country House Hotel Restaurant; City: Hockley Heath Solihull West Midlands Eng; Review: A small group of seven friends met for lunch here last Saturday. Attention to detail in looking after guests in this Hotel is so smoothly delivered that we were made to feel at home. The food is presented so beautifully and is just as lovely to eat. The menu choices are not as wide as in larger restaurants. Just 3 choices for each course but all lovely and balanced well. Suited all our likes. The tables in the long conservatory provided wonderful privacy for our treat. Time was leisurely. After lunch we returned to relax in the lounge. Even with a wedding alongside it did not encroach upon this very happy celebration for our friends Golden Wedding. Thank you Nuthurst Grange.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Warner Leisure Hotels Thoresby Hall Hotel; City: Ollerton Nottinghamshire England; Review: Having chosen to stay during January we could have done with more preparation for our 4 night stay. It would have helped if we had taken more warm jumpers to cope with the chilly Great Hall. The big fireplaces in the Great Hall and Library don't give out sufficient heart to keep you warm if wearing a skirt. My packing arrangements would have been completely different if I had known. We should have gone straight to the restaurant on our arrival to check our table. Only by doing this would we have realised that we weren't in the main dining area. There happened to be a very large U3A group dominating seating. The staff were helpful in moving us away from an extremely chilly table underneath a noisy air-conditioning fan to another table in a more pleasant position. There was an alternative serving hatch nearby but if it's the fish dishes at Dinner or Pancakes for Breakfast you prefer it is a long walk all the way into the main dining room and back to your table. The young staff are very attentive. You can have table service to avoid any walking but it does restrict your menu choice. We have already made the management aware of some issues; hopefully they may address the issue of the inefficient toasters. The staff at Thoresby Hall are having to work really hard because of the challenges. The Porters were most efficient taking luggage to rooms. The welcome is charming on arrival. They all do their best to meet your needs. They are good at listening. They accommodate their Special Needs customers with scooters and access to facilities better than most places. They really do their best. Our Historic room was cosy. We were comfortable there. It was on the top floor with a view of the grounds. We enjoyed the guided walk and a chance to meet other guests. My visit to the Spa for Reflexology was a helpful experience too. Staff are well trained and good listeners responding to needs. The Museum in the Courtyard is run by an enthusiast who shares his knowledge. It was opened specially for a group. I think a Summer visit would be wonderful in comparison with the challenges of heating such a huge place. The evening entertainment is excellent. The Theatre ensures a good view for everyone. Entertainers do determine the cost of a stay. It so depends upon individual likes and dislikes. There is something for everyone but I would have liked an opportunity to attend an artists gathering, a drawing or painting activity, especially during winter time. A mixed visit of emotions experienced personally for me. It pays to plan and communicate. They respond so well if asked.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quinta Jardins do Lago; City: Funchal Madeira Madeira Islands; Review: All those folk who wrote so positively about this hotel's restaurant and grounds were absolutely right. We loved wandering in the extensive garden, meeting the giant tortoise and taking photos in the different parts of this beautiful setting. The food was excellent and served really hot under large silver domes. We arrived in the restaurant at 7.0pm and enjoyed their steak and duck main courses and apple pie. Everything was done to perfection. We had a taxi there and the hotel staff called one for us for our return. The dining room is tastefully decorated. Pretty lighting, wonderful paintings and waiters and waitresses who have time to meet your needs. A wonderful evening. We had decided to give the fireworks a miss. This was so much nicer.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Donnington Grove; City: Newbury Berkshire England; Review: My husband and I found a reasonable deal through Booking.com. On arrival our allocated room happened to have an irritating fan buzzing away inside a cupboard and what we thought were two deep drawers turned out to be an illusion. The cupboard collapsed and was really only a place to hide the tea and coffee! My husband returned to Reception to explain and we were really appreciative of being escorted to a most delightful large room at the top of the main staircase by the manager. It also had the largest en-suite we have ever seen! To stay in this room was delightful. Its feeling of spaciousness compared favourably with the fabulous rooms we saw in Highclere Castle the following day. It was certainly a place we felt able to relax in. It was beautiful to look up to the higher balcony above the stairwell outside our door and see the chandelier hanging from the pretty blue ceiling. The large deep bath filled up quickly and added to my feelings of self indulgence. This all helped to make our wedding anniversary celebration such a memorable occasion. The grounds are just beautiful and tranquil. We enjoyed strolling round and exploring on our arrival and before our evening meal. There is good service at breakfast time too. It was nice to see fresh haddock or kippers offered for the extra £2.75. supplement. The chef is well used to looking after large numbers of golfers. The added bonus, for which we also thank the manager, was the fabulous suggestion of attending The Watermill Theatre only 5 mins. away to see a most professional performance of " Crazy for you" the Gershwin musical. They were such a talented group of young people. Donnington Grove is a truly special find and I feel sure that we shall return. Thank you for everything.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: L Hotel Pergolese Paris; City: Paris Ile de France; Review: We travelled to Paris for a mini- break just before Christmas, choosing the worst weekend weather wise due to the heavy snowfall and flight cancellations etc. but the Best Western Pergolese offered everything we could ask for and more from a Parisian hotel. We arrived at 12 and were not able to check in until 2pm, but we were able to leave our bags in a secure area and were given a map and advice about how to walk to the Eiffel Tower from where we were- about half an hour away max. The hotel is located right next to Argentine metro station, with Charles De Gaulle Etoile being only another 2 minutes down the road and on a more central line. We got the metro from the airport with no problems and during our stay also went to Disneyland using the metro, taking approx 30- 40mins from the station outside the hotel (both with very few changes). The hotel is on a quiet street leading off a main road which the Arc de Triomphe is located at the end of and within less than 10mins you can be walking down the Champs Elysees. This main road has many cafes and a few chocolate shops as well as a little fruit shop just outside Argentine station which is open until late selling juice, cans of lager for 2 euros and other snacky items- a little gem cost- wise saving the need to pay extra for the mini bar in the room. The rooms in the hotel are very comfortable- we booked a deluxe double which had ample space and the bathroom was surprisingly spacious with a modern feel. It included a bath, shower (over bath) and hairdryer with dressing gowns and plenty of towels as well as the usual mmini shower gels/ shampoos. There were tea and coffee making facilities in the room, along with a mini- bar. Room service was available. A Wi- fi code was available on request and there was an ethernet cable for broadband built into the desk. We had breakfast included in our stay, which we would telephone down to reception and ask to be brought up to our room. It arrived minutes later, made up of fresh pastries, yoghurts and jam as well as fresh juice and a pot of tea. The hotel is located on a very quiet street considering its execllent location and we had no problems with noise at all. Our flight was cancelled at the last minute and we needed to book an extra night at late notice- we had the option of other, cheaper hotels in the area but opted to stay an extra night at the Pergolese as we found it so comfortable and great value for money. The staff were very helpful and always friendly. TIP: A trip up the Montparnasse Tower offers views across Paris, looking over to the Eiffel Tower which you miss if you take a trip up that instead. Queues are also shorter! We will definitely return to this hotel when we next visit Paris-; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Clarence Boutique Hotel; City: Portsmouth Hampshire England; Review: Having stayed in the local 'chain' hotels on our many visits to Portsmouth, we wanted something a bit more special this time and The Clarence definitely offered us that. We stayed for two nights and arrived during some truly horrific weather to a warm bar area and a welcome drink. Mark and Jenny were very welcoming and showed us to the beautiful 'Black and Gold' room which is situated at the top of the hotel. Despite the howling winds outside, the room was warm and cosy, helped by the heated floor in the bathroom. The dressing gowns and toiletries gave a real sense of luxury and the aqua tv in the bathroom meant it was quite tempting to spend the weekend in the comfort of the room! Breakfast was amazing- a choice of fresh fruits and cereals and plenty of options on the cooked breakfast menu; I highly recommend the smoked salmon and scrambled egg muffin! Tea, coffee and toast were readily available and topped up. I looked forward to the breakfast on the second morning as soon as i'd finished it on the first! We would definitely recommend the Clarence over any other hotel in the city- tucked away luxury and worth every penny. We'll be back.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Premier Le Reve Hotel Spa Adults Only; City: Hurghada Red Sea and Sinai; Review: We have just returned from a truly relaxing and luxurious week at the Premier Le Reve, a hotel we would recommend to any couples in need of some rest and sunshine. We had never visited Egypt before and I admit to having found the whole airport arrival process a little scary- there was no real organisation and the passport control/ visa situation was very unpleasant. We booked our own transportation from the airport to the hotel, via Blue Sky travel, which was very reasonable and someone was waiting for us after we collected our luggage. The roads in Hurghada are unbelievably unsafe- potholes, no lane structure and the surrounding area is primarily hotels or barren desert land, some of which is patrolled by police/ military. However, the Premier Le Reve is situated in Sahl Hasheesh which is a gated complex about 25 mins away from Hurghada itself and as soon as you enter the complex, things change dramatically- for the better! The area is still under development yet the landscaping and grounds are very well kept- you feel safe! On arrival at the Premier Le Reve, our luggage was taken for us and we were greeted with a cold towel and asked to sit in the spacious lobby whilst they checked our information. Booking a deluxe room meant that we had an amazing pool/ sea view room and the biggest bed imaginable! The bathroom was also huge (although the shower looked a lot more impressive than it actually was!) Previous reviews suggest there is not much between a standard and deluxe room however we saw into a few standard rooms and were pleased we had the extra space. It also meant that we had access to the Executive Lounge, which has been referred to in a previous review as 'the billy no mates room' and yet we did not feel this was the case. Yes, it can be quiet in the lounge itself but you also have access to a separate balcony and can enjoy the drinks and canapés overlooking the pool/ sea; the surroundings are very luxurious and the staff so attentive, especially Mahmoud who served us every day (the cappuccinos served here are to die for and somehow better than anywhere else in the hotel, despite the machines being the same everywhere!). With a deluxe room you also have access to the Skypool and Vitamin Bar- we used this on the one day we had which was windy and cloudy and had it to ourselves! Perhaps it will be more popular in the winter months. We went down to the pool every morning any time between 9 and 10 and found a regular spot to the left of the main pool, around a smaller pool which had double sun loungers and offered a nice sea breeze, which we were very grateful for some days! The Recreation team were very friendly and provided towels and any assistance you needed. All areas are served by amazing bar staff who quickly get to know your order and top you up throughout the day,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Staybridge Suites Liverpool; City: Liverpool Merseyside England; Review: We stayed here for one night as part of a Thomas Cook Match Break- can't really comment on value for money as you are obviously paying for a match ticket as well as the room and you don't actually get a breakdown of prices however… we were very happy with our stay and looking at rates online, would be more than happy to pay to stay here when we visit Liverpool again. The room was fantastic- comfortable bed; useful kitchenette; sofa; tv and wifi access. The shower was also very impressive. We bought a few bits from the 'pantry' which was reasonably stocked and priced. We were very impressed with breakfast- offering a good selection of hot and cold choices as well as fresh orange/ cranberry juice, milk, tea and coffee included in the room rate (or complimentary as they prefer to refer to it as!). Another review says breakfast is only available until 9:30 however we stayed over a weekend and it was available until 10:30. The location is great as well- we parked in the main car park next door, a rate of £15 per 24 hours. We could have used the Staybridge car park however we were unsure as to whether we'd get a space (their rate is £12 per night) and could easily walk 2 mins from the main one to the hotel anyway so it worked well. We found it to be quite empty however there was not an event at the Echo arena that weekend and it may be more difficult if there was something going on. From the hotel, Albert Docks are on your doorstep with a range of excellent restaurants, easy taxi access and walking distance (5/10 mins) to Liverpool One shops and cinema etc. Overall- an excellent stay (topped off with a win for the Reds!); we'll be back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Whittlebury Hall; City: Towcester Northamptonshire England; Review: Sadly, the overwhelming theme of the previous reviews ring true. My biggest frustration therefore is- why does the guest relation team respond to the feedback on here but not react to it in house? Repeated, constructive comments about lack of hooks on doors, queues and temperatures being lower than stated are all fixable, yet remain issues. We were so disappointed to be directed to the leisure centre changing facilities with no explanation as to how we got from there to the main spa changing area to access the heat and ice experiences and hydro pool. The changing area needs a good clean! The whole place needs a rethink in terms of accessing all areas and making it a relaxing 'experience'. The lunch experience was truly awful with a huge conference party amongst the spa guests; rushed, cramped and lacking any care was our main feeling. You have to pay for drink other than water and the quality of tea and coffee is not good for the price. My friend and I booked treatments for an 11am preference over the phone and called again to reinforce this request but whilst hers was at 11 mine was at 2:30! The only positive was that my full body massage was worth the money- thank you Hannah! It's just a shame that as an establishment you are clearly focused on quantity, not quality. We won't return or recommend. With the newer Aqua Sana at Center Parcs only just down the M1 i'd recommend you spend your money there- a modern, well planned out facility which makes you feel refreshed rather than like being at a cattle market.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: No 15 Great Pulteney; City: Bath Somerset England; Review: We looked to book at quite late notice for an impromptu trip to see friends in Bath and as a result were limited in available hotels. We went for the deluxe double here at Great Pulteney and were grateful not to have chosen anything less! The room was cosy and quirky but far too small and absolutely boiling and so not comfortable at all, despite the fan provided. We were on the top floor and so the eaves of the roof featured but we looked out onto concrete. The blinds were not blackout and this was an issue for us. The bathroom was lovely, the shower not overly powerful but good enough and perfectly clean. The accessories were very high spec, such as the Dyson hairdryer and Brabantia bins etc. The larder was a lovely touch, as was the water and tea/ coffee facilities provided in the room- though no milk is provided for morning tea and the larder is closed at this time. Breakfast was nice even though the atmosphere was a little awkward. The main waiter was very good. The biggest disappointment was no fault of the hotel as such but the people in the room next to us were smoking out of the window, this was not pleasant to wake up to, particularly in the heat and with the lack of any breeze. We were very lucky with parking just outside the hotel and the walk to the city centre is very picturesque from here. Agree with some other comments re: the decor, it is quirky bordering on charity shop style. Overall, at over £300, it wasn't for us. Next time we'll book well in advance to ensure we have a bigger range of options available to us!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Center Parcs Woburn Forest; City: Bedford Bedfordshire England; Review: This was our first stay at a Center Parcs and I can't say we'll be returning any time soon! Maybe it's because we live near to the countryside anyway, but where is the appeal is staying in a 'gated community' where everything costs money, on top of your original costs for accommodation etc. and you are limited by time and scale as to what you can do? Our toddler had a lovely time meeting baby owls, bowling and swimming etc but I felt we HAD to spend money to fill our days. Earlier in the year we stayed at the Lower Mill Estate in the Cotswolds Water Park where you have access to your car whenever you want, so you can visit the many nearby towns and activities and choose to eat wherever, whenever, then return to the site to swim, use the spa and bar etc. as you wish. In my opinion, a much better way to enjoy a break, not restricted by availability and cost. The AquaSana spa however is lovely, fresh and relaxing. Staff throughout the parc were faultless. Quality of food and service in Strada were both fab. Towels in lodges are a bit tired. Good chalkboard door to keep little one's busy. Nice to get so close to some of the wildlife in the lodge gardens: robins, woodpeckers, a grouse, squirrels, ducks and a baby deer to name a few! The amount of people involved in the checkout/ changeover process (which highlights the reason you can't access cars at all times!) shows the overall appeal of the setup, it's just not for me.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Apex City of Bath Hotel; City: Bath Somerset England; Review: What a perfect addition to a lovely city. Apex hotels never disappoint and this hotel is just as impressive, if not more so, than the others. The rooms are very spacious, stylish and spotless. I checked in late at night and was aware that the Kingsmead Square car park was very close by so planned to park here- this worked perfectly as parking is free from 8-8 and then you can stay for 4 hours for £5.40 which meant I was covered until checking out at 12. The bed was amazingly comfy and the bath was just perfect- it always amazes me how quickly it fills up compared to those in other hotels! Tea and coffee facilities are a bonus as is the fridge. Sky tv and HD are available. My deluxe room had slippers but not a dressing gown. A hairdryer and Elemis toiletries were available. 5 min walk to SouthGate shops. Plenty of cafes etc. just outside. This stay offered everything I could have asked for and I will definitely return- so pleased to have Apex as an option in Bath.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Martinhal Quinta; City: Quinta do Lago Faro District Algarve; Review: After reading a few of the reviews here we were a little apprehensive about our trip to Martinhal Quinta, but we need not have worried! We travelled for 7 nights with our 3 and a half year old and 6 month old. We stayed in an immaculate 4 bed villa (no.152) with a fab pool which was fenced off at our request. Other reviews refer to a sewage smell, yet we did not notice this at all. Having been to Martinhal Sagres, our expectations were high however as Quinta is a resort that has been taken over by Martinhal who are trying to make it what they want it to be, unlike Sagres which has been built specifically to achieve what it does, it is safe to say Quinta is not quite there. However, it has lots of positives! Breakfast was included in our package and is good- hot English breakfast selection; made on request eggs/ omelettes as well as continental options and tea and coffee, fresh juice etc. The main restaurant O’Terraco serves good food at lunch and dinner also but for a week you will need to venture out for more choice and so a hire car is useful. Hugo and Paulo were very friendly and attentive throughout our stay. The pools are good- there is a toddler pool, main heated pool with slides and an indoor pool; the play area is just ok. We didn’t use the kids club but the girls were really friendly. Pool towels are provided and can be replenished easily. The on site shop has every essential you could need but at a price- again, a car is useful and there are supermarkets within five minute drive. The Martinhal trademark camper-van and trampoline were clearly well received, as was the splash area and sandpit. Ice cream bar not as visually appealing as the one in Sagres but the ice cream itself is fantastic! Locally, we would recommend: Mini golf, just around the corner, opposite Koko which serves great food and has a good chidren’s play area to occupy the littlies whilst you eat and drink. Vilamoura, 20min drive away. Local beach has a beautiful walkway and shaded paid for parking spots just 2mins down the road. Further afield you have Lagos Zoo, the Aqua park and beautiful beaches at Luz, restaurants at Burgau and a paradise lunch location at the Cabanas Beach Restaurant- all approx an hour drive away. Overall, we had a great week and the short flight, close proximity to airport and no time difference made this the perfect location for us with our current family setup. If you don’t have children under 5, you probably want to look elsewhere. (Management: replace the highchairs! With so many babies and toddlers on site the ones you have are quite unacceptable- worn and often dirty! A basic Ikea highchair costs around €15 and you need to invest in a few, pronto!); Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Gone Girl; Author: Visit Amazon's Gillian Flynn Page; Review: I stayed up way later than my normal bedtime to read this book. Everyone will love it, I did. Enjoy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Doctor Sleep: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: Classic Stephen King - no one does it better. He can always do suspense and oddball stuff better than anyone else.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Better World (The Brilliance Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Marcus Sakey Page; Review: not as good as the first one, but still engrossing.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Good Marriage; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: Good , but definitely not one of his best books.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: All the Light We Cannot See; Author: Visit Amazon's Anthony Doerr Page; Review: Very engrossing, put you in a different time and country. Lots of history and some French and German words, but easy to follow.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Innocent in Las Vegas: A Humorous Tiffany Black Mystery (Tiffany Black Mysteries) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's A R Winters Page; Review: funny and a quick read; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Poughkeepsie (The Poughkeepsie Brotherhood Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Debra Anastasia Page; Review: Truely one of the best books I have ever read. It was an emotional journey that had me going from laughing out loud to bawling like a baby. Not just a love story between two lovers, but a community of characters. I hated to see it end and can not wait for Beckett's book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bridge Over the Atlantic; Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa J. Hobman Page; Review: This book was a sweet surprise. Loved the characters. I laughed out loud and cried like a baby. An unexpected twist changes the story's direction into one of self discovery and learning to trust. Great debut!Bridge Over the Atlantic; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Thursday Nights (A Charistown Series) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa N Paul Page; Review: Thursday Nights (The Charistown Series) What a little gem! Great debut! A great cast of characters with multiple points of view. Can't wait to see what the author has in store.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Love Thy Neighbor (Friend-Zoned) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Belle Aurora Page; Review: Wow! I love this series! I did not want this book to end, I want Max's book now! This is a great cast of characters. There is attraction, but its not insta love and I liked that. LOVE Ash, love that I didn't love Nat so much in the beginning, but she evolved and I grew to really care about her character. I have highly recommended this book to everyone, you won't be disappointed!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Until November (Until Series) (Volume 1); Author: Mrs Aurora Rose Reynolds; Review: Very Kristen Ashleyesque:) Loved all the characters and the setting. Looking forward to what this author has in store. Can't wait for Trevor.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Homecoming Ranch (Pine River); Author: Visit Amazon's Julia London Page; Review: I <3 Leo! Luke and Maddie are great characters. Loved the setting of the story and the multiple POV's. Looking forward to more from this author.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Making Faces; Author: Visit Amazon's Amy Harmon Page; Review: Hands down, one of the best books I've ever read. Loved the multiple POV's, awesome characters and a beautiful story.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Geoducks Are for Lovers; Author: Visit Amazon's Daisy Prescott Page; Review: This was such a great book! Rich characters that are in their 40's, a treat from the norm. The awesome chemistry and dialogue made me wish I was part of that group. Loved Quinn. Really need to try those Nutella smores!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Archer's Voice; Author: Visit Amazon's Mia Sheridan Page; Review: I loved this story. It was so much more than a romance. It showed over and over again how a person's life could be impacted if someone else would just reach out and show some kindness. I notice a reoccurring theme in these books, people with no voices, no pun intended... first with children in foster care, victims of human trafficking, children of addicts and abuse. These books have reminded me to look outside of myself and try to really see the people around me, and not to be quick to judge them. To give a genuine smile and kind word and beyond if I see a need that I can fill. Thanks Mia:); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Breaking to Breathe (The Charistown Series) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa N. Paul Page; Review: This was a great addition to the series and in my opinion, the best so far. Kyle made it hard to like him in the beginning, but he won my heart in the end. Cate was a tricky character to pull off, but Lisa did a great job. She had inner dialogue, but it helped the story, it wasn't incessant and whiney like many other female leads that have been through much less. Love her bestie Elliot and looking forward to getting to know the new bartender:) Can't wait for Gage!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Assumptions (The Assumed Expectations Series) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Melanie Codina Page; Review: It was great to revisit this great group and meet some awesome new characters. Love the chemistry between Jonathan and Leeann:) So happy that Jonathan's relationship with his dad Logan is addressed and though I'm still not Logan's biggest fan, this book opened dialogue that I can't wait to see continued. Great job:); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Confessions of a Reformed Tom Cat: A Modern Love Story (Modern Love Stories) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Daisy Prescott Page; Review: Great addition!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cement Heart; Author: Visit Amazon's Beth Ehemann Page; Review: Wow! This book took me on an emotional journey. I haven't wept like that in a long time. But this book isn't just a sad tale, it's a great story of growth, change and acceptance. I loved the kids and all the other characters, especially Gam!. Highly recommend!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Soaring (The Magdalene Series) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Kristen Ashley Page; Review: Amazing! Loved the ages of the characters. I loved all the lessons in the book about family, friendship and love. KA does it again!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lie; Author: Visit Amazon's Karina Halle Page; Review: I'm not going to lie...once I found out what was going on, I was unsure if Karina could make me sympathetic to the characters, but I should have known better. I already loved Brigs from the other installments, so that helped, but Natasha was going to be the deal breaker for me, and I really loved her. I felt their pain and then felt their hope. I am over here crossing my fingers that Keir is next in the lineup!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Anything But Minor; Author: Visit Amazon's Kate Stewart Page; Review: 4.5*This a new to me author, the book was highly recommended by Scandalicious Book Reviews. I loved the dual POV, with great characters that were honest and quirky, with no game play or running. Laughed out loud a few times, but it also had depth . It had a great epilogue, can't wait for Andy:); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Upscale Downhome: Family Recipes, All Gussied Up; Author: Visit Amazon's Rachel Hollis Page; Review: This cookbook has everything! I love the pictures and layout. Way more than a cookbook, inspires you to invite some folks over and socialize:) Love the section for making dishes from leftover of the recipes in the book, such a great idea. I am planning on giving it as Christmas presents this year.Upscale Downhome: Family Recipes, All Gussied Up; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with Wikipedia articles as follows:
Title: Ladislaus the Posthumous; Description: King of Hungary, Bohemia and Croatia, Duke of Austria
Title: prince-elector; Description: members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire
Title: Henry VIII of England; Description: King of England from 1509 until 1547
Title: Sigismund; Description: Monarch from the House Luxemburg, 1387 to 1437 King of Hungary, 1410 to 1437 King of Germany, 1419 to 1437 King of Bohemia and 1433 to 1437 Holy Roman Emperor
Title: Mieszko I, Duke of Cieszyn; Description: Duke of Cieszyn
Title: Przemyslaus I Noszak, Duke of Cieszyn; Description: Duke of Cieszyn, Bytom, Siewierz, Głogów, Ścinawa, and Oświęcim at various times in the late 14th century
Title: Borrelia; Description: genus of bacteria
Title: Ranunculaceae; Description: family of plants
Title: Frederick William II of Prussia; Description: King of Prussia
Title: flagellum; Description: part of a cell of some organisms
Title: Spirochaetales; Description: order of bacteria
Title: Wilhelm II; Description: German Emperor and King of Prussia
Title: pilum; Description: cold weapon
Title: Cieszyn; Description: city and urban gmina of Poland
Title: Frederick II of Prussia; Description: king of Prussia
Title: Frederick William III of Prussia; Description: King of Prussia
Title: August von Mackensen; Description: German general | wikirec |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Cowboy Bebop; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi, Space; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Bleach; Genres: Action, Comedy, Shounen, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Black Lagoon; Genres: Action, Seinen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Death Note; Genres: Mystery, Police, Psychological, Supernatural, Thriller; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch; Genres: Action, Mecha, Military, School, Sci-Fi, Super Power; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Clannad; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School, Slice of Life, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: School Days; Genres: Drama, Harem, Romance, School; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch R2; Genres: Action, Drama, Mecha, Military, Sci-Fi, Super Power; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Clannad: After Story; Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Slice of Life, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood; Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Magic, Military, Shounen; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Angel Beats!; Genres: Action, Comedy, Drama, School, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Deadman Wonderland; Genres: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Steins;Gate; Genres: Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica; Genres: Drama, Magic, Psychological, Thriller; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Ao no Exorcist; Genres: Action, Demons, Fantasy, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai.; Genres: Drama, Slice of Life, Supernatural; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Fate/Zero; Genres: Action, Fantasy, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Mirai Nikki (TV); Genres: Action, Mystery, Psychological, Shounen, Supernatural, Thriller; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Guilty Crown; Genres: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Another; Genres: Horror, Mystery, School, Supernatural, Thriller; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Fate/Zero 2nd Season; Genres: Action, Fantasy, Supernatural, Thriller; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Sword Art Online; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Romance; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Psycho-Pass; Genres: Action, Police, Psychological, Sci-Fi; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Btooom!; Genres: Action, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Seinen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Shingeki no Kyojin; Genres: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: No Game No Life; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Game, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: D-Frag!; Genres: Comedy, Game, School, Seinen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Noragami; Genres: Action, Adventure, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Sword Art Online II; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Romance; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Ping Pong The Animation; Genres: Psychological, Seinen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Akame ga Kill!; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works; Genres: Action, Fantasy, Magic, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Tokyo Ghoul; Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Psychological, Seinen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu; Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Seinen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Plastic Memories; Genres: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Tokyo Ghoul √A; Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Psychological, Seinen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Death Parade; Genres: Drama, Game, Mystery, Psychological, Thriller; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Rokka no Yuusha; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Magic, Mystery; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works 2nd Season; Genres: Action, Fantasy, Magic, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Overlord; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Magic, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: One Punch Man; Genres: Action, Comedy, Parody, Sci-Fi, Seinen, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Noragami Aragoto; Genres: Action, Adventure, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Boku dake ga Inai Machi; Genres: Mystery, Psychological, Seinen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu; Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Psychological, Thriller; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kiznaiver; Genres: Drama, Sci-Fi; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Boku no Hero Academia; Genres: Action, Comedy, School, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0 | anime |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Arlington TVBRA2K-1 In-Wall Wiring Kit, Pre-Wired TV Bridge, 2-Gang Boxes, White, 1-Pack; Brand: Arlington Industries; Review: It does what it says it does. Highly recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cheetah Mounts APFMSB TV Wall Mount Bracket for 20-55” TVs Up To VESA 400 and 115 lbs including a Twisted; Brand: Cheetah; Review: An amazing product for the money. A true bargain for a VERY quality product. Buy this. I have a 60" Sharp Aquos and it (barely) fit and worked fine. HIGHLY recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 6-Inch Power Extension Cable, 5-Pack, Outlet Saver, 18 AWG; Brand: Sewell Development Corp; Review: They are 6inches. They extend the power. Deal done, dude.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AmazonBasics 14-Inch Laptop Sleeve - Black; Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: It's great for my MacBook Air; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TechFlex F6 0.50 inch split sleeving 25ft; Brand: CarNetix; Review: Great stuff for instrument cable looms. I plan on touring the US all summer with this stuff.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sabrent 4-Port USB 2.0 Hub with Individual Power Switches and LEDs (HB-UMLS); Brand: Sabrent; Review: It's okay. It's very much what I was expecting. Not sure why there is on/off buttons for each individual bus, but sure. Why not?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: NETGEAR N300 Wi-Fi Range Extender - Wall Plug Version (WN3000RP) (Certified Refurbished); Brand: NETGEAR; Review: Easy set up on Mac. Small and easy to hide. Refurb model but has warranty and is cost effective. A f'n Plus!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: New Version Original Replacement Audio Cable Cord Wire with In-line Microphone and Control; Brand: AIFENG; Review: Perfect replacement cable for my headphones. Even came with a snazzy beats baggy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Neewer Heavy Duty Photographic Sandbag Studio Video Sand Bag for Light Stands, Boom Stand, Tripod -4 Packs Set; Brand: Neewer; Review: Nice bags. Good stitching. We'll see how they hold up on tour.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Residence L Albero Nascosto; City: Trieste Province of Trieste Friuli Venezia Giulia; Review: A visit to Trieste May seem a bit out of the way, but a savvy traveler will put this lovely little gem of a city high on their itinerary. Unlike the hordes of other tourists, as in Venice, in Trieste the people you see on the piazzas are locals, from young families pushing strollers to youngsters with soccer balls to elderly wander ears loving their city. Sublime coffee everywhere you go. Terrific restaurants (do NOT miss La Tavernetta, a hidden 5-seat treasure with sublime food). And best of all Hotel Albero Nascosto......perfection! The friendliest staff, Donatella instantly became a life-long friend. Mille Grazie Donatella!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Hotel Le Donjon; City: Carcassonne Center Carcassonne Aude Occitanie; Review: Carcassonne has to be one of the most charming cities in France. Especially within the walls of the ancient 'La Cite', the town surrounded by double fortress walls with a moat between, dating to the 1300's. We liked Hotel Donjon, which perhaps trends toward 'corporate' in feel, but it is perfectly located and has a helpful reception with multi-lingual employees. Anyone who has been to Quebec City will see a definite resemblance.....walled cities, charming, but overwhelmingly full of tourists. As in Quebec, at least within the walls in both cities, you get the feeling that nobody actually lives inside the fortress. It is mainly hotels, restaurants, and tourist-loaded shops. But we are glad we visited, as it is a truly beautiful place. Our room, Room 1, was located right next to the breakfast room. Fortunately our breakfasts were included with our room as they are quite expensive otherwise, and only decent. Nothing special.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Continental Barcelona; City: Barcelona Catalonia; Review: Everything in this perfectly located hotel on Las Ramblas, near Catalunya Square, is pink. The towels, the bedspreads, the covers on the chairs, the walls....everything. It is the epitome of a fading 1950's era hotel, but it worked fine for us. Totally unrelated to the hotel, but making our stay worthwhile, was hearing Megan Hilty's awesome song from the failed NBC show Smash, 'Moving The Line', blaring from one of the iconic mustard and yellow cabs parked below our hotel window late one night. Gotta love the excellent musical taste of Barcelona's cab drivers! Anyway, we loved Barcelona, and didn't think there was anything that terrible about the Hotel Continental. It is quirky and basic, but it does the job. Our room was clean. The breakfast, while nothing special, is available 24 hours a day and there are a couple of nice balcony areas for sitting while you eat. The cappuccino was good. The front desk was friendly and helpful about giving ideas and directions to interesting visits in the city. This city never really sleeps, so be prepared for noise all night long. Our room was on a side street off Las Ramblas but still was really noisy all night. The hallway leading to our room was kind of smelly....don't know what that was about. But all in all you can do much worse than the Hotel Continental for a few nights in Barcelona!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Puerta Catedral Apartments; City: Seville Province of Seville Andalucia; Review: We were upgraded from the Puerta Catedral Studios to the Apartments, and had the attico unit across from the Catedral. The location is perfect. It was a nice one-bedroom apartment with a single sofa bed in the living room, a small kitchen, nice bathroom, and a great balcony! Right on a busy street, it was noisy, but we were used to noisy nights at this point in our vacation. Europeans are night owls! We loved the city of Seville. Walked to the San Cruz and Antiguo areas of the town, and to the riverfront and the still functioning Bull Ring. The wifi in our unit quit working after the first day, and the chauffeur who was supposed to drive us to the train station on check out never showed up. But we got to our train by taxi, and all was fine. There is a tapas restaurant around the corner, next to Ristorante Escoba, that is really nice. Recommend it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Locanda Silva; City: Venice Veneto; Review: This hotel has location going for it, and that's about it. Located near San Marco Plaza the Locanda Silva is at the confluence of two picturesque small canals. We managed to walk directly to it, which apparently is a bit of a miracle.....make yourself a good map, memorize it, and it a really is fairly straightforward short walk from the San Zaccaria Vapparetto stop. We were pretty much eaten alive by mosquitos. The beds are saggy. The bathroom is about the size of one in the cabin of a night train.....teensy. Reception is a bit cranky, but they did give us two sessions of free wifi for 45 minutes each day, which sort of worked in the room. I'd like to give this inn 2 1/2 stars instead of 3, as it isn't really even quite average. But it is OK. Venice is incredibly expensive for lodging and this place is reasonable. We ended up enjoying our stay, mosquito bites notwithstanding!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: PIemonte da Sciolla; City: Domodossola Province of Verbano Cusio Ossola Piedmont; Review: A few things conspired to make the beginning of our stay at Piemont da Sciolla a bit fraught, but all ended well. It was raining on the mid-September day when we thought we could walk from the train station directly to the inn, but didn't realize that almost no streets are clearly named or marked in this small city. So we managed to wander in circles for a good hour, then found the entire place silent and locked, and we had no phone plan in Europe to call the proprietor. However a kind local woman called her for us, she arrived, honored our reservation made strictly by email without deposit or credit card. It is a nice little small inn, with wonderful big windows that open to the courtyard. Sadly the associated restaurant wasn't open this Sunday evening (it was amazing 30 some years ago when I was there with my daughter!) and we had to leave the next morning before the time of breakfast. But it is an excellent choice in Domodossola, so go online to the hotel's website and email Lucia. She will save your room for you. But bring a cell phone.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Maison d hotes Itzalpea; City: Saint Jean Pied de Port Basque Country Pyrenees Atlantiques No; Review: St Jean Pied de Port is a tiny town in a very hard-to-get-to part of France, but oh so worth the effort. The train ride into town from Bayonne along the River Nive is spectacular. Not a narrow gauge, but like one, in the narrowness of the passage, and the fact that the line dead ends in SJPP, the scenery will keep your nose to the train windows the entire route. And once you reach the town, it is beautiful! The Itzalpea, with charming Evalina, is a perfect place to stay! It is just outside the old walled part of the town, and totally lovely. The breakfast was delicious, and the view from our room's window looked out over the red tiled roofs of the town toward the Pyrenees. Evalina even helped us find a ride to Pamplona when the transport we thought we had arranged months in advance fell apart. (Not cheap, the taxi ride over the Pyrenees about 100 Km into Pamplona, was a crazy, beautiful trip! Thank you, Evalina.) So, if you are planning a trip to the south of France, especially to Basque country, absolutely put St Jean Pied de Port on your itinerary, and book a room at the Itzalpea Hotel. Wifi is free.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Central; City: Digne les Bains Alpes de Haute Provence Provence Alpes Cote d Azur; Review: We included Digne-les-Bains on our itinerary because we wanted to see the scenery on the Chemin de Fer Provence Railroad, the narrow gauge line that runs between Nice's Provence Station (this is NOT the SNCF station where all the French trains stop.) Other than the only truly surly French person we ran into on our entire trip, the ticket taker on that small train, who should be rewarded as the worst advertisement of the stereotypical snooty Frenchman....everyone we met in this area was lovely. Digne, itself, is simply charming. A small, mountain town, with a lively street scene, including a delightful Wednesday morning market that shouldn't be missed. The Hotel Central, itself, is a basic inn, but with a very friendly, helpful front desk. Rooms are basic as well, but they do have wifi, and the beds were fine, everything was very clean. Do not expect people in this area to speak much English. But they will do their best, and will show great appreciation of any attempts to speak their language, regardless of proper grammar! The surrounding area is gorgeous. The Tour de France came through Digne one year, and it is easy to imagine the cyclists negotiating the narrow canyons in and around the town.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Plus Hotel Royal Superga; City: Cuneo Province of Cuneo Piedmont; Review: Located ideally in the middle of Old Town Cuneo, this hotel was perfect. The front desk was helpful and friendly. The room was comfortable, and in spite of the market being set up early the next morning, we were untroubled by the am noise and hustle. Most travelers miss Cuneo. In the southern part of the Piedmont of Italy, however, it is a beautiful town and well worth a visit. Like Bern and some other European cities that experience real winter weather the streets of the city center in Old Town are arcaded. We'd definitely return to Cuneo, and to the Royal Superga Hotel. It was quite the find!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: VP Jardin de Recoletos; City: Madrid; Review: We added Madrid to our itinerary with some reluctance, as we were mainly doing smaller cities. But we ended up absolutely loving the city! The Jardin de Recoletos is ideally located halfway between the Atocha and Chamartin train stations in Madrid, and just a block off the Renfe stop at the Recoletos station. This hotel is located on a quiet street, making for one of the best night's sleep we had in almost a month-long European tour! And the close proximity to Calle Serranos, to Recoletos Parc and Jardin de Retiros Parc makes it the perfect place to stay. Be sure to set aside at least a couple of hours at Jardin de Retiros. It is Madrid's version of Central Park, and is beautiful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grand Hotel Malher; City: Paris Ile de France; Review: In 1987 my daughter and I spent several days in Paris and stayed in the Grand Hotel Mahler. This is long before the modernization, but it was a wonderful experience. The hotel is in the perfect location in the Marais.....can't get better than that. I am planning a trip to Paris in mid November and hope to stay in this lovely hotel once more. Would love to hear detailed description of the single rooms available in the hotel. How is the WiFi? I remember it being a reasonable walk from Gare Austerlitz where my train from the airport arrived into Paris. I will fly into CDG from Madagascar. Will also appreciate tips about transport from airport to the hotel. Bon jour...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grand Hotel Malher; City: Paris Ile de France; Review: Spent a week in Paris in November, and loved my stay at the Grand Hotel Malher. Fatima at the front desk was wonderful, as were all the personnel we encountered during our stay. I'd stay in this lovely little hotel again. Breakfast is a simple continental serving of croissant, rolls, and coffee. We happened to be in Paris during the terror attack, and were impressed that the front desk person arrived in the morning after in spite of a total lock down of the city. While this may seem the 'expected' it was nice to see a semblance of normalcy after a night of fear and chaos. Wifi was definitely spotty, but there is a Starbucks around the corner, with free Wifi. The location of this hotel is simply perfect. Near museums, shops, Notre Dame Cathedral, The Louvre and nice restaurants. We utilized the limo service from CDG and back again, and it worked very nicely. The property is spotless.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Daydream's Daughter, Nightmare's Friend: One Woman's Journey Through Two Hells; Author: Visit Amazon's Nonnie Jules Page; Review: I was waiting for another author's book, when I came across this book, so while waiting I decided to buy it. I had received the book I was waiting for and was going to put this book aside to read the other book, but I couldn't put it down, this book was so brilliantly written I had to carry on. The story about Marisa ( Maiya) I got so deep into it that I could almost see it all happening, it was so heart breaking and made me cry. This story was so detailed at one time I almost believed it was a true story, but of course l know it wasn't. I also didn't know that Marisa was black until her husband took her to see his mother, Walter hadn't told his mother (and l hadn't seen the cover of this book which l glanced at later). It made me cry the abuse she took from Duran Lee, her nasty stepfather and the denial from her mother was simply disgusting. However, the love she had from her grandparents on her mother's side was much needed and the love she had for them, helped her in her life. When she went to prison she made a good friend in Sadie who tried to look after and cover her back. Sadie said she did it because Maiya reminded of her own granddaughter who she has lost to drugs. Well l am not going to give any more away, you must buy this book, its worth every penny. Well done Nonnie keep it up. R M Steiger; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sinners of Magic; Author: Visit Amazon's Lynette E. Creswell Page; Review: R M Steiger. I loved this book from start to the end, this is certainly magical, wonderful, fantastic story. I really enjoyed reading it there was places it pulled my heart strings. I felt sorry for Crystal's birth parents when they had to send their daughter to another world. Now I'm going to stop there, I recommend if you like fantasy you will love this book. Go on be a devil and go for it you won't regret it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Betrayers of Magic; Author: Visit Amazon's Lynette E. Creswell Page; Review: Another great story. I enjoyed every page in this book. I could have cried when Crystal had to let go of her friend Clump, but he know it was impossible to stay. There wasn't a dull moment in the story. The Author kept me holding my breath wondering what the next twist in the story would be and I can tell their were lots. Crystal feared for her mother Queen Amella's safety and to save her they must find the Book of Souls and squash the evil magician Elveria wicked plans to kill Crystal and her mother and father. Now I'm going to stop there. You have to buy this 2nd in the series, you can't go wrong. I now can't wait for book 3. R M Steiger; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Starlight Club (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Joe Corso Page; Review: This awonderfull book, when l started to read it, and the elderly man started to tell his story to his daughter Lynn, lthought l was walking into a movie,and l was sitting down watching a film, it was like opening a pandora box, you open the lid and the story came alive, and all the charaters flew out, l got so engrossed in the story l couldn't put it down,and it made it more exciting, because l knew some of the charaters names, l reallyenjoyed reading it, l shall certainly buy the follow up of The Starlight Club Series, and if anyone enjoys a good gangster story, this is the book for you, great book Joe. R M Steiger; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Take No More (The murder mystery thriller): (US Edition): James Blake #1 (James Blake thriller series) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Seb Kirby Page; Review: Take no more,is a great read, l liked it because the Author hasn't wasted anytime, he has gone straight into the plot, where his character James Blake comes home to find his wife has been shot,and is asking himself, who and why, his wife was hired to find out where there was fine arts hidnt over another painting, and useing a laser to detect them, so Jim sets out to find her killer,not knowing the danger that may come along his path, l liked the suspence, abd the twists, l will leave it at that, if you want to know what happens,you will have to buy the book, l certainly will be buying the rest of James Blake series. Well done Seb. R M Steiger; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Week of Lies; Author: Visit Amazon's I C Camilleri Page; Review: Week of lies is brilliant written, l found it was different to any other love story l have read, the Author goes back and forth on the chapters, which l like, Beth Banks is a spoilt brat, who never had to worry about money, because her daddy is a multimillioner, but Beth is left alone in a great big house, where her father has his side of the house and Beth has her side if the house, and she goes out livung it up, because she has nothing better to do, then out again having drank alot and with arms in the air dancing away, unbeknowing to her, a young man was watching her, she hears his vouce and goes to see who it is, and sitting on the seat is Rob, and this is how Beth gets involved with him, and falls in love with him, but he doesnt want to know, and begins to act weird and couldn't understand why he was going hot and cold, her father doesnt have anything to do with her, so when she its her birthday she recieves an exspensive handbag with a big stone in front with a note love Dad, he had never bought her anything before so why now, and since meeting Rob her life begins to change, and finds she wants answers, after finding her father dead on new year, was it suicide, she wasn't sure, and also, and was also having nightmares about her mother who was killed with a knife, when she was a little girl, she also asks Gary a policeman who she befriends to help her out, there are a few twists and turns as well, now will Beth find out the truth, and will her and Rob ever get together, well you will have to buy the book to find out, Well done Isabella, R M Steiger; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wicked Game; Author: Visit Amazon's Matt Johnson Page; Review: Wicked Game is a great read,l really enjoyed reading this story, as l started to get into it, l came to believe it was a true story,because it was so brilliant written,l loved the characters, and all seem to come out of the page, speclialy Robert Finley and his pass army friends, and most of them had joined the Police Force, and ofcause not may knew about their pass experience, as it was a well kept secret, But however Robert found someone was out to kill him and people; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo; Brand: Earthbath; Review: Does the job and seems to be concious of my pet's hair needs. He does not love bath time, thus I can't review positively from his perspective. He does smell great after!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Dental Kit; Brand: Nylabone; Review: Dog did not like it at all, but it certainly did the trick. Dog not liking it had nothing to do with the product, he has just not had his teeth brushed before.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dingo Mini Bones, Rawhide for Small or Toy Dogs, Made w/Real Chicken; Brand: Dingo; Review: He started getting mad when we were trying to give him a different product. These were very good for him. He's a very small dog, so the bones were perfect for him and would typically last at least 24 hours, which is not often the case with a young pup.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dingo Mini Bones, Rawhide for Small or Toy Dogs, Made w/Real Chicken; Brand: Dingo; Review: He started getting mad when we were trying to give him a different product. These were very good for him. He's a very small dog, so the bones were perfect for him and would typically last at least 24 hours, which is not often the case with a young pup.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PetSafe Spray Bark Dog Collar, Anti-Bark Device for Dogs 8 lb. and Up, Fits Up to 27; Brand: PetSafe; Review: We rescued a Shitzu/Poodle mix that LOVES to bark and chase after birds and squirrels in the back yard. He gets one in a tree and thinks he's big time and just barks at it incessantly until we come out and get him. I know the neighbors were bothered by his barking, so we invested in this. It worked by day two. Since then we don't even have to turn it on. As long as we put it on him as he goes out, there is no barking. This product has likely single handily stopped the neighbors from arriving at our front door with pitchforks and torches. Really really really can't recommend this product enough. Make sure you read the directions about it and how to refill it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: QEONIX iPhone 8 / 7 / 6S / 6 Privacy Screen Protector 4.7; Brand: QEONIX; Review: One of my favorite purchases this year. I have recommended this product to many other people since getting it myself and all have been very happy with it's performance. I have yet to completely drain it on any trips I take. Love the ease of use, charge, and convenient storage bag with pocket for the cable. Terrific if you need a product to keep you charged up and don't want to find an outlet.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Sao Jorge Garden; City: Velas Sao Jorge Azores; Review: Stayed in this hotel for 2 nights and must say that nothing matched expectation. Finding the hotel was a bit of a challenge since the name on the door (and everywhere else) does not match the name on booking. We booked a 3* hotel named "são Jorge garden". This hotel seems to go by the name of "hotel residencial são Jorge" which we didn't realise was the same at first. When we entered the room it smelled like it had been closed for months, smelling like dust and dirt. We found the room not well cleaned and for some reason I would get itching after walking bare foot on the floor... I think it was really dusty to the point of causing allergy or something... The room had 2 more issues which annoyed on top of everything: the extremely noisy mini bar that kicked in every hour or so and made enough noise to wake you up. At some point I wondered if we were sleeping in the kitchen.... The blackout curtains were not properly adjusted to the window and a significant amount of daylight comes in with sun rise. If you have a hard time sleeping with light you'll wake up with the first sun rise. The bathroom was nothing special and poorly cleaned, but the worst part was that hot water was not a constant. I showered at night and had a hot bath, but my wife showered in the morning after and could only get a bit of warmth water.... We reported this to the reception at checkout and they simply told us they ha no idea what caused it... Breakfast was probably the poorest breakfast ever! They only had canned fruit and didn't even had expresso coffee. When we asked for an expresso we were told we could get one from the bar above the breakfast room but we had to pay extra! This was the first time ever that an hotel, pension, hostel, wherever, asked me to pay extra for a coffee at breakfast! We stayed in the azores for 2 weeks always in 4* hotels that fortunately were nothing like this. This was the only 3* we stayed in but was also the most expensive of all. We payed 90 euros per night to stay in the worst hotel of the whole journey which I think we can almost call it a fraud... Unfortunately there seems to be a lack of alternative in this island (and maybe that's the reason for the poor service) but we visited a place called "fornos de lava" that is a superb family run restaurant and was almost ready to open a small residential hotel. If you can, give it a try, or try any other pension or small place which I think will always be better then this.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Alexander; City: Zurich; Review: And that's it. Nothing fancy about this hotel but it's a good B&B at a decent price for Zurich and it has Air Conditioned which is not so easy to find in Zurich. Room is comfortable, and spacious with a good bathroom. The location is also excellent near the river/lake and with lots of restaurants and terraces specialty in the summer.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Terceira Mar Hotel; City: Angra do Heroismo Terceira Azores; Review: Stayed for 3 nights. Rooms are good and with a great view of the pool and bay, although a bit old fashioned and with need of renew (crt TV, wooden furniture). In sum, are Ok for a 4* hotel. Staff is really helpful and friendly and infrastructures are very good, specially the pool. The only drawback is breakfast and food in general.I would expect more for a 4*.lack of fruit in breakfast and pretty poor hambúrguer at the pool bar.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nafs Hotel; City: Naupactus Aetolia Acarnania Region West Greece; Review: We stayed for one night as a group of friends traveling around Greece, but we would have loved to stay longer. Nafs is located in the heart of the village, very close to the Venetian port and facing the beach. It's also very well decorated and well maintained with lots of good taste in the decor. It's totally worth paying the extra for the sea view as it is amazing. An awesome sunrise overlooking the bay and Bridge will make your day start with a taste of heaven. Rooms were pretty good, with good amenities and a very decent bathroom. The only drawback was the rather warmth water on the shower on the day of arrival (fixed on the next day) instead of a nice hot shower. You could still take a shower but not a really hot one. Also, for winter season I would expect to have some extra blanket but none was available in the room (we also didn't ask)... The breakfast was pretty decent, not the best ever but had all the basics and a good food quality. Staff was also very friendly and helpful. Surely a place to re-visit, especially in the summer!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: President Hotel; City: Athens Attica; Review: We stayed at the president hotel for a total of 5 nights and must say that it didn't quite met the expectation for a 4 star hotel. On arrival we were given a twin room even though we booked a double. One of the bed mattress was completely deformed with a huge "hole" in the middle which caused a significant back pain after one night sleep. We asked to change rooms on the second night and they gave us a double room right next to the elevators. I must say that room isolation is non existent. You can totally ear everything from the other rooms, from corridors and specially from outside. Although we were on the 19th floor we could ear traffic almost the same way as if we were outside. It almost seemed we had the window opened... The bathrooms are old, small and lacking maintenance. The shower ramp was in pretty bad shape: didn't move, was slack due to time which made the shower itself move due to the pressure... Apart from all these the rooms are ok, big enough, but very old fashioned. Could also improve on cleanliness. The facilities of the hotel contrast a bit with the rooms, especially the rooftop bar: very well decorated, with an extraordinary view of the city and serving with very good quality. Only drawback is that it's quite expensive comparing with the average prices in Athens. In summary, the hotel is ok-ish but for a 3 star that definitely needs renewing, especially in the rooms and isolation. Nevertheless, the price quality ratio is not bad since we got a good price for the rooms. My advice is that you should only stay here if you get a really good price for your stay. Otherwise it's not worth it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel; City: Manchester Greater Manchester England; Review: Me and Wife stayed at this hotel because it was hosting a conference we were part of. Although we felt it was expensive at booking, we didn't really bother looking for alternatives since it was hosting the conference that was the main purpose of our trip. I have to say that for someone used to the Mercure hotels and Accor chain in general, this one seems old. Rooms definitely could use some renovation. Rooms are very small and lack a mini-bar, but cleaning was good. I must say though that I've been in Ibis hotels with bigger rooms... The location of the hotel is OK-ish. Lots of restaurants and shopping arround although we found the area to have a lot of junkies and homeless people which really didn't feel safe, especially at night. Breakfast is regular, as you would expect on 4*. Service is nice and Wifi works great. Overall I think it's more of 3* hotel because of the rooms, but what makes it worst was the excessive price we paid - around 170€ per night. I'm sure there are much better alternatives for this price.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: DEA A6582 Front Transmission Mount; Brand: DEA Products; Review: I'm a mechanic by profession, I bought these for my personal car to see how they fit & functioned. They fit good & operate well. A bit rougher than the factory mounts at idle, but for the cost saving thats pretty hard to complain!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DEA A4519 Front Engine Mount; Brand: DEA Products; Review: I'm a mechanic by profession, I bought these for my personal car to see how they fit & functioned. They fit good & operate well. A bit rougher than the factory mounts at idle, but for the cost saving thats pretty hard to complain!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Metra 95-7868B Double DIN Installation Dash Kit for Acura CL 01-03 & TL 99-03; Brand: Metra; Review: Works great, another good Metra product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DEA A6552 Front Right Engine Mount; Brand: DEA Products; Review: I'm a mechanic by profession, I bought these for my personal car to see how they fit & functioned. They fit good & operate well. A bit rougher than the factory mounts at idle, but for the cost saving thats pretty hard to complain!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DEA A6579 Rear Transmission Mount; Brand: DEA Products; Review: I'm a mechanic by profession, I bought these for my personal car to see how they fit & functioned. They fit good & operate well. A bit rougher than the factory mounts at idle, but for the cost saving thats pretty hard to complain!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: NETGEAR WPN824NA Wireless Mimo Router; Brand: NETGEAR; Review: I just received the WPN824NA (refurbished) and replaced my old Netgear WGR614 which has been working fine over the years. The old router just didn't cover one room about 50 feet away with 3 walls in between. The 824EXT does the job. I now get two to three bars in that room. The setup and checkout was relatively simple (about 30 minutes). If you have previous experience with Netgear the administration screen is virtually the same for most settings so I just noted the current settings on the old router and transferred them to the WPN824NA. The refurbished WPN824 cost of approximately 20 dollars (including shipping) was a great price. If all you need is 802.11g this router will do fine. Update 10/10/2011: Still going strong. Its been on 24x7 since the day I got it... I usually cycle the power every 2 weeks.. No problems no complaints.. I am very satisfied Update 8/23/2015 Still going strong.. No problems.. Upgraded to 5 Stars because it is like the Energizer Bunny (for the older generation like a Timex watch) it just keeps on working...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DDNP-F550, E72675, GMB001, NP-500, NP-500H, NP-530, NP-F330, NP-F530, NP-F550, NPF550 Replacement Battery for Sony Digital Camera (7.4V 2000mAh); Brand: DekCell; Review: I needed to replace my original battery for my Sony TRV-310 digital 8 camcorder that I bought back in 1999. The original battery was an NP-F330. This battery has performed great as a replacement. After a full charge the camcorder reported 240 minutes of battery life (this is using the camcorder in viewfinder mode not the LCD mode). During back to back soccer matches the camcorder was on for approximately 2 hours and I recorded 55 minutes of video. At the end of the recording the battery life indicator reported 160 minutes of battery remaining. This was very impressive. This battery outperformed the original NP-F330 that came with the camera even though it is approximately the same size as the original. The price to performance ratio to date has been outstanding. I am very satisfied so far. Update: I fully charged the battery and recorded approximately 45 minutes of video (the camera was on for about an hour). The camera was stored for 3 weeks. I rewound the tape and taped for another 50 minutes (the camera was on for 1.5 hours) The battery was exhausted. I consider this to be great performance for a battery in this price range. Still very satisfied Update 10/04/2010 The battery sat unused for 10 months. I charged it and it held worked for 15 minutes. I charged it again and it lasted for 35 minutes. I am disappointed that the battery has lost its ability to hold a charge after 10 months. I have reduced the rating to 2 stars instead of 1 because the battery was cheap and worked great for a couple of months; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Replacement Battery for JVC works with JVC Everio, GR-D Series; Brand: Lenmar; Review: My original battery in my JVC miniDV camcorder was lasting about 30 minutes and it was time for a new battery. This battery is about twice the size of the original battery, but it has a long life. I regularly get 2 plus hours from this battery. My original battery when brand new gave me at most 1 hour. I am satisfied with this battery and would recommend it to others. Update 10/10/2011: Battery is still holding a charge.. No problems.. I am very satisfied; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hitachi SimpleNET NAS Head USB 2.0 Portable Dongle SNET (Black); Brand: Hitachi; Review: I picked this up from Fry's for $30 (on sale). I read a lot of the reviews and agree it is not a speed demon. I clocked the writes at 5 Mbps and reads at 13 Mbps. During the writes the the SimpleNet CPU was pegged at 100% (CPU bound) and during the reads the SimpleNet CPU was at 50% (not CPU bound). For the price this is a great device. I use it to store my pictures, mp3 audio, etc... My files are not large (less then 2GB) so I can't comment on some of the errors other reviewers have seen. So far I don't have any problems the reading the data. The transfer rate of 13 Mbps is sufficient for me. I have been working with computers for over 30 years so the slowness of the system does not bother me (I remember the days of 300 Baud modems). Copying folders with many files can be problematic. The device was very simple to set up. I found the IP address of the device on my router. I used my browser to attach to it. The menus are very easy to understand. If you have Unix experience I would recommend that you download PUTTY and SSH to the SimpleNet device. The one error I have found in the manual so far is that if you are going to change the password to the sshadmin account qualify the account (passwd sshadmin). For the price I am completely satisfied. I was planning to build my own Linux server but I saw this device on sale and gave it a shot. It is so small and inexpensive I had to try it and I am glad I did. I have tried the Xmeta and Netgear (SC101) NAS devices. They are definitely faster, but they are bigger and require extra drivers to manage and utilize them. The SimpleNet device does not. If you are a Unix user I think you will get a kick out of logging into the box playing with it. UPDATE: Streaming 320x240 avi video works. 640x480 and 1280 x 720 avi's do not. I attached a FAT32 drive to the SimpleNet and the write rates tripled to 15Mbps and the reads were a little of 16Mbps. The behavior of this product is erratic in terms of stability if you use it as a samba server with FAT32. I installed winSCP and used the FTP option. The behavior of the SimpleNet is very stable as an FTP server. The read and write rates are around 15 Mbps. Summary: As an FTP server it is a stable with ok transfer speeds. As a samba server with NTFS it is slow and problematic (copying folders with many files), with FAT32 it is slow (faster than NTFS), erratic and problematic. After playing with it for several days I have lowered the rating to 3 stars. If you looking for a windows file server it does work slowly. If you looking for an FTP server works fine and is stable.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Panasonic VIERA TC-P50G25 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV (2010 Model); Brand: Panasonic; Review: I bought my first plasma back in 2003. I was originally planning to get a 240Hz LCD but after comparing the pictures I found that the plasma's had a more natural color balance the the LCD's. The LED TV's picture was just as good as the plasma's but cost twice as much. After researching the different plasma available I went with the Panasonic because it has many features in its price range. I really enjoy the built in Ethernet connection (RJ45) and internet applications (VIERA Cast) available on this unit. I especially like the Netflix video streaming application, prior to the TC-50, I would stream Netflix through the PS3. In addition I connected my PC to the plasma which allows me to watch other sources of streaming video available on the internet. The picture quality is very good, the sound is good, the price is great (under $1000), and I would highly recommend this product. However I would recommend that you go out and take a look at the different flat panel technologies (Plasma, LCD, LED) and see which one you like the best. One last note: My seven year old plasma has been free of the dreaded "burn in" problem. I just enabled the orbiter function on it. The Panasonic has the orbiter function so I expect I will not have this problem on my new plasma. Update 10/10/2011 It has been a year and change and I love this product.. Update 8/23/2015 I love this this TV.. The picture is fantastic after all these years..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NETGEAR SC101 Storage Central; Brand: NETGEAR; Review: I bought my SC101 back in 2007. It is a simple NAS device that requires loading the Netgear storage manager on your Windows XP computer (not compatible with Windows 7). Its transfer rate over a wired connection is approximately 50 Mbps. Over wireless G approximately 25Mbps. The reason I gave it 3 stars is that its technology is dated. It accepts only PATA (IDE) drives (2 bays). I would recommend that you spend the additional dollars and buy a newer product. Back in the day this was a superb device but in todays environment it is out of date.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: RCA Indoor/Outdoor Digital TV Antenna ANT806 (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: RCA; Review: I live near Los Angeles International airport and the nearest transmitter is located on top of Mount Wilson which is approximately 35 miles as the crow flies... With this antenna I get great reception (CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, PBS, and many independents... I placed in outside on the second floor (approximately 20 feet up). Update 09/01/2015 It has been a couple of years and the antenna is still working like a charm; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Panasonic TC-L32C22 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV; Brand: Panasonic; Review: This LCD HDTV worked flawlessly for 3 years and 11 months.. It had a great picture and good features. However all good things must come to an end.. Several day ago it stopped working.... Power it on and the red power light comes on and no picture.. The TV just clicks every 30 seconds or so... Try to power it off.. The red light goes off then it comes back on... Just clicking away... I would suspect that a Panasonic should last at least 8 years... My previous lasted 9 years.. If I could give it 2.5 stars I would....; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Videosecu Tilt Swivel TV Wall Mount 32"- 70" LCD LED Plasma TV with VESA 200x200, 400x400, Up to 600x400; Brand: VideoSecu; Review: I had this mount for almost 4 years. It is a great product. For the price it is a steal. It was very easy to install and hold my 50 inch Panasonic Plasma easily. It make access to the cables incredibly easy, tilts and swivels with ease.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shower Speaker - AVWOO IP67 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker, Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Enhanced Bass and Built-in; Brand: AVWOO; Review: Small size...Big sound. Battery lasts a long time on a charge. Easy to use. No hassle pairing with my iPhone 4s...I would definitely recommend it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Panlong 5x1 HDMI Switch 5 in 1 out with IR Wireless Remote Supports 4K, Full HD 1080P and 3D; Brand: Panlong; Review: This product works as advertised. I have not had any issues with this product since I bought it approximately a year ago. I have an xbox1, xbox 360, Neo TV, panasonic blue ray player, and a JVC 32 inch HDTV plugged into this switch and it has worked great...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: NETGEAR XAVB101 Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter Kit; Brand: NETGEAR; Review: I have been using this for 3 years and it works great for a point to point (2 adapters). However if you plan to use more then 2 the behavior of the devices are problematic and non deterministic. It may work fine for a day to a week, then not at all.. You will need to cycle the power on the adapters. Another item of interest is that if your wiring in your house is old (more then 60 years old) the adapters may not work that well. The original portion of my house was built in the late 40's and the adapters worked but in a very degraded mode (less then 10Mbps). In the addition with modern wiring it works very well. So in summary I gave it 3 stars because it didn't work well with more then 2 adapters on the same collision domain. If you are planning to use only 2 adapters (in the collision domain) then it I would recommend this product.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Metra 82-3002 GM Full Size P/U SUV Speaker Adaptors 1995-2005; Brand: Metra; Review: I replaced my original 6.5" speakers in my 2003 Silverado extended cab. The product is very easy to use and made the install very simple. NO drilling no hassle. Just attach the speakers to the adapter and snap it into place. I removed the unused tabs before installation and used some weather stripping between the door and the adapter. You Tube has some very good videos on removing the front door panels.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Black Box G1W Original Dashboard Dash Cam - Full HD 1080P H.264; Brand: Black Box; Review: I had this dash cam for about a month and it works great. I configured it to record 1080P at 30 frames per second. At this resolution the camera outputs approximately 100 Mbytes per minute. I use a 8 GByte class 10 card and on average can record around 80 minutes of video. The camera provides a very clear picture in day or night (lighted streets). Pros: Clear picture day or night (@1080p) On average it can store 320 minutes (on a 32 GByte SD card) It is very light so the suction mount works very well (it has not fallen since I started using it) Many resolution options (I have used 720P and 1080P and video is very good) Many configuration options (You Tube has many reviews which are very helpful) Wide viewing angle Cons: NO IR capability as listed on the product description and box) Battery life if very short (needs to be plugged in); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: JVC CS-J620 300W 6.5" CS Series 2-Way Coaxial Car Speakers, Set of 2; Brand: JVC; Review: I bought these at Fry's for about the same price as Amazon (on sale) and installed them in my 2003 Silverado extended cab. I used the following install kits (Amazon) Metra 82-3002 GM Full Size P/U SUV Speaker Adaptors 1995-2005 Metra 72-4568 Speaker Harness for Select GM Vehicles which made the install go smoothly. You Tube has several videos on how to remove the front door panels. The speakers sound so much better then the original speakers.. The highs and mids are great and the bass pretty good. The bass won't rattle windows or vibrate the car but it sounds really good to me. Speaker technology for cars have really improved of the past 20 years.. For such a small price the speakers sound impressive... The last time I bought speakers was back in 1994 (6.5 inch coaxial Pioneers for a lot more money) a they didn't sound this good...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: JVC CSV4627 140-Watt 4-Inch x 6-Inch 2-Way Coaxial Speakers; Brand: JVC; Review: I replace my rear door speakers in my 2003 Silverado extended cab because the JVC replacements I put in the front made a big difference. However the rear replacements made a mild improvement in the bass and a big improvement in the mid and high frequency range . Overall it does sound better and for the price it is still a decent value. The installation is very easy and youtube has several videos on removing the rear door panels. Basically you need to drill 4 hole in each door and mount the speakers. I recommend either using self adhesive weather stripping between the mounting plate and the door frame or you can reuse the gasket from the original speakers.. Just carefully peel it away from the original speaker assembly. I recommend using the GM harness adapter to connect your speakers to the factory harness Metra 72-4568 Speaker Harness for Select GM Vehicles Pro: Reasonable price, good mid and high frequency Con: Minor improvement in bass over factory speaker, Plastic mounting bracket seems a little flimsy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Velbon RUP-43 4-Section Monopod; Brand: KOVE; Review: I have used this mono pod for many years and it has not let me down... I use it to steady my Nikon D50 with a 300mm telephoto at my daughters Soccer and softball games. It is light weight and very solid. I also use it with my Canon HD camcorder when I need to zoom in on the action.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: DTK T12k 12000mah External Battery Power; Brand: DTK; Review: For the price this battery works great. It has brought new life back to my daughters ASUS netbook.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NETGEAR RangeMax Wireless Router (WNR1000-100NAS (G54/N150)); Brand: NETGEAR; Review: N300 is a reasonable priced router with good performance and is reasonably priced. If you are looking to upgrade from a G or N150 router and like the Netgear user interface you won't be disappointed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: PNY CS1311 960GB 2.5” SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) - (SSD7CS1311-960-RB); Brand: PNY; Review: I used this drive to upgrade a 4 year old HP laptop and it really improved its performance.... The boot up time has dramatically improved along with the responsiveness of the laptop... It performs better then new laptops with 5400rpm drive. I would definitely recommend this drive to upgrade a laptop that is a couple of years old. If all you do is use you laptop for email, watching videos, and other non cpu intensive task I would recommend this drive... If your laptop is limited by the CPU then this drive will not do much for you.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 3 Pack - Cat5e 15FT Networking RJ45 Ethernet Patch Cable Xbox \ PC \ Modem \ PS4 \ Router; Brand: Cables Direct Online; Review: I used to make my RJ45 cables but at this price it is cheaper to buy them. All three cables worked great.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: It Never Snows in September: The German View of Market-Garden and the Battle of Arnhem, September 1944; Author: Rober Kershaw; Review: Blow by Blow , Maps, Orbats,comentary by those that where there. After reading this book I felt at first as if I had lost a Family Member. It shows the British Airbourne to be a Fragile Human thing torn to bits frame by frame in front of my eyes , tear filled I was unable to close them. My own myths where shatered ,they were mere human beings not the gods I had always admired. I went the standard route Denile (nazi propaganda)Anger (so many brave young men and a Division gone)In the End I came to realise that in truth The first Airbourne stood higer shined all the Brighter for that very Fragility. The German reactions should be seen as one of the greatest acts of command and controll ever excersised on a modern Battlefield. Stop reading this and buy the book.....; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Force on Force; Author: Shawn Carpenter; Review: This Set of rules is bound to take not only the gaming world but also the Milsim community by storm. All facets of Modern Warfare are present for the small unit tactician. You can quickly create and use scenarios for training as well as entertainment ..excellent resource for younger newer NCOs and soldiers,explaining SOP and Immediate action drills in 3D increase comprehension in less time. Also great for restrictive space training...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Team Yankee; Author: Harold Coyle; Review: The story of a Commander of a company sized combined arms team battling it way through the third world war.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Panzer Commander: The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck; Author: Hans von Luck; Review: A classic, great read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chieftains; Author: Mr Bob Forrest-Webb; Review: The Equal too the American Team Yankee a Must have.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: We Were Soldiers Too: The Unknown Battle to Defend the Demilitarized Zone Against North Korea During the Cold War; Author: Visit Amazon's Bob Kern Page; Review: Having served in Korea I would like to thank the Author, He has Placed First hand accounts of DMZ service from many different periods in brilliant context, The shear terror of Night Ambush Patrols , The unmarked minefields and the sudden unexpected exchanges of fire between opposing Guard posts along with extreme climate. Soldiers trained to a fine edge Like a coiled spring longing for release yet dreading it as well combined with actual contact with the enemy, go along way towards explaining why over 40 % of our Cold war Vets are disabled. Thank you Bob Kern for a well written account of our service. Tomahawk Sir.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Heights of Courage: A Tank Leader's War On the Golan; Author: Visit Amazon's Avigdor Kahalani Page; Review: The Classic Tank leaders Account on How to fight Smart and Survive out numbered on the Modern Battlefield.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Caen: Anvil of Victory; Author: Visit Amazon's Alexander McKee Page; Review: Filled with First person accounts of the men on both sides who fought this most critical battle.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Bloody Battle for Tilly; Author: Visit Amazon's Ken Tout Page; Review: The many first person accounts bring this battle to life..; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tank War-Central Front (Elite Series No. 26); Author: Steven J. Zaloga; Review: Another Osprey classic must have; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Red Effect (Cold War); Author: Visit Amazon's Harvey Black Page; Review: A great addition to the cold war genre.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Red Thrust: Attack on the Central Front Soviet Tactics and Capabilities in the 1990s; Author: Stephen J. Zaloga; Review: Zaloga delivers , Must have for Cold War Gamers; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: We Were Soldiers Too: The Second Korean War- The DMZ Conflict (Volume 5); Author: Visit Amazon's Bob Kern Page; Review: Written by a soldier about soldiers. The untold stories of sacrifice and hardship in defense of freedom on one of the most dangerous borders on earth. Told by the men who endured the harsh climate and terrain, overcame fear and stood tall. The fire fights you were never told about. The bond of combat that holds these men together 50 or more years later. As vivid as the day they happened more than just memories, those moments shaped a generation of warriors. No glory no compassion would equal their duty to each other and the country they loved. Second to none. Read this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wargaming Compendium; Author: Henry Hyde; Review: Its got it all. For the people new to the hobby and the grognard. Buy it for the chapter on hobby resources alone.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: We Were Soldiers Too: Defending the Iron Curtain (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Bob Kern Page; Review: A team of Nato observers monitoring a soviet exercise as per treaty agreement is fired upon by soviet troops. A young Army officer falls mortally wounded, his enlisted driver attempts to render aid but is brutally beaten with rifle buts..this story and more just touch the surface of the danger of guarding freedoms frontier in Europe. Stories you were never told. If you have a relative that served in the so called Cold War you owe it them and yourself to read this book. They were braver than you ever knew.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Today In History: October 21; Abstract: ; Category: news
Title: Today in History: October 22; Abstract: ; Category: news
Title: Opinion: Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. have shot at title, but will they play nice?; Abstract: Joe Gibbs has problem every NASCAR team owner would love to have. Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin still in running for NASCAR title.; Category: sports
Title: Kylie Jenner and her bestie get surgery together, plus more news; Abstract: What kind of surgery did Kylie Jenner and her BFF just get together? Plus, more celebrity news for Oct. 23, 2019.; Category: entertainment
Title: Today in History: October 29; Abstract: ; Category: news
Title: A day in the life of the top real-estate broker in Miami, who commutes by ferry to the richest ZIP code in the US and sold more than $189 million of luxury homes in 2018; Abstract: Dora Puig sells multimillion-dollar condos on Fisher Island, the richest ZIP code in the US, where the average income is $2.2 million.; Category: news
Title: In Honor of Her 64th Birthday, Here Are Kris Jenner's Greatest Throwback Photos; Abstract: The momager has always been stylish, chic and the life of the party!; Category: tv
Title: Today in History: November 7; Abstract: ; Category: news
Title: Teresa Giudice and Kids Travel to Italy to See Joe Giudice Amid Marriage Drama; Abstract: Real Housewives star Teresa Giudice and her four children are en route to Italy to see Joe Giudice. Get the details.; Category: tv
Title: Look of the day: Ashley Graham's latest sizzling maternity look & more celeb style; Abstract: Bella Hadid attended the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards in an Alexander Wang jumpsuit embellished with nipple and belly-button jewels.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Today in History: November 12; Abstract: ; Category: news | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Sunshine When She's Gone: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Thea Goodman Page; Review: I really enjoyed this quick read and appreciated the male viewpoint. I was hooked from the beginning...from a snow storm to a tropical island, with baby and without mommy?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Foot Is Too Big for the Glass Slipper: A Guide to the Less Than Perfect Life; Author: Visit Amazon's Gabrielle Reece Page; Review: I loved the honest, and sometimes hysterically funny, tales of life that Gabby has shared. This book, and it's author, have gotten very undeserved negative backlash, because she is committed to her family. The liberal press can go to the devil, this book is a fun, funny and heart warming read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Girl on the Train; Author: Visit Amazon's Paula Hawkins Page; Review: Loved the suspense and the plots twists!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Godforsaken Daughter; Author: Visit Amazon's Christina McKenna Page; Review: I couldn't even finish this book...it was trite and formulaic.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The White Indian Boy: and its sequel The Return of the White Indian Boy; Author: Visit Amazon's Elijah Nicholas Wilson Page; Review: Veey fun read. My twelve year old read ir after me and was laughing out loud. Music to my ears.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Asperger's Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals; Author: Visit Amazon's Tony Attwood Page; Review: Very interesting book for parents.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Between You and Me; Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa Hall Page; Review: The "plot twist" was obvious from the start.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Doubt (Caroline Auden); Author: Visit Amazon's C. E. Tobisman Page; Review: No unexpected plot twists, but still a good read. The characters are well developed, flawed and for the most part, likable.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Optician's Wife; Author: Visit Amazon's Betsy Reavley Page; Review: There wasn't one character in this book that was even slightly likeable. Disturbibg waste of time!; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Zutano Unisex-Baby Newborn Cozie Fleece Bootie; Brand: ; Review: I love these booties. Easy to put on, and they don't fall off all the time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zutano Unisex-Baby Newborn Cozie Fleece Bootie; Brand: ; Review: I love these booties. Easy to put on, and they don't fall off all the time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Leveret Striped Baby Boys Footed Pajamas Sleeper 100% Cotton Kids & Toddler Pjs (0 Months-5 Toddler); Brand: ; Review: We have purchased multiple sets of these pajamas for our little one (currently 22 months old) and will continue to purchase them - stripes, alligators, submarines, etc. They are well made, soft, stretchy, comfortable, cute and reasonably priced on Amazon. No complaints.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stride Rite SRTech Garett Boot (Toddler); Brand: ; Review: These are great shoes. Easy to get on. My 2 year old really likes them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Metee Dresses Boy's Short Sleeve Cotton T-Shirts Car Print Tops; Brand: Metee Dresses; Review: The cars print is adorable. I like having something that looks different from most little boys' t-shirts, and no superheroes or cartoon characters. The print felt slightly 'rubbery' when I took it out of the package but it has softened up a bit upon laundering. It is slightly small compared to most 3T shirts. Shirt seems to be of a reasonable quality. Washing instructions are in Chinese so you have to know how to decode the laundry symbols.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Denso 234-4215 Oxygen Sensor; Brand: Denso; Review: Fit my 2002 RX300; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Curt Manufacturing 22272 Trailer Hitch; Brand: Curt Manufacturing; Review: Looks good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Autel MaxiScan MS300 CAN Diagnostic Scan Tool for OBDII Vehicles; Brand: Autel; Review: Simple and effective.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Curt Manufacturing 55245 Trailer Connector; Brand: Curt Manufacturing; Review: Still need to test it out. Fit my 2002 RX300.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chemical Guys TVD_109_16 - Silk Shine Sprayable Dry-To-The-Touch Dressing For Tires, Trim, Vinyl, Plastic and More (16 oz); Brand: Chemical Guys; Review: This dressing by Chemical Guys leaves a nice dark shine without feeling greasy. The smell is not overbearing when applying, and is barely noticeable after a couple days. If you like a clean looking car I would recommend buying this product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AntennaMastsRus - Power Antenna Mast is Compatible with Lexus RX300 (1999-2003); Brand: AntennaMastsRus; Review: So there are two versions of this antenna mast on Amazon for the 1st generation RX300. This is the one you want to buy. I purchased the other one and it was having problems fully going up and down after about a year. My wife completely broke it going through a carwash, and again purchased the "other" mast being sold on amazon. That one lasted a month and a half before it broke off going down the highway, started flapping around, and nearly broke my side window. I purchased this mast, and have had no problems with it sticking. It is easy to instal if the plastic part from the you are replacing isn't caught in there. All you need to replace it is to unscrew the housing on the outside, start guiding the plastic part down the mast hole, and get someone (or use a stick) to hit the button to turn off the radio, and the gear will catch it to pull it down into place.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lexus Logo Tire Stem Valve Caps Official Licensed; Brand: Lexus; Review: They add a little extra to my tires and rims. They are easy to clean, unlike the generic plastic black caps.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Electromaster 360 Rotating Windshield Car Mount Cradle Holder Stand for Samsung Galaxy S3 S III; Brand: SANOXY; Review: This product is a waste of money. It never stays in position and falls off my windshield regularly. Keep away.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: CyberTech 6.5 Feet MHL Micro USB to Hdmi 1080p Hdtv Adapter Cable for Samsung Galaxy S3 S4 S5 Note 2; Brand: CyberTech; Review: Hooked it up, but doesn't work at all. Hooked one end into my phone, the other into my t.v., set the input to HDMI on my t.v. NOTHING.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Spigen Ultra Fit Galaxy Note 3 Case with Rubbery Fell Non Slip Grip Matte for Galaxy Note 3; Brand: Spigen; Review: Love it. Nice and sturdy and not bulky at all, very slim.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Portable Chargers 16750 RAVPower 16750mAh External Battery Pack 4.5A Dual USB Output External Phone Charger Battery Bank Power Bank; Brand: RAVPower; Review: Takes a bit to charge itself, but works great.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Victor GSM Quadband Voice Dialing Watch Cell Phone Unlocked; Brand: Victor; Review: Needs to be updated. Get rid of the things in Chinese. The QR code doesn't do anything. I keep being told to refer to the app, which does nothing except for work with the pedometer. Couldn't figure out for the life of me how to get text messages to show on the phone. The font is so small and hard to read, and I've had Lasik surgery and was wearing reading glasses to try and see it. The instructions are very hard to understand.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Spigen Slim Armor Galaxy S6 Edge Plus Case with Kickstand and Air Cushion Technology and Hybrid Drop Protection for Galaxy; Brand: Spigen; Review: Not a single complaint and it looks awesome. Best case I've ever had.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Atrico Rapid-Charging 6-Port Desktop USB Hub/Charging Station with Smart IC Technology for Apple; Brand: ATRICO; Review: This is not a rapid-charger. I have had my Samsung S6 Edge Plus plugged into this for 24 minutes and it charged 1%!!! Think about it....24 minutes for 1% That means it would take 2,400 minutes to fully charge it. 2,400 minutes is 40 hours! Rapid-charging??? It takes a full work-week for it to fully charge! This product claims to rapid-charge Android devices. That couldn't be further from the truth. This is pure garbage! This is a real review, not one from a person who got paid to give it. I called Amazon and am returning it for a refund and I told them to investigate this item.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Sunnest 3 Pack 10FT Extra Long Nylon Braided Micro USB Cable High Speed USB 2.0 A Male to Micro B; Brand: SUNNEST; Review: Using this on my Samsung S6 Edge Plus. I tried it with a USB hub, a Samsung fast charge connector plugged into a wall, 2 different extension cords, 3 power banks and none can get it to fast charge at the same speed as the cable that came with the phone. At 30%, the fast charge cable that came with the phone said 1 hour, 15 minutes to full. This cable said 1 hour, 53 minutes. That's almost an extra 40 minutes. Is it faster than a regular cable? Yes. Does it match the speed of the original fast charge cable? No. I just tested it with a Bose charging cable just because it's the newest cable I had. I didn't have any idea if it was a fast charging cable or not and it charges just as fast as the original. It is a good buy? Yes, but if you need a really fast battery boost before you head out for the night, the original and popular brand name cables will get you there quicker. I was just about to rate it 4 stars, but the fact that if the battery was completely dead, it would take about an hour and 10 minutes longer to get a full charge. That's a big deal.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: S6 Edge Battery Case,Caka [Newest; Brand: Caka; Review: The specs of this product are LIES! There is no way the battery is 4200mAh. If it were, it would fully charge a dead phone to 100% and still have enough juice to charge it another 40% or so. All you'll get out of this case is 50% TOTAL, which means the battery in the case is more like 1500mAh, so if your phone is at 50%, this case will get you back to a full charge, but that's about it. The S6 Edge Plus battery sucks to begin with and this isn't much help. The case always ends up turning on when I don't want it on, and it keeps the phone at 100% which is not good, because when you're using your phone and you NEED the case, the case will be dead. I've yet to find a battery case that actually does what it says it's supposed to. The last one I bought started melting! Good thing I was awake to smell it or it would have went on fire and who knows what would have happened with that.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Elebase iPhone 6/6S/7/8 Battery Case; Brand: Elebase; Review: The specs of this product are LIES! There is no way the battery is 4200mAh. If it were, it would fully charge a dead phone to 100% and still have enough juice to charge it another 40% or so. All you'll get out of this case is 50% TOTAL, which means the battery in the case is more like 1500mAh, so if your phone is at 50%, this case will get you back to a full charge, but that's about it. The S6 Edge Plus battery sucks to begin with and this isn't much help. The case always ends up turning on when I don't want it on, and it keeps the phone at 100% which is not good, because when you're using your phone and you NEED the case, the case will be dead. I've yet to find a battery case that actually does what it says it's supposed to. The last one I bought started melting! Good thing I was awake to smell it or it would have went on fire and who knows what would have happened with that. This case takes forever to charge and after about 30 minutes of using it to charge your phone, it's dead!; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Cell_Phones_and_Accessories |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy Boy's Rocket N Roll; Brand: ; Review: It was expected.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wonder Woman Symbol Blue Hockey Women's T-Shirt; Brand: DC Comics; Review: My wife loves this shirt. I also liked how the shirt sizes were explained clearly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bombay Fashions Women's Short Solid Knee Length Gypsy Bohemian Skirt; Brand: BombayFashions; Review: The wife loves it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stride Rite Captain America Sneaker (Toddler/Little Kid); Brand: ; Review: My son likes it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reebok Men's Classic Nylon R13 Shoe; Brand: ; Review: Probably the most comfortable shoe I own!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PUMA Women's Rio Speed NL Women's Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: Great shoe!! Old school!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Yosoo Owl Cute Fashion Diamond Crystal Rhinestone Gold Charm Pendent Handbag Purse Bag Keyrings Key Ring Keychains; Brand: Yosoo; Review: Love It .; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MINDENG New Men's Dark Blue Stripes Silver 100% Silk Necktie Classic Striped Tie; Brand: MINDENG; Review: Love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LERDU Women's All Match Scarf Necklace Heart Pendant Beads Tassel Scarf Beautiful Jewelry Accessory; Brand: LERDU; Review: The girls. At work Love love their gift . Thank you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Legendary Whitetails Women's Cottage Escape Long Sleeve Button Up Flannel Shirt; Brand: ; Review: Love Love It .; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: adidas Outdoor Women's Gsg9 Trail Running Shoe; Brand: adidas outdoor; Review: Love all adidas athletics shoes; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: adidas Performance Women's Vigor Bounce Trail Running Shoe; Brand: ; Review: Love then; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Amber Sterling Silver Sun Earrings; Brand: Ian and Valeri Co.; Review: Love love them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Loch Altan; City: Gortahork County Donegal; Review: this hotel ticked all the boxes for comfort, service, and food. The evening dinner on Thursday was a great deal and bar food well above average for quantity and quality. All staff very helpful,would definitely stay here again; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mount Errigal Hotel; City: Letterkenny County Donegal; Review: All aspects of this hotel were great. Large room,friendly and very helpful staff,and food was excellent. Didnt use the fitness suite personally but my wife did and was well impressed. Would definately stay here again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Castle Arch Hotel; City: Trim County Meath; Review: Booked this hotel as a one night stay, to break a journey further south on a prepaid basis. Due to family problems i had to rearrange our trip. The hotel honoured our booking for a later date and could not have been more helpful. The rooms are large and very comfortable,and as described on their website,breakfast was a real treat and all staff we encountered were extremely helpful and polite. We would definately stay at this hotel in the future and recommend it to anyone staying in this area; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: An Grianan Hotel; City: Burt County Donegal; Review: This was a fantastic night the hotel is very very good,the staff were very friendly and so helpful. The Celtic Feast was extremely well done with plenty of food and drink. There was entertainment in the bar after the feast so we were able to enjoy a drink and dance before going to bed. Would recommend this night, and HOTEL to anybody wanting a good time in friendly surroundings.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Loch Altan; City: Gortahork County Donegal; Review: Second visit to this hotel and again an excellent stay. The staff were so obliging and Orla on reception such a helpful Young lady. The food in bar very good quality as was the breakfast. A jamming session in the bar across the road very enjoyable on Tuesday night Would definitely return to this hotel; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Apartamentos Soldoiro; City: Albufeira Faro District Algarve; Review: room ok but there is a lot of work going at the moment bar and resteraunt and bar closed.This hotel is on a steep hill, people with walking difficulties should avoid booking here. The greeting on arrival was very good efficient and polite,as no bar pool and resteraunt available cannot comment on these facilities. would suggest booking later in the year when work complete; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: McGrory s Hotel; City: Culdaff County Donegal; Review: Very welcoming hotel rooms exceptionally clean with all you could want for a short break Food was again very good if limited menu wise. The breakfast was great with a wide variety of fresh baked goods and fruits followed by the traditional "full Irish" Would recommend this hotel to all; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pineta Park Deluxe Hotel; City: Armutalan Marmaris District Mugla Province Turkish Aegean Coas; Review: The lobby of this hotel is impressive but there it stops.The hotel is dirty the rooms outdated, torn and dirty curtains, chipped bath, grab rail came off wall. all inclusive?? beer undrinkable only spirits available gin vodka raki and these ALL served in very thin plastic glasses normally used at a water fountain. There were even no drinks eg whisky bicardi brandy available to buy, the entertainment was non existent except piped music. The gents toiled stank and goodness knows the last time it was deep cleaned. We used the luggage holding area and again it was dirty, socks left here floor had not been vacuumed again lack of cleaning. FOOD everything cold not even warm only ate twice in hotel .Handed the receptionist the form for guests to put their comments two days before departure asking the manager to feel free, if he wished, to discuss my comments needless to say he did not make contact, which makes one wonder if anyone reads them. DO NOT GO HERE .; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Station House Hotel Letterkenny; City: Letterkenny County Donegal; Review: Groupon break to see show in Angrian Theatre, hotel very clean with the staff who would do anything asked of them. Took the table dhote menu and the food was exceptionally good. Would recommend this hotel highly, rooms had all you could ask for.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Courtyard Dallas Addison Midway; City: Addison Texas; Review: Honestly, this location kind of creeps me out. It is tucked away off the main road, but people kind of roaming around make you nervous. When I checked in, there was a guy just lurking by the desk. Clerk didn't seem to mind, but after I checked in he started asking stuff like "what kind of room can I get for $3?" All while never removing a phone from the side of his head. Room itself was ok, but having to drive to the other end of the complex to get to the elevator was odd. You couldn't get to the second floor from the lobby. It was clean and quiet, but the place is also starting to show its age. Don't think I can be back at this facility with the creepy level it has.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: SpringHill Suites Dallas Addison Quorum Drive; City: Addison Texas; Review: Rooms are clean and fairly quiet. Breakfast is decent quality and variety. I would recommend Tues-Fri nights. Not sure what group it is that is there every Sun-Mon night, but they kind of dominate the lobby making you feel uncomfortable if you aren't a part of their group. They don't do anything and don't cause a problem, just a weird vibe.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Addison Galleria; City: Addison Texas; Review: First room they checked me into reeked of smoke. I went to the front desk and asked if they gave me a smoking room as I wanted a non-smoking room. They said no all rooms are non-smoking. I told them I couldn't use the room due to the odor. They begrudgingly let me move to another room, they considered an upgrade. The refrigerator was still filled with food and you could tell one of the beds really hadn't been changed. (still a human indent) I also couldn't sleep well. The pipes in the ceiling, or something else, kept pinging and chirping (think fire alarm needing a new battery), randomly ALL NIGHT LONG. Then when I did actually fall asleep I awoke to noise in the hallway. I packed and tried to leave, but my way was blocked by the Addison Police paddy wagon. Not just a cruiser, the whole wagon. I guess I should be glad that they are removing unwanted people, but I don't want to be in a place who knows what happened to cause them to show up.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Radisson Hotel Dallas North Addison; City: Addison Texas; Review: I have stayed at this hotel twice in the past two weeks. Week 1 - first room they assigned me, the door wouldn't open. Instead of giving me a different room, they took me down the hall and tried to show me how you have to jiggle it just right. They couldn't open it either. Back to the front desk and they assigned me another room, second floor, this one was ok. Was over the swimming pool, but it is January, so it wasn't being used. That pool pump was loud though. Since I was at the end of the hall I just used the stairs. Beer cans and bottles lined the steps from floor 2 down to 1 and the door area to the outside was filled with leaves and dirt. All of that didn't happen just overnight. It has been neglected for some time. Week 2 - They tried to put me in the same room with a broken door! I told them no, give me any other room that isn't for the impaired and isn't on the first floor. They told me only room available was on the first floor, right next to the exit. Loud as could be, couldn't sleep and just horrible. Some lady decided my truck made a better ashtray and leaning post than the designated a good 5 parking spots over. I did double check the stairwell, no changes. After two attempts to stay and no improvement, I will not be back here. I save 1 star for obvious problem hotels, that's the only thing that keeps them at the 2 star level.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Renaissance Tulsa Hotel Convention Center; City: Tulsa Oklahoma; Review: The rooms are starting to fall apart and if you point that out to the manager, they take offense (referring to their superior rating in Tulsa) instead of repairing it or offering to move you to a better maintained room. There is always some event going on there on the weekends as well, so it is noisy as all get out. I eat in the restaurant for breakfast since it is free with my platinum level membership. This last time, it was actually decent. They have added custom egg omelets, pancakes, and waffles to the all you can eat breakfast buffet and the bacon and sausage is from a local farm. Those have made a huge positive difference. Still a negative if you have to pay, they want over $25 for breakfast. (advantage of hotel rating). It does take forever if you need something extra brought to your room. I ran out of coffee and after 30 minutes of waiting from when I called for more, went down to the desk. 15 minutes later, they finally showed up.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crowne Plaza Dallas Near Galleria Addison; City: Addison Texas; Review: At best you can say this hotel would be a nice Holiday Inn. It is very large and you can get lost in it. Carpeting, drapes, wall coverings appear from the late 70s early 80s. Beds were barely full sized, sure weren't queens as advertised. Oh, they don't tell you anywhere, but they started charging to park in their lot. There's no security, gates or anything, but they keep a tow truck on the lot to move them out if they don't have a sticker on them. That's a $15.95 service fee you won't get back, so either pay and keep your car or don't pay ask for a refund and be told of the higher cancellation fee. Internet slow, walls thin, every room faces the parking and the car alarms and triggers just echo off the windows. I won't be there again.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: TownePlace Suites Tucson Williams Centre; City: Tucson Arizona; Review: Claire, Savannah, Mary and heck all the staff made me feel super at home here from day 1. I couldn't ask for better treatment. Rooms super clean. Hotel quiet. Food and beverages wonderful (for what it was). Anything I needed, they did. Other hotels could learn from this group.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn Dallas Addison Quorum Drive; City: Addison Texas; Review: Quietest and cleanest place I have been in Addison. The socials put together in the evening, while small were appreciated and helped me relax after work. Room was super clean and comfortable. The staff was super attentive to any of my requests. I would repeat here often if the price was just a little lower.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Hotel Suites Ennis; City: Ennis Texas; Review: The rooms, in comparison to the other hotels in Ennis, are huge and clean. 9 out of 10 of the desk staff I have interacted with have been fabulous. I found out the 1 that wasn't was let go because it was noticed. After staying at the Days Inn and having my luggage stolen (I'm sure it was by cleaning staff) and being bullied out of the lobby by drunken truck drivers at the LaQuinta, the Holiday Inn was a welcome improvement.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fairfield Inn Suites Dallas North by the Galleria; City: Dallas Texas; Review: The standard rooms are just ok, but the actual suite rooms feel very home like. There is some remodeling going on but I haven't noticed any noise. I stay here often and just wish they would vary their breakfast offerings a bit.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn Dallas Park Central; City: Dallas Texas; Review: The room was clean and quiet. The setting was kind of homey, which was good in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of the area in Dallas. It appears they haven't changed any of the furniture since the place opened. I attached a pic of the chair, suffice it to say the dining room furniture and living room tables had the same wear. That and I noticed there were white bleach stains on the green carper around every drain area in the lobby, which indicates they are trying to kill odors from the sewer by pouring bleach down the pipe. Not the best practice. Still, hotel employees were friendly and the breakfast was decent. If it was the best price in the area, I would stay again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wingate by Wyndham Frisco; City: Frisco Texas; Review: You can tell this is a newer hotel. All items were clean but the walls are super thin. I could here the conversation of a guy on the phone that was two rooms and across the hall away. There was a hot breakfast but the quality of the eggs, you could tell they were powdered and the sausage I just had to toss. Thank goodness they had working waffle makers. Location was nice, right off the Sam Rayburn Tollway, but far enough off that the traffic noise was minimal.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sheraton Dallas Hotel by the Galleria; City: Dallas Texas; Review: I checked in here with a name your price from Priceline. Well my named price went out the window when I got there. They added $12 to park in a lot that had gates that were stuck open and wanted another $12.95 for standard internet (not high speed). There was a weird smell in the hallway. Once inside the room, it was quiet and the room was clean. You can tell the age of the establishment, but nothing was falling apart.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard Dallas Northwest; City: Dallas Texas; Review: I stayed for one night and left. My room, a king suite, was literally falling apart and noisy beyond belief. The lamp on the wall had pieces of it hanging down, that weren't supposed to be hanging. The bed was supposed to be a king size, but at 5'8" I could reach both sides of the bed and my feet hung over the end. Carpet going into my bedroom area was pulled up so I tripped multiple times. When the air unit in the bedroom kicked on, it shook the entire room and was so loud I couldn't hear the TV. I ended up unplugging it and cranking up the air in the living area so it didn't get to hot in the bedroom. I couldn't close the bedroom door anyway as it was out of alignment. Once I finally got all of that settled, the lights on the fire detector could light up the room. If only it was always on. It would flicker, then the two lights would alternate, then they would both stay on for a little while, then one off, the other on, then both off. As an added minus, the last time I stayed there (before the remodel) I had a fridge in my suite. No fridge this time. On the good side, the redo has made the rooms appear larger and roomier, except the bathroom. The staff was kind.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cabins at Green Mountain; City: Branson Missouri; Review: This place was super clean and quiet. The two bedroom cabin was very large and easy for our family to move about in and make our own meals. They had two swimming pools and a hot tub at both. When we were there it was still a little too cold to use them, but they were clean and well maintained.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard by Marriott Dallas Richardson at Spring Valley; City: Richardson Texas; Review: I am not certain why I keep trying different Courtyards thinking they will be any different. When they remodeled this one, you would think they could get the black stains off the tile in the bathroom. The beds are still mediocre and they didn't do anything to improve the sound proofing or the A/C units. While I do like getting my free upgrade to a suite, for less money and a better bed I can stay at either Springhill or Fairfield and get free breakfast, coffee, etc. On the positive, the location was very good for what I was doing at the time and the staff was very friendly. I just expect more when I pay more, not less.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Dallas Richardson; City: Richardson Texas; Review: I would not have stayed here had I known. The price was ridiculous. I can see where they are going with the updates in the lobby and the outside, but the room I was placed in was only partially updated. The bath area was updated and everything else was what you might expect from a cheap roadside no-tell motel. Scratched and dented furniture, warped walls, bed so bad that you could see the springs popping up high enough from the mattress to make the comforter on the bed look like it was bubble wrap. They have so many containers for their construction several of us could not park. A couple of us went in to complain at the desk and when we did, we were told just to go ahead and park in the loop under the cover. Others actually had to park in the neighborhood behind the hotel and walk over, which by the way, every door was sealed except the front entrance. At one point, I thought a train was passing by, but it was just the sound of water rushing through the pipes from the room above me. I definitely will not be back to this hotel.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Renaissance Dallas Richardson Hotel; City: Richardson Texas; Review: The room was beautiful, latest TV technology in the room, the lobby excellent, staff very nice. Having to either pay for self-parking in a lot across the street or pay more for valet parking was not the greatest. Just as I had settled in, the fire alarm went off. The staff was very accommodating, but since it was not a drill or test, the elevators were shut down and everybody had to use the stairs. Positive on the stairwell, they had glue traps everywhere to catch bugs, negative - those traps were so full they couldn't hold more bugs, every floor. I know it's not the main areas, but yuck. Plus, there isn't an exit to the main lobby, we had to go to the lower lobby and then take stairs back up to get to the outer exit. They waived the parking fee when I checked out as compensation for the fire alarm the previous night. I'm torn on recommending as if I hand't seen the stairwell area, I wouldn't have known they had such a bug problem. In the light of day and the main areas, you don't see any issues.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Le Meridien Dallas by the Galleria; City: Dallas Texas; Review: Hotel was very quiet. Room very nice, even though it was mostly pink (not my favorite color). Staff at check-in desk was very pleasant. This is a Starwood property, so if you can get the SPG level by giving your membership info, I would recommend it. What killed me is all the charges for what is free at their sister property at the Westin, just across the street. Had to pay $21.60 (after tax) to park myself. Had to pay for internet, regardless of where you were in the building. Wanted $3 for a bottle of water, Westin just hands me a cold one when I check in. So, if you don't mind being charged for everything you want to do, or if you have unlimited data and use a taxi/uber/bus, then it is a nice hotel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dallas Plano Marriott at Legacy Town Center; City: Plano Texas; Review: Right up front, I will say some items were beyond their control. They don't control road construction or when they start/stop. They also don't control the bars around them and what they do at night. As a traveler, you need to know, don't book this hotel if you want to go to sleep early and/or wake-up late. I was placed in a room facing a bar and the music was loud enough I felt like I was on the bar patio. That didn't end until 2AM, then the construction crew working on the highway started up at 6AM with jackhammers and heavy machinery. So I got a nap, not a good nights rest. The location: Excellent as far as items near it to do/eat, ease of access to highway, and near where I was working. The room: I had a king suite, corner room. The size of the room was wonderful. The TV was new. The carpeting and furniture appears to still be the original from when it was built. My sofa was threadbare and the carpeting was coming unraveled at the seems. The chair in the bedroom was itchy and uncomfortable. The refrigerator had an issue with humidity control to the point of my take-out food bag was soaked and ruined my food. It was clean, just older. Site says renovated 2015. I think all they did was buy new mattresses and TVs. The people: Very kind, but stated no other rooms available when asked if there was one that had been upgraded a little more recently. Extras: I still get a little upset when a place thinks it is ok to charge you just to park. I park for free in a hotel that is $50/night, why do I have to pay $17 to park my self in a garage a block away at a hotel that is over $300/night? As a platinum that has stayed with your company 200 nights this year, be willing to comp me something.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard Dallas Addison Quorum Drive; City: Addison Texas; Review: First time I have stayed at this particular location in well over a year. They have an updated lobby with a nice bistro area. The front desk staff is friendly. I am platinum at this chain and when I asked if there was a free upgrade available, I was told they only have 2 suites due to updates being made and they were both booked. Other locations when this happens, I am typically offered something from the food bistro or bar. Nothing this time. The smaller room I was placed in had been updated, had a mini fridge and was clean. If you have read my reviews of the Northwest or Richardson Courtyards, you know I am not impressed with what they have decided to go with for interior decorating. It is so cheaply done it starts falling apart almost immediately. I booked because it was a online special for $68 and it was worth that price. When they try and get $150 for the same room, I definitely wouldn't pay it. While I didn't experience any problems this time, in the past, with the location of this hotel directly behind 3 different bars (Hooters, Ida Claire, and Magic Time Machine) and across the street from them in both directions, the number of questionable people roaming the parking lot at night gives me cause for concern. Especially since there is no hotel security or cameras on the lot. Park early, don't leave anything in the car, and lock it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gaylord Texan Resort Convention Center; City: Grapevine Texas; Review: The exhibit was wonderful, even if a little pricey. The details were great on all the ice work and had wonderful opportunities for photos. Just when you think you are finished with the actual Santa Claus is Coming to Town themed portion, you walk into an additional area with a Nativity Scene and an Angel that are just beautiful. Warning, 9 degrees is cold and you should follow their site instructions on how to dress. One of the members of our party didn't and ran through the exhibit just to get out of the cold. The parkas they provide alone are not enough. Also, be aware that just paying for the ice passes is not enough. There is a $15 fee for self parking and they will try and get you at the door for the sled, to be able to get a drink in the ice house, force you to take a picture and consider buying it later, make you walk through a hot cocoa and cupcake stand, a gift shop, and a build a bear workshop. Kids will want it all, so take lots of extra cash.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hyatt Regency North Dallas Richardson; City: Richardson Texas; Review: Positives: - The staff is friendly. - The entry area looks very good. - Free parking (still a little bit of a walk to the entrance though) Negatives: - Room was tiny. - Room was outdated - Headboard had worn out fake vinyl flaking off of it. - Dresser/Desk/TV Stand combo was banged up - Towels were thin and rough - Sounded like somebody else was in my bathroom, but was just the guy next door, making certain he did his business. - TV was small and old. Couldn't keep a clear picture. Kept pixelating to the point of not being watchable. - Door jammed overnight and wouldn't let me out of the room. Fortunate enough that the cleaning crew was cleaning room next to me in the morning and heard me trying to open the door. Good kick got me out. Really, in comparison to the 4-star Renaissance just down the road at the same price, makes Hyatt look like a 2.5 star hotel. The DoubleTree just on the other side of the highway makes the Hyatt look like a 3 star. So it's all a matter of perspective. Since I've stayed at places ranked 4 and 5 star, I don't see how this place is getting such good reviews.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sheraton McKinney Hotel; City: McKinney Texas; Review: Not certain why I am seeing 3-3.5 ratings on other sites. This one is 4-4.5 after having stayed at multiple other 4 star rated hotels, this one surpassed them. Easy to get to right off the highway exchange. Checking in was quick and painless. Quiet, clean, big room and bathroom. Everything clean and working. Free parking and free internet. I will definitely look to stay here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Palestine Inn; City: Palestine Texas; Review: Place was clean and the rooms were good sized for the type of hotel. Little restaurant in the parking lot is where you can get a free breakfast if you stay and it is good home cooking. The walls are thin and staff is limited, so don't expect a 4-5 star stay, but compared to the other places in the area, this one is good enough for me.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Dallas Park Central; City: Dallas Texas; Review: Got there and checked in, no problem. Went to my room and it stank like a cat litter box. Then when I went into the bedroom area, the curtains were shredded and discolored. The bathroom tiles were messed up. Furniture had been broken. No other rooms of my type available, except on first floor where a conference was taking place and loud. Still not a great room either. This place is obviously wearing down and they are not maintaining it. When the power went out (not their fault, huge storm) the only things they had to help people were glow sticks. 3 stories worth of stairs to navigate with glow sticks, no power, no emergency lights, no windows, and 2 suitcases were no fun. Checkout - no power, can't give you a bill, nothing working, but write down your name and email and we will send it to you. How does a major hotel chain not have an emergency generator to at least provide some primary safety functions? Not staying again.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn Dallas Plano The Colony; City: The Colony Texas; Review: The room itself was nice and pretty clean. Took me a minute to find the towels since they were hidden behind the bathroom door. I booked this place since it was bigger and slightly outside of Dallas hoping it would be quieter than other places. Nope, multiple little league baseball teams. The hotel can't control the kids (neither could the parents) but there has to be something that can buffer the noise a little better.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SpringHill Suites Shreveport Bossier City Louisiana Downs; City: Bossier City Louisiana; Review: Negatives - Pool heater was broken, so it was cold. Breakfast wasn't stocked. People staying there were all chain smokers covering the entrances with smoke. Didn't like some of the clientelle. Positives - Room as clean and quiet. We were able to sleep very well.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: TownePlace Suites Slidell; City: Slidell Louisiana; Review: The hotel itself was clean and the people, when available, were friendly. I was booked under my my platinum number, but they didn't have it when I arrived. I even called ahead and gave it to the guy at the desk so he could get me my free room upgrade. When I got the bill, he didn't add my number, just moved me in to the larger room with the higher price. My room still had food in the refridgerator from the previous occupant, but was otherwise clean. The free breakfast was odd. I am used to the rest of the TownePlace Suites always having an egg product, a meat product and waffles. (3 hots) This one only had 2 of the 3 along with the typical continental flair, except they didn't put out any plain ice water. I guess when you get used to the great locations, you notice the average ones more. They did resolve my bill issues with no issue and the rest of the time was quiet, even with a bachelorette party going on the first night.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Springhill Suites Tulsa at Tulsa Hills; City: Tulsa Oklahoma; Review: This is a solid hotel and the newness is the only thing that really makes it so. The walls are super-thin and not insulated. I could hear conversations in rooms down the hall, in my room. I could count the cars passing on the highway from their engine noise and the number of people entering/exiting their cars in the Main Event parking lot next door. Drove me nuts. Didn't help that the room air systems are setup to not allow you to run the fan constantly. You either have to be heating or cooling the room for the fan to be on at all. Finally, I hate the smoke detectors they are using now. The green light that blips every 10 seconds literally lit up the room. Bathroom, while clean and working feels cramped with the thin layout. Shower door also doesn't contain water, so you step out into a puddle. Breakfast was good, hot and hearty. Pool, I see why it wasn't mentioned on the website. More like a single lane lap pool. Two kids could stand side by side in it, but not two adults. Bed itself was fine. Where they setup the TV, you couldn't clearly see it from the living area, or the bedroom area unless you moved the entire dresser they had it setting on. Staff is friendly and attentive. For the money, I'd just stay at the Marriott another mile down the road (at least the priceline price is usually the same cost); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Catalonia Royal Bavaro; City: Punta Cana La Altagracia Province Dominican Republic; Review: I'll try to break this down into a few categories. Arrival: Lobby looks great. We used their pre-book check-in feature to request certain things for our stay. Nothing fancy, just stock our fridge with just water, we don't want the alcohol and pop. Extra towels. Make certain the A/C works (lots of review that say it doesn't). Ground floor. We also emailed directly to the hotel a week prior to arrival. Took three days to get a response, a form letter with somebody else's name. We got the ground floor we requested, nothing else. I suspect, that was just a coincidence. Also, avoid the "concierge" that is there to greet you and offer you a special breakfast, he wants to sell you a time share. Told us if we didn't visit with him in the morning, he couldn't keep this job. That is BS. Almost made me want to change hotels right then. Room: It is old, but well sound proofed. You can see half-done repairs, or lack of repairs, all over. Bed was a rock. Could have slept on the floor and gotten the same quality. Curtains torn. Plug-ins, 1 at desk with clock plugged in, single outlet the poor functioning TV was plugged into, single outlet for a lamp in the seating area. I even moved night stands and other furniture to see if they were hidden. So in entire room, one plug to use, unless you unplugged something else. Lighting itself was minimal if you closed the curtains. Seating was worn out wicker. Closet handle was repaired in such a way that if you didn't grab it just right, you would cut yourself. All that said, it was clean. Toilet clogged 3 times. When informed the desk said it would be resolved right away. Took over 12 hours for the longest, 2 hours was the shortest. Shower had broken tiles and the shower head holder was broken. The water was scorching hot though. A/C, technically it worked, barely. By day 7, I don't think it was working. We packed and left the room in the morning and hung out at the piano bar as it was the coolest place we could find. Room cleaning staff: When we noticed that our requests hadn't been granted, the first staff we saw that cleaned our rooms we requested the same things again and even tipped ahead of time. Requests were still never provided. In addition, cleaning occurred in waves. First wave would come in during the AM and remove everything they thought was trash or dirty (even if the towels weren't in the designated area for dirty, they would take them, even our beach towel! Some time around 2PM, they would arrive with clean towels (but not the beach towel they took). About 5PM, they would return and look to restock the fridge, but never had what we were actually out of and ask if we really wanted more. Then would disappear for 10-15 minutes and come back with one, instead of replacing it all. Food: General warning - don't stay here; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Seorabol Korean Restaurant; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: I love this place for oh so many many reasons lol I love the bbq and all it side dishes I love the spicy tuna maki roll Awesome service Will recommend to everyone; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: K Top Asian Fusion; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Awesome dec, great service, yummy food all in all, me and my friends had an awesome time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Terakawa Ramen; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: The spicy noodle was okay. The pork and egg is very yummy but soup base was a little blan. All in all, it was cool.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: E Mei Restaurant; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: 4 rivers was my go to restaurant for spicy food but this is my new love lol I love this place :); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tweedy For Nails; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: The guy did a shitty job on my pedi but was pretty good on my gel mani....not sure if I'll go back; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Nu Bella Nails; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: I told Lucy to run with my nails.... she ran a motherfuking marathon..i freaking love em; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: John's Roast Pork; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: The sandwich wasnt too bad but should have come with broccoli rabe as opposed to spinach. Roast pork sandwich maker and cashier were rude and miserable as hell!; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Spigen Slim Armor Galaxy S4 Case with Air Cushion Technology and Hybrid Drop Protection for Galaxy S4; Brand: Spigen; Review: The case is working well. I knocked off my phone from a table top with no resulting damage to the phone. The way it landed I would have guessed that the screen would have been cracked.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anker 40W 5-Port Family-Sized Desktop USB Charger with PowerIQ Technology for iPhone 5s 5c 5; iPad Air; Brand: Generic; Review: An excellent product. I have had 5 devices (tablets, phones, Bluetooth headset) connected. Each charged fully and at its own rate. Small size and standard USB ports made this especially viable. I had been using a multi charger from another manufacturer that required special adapter cable for each type of device.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Microseven Ruggled Impact Armor Kickstand Dual Layer Case Cover For Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 10.1 / T520; Brand: Microseven; Review: The tablet hasn't been dropped so I can't comment on the protection it would afford, but it seems sturdy enough to offer some protection. The kickstand is a fantastic idea as is works in any of the four positions. The only concern I have if for the black rubber that goes around the plastic portions of the case. I had an Otterbox case that was very similar and the rubber eventually stretched enough that it would not remain on the phone. The runner portion of this case also seems to be stretching a bit. If it get ous of hand I will add more info to this at that time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hyperion Samsung Galaxy Note 3 HoneyComb Matte TPU Case / Cover for the Extended BatteryHyperion Retail Packaging; Brand: Hyperion EA; Review: Unit I had did not completely fit the phone using an Anker 6400mAh battery. One side would not fit the phone. Contacted Hyperion and they promptly resolved to problem. Hat's off to their customer service, much better than most. Would buy from them again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 6400mAh Extended; Brand: Hyperion EA; Review: Woks great. Phone lasts longer. Great buy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DigiYes Qi Standard Wireless Charger Module Receiver for Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Support NFC; Brand: DigiYes; Review: Would not charge phone.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Samsung S-View Wireless Charging Cover for Galaxy Note 4 - Retail Packaging - White; Brand: Samsung; Review: Same as original. No issues.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 2-Pack Type C; Brand: LightningKid; Review: Unlike previously purchased adapters, these fit well and actually worked. Quality product and prompt delivery.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Josi Minea x5 Pcs USB 3.1 Type C (USB-C) to Micro USB Adapter Connector for Samsung Galaxy S8; Brand: Josi Minea; Review: None of the five worked. All were very loose fit. Save your money.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Cell_Phones_and_Accessories |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Murphey s Motel; City: Lee Vining California; Review: Our room was clean, and offered basic amenities (coffee maker, refrigerator) but we were charged an additional $10 at check in for my husband, (I had no idea the rate we booked under was for just one person.) which put our rate at $98. I understand that there are not a lot of options in this area, but we have stayed at so many, much nicer, newer, motels that offered breakfast for much less than what we paid to stay here.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Motel 6 Carlsbad Beach; City: Carlsbad California; Review: This motel is in a nice area with a safe feeling. The room was very clean and nicely updated. I was dissappointed not to have a hair dryer in the room (I have very long hair) and one was not available when I called the front desk. There is laundry on site, but not ATM or change machine. All of the staff that we encountered were very friendly. We did not use the pool, but it looked clean. No frills motel, at a good price.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn San Diego Miramar; City: San Diego California; Review: Our rooms was clean and we were able to park close by. The breakfast was a step above continential offering eggs, sausages and bacon in addition to the waffles, cerial and pastries. The breakfas was well kept up. There seemed to be some "long term" guests. Overall decent value, but nothing spectacular. VERY CLOSE to Miramar MCAS if going to visit military friends or family.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: El Castell Motel; City: Monterey Monterey County California; Review: We stayed two nights and had a good stay overall. We ended up checking in VERY late (around 1:00am) which meant waking someone from their sleep to check us in. We felt terrible about it. Our room #108 had a terrible smell, like sewage but considering the late check in time, we didn't want to make a fuss. The rooms are well decorated with nice updates and a super comfy bed. Breakfast the first day was a real mess, but the second was nice. All of the staff we encountered were very friendly (except the half asleep man at check in, but understandly so). We didn't use the pool, but it looked nice and clean. The flowers around the property are just beautiful. There was loud music from a dance club next door which was noticable, but fortunately didn't keep us awake. Excellent amenities in room, coffee maker, hair dryer, refrigerator. Nice shampoo and conditioner, extra soft sheets and thick towels.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Agriturismo Ben Ti Voglio; City: Bologna Province of Bologna Emilia Romagna; Review: We were warmly welcomed by Alessandra and so impressed with the gorgeous views from every room. Nice, clean rooms with a breakfast of plenty. Homemade pastries, cured meats, cheese and more. We will bring our motorcycle your group here every year.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Villa Costanza; City: Mestre Veneto; Review: We booked 6 rooms for two nights for our motorcycle tour group with the gondola ride. Everyone loves it here. Delicious breakfast offerings. The staff is really helpful and friendly. We will surely stay many more times. The location is ideal, close to the train station and in a nice, diverse neighborhood. I would recommend this hotel to anyone and am surprised it is only 3 stars. Should have more!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Residenza d Epoca Pietra di Ponente; City: Ciampino Province of Rome Lazio; Review: We stayed two nights with our tour group and we loved this place. Very clean, well decorated with a lot of character. We enjoyed two dinners and can agree it was some of the best food we had on our entire trip. The staff was very friendly and helpful from the food service, to room attendants and front desk. We recommend this gorgeous place to anyone looking for a nice stay just outside of the city.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Red Carpet Inn Newark Airport; City: Irvington New Jersey; Review: This hotel offers everything you need at a great price. Clean, inexpensive, friendly staff and good breakfast. We stayed in a Jacuzzi room and chuckled when we walked in to a heart shaped Jacuzzi. But, I'm 5'9" and my 6'3" husband and i were both able to comfortably relax in that tub after a 9.5 hour flight. I would gladly stay here again. They offer free shuttle to the airport every 30 minutes. Great Value! Just like the name says.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Agriturismo Colle degli Olivi; City: Assisi Province of Perugia Umbria; Review: We stayed here as part of a tour and really enjoyed our stay. Sunset on the terrace overlooking the hills was delightful. By far, the cleanest place we stayed at in the two weeks we spent touring Italy! Loved it! Breakfast was delicious.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: San Ruffino Resort; City: Casciana Terme Lari Province of Pisa Tuscany; Review: This place is amazing! We stayed two nights with our tour group and this was the favorite place of the entire tour! This is a real castle built in the 1600s with original fresco ceilings and amazing decor. This blend of old meets new is nothing short of magical. We will be returning with future tour groups and recommend this resort to anyone.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sheraton San Diego Hotel Marina; City: San Diego California; Review: Where do I begin? We stayed here for 5 nights as part of a work conference. Our check in Agent Karina was polite, pleasant and friendly. Our room has a lovely view of the harbor but is pretty run down. The "pleather" is peeling off the handles of the dresser, the chair is all faded and beat up looking, there are stickers peeling off, broken pieces of the patio door and we had to call maintenance for our broken shower (which was promptly fixed). Our room is right across from the ice machine which sounds like a jack hammer being used outside our door on a regular basis. Also, right next to the ice machine is the door to the mainenance department so we got to hear them coming and going from 6:00am. We walked to dinner through the park next door, but the 8 foot fence (with barbed wire in some areas) all around the "resort" made us feel like rats in a maze. Not even one place open for pedestrians to pass, which meant we got to walk all of the lot looking for a way out, then all of the way around, thru a dirt parking lot. We were told after check in that our group rate of $189 per night + tax does not include the resort fees so we were not able to use the bicycles, kayak and paddle boards provided for guest use, (despite what our confirmation letter stated). The in room coffee and tea were lovely and tasty, and the room was very clean, but seemed dated. Maybe it is the "nautical" theme? We opted not to have our room serviced every day with the planet's health in mind. So, I approached members of the housekeeping staff asking for coffee and told them we didn't need service but our trash can was filled. They said "Sit it outside of your door and we will empty it." Great! I put our trash and our recycle container outside the door, with the recyclables CLEARLY sorted to be recycled and watched them pour BOTH containers right into a large black trash bag. So much for recycling!!!! UGH!!!! Parking is $10 for 0-1 hours, so lucky us, we got to pay $10 just to park our rental car in the lot long enough to come check in and unload our bags. They charge $35 per night parking! We have stayed in much more elegant hotels for half the cost and not felt like we were getting duped. All of the staff we dealt with from the front desk, bell desk, valet and housekeeping were friendly and professional.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Sunrise Landing Motel; City: Northport Leelanau County Michigan; Review: We loved this place! We stayed one night during a wine tour and plan to stay again next time we are in the area. Our room was very clean. The place is cute and has some character. The waterfront location is fantastic and super easy to find with their big bright sign by the road. Next time we hope to enjoy a fire by the water at night. The staff was super friendly and make excellent morning coffee. I recommend staying here for anyone looking for a clean, cozy place at a great price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Sanuk Men's Yogi 3 Flip-Flop; Brand: ; Review: Comfortable soles.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Calvin Klein Men's 40mm Reversible Belt; Brand: ; Review: Belt is attractive but size was too short.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: i play. Baby Boys' Ultimate Reusable Snap Swim Diaper; Brand: i play.; Review: Somewhat small; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: i play. Baby Boys' Ultimate Reusable Snap Swim Diaper; Brand: i play.; Review: Somewhat small; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Steve Madden Men's Fighter Fashion Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: Following comments from other online posts I bought this shoe one size up and it was too small. Very disappointed with the outcome as I bought the shoe for a specific event and it's too late to replace it now.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Killing Edge; Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Graham Page; Review: Heather Graham writes so well you just can't seem to put her books down another one that kept me guessing until the exciting end.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Haunted; Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Graham Page; Review: Pretty well written for a first book in a series. I know the next books are great because I have read them. Entertaining.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Final Appeal; Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa Scottoline Page; Review: Slow start. Didn't see whodunit until character exposed self. Man or woman? You have to read the entire book to make this discovery. Thoroughly enjoyable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Presence; Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Graham Page; Review: Fast, intense,good mixture of spooky and nefarious. Sexy without being overwhelming. I didn't guess the ending. The bad guy was hidden we'll.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Unhallowed Ground (Harrison Investigation); Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Graham Page; Review: Very good read. Another great title from Heather Graham. She is fast becoming my favorite writer of in the genre.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Picture Me Dead; Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Graham Page; Review: Took them long enough to get to the point! Great read, but a real slow starter. Shocked with who done it!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eyes Of Fire (MIRA); Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Graham Page; Review: Go to this one! Moved along nicely. I had my thoughts as to who the culprit was. I was wrong! Good read. I learned a lot about diving and enjoyed every minute of the read. Go to Starfire Island and get away from your living room.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Haunting at Storm House (A Ravynne Sisters Paranormal Thriller Book 3) - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Merabeth James Page; Review: A great place to haunt and enjoy the shivers. Who is really the bad person? Is it a person or a true haunting? Who is doing the haunting? Great read. Kept me guessing and reading. Sorry when it was over. Very enjoyable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Night Is Watching (Krewe of Hunters); Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Graham Page; Review: I didn't have a clue who was good and who was bad. Nice love story. There was so much going on it was hard to keep track of who was doing what to whom. Thoroughly enjoyable. Bring on more Krewe of Hunters. Heather Graham you have outdone yourself. Great read. Keep them coming.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Seance (MIRA); Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Graham Page; Review: If you are interested in the paranormal AND crime stories this book is for you. Interesting to meet Adam Harrison and get the chance to understand his work better. The love story is nice but doesn't run the story. Good setting, nice mix of characters, good side stories keep this book from slowing down. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to my next book by Heather Graham. Her writing is simply wonderful. I am glad that I found Ms. Graham.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Let the Dead Sleep (Cafferty & Quinn); Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Graham Page; Review: Caught from page one. Read straight through, it was that good. Well developed characters, great plot line, a thouraghly enjoyable read. Looking forward to reading more Cafferty and Quinn. Thank you Heather Graham.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Their Haunted Eyes (A Ravynne Sisters Paranormal Thriller Book 4) eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's Merabeth James Page; Review: While a little mushy, this was an enjoyable story. Meg and Charlie make a great team and Charlie seems to know the right people at the right time. Vampire stories are all so different, and this was no exception. Loved the depection on New Orleans as a vampire lair, and just plain enjoyed this quick read. Long live the Ravynne Sisters. Keep on writing so smoothly, Merabeth James.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Night Is Alive (Krewe of Hunters); Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Graham Page; Review: Heather Graham does a masterful job with The Night is Alive. Characters were well rounded, and it's always good to get reacquainted with other Krewe members. Heather's characters are believable, even the ghosts. I look forward to finding another Krewe book very soon. Thank you, Heather Graham, for such a terrific imagination and writing style. Couldn't put the book down!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Keeper of the Dawn; Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Graham Page; Review: This is a real take off from the usual Heather Graham! Keeping all the characters in their correct places was challenging but worth it. This book had it all: suspense, love, hate, with a great ending. I loved it. Another terrific read from Ms. Graham.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wailing Woman of Brackencliffe Abbey (A Ravynne Sisters Paranormal Thriller Book 5) eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's Merabeth James Page; Review: I love Merabeth James. Her writing is crisp, her characters are interesting and fun, and the books move along briskly. This was a thouraghly enjoyable book. Vampire Laird, here I come!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Vampire Laird (A Ravynne Sisters Paranormal Thriller Book 2) - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Merabeth James Page; Review: A very interesting book, made more so by believable characters. Meg and Charlie make a great team. It is a light read, one that you cannot put down. I believe in ghosts so these stories call to me. Everyone who wants to escape from life for a while should read Merabeth James.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bone Garden: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Tess Gerritsen Page; Review: The movement back and forth between the present and the past was handled with acumen. I learned so much from this book, which is partly historical. What a treat of a read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Silent Girl (Rizzoli & Isles); Author: Visit Amazon's Tess Gerritsen Page; Review: Convoluted, mesmerizing, amazing all describe this latest Tess Gerritsen book. Just discovered her books while reading another review. The Rizzoli and Isles connection is good and actually why I read the book. Story surrounds Rizzoli And a nineteen year old case. The last two chapters show how really well GERRITSON writes. Read it. You'll enjoy it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bone Yard (Body Farm); Author: Visit Amazon's Jefferson Bass Page; Review: Good Book, but slow. Literally layers upon layers move the story along, so you can't just stop reading! Although I was tempted to stop several times, I am glad I finished a book with a great amount of information, and a good ending. If you get frustrated easily, Don't read this book. If you enjoy forensic science, it is a great read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Night Is Forever (Krewe of Hunters); Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Graham Page; Review: I wasn't in the mood for reading, but I'm hooked on Heather Graham' s stories. This did not fail to please. A little slow moving to begin with but filled with detail and suspense. Mature sections were handled with aplomb and not too terribly graphic. Ghosts galore. You will enjoy this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Inferno; Author: Visit Amazon's Dan Brown Page; Review: Fast moving, twisting and turning on every page, this is not a book you want to miss. Dan Brown has outdone himself with Inferno. Well developed story with engaging characters. Don't miss this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cut to the Bone: A Body Farm Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Jefferson Bass Page; Review: This was a really good book. Very intense and graphic, but I couldn't seem to stop reading. You won't be disappointed in this book. Very, very good, well worth the time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vanquishing Ghosts (Tess Schafer-Medium Book 3) eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's Deborah J. Hughes Page; Review: Tess Schafer - Medium, does it again. I love the way she inter-twines the past with the present. Thoroughly enjoyable and believable characters with whom you become easily engrossed. I plan to read more of 's. Hughes in the near future.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Black Cathedral; Author: L. H. Maynard; Review: Wow. What a great story. This could make a wonderful movie. L. H. Maynard has genius in his writing. Fight through a strange beginning. Meaty storyline. Great read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The King's Pleasure (Zebra Books); Author: Visit Amazon's Shannon Drake Page; Review: Therapy been The story had enough twists and turns to keep me intrigued and reading page after page. Beautiful love story. Great suspensions. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deadly Night (The Flynn Brothers Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Graham Page; Review: Enjoyed meeting the Flynn Brothers. Vert good tension and suspense. Another surprise ending by Heather Graham. I am looking forward to reading book two in this trilogy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deadly Gift (The Flynn Brothers Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Graham Page; Review: DEADLY Gift brings out the best in Heather Graham. From the early pages to the very end it is an excellent read. Great love story, and the mystery and suspense made you want keep reading.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deadly Harvest (The Flynn Brothers Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Graham Page; Review: Although I read the books out of order, the brothers still brought continuity to the stories. DEADLY Harvest had a good cast of characters, besides the brothers. Rowenna' s character was outstanding. Graham always comes through with a well-balanced story line. Very enjoyable and well worth the time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deadly Harvest (Flynn Brothers Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Graham Page; Review: Although I read the books out of order, the brothers still brought continuity to the stories. DEADLY Harvest had a good cast of characters, besides the brothers. Rowenna' s character was outstanding. Graham always comes through with a well-balanced story line. Very enjoyable and well worth the time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Awakening; Author: Visit Amazon's Shannon Drake Page; Review: This is a very good book, but a bit complicated. The characters are interesting, the story line moves along quickly. Enjoyable read. I noticed that Heather Graham books move much faster at about the 60% point. At that point, I find them extraordinarily hard to put down. This is the first Alliance Vampires book I've read, and I plan to seek them out in the future.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Secret Hollows (Mary O'Reilly Series Book 7) - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Terri Reid Page; Review: Ghosts, cops, and private eyes, oh my! This was a quick, entertaining book. I just met Mary O'Reilly, paranormal investigator, and am already searching for more. Terri Reid writes well, with emotion, and passion. This book is not only entertaining, but you are drawn in feeling like family. Unfortunately I'll be reading this series backwards! But, it is well worth your time. Go for it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Veiled Passages: A Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery - Book Ten (Mary O'reilly Paranormal Mysteries); Author: Visit Amazon's Terri Reid Page; Review: Terri Reid's books move fast. The characters are interesting, the stories are intriguing, and the paranormal element is written in such a way that is believable. Small twist at the end was great. Two stories in one!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Treasured Legacies: A Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery - Book Twelve; Author: Visit Amazon's Terri Reid Page; Review: You must read all 12 of the Mary O'Reilly Paranormal mysteries. They are easy to read, and fun to read, too. There are mysterious happenings and a beautiful love story throughout the series. I thouraghly enjoyed the characters, the stories, and will continue to seek out books by Terri Reid. Thanks, Terri, for Mary O'Reilly and her crew.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Covert Pursuit (The Chase Series, Book 2) (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense #195); Author: Visit Amazon's Terri Reed Page; Review: This f a st-moving story held my attention far better than many other books. Terri Reed' s books are always intriguing, informative, suspenseful, and worth the reading time. I had a hard time putting this one down.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: When Darkness Falls; Author: Visit Amazon's Shannon Drake Page; Review: The only thing I didn't like was the poor editing. Look past that and you have a wonderful story of love and vampires. I really enjoyed reading about Maggie, Sean, and Lucien again. A great read if you are a fan of the genre. loved it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Night Hunger (A Ravynne Sisters Paranormal Thriller Book 7) - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Merabeth James Page; Review: Love Merabeth James. Every book is expertly written and fast moving. This was no different. I love the paranormal suspense genre and Miss James does them well. Night Hunger was another good read, that kept me glued to my Kindle. I look forward to more.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Cursed (Krewe of Hunters); Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Graham Page; Review: I rated the curse as a five because I couldn't put it down. The tension began early, and grew exponentially. The premise is an actual dilemma in today's society, making it even more interesting. Thoroughly enjoyable, and believable. Heather Graham continues to be one of my favorite authors. In The Cursed, she does not disappoint.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Summoner: (The Dominic Grey Novels); Author: Visit Amazon's Layton Green Page; Review: well developed characters moved forcefully through this work. The writer kept up the pace, and took me to places I've never been, but feel an intimate knowledge of now. excellent story, well crafted. read it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Raven Mocker: Evil Returns to Cades Cove; Author: Visit Amazon's Aiden James Page; Review: I couldn't put it down. This is a non-stop thriller. with believable characters and locations. you won't be sorry if you choose to read this.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cades Cove; Author: Visit Amazon's Aiden James Page; Review: Aiden James is a master storyteller. His characters are engaging and some are downright terrifying. The story had me up all night to finish. loved the native American story, below the main story. Hopefully I can sleep tonight. Frightening suspense. I; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Blood Alchemist; Author: Visit Amazon's Becca Andre Page; Review: Intriguing storyline, well-developed characters, and unusual plot line made this book one I could not put down. No one is who they seem.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Daughter of Time: A Time Travel Romance (The After Cilmeri Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Sarah Woodbury Page; Review: Great read. Many characters to follow. This has it all, time travel. Education, romance, intrigue, mystery.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Prince of Time (The After Cilmeri Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Sarah Woodbury Page; Review: This book is another exciting, action packed, story, with well developed characters. I am reading all of these, because they are so entertaining.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crossroads in Time (The After Cilmeri Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Sarah Woodbury Page; Review: This is another book in the series, that you can't put down. When you pick it up besure you have nothing else to do!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Children of Time (The After Cilmeri Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Sarah Woodbury Page; Review: This is yet another tension filled, action packed story. I am following the characters with intense interest because they are so believable in unbelievable situations.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Exiles in Time (The After Cilmeri Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Sarah Woodbury Page; Review: After five books you might think the writer would have run out of scenarios. Not so with the After Cilmari series. I can't wait for the next book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wolves of Paris; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Wallace Page; Review: Michael Wallace writes a fast-paced thriller, with a bit of the occult thrown in. Wolves, terrifying the countryside, and Paris itself. The brave brothers, Marco and Vincenzo, must save the city, but how? These wolves are like none ever seen, having human minds; bloodthirsty, vicious, and diabolical.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Spirit Clearing; Author: M.R Tufo; Review: This book truly messed with my mind. I enjoyed the entire store line, but the ending was a true shocker. Mark Tufo did a masterful job of blending stories.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Highbury Murders: A Mystery Set in the Village of Jane Austen's Emma; Author: Visit Amazon's Victoria Grossack Page; Review: Ms. Grossack wrting in the style of Jane Austin, is admirable. this book will keep your mind busy and your perceptions jumping. Who, what, why, where and when are all answered in due time with many machinations. Thoroughly enjoyable. Read it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Tenth Chamber; Author: Visit Amazon's Glenn Cooper Page; Review: fast paced and action packed thriller, held my interest in a genre that is getting overloaded.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Execution (The Wintergrave Chronicles) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Sharon Cramer Page; Review: Slow starting. Hopped around to different ppoints in the peortagonists lives. Ending was relatively easy to guess, but that did not distract from an otherwise engrossing story. Man's stupidity and inhumanity to other men was repeated throughout this well thought out, well presented tale of the 14th century.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Aura; Author: Visit Amazon's Carrie Bedford Page; Review: Suspenseful and filled with misdirection. Poor Kate thinks she's losing her mind, or seeing things, until people start dying. Can she save the aura afflicted or are they all destined to die. Read it in one sitting.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Risen (The Wintergrave Chronicles) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Sharon Cramer Page; Review: Is she a witch or just an unusual queen? Excellent read. Third of a trilogy, best of the three. You will enjoy it and learn history without pain. While enjoying letting your mind fly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Moon Signs; Author: Visit Amazon's Helen Haught Fanick Page; Review: The ladies were true characters, and not in the book sense. This was a well written book, with just a touch of mayhem to keep you interested. I thoroughly enjoyed Moon Signs. Light yet intriguing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Moonlight Mayhem: Moon Mystery Series II; Author: Visit Amazon's Helen Haught Fanick Page; Review: I enjoyed my older lady sleuths again. This is developing into a nice series. I cannot wait to get my hands on Hunters Moon when it's available for the iPad.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Never Haunt a Historian (Leigh Koslow Mysteries); Author: Visit Amazon's Edie Claire Page; Review: This is my first Leigh Koslow book and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. There were many characters throughout the book, but my favorite were the kids, the Pack! They eventually broke the story. Leigh was an excellent narrator pulling together the various groups of characters from the kids to the geriatrics and wrapping it all up nicely.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Delphi Agenda; Author: Visit Amazon's Rob Swigart Page; Review: While I enjoyed the Delphi Agenda, it was slow moving,and repetitive. The characters were the best part of the book. It seemed forever to read.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Haunting at Hensley Hall (A Ravynne Sisters Paranormal Thriller Book 1) eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's Merabeth James Page; Review: This was a great read, even the second time around! Charlie and Meg are well developed characters and entertain as well as give great goosebumps. You'll never guess the ending! Whodunnit indeed!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: DeBlossom Hunter Scoop Skim Womens Flat Shoes; Brand: DeBlossom; Review: I wish they had offered a picture with a foot in the shoe. The front of the shoe doesn't cover my toes completely, which I don't like.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Morgan Men's Casual Jean Full Grain Leather Belt 1-1/2" Wide; Brand: Belts.com; Review: Nice belt very smooth to put on. My husband was tired of all the top grain belts falling apart.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Mountain Kids Climbing Chameleon T-Shirt; Brand: The Mountain; Review: These shirts are really long, they fit normal otherwise just real long. Good quality.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Disney Boys' Mickey Mouse 3-Pack T-Shirts; Brand: ; Review: Thin shirts, but holding up well, my 2 year old love them.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: BAOMOSI Women's Maternity Nursing Bras Seamless Push up Wireless Sleeping Breastfeeding Bralette Underwear Pack of 4; Brand: BAOMOSI; Review: Great deal, I didn't care for the padding, but it was easily removed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Interchangeable Baby & Newborn Bows and Headbands Set by ZELDA MATILDA (40 Pack); Brand: Zelda Matilda; Review: Great deal, they fit well and stay on. I love having all the color options and the fact that you can use the bows as clips as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: JANE STONE Dinosaur Vintage Necklace Short Collar Fashion Costume Jewelry for Women Teens; Brand: JANE STONE; Review: Fun statement piece, I have had several compliments on.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: LOCK LACES (Elastic No Tie Shoe Laces) (Pack of 2); Brand: Lock Laces; Review: Simple solution to my kids never-ending untied laces.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Bangkok Loft Inn; City: Bangkok; Review: I stayed here on my first visit to Bangkok and it was perfect. Good rooms very comfortable and a great breakfast. The staff were very helpful and there is a good Thai resturant across the road. The Skytrain is a 5 minute walk which gets you on your way into town to see the sites; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Habitat HQ; City: St Kilda Port Phillip Greater Melbourne Victoria; Review: - too many rules delivered and enforced by a very officious team sat behind the front desk (barricade) - a culture of them and us, in my opinion, coming out of point one above - no outside alcohol ???? Really ??? This is just so you can sell your stuff and make a quick buck. If you treat us like adults you will make more money in the long run - Tannoy announcements at 10:30 am when people haven't checked out. Some of us had just flown in late last night. Either show some flexibility or fine the offenders but don't disturb the whole hostel -Wi FI infuriating always logging me out - there was violence one night and the police had to be called. I don't believe the staff have control and I witnessed this myself on Saturday night it was chaos - kitchen was dirty especially the I microwaves - 4 dollars for a towel it doesn't.cost anymore to launder a towel in Melbourne compared to the Blue mountains so why is it 4 times the charge ?; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hotel A1; City: Mandalay Mandalay Region; Review: I stayed here twice on my trip on the way into Myanmar and on the way out. Both for 1 night only. The first visit was ok, functional. However the Aircon was noisy enough to keep me awake and the unit was dirty and inefficient. The breakfast room was dirty and the food was poor. On my second visit I couldn’t face breakfast at the Hotel. On the second visit we hired 2 scooters to visit U Bien bridge. Both scooters were in a Dangerous condition. The first scooter the throttle kept sticking open and cutting out intermittently. The second scooter the speedo and horn didn’t work and there was damage to the rear tyre that resulted in a flat tyre at about 30 mins into our journey I raised this with the hotel manager who offered some excuses and a token refund that was less than satisfactory I have spent 5 weeks travelling Asia and this was by far the worst accommodation I stayed in; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: La Casa Di Bagan Nan Eain Thu Hotel; City: Bagan Mandalay Region; Review: Great place to stay on the outskirts of New Bagan, ideal for exploring the temples. The staff were wonderful and breakfast was excellent. Will stay again on my next visit Darli Looked after us very well, nothing was too much trouble. She was excellent; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Merit San Telmo; City: Buenos Aires Capital Federal District; Review: Good hotel at a great price for this location and ideal for exploring SAN Telmo Comfortable quiet rooms. I stayed here for 2 nights and will be returning to this hotel after my visit to the falls Thank you; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with Wikipedia articles as follows:
Title: sovereign wealth fund; Description: state-owned investment fund
Title: sabre fencing; Description: discipline of fencing
Title: Lydnevi; Description: planned language
Title: Interslavic; Description: Pan-Slavic language
Title: Category:Sachsen-class frigates; Description: Wikimedia category
Title: Novorossiya (Union of People's Republics); Description: self-proclaimed confederation in eastern Ukraine sharing a border with Russia and Ukraine
Title: First Council of Ephesus; Description: ecumenical council in Ephesus in June–July 431, convened by Emperor Theodosius II; confirmed the Nicene Creed; condemned Nestorianism and Pelagianism; condemned interference by the Bishop of Antioch in affairs of the church in Cyprus
Title: Brahmi script; Description: ancient script of Central and South Asia
Title: National Emblem of the People's Republic of China; Description: coat of arms
Title: Emblem of Thailand; Description: coat of arms
Title: child prodigy; Description: person who, at an early age, develops one or more skills at a level far beyond the norm for their age
Title: Battle of Kulikovo; Description: battle between Russian principalities and Golden Horde
Title: Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant; Description: decommissioned nuclear power station near the city of Pripyat, Ukraine, known by Chernobyl disaster
Title: Template:NEZAJA; Description: Wikimedia template
Title: Ali in the Quran; Description: Shia interpretations of the Quran as referring to Ali
Title: sabre; Description: sword
Title: Votic; Description: language spoken by the Votes of Ingria
Title: Finnic languages; Description: language family of north-eastern Europe
Title: ultra; Description: type of sports fan renowned for fanatical support and elaborate displays
Title: Tibetan alphabet; Description: abugida used to write the Tibetic languages and others
Title: quadratic function; Description: polynomial function in which the highest-degree term is of the second degree
Title: Hadith of the pen and paper; Description: Wikimedia list article
Title: desertion; Description: crime of abandoning a military duty or post without permission
Title: Sachsen-class frigate; Description: ship class
Title: military alliance; Description: alliance between different states with the purpose to cooperate militarily
Title: Peninsula Shield Force; Description: military arm of the Gulf Cooperation Council
Title: syllabary; Description: set of written symbols that represent the syllables or moras which make up words
Title: teleology; Description: philosophical study of nature
Title: Vedanta; Description: One of six schools of Hindu philosophy
Title: Shine–Dalgarno sequence; Description: ribosomal binding site in prokaryotic messenger RNA
Title: Pnin; Description: novel by Vladimir Nabokov
Title: Parinaz Izadyar; Description: actress
Title: Narges Abyar; Description: Iranian author, film director and screenwriter
Title: Shahab Hosseini; Description: Iranian actor
Title: Night, Silence, Desert; Description: album by Kayhan Kalhor
Title: Two & Two; Description: 2011 film by Babak Anvari
Title: Ahmad Reza Darvish; Description: Iranian film director
Title: Mehdi Hashemi; Description: actor
Title: Mitra Hajjar; Description: Iranian actress
Title: Sadegh Mahsouli; Description: Iranian politician
Title: Ali Motahari; Description: Iranian politician
Title: Yekta Naser; Description: Iranian actress
Title: Seyed Ebrahim Raisi; Description: Iranian Shi''a jurist, federal judge, and CCA politician
Title: Safdar Hosseini; Description: former Minister of Economy and Finance Affairs
Title: Internet Society; Description: non-profit organization | wikirec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: South Villa Guest House; City: Knysna Western Cape; Review: This was a very enjoyable stay and we could not recommend this place more highly. The owner was extremely helpful and friendly. The breakfast was lovely. The rooms were gorgeous with a fantastic view. Our favourite stay on the Garden Route.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kariega Game Reserve Settlers Drift; City: Kenton on Sea Greater Addo Eastern Cape; Review: This was an extremely enjoyable 2 day stay. You need at least 2 days to get the full experience. The rangers (our ranger Chelee was great) are extremely knowledgeable, helpful, friendly and respectful of the game. We saw 7 lions, lots of elephants and a few rhino amongst many other game. We didn't see buffalo or leopards on our stay. The accommodation was luxurious and the food was top notch. We stayed in the Ukhozi lodge. The staff there were excellent with special mention for the ever smiling Ivy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Caledon Villa; City: Stellenbosch Western Cape; Review: The rooms are quite unique. The location is good with it being a 5 min walk to the centre. The staff are helpful and arranged a wine tour for us that was excellent. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Vetho Villa; City: Camps Bay Western Cape; Review: We stayed in the room with a mountain view. The view was fantastic and the room was lovely. The owner is very nice. The breakfast is tasty too and the owner bakes her own muffins which are available daily. The location is super as it is a minute's walk to the restaurants and the beach.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Milkwood Manor on Sea; City: Plettenberg Bay Western Cape; Review: This place was in a great location right beside the sea and a few mins drive from the centre of Plettenberg Bay. The staff were extremely friendly. The food was nice and the restaurant is lovely for lunch and dinner too. One nice touch was that they give you a pack with all the activities to do in the area and they will discuss that day's events with you every morning.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hermanus Guesthouse; City: Hermanus Overstrand Overberg District Western Cape; Review: This was an enjoyable stay. The people are friendly and it is about 5 mins walk to the centre but about 15 mins walk to where the nice restaurants are. The breakfast was nice and we enjoyed our stay here.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lima Wasi Hotel; City: Lima Lima Region; Review: Set in Mira Flores which is a nice area. The accommodation is ok. Clean and tidy with an average breakfast. Wifi is temperamental. Very close to a nice shopping area and the sea. People on reception are friendly and helpful. I think it is decent value for money.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Las Brisas; City: La Paz La Paz Department; Review: The rooms are extremely small. There is a lack of sockets to charge electrical appliances and phones etc. The breakfast is average. The wifi is pretty poor. The shower was good and it is in a good location. I would describe it as budget accommodation.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cusco Pardo Hotel; City: Cusco Cusco Region; Review: This hotel is decent all round. Clean and in a decent location (about 10-15 mins walk to the main square). The rooms are a decent size. The wifi is ok - how good it is depends on what room you are in. Close to the markets too which is good to visit. Staff are friendly and helpful.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Casona Plaza Hotel; City: Puno Puno Region; Review: This hotel is in the ideal location in Puno - it is less than a minute's walk from the main square. The rooms are very clean and tidy and contain safety boxes. The rooms are also a good size. The wifi is pretty poor in parts of the hotel but that depends on your room.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Independencia; City: Sucre Chuquisaca Department; Review: The rooms are nice, clean and they are big. The breakfast is good also. The hotel is in a great location, just off the main square. The wifi is very poor and doesn´t work in a lot of the rooms at all. The hotel is good value for money however. I think it is worth considering if you are coming to Sucre.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hostal Puritama; City: San Pedro de Atacama Antofagasta Region; Review: Stayed in a double room which was lovely. Very clean. Thoroughly cleaned after the first night. No breakfast available (but plenty of options nearby) and no air conditioning in our room (but there is a fan which helps in the heat). Excellent location and good wifi. We availed of the laundry service which was very good and the clothes were very clean on return.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Riviera Hotel; City: Santiago Santiago Metropolitan Region; Review: The hotel is good. It is clean and in a good location. The rooms are pretty small but that's normal for a city centre hotel. The wifi is ok. The breakfast is just ok. The service is good. The lift works well too which is important with a number of floors of rooms.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Gran Libertador; City: Potosi Potosi Department; Review: This hotel is good. Very close to the main part. Has reasonable wifi. The rooms are sizeable and clean. The shower is good. The service is pretty good too. Close to the supermarket also. Represents good value for money. Good base to go to the silver mines.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Che Lagarto Suites Copacabana Anita; City: Rio de Janeiro State of Rio de Janeiro; Review: This is a decent place. The breakfast is great - good selection of food available. The wifi is ok. The location is great - very close to the beach. Staff are friendly. It is a good base to explore Rio - especially Copacabana beach. Some rooms look a lot better than others do it can depend what room you get.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Rio de Janeiro Copacabana; City: Rio de Janeiro State of Rio de Janeiro; Review: Great hotel. The location is perfect - right on Copacabana beach. They have seats and umbrellas available to use in front of the hotel right on the beach. The views from the hotel rooms and the swimming pools are excellent. The buffet breakfast is superb. The buffet for dinner is an excellent option too. The only negative is that reception can be very busy and time consuming at times.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rossnaree; City: Slane County Meath; Review: The house is magnificent and the views are fantastic. The house is not that clean. At breakfast the milk was off and some of the cereals were out of date also. Very expensive for what it is. The staff were friendly at breakfast in fairness but were just students travelling and only staying there for a few weeks.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Culloden Estate Spa; City: Belfast Northern Ireland; Review: Great place to relax for a few days. Very close to Belfast and the Odyssey centre. Lots of things to do in the area like go to the Ulster Folk and Transport museum. The hotel is lovely. Very nice spa and swimming pool. Nice bar and gorgeous restaurant. Great views over Belfast Lough from the grounds of the hotel and nice gardens to walk around.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Flight Combo; Brand: Denzel Washington; Review: The first 30 minutes are very good, the rest is predictable an boring. The acting is good but the script goes over the top.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lone Wolf McQuade VHS; Brand: Chuck Norris; Review: mindless entertainment but at least it's not a chick flick. One interesting fact appears to be that after being cooped up with the rigid morals of his Kung Fo character the new David Carradine character has gone all hog wild with women and tobacco; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blood Ties; Brand: Clive Owen; Review: The acting was good,probably a waste of time and talent. But the characters were mostly one dimensional and as mentioned depressing. Keep looking should you stop on this one and think"this may be all right."; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: When Trumpets Fade VHS; Brand: Ron Eldard; Review: Not your John Wayne, the heroic valiant stand against all evil at all costs. This is a story about a bunch of guys that just plain don't want to die. Yet the soldier and sense of duty forces them into battle situations that don't make sense while surviving becomes the only goal. To me, one of the best war movies ever shot. A bunch of unknown actors (at the time) turn in terrific performances, while location and photography all good. This one kind of stays with you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Kings of Summer; Brand: Alison Brie; Review: It's definitely watchable. I thought it could have been funnier rather than turning into a "coming of age" saga. Well done and well acted however.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Boardwalk Empire: Season 4; Brand: Steve Buscemi; Review: One of the better series of late. Steve Buscemi is the man. His performance is tremendous. Great character development by the writers and cast. I gave it a four star rating instead of a five as the violence appears at times gratuitous and over the top. Everything else is definitely five star material.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Snow Child: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Eowyn Ivey Page; Review: I am halfway through this book and I don't want to put it down. I love reading it on my Kindle.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Brother's Keeper; Author: Visit Amazon's A. J. Farris Page; Review: This was, by far, one of the best books I have read. I couldn't put it down. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is into a good suspense novel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Plain Jane: Brunettes Beware; Author: C. McCray; Review: I found this book to be a real page turner. I couldn't put it down with all it's twists and turns. It's not for the faint of heart.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sharp Objects; Author: gillian-flynn; Review: I very much enjoyed this book. It definitely kept you on your toes. I read this book because I had read Flynn's novel "Gone Girl" which I couldn't put down.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Rachel Joyce Page; Review: By far, one of the best books l have ever read. I literally couldn't put it down and read it in two days. I would highly recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Home Front: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Kristin Hannah Page; Review: I really liked this book. It was a little hard getting into, but once I got through the first few chapters, it really held my interest and I thoroughly enjoyed it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tell The Wolves I'm Home (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition); Author: Visit Amazon's Carol Rifka Brunt Page; Review: I thought the book was incredible. I couldn't put it down. I laughed and I cried. I was sorry the story had to end.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Storyteller; Author: Visit Amazon's Mario Vargas Llosa Page; Review: Had a little trouble with the first 50 or so pages, but once I got past that, I couldn't put it down. It was incredible.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Afterwards; Author: Visit Amazon's Rosamund Lupton Page; Review: I read Sister and couldn't put it down so I went on to read Afterwards. Rosalind Lupton is absolutely unbelievable. Her writing keeps you glued to your seat and you just can't put this book down.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Fault in Our Stars; Author: ; Review: Although this book was about teenage cancer, it was a truly beautiful story about the courage and love that Hazel and Gus had for each other. It was beautifully written. I would definitely recommend this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sister: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Rosamund Lupton Page; Review: I absolutely loved it. Rosamund Lupton outdid herself. From the minute I started to read this book, I couldn't put it down.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Light Between Oceans: The heartbreaking Richard and Judy bestseller; Author: Visit Amazon's M L Stedman Page; Review: I found The Light Between Oceans to be an incredibly romantic, thrilling and heart-wrenching story. It was a book that you couldn't wait to turn the page and see what was going to happen next. I was actually sorry to have it end. I would highly recommend this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Justice for Sara: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Erica Spindler Page; Review: Read this book in one day. Every time I had to put it down, I couldn't wait to get back to it. Just when I thought I had it figured out, there was another twist. I would highly recommended this book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Ocean at the End of the Lane CD: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Neil Gaiman Page; Review: Didn't know if I would like this book, but when I started to read it, I found that it took me in right from the beginning. A great read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Don't Say A Word; Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara Freethy Page; Review: I found this book to be very gripping. There were a lot of twists and turns until the very end.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Joyland (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Hcc); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: I am a very big Stephen King fan and found this book to be really good. Kept you guessing, as only King can, until the very end. Would highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wicked Girls: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Alex Marwood Page; Review: I loved this book. I had never even heard of it, but decided to read it anyway. Once I started, I was hooked. The suspense was incredible as was the writing. Would highly recommend to anyone who likes thrillers.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Drowning Ruth: A Novel (Oprah's Book Club); Author: Visit Amazon's Christina Schwarz Page; Review: This book had me from the first page. There were so many twists and turns that I didn't want to put this book down. I would highly recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Kitchen House: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Kathleen Grissom Page; Review: This book reminded me a little of The Help which was one of my favorites. The Kitchen House was incredible. At times, it was upsetting, but it had you wanting to know what happens next.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Still Missing: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Chevy Stevens Page; Review: This book was absolutely incredible. It was a heart pounding story that made you want to read faster to see where it was going to take you. This is a book you'll want to finish as soon as you start.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Doctor Sleep: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: After growing up with nightmares about "The Shining", Stephen King once again brings everything back to life in Doctor Sleep. He continues the story from when the son grows up with the demons of the shining within. This book is a real page turner.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Husband's Secret; Author: Visit Amazon's Liane Moriarty Page; Review: I didn't want to put The Husband's Secret down always wanting to see what was going to happen next. Happy, sad and heartwarming. A must read for; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Where'd You Go, Bernadette; Author: Visit Amazon's Maria Semple Page; Review: After having been on the best seller list, I found this book to be not what I expected. It was written as a series of letters and emails back and forth between the characters. It was quite a while into the book before you could keep track of who's who. Not one of my book club favorites, but not horrible.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Perfume Collector: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Kathleen Tessaro Page; Review: Took a little while to get into, but once I did it was really good. Couldn't wait to see what happened next. Certainly didn't disappoint. Highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Paris Architect; Author: Visit Amazon's Charles Belfoure Page; Review: One of the best books I've read in a while. It made you mad, made you sad and then gave you hope. It kept you glued to the book to see what happens next. Highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Invention of Wings; Author: Visit Amazon's Sue Monk Kidd Page; Review: This book reminded me of The Help. It was wonderful. It never ceases to amaze me what was done to the slaves in the 1800 and 1900's. Sue Monk Kidd did it again. I would highly recommend this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Unlucky 13 (Women's Murder Club); Author: Visit Amazon's James Patterson Page; Review: This book had me from page 1. I loved it and couldn't put it down. I am definitely a James Patterson fan. Don't miss this one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children: The Graphic Novel (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children: The Graphic Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Ransom Riggs Page; Review: I found this book to be a little strange, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It takes a while to get into, but then it keeps you going.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Remember Me Like This: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Bret Anthony Johnston Page; Review: I picked this book for my book club and read it before they even started. It was so gripping that I had to keep reading to see what was going to happen next. This book was amazing from beginning to end. I would highly recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Orphan Train: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Christina Baker Kline Page; Review: This book had me hooked from the first page. It opened my eyes to what happened to these poor orphaned children and what they went through. It was so heart wrenching at times, that I wanted to cry. I wished this book never ended. It was incredible.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared; Author: Visit Amazon's Jonas Jonasson Page; Review: I found this book to be quite entertaining. It was a fun read. I would very much recommend this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Dry Grass of August; Author: Visit Amazon's Anna Jean Mayhew Page; Review: After reading the Orphan Train, this book was recommended to me. I thoroughly enjoyed this book - not as much as the Orphan Train - but it certainly held my interest.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Flying Shoes; Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa Howorth Page; Review: I was a disappointed in this book. I found that it was more about the mother and very little about the murder of her son. Very unhappy with the ending. Kept reading because I thought it would get better, but it didn't.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sleep Tight; Author: Visit Amazon's Rachel Abbott Page; Review: I couldn't put this book down. It was heart pounding. You couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. If you are into suspense thrillers, this is definitely a book for you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Secret Kept: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Tatiana de Rosnay Page; Review: This book kept me going from the first page. I hated to have to put it down. It was definitely one of my favorites and I would highly recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Saving CeeCee Honeycutt; Author: Visit Amazon's Beth Hoffman Page; Review: I absolutely loved this book. It was a very heartwarming story and having been to Savannah at least 8 times, it was even more enjoyable knowing all the places that were mentioned. I would highly recommend this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Good Girl (English Edition); Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Kubica Page; Review: Loved this book from the very beginning. Kept you on the edge of your chair to see what happens next. I would highly recommend this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Finding Rebecca; Author: Visit Amazon's Eoin Dempsey Page; Review: Like any book having to do with the holocaust, this book was somewhat depressing, but has an ending you would never expect. I thought this book was written extremely well and would definitely recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Let's Pretend This Never Happened: (A Mostly True Memoir); Author: Visit Amazon's Jenny Lawson Page; Review: This book was so funny that at times, I had to stop reading because I was laughing so hard. I would highly recommend this book for some light reading.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Yellow Crocus: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Laila Ibrahim Page; Review: I found this book to be on the idea of the Help which was one of my favorites. I loved this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Leaving Time (with bonus novella Larger Than Life): A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Jodi Picoult Page; Review: Unfortunately, I was very disappointed in this book. I love Jodi Picoult, but this was not one of her best novels. I found it extremely hard to get into to the point that I didn't even want to finish it, but I did.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Dead Key; Author: Visit Amazon's D. M. Pulley Page; Review: One of the best suspense thrillers I've ever read. Didn't want to put it down. Had my heart going waiting for what was going to happen next.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Nightingale: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Kristin Hannah Page; Review: I couldn't put this book down. Kristin Hannah's adaption of what went on during World War II in France was unbelievable. This book was heart wrenching but extremely accurate. I would highly recommend reading this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: All the Light We Cannot See; Author: Visit Amazon's Anthony Doerr Page; Review: I couldn't put this book down. It got you from the first page. The writing and story was one of the best I have read. Heartbreaking, but inspiring.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wreckage; Author: Visit Amazon's Emily Bleeker Page; Review: I found this book vey suspenseful. The chapters kept alternating between the "Island" and the "Present". A little hard to keep up with at the beginning, but then it definitely kept you guessing.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Deliver Her: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Patricia Perry Donovan Page; Review: I found this book a little difficult to get into at first. However, once I did, I didn't want to put it down.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Before the Fall: The year's best suspense novel; Author: ; Review: Started to read this book and couldn't put it down. You were guessing up until the very end. It kept you on the edge of your sea wanting more. A definite must for those who like suspence.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Woman in Cabin 10; Author: Visit Amazon's Ruth Ware Page; Review: This book made you want to keep reading to see what was going to happen next. Every time you think you know what to expect there's another twist. Keeps you wanting more.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Life We Bury (Wheeler Large Print Book Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Allen Eskens Page; Review: This was an excellent written psychological thriller. It kept you waiting for another surrounding twist in the story. I would highly recommend this book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beneath a Scarlet Sky: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Sullivan Page; Review: An incredible true story of the courage of a young boy in Italy and the unbelievable things he did during world war II to save the Jews from the Nazis. His undying love for his family and the pain and grief he suffered after losing the love of his life during the war are indescribable. A must read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beneath a Scarlet Sky (Center Point Large Print); Author: Mark T Sullivan; Review: An incredible true story of the courage of a young boy in Italy and the unbelievable things he did during world war II to save the Jews from the Nazis. His undying love for his family and the pain and grief he suffered after losing the love of his life during the war are indescribable. A must read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Rhode Adventure Planet Bug Catcher, 6-Piece Box Set; Brand: Rhode Island Novelty; Review: I guess this is okay for the price. I was not as impressed with it in person. it is a birthday gift for a 4 year old so i hope he will enjoy it. The tweezers and compass look really cheap and pointless. the bug boxes, net and tongs look better.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: My Pillow Pets Buzzy Bumble Bee 18"; Brand: Pillow Pets; Review: Arrived with a large hole in it.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Green Toys My First Tug Boat, Red; Brand: Green Toys; Review: Green Toys makes a great product. We currently own 4 of their toys and have given others as gifts. All work well and are great quality. This tug is no exception. My 17 month of loves it! I LOVE that they are made in USA of recycled milk jugs. Green Toys proves you can make a great American product at an affordable price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Twinkle Balloons Goodie Bags, 8ct; Brand: Unique; Review: Cute and affordable. Reusable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Green Toys Sand Play Set, Green; Brand: Green Toys; Review: Awesome quality and made in USA! This is our second set. They are very study and pretty indestructible. Looks great too. Buy this and you'll never need another one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hape My Creative Cookery Club Kid's Wooden Play Kitchen; Brand: Hape; Review: First of all it is SO small. I knew the dimensions but it still seems very small. Right now it is perfect for the height of my two year old, but i can see it will quickly be outgrown. It is too small for two children to play together. Second the wood does not have the nice smooth finish of our other Hape toys. Parts of it are quite rough and unfinished in look and feel. The whole construction is inadequate for toddler play. I do not think my children are rough with their toys, but the flimsy construction of this kitchen does not hold up to the clumsy, uncoordinated movements of young children. The sink is useless and a complete joke. It isn't deep enough to pretend to wash anything and it's not even big enough to fit the Hape plate. The Faucet pops off every time my child touches it. This happened at least 10 times in the first 20 minutes she played with it. She wants to move it like a real faucet and it just breaks right off. Completely ridiculous. The nobs on the stove don't do anything and are not appropriate size for tiny hands. The hooks to hold the spoon and other tools aren't long enough and the tools keep falling down. I could go on and on. This was an expensive purchase. I am so disappointed. I will never buy another Hape toy. I also thought Hape was an eco friendly and child safe company like Plan toys. I was very disappointed to see this is made in China.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hape (E3101) Gourmet Kitchen Kid's Wooden Play Kitchen in Green (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: Hape; Review: Great little kitchen! Perfect size for 1-4 year olds. It's very study and functional. We purchased the creative cookery club first and were very disappointed. This one is the same size but much better quality. We got it in white and it's so classic and cute! Counter is 20" high. The kitchen is about 2 feet wide and a foot deep. :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: VTech Spin and Learn Color Flashlight Amazon Exclusive, Pink; Brand: VTech; Review: This is okay. I'm disappointed there is no option to use it as a flashlight only without the sounds.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Green Toys Watering Can Toy, Green; Brand: Green Toys; Review: Gorgeous! Sturdy and works great! Made in USA.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Rapala Rattlin 05 Fishing Lures; Brand: Rapala; Review: too expensive I regret that I bought it It just looks good. It doesn't help; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Ready 2 Fish Tackle Box; Brand: Ready 2 Fish; Review: too small; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Booms Fishing H1 Fishing Pliers Stainless Steel Tools with Sheath Lanyard 6.7in 3 Color Available; Brand: Booms Fishing; Review: metal too soft I would not buy this product again. but the piece are cheap so 2 star.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Sougayilang Fishing Reel Spinning -12+1BB Ultralight Smooth Powerful Spinning Reels for Freshwater Saltwater Bass Fishing; Brand: Sougayilang; Review: good; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Goture Soft Lead Fish Set Kit; Brand: Goture; Review: good; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Fi-Shock FW-00018D 250-Feet 17 Gauge Spool Aluminum Wire; Brand: Fi-Shock; Review: Great stuff. Has a thousand and one uses around here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: InSinkErator H-CONTOUR-SS Invite Contour Instant Hot Water Dispenser System with Stainless Steel Tank, Chrome; Brand: InSinkErator; Review: So very happy I purchased this. Been thinking about getting one for years. What a blessing. Use it a lot more than I thought I would. It has so many uses. Don't care for the 'heating up' noise but I am now used to it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 5 Pack Mini Flashlights LED Flashlight 300lm Adjustable Focus Zoomable Light (Blue); Brand: MIKAFEN; Review: As advertised. Great for glove boxes, saddle bags etc. I use them for secondary lighting, not primary.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 2 Pack TC1200 Tactical Flashlight XML T6 LED Taclight with Adjustable Focus and 5 Light Modes for Camping Hiking; Brand: Ploarnovo; Review: I am very happy with this light. I have received much less and paid much more. Love the beam shape and ease in operation. Almost a five star.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Danco, Inc. 9D00010306 Bathtub Hair Catcher Strainer & Snare, Drain, White; Brand: Danco; Review: I threw it in the trash. Not worth the plastic it was made of.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: DEWALT DCN660D1 Cordless Angled Finish Nailer Kit; Brand: DEWALT; Review: Very happy with this unit. Used it several times and never have a problem with it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Costyle 5pcs/lot Durable Ruggedized Braided Fabric Micro USB 3.0 Charging Data Cable Cord For SAMSUNG GALAXY S5; Brand: Costyle; Review: We bought these in an effort to keep the cat from chewing on the cords. IT WORKED! They are long and colorful so in a houseful of electronics, everyone knows which charger is theirs. No complaints.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: iNassen Compatible Earphone Adapter Headphone; Brand: iNassen; Review: I loved this. I really need one for my S5 now that I upgraded.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ; Brand: Flylinktech; Review: Love this! I bought this for my daughter and I don't think she has put her IPAD down since.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Toysdone Wireless Headphones Stereo Earbuds Wireless Sport Earphones for Running with Mic (6 Hours Play Time, IPX4; Brand: Toysdone; Review: I cannot keep them situated in my ear. As soon as I make the slightest move, they pop out.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Xbrn Dual Ports Adapter Splitter, 2 in 1 Headphone Jack Aux Audio & Charger Adapter Cable Connector Compactible for; Brand: XBRN; Review: I cannot keep them situated in my ear. As soon as I make the slightest move, they pop out.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Mpow Cheetah Bluetooth Headphones, V4.1 Wireless Sport Headphones, Sweatproof Running Headset with Built in Mic for Workout Exercise; Brand: Mpow; Review: works great! Exactly what I needed for my workout!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: FlePow 4000W 110-250V 8 Surge-Protected Outlets Power Socket with 4 USB Outputs and 6.5 Feet Cord (ZL201430118389.2); Brand: FlePow; Review: It is the perfect surge protector with usb. you can plug in even the most cumbersome of plugs without it interfering with any of the other outlets. I highly recommend this!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tripp Lite 8 Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip, 10ft Cord, Right-Angle Plug, Tel/Modem/Coax/Ethernet Protection, RJ11, RJ45, & $250,000 INSURANCE; Brand: Tripp Lite; Review: There is absolutely nothing wrong with this surge protector with the 25 foot cord. The only reason for 4 start instead of 5 is the fact that I bought a standing one, that is perfect for my wide chargers. If I could merge the two together it would be perfection.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Distinctive 10-Pack of Style SA-156 Premium Sewing Machine Bobbins Made to Fit Brother Sewing Machines; Brand: Distinctive; Review: It's for my two brother machines and fits well; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hero Arts Merry Christmas Message Clear Stamps; Brand: Hero Arts; Review: Great stamps.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Elizabeth Craft Designs Ornament Die Cutting Machines, Set of 3; Brand: Elizabeth Craft Designs; Review: I like it and made beautiful card; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Speedball Art Products 41271 Soft Rubber Brayer, 2-Inch; Brand: Speedball; Review: Nice and doing for embossing ink; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: New ThreadNanny Roll of Lite tear away backing for Machine Embroidery / Quilting Machines; Brand: ThreadNanny; Review: Good paper for embroidery; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Judikins Embossable Window Plastic Sheets, 4.25-Inch x 5.5-Inch, Clear, 20-Pack; Brand: Judikins; Review: Cool for the card window shaking card; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Darice 1218-118 Embossing Folder, 4.25 by 5.75-Inch, Geo Christmas Tree Design; Brand: Darice; Review: Cool and nice stamping; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scor-Pal SP108 Eighths Measuring and Scoring Board, 12" by 12", 1/8" Space Grooves; Brand: Scor-Pal; Review: Love it for the card and perfect measure; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: KINGSO 7PCS Cotton Fabric Bundles Quilting Sewing DIY Craft 17.7x17.7inch Gray; Brand: KingSo; Review: It's ok but hard to see the pictures; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lsushine Craft Ink Pad Stamps Partner Diy Color,15 Color Craft Ink Pad for Stamps, Paper, Wood Fabric (pack of; Brand: Lsushine; Review: Not great inks; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Inkadinkado Mounted Rubber Stamp-Pine Trees 2.5"X1.5" (96683); Brand: Inkadinkado; Review: Cool and stamping nice; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: NEW MEDIUM 4x4 HOOP for Brother Innovis 2500D, 1500D, 4000D, 2800D Duetta 4500D, Quattro 6000D Quattro 2; Brand: ThreadNanny; Review: Bought an extra for sewing machine; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bulk Buy: Darice DIY Crafts Double Sided Foam Sticky Strips White 33 pieces (6-Pack) 1206-01; Brand: Darice; Review: Nice; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Clover Water Soluble Pencil Assortment, 3EA (Q5003); Brand: Clover; Review: Good for quilts; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cricut Cuttlebug Adapter Plate C, 5.875"x7.75; Brand: Provo Craft; Review: Ordered more; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Speedball Deluxe Soft Rubber Brayer - 40/42 Durometer Roller With Heavy Duty Steel Frame – 6 Inches; Brand: Speedball; Review: Used for cards; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Martha Stewart Crafts Edger Punch, Threader; Brand: Martha Stewart Crafts; Review: Love it for making cards; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Round Flat Head Chicago Screws Buttons for Leather Crafting, 1/4 Inches (6mm) Repair Screw Post Fastener, Metal Nail Rivet; Brand: RUBYCA; Review: My doing work with crafts; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Simthread 63 Brother Colors Polyester 120d/2 40 Weight Embroidery Machine Thread for Brother Machine; Brand: simthread; Review: Bought these threads for second sewing machine and nice colors; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sewing Machine, Overlock & Serger Service / Repair Kit - Boost the Performance of your Machine; Brand: Embroidex; Review: Great products; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sten Source 17-Inch by 20-Inch Quilt Stencils by Pepper Cory-C. L. Fab, Feathers; Brand: Sten Source; Review: Still learning; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sten Source Quilt Stencils-2" Borders 6"X18"; Brand: Sten Source; Review: Still learning; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Quilting Creations Paisley Background Quilt Stencil; Brand: Quilting Creations; Review: Still learning; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Martha Stewart Crafts Deep Edge Border Punch Embroidery (42-70048); Brand: Martha Stewart Crafts; Review: Love it for making cards; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bulk Buy: Madiera Threads (120-Pack) Bobbin Buddies Bobbin/Thread Clip 120pc Display Pink, Purple & Blue DJ137A; Brand: Madiera Threads; Review: Easy match the colors; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spellbinders PL-001 Platinum Cut & Emboss Machine, White; Brand: Spellbinders; Review: Love it; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Arts_Crafts_and_Sewing |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Thankless in Death; Author: Visit Amazon's J. D. Robb Page; Review: This book obviously was NOT written with the reader in mind. Ms. Robb AKA Nora Roberts either pushed this off on a high school student to write or has lost interest in these characters. Roarke comes across as weak, unsure and subservient and Dallas is cast as a below average cop who isn't able to look beyond the obvious. This is totally out of character for these two. I usually can't put down a JD Robb book but this time I had a hard time wanting to finish this book. Shame on Ms Robb for allowing this sub-standard book to be published. If Putman Press pressured her to get the book out, shame on you too. You both owe your loyal readers so much more!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: East of Orleans (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Renee' Irvin Page; Review: This is a strangely boring improbable story. It just didn't click for me. Too players that don't interact in a believable way.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Maternal Harbor; Author: Visit Amazon's Marie F Martin Page; Review: Though the plot was predictable, this was still an entertaining read. I would recommend this book. It is an easy read but enjoyable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Medici Letters: The Secret Origins of the Renaissance; Author: Visit Amazon's Taylor Buck Page; Review: Absolutely brilliant. Well written.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: World Without End (Kingsbridge); Author: Visit Amazon's Ken Follett Page; Review: This book was outstanding. It held my attention from beginning to end. The best book written in year. Thank you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wives of Los Alamos; Author: ; Review: I chose this rating due the writing style. Third person subjective writing with very little depth, substance, and variation is monotonous and boring. The subject was unique but the presentation was very poor.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Ghost of the Mary Celeste (Vintage Contemporaries); Author: Visit Amazon's Valerie Martin Page; Review: This book was torture to get through. The was poorly organized, confusing, and so boring. I was very very disappointed.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Children's Home: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Charles Lambert Page; Review: But very entertaining. It was not what I expected. I enjoyed it none the less and I recommend it highly.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Angel of Darkness; Author: Visit Amazon's Caleb Carr Page; Review: Good read; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: Bay Area earthquakes struck on unusual section of San Andreas fault; Abstract: The magnitude 4.7 earthquake Tuesday east of Monterey Bay hit on a unique section of the San Andreas fault that has long generated interest from scientists.; Category: news
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: AT&T hikes TV Now prices by as much as $15 per month; Abstract: Yes, AT&T is raising prices for its TV Now service for the second time this year -- and it's not a small hike. The telecom is notifying subscribers that the Plus tier will jump from $50 to $65 per month on November 19th, while the Max plan will leap from $70 to $80 per month at the same time. That makes the base service nearly twice as expensive as it was on launch in 2016, when it cost $35. Service prices are climbing to "reflect the cost to...; Category: news
Title: Are Zimbabwe's diamonds mined using forced labour?; Abstract: The US government has banned the import of rough diamonds, but Zimbabwe says the claims are unfounded.; Category: news
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: Essex truck deaths: Parents of Vietnamese woman feared dead say they were told it was a 'safe route'; Abstract: Nguyen Thi Phong and Pham Van Thin live in a small house in Nghen, a town in Vietnam's Ha Tinh province. It has a corrugated metal roof, propped up on loose bricks, and a Vietnamese flag flies outside.; Category: news
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: President Trump planning to attend Alabama-LSU game this weekend; Abstract: Everyone wants to be in the stadium to watch Alabama-LSU this weekend, even President Donald Trump.; Category: sports
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: SanDisk SDCZ36-064G-A11 64GB Cruzer USB Flash Drive; Brand: SanDisk; Review: I spent a few minutes looking for the button advertized in the "back up with the push of a single button" ads. I was not successful. But no problem, it will still suffice very nicely for backup via 7-zip (or tar|gzip while running CygWin). I was not interested in the secure access software but, curious about the "club_application" I tried to find info on the device about this arcana. No manual that I can find. A Google search retrieved the answer that I probably want to delete it; - it is ad-ware. Since it come formatted with a FAT-32 file system, the first thing I did with the drive was to back up the installed software and reformat it is NTFS, then restore the software files. This went without a hitch. It backed up another USB device (a 8-gb corsair, 80% full) in what I considered a reasonable time, though I was not timing it with any precision. Yes, I would recommend it,but not for anything more than the capacity.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Panasonic Headphones On-Ear Lightweight with XBS RP-HT21 (Black & Silver); Brand: Panasonic; Review: I plugged it into my work computer. It needed a lot a fiddling with the sound settings at the Windows level but once I got those working, the bass is surprisingly good! I'd say I got 40% of the performance for 3% of the price of bigger headphones. I would have paid a bit more for a volume control wheel on the cable but at that price, that's too much to ask for. I highly recommend this.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Boom Cube As Seen on TV Speakers - COLORS MAY VARY!; Brand: Idea Village; Review: I got this for my teen-aged son to use with MP3 player. It's hard to believe such a tiny speaker could produce such a loud sound. In truth, it *is* somewhat tinny but I make allowances for its size and price. I was not expecting concert-hall fidelity in this speaker and I *did* get better than I expected.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sabrent 4-Port USB 2.0 Hub with Individual Power Switches and LEDs (HB-UMLS); Brand: Sabrent; Review: I especially like that I can turn individual ports on and off as I need them and that the active ports are visible by the blue LED. I have already used this device to copy between two USB flash drives. Problem 1, shared by most sane-looking hubs: The ports are too close together. Many flash drives are gimmicky and wider than they need to be. Hence, you can't really use all 4 hubs at one time, at least not with 4 typical flash drives. If I were to redesign this I would have the hub in a thicker housing so that I could alternate down-up-down-up the ports. But then it would be twice as thick, losing the advantage of being so compact. Worth it, IMHO. Problem 2: The USB cable that plugs into the PC is too short. I suppose it was intended for use with a laptop PC but in my desktop tower, the USB ports are near the top of the tower. Workaround: A USB extension, which I had around the house anyway. Problem 3: In my opinion this is a serious flaw in the product: When I jiggled the above-mentioned USB extension cable, the hub just unplugged itself from it, endangering my files by the sudden disconnection. The USB plug does *not* make a tight fit with the port. BAD! Still, I gave it 3 stars just for being so useful.. I just have to be careful not to jiggle it during a data transfer.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Logitech USB Headset H390 with Noise Cancelling Mic; Brand: Logitech; Review: First: I did not buy them at Amazon. But over the years I've bought three pairs. One is still working. Good points: - I found them pretty comfortable. - Sound was fair to good. I used them for some music listening but mostly for Skype and Google Phone. I suppose a gamer would want more. - They lasted pretty long. - In Skype and phone calls, nobody complained. So the mic is pretty good as well. Bad points: - In all three headsets, including the one that's still working, the right speaker (earpiece) went on the fritz; I had to hold the control button "just-so" with the wire bent this way or that in order to hear in both ears. Bottom line: If you just need a functional headset this is a good bet.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Medals in the Attic; Author: Visit Amazon's Cathy Elliott Page; Review: great read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Vase of Mistaken Identity (Thea James Mystery Series, Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Cathy Elliott Page; Review: I was pleased to find the book, I had been looking for, it is a little more worn than I had hoped for but pleased with time of shipment.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Visitation; Author: Visit Amazon's Sue Reidy Page; Review: grandson really enjoyed; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: North of Tomorrow (Winter Passing Trilogy #3); Author: Visit Amazon's Cindy McCormick Martinusen Page; Review: great read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Winter Passing (Winter Passing Trilogy #1); Author: Visit Amazon's Cindy McCormick Martinusen Page; Review: great read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Future Door (No Place Like Holmes); Author: Visit Amazon's Jason Lethcoe Page; Review: grand daughter really enjoyed; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In the Presence of My Enemies; Author: Gracia Burnham with Dean Merill; Review: Everyone needs to read!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: To Fly Again: Surviving the Tailspins of Life; Author: Visit Amazon's Gracia Burnham Page; Review: great read; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Stormcaller (The Age of Dawn Book 1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Everet Martins Page; Review: Good book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lord of Death (The Age of Dawn Book 2) eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's Everet Martins Page; Review: Looking forward to next book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Complete Wardstone Trilogy (The Wardstone Trilogy Book 0) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's M. R. Mathias Page; Review: Great book really in joyed it it was awesome wish there was more to it Would definitely read if there was; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zectas Volume I; Brand: Visit Amazon's John Nest Page; Review: Good book really enjoyed it looking forward to next one keep up the good work .; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zectas Volume II: The Heraldic City of Coatl - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's John Nest Page; Review: Wonderful book really like . !; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zectas Volume III: Malediction of Veneficatl Valley - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's John Nest Page; Review: Another good addition to a good series looking forward to next book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Shadow Realm (The Age of Dawn Book 4) eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's Everet Martins Page; Review: Thanks for writing another enjoyable book hope the next one will be out soon looking forward to it; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Kindle_Store |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Ain't No Sunshine; Author: Visit Amazon's Leslie DuBois Page; Review: I got this book for free on my kindle just as I get most of my books. I had at one time started reading it but had gotten another book that sounded really good and read that one. When I finally got back to this book I got pulled right in. The story was amazing. I found myself wondering why I didn't finish reading it the first time! I found myself loving Stephen and Ruthie from the beginning as those innocent 5 year olds. You watch their love blossom over the period of their lives with Ruthie taking care of Stephen while he endures his terribly abusive household. A part of me had figured out Ruthie's secret early on and I found myself wishing that it would turn out differently for these two. I was shocked by the ending as that was a twist I did not see coming! I agree that this book is not for everyone. Some people will not be able to see past the incest angle to see that this book is about so much more than that. If you want a book that keeps you wanting more then this book would be the one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kalona's Fall (House of Night Novella); Author: Kristin Cast P. C. Cast; Review: Enjoyed this very much. It's nice to get the background of these characters and how they came to be in the House of Night books!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vampire Shift: Kiera Hudson Series One (Book 1) (Kiera Hudson Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Tim O'Rourke Page; Review: I liked the book a lot. I did feel like it lacked a little oomph. I started reading it a while ago and then forgot all about it until recently. For me, there was something a little off about it but I can't quite put my finger on what that is. Overall, it was pretty good and I would give the next book a chance.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Maude; Author: Visit Amazon's Donna Foley Mabry Page; Review: I loved this book! Maidens life was so interesting and so sad at times. I really felt for her through the entire book. I'm so glad I came across this book and gave it a chance!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Recombinant (The Blood Borne Series) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Shannon Mayer Page; Review: This story was well written and held my attention throughout.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fangs and Fennel (The Venom Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Shannon Mayer Page; Review: I waited patiently for this book and it did not disappoint. It seemed love me as soon as I started reading it, I was done. That's the sign of a very good book to me. I would recommend this book to anyone!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uprising (The Alternate Earth Series, Book 2) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's S.J. West Page; Review: I am loving this series. I have other series that have new books out now and I can't read them until I finish this whole series. I love that a lot of the young adult series are written for almost everyone. My kids got me started reading books such as these and I've been hooked ever since.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Judgment (The Alternate Earth Series, Book 3) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's S.J. West Page; Review: Love this series! At the time of this review I am already to Lucifer in the Redemption series. I'm getting sad that it's almost over.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gods & Monsters (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Janie Marie Page; Review: I enjoyed this book but found myself getting frustrated by Jane's back and forth between her loyalty to Jason, a man that had treated her badly, to Death, who I'm still unclear on why she's so in love with him. Then there is David, her soulmate, who she is so cold towards most of the time because she feels that to show her feelings to him would be betraying Jason and Death. She only shows affection to David as he is dying. She make victims of abuse look pathetic. If she acts like a child in the next book, I'm not sure I will be able to stand it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blood of a Phoenix (The Nix Series) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Shannon Mayer Page; Review: I started reading this book and without noticing, I was almost done! I love books like that. Booms that have you feel like you are a part of the story world and a little upset when you have to leave.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rylee (The Rylee Adamson Epilogues) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Shannon Mayer Page; Review: After the final battle I was a little sad to see Rylie and the gang go. I wanted to see how she dealt with being a daywalker. I got this from that book and can't wait to see how the help the babies in Liam. I wish I never had to see them go.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Kicking Horse Coffee, Kick Ass, Dark Roast, Ground, 10 oz - Certified Organic, Fairtrade, Kosher Coffee; Brand: Kicking Horse Coffee; Review: Hands down my favorite coffee ever. I have been around the country (US) & Canada and purchased many different types of coffee, from many different brands and styles of roasts. There have been very few coffees that were better & they were always much more expensive or not available outside the coffee shop. This is great blend that you can purchase nearly anywhere these days but I still prefer to get mine on Amazon because it's super convenient. I have yet to have an issue with freshness or quality. While I personally prefer dark roasts, I have shared this with friends, family and coworkers who prefer lighter blends & every single person has said this one of the best coffee they have ever had.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kicking Horse Coffee Whole Bean Variety Pack (Pack of 3 Flavors); Brand: Kicking Horse Coffee; Review: I am a huge fan of the Kickass blend. I drink it just about every day and it is my go to blend! However sometimes I want a change every once in a while so I figured this was a perfect way to try out a few other flavors at the same time. As I said before, the kickass blend is by far one of the best coffees on the market that isn't $50 / pound. The 454 Horsepower had a pretty decent flavor & I figured by the name that it was higher in caffeine content. I did not notice a difference in my "Buzz" or whether this was stronger blend (caffeine wise). I drink a ton of coffee and caffeine doesn't effect me like it used to, so I may be bad judge for that. Last, there was the three sisters. This is why I only gave this 3-pack a 4 star review. I wasn't a huge fan of this blend. It was a bit bland, even when I used more beans. It also had a bit of a funky after taste, not a bad taste just funky.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pirate's Booty Snack Puffs, Aged White Cheddar, 4 Ounce (Pack of 12); Brand: Pirate Brands; Review: These were great for awhile. I love the Pirate's booty and whenever my nieces came over they would always raid the cabinets for these! However they got way to expensive here. I get the big bag at Costco now.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Magnum Exotics Jamaican Blue Mountain Blend Coffee, Whole Bean, 32 Ounce; Brand: Magnum Exotics; Review: First off let me say I love this coffee! It has a good taste, a great smell and is very smooth. When I purchased this I knew I wasn't getting anything close to what I tried in Jamaica. Let's be real here, they aren't claiming to be 100% Jamaican Blue Mountain that is why it is listed as a "Blend". When you buy the blend you are going to a majority of Jamaican Supreme or other South American beans. This is what keeps the cost low. If you are wondering why there are so many blends and people claiming Jamaican Blue Mountain, you must understand that it is a marketing ploy. The majority of the real, high quality Blue Mountain beans stay in Jamaica for tourism or gets sent out to Japan where coffee demands an extremely high price. Anyone with google can quickly learn that true JBM is grown exclusively in the Blue Mountain region at the altitude of 3,000 ft and 5,500 ft. Coffee grown at elevations between 1,500 and 3,000 ft is called Jamaica High Mountain, and coffee grown below 1,500 ft elevation is called Jamaica Supreme or Jamaica Low Mountain. Remember that real estate in the higher altitude is very limited & competitive, not many beans are grown there & the beans that are grown at that great altitude with that great soil are VERY expensive. With all this said, please understand that you will still get a great bag of beans here, I am a coffee snob & I enjoy it very much. But if you are expecting to get that "Amazing" cup of Jamaican coffee you got while visiting the Caribbean, I suggest you look somewhere else.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kicking Horse Whole Bean, Hoodoo Jo Dark Extreme Bold Roast, 12.3 Ounce Tin; Brand: Kicking Horse Coffee; Review: I do love this bean quite a bit. I'm obsessed with the Kick Ass Blend & usually buy that, but every once in awhile I like a change. I had tried a few of their other blends and been a bit disappointed (three sisters, 454 horsepower) but not with this one! While I still think that the Kick ass is better, this blend is also very good! It's a very dark roast, so light roast drinkers beware! It's very robust in flavor but still smooth which is sometimes a tough combo to create. I think though however it's a bit low on the caffeine side. I realize most dark roasts are lower in caffeine compared to light roasts, this one seemed especially so. It could just be me, but after a couple of cups I was still groggy. Usually after 2 cups (my cup is 22 oz. by the way) I'm ready to start the day.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pride of the West All Purpose Batter Mix (2 Pack); Brand: Pride of the West; Review: Yum! I really enjoyed this batter! It's great for meats and sweets! Cooked up some fantastic fried chicken and it also made some fantastic fried oreos and fried twinkies! No to salty but plenty of flavor!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Scary Eyeballs Tuttifrutti Bubble Gum Candy,150g Bag (50 pieces); Brand: O'Ryans; Review: Absolutely horrid! These are essentially blank white gum balls with a nasty taste. The taste only last about 5 seconds and that is actually a good thing in this case because they were horrible! I would not recommend these whatsoever.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Grocery_and_Gourmet_Food |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel 1110; City: Monterey Monterey County California; Review: Here's a breakdown: Pluses: +Interior decoration in the lobby and rooms are chic and stylish and everything is spotless clean. +the service is friendly and welcoming...esp. the bartenders who will keep you company when their lively happy hour winds down. +the rooms are nicely appointed (particularly the bathrooms that have heated tiles, full body spray showers, and bidets). ++ breakfast is out of this world good...you have to appreciate gourmet breakfasts (think smoked salmon and creme fraiche not scrambled eggs and home fries). ++ rooftop deck is beautiful...nice views of the bay, rocking chairs and space heaters everywhere. Outstanding! The Minuses: Don't stay here if... - ...you don't have a car. The location is convenient but is a bit out of the way...and is in an industrial area that needs some shaping up. The hotel is a very short walk to the beach, Jack's Park, and Dennis the Menace Playground and not that far from the Wharf. But don't expect to roll out of bed and find yourself in the middle of Monterey - ...you are bringing kids. No kids. That's their policy and we heard them turn people away over the phone. - ...you care about cable TV and AC. Neither are available. They do have flat screen TVs and DVD players in the room (along with a collection of DVDs you can borrow). - ...you are looking for a huge room. The rooms are comfortable but European-sized if you know what I mean. They are comfy but not capacious Whew...that's it! The pluses far outweighed the minuses for me and this is one of the nicest places to stay on the bay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bait Ali; City: Wadi Rum Al Aqabah Governorate; Review: Had a very nice stay here. Yousef (the manager) and Susie (the owner) were both warm and friendly and helped guide us in the right direction. Spoke to Susie at checkout and heard more about the camp's fascinating Circassian roots. Also, for a tour guide ask for Yassin. Very nice, funny, and professional.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dead Sea Spa Resort; City: Sweimah Dead Sea Region; Review: I only recommend for families with small children but I\d definitely return. Some details: Rooms: Definitely opt for "deluxe" rooms which are in the new wing of the hotel. These rooms are much nicer than the old ones. Overall, the deluxe rooms are nice but could be so much nicer if the hotel invested a bit more in maintenance and cleaning staff. I could see this part of the hotel starting to deteriorate already which is a shame. Food: I really enjoyed bfast and dinner. I guess expectations were low and both buffets were included with our room. Pools: Small children everywhere. Which is great if you have a little one...not so great otherwise. Beach: Nice large stretch of beach which is actually nicer than the Marriott's or Movenpick's Spa: Was fully booked (so I didn't try) but I must say the staff was cold bordering on rude (esp. the stern-looking old lady with a moustache. Overall, the hotel is not in the same class as its neighbors (i.e., the Kempinski,, Marriott, or Movenpick) but is a viable option if you have kids. Its a shame because its deficiencies are really due almost entirely to poor management and staffing. Overall, I think they need to invest to keep up with competition or lower their prices further.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bristol Hotel; City: Amman Amman Governorate; Review: So I arrived at my hotel at around 5:30am after a pretty grueling week and they refused to honor my reservation until 2pm. Besides that, the night manager Yanal Al-Amiri was unprofessional and showed absolutely no empathy for a weary traveler. I cancelled my reservation and will not be back. So I wonder if saving 8 hours of a spare room is worth the lost reservation. And the lack of proper hiring or training of staff means no more bookings ever from me. Keep it up...you wont last long at this rate.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Regency Palace Amman; City: Amman Amman Governorate; Review: So Ive stayed here many times and it can get quite hectic and downright crazy in there at times. But in the midst of it all is a tough as nails receptionist who always greets guests with a welcoming smile, remembers their names, and somehow manages to always keep her composure. Ms. Wojood, you are an island of calm...keep up the great work.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Silkwood (1983); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reservoir Dogs (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: High Fidelity (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pay It Forward (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dogma (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Frida (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rush Hour 2 (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: First Knight (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American Beauty (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Bodyguard (1980); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Training Day (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Secondhand Lions (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Planner (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Beautiful Mind (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: National Lampoon's Vacation (1983); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Midnight Cowboy (1969); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sleepless in Seattle (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nine to Five (1980); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cheech & Chong's Up in Smoke (1978); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 50 First Dates (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Liar Liar (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Being John Malkovich (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What Women Want (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Planes (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Freaky Friday (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Braveheart (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Serendipity (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Silence of the Lambs (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Heathers (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sideways (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Godfather (1974); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Ice Storm (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Forever Young (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Beaches (1988); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: History of the World: Part 1 (1981); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: War Games (1983); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: About Schmidt (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Toy (1982); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bruce Almighty (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Patch Adams (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sixth Sense (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: While You Were Sleeping (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Porky's (1981); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Steel Magnolias (1989); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bringing Down the House (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rushmore (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tommy Boy (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Empire Records: Remix! Special Fan Edition (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sleepers (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spaceballs (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rocky (1976); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Manchurian Candidate (1962); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best in Show (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: GoodFellas: Special Edition (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Memento (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Snatch (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fight Club (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Arrested Development: Season 1 (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: I Am Sam (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Starsky & Hutch (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Apocalypse Now (1979); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Big Momma's House (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sister Act (1992); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Good Morning (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Murder By Numbers (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spies Like Us (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Breakfast Club (1985); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: High Crimes (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Natural Born Killers (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Do the Right Thing (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Men of Honor (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Beverly Hills Cop II (1987); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Monster's Ball (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Driving Miss Daisy (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scary Movie (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Dancing (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Singles (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Finding Forrester (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Soul Food (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Happy Gilmore (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Royal Tenenbaums (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Citizen Kane (1941); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Good Will Hunting (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Boogie Nights (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cocktail (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: There's Something About Mary: Special Edition (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Deeds (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shallow Hal (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stripes (1981); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Fifth Element (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Indecent Proposal (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: American Pie 2 (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Weird Science (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Runaway Bride (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Best Friend's Wedding (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Road Trip (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Taxi Driver (1976); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maid in Manhattan (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: American History X (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 3 (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 21 Grams (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: American Pie (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A League of Their Own (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Rwanda (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Drumline (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Clerks: First Cut (Not Theatrical Version) (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Outsiders (1983); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lost in Translation (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Jerk (1979); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Holland's Opus (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coming to America (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Boys Don't Cry (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beautiful Girls (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: National Lampoon's Animal House (1978); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: John Q (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Thelma & Louise: Special Edition (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Two Weeks Notice (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Coyote Ugly (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Mom (1983); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kramer vs. Kramer (1979); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Billy Elliot (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The General's Daughter (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rocky IV (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Never Been Kissed (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Office Space (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Client (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jerry Maguire (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: You Can Count on Me (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mulholland Drive (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Notebook (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I Heart Huckabees (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Shawshank Redemption: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: You've Got Mail (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Stepford Wives (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Waterboy (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Field of Dreams (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dead Man Walking (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dead Poets Society (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Three Amigos (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monster (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: City Slickers (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Leaving Las Vegas (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Girl (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Firm (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Big Daddy (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Traffic (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Big Lebowski (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Perfect Murder (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Home Alabama (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Welcome to the Dollhouse (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Big (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Remember the Titans (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Graduate (1967); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Father of the Bride (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Green Mile (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Singer (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chocolat (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: American Splendor (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Old School (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Magnolia (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blow (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anger Management (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Donnie Darko (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kingpin (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Meet the Parents (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Saving Private Ryan (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Legally Blonde (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Secretary (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tootsie (1982); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Requiem for a Dream (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bachelor Party (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shakespeare in Love (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Brown Bunny (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Talk to Her (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Finding Neverland (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: View from the Top (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Cider House Rules (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sahara (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 25th Hour (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Something's Gotta Give (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Perfect Storm (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Boyz N the Hood (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tape (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: American Wedding (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Along Came Polly (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Swimming Pool (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sum of All Fears (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Great Outdoors (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sleeping With the Enemy (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Be Cool (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Election (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stepmom (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: National Security (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: We Were Soldiers (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Just Married (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Radio (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Adaptation (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Office: Season 1 (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Double Jeopardy (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Terms of Endearment (1983); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Enough (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Summer Rental (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Raising Arizona (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Naked Gun (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mona Lisa Smile (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Black Sheep (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Replacements (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Philadelphia (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Me (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Terminal (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Without a Paddle (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The NeverEnding Story (1984); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Far from Heaven (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Love Actually (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Guess Who (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Closer (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hitch (2005); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cursed (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Interpreter (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: XL Dog Crate | MidWest Life Stages Double Door Folding Metal Dog Crate | Divider Panel, Floor Protecting; Brand: MidWest Homes for Pets; Review: Quality crate, well built. Very easy set up.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MidWest Deluxe Bolster Pet Bed for Dogs & Cats; Brand: MidWest Homes for Pets; Review: Fits perfectly and seems to be comfortable. Machine washable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Furminator Rake for Dogs; Brand: Furminator; Review: Good rake. Very effective. Easy to use.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Purina ALPO Variety Snaps Dog Food, 32-Ounce (Pack of 5); Brand: Purina ALPO Brand Dog Food; Review: Pup loves them!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Milk-Bone Soft And Chewy Treats Chicken Recipe Dog Treats, 5.6-Ounce Pouches (Pack Of 10); Brand: Milk-Bone; Review: Bella loves them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In the Bedroom (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Double Jeopardy (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Man on Fire (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Remember the Titans (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Green Mile (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Terminal (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Secretary (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Blind Swordman: Zatoichi (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Collateral (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mean Girls (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Control Room (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Super Size Me (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Manchurian Candidate (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: King Arthur (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Shaun of the Dead (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: View from the Top (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Stepford Wives (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Laura Meets Jeffrey: Both Sides of an Erotic Memoir; Author: Jeffrey Michelson; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, romance; Review: Sex drugs and rock and roll; a first person account I usually have a hard time getting into memoirs, but this one really piqued my interest. It tells a story of love during the sexual revolution of the 70's and 80's. The style made you feel like you were in the story and having a drink with an old friend reminiscing about their life. It painted a picture of what the world was like in the 70's and how different it was from today; days' when hot sex, promiscuity, sex clubs and drug use ran rampant. His sayings were witty and many times made me laugh out loud. Each chapter had me coming back for more. Commentary from Laura's point of view sprinkled in was genius; I enjoyed seeing thru her memories. Dual perspectives made it a fun read. I really enjoyed this book and even thought it was full of gritty sex and drug use (which I loved), I also feel I learned a lot about that era. Book was provided by the author for the purpose of an honest review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Steel and Lace (Lace, #1); Author: Adriane Leigh; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Ahhh Carter, the generous, yet bossy billionaire. Same story, different characters. This was a fun little read; emphasis on little. I would have liked to see a bit more character development, but I guess when you are writing such a short story, you need to get to the point quickly. I enjoyed the novella, but think I would have enjoyed it more if it actually was a short story, not just a few chapters of a fuller novel; having been given a definite ending. I feel like these first chapters were a bit rushed. With that said, I did enjoy the story, Carter is hot, sexy and oh so deliciously domineering. Looking forward to the next installment.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Belong to You (Cole, #1); Author: Vi Keeland; Genres: romance; Review: I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. This book is all about an instant unexplainable kind of chemistry. The characters just draw you in. Sydney and her bff Sienna go on her "honeymoon" after Sydney breaks it off with her fiance. She thinks she is going to have a one night stand to kick off her new singleness, but WOW! How can she give this man only one night? Smart, Sexy, rich, totally Alpha is Jacks M.O. He has his own issues, and you really feel for him. I loved that he was supportive in her need to fulfill her own dreams. The end was great! I am looking forward to book two. I would not say there was a cliffhanger, but you will be intrigued to hear about how things play out. I really loved this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Song for Josh (Drifters, #1); Author: Susan Rodgers; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: ARR from Fifty Shades Support Group Little hard to read at first, but once you get used to Susan's writing style it gets easier and the book just flows like poetry. This book is filled with loss, heartache, a full 360 of emotions. A box of tissues close by is a must have! Shows you the healing power of music and the escape it gives you. Looking forward to the next book!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Triple Threat (Triple Threat, #1); Author: Bella Jeanisse; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: ARR from Fifty Shades Support Group Storyline is shaky, sex scenes are XXX hot!! From the 1st 2 pages Chad creeped me about, I mean really, how many times can you make sexual innuendos, comments and heartfelt I love you's to someone who clearly does not feel the same way! That just screams desperation to me and is a total turn off. Then Crystal goes around playing with his heart and emotions. When you know someone feels that way about you it will never be "just sex". Sheesh! Not my bag.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rubbed Raw (Triple Threat, #2); Author: Bella Jeanisse; Genres: romance; Review: ARR from Fifty Shades Support Group Again, the storyline is shaky, sex scenes are XXX hot!! This one drew me in a bit more at the beginning; I still find Chad a bit creepy. Seriously, it will never be "just sex" when he feels the feeling he does. Ugh! She moves from band mate to band mate, really?? She obviously doesn't realize you just don't sh*t where you eat! Bad things come of it eventually!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Wicked Allure; Author: Leslie C. Ferdinand; Genres: romance; Review: I was given an ARC for an honest review. Oooh, it is always exciting when drugs & booze are involved in a 2nd time around meeting. What a way to kick of an emotional roller coaster! 3 yrs prior Zach pushes Madi away to "protect" her, more like because he is scared of his feelings for her. Madi is heartbroken; believing Zach cheated on her she gets the f*/+ out of dodge to start a new life...away from the crazy that is Zach and her family. 3 yrs later her mother manipulates her back to town with the rouse of possibly becoming a stock-holder in her father's company, but she first has to run a business her mother acquired and who is her mother's business partner?? Of course Zach! And what is that business that was acquired?? A Spa/Sex Club! Whoa boy! The scene is set for a book filled with hot & steamy sex scenes, family dysfunction, dramatics and craziness. A great read, filled with so many emotions.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Reaper's Legacy (Reapers MC, #2); Author: Joanna Wylde; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: "Nothing says "commitment" like accessory to murder" I loved this story!!! So excited to see if finally come out! Sophie and Ruger, yummy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dog Days of Summer (Rolling Thunder #1); Author: P.J. Fiala; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: She has been burned in the past; he has never been in love before. Joci is the 40 something single mother of Gunnar, an employee of Rolling Thunder Inc. Rolling Thunder is owned by Jeremiah (Dog) Sheppard a 40 something single father of twin boys Ryder & JT. When Joci is asked to help with the annual Veterans motorcycle run Rolling Thunder holds she meets Dog for the first time. They are both taken with each other, but Joci has been hurt in the past. She uses her marketing ingenuity to rebrand Rolling Thunder and further works her way into Dog's heart. Thru this process they find themselves spending a lot of time together. Jeremiah is patient with her, but Joci is so afraid to risk her heart. After his persistence, she agrees to go out with him. Along the way there are some bumps and hurtles for them both to work thru. People from their pasts and a long standing obligation Jeremiah feels he has try to derail the couple thru their journey. Can situations change? Can they finally be just one big happy family? I guess you'll just have to read it to find out! I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to the continuance of this series. I received a copy of this from the author for an honest review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What I Really Learned in College (With Honors, #1); Author: Addison Winters; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: I received this book from the author for an honest review. What a refreshing change from Alpha Males! I really enjoyed this story and at times had to remind myself Mason is only 21 (yes, a few times I wanted to smack him around). Alex, at 32 has 2 children and a douche for an ex-husband. She meets Alex when she decides to do something for herself and go back to school to get her degree. Soon they spend time together helping each other with school work and Alex finally gives in to the draw she feels for Mason. But being young, Mason has a lot to learn in the bedroom. And Alex wants to be his teacher! Follow their journey as they face down the snide remarks, nasty people (family included), and issues that come along with age differences in relationships. Can't wait for #2!!!!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: You Belong to Me; Author: Ices Sheer; Genres: thriller, crime, romance, mystery; Review: I received this book for author review. Nuke, the Road Captain for the Hells Vipers, has a reputation for being a little crazy and a force to be reckoned with. Jasmine Simmons is a nurse who gets caught up in the chaotic world of the Hells Vipers after doing a friend a favor. This books follows there story and infuses racism, bad boy MC members, snitches, love and some yummy kinky sex! Hope there will be more Hell's Vipers books to come, I really enjoyed it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Lil' Less Broken (The Kingsmen MC, #1); Author: Tara Oakes; Genres: romance; Review: Holy cliff hanger batman! The story is about Lil & Jay who have just been thrust back together after being apart for 2 yrs. Jay is Lil's brother best friend and in the same MC as her father and brother. It tells the story of their past and present, and how sometimes you can misunderstand/misconstrue a situation. (We all have done it). It takes you from the beginning when Lil is only just 16 and Jay is 23 and follows their love story until a misunderstanding sends Lil running for the hills. Fast forward 2 yrs. and Jay must help Lil out of a bad situation. In return she must agree to come back to him. They finally hash out their differences and can move forward together realizing they are still in love.....If only it was that easy. I like how Tara had them immediately address the issue as to why Lil left right off the bat, unlike other stories that just let it drag & drag. I don't usually like the past & present jumps in books, but it really worked in this one. It helped to really round out the story without dragging it out. I will be anxiously waiting for book 2 in October. I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Out of the Shadows and into the Darkness; Author: Senta Holland; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: I was provided this book free from the author for an honest review. I had a very hard time getting into this book at first. Once found myself getting into the story and getting used to the storytelling style I was hooked. I am a big fan of BDSM books and found this story very intriguing as it was like reading a submissive's diary. It brings you to the true core of BDSM. Looking forward to continuing to read this authors work.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tied to You; Author: Bibi Paterson; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: **ARC provided by the author for an honest review!** Olivia is struggling. She struggles to pay her bills; she struggles to provide much needed Nursing Home care for her mother; she struggles to please her employer. When Olivia loses a rare manuscript she was bidding on to Alex Davenport, she is sure she is sunk! But Alex has a plan of his own. He has been watching Liv from afar and must have her, yet he feels she is just too innocent for his "lifestyle". It seems Alex is also a Dom. He decides to approach Liv with a plan that will benefit both of them. He will give her the manuscript and support her financially, but in return she will have to marry him to keep his family from trying to set him up all the time. As the story unfolds Alex believes himself to be a sadist and without feelings. However, Olivia proves him wrong; she shows him a side of himself he didn't know existed. Soon, the small feelings that began with the fake marriage bloom into something so much more. Love. But secrets never stay hidden for long. I really enjoyed this book, at times I felt a slight FSOG parallel, but it was still a very enjoyable read!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Owned by the Bastard (The Soldiers of Wrath MC, #1); Author: Sam Crescent; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: I love Sam Crescent and Jenika Snow books, but this one didn't do it for me. It really seemed to be lacking a plot. It also seemed rushed and it just lacked the flow both these authors normally have in their stories. Sure, the sex was great, but even the "suspense of reality" you need to have to read some of these types of stories was really pushed to the limit.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: KRISP Women's Fashion Elegant Batwing Oversized Chiffon Tunic Top Blouse; Brand: KRISP; Review: The picture does not do this top justice. Its more cuter in person. I am definitely buying more colors. The shipping was pretty fast too. Thanks!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: K-Swiss Women's Hoke CMF Sneaker; Brand: K-Swiss; Review: This shoe is very comfortable. Will get more colors.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vemure Women's Shapewear Firm Control Body Briefer Slimmer Full Body Shaper Bodysuits; Brand: Vemure; Review: I love, love, love it!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: iLoveSIA Women's Waist Cincher Body Shaper Underbust Bustier Black US 12-14; Brand: iLoveSIA; Review: I love, love, love this product!!!! I got it within 2 days, and was packaged nicely. I am 5'11, 176 lbs. I got a 2xl and it fits perfectly! It could be tighter but I like it the way it is on me. It gave me a beautiful hourglass shape which I don't have naturally. Its very comfortable too. But you may definitely want to go a size or two bigger than your normal.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: CHOiES record your inspired fashion Women's White Contrast Polka Dot Print Maxi Skirt; Brand: CHOiES record your inspired fashion; Review: I have no words to describe how beautiful this skirt is!!!!! I am a size 10 and ordered a 12. It's a little big around the waist but I will make it work. I am 5'10 and it goes right to my ankles. I am glad I purchased it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Allegra K Women's Notched Lapel Button Decor Striped Blazer; Brand: Allegra K; Review: I love, love, love this jacket and can't wait to wear it. It's also true to size. The arms are a little short on me but I am 5'10 so that's my problem. ;) I would recommend this jacket all day, everyday!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NBB Women Basic Solid Sleeveless LowCut Neck Cotton Bodysuit Lingerie; Brand: NBB Lingerie; Review: I love it!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LILBETTER Women V-Neck Polka Dot Print Spaghetti Strap Boho Long Maxi Dresses; Brand: LILBETTER; Review: Beautiful dress!!!! I am 5"10 and its a little short for me but I will make it work.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Almost French: Love and a New Life in Paris; Author: Sarah Turnbull; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: A little wordy and long-winded at times, but still an interesting look into the life and love of an Australian who moves to France. Enjoyable if you like travel memoirs.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: On Becoming Baby Wise; Author: Gary Ezzo; Genres: non-fiction, children; Review: My SIL loaned this book to me before my son was born. Since I'm a homemaker, I didn't feel the need to set such strict schedules, as it recommends. I found most of its information useless and not fitting our lifestyle. It might be good for working moms who need to get back to their jobs, though.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer; Author: Harvey Karp; Genres: non-fiction, children; Review: Fantastic! This book helped so much in my son's first few weeks. My mother actually started reading through it first, when I was too overwhelmed by c-section recovery and making breastfeeding work. After three sleepless nights when we first got home from the hospital, we tried the swaddling technique, and our son was a different baby from then on out. He's four months old now, and only in the last couple weeks has he grown out of swaddling and shushing. He doesn't need them anymore, because he sleeps like a champ. I'll be sure to read the whole book cover to cover before we have baby #2!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dog Handling; Author: Clare Naylor; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Light and fluffy. Decent. I picked this up after struggling with Ken Follett's "Pillars of the Earth." I needed a light distraction, and this gave it to me. Parts of it are totally impossible (Greta's Grundies being such an easy business launch, notably), but what can you expect from chick lit? The author also wrote "The First Assistant" and "The Second Assistant" with Mimi Hare. Both of those books were enjoyable.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Dogs of Babel; Author: Carolyn Parkhurst; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery; Review: Well-done first novel. Sad subject matter, both with the wife and the dogs. I kept telling my husband that it's very disturbing, but not to the point that I had to put it down. Mostly it was just sad. Recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Certain Girls (Cannie Shapiro #2); Author: Jennifer Weiner; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Goodness, I'm tired of sullen, hateful teenaged girls in fiction! We were not all like that, authors! I'm ready for an author to be bold and write a book about a young girl who gets along with her parents and doesn't try to fit in with the cool crowd. This book is ceratainly decent, but lacks the momentum and sass of Weiner's previous works. The last 30 or so pages deliver a shocking and sad surprise that helps the book end on a melancholy note.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Time for Tea with Mary Engelbreit; Author: Mary Engelbreit; Genres: non-fiction; Review: Cute little book. I'm trying to learn more about teas since I suddenly despise coffee - post-pregnancy changes are funny like that! It's not very informative, but it has cute photos and illustrations.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pleasures of Tea: Recipes Rituals; Author: Kim Waller; Genres: non-fiction; Review: Pretty little coffee table book about tea and the art of enjoying it. I didn't learn much, but it was certainly nice to fall into for a while.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Elements of Style; Author: Wendy Wasserstein; Genres: non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I must be in a reading slump, because this one disappointed me, too. I got through the whole thing and realized at the end that it didn't have a point at all. It's the story of several New York society men and women and how their lives interweave in the months and years following 9/11. And that's where the interesting bits end. It's not chick lit, but it's not New York fluff, either. It's just kind of boring.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: New Moon (Twilight, #2); Author: Stephenie Meyer; Genres: young-adult, romance, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Excellent second book in this fascinating series. It needed more Edward and Alice, though!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eclipse (Twilight, #3); Author: Stephenie Meyer; Genres: young-adult, romance, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: There's not much to say beyond how much I love this series. I really owe my friends Brenda and Serena for talking about it so much that I finally gave in and read it! This book is tense from start to finish, mostly because you know something huge will happen near the end, and you know who will be involved. I can't wait to read book four, and hope Meyer keeps going with the stories. Oh, I could do with less wolf, though.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The City of Ember (Book of Ember, #1); Author: Jeanne DuPrau; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Now, this is how to write fiction for elementary kids! Wow, what a great story. After just the first page, I found myself going, "Why didn't I think of this?!" I don't want to say too much in case anybody wants to read it. It's the story of a city in the future completely lit by floodlights. There's no sun or moon, and there's nothing in the Unknown Regions outside the city. The story centers around two 12-year-old friends, Lina and Doon, and their quest to find the way out. Fantastic storytelling. I also greatly appreciated the way the author was careful to write their thought processes the way a child that age would think. There are very clear Point A to Point B thoughts they have, which an adult would realize might not work out so well. There are three more books in the series, and I'm anxious to read them all.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Posh; Author: Lucy Jackson; Genres: romance, young-adult, fiction; Review: I finished this book in a few days and looked back on it, wondering what I'd read and why I'd read it. It tells no worthy story, has no redeeming qualities, and ends up going nowhere. The main characters all lead the kind of privileged, horrible life that I don't want to accept actually existing somewhere. Awful. The author, Lucy Jackson, is a pseudonym, and nobody, even her editor, seems to know who the real author is. I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out to be Curtis Sittenfeld, who wrote the equally loathsome and horrible "Prep". Yawn.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: A Room with a View; Author: E.M. Forster; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Loved it in high school, love it now!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: American Wife; Author: Curtis Sittenfeld; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: ** spoiler alert ** I knew going into this book that the central character, Alice, was loosely based on Laura Bush. Alice's husband, Charlie, is also based on George W. Bush. I have mixed feelings about this story. For the first 430 pages of this 555 page behemoth, the story is riveting. I was completely caught up in Alice's life from childhood to adulthood. I enjoyed her courtship with Charlie, his quirky and insanely wealthy family, their early marriage, stories about their daughter, and the major purchase Charlie makes with a group of investors. I found myself relating to Alice in some ways, as a reader and lover of books, and I thought Charlie was affable and interesting. But then, the last 125 pages of the book take on an entirely different tone. It is no secret from her writing that Curtis Sittenfeld has a deep and abiding hatred for George W. Bush. She makes no effort to hide it or to mask it in respect the office of the President deserves. Bush - Charlie in her story - is nothing more than a mouth-breathing imbecile. He is a war monger. He is stupid and arrogant and probably can't even figure out how to eat his oatmeal without somebody's help. Hank, the Karl Rove character, is an evil mastermind, working behind the scenes to pull the strings. He's really the one in charge, though nobody will admit it. And then there's Alice, noble and perfect Alice, who merely puts up with Charlie's idiocy and drinking, with his backwards pro-life stance. Alice never really believes that Charlie becomes a Christian, and the way Sittenfeld writes it, it's no wonder she doesn't believe him. Sittenfeld seems to act as if anybody who's born-again is even stupider than before, even weaker than before. Alice is pro-abortion, and talks at length about the abortion she had as a teenager. She shows no remorse. She acts as if it was just a simple medical procedure with no ramifications. She puts down pro-life activists, who are also apparently all morons. The lesbian doctor who performed the abortion is, at the end of the story, 104 years old and nearly spitting with murderous rage at Charlie, because one of his Supreme Court nominees is pro-life. The Alice in the first 430 pages is not the Alice in the last 125 pages, which of course is entirely the author's fault. The author got lazy and turned her nice story into an ugly hatchet job. Sittenfeld has so much pent-up rage that she decided to vomit it all out in 125 pages of a book. And yes, that's what it is: mental vomit. The vitriol is palpable. Sittenfeld comes across as more than a little bit ridiculous in her rantings. I look at her photo in the back of the book and see a hardened cynic masquerading as a fiction writer. If I were to meet her, I'd have a hard time not telling her to get over herself. Her entire worldview can be summed up with a line from Alice; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Last Summer; Author: Ann Brashares; Genres: young-adult, romance, fiction; Review: I tire easily of books that are heavy and dramatic and overwrought with melancholy. This book is all of those things. The characters seem to wallow in their indecision. I found myself more than once rolling my eyes because a particular event or conversation or series of happenings would never, ever happen in real life. Still, in the end, there was enough story to warrant three stars from me. I enjoyed the character of Alice as much as I disliked her sister, Riley. The peripheral characters of family members and Paul are interesting, too, as are the descriptions of Fire Island and all its various villages and beaches. I do think Brashares should stick to YA fiction, though. (I listened to the audio version and enjoyed it, even if the reader was far too exacting in her speech and often over-enunciated her words.); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows; Author: Ann Brashares; Genres: romance, children, young-adult, fiction; Review: I waffled between two and three stars for this. It's not that I disliked the book. I just didn't particularly like it. It spends about 250 pages drearily going nowhere (though Ama's wilderness adventures are interesting) and then only gets good for the last 60 or so pages. All the spark and life of the book's forerunners, the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, is gone. And I'm really kind of over YA fiction where all the kids are screwed up and all the families are totally dysfunctional. But I'm like a broken record with that complaint.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Beach House; Author: Jane Green; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: I would have given this one more star had there been more careful editing and attention to language. Green is British, but her story and characters this time around are American. Too many British phrases snuck past the editors, who should have known better. Some of the dialogue is awfully wooden, too. Interesting story, but I couldn't get past the easily fixable mistakes to enjoy it fully.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World; Author: Vicki Myron; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Vicki Myron finds a cat in the returned books drop at the library where she's director. He's got frost-bitten feet, is just a kitten, and is scared to pieces. She takes him in and he lives at the library for the rest of his life, becoming a celebrity and drawing curious tourists from all over the world. The book interweaves Dewey's life and antics with stories about small-town Iowa and the ups and downs of Myron's own life. At times I found myself wondering how a history of Spencer, Iowa, had anything to do with a library cat, but when I reached the end of the book, I felt satisfied by it all. I learned a lot about a town and state I don't know much about, and the characters in the town (some of whom reminded me of the folks of Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls) kept it interesting. A good read, with lots of fun stuff for any library lover.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, #1); Author: Alexander McCall Smith; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I have so many friends (and my mom!) who love this series, so I had to give it a try. It's true that it takes about a third of the book to get into it, but then it's hard to put down. I'd like to go to Botswana and have bush tea with Mma Ramotswe! I'll definitely be reading the others in the series, and McCall's other books.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Airhead (Airhead, #1); Author: Meg Cabot; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: This would have five stars if it weren't for Cabot's often annoying writing style that some of you have noticed and pointed out. Here's the type of sentence that pops up a LOT in Cabot's works: "She carried her laptop into the room and set it down. Her laptop, I mean". I wish I'd been paying enough attention from the start so I could count them all and email Cabot with a STOP IT letter. ;) Honestly, though, once you're past that, her books are completely fun. This is the story of Emerson Watts and Nikki Howard, two very different teenaged girls whose lives end up intertwining in the most bizarre way. It's wacky AU and so much fun. The sequel, Being Nikki is coming out in May. Can't wait!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Shocking Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective; Author: Kate Summerscale; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: I had majorly high hopes for this book, and I was disappointed. It's the true story of the grisly murder of a three-year-old boy in England in the 1860s, and the investigation that arises from it. Mr. Whicher is a real-life detective who was the inspiration for all future fiction detectives, starting with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. The story could have been so fantastic, but instead is rambling, often quite dull and not as scintillating as it could/should have been. I listened to the audio and very much enjoyed the reader, but even he wasn't enough to keep me from barely making it through.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The People of Sparks (Book of Ember, #2); Author: Jeanne DuPrau; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is the follow-up to the brilliant middle school novel, The City of Ember. It doesn't pack quite the same punch, because Ember is totally unique and totally brilliant, but I still loved it. It continues the story of the people of Ember, who have left their dying city and try to start a new life in a new place with new people around them. As with the first book, not much can be said about this one without giving it away. Highly recommended. I look forward to the next two.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Prophet of Yonwood (Book of Ember, #3); Author: Jeanne DuPrau; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Wow, this was a downer. It's the third book in the City of Ember series, supposedly a prequel to the first two books, but nothing happened. Really, nothing happened. I read almost 280 pages about a whiny 11-year-old girl and DuPrau's constant hammering on and on about how bad war is and how bad corporations are (We get it! You're a liberal! Enough!) and it all had no point. The only thing that bore any resemblance to Ember happened in the last two pages. Literally. I speed-read the last 130 pages just to be done with it. What a disappointment. Sometimes authors need to learn to just write one great book (the first one, in this series' case, because it was freaking fantastic) and be done with it. Yawn.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bright Lights, Big Ass: A Self-Indulgent, Surly, Ex-Sorority Girl's Guide to Why It Often Sucks in the City, or Who Are These Idiots and Why Do They All Live Next Door to Me?; Author: Jen Lancaster; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: This book was more fun than I should be allowed to have. I read great chunks of it aloud to my husband. Many scenes made me laugh until I shook. Can't wait to read her other two books already in print, and get her fourth in April! Lancaster's blog at jennsylvania.com has quickly become one of my favorites.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, or Why Pie Is Not the Answer; Author: Jen Lancaster; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Yes, another Lancaster book! I've read three in as many months, and I'll read her fourth when it comes out in May. This is her best one yet. She's really hit her sarcastic stride and hilariously chronicles the highs and lows of losing weight while writing a book about the process. I just love this girl!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bitter Is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office; Author: Jen Lancaster; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This is Jen Lancaster's first book, and I'm glad I read it after her second one. The first half is quite bitter, as the title might imply. As it went on, though, I think she really found her voice and hit her stride as a writer. The first half would have benefitted greatly from major editing. Anyway, it's Lancaster's first of four memoirs, and it's her typical sarcastic, funny stuff. If you can handle cynicism, she's worth reading!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pretty in Plaid; Author: Jen Lancaster; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: What can I say? It's clear that I love Jen Lancaster. This book is her best yet, chronicling the first 30-something years of her life through stories that detail not only events, but what she was wearing when the events happened. Jen's other books make it clear that she loves clothes and good handbags, so her storytelling with clothes is genius. I love this girl! Give me more!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Tales of Beedle the Bard; Author: J.K. Rowling; Genres: young-adult, children, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: What can I say? This was utterly delightful. The short stories are crazy-fun, and Miss Hermione Granger does excellent translations. ;) This made me miss the world of Harry Potter so very much. I absolutely love this. It'll stay with my Potter books for all time, and I hope Owen reads this one someday, too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Help; Author: Kathryn Stockett; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Magnificent. I have so much I want to say, and I find that I can't say anything at all. I could have written this book. I didn't have a maid growing up, but my daddy did, and his story parallels Mae Mobley's in ways that I don't even want to think about. Thank God he had his own sweet Aibileen named Cora. Maybe someday I'll write down how this book has made me feel, but today is not that day.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms; Author: Laura Schlessinger; Genres: non-fiction, children; Review: This should be read by any woman who is currently a SAHM or is considering becoming one. It should also be read by nay-sayers and detractors who think that SAHMs are lazy or are doing their kids a disservice by not being in day-care. I am a proud SAHM and this only bolstered my belief that what I am doing is the very best thing possible for my son, my husband and me. It's the best thing for anybody's child, no question.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Love the One You're With; Author: Emily Giffin; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: This is Giffin's fourth book, and I think her best by far. It's the story of Ellen and Andy, who met during college and have a storybook romance and tight-knit family. But then Ellen's ex, Leo, comes along with some intriguing professional offers, and Ellen gets confused. That's about all I can say without giving away the plot! I thought for a while that Ellen would turn out to be another stupid, selfish woman (as so many protagonists seem to be!) but she kept surprising me. I liked this book a lot and read it in about a day and a half.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Girl; Author: Madeleine Wickham; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Frilly. Cute. I thought it was going to get preachy about gay marriage, but never did. It was a quick, light read, and I enjoyed it. That's the best you can say for Wickham/Kinsella!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1); Author: Suzanne Collins; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: 2/29/12 - Re-reading for my blook club! The book is so much better the second time around, three years after I first read it. It's like I was reading an entirely different story! === From my original 2009 review. Heh: I also wondered throughout the whole book if the author was writing with the hopes that it would be made into a movie. Some books feel like the author wants to sell the movie rights, and this is one of them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2); Author: Suzanne Collins; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Shockingly excellent.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vision in White (Bride Quartet, #1); Author: Nora Roberts; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Decent enough story, though awfully formulaic and utterly predictable. You can tell Nora Roberts has written 170-something books. I don't really like romance novels because of the cheese factor and completely unrealistic sex scenes. I'd rather not have to read sex scenes at all, honestly. I doubt I'll read the next three books in the series. I can almost predict what will happen in each one, already knowing what the other three characters are like. Yawn.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Best Friends Forever; Author: Jennifer Weiner; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: My word, this was exceedingly boring. What happened, JW?; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Twenties Girl; Author: Sophie Kinsella; Genres: young-adult, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I'm convinced you can never, ever go wrong with Sophie Kinsella. She's so fun. This was was one of her best. :); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia de Luce, #1); Author: Alan Bradley; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Flavia's kind of precocious. And I don't really mean that in a good way.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tap & Gown (Secret Society Girl, #4); Author: Diana Peterfreund; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: Why aren't there more than five stars for a review? I need more than five stars! I just finished this series and sat on my couch and cried because it was over.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1); Author: Rick Riordan; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: I kind of hated this book. Of course, I'm not a 12-year-old boy, nor am I interested in mythology. If I were either of the two, I might like it better. Instead, I'm a grown woman who loves to read well-written books that show me things instead of telling me. This book is not that book. It's terribly predictable, and it seems that Riordan tried his darnedest to cram Greek god stuff onto every page. Tip to the author: there doesn't have to be a near-death experience in every scene. I speed-read the last 100 pages just to be done with it.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Miss Invisible; Author: Laura Jensen Walker; Genres: young-adult, romance, fiction; Review: My goodness, this book is terrible. It's loaded with bad stereotypes, unreal plot devices and a ridiculous, impossible Cinderella-type ending. This book is an illustration of everything that's wrong with modern Christian fiction.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Rampant (Killer Unicorns, #1); Author: Diana Peterfreund; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Diana Peterfreund is one of my favorite writers, and I truly wanted to adore this book, but I found the first half of it difficult to read. It gets off to a slow start, and my biggest issue with the whole thing is that I just didn't believe it. When J.K. Rowling showed me the boy under the stairs and the castle in Scotland, I believed it instantly, fully. But my brain just isn't wired to accept the notion of killer unicorns, and Peterfreund treats the idea casually as if it's something in our collective mythology that we'll just go along with willingly and with no reservations. Once I forced myself to accept the whole ridiculous idea, I started to enjoy the book a lot. The second half picks up speed considerably, and I found myself up late several nights in a row trying to find out what happens next. I'll certainly read the next book and I'm sure I'll enjoy it. I do hope Peterfreund loses the awful way she names the chapters, though. Ugh. Another little quibble: Why is it called Rampant? That makes... no sense whatsoever.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fashion Babylon; Author: Imogen Edwards-Jones; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Both fiction and non-fiction, this is a brutally honest look at the British fashion industry. Edwards-Jones mashes together countless interviews and anecdotes from real fashion industry insiders to create a fictional designer (who is never actually given a name) and throw a spotlight on six months of her life, from a collection's inception to its time in the tents at New York Fashion Week. It's both hilarious and cringe-worthy, and amazing because it's all true. I've always been fascinated with the fashion industry, so this book made some things that have always perplexed me finally make perfect sense. A must-read for anybody interested in fashion.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Babylon; Author: Imogen Edwards-Jones; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Another excellent expose from Edwards-Jones. This one tells interesting stories from the career of a London luxury hotel front-desk clerk and condenses them all into a 24-hour period. At times hilarious, gross and unbelievable, it's always fascinating. I loved it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: This Side of Brightness; Author: Colum McCann; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: I saw today that Colum McCann is a finalist this year for the National Book Award for Fiction for "Let the Great World Spin," and I had to add this book. I read it 10 years ago when I lived in New York City and it broke me down and then built me back up again. It shattered me and changed my life. It is easily one of the most magnificent books I've ever read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ford County; Author: John Grisham; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: Excellent short stories from one of America's best storytellers. Each takes place in a fictional northeast Mississippi county, mostly in the county seat of Clanton. You'd never know there are such characters lurking in a small town, but there's probably a lot about our quiet neighbors we'll never know. I especially enjoyed "Casino" and "Quiet Haven". This book is also special to me, because it's dedicated to my cousin, Bobby Moak. Bobby and John were roommates during their Ole Miss Law and Bobby helped John sell copies of A Time to Kill out of the back of his car when John couldn't get a book deal. I had lots of access to John Grisham as a kid, thanks to Bobby!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging (Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, #1); Author: Louise Rennison; Genres: romance, children, young-adult, fiction; Review: Hilarious, riotous, completely goofy. It's pure candy and perfect for the car. And there are nine more books! That is fabbity fab fab with knobs on. ;); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Prada & Prejudice; Author: Mandy Hubbard; Genres: history, young-adult, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Sweet and simple young adult novel about a shy girl who gets a bonk on the head and wakes up in Regency England. There aren't a lot of surprises to be found here, but the story is pleasant and well-written (despite the typos that should've been caught by an editor!). I'll read more from this author, for sure.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Private Lives of Pippa Lee; Author: Rebecca Miller; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: 1/19 - Review: Meh. I just won this in a Goodreads "First Reads" giveaway. There were 50 copies to give away, 2,026 people entered, and I won! Can't wait to read it!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Real Real; Author: Emma McLaughlin; Genres: romance, young-adult, fiction; Review: SUPER fun YA book about a high school "reality" show inspired by shows such as Laguna Beach and The Hills, which are silly fun but clearly not real at all. Jesse and some of her Hampton High classmates get picked for a reality show, but Jesse soon learns there's no reality involved at all. I heard the audio version of this, read by Amanda Seyfried. While her voice is endlessly irritating, the book was good enough to cover for her! This book would make a fun movie!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bed of Roses (Bride Quartet, #2); Author: Nora Roberts; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: I'm glad I read this second book in the Brides Quartet! I enjoyed it much more than the first, probably because I enjoyed the character more. This one is about Emma, the florist for Vows. She's kind-hearted and happy and loves her job very much. When an old friend turns into something more, she's even happier. There's a bit of a silly conflict near the end. I do wish writers could just write about two people falling in love and being happy. Not everyone experiences heartache and a near-breakup at the height of their bliss, but every love story has exactly that. Nora Roberts is an excellent storyteller and could teach a lot of writers how to make better characters, but she does veer into the corny and cheesy from time to time. I'm okay with that. She writes fiction for women, for crying out loud! We love cheese!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Truly, Madly (Lucy Valentine, #1); Author: Heather Webber; Genres: romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I received this from Goodreads' First Reads program and couldn't wait to read it. I absolutely LOVED it. It's got a completely original premise that I don't want to spoil for potential readers. I have a new favorite heroine in Lucy Valentine and a new favorite writer in Heather Webber. This book will be released in February 2010, and I highly recommend it to lovers of mystery books with compelling female leads and a bit of romance. I can't wait for its sequel, "Deeply, Desperately"!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nanny Returns (Nanny, #2); Author: Emma McLaughlin; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: ** spoiler alert ** SPOILERS! Beware! I very much wanted to like this book. I enjoyed "The Nanny Diaries" as much as everybody else did, and liked the movie, too. It's hard to pinpoint what I didn't like about this book, but I'll try. 1. I don't see what Nan has to do with this. I mean, this book could have, WOULD have been very interesting had the authors told this story with completely new characters. There's no reason for Nan, Grayer and Mr. and Mrs. X to be a part of this story. It's forced. Yes, the first book was one of the most successful in the chick-lit genre, and the movie did a good job of telling its story. Is this follow-up just a desire by the authors to cash in on a franchise? I hope not. 2. The stuff happening at Jarndyce was interesting, and I wanted more of that. The ending was too hurried. We're supposed to believe the school was locked up simply because Mr. X didn't donate money? What? His kids didn't even go to school there! All these other billionaire parents couldn't keep the school afloat? Huh? If there had been more explanation of what was happening at the school and less mess about Nan schlepping that stupid dog all over Manhattan, the story would've taken off. 3. There's an extreme lack of character development. The authors can't expect us to remember characters from a book we read in 2002 when they weren't central enough to the story to BE remembered. And there are too many characters. I spent lots of wasted minutes trying to remind myself who all these people were. I wanted more of Ingrid and Nan's parents and grandmother, and Ryan and even Chassie and Darwin. 4. Finally, the characters are despicable. There's hardly a nice one in the bunch, they're all dysfunctional to a crazy degree, and the heroine is stupid, flighty and a total pushover. I've read all of McLaughlin/Kraus's books and LOVE them. I never hesitate to read one of their books. Unfortunately, they just failed with this one.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Scot On The Rocks: How I Survived My Ex-Boyfriend's Wedding With My Dignity Ever-So Slightly Intact (Brooke Miller, #1); Author: Brenda Janowitz; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: It's hard to get excited about a book when its outcome is obvious in the first 10 or so pages. Still, it wasn't terrible.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Knocked Out by My Nunga-Nungas (Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, #3); Author: Louise Rennison; Genres: romance, children, young-adult, fiction; Review: Utterly ridiculous. Utterly fabbity fab fab.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Savor the Moment (Bride Quartet, #3); Author: Nora Roberts; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Book three in the Bride Quartet centers around Laurel McBane, baker extraordinaire and the head of Icing at Vows, the wedding cake and dessert arm of the full-service wedding company Laurel runs with her three best friends, Mac (photography), Emma (flowers) and Parker (everything else). Book one focused on Mac, book two on Emma, and book four, due out in November 2010, will be about Parker. I'll be sorry to see this series end. This series is the first I've read of Nora Roberts' work. I know she's written close to 200 books, most of them romance. I think I've avoided romance novels in general, because the image I have of them is the bodice-ripping Harlequin sort. Sure, there's a bit of bosom heaving in Roberts' novels, but things tip much more to the chick lit side than the full-on romance side, and I like that. Laurel has kept her heart closed off from love, due in large part to the abysmal marriage her parents had and how badly it ended. Instead she's thrown herself into her work and into her friendship with her business co-owners. But there's always been one man, part of her life since they were both children, who she just can't ignore. When things change between them, Laurel has to decide whether she can let go and accept love, or whether she'll stay closed off and never know what might have been. As with the first two books in the series, it's clear from the start (the end of the previous book, in this case) exactly what will happen in the end, but that doesn't matter. The story getting to that point is fun and entertaining, interesting despite being predictable. Roberts has a way of writing characters that makes them fully formed and real from the earliest pages of her books. She's great at writing humor without getting cheesy, and her descriptions of people and places are focused and consistent. Anyone serious about writing would do well to read a lot of Roberts' books. She has a lot to teach young writers about how how to do it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Government Girl: Young and Female in the White House; Author: Stacy Parker Aab; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Wooden, stiff, unpolished writing, nearly fawning worship of Bill Clinton, slams against conservatives and Republicans. I need to learn not to enter every contest on First Reads. And that's all I'll say about that. Ahem.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: A Hoe Lot of Trouble (A Nina Quinn Mystery, #1); Author: Heather Webber; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I'm so glad I learned of Heather Webber through Goodreads' First Reads program! I loved her new book Truly, Madly, which made me want to read her earlier novels. This book introduces the character Nina Quinn, an almost-divorced owner of a landscaping company who finds herself thrown into a series of confusing and sometimes dangerous situations. She learns that even though she never intended to become a sleuth, she's got skills for it, albeit rusty at first. I enjoyed the characters in the book, and the mystery's premise. It had a surprise twist at the end that I didn't see coming until it happened. I would definitely recommend this series to readers who enjoy female amateur sleuths!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Search for God and Guinness: A Biography of the Beer that Changed the World; Author: Stephen Mansfield; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: I'll be reviewing this book for booksneeze.com. Looking forward to it!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Swapping Lives; Author: Jane Green; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Listened in the car on my many drives for work. I enjoyed the story, but the reader's voices got annoying sometimes!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Runaway (Airhead, #3); Author: Meg Cabot; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery; Review: Meg Cabot is so hit-or-miss she makes my head spin. One book of hers will be fantastic, and the next will take me ages to get through. This one took ages. It's the completion of the Airhead series, the Em Watts/Nikki Howard three-part story about full-body transplants, secrets, and young love. I read the second book's audio version and loved it. I think Cabot's books, for me, just lend themselves better to audio. I'll say the big aha! twist here did surprise me, and the ending was satisfying. But there are so many painfully cheesy moments that, while I knew they were intentional, I cringed and almost felt bad for Cabot for even writing them.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: At Home in Mitford (Mitford Years, #1); Author: Jan Karon; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: Re-reads of my favorite series. I originally started reading these in 1997 or so, so it's been a long time. So happy to re-visit my friends in Mitford.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Cougar Club; Author: Susan McBride; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Another win from First Reads! :) Kat, Carla and Elise are all 45-year-old women who have been best friends since childhood. They're reaching middle age, and in different ways, all their lives get turned upside down. There are some funny scenes and some touching scenes, and there are also a few obvious plot points that are easy to see before they come. I was expecting it to be crass in sexuality and language, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it wasn't. I guess this is "grown-up chick lit." Overall, I enjoyed it, and I'm interested in reading more from this author who I hadn't heard of before this book. Discovering new authors to read is one thing I really like about First Reads!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Then He Ate My Boy Entrancers (Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, #6); Author: Louise Rennison; Genres: fiction, children, young-adult, romance; Review: What'll I do when I don't have any more of these goofy things to listen to on my drive to work?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: If You Have to Cry, Go Outside: And Other Things Your Mother Never Told You; Author: Kelly Cutrone; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: Kelly Cutrone is the founder of People's Revolution, a fashion PR firm based in New York City. I've been watching her show on Bravo, Kell On Earth, and I find her puzzling. Sometimes she comes across as a savvy, ballsy businesswoman, refusing to take any lip from anybody. But on the other hand, most of the time she appears to be erratic, flighty and more than a bit unhinged. I got her new book, hoping to learn more. I'm fascinated by anything relating to the fashion industry, so I thought it would be a peek into what goes on behind the scenes from a PR standpoint. Boy, was I wrong. Instead of a memoir chronicling Kelly's rise to success, I found a meandering paean to... goddess worship? Yep, Kelly's off-the-deep-end nutty about finding your own religious path, finding the goddess in yourself, studying something called the Universal Mother, and rejecting all the rules, traditions and religion foisted on you by your parents. Kelly believes they don't know what's best for you, so you've got to figure it all out for yourself. Instead of doing what she'd hoped, which is inspire young women setting out on a career in business, Kelly instead shows the ugliest parts of herself and celebrates them because they're part of her true "self". She marries a guy who tells her to have an abortion when she gets pregnant. She does what he says, but then says that all she sees when she looks at him is a "baby killer". And then in the next breath she tells you the obvious, that she's all for abortion. She eventually divorces him after he grabs a ceremonial blade off the wall and tries to kill her. Later she has a fling with a guy and gets pregnant, keeping the baby this time. But when her daughter is born, she gives her the last name of her abusive ex-husband. What a mess. Kelly Cutrone is a woman who is incredibly confused, has a low self-image due to years of abuse of her body and crazy religious dabbling, and is a terrible manager of her company (you only have to watch her TV show to figure that out quickly). How this woman has any success is a total mystery, but then again, how a lot of loonies in the fashion industry have any success is just as confusing. Young girls who haven't figured themselves out yet might find parts of this book to be empowering and make them feel like they can take over the world. The rest of us, the grown women who have figured ourselves out and know what a joke Kelly's worldview and message are, just roll our eyes and laugh. (Kelly and her staff like to troll the Internet for any mention of her or the company, and then bad-mouth the negative stuff on Twitter. Hi, y'all! Feel free to link to my review, you nutjobs!); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3); Author: Suzanne Collins; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: ** spoiler alert ** The bad: 1. This is excessively, unnecessarily, exceedingly violent. Worse than book one and SO MUCH worse than book two. Too much, Suzanne. Too much. 2. I know I'm supposed to suspend judgment, but I'm sorry, I just can't take page after page with sentence fragments. Please, give me a subject and a verb. I'm begging you. 3. Am I the only one who was rooting for Gale through all three books? I mean, Peeta's kind of odd. Also, insane. 4. This whole series is wildly inappropriate for the teenagers at whom the YA market is aimed. Good grief. The good: 1. It got interesting in the last 100 pages. 2. I never have to read dystopian fiction again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: How to Never Look Fat Again: Over 1,000 Ways to Dress Thinner--Without Dieting!; Author: Charla Krupp; Genres: non-fiction; Review: Excellent advice! I'll keep returning to this one again and again, I'm sure.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How to Ditch Your Fairy; Author: Justine Larbalestier; Genres: young-adult, children, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Charlie attends New Avalon Sports High in a country that's not quite America, not quite Australia, sometime in the future. Most people have their own personal fairy that helps them in some way. Some people have a good hair fairy, or a finding loose change fairy, or a never getting caught fairy. Charlie hates hers and wants to get rid of it. The story that follows chronicles Charlie's crush on a boy, an unlikely new friend, and finally, figuring out exactly how to ditch said fairy. Overall, I did enjoy this book. The idea is clever and unique and some of the scenes and situations are humorous. But there were plenty of things that bugged me. The story ends rather abruptly and left me with a "that's it?" feeling. Larbalestier has her characters use big words (torpid, malodorous, pulchritude, etc.), and while it's cute at first, it becomes grating, especially when the words are often used all out of context. There are some pretty horrifying things that happen to Charlie, and none of the adults seem to notice or care. The story's just a bit lopsided and odd. Still, it was unique enough that I can say I enjoyed it overall.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hex Hall (Hex Hall, #1); Author: Rachel Hawkins; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: This book is fantastic! It's obviously heavily inspired by Harry Potter, but I really didn't care. :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deeply, Desperately (Lucy Valentine, #2); Author: Heather Webber; Genres: romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: OMG I LOVE YOU, HEATHER WEBBER. Wait, was that excessive? Probably. Don't care. I seriously love this woman's books. I'm sorry I read this one so fast. WRITE FASTER, HEATHER.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trouble in Spades (A Nina Quinn Mystery, #2); Author: Heather Webber; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Book two in the Nina Quinn series! This one centers around Nina's sister, Maria and Maria's fiance, Nate. Nate, a good guy, gets in the way of the wrong people at work, and a lot of people pay the price. Nina is also being pursued by her stepson's school principal. Pursued in a good way. ;) And there's a panty thief! And a Chihuahua! These stories have so much humor, good mystery and excellent writing. I'm a big fan!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Digging Up Trouble (Nina Quinn, #3); Author: Heather Webber; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Review here; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Princess for Hire (Princess for Hire, #1); Author: Lindsey Leavitt; Genres: young-adult, children, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Fluffy little middle-grades book about Desi, who wants to fit in but isn't one of the cool girls. She discovers she has magic in her and is sent out on jobs as a substitute for princesses who need a break. It's certainly a quick read and not quite as clever or quirky as I hoped it would be, but it's a cute debut.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Heart of the Matter; Author: Emily Giffin; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Oh, look. Emily Giffin wrote another book about a cheating SOB. The formula is the same: wealthy, gorgeous couple; privileged neighborhood and circle of friends; wife is "not happy" for some amorphous reason (and really needs to put on her big-girl panties and get over herself); husband says he "just can't help himself" and cheats. And then miraculously at the end, the wife takes him back and thinks she'll be able to forgive him! Yawn. (Also, totally insulting and hurtful if you know somebody who's been through this scenario. It's not so neat and cute when it's real life.) Why do I keep reading this woman's books? I guess they're written well enough and they're easy to read quickly at the end of one of my own busy days. But boy, this formula is getting stale. All of Emily Giffin's characters are so utterly miserable it makes you wonder how unhappy she is in her own life.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Startled by His Furry Shorts (Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, #7); Author: Louise Rennison; Genres: fiction, children, young-adult, romance; Review: I honestly cannot get enough. More blathering about Masimo from Georgia, lots of denying feelings about Dave the Laugh, a school production of Macbeth ("Macuseless") and Sven in furry shorts. Plus a super-fun glossary of Georgia-isms at the end!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Secrets of My Hollywood Life (Secrets of My Hollywood Life, #1); Author: Jen Calonita; Genres: fiction, young-adult, romance; Review: I saw this series mentioned on Twitter by a YA librarian I follow. I love Twitter! I had never heard of this writer, but now all her books are in my to-read list. This is a cute story with a positive teen-aged female role model. It's not very deep or literary, but it's a lot of fun. Kaitlin is a famous TV actress who's already burned out by the age of 16 and decides she wants to go undercover at an L.A. high school to see how normal kids live. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series, but I do hope Calonita eventually loses the cringe-worthy way she describes, in detail, the outfit every character is wearing in every scene. Who cares!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 1 (Twilight: The Graphic Novel, #1); Author: Stephenie Meyer; Genres: young-adult, romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: I know, I know. I. KNOW. But... I'm curious! And to my husband, shut it! It's not a comic book; it's a graphic novel! Shush! It took me all of 45 minutes to read the entire book, and I'm glad 45 minutes is all I was required to give it. It's bad, y'all. Really, really bad. I wonder what Stephenie Meyer was thinking, letting her story be changed so fundamentally. I know it's an adaptation and an artist's re-telling, but when key scenes are radically changed or left out entirely (the meadow!), I just can't believe it. And maybe I'm missing something, but the drawings just aren't that good, either. I gave it two stars because the cover's pretty. I'm being kind.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: How to Be Popular; Author: Meg Cabot; Genres: fiction, children, young-adult, romance; Review: I went to the library one night and picked this up off the shelf in the YA section. I've read Cabot's books for grown-ups, and her Airhead series for YA, but never any other YA stuff. Cabot's a hit-or-miss kind of writer. Sometimes entire books are a hit; sometimes they're a miss. And sometimes, as in this book, entire sections are a hit and other sections are a total miss. I've never read a more inconsistent writer, that's for sure. Anyway, I enjoyed this story of Steph, who's basically a social outcast and wants to be popular. It's predictable and cheesy (and somebody has GOT to tell Cabot to stop using the phrase "I mean" twice on each page of all her books), but sometimes I like predictable and cheesy. (I'd give it 2.5 stars instead of 3, but Goodreads doesn't give that option!); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: On Location (Secrets of My Hollywood Life, #2); Author: Jen Calonita; Genres: fiction, young-adult, romance; Review: Book two in the "Secrets of my Hollywood Life" series finds Kaitlin out of hiding and dating a nice boy she met in high school. She's also filming an action movie with her arch-nemesis. It's fluffy and cute and quick to read. And, lest we fear otherwise, Jen Calonita is still obsessively detailing what every character is wearing in every single scene. Not even kidding.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Family Affairs (Secrets of My Hollywood Life, #3); Author: Jen Calonita; Genres: young-adult, romance, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: This book is terrifically awful. Monumentally terrible. It's so bad I can barely stand to write a review of it. This is book three of the Kaitlin Burke series, and I am astonished to know there are two more after this with a sixth in the works. I just... how does this happen? The writing is poor, the story is bland and predictable, the characters are caricatures. And the outfit descriptions. WHY does Jen Calonita feel the need to illustrate each character's outfit in detail in each scene? This knowledge NEVER advances the story. It doesn't matter at all. I cannot believe Calonita's editors (yes, plural; see a problem here?) allowed her to continue that past the first book. When I started this book, I decided to count outfit descriptions. I may have missed a few when my eyes glazed over in boredom, but I counted 81. EIGHTY-ONE. How many words did that add to her total word count, I wonder? I hate it when YA novels are written as if their teen-aged readers are stupid. Not all teens are silly, vapid and stupid, but Jen Calonita seems to think that's all they can handle. It's insulting. Forget reading the rest of this series. I'm done trying to care.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet; Author: Lara Deloza; Genres: romance, young-adult, fiction; Review: I wasn't sure I'd like this, especially so soon after reading a similar story by a different author. But I was pleasantly surprised. Morgan is a 16-year-old Hollywood starlet recovering drug addict who goes incognito in Indiana to fix herself before trying to fix her career. At first, she's a snotty piece of work, angry and making fun of everything around her, but as the book progresses, she softens a lot. I'm looking forward to the next book, and would recommend this to YA fans!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Carrie Diaries (The Carrie Diaries, #1); Author: Candace Bushnell; Genres: romance, young-adult, fiction; Review: This book was utterly FANTASTIC. I loved it, loved it, loved it. Every single word. So stinkin' good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Fair Lazy: One Reality Television Addict's Attempt to Discover If Not Being A Dumb Ass Is the New Black, or, a Culture-Up Manifesto; Author: Jen Lancaster; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Love, love, love. That is all.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood; Author: Eileen Cook; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: I know giving this two stars makes it look like I didn't enjoy it, but that's not the case. I liked it very much. I just think it tied up too nicely at the end and the resolution felt rushed. Cook can write some wickedly funny phrases, and has a little bit of a twisted mind, and I want more of that. In this story, Helen was wronged by her former best friend and ended up moving away because of it. But she has to return for her senior year, and hatches a plan to get revenge. She does get her revenge, but not without getting hurt herself in the process!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Love Is a Many Trousered Thing (Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, #8); Author: Louise Rennison; Genres: fiction, children, young-adult, romance; Review: Not as funny as the previous books, but still totally enjoyable. I'm really going to miss Georgia when I'm done with these books!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Anna and the French Kiss (Anna and the French Kiss, #1); Author: Stephanie Perkins; Genres: fiction, young-adult, romance; Review: . . Review found here. I'm writing this as I've just finished the book, and I still have traces of tears in my eyes and on my cheeks. This book is utterly perfect. It's the best young adult novel I've ever read, and I've read a lot of them. It just couldn't be better. Anna is looking forward to her senior year at her Atlanta high school. Her best friend, Bridgette, will be there, and she's got a fighting chance with her huge crush, Toph. But her father, a best-selling novelist, sends her away to boarding school, and Anna thinks her life is over. Despite her new school being in Paris, of all ridiculously wonderful places, it's not what she wants, and she resists it. Thankfully, Anna quickly makes friends with Mer, Josh, and Rashmi. And then there's St. Clair. He's an American-born French boy with an English accent, and he's kind of perfect. I can't say more, because I don't want to give away the tiniest morsel to anyone who hasn't read the book, but yeah. He's pretty perfect. This book debuted early in December 2010, but I think it's going to be the book of the year in 2011. It'll be that "Have you read this? You HAVE to read this!" book that people pass on to friends and nudge strangers about in book stores. I usually sell or trade all my books on Paperback Swap, but not this one. This one's going in my permanent collection, and it's just totally fitting that it'll go right next to Diana Peterfreund's Secret Society Girl series, because those are the only other books that have made me laugh, cry, ache, and tell everyone, friends and random strangers alike, that they HAVE to read this. Just have to.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door (Anna and the French Kiss, #2); Author: Stephanie Perkins; Genres: fiction, young-adult, romance; Review: I held off on reading this for ages. I loved Anna and the French Kiss so much that I wanted to hold on to this one and make the sweetness and satisfaction last longer. I tend to do that. I'll hold on to a gift card for ages, or I'll keep my favorite chocolate hidden away. I don't jump in feet first, but I'll wait for just the right moment when I really need that wonderful thing I've been saving for the proverbial rainy day. So it isn't the happiest feeling in the world when the thing I've been waiting so long for falls flat. Don't get me wrong. Stephanie Perkins is a very good writer. And Lola and the Boy Next Door is a good book. I just really, really, intensely dislike Lola herself. She's immature, selfish, unlikeable. And then there's the boy next door himself, the completely loveable and adorable (if a bit frustrating in the "come on, man up!" sense) Cricket Bell himself. I felt, even to the very end, that Lola didn't at all deserve Cricket. Perkins has a knack for writing swoon-worthy male characters. Etienne St. Clair? Humina. He's right up there with Poe from Diana Peterfreund's secret society novels. Cricket Bell has joined them, making a triumvirate of don't-you-wish-they-were-real boys. But her girls? Her girls aren't so great. I wonder why that is.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy (Gallagher Girls, #2); Author: Ally Carter; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery; Review: Considering these are middle grades books, they take me an awfully long time to read. This makes me wonder if they're just not very good. They certainly don't grab my attention for longer than 10 minutes at a time. I don't have much to say other than Cammie irritates me to death. She's supposed to be this super-genius spy, but comes across pretty stupid. She can't seem to take a step without her friends telling her how to do it. Maybe I'll read the next one. Hopefully it'll get better and Cammie will stop being a lump?; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Mini Shopaholic (Shopaholic, #6); Author: Sophie Kinsella; Genres: young-adult, romance, fiction; Review: Adorable!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Demonglass (Hex Hall, #2); Author: Rachel Hawkins; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Oh, Rachel Hawkins, *fists of fury* at you! How could you leave us hanging again?! SPOILERS ahead, so don't read this unless you've read Hex Hall, which I highly recommend you do right now! Sophie has discovered she's a demon, even though she's always thought she's a witch. Demon is far worse in Prodigium world, and far more dangerous. Turns out she's one of only two known demons in the world, her absentee father being the other one. Plus, she discovered at the end of Hex Hall that her mega crush, Archer Cross, is a member of The Eye, who are hell-bent on killing her. And then there's the whole thing about watching her friends die at the hands of her grandmother, Alice, a demon who went very, very bad when raised by a coven of witches at Sophie's school, Hecate Hall. So, pretty much, you could say things aren't going so well for ol' Soph. Her father shows up at Hecate Hall and insists on taking her to Thorne Abbey in England, the new site of the Council that oversees the witchy world, for her protection. Sophie will go as long as her best friend, the vampire Jenna, goes as well. The two set off for a summer in England, hoping things will be quiet and safe. Yeah, right. Rachel Hawkins does not write "quiet and safe," friends. The Eye find out where Sophie is, and Sophie finds out some terrible news about things happening at Hecate Hall, where the fall term of school is beginning soon. There's also the little matter of Archer showing up again, too. Sophie never knows who to trust with her life or her secrets. Sophie grows a lot in this story, coming into both her own powers and her confidence. Her friendship with Jenna is tested, for understandable reasons, and the two must figure out how to navigate Sophie's emerging powers while still remaining friends. Cal, the Hecate handyman with astonishingly delicate and life-saving powers, is a revelation. Hawkins says that teenagers are Team Archer and grown women are Team Cal. So true. I hope Sophie and Cal end up together, though I know it's not likely. This is another excellent offering from Rachel Hawkins, and I can't wait for more. I'm only mad that the series' third and final installment doesn't come out until March 2012. So unfair.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner (Twilight, #3.5); Author: Stephenie Meyer; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Loved it. Loved every little bitty word of it. Of course I knew how it would end from the beginning, because I've read Eclipse and I've seen the movie, but that didn't matter. Stephenie Meyer can flat-out weave a good story, and this one was excellent. I hated for it to end and I wish it could have been longer. The last couple sentences brought me to tears in my car, I'm not ashamed to admit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Opposite of Me; Author: Sarah Pekkanen; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: An excellent debut.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: To Kill a Mockingbird; Author: Harper Lee; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Like everyone else, I read America's greatest novel in high school and haven't read it (or seen the film) since. It was published in July 50 years ago, so I thought it was high time I picked it up again and read it through an adult's eyes. It's almost a shame we have to read such great classics when we're so young and can't possibly understand them. Since it has 31 chapters and July has 31 days, I read a chapter a day, forcing myself to put it down when each day's chapter was finished. Reading it slowly let me take it all in. Even though it's been so long since I read it, I remembered the action on nearly every page. It's a shame that now, in our brow-beaten politically correct culture, the novel is only seen as a civil rights lesson, when it's really so much more. Anyone familiar with small-town Southern life can relate to every page, every character, every little nuance. It truly is a masterpiece.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lipstick Laws; Author: Amy Holder; Genres: romance, young-adult, fiction; Review: Review posted here. It's sophomore year at Penford High School in Rochester, NY, and April Bowers is lonely. Her best friend, Haley, has moved out of town, and April, who has never been popular in her large high school, now feels completely alone. The only person who seems to give her any attention is Delvin McGerk, who she thinks is "stalkeriffic" and the king of all losers. It's not looking good for April. Enter Britney Taylor, fellow sophomore, and self-ordained queen of the popular kids. Despite only being in 10th grade, she manages to thinks she has the level of popularity usually reserved for seniors. She has a small group of sycophantic girlfriends who follow her around like lap dogs, and she's got boys drooling over her body. Britney seems to have it all, so April is confused and flattered when Britney and her friends welcome her to their lunch table. What follows in the first half of the book is the common ugly duckling story. April, who's cast in the role of the ugly duckling but isn't actually ugly at all, gets made over by Britney the puppet master. Britney is the queen of back-handed compliments and never fails to let her feelings be known, no matter how hurtful the insult may be. April's clothes and hair are changed, and she's backed into the corner when it comes to signing the Lipstick Oath, a list of seven rules she must agree to follow in order to be friends with Britney and the girls. There are expected insults, hi-jinks and hurt feelings, and at a ridiculous party in a field, it all changes when somebody calls the cops and April gets blamed. She's immediately out of the group, and Britney sets out to destroy April's reputation. (What reputation? April was unknown before Britney came around, and the girls have puffed-up senses of superiority, so how would anybody realize April had changed anyway?) The first half of the story is interesting and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny. The second half, however, tumbles out in a rush, all telling and no showing. It's a breathless read of "this happened, and then this happened, and then OMG this happened!" It's like a bad Disney Channel or ABC Family movie which spends the first half setting up the plot nicely, and the second half desperately trying to cram it all in with a nice little lesson in the last five minutes. April takes revenge on Britney by gathering up other girls who broke the Lipstick Oath. They call themselves the Lipstick Lawbreakers, and they plot and scheme to ruin Britney's life. One of their tricks, involving fake love letters and a showdown on the football field, is far beyond anything a high-schooler would ever do, and the other is not funny and could be deadly for Britney. Some of the book's major plot problems include: * The character of Brandon is interesting, if not a little gross. He disappears. Why? * Delvin is clueless but sweet and obviously a catch for a nice girl, and then turns into; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pants on Fire; Author: Meg Cabot; Genres: fiction, children, young-adult, romance; Review: I'm slowly making my way through Meg Cabot's older YA books and came across this one at the library. Thankfully, it was audio, as I think all Cabot's books should be experienced. I always like the audio versions, not so much the book versions. In this one, Katie Ellison tells too many lies that get her in trouble, and for a long time she's been keeping a big lie to herself surrounding Tommy Sullivan, her former best friend who left town in disgrace. Now it's their senior year, Tommy is back, and Katie finds a way to right the wrongs done to Tommy. I thought this was cute. Plain and simple. :); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: P. Allen Smith's Living in the Garden Home: Connecting the Seasons with Containers, Crafts, and Celebrations; Author: P. Allen Smith; Genres: non-fiction; Review: I've checked out all of Allen Smith's books from the library and skimmed them, but this one I read every word of, cover to cover. If I had lots of expertise and lots of money, I would design my entire yard to look like an English garden. I can't afford to do that, but I can take little elements and work them into my yard and home. I took copious notes from this book and even got truly ghetto and took a photo of a table centerpiece! I'm going to have to buy this!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Absolutely, Positively (Lucy Valentine, #3); Author: Heather Webber; Genres: romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Review posted here.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What Jamie Saw; Author: Carolyn Coman; Genres: children, young-adult, fiction; Review: I spent some time in the middle grades stacks at the library and found this tiny book, a short story, really. I took it home and read it in just over an hour. Jamie sees his mother's live-in boyfriend do something terrible that thankfully doesn't end badly. He and his mother and baby sister leave and set out on their own. Jamie struggles with anger and confusion and often lashes out at his mother and baby sister. I was curious how such a small book would be grand enough in its literary scope to be both a Newbery and a National Book Award finalist. The writing is arresting, and it's hard to put down, but I'm still left wondering what made it so captivating. Maybe it'll have to sit with me for a while before it really hits me.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bumped (Bumped, #1); Author: Megan McCafferty; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Review posted here on my blog. -- What a strange book. In the future, a virus has rendered everyone over the age of 18 infertile. Society has become baby-obsessed, putting the job of procreating squarely on the shoulders of boys and girls who are basically still children themselves. Finding the right kid to carry your child is a million-dollar business, and only the best, brightest, fittest, smartest, and most attractive are hired. Melody is on her way to being a "Surrogette," just waiting for the boy she'll be matched to "pregg" with. She's fighting her feelings for her best friend, Zen, but he's too short and too Asian to be a professional. What Melody doesn't know is that she has a twin sister, Harmony. The two were separated at birth and raised very differently. Melody is from the baby- and money-obsessed Otherside, and Harmony has been raised in Goodside, which appears very similar to modern Amish communities. The girls meet, and, through a series of mistaken identities and admitting they're not so different after all, they're driven in two surprising (to them) directions and the book ends on a sequel-obvious cliffhanger. I enjoyed the story quite a lot. It's fresh and original, and I appreciate how neither the sex-obsessed teens nor the highly religious teens are treated as campy stereotypes. Both types are fallible, funny, naive, wise, and normal. I, as a Christian, kept waiting to be offended by either side of the story, but I never was. Kudos to the author for walking the fine line and telling a good story without resorting to cheap insults. My only quibble, which is minor but continuous throughout the story, is a lot of the words and phrases. Things like "bump," "pregg," "facespace," "dose down," etc., are cutesy, but so foreign that they can slow down reading. It took me about half the book to get used to the language quirks to really sail through it and not stumble while reading. I imagine that won't pose a problem in the next book, since I'm now used to the style.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Are These My Basoomas I See Before Me? (Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, #10); Author: Louise Rennison; Genres: fiction, children, young-adult, romance; Review: The end. :(; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: State of the Onion (A White House Chef Mystery, #1); Author: Julie Hyzy; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: So good! I'm loving this new-to-me series!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Wallflower Christmas: A Novel; Author: Lisa Kleypas; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Yes, it's a bit of a bodice-ripper, but I was genuinely surprised how much I liked the story, the characters, and the author's writing. I'll be reading the other four books in the series for sure! And I think I'm interested in more historical fiction, especially if it's set in England.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eggsecutive Orders (A White House Chef Mystery, #3); Author: Julie Hyzy; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: I love this series so much and gobbled this one up in about 24 hours. Julie Hyzy is the queen of the cozy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Goddess Test (Goddess Test, #1); Author: Aimee Carter; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Review posted here. --- Kate Winters has moved to Eden, Michigan, with her mother. It's her mother's hometown, and she's dying of cancer and wants to return there to live out her few remaining days. Kate and her mother are close, so Kate is willing to give up her senior year in her New York high school, eager to please her mother and make the end of her life as pleasant as possible. Very quickly we see Kate begin her senior year, make a friend named James, get treated like trash by a girl named Ava, and watch her mother slip into a coma. And then the tension stops, for everything is revealed. Let me back up a bit. Ava claims to be taking Kate to a party, but instead takes her to a river (it's made clear that Kate is terrified of water), makes her cross the river, and then skips off to leave Kate alone and cold on the other side. But something happens, Ava slips and bashes her head on rocks, and dies right there in front of Kate. She's stranded with a dead frenemy, too paralyzed with fear to cross back over the river and hightail it to civilization for help. But lo! Through the trees emerges a bona fide hottie, of course! He is Henry, and he's creepy but beautiful, Edward Cullen without the sparkle, and he tells Kate that he can save Ava's life (and somehow the life of her mother), but she has to agree to live with him for six months out of the year and be his bride. And, after a couple days of teen-aged angst with her new BFF, the undead Ava, Kate inexplicably agrees to this and goes to live at Eden Manor. Because, you see, Henry is really Hades, ruler of the Underworld, and he needs a new wife to replace Persephone, his one true love. Yes, that's the premise here. And what follows is a confusing jumble: Kate must pass seven tests in order to be deemed worthy of immortality and Henry's hand in marriage; she willingly spends six months in Eden Manor with a host of weirdos, apparently unconcerned about the people out there on the other side of the hedge, wondering what's happened to a seventeen-year-old girl who's just vanished out of thin air; there are shenanigans and a murder; and then there's a big reveal at the end, part of which is enormously insulting to the reader (unless that reader happened to figure it all out in the first third of the book, which I admit I did). The ending is preposterous. And there's a sequel coming out, but there's zero anticipation of what's going to happen next, nothing that makes the reader write down the next book's release date, circle it twenty times, highlight it, and put stars and hearts around it. I admit that I know only the basics of Greek mythology. As a Christian, I figured out pretty quickly when I was younger that the Greek gods and their stories are the complete; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Isla and the Happily Ever After (Anna and the French Kiss, #3); Author: Stephanie Perkins; Genres: fiction, young-adult, romance; Review: Finished a couple weeks ago and forgot to mark it! It was sweet, but I was creeped out by Josh's obsessiveness. And I'm really over couples having a huge fight and breaking up two-thirds of the way through, only to have a perfect reunion in the last 20 pages. Authors, can we please have ONE realistic relationship in a book?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Winston Churchill (Christian Encounters Series); Author: John Perry; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Review originally posted here. This little book is a condensation of historian John Perry's larger work on Winston Churchill, a towering figure not only in English history, but in worldwide history. We all know the face and voice of the man who looked a bit like a bulldog, and his most well-known quotes and speeches are recognizable by even the most novice history buffs, but what was behind the public figure, and what made him the man who guided England through some of its darkest days? Perry begins early in Churchill's life and details how Churchill loved and nearly idolized his parents, who were not as nurturing as parents should be. His nanny was much more influential and more of a mother to him, and she deserves a great deal of credit for the man Churchill would become. We see throughout the book that Churchill could be haughty, arrogant and self-centered, believing he was set apart by God to do "the Lord's work." Whether Churchill was ever truly saved is still a mystery, and while he said many of the "right" things, it'd doubtful any historian can give hard and fast evidence for his salvation. Whether Churchill was saved or not, one thing is certain: he was clearly, as he said, spared and set apart for a reason. His contributions to English history, and to the state of the world during and after World War II, cannot be downplayed. Christian or not, he had a large measure of grace to accomplish his work. This book makes that clear, even if it reaches a bit and tries to finesse Churchill's incomplete belief system into a Christian worldview. === This book was provided free to me by Thomas Nelson trough its BookSneeze program for book bloggers. While it was provided to me with the expectation of a review, all opinions are mine and are not influenced by the publisher or by BookSneeze.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: It's Raining Cupcakes; Author: Lisa Schroeder; Genres: romance, children, young-adult, fiction; Review: Review posted here.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Falling in Love with English Boys; Author: Melissa Jensen; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Review posted here.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Matched (Matched, #1); Author: Ally Condie; Genres: young-adult, romance, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Review posted here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Billion Reasons Why; Author: Kristin Billerbeck; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Oh boy, this was a stinker. Review posted here.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Mrs Whippy; Author: Cecelia Ahern; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Review posted here; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Austenland (Austenland, #1); Author: Shannon Hale; Genres: history, young-adult, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Review posted here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Midnight in Austenland (Austenland, #2); Author: Shannon Hale; Genres: history, young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery; Review: Review here, at my blog: [url]...; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: An Assembly Such as This (Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman #1); Author: Pamela Aidan; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Review posted here.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: God's Promises Devotional Journal: 365 Days of Experiencing the Lord's Blessings; Author: Jack Countryman; Genres: non-fiction; Review: Review posted here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Magnolia League (Magnolia League, #1); Author: Katie Crouch; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Review posted here === Alexandria (Alex) Lee is not your typical teenager. She lives on a communal farm in Mendocino, California, with her mother, Louisa. To the world, the commune appears to be for growing herbs and organic vegetables, but the secret is that it's also a pot farm. Alex has never known anything different, and has always been happy and accepted among the motley group she and her mother consider their family. But Alex's life is rocked to its core when her mother dies in a terrible one-car accident, leaving Alex an orphan. Her friends and her would-be boyfriend, Reggie, do their best to keep Alex happy, but her world is turned upside-down again when an attorney arrives at the farm and tells Alex she must leave California and move to Savannah, Georgia, to live with the grandmother she's never known. To say that Savannah is nothing like Mendocino is an understatement, and Alex feels completely out of place. She's a few pounds overweight (which the author reminds us of repeatedly and annoyingly, in what is truly my only quibble with the book), she dresses like a hippie, and her hair is in dreadlocks, which Alex eventually admits was a foolish mistake in an effort to entice Reggie. Alex wants to save the world, while the girls and women she encounters in Savannah seem to want nothing more than to be rich and beautiful. But there's more at play here than just cultural differences. Some of Savannah's women are members of a society called The Magnolia League, and nothing they do appears normal. Alex's grandmother, Miss Lee (never Grandmother or Grandma, but always Miss Lee), is the founder and head of the League, and is unnaturally beautiful and young-looking for her age, as are her best friends. The girls thrust in Alex's way to be her new friends are also beautiful and never seem to suffer from common teenage ailments such as bad skin or a few extra pounds from eating too much junk food. Alex is expected to join The Magnolia League, since it is her birthright. Her grooming will culminate with the League's annual debutante ball at Christmas, where Alex will be formally presented to Savannah society. But first, Miss Lee and Alex's new friends, Hayes and Madison, must give her a makeover that includes more than just clothes. And that's where the re-telling must end, for to give more away would detract from the real meat of the story, which involves an old Gullah family, hoodoo magic, spells, and beauty and wealth that come at a great cost. I spent my honeymoon in Savannah and greatly enjoyed the book's meandering strolls through some of the city's best-known streets and parks. Folks in Savannah take their Gullah and hoodoo legends seriously, and The Magnolia League captures that spirit in an extremely clever and entertaining way. The book ends with a cliffhanger, perfectly priming it for a sequel. I, for one, can't wait.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick (Perry & Gobi, #1); Author: Joe Schreiber; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: Loved it. Totally crazy. Review will be posted closer to release date. :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Save the Date; Author: Jenny B. Jones; Genres: young-adult, romance, fiction; Review: In general, I have a bit of a problem with Christian fiction of the romance/chick-lit variety. I get tired of the wooden, stereotypical characters, the unrealistic holiness, and the too-good-to-be-true heartthrob. (And let's not even get started on that other creature, Amish fiction. Ugh.) So I've vowed a hundred times that I'll never read Christian romance/chick-lit again. Well, let's just say I'm very glad I broke my own rule with this one. I puffy cartoon hearts adored this book. I know, that doesn't sound very professional or Book Reviewer-ish, but it's true. Start to finish, every single word, I loved Save the Date. Lucy has had some hard knocks in her life. She grew up poor, the only child of a house-cleaning single mom. She worked her way through college and has been on her own since her mother's death. She lives in Charleston, South Carolina, and runs Saving Grace, a home for young women who have aged-out of the foster system but still aren't quite ready to be out on their own. Her best-friends are a group of self-described science fiction nerds. Things seem to be going okay for Lucy. She'd been dating Matt, a reliable but boring accountant. Just when Lucy thought Matt would propose to her, he broke up with her and moved away. Fast-forward and Saving Grace loses most of its funding. Lucy is lonely and worried about Saving Grace, wondering how she's going to keep it all afloat. But then Alex Sinclair comes along. He's an old classmate from Lucy's childhood, a former NFL quarterback, and a congressional hopeful. He also happens to be irrevocably tied to the foundation that's just cut Lucy's funding. What happens next seems implausible but is completely believable in the hands of Jenny B. Jones and her gift for storytelling. And I'm not going to tell you what that something is, because the book is so good you should read it yourself. It's often laugh-out-loud funny, incredibly sweet and endearing, and more than just a little romantic. What I love the most about Jones' writing is her characters. She has quite a knack for creating fully-formed folks you think you could know. I want to be friends with Lucy. I want her to be real! And call me crazy, but I had a hard time not picturing Eli Manning as Alex. I mean, come on. Save the Date strikes that perfect balance between secular and Christian romance/chick-lit. It's not profane as some secular offerings are, and it's not at all sickly-sweet as some Christian ones are. It's instead a delightful read full of delightful characters from an author whose other books I'll now seek out and gobble up.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are; Author: Ann Voskamp; Genres: history, poetry, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Deeply troubling from a theological perspective. Quite often mystical, with a near wringing-out of a thesis (eucharisteo), repeated multiple times per page. Quotes pulled from all over, various denominations (and even other religions!), all mashed together in the to-her radical notion that life should be lived in thankfulness. Why is this notion so life-altering for Voskamp and the hoards of women nearly breathless in awe at this book? Is Scripture not full of God's people giving thanks in all things, no matter the circumstance? What is missing from the pulpit for these women, I wonder? Why is this so shocking in its revelation?; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Johann Sebastian Bach; Author: Rick Marschall; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: My childhood was full of good music. My father knows more about classical music than anyone else I've ever known, and our house was always full of it (plus jazz, Broadway, country, pop - I heard it all). Early on, I knew one of his favorite composers was Bach, and it wasn't just because of the glorious and beautiful music he wrote. It also had a lot to do with Bach's faith, a faith we share with him. He began every composition with the words "Jesu, Juva" (Jesus, help me) and ended each with "Soli Deo Gloria" (to God alone be the glory). And now, as an adult, I'm privileged to be in a church choir that still sings the important works of important composers such as Bach. There's nothing like singing his music; you can feel the praise in every note and ever word. This book is another installment of Thomas Nelson's "Christian Encounters" series. Each slim volume presents biographical information about its subject, giving chronologies of childhoods and upbringings, shedding light on how each came to be such a unique and important person in world history. (I reviewed another Christian Encounters edition, on Winston Churchill, here.) If anyone had a right to feel prideful about his enormous gift for music, it would be Bach, but Marschall shows the composer's humility through quotes and anecdotes. Always, Bach's goal of glorifying God comes through in his words. Take, for example, this quote: "The aim and final reason of all music should be none else but the glory of God and refreshing the soul." Bach took Soli Deo Gloria to heart and lived it. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to be inspired by a fellow Christian who achieved the pinnacle of worldly accolades while doing it all for God's glory. Anyone involved in church music would find this especially interesting. There probably isn't anything new for people who are highly knowledgeable about classical music or Bach himself, but for the novice or someone needing a history refresher, this book would do the trick. Disclosure: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson's book blogger program, Booksneeze, with the expectation of a review. All thoughts are my own and were not in any way influenced by the publisher.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sons and Lovers; Author: D.H. Lawrence; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Ugggghhhh. Killlllllll meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Flat-Out Love (Flat-Out Love, #1); Author: Jessica Park; Genres: young-adult, romance, fiction; Review: SWOON. Swoony, swoon, swoon. At 11:30 my Kindle said I was 38% through this. At 3:00 I finished it in tears. Couldn't shut my brain off to sleep until 4:00. Worth it. (I'd been spoiled about the twist, but that didn't diminish the story at all. And what a romance.); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Some Day You'll Thank Me for This: The Official Southern Ladies' Guide to Being a "Perfect" Mother; Author: Gayden Metcalfe; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Well, that was a quick read. I zipped through it in a couple hours this afternoon. I'm from the Mississippi Delta (Clarksdale, to be exact, though I lived for a few years in Greenville, and my Southern girl street cred is further established by a degree from Ole Miss) and I expected this to be funny and a happy reminder of my upbringing. Instead, I read a tart and acerbic screed by two wholly unkind and unlikeable rhymes-with-witches. What a terribly unpleasant picture they've painted of the South, and of Southern mothers and daughters. Trust me: we don't all fit their snooty stereotype. Some of us love our home and ancestry with a fierce devotion but actually have compassion for others and original thoughts of our own. And the recipes are crap, too.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: If You Were Here; Author: Jen Lancaster; Genres: non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Review here at my blog. == As far as I'm concerned, Jen Lancaster is the queen of the memoir. She's written five: Bitter Is the New Black; Bright Lights, Big Ass; Such A Pretty Fat; Pretty in Plaid; and My Fair Lazy. She has a knack for making her life seem a lot more hilarious than the rest of ours, and she can turn an event that probably took five seconds in real life into a pages-long, pratfall-filled romp. I love her books. I laugh out loud reading them, I gasp for air, I make my husband lean over in bed to read over my shoulder when I'm laughing so hard I can't speak. Jen's a great memoirist. I was excited to hear her next book would be fiction. Everyone who reads her knows she's an excellent writer and storyteller. But fiction is a challenge if you've never really done it before (just as the memoir is a challenge to a fiction writer). Could Jen pull it off? Well, yes and no. You see that I've given the book five stars. It would be hard for me not to give one of her books five stars. I've read her blog, her books, her Facebook and Twitter feeds for so long that I feel like I know her. She's always funny. She lets fans into her life in a way most authors don't. So I'm predisposed to love everything she writes. And I did love this. Just not at first. The book's stars, Mia and Mac, are married, (happily) childless, and live in Chicago in a neighborhood that's just about too violent. They're renting the perfect house, but they don't feel safe, so they begin a search for a house in the suburbs where their dogs can run free in a big backyard, and where Mia and Mac can feel safe but still be close to their friends in the city. Anyone who knows Jen at all sees the obvious parallels. She is Mia (three-letter name!) and her husband, Fletch, is Mac (last name nickname!). Both couples have pit bulls (real one: Maisy; fictional one: Daisy). Both have a herd of near-insane kittens with badass names. Both lived in a spotty neighborhood in a house that's utter perfection. Both couples struggled to find the perfect house in the 'burbs, and finally found one with major fix-up needs, though the real Jen and Fletch obviously got the nicer house. The fictional friends' names and occupations are even similar to their real friends. At first, I felt mildly annoyed about and uncomfortable with all this. How was Jen changing names, but basically writing another memoir? How could she get away with that? But as the book goes on - and this is what really saves it - the similarities end. Mia and Mac experience house woes of such an epic, money pit level that I found myself thankful Jen and Fletch didn't really go through any of it. Jen throws in terrific John Hughes references throughout the book (it's dedicated to him, in fact). Their; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Three Weissmanns of Westport; Author: Cathleen Schine; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Irredeemably terrible.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Definitely, Maybe (Lucy Valentine, #3.5); Author: Heather Webber; Genres: romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I loved this story, which I downloaded to my Kindle for 99 cents! It's an in-between story for Lucy Valentine, but it's more than a throwaway. It answers nagging questions about Lucy's psychic abilities and how she came to have gifts different from her family's. There's something about Heather Webber's writing that always makes me so happy. I fall into her worlds and feel completely at home. She writes like the kind of person she is: funny, friendly, and exactly what I like!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ripple; Author: Mandy Hubbard; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: . . Review posted here at my blog. Mermaid books are becoming the new paranormal "it book," so I was a little cautious about this one. I tend to avoid books in whatever genre's currently the most popular. But I was pleasantly surprised and ended up really loving this book. Lexi is a likable character. The poor girl has been living inside her own personal hell for two years, friendless and alone, keeping her secret of having to swim every night instead of sleep. She's shunned at school, and her only family is her elderly grandmother. But at the beginning of her senior year, Lexi's old friend Cole starts talking to her again. Lexi, Cole, and Sienna, Lexi's ex-best friend are thrown together for a class project, and Sienna's iciness to Lexi begins to melt a bit. A romance blossoms between Lexi and Cole just at the moment Lexi notices a new guy in school. Erik is wildly attractive, and Lexi is startled to see that he shares her same clear blue eyes. She finds him unsettling, but is still drawn to him. Somehow Mandy Hubbard makes this paranormal romance feel like a contemporary one. The siren aspect of Lexi's life is what defines her at this point in her story, but it almost seems secondary to the love triangle that emerges, and to the patched-up friendship between Lexi and Sienna. There's also danger, intrigue, and mystery thrown in. Hubbard throws out little clues along the way that for an avid mystery reader like me make the twist a little too obvious, but the process of getting there is still fun and interesting. The book's climactic ending is heart-pounding and satisfying. I appreciate how Lexi is drawn to both Cole and Erik, but asks herself mature, important questions about love. She isn't content to fall into the arms of either boy just because he's attractive and paying her attention. For Lexi, what's beneath the surface matters more. She's a mature, poised heroine, which only adds to her likability. I've read Hubbard's other two YA books, Prada & Prejudice and You Wish, and I think Ripple takes Hubbard's writing and storytelling to a new level. Perhaps her true calling is to this gritty, edgy, but still ultimately hopeful and happy, sub-genre of YA.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sprinkle with Murder (Cupcake Bakery Mystery, #1); Author: Jenn McKinlay; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: I waffled between giving this book two or three stars, and I finally settled on three, for story alone. Or maybe we should fudge and say 2.5. The story is cute and clever. Mel and Angie have just opened a cupcake bakery, Fairy Tale Cupcakes. Their business partner is their longtime best friend, Tate. The three of them are inseparable, having the kind of friendship only lifelong friends can have. They quote old movie lines at each other and get together regularly for classic movie nights. Other characters are interesting too. There's Joe, Angie's district attorney brother whom Mel's had a crush on since high school. Olivia, a rival baker, is just as campy as she needs to be. And Mel's mother is meddling but well-meaning, if a bit clueless. Mel and Angie are hired to bake the cupcakes for Tate's upcoming wedding to Christie, a fashion designer. This is where the book takes its first stumble, because I doubt anyone believes there's a market for couture high fashion in Scottsdale, Arizona. You've got to have a believable setting for certain kinds of jobs, and Arizona just doesn't work for fashion design. Christie is murdered, and Mel is fingered for the crime, because one of her cupcakes was in Christie's hand at the time of her death, and it's found to be poisoned. Mel sets out to clear her name and finds herself the target of the real killer in the process. So yes, I enjoyed the story. I want to read the next one in the series. But there are some major problems with the writing that kept me cringing, reading awkward sentences aloud to my husband, and marking pages for this review. Here are a few. Mel looked at her and noticed that her large brown eyes looked flat-out scared. Well, no, they didn't. Eyes don't look scared. A person's facial expression makes her look scared. If everyone was looking at her, then they weren't looking at whoever really did it. And if they weren't going to, then someone had to, and since it was her neck in the noose, it looked like it was going to be her. I'm sorry, but what?! They looked at her with the grim inevitability of prison walls. Again, what? Joe's brows lowered over his eyes like storm clouds on the horizon. No, they didn't. His gaze met hers, and the blue depths were amused. Again, no. Do I sound like a broken record? I'll stop. These and other clunkers are first the fault of the author for writing them, but I have to chastise McKinlay's agent and editor, as well. And a lot of the blame goes to Berkley, which publishes some of the best cozy fiction around. There's no room in professional, published writing for these kinds of missteps. Too many cliches can nearly ruin a book, as these almost did. Readers are smart and expect the authors whose books they buy to be smart as well. I'll give McKinlay one more chance with her sequel, and hope this book's problems were; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: So Not Happening (The Charmed Life, #1); Author: Jenny B. Jones; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: Review posted here at my blog. I love the euphoric feeling I get when I read a book by a new-to-me author and love it completely and totally. I think I've found a new favorite and can't wait to gobble up everything else that author has written. Sometimes the book I loved turns out to be a fluke, but other times, as in the case of Jenny B. Jones, my initial reaction was right and I've found a new bookish BFF. I loved Save the Date and was thrilled to learn that it was not Jenny's first work! So Not Happening is a different kind of story, but still just as engaging, funny, sweet, and thought-provoking, I was very happy to learn. I read it in a few days while sick on my couch with a terrible sinus infection and a wicked case of bronchitis, and it made me happy and kept my mind off how awful I was feeling! And isn't that one of the best things about a good book? Bella Kirkwood has it all. She lives in New York City and her father is a plastic surgeon to the rich and famous. She has a great best friend, a dreamy boyfriend, and an advice column for her ritzy all-girl school's blog. But Bella's world unravels after her parents divorce and her mother meets a man online. He lives in Oklahoma, which, to Bella, may as well be another planet. To Bella's horror, her mother marries her online suitor and moves the two of them to Truman, Oklahoma. Bella is a fish out of water. Her stepbrothers are weird, and it's clear one of them hates her. The house is old and small and looks like it hasnt' been updated since the 70s. Add to that the fact that Bella's new stepfather seems to have a dark secret, and the kids of Truman High wouldn't know Prada from Payless, and Bella is downright miserable. But there's hope. Bella meets some kids who seem nice, and she starts to fit in at her school. And despite making a huge mistake that costs her a lot of her reputation, there are a few kids who stick by her. She ends up on the school's newspaper staff and has a hard time ignoring the fact that her hard-working and demanding editor, Luke, is pretty hot. I've whined and complained for ages that there's not any contemporary romance in YA that has a twist of a mystery. So imagine my happy surprise when I realized that's exactly the path this book took. Bella and Luke work together to solve a mystery surrounding the football team, growing closer in the process. It's like a cozy mystery for teens, and it thrilled me to bits. Jenny B. Jones is an excellent story-teller and writer. Now knowing she can do mystery, too, just makes me like her even more. I can't wait to devour the next two books in this series, and get everything else she's ever written!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Next Always (Inn BoonsBoro, #1); Author: Nora Roberts; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Not as immediately gripping as the Brides Quartet, but still satisfying, especially in the last third. Looking forward to the next one, which is out in May '12!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Summer and the City (The Carrie Diaries, #2); Author: Candace Bushnell; Genres: romance, young-adult, fiction; Review: Here's the lowdown: feminism is awesome, men are horrible, life is only about having sex and getting ahead of everybody else. Ugh. Miserable.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hourglass (Hourglass, #1); Author: Myra McEntire; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: . . Review originally posted here at my blog. Emerson Cole is having a rough time of it. Her parents died in a terrible accident when she was 13, and now, at 17, she lives in Ivy Springs, TN, with her doting older brother, Thomas, and his wife, Dru. Emerson has a secret that only her closest family know: she sees things that aren't there. Not quite ghosts, not quite phantoms, these apparitions are connected to old buildings. Emerson sees a Southern belle, a Confederate soldier, a jazz trio. She can make them disappear by touching them, but they come back. Emerson was nearly driven crazy by these visions, and after a particularly harrowing incident in her high school cafeteria, she was institutionalized, tested, and heavily medicated. She's back in Ivy Springs and the visions are happening again, because Emerson has stopped taking her medication, wanting to feel like her old self again. Her brother calls in one more expert, a mysterious young man named Michael Weaver. He's just a couple years older than Emerson and is from a group called the Hourglass. He believes Emerson's stories and even seems to share her visions. And it's not just that kind of connection the two have. Emerson and Michael are drawn to each other and feel an electric current when they're together or touch. Michael wants to help Emerson, but also needs her help. He enlists her to use her gifts to prevent a death that never should have happened. Hourglass weaves science fiction with traces of the kind of paranormal stories that are so popular in young adult fiction today. The story is interesting, but uncomfortably close to the plot of Twilight, and it's quite complicated and wandering at times. A lot happens, and there's an almost over-abundance of characters, and it's hard to keep it all straight. The "science" seems a bit far-fetched, even for science fiction, and a willing suspension of disbelief is required. Lastly, I was a bit uncomfortable with the intensity of Emerson and Michael's attraction to each other. Not only is there an almost crippling co-dependent need that Emerson feels for Michael, but the sexual undertones of their relationship are just shy of inappropriate. I'm no prude, but I do know what's appropriate and not for teenagers, and this is a bit too much. I look forward to the next book in the series and hope McEntire can tighten up the science and explain it all a little more clearly. She has an interesting thing going for her here, but it can get too big and run away from her if she's not careful.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Divergent (Divergent, #1); Author: Veronica Roth; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: A difficult read for me, since dystopian is not high on my list of favorite genres. The relentless sadness and darkness are hard for me to handle and I find myself far more affected by the book's mood than I'd like. Still, it's very well-written, with good world building (though with lots of room for improvement) and character development. I'll read the next one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sisterhood Everlasting (Sisterhood, #5); Author: Ann Brashares; Genres: romance, young-adult, fiction; Review: . . Review posted here at my blog. When I was about halfway throught this book, I started writing a review detailing how disappointed I was in it, and how I didn't get the multitude of five-star reviews on Goodreads. The characters are so miserable, so stuck in the mire of their own various flavors of unhappiness, that I didn't know if I could keep reading. It's not that I want to read only happy-clappy books; but lately, Brashares has a habit of writing utterly sad-sack books, and I didn't know how I could make it through another one. It's 10 years after the last adventure with the magical pair of Traveling Pants, and the four heroines are nearing 30 and have drifted apart. Bee is still irresponsible, a free spirit floating around in California, still with Eric, whom she met at a soccer camp as a teenager; Carmen is living in New York City, a TV actress, living an unhappy life with a guy named Jones; Tibby lives in Australia with Brian, and the other three girls can't get her to answer emails; and Lena is still the navel-gazing artist, teaching at RISD and not quite able to let go of her memories of Kostos, the one that got away. Tragedy strikes the four, setting in motion the middle passage of the book which drags and lags and is so depressing it's hard to slog through. My Kindle told me I was 59% done when I sat down this past Sunday afternoon, resigned to quickly skimming the rest of the story. But three hours later, I had finished the book, reading every word, and I was having myself an ugly cry on the couch, long after my son should have been up from his nap and I should have been cooking supper. So stick with it if you're reading and find your mind wandering. The sadness and misery never fullly go away, but there's deep hope at the end. One character sets in motion a grand plan for the group, and though it doesn't quite happen how she'd meticulously envisioned, it does happen in the end, proving these four girls are more closely tied than some blood sisters.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Buttercream Bump Off (Cupcake Bakery Mystery, #2); Author: Jenn McKinlay; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: So laughably bad, I don't even know what to say. Comically stupid and bumbling characters, totally unbelievable plot lines. I gave this author another chance with this second book, but there was no improvement.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: It Couldn't Just Happen: Knowing the Truth About God's Awesome Creation; Author: Lawrence O. Richards; Genres: non-fiction, children, young-adult; Review: . . Review posted here on my blog. Originally published in 1987 and now updated with new text and all-new photos, It Couldn't Just Happen is a little book packed with lots of information proving Creation of the Bible over the theory of evolution. Richards starts with the Creation event itself and follows with amazing facts about the human body, animal and plant life, fossil records, weather events, and nature's impossible-to-ignore reflection of its Creator. Throughout, he uses Scripture proofs and without hesitation says the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God, and that there is no room for doubting its validity when it comes to Creation, historical Adam and Eve, and the proof of God's handiwork in humans and nature. If the book falls short for me, it's that it doesn't state definitively how long Creation took. Richards leaves the door open for the day-age theory, which states we cannot know how long a "day" in the Creation story is. Perhaps it is a strict 24-hour period, as we know a day to be, or perhaps a "day" could have been millions of years long, which would allow for gradual changes we collectively call evolution. Myself, I'm a strict six-day Creationist. The word for "day" in Genesis, in the Creation story, is the same Hebrew word used for a 24-hour period elsewhere in the Old Testament. God is not a god of confusion or doubt, leaving us stranded without critical pieces of information. We know all we need to know in this life on Earth about Jesus, heaven, miracles, prophecies, and so forth, so why would He keep from us the full truth of our very origins? Despite this personal quibble, which is easily a teachable moment for my son once it's time to teach him in-depth about these things, It Couldn't Just Happen is an invaluable resource for Christian parents. The Scripture texts used throughout are appropriate for the topic at hand, and each chapter ends with a "Just for Fun" page of questions and activities designed to challenge thinking and look at Creation in a fun and imaginative way. I would not use this as the primary text for teaching my son or a class about Creation, but I will certainly keep it around and use it as a supporting text.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Max on Life: Answers and Insights to Your Most Important Questions; Author: Max Lucado; Genres: non-fiction, fiction; Review: Max Lucado is one of those superstars in Christian culture. His books sell by the truckload, he's often quoted in blogs, on Twitter, and on Christian radio, and he's a sought-after author and speaker. I'm instantly suspect of anything or anyone so widely popular. Maybe I'm just a cynical old Reformed chick, but I'm naturally a little wary of big names. Lucado breaks this book into categories: Hope Hurt Help Him/Her Home Haves/Have-Nots Hereafter Each section contains letters Max has received through the years, asking questions on the listed topics. Max sets about answering these questions in each chapter. The book is touted to be aimed at new and mature Christians alike, but while there's nothing inherently wrong with what Lucado says, the book surely won't be particularly helpful for mature Christians. Let's face it: You know what you're getting with Max Lucado. Inoffensive, gentle, humorous advice, but not exactly earth-shattering or hard-hitting. He loves the Lord, and he loves people, but he's not a great theologian or a tell-it-like-it-is kind of guy like John Piper or Al Mohler. If you want to be shaken, convicted, and edified, just go read Piper or Mohler or a host of other writers. In fact, if I had things my way, we'd see somebody like Piper or Mohler, or Tim Keller or D.A. Carson, write a book like this. Now that's something I could wholeheartedly recommend. Disclosure: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson's book blogger program, Booksneeze, with the expectation of a review. All thoughts are my own and were not in any way influenced by the publisher.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: One Mississippi; Author: Mark Childress; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: . . Review here at my blog. Now and then, I wish I weren't restricted to five stars on my reviews. Sometimes I want to give so many stars they stretch across the page. An over-the-top reaction? Definitely. But this book is so worth it. One Mississippi is the story of Daniel Musgrove and his family who move to Mississippi from Indiana in the summer of 1973 when his father receives a transfer from the chemical company he sells products for. Daniel and his siblings, Janie and Bud, are against the move. They have good friends in Indiana; they're tired of moving every few years; and besides, it's Mississippi. They only know it to be hot, flat, and full of miserable racists. That's really what the rest of the world thinks of Mississippi, right? But soon Daniel decides it's not so bad for him after all. Despite having to mow the family's huge yard almost daily, and despite being the awkward new kid starting his junior year in Minor, a fictional town just outside of Jackson - personally, I think it's a mash-up of Byrum and Terry - Daniel finds his classes to be somewhat interesting. A few of his teachers are just quirky enough to keep him paying attention. And on his first day, Daniel meets Tim Cousins, a fellow outcast. They quickly become best friends, sharing a love of sarcasm, music, and Sonny & Cher. But Mark Childress doesn't write straightforward, predictable novels. This one, for all its highly recognizable Mississippi traits, picked out easily by a native like me, is still a gothic novel. It's dark, darkly funny, and hard to pin down. Daniel has an unlikely romance with an unlikely prom queen. Daniel and Tim are involved in a terrible accident that changes the prom queen's life forever. Daniel and Tim get involved with a cheesy and fairly sacrilegious youth group musical called Christ! And it goes on and on, the story and characters building to an explosive ending. This is the kind of book that could only be written by a Southerner, and could only be set in the South. Nothing like this could happen anywhere else. It's totally unique and utterly captivating. My book club did this for our August selection, and I was the only one who really seemed to love it. I connect with weird and wonderful books like this, and can't wait to read Childress' other work. Next time he comes to Lemuria, as he does with every new book he releases, I'll be there, fangirling and asking for an autograph.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: I've Got Your Number; Author: Sophie Kinsella; Genres: young-adult, romance, fiction; Review: Loved this to bits. Review here at my blog: [url]...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thank You Notes; Author: Jimmy Fallon; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Very funny!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: There You'll Find Me; Author: Jenny B. Jones; Genres: romance, young-adult, fiction; Review: I know that I'm a ridiculous fangirl for Jenny B. Jones. I'm someone who hasn't liked much Christian fiction in a long time, but she makes me love it. I gushed ridiculously over Save the Date and I feel just as strongly about this one. Save the Date was told from the perspective of adults, Alex and Lucy. It chronicled their lives, feisty resistance of one another, and eventual falling in love. Alex's brother Will's death was a heavy shadow over the book, and Alex eventually found his own peace and resolution. There You'll Find Me is the story of Finley Sinclair, Alex and Will's teenaged sister. Her grief is experienced much differently. Maybe it's because she's so young. Maybe it's because she's a girl and shows her emotions more openly. Whatever it is, it seems to be rockier for Finley to overcome. Finley's in Ireland for a school exchange program. She's got a big audition for the New York Conservatory coming up, and she's in Ireland to re-trace Will's steps and write a piece of music in tribute to him. But her troubles run deep and she's in the midst of a major crisis of faith. She meets a mean girl at school, has her heart stolen by a Hollywood heartthrob, and encounters all sorts of Irish characters, not least of which is a crusty old woman in her waning days. But don't be fooled into thinking this is a bubble-headed story, typical in much contemporary YA romance. No, this is much more. Finley's troubles seem all too real and are dealt with in an utterly realistic fashion. There are funny moments, because Jones is a funny woman, but this is a tear-jerker, too. A crisis of faith is no laughing matter, and Jones treats it with seriousness and respect. I can't say enough good things about Jenny B. Jones and her books. Anyone who's been resisting Christian fiction, as I did for so long, should stop resisting and read this author.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ashes (Ashes Trilogy, #1); Author: Ilsa J. Bick; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I read this on my Kindle, so I know exactly when it went from super-creepy to super-boring: Right at 60%. The first 60% of the book is riveting, horrifying, heart-pounding, page turning. The last 40%? It's like Bick just gave up and started throwing words at the page. The pace becomes plodding and the story gets heavily weighed-down by useless characters and a completely stagnant plot. The town Alex ends up in is utterly impossible; this society could not have become so intricate in such a short period of time after "the Zap." I'm curious what happened to Tom and Ellie, but I don't think I can spend the time in another book trying to find out. I'm disappointed, because the first 60% of the book had such promise. So my three stars are for that part. Let us not speak of the terrible final 40% ever again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Just Like Heaven (Smythe-Smith Quartet #1); Author: Julia Quinn; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Adorable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Damn You, Autocorrect!: Awesomely Embarrassing Text Messages You Didn't Mean to Send; Author: Jillian Madison; Genres: non-fiction; Review: Funny, but not as side-splitting as some posts you see daily on the site.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: An Offer From a Gentleman (Bridgertons, #3); Author: Julia Quinn; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Delightful. Probably my favorite of the series so far.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cake Wrecks: When Professional Cakes Go Hilariously Wrong; Author: Jen Yates; Genres: non-fiction; Review: Funny stuff.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Six Geese A-Laying; Author: Sophie Kinsella; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Free short story from Kinsella's web site, for Christmas. Really dumb. :/; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: An Offer From A Gentleman: The Epilogue II (Bridgertons, #3.5); Author: Julia Quinn; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Yay, Posy! :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight; Author: Jennifer E. Smith; Genres: fiction, young-adult, romance; Review: Eh.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Fault in Our Stars; Author: John Green; Genres: romance, young-adult, fiction; Review: Aggressively hopeless. And I could barely tolerate the bloated Ironic Wisdom Soundbites. What's with all the hype?; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Night Circus; Author: Erin Morgenstern; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I finished this book weeping openly, big, hot tears pouring down my face. It is nearly perfect. It is one of the best books I have ever read. Five stars are not enough. Twenty stars. Fifty stars. A hundred glittering black and white stars.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: To Sir Phillip, With Love (Bridgertons, #5); Author: Julia Quinn; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: My least favorite of the series so far. It wasn't as fun without the hustle and bustle of all the Bridgertons and London.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Between You and Me; Author: Emma McLaughlin; Genres: romance, young-adult, fiction; Review: Weird book.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Arranged; Author: Catherine McKenzie; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Painfully boring. Dull, stiff writing. I got just over 100 pages in and realized I was bored out of my mind and it wasn't worth the time.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Last Boyfriend (Inn BoonsBoro, #2); Author: Nora Roberts; Genres: romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I would like to box up a lovely pile of the word "and" and mail it to Mrs. Roberts. She should understand that when listing items in a series - which she does once or twice on each page - it's perfectly okay to stick an "and" before the last one. It's how people talk, after all.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gone Girl; Author: Gillian Flynn; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: Those are some effed-up mofos. ;); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Honey, Baby, Sweetheart; Author: Deb Caletti; Genres: fiction, young-adult, romance; Review: Phenomenal.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Light Between Oceans; Author: M.L. Stedman; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Deeply, deeply sad.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter; Author: Tom Franklin; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Perfect.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Here I Go Again; Author: Jen Lancaster; Genres: paranormal, non-fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: My Kindle tells me I'm 34% in. This is Lancaster's worst work to date, so far. Lissy is so awful that I'm having trouble liking anything about the book. It's just... mean. --- On finishing... I really only liked the last 10-15% of the book, when things turned nicer. At that point it felt rushed and extra contrived. This wasn't a good experiment for my otherwise favorite writer.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Tao of Martha: My Year of LIVING; Or, Why I'm Never Getting All That Glitter Off of the Dog; Author: Jen Lancaster; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: I puffy-heart loved this. Possibly Jen's best yet. I laughed a lot and cried buckets, and I left feeling inspired. Love this girl. Stick to memoirs, Jen.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1); Author: Laini Taylor; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Book club, October 2012; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name; Author: Sally Lloyd-Jones; Genres: history, children, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: Phenomenal. It's really astonishing how good this is. Recently, we started reading straight through it, one story a night, with our son who will be five at the end of November 2012. His questions and understanding of our covenant faith have matured a lot during this family time. He wants to start it over from the beginning. I can't recommend this highly enough for parents of small children, and even for new Christians. I've benefited greatly from it myself, and I've been a Christian my whole life. Get this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Round House; Author: Louise Erdrich; Genres: history, young-adult, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: Magnificent; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Perks of Being a Wallflower; Author: Stephen Chbosky; Genres: romance, young-adult, fiction; Review: I don't know if I've ever read a book this fast. And that's good, because it's so bad that I couldn't have wasted one more second of my life on it.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Duck Commander Family; Author: Willie Robertson; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: Sweet story of a sweet family. Loved it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns (The Devil Wears Prada, #2); Author: Lauren Weisberger; Genres: young-adult, romance, fiction; Review: Eh. Probably 2.5 stars? I didn't really get the point of this. I didn't get why I was supposed to care about Andy or Emily. Their husbands are bland. Miranda isn't scary like she's supposed to be. (I guess the "revenge" part of the title is what Miranda does in the last 20 pages of the book, but even that was kind of rushed and not at all Miranda-esque.) I think this is an example of when the first book by itself is excellent, and that whole story should just be closed and left alone. Bleh. That's my overall feeling. It wasn't terrible, it was just bleh.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Left Drowning (Left Drowning, #1); Author: Jessica Park; Genres: young-adult, romance, fiction; Review: I finished this days ago and have been mulling over how to rate it. I waffled between three and four stars. The Good: - Blythe. She's strong and tough and sensitive and feels like a real person. I love the transformation she goes through. The descriptions of her running efforts actually make me interested in trying running again. That in itself is a huge feat. I hate running. - Sabin. What a terrific character. I'd love a book or a novella all about him. He reminds me of my college friend David in the most squishy, warm memories way (and without the alcoholism). - The twist. I figured it out long before it came (like, the moment that memory was revealed in the shower breakdown scene), but it was so clever and emotional. Well done. - The writing. Jessica Park is a fine writer and crafts a great story. The Bad: - The language. Nobody really talks with that much foul language, surely. Right? - The s-e-x. Good grief, it was ridiculous! I read on my Kindle, and 50% through 61% was nothing but hardcore (embarrassingly so!) over-the-top, utterly unrealistic sex. I skimmed most of it because it just wouldn't go away. I worried I'd gotten myself into a terrible Fifty Shades of Gray scenario. And it happened again later in the book. Less is more, Jessica. Less is more. - Chris. Gracious, he's boring. And insufferable. I kept wishing for Blythe to end up with Sabin, and I know I'm not the only one who felt that way. I didn't care about Chris in the slightest, and he seemed mean and self-centered even to the end. For a writer who can craft such an *amazing* romantic lead as Matt Watkins, this one is a total let-down. So, I landed on four stars because the good outweighed the bad. This is not anywhere as good as Flat-Out Love, but would have been significantly better had less attention been paid to crafting the most lewd sex scenes possible and more to making Chris even kind of likeable as the romantic lead.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Outer Banks; Author: Anne Rivers Siddons; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: Read this in high school. Loved it. I should read it again!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 45 Pounds; Author: K.A. Barson; Genres: romance, young-adult, fiction; Review: Tedious. Boring. Ugh.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Crystal Cove (Friday Harbor, #4); Author: Lisa Kleypas; Genres: history, romance, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Super dumb.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: This Is What Happy Looks Like (This is What Happy Looks Like, #1); Author: Jennifer E. Smith; Genres: fiction, young-adult, romance; Review: I've been reading this for what feels like a lifetime. Nothing. Is. Happening. Bored to death. I'm out.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans; Author: Michelle Tam; Genres: non-fiction; Review: Perfection. So much terrific information delivered with humor and great pictures. I just may make it a challenge to cook everything in this book at least once.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Beginning of Everything; Author: Robyn Schneider; Genres: fiction, young-adult, romance; Review: Eh. High two, low three stars. I'm so turned off by wise, witty teenagers who are nothing like real teenagers. (I'm a high school teacher; I know real teenagers.) This author isn't as insufferable as John Green, but she's trying really hard. The plot twists were like bright, glaring suns and were never a surprise. I was surprised to learn this wasn't the author's awkward debut. Oops.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Flat-Out Celeste (Flat-Out Love, #2); Author: Jessica Park; Genres: young-adult, romance, fiction; Review: So stinking good. So sweet it hurts.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Where'd You Go, Bernadette; Author: Maria Semple; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Brilliant. I loved every single word.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Geography of You and Me; Author: Jennifer E. Smith; Genres: fiction, young-adult, romance; Review: Not as bad as a previous Smith book I read, but still plodding and longer than it needed to be.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tuesdays with Morrie; Author: Mitch Albom; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Difficult to read a story about a dying man who rejects Jesus. The story is uplifting in places, but ultimately hopeless. I'll be curious to see if my students make that theological connection.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Flies; Author: William Golding; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: First read in high school, have since re-read twice for my current teaching job. I always think of my senior honors English teacher's question to me: Was Golding a Calvinist?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Animal Farm; Author: George Orwell; Genres: history, young-adult, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: First read in high school, have since re-read twice for my current teaching job.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fahrenheit 451; Author: Ray Bradbury; Genres: paranormal, young-adult, fantasy, fiction; Review: First read in high school. Have since re-read twice for my current teaching job. Boys especially love this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The House on Mango Street; Author: Sandra Cisneros; Genres: history, young-adult, children, poetry, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: First read in high school. Have since re-read twice for my current teaching job. This is supposedly a "girl" book, but the teen-aged girls I work with hate Esperanza and her constant complaining. Can't say I disagree.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Of Mice and Men; Author: John Steinbeck; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: First read in high school. Have since re-read twice for my current teaching job. I hate this book so much.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Pearl/The Red Pony; Author: John Steinbeck; Genres: history, young-adult, children, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Not my favorite book(s) ever, but more tolerable than "Of Mice and Men."; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Romeo and Juliet; Author: William Shakespeare; Genres: history, young-adult, poetry, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: First read in high school. Have since re-read twice for my current teaching job.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Midsummer Night's Dream; Author: William Shakespeare; Genres: history, poetry, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: First read in high school. Have since re-read twice for my current teaching job.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?; Author: Mindy Kaling; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Painfully unfunny.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fangirl; Author: Rainbow Rowell; Genres: fiction, young-adult, romance; Review: 3.5 stars. Well written. Hated Cather. I really hated the slash fanfic bits. Ugh. But I liked Levi and wanted to see what happened, so I finished it. It felt like it took me a month to read, but it was only 10 days. Huh.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories; Author: Stephanie Perkins; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I didn't read every story, because two were by authors I don't like, but the 10 I read were excellent.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mom Enough: The Fearless Mother's Heart and Hope; Author: Tony Reinke; Genres: non-fiction; Review: Excellent collection of blog posts on motherhood from the Desiring God web site. I felt challenged, convicted, and uplifted reading these. It's good to be reminded that my child's heart is the most important mission field I'll ever have. I was rattled by Carolyn McCulley's piece. She connected the decline in respect for motherhood to Darwin's view of women being less than men, and how that view directly led to a rise in abortions (thanks in no small part to Margaret Sanger). In today's culture of worship of self and "freedom," being a mother is the most radically pro-life thing any woman can do.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Why Johnny Can't Sing Hymns: How Pop Culture Rewrote the Hymnal; Author: T. David Gordon; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: Oh, goodness. Where to begin. I'll start by saying that Dr. Gordon says many things I agree with. It's his approach that bothers me. His argument would have been far better suited to a series of blog posts or a chapter in an anthology than an entire book. His work is extremely repetitive and he seems to get more smug with each passing chapter. Dr. Gordon's main thesis seems to be that modern churchgoers physically, literally cannot sing traditional hymns because pop culture and pop music are so, well, popular. This falls flat, because there is always "popular" music in every generation, but you don't always see churches tailoring their services to what's on the radio like you do now. He barely covers theological reasons for churches having rock bands and praise choruses on video screens. It's their weak *theology* that leads them to this musical gibberish, not the fact that Katy Perry is on the radio a lot. He says countless times that he's not a musician, and by golly, I believe him. I am a musician insofar as I sing in a choir that sticks to rigorous classical music and modern pieces that require much work and practice. I can read music, find the alto harmony by ear, and have played a couple instruments. I also have a father who made sure I had a deep education in listening to many different musical forms and that I learned music history and theory. Dr. Gordon has a limited experience with classical (Brahms is mentioned more times than I could count) and is stuck in the 70s as far as popular music is concerned (The Who, Eric Clapton). His limited musical knowledge is awkward and cumbersome when he tries to fit his argument in. It's nearly offensive that somebody with such limited knowledge would write a whole book about how lousy popular music is. If you're going to make such assertions, you'd better have the chops to back it up. I don't like rock bands and praise choruses on big screens in Sunday morning worship because it's the laziest, cheapest thing a church can do. I don't believe that people can't learn how to read music and can't follow written music in a hymnal. I don't believe that people won't come to church if they're not rocking out to the latest Hillsong release on KLOVE. I know for certain that if you do the hard work of teaching your church's children traditional hymns, they will continue to learn more as they grow older. If you have music opportunities for different talent levels in your church, the singers and players will come, hungry to improve their craft while honoring the Lord. But music is hard to learn. If the preacher is in jeans and giving a 15-minute talk where he references his "smokin' hot wife" at least once, how could we expect that church's music to be any better? The music a church sings starts from the top and trickles down. I'd like to challenge Dr. Gordon to step out of his "popular; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Girl on the Train; Author: Paula Hawkins; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Fantastic. So creepy, so good. Kept me second-guessing myself until the end.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eleanor & Park; Author: Rainbow Rowell; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Fantastic.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Attachments; Author: Rainbow Rowell; Genres: young-adult, romance, fiction; Review: Almost as perfect as a book can be. <3; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: It Was Me All Along; Author: Andie Mitchell; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Deeply selfish woman!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: I Just Want to Pee Alone: A Collection of Humorous Essays by Kick Ass Mom Bloggers; Author: Stacey Hatton; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: Easy, two-sitting read in one day. I laughed out loud a few times, but mostly cringed at the potty mouths, gross physical stuff, and mega-oversharing many bloggers are guilty of. I wish it had all been funny anecdotes all moms can relate to.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Chronicals of Narnia, The Magician's Nephew #1; Author: C.S. Lewis; Genres: young-adult, children, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Evening family read-aloud.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mere Motherhood: Morning times, nursery rhymes, and my journey toward sanctification; Author: Cindy Rollins; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: Beautifully written. Great thoughts for a boymom. Lots of typos, though! G.A. "Henry"?; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: TIVO C00220 Replacement Tivo Remote (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: TiVo; Review: Our original remote started to lose it's oomph, and pushing buttons didn't always work. This made us love our Tivo again - amazing how you don't notice the lack of responsiveness when it happens gradually, but to get it all back is great. The original remote lasted 5 years or so, so I think it had a well deserved retirement.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Importer520 Premium Rubberized Snap-on Hard Crystal Front and Rear Case Cover for Apple iPod Touch 4G, 4th; Brand: Importer520; Review: My daughter bought this case so she could put stickers on it - it was a great feeling case and she almost left it white since it looked so nice (and it was very affordable! But, she put her stickers on it, covered it with packing tape, and now she has a one of a kind case that she's thrilled with. With the low price, she could make a new one when the stickers and tape starts peeling, but so far she's very happy with her case. This is one of the best cases for the money that we've found.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pineapple Panda Mega Bass Earphones; Brand: PineappleClothing; Review: My review used to say that my daughter wanted these because they are so cute and her ears are small so she needs these tiny buds (the Apple ones won't fit in her ears). They have a volume control which we didn't even know when we ordered - that was a bonus! The price was so much cheaper here than anywhere else (half the price). She is thrilled with them and they do look adorable on her. EDITED TO ADD: HOWEVER, we had to buy a second set since we thought the dog chewed and broke one of the earbuds. Well, the 2nd pair now has a broken ear, so we are thinking the dog didn't do anything to the first pair after all. They break really easily, and I would never buy them again or recommend them. We are now going to go get some cheapie earbuds so that even if they don't last, we're only out $5-7.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Flip Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (White); Brand: Flip Video; Review: This was a great recorder for my kids, although now that they have phones that record, it's not used as much. But if you wanted to take a lot of videos and didn't want to use a phone, it is great.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Flip Video Tripod; Brand: Flip Video; Review: This tripod works perfectly with the Flip Video (as it should) and the legs are bendable enough to get it into whatever position you need. The extra colors of feet are a nice touch, esp for my girls since they appreciate such things!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: TP-Link N300 Wi-Fi Range Extender (TL-WA850RE); Brand: TP-LINK; Review: Did absolutely nothing. Oh wait, it tanked my internet and led to hours of irritation and troubleshooting. Even in the hour it worked it seemed to lead to very minimal change, but I couldn't truly test it since the device was so unstable. Stay away from this device, unless you want a headache.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Cyber Acoustics CA-3602a 62W Desktop Computer Speaker with Subwoofer - Perfect 2.1 Gaming and Multimedia PC speakers; Brand: Cyber Acoustics; Review: These speakers are fantastic for heir price point. For 40 dollars you get really loud and if you want bass heavy speakers(a nob on the volume adjuster to increase or decrease the bass. I have had them for a year and a half and have had no problem with them so far i have even bought one for my son in college.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cooler Master Devastator - LED Gaming Keyboard and Mouse Combo Bundle (Blue Edition); Brand: Cooler Master; Review: For 30 dollars you cant beat it. gives you the essentials you need to start using your gaming computer right off the bat without spending a 100 dollars plus on a "gaming keyboard and mouse" i thought i would upgrade in a year to a better keyboard and mouse but this is still optimal for me for gaming.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: V-MODA Extended Audio Cable (Black); Brand: V-MODA; Review: My other V-MODA audio cable started dying so i bought this one. Its nice and long giving me the choose to lay down on my bed while listing to music from my pc.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Toysdone Wireless Headphones Stereo Earbuds Wireless Sport Earphones for Running with Mic (6 Hours Play Time, IPX4; Brand: Toysdone; Review: I love these headphones! they stay in your ear while doing the most demanding of exercises. I gave these guys a beating and they kept on working and working. the Power button eventually fell off making it useless,but the company who manufactures them sent me out a free of charge replacement!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Police: A Harry Hole Novel (10) (Harry Hole Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Jo Nesbo Page; Review: Spoiler Alert - The author had me believing he'd killed off Harry as well as Beate - right up til the end. Well done.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Police; Author: Jo Nesbo; Review: Spoiler Alert - The author had me believing he'd killed off Harry as well as Beate - right up til the end. Well done.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Burn (Michael Bennett); Author: Visit Amazon's James Patterson Page; Review: Couldn't put it down, as usual. Can't wait for the 'Michael Bennett, Book 8'.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier; Author: Visit Amazon's Ree Drummond Page; Review: as advertised, would order from seller again; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Girl on the Train; Author: Visit Amazon's Paula Hawkins Page; Review: I couldn't put it down, so read it in one day. I liked the structure.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: SAVEICON Black PU Leather Case Smart Cover 360 Rotating Stand For The Apple iPad 2 / 3; Brand: SAVEICON; Review: Works great!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Palmtree 4 Pack Replacement CE285A 85A Black Toner Cartridge Compatible for Canon 125 and HP Laserjet Pro M1132 M1210 M1212NF; Brand: Poweradd; Review: Great to be able to use with Samsung S3 and iPad. Works well!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ClearMax 2 Pack of High Capacity Batteries For Nikon EN-EL15 and Nikon 1 V1, D600, D800, D800E, D7000 (FULLY; Brand: ClearMax; Review: Work just fine.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lightning 8 Pin 3 in 1 Camera Connection Kit Card Reader for iPad Air / iPad 4; Brand: igloon; Review: Junk.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Vivitar 3-Piece Multi-Coated HD Filter Set (40.5mm UV/CPL/ND8); Brand: Vivitar; Review: Everything fine.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: DSTE 2x NP-FW50 Battery; Brand: DSTE; Review: Works as advertised. Good purchase.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: JJC HC-S Hot Shoe Cover for Sony A77II A3000 A6000 A7 A7R NEX-6 A58 A99 DSC-HX400V HX50V HX60 HX60V RX1; Brand: JJC; Review: Works Great!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: iGadgitz 170cm (70") 4 Section Extendable Aluminum Pole Monopod Leg for Nikon DSLR D1 D100 D1H; Brand: igadgitz; Review: Solid. Good value.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sametop High Precision Pro Lens Mount Adapter for Nikon AI Lens to Sony NEX E-Mount Camera; Brand: Sametop; Review: Well machined. No problems attaching to lens or camera. Good choice!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SMALLRIG DSLR Camera 15mm Single Rod Clamp with 1/4 Male Thead for Camera Rig Rail System - 1614; Brand: SmallRig; Review: Well made. works great!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fotasy Brass Leica M39 LTM 39MM Lens to Sony E-Mount NEX Camera NEX-5R NEX-5T NEX-6 NEX-7 a6500 a6300 a6000 a5100; Brand: Fotasy; Review: Nice fit, worked great, Very happy with this product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: American Beauty (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Being John Malkovich (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Frailty (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Top Gun (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Resident Evil (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Legally Blonde (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Memento (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Windtalkers (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Murder By Numbers (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rollerball (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Scooby-Doo (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Truth About Charlie / Charade (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Seabiscuit (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mona Lisa Smile (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In the Cut (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort; City: Flagstaff Arizona; Review: We stayed here one night but wish we could have stayed longer. This was one of the nicest, clean, friendly hotel we stayed in. The staff was outstanding, the room was spotless, every question was answered, and all staff very helpful. There wad a fantastic senior breakfast that was very filling after our stay. If we are back in the area, we will stay again; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cameron Trading Post Grand Canyon Hotel; City: Cameron Arizona; Review: This is a great olace to spend some tome to look ar what is offered, quality item, lots to see. We bought t- shirts, earrings, and several other items. We would have liked to eaten here but timing wasn't right for us.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Vicksburg; City: Vicksburg Mississippi; Review: This hotel is very clean, the staff very friendly and helpful, it was an enjoyable stay. The breakfast was plentiful and fresh. The happy hour was nice after sight seeing all day. The location is great, being across the street from the Vicksburg Nationa Park.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Blytheville; City: Blytheville Arkansas; Review: From check in, to the room, to the delicious breakfast, everything about this hotel was great, Great breakfast and the hostess was over the top making sure the food was filled and all areas clean. Friendly staff in every area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Super 8 by Wyndham Natchez; City: Natchez Mississippi; Review: This hotel is showing its age. The beds were comfortable, the breakfast was ok but needs more seating room, the staff was good.The cleanliness of the carpets left much, much, much to be desired. The carpet in the lobby and hallway needs to be replaced or at least cleaned. There was only one waffle maker for all the guests at breakfast and one four slice toaster, which one side did not work. This could be a nice place but it needs some help; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: iPhone 6 Case, Best Heavy Duty iPhone 6 Case.Toughest, Most Rugged, Scratch Resistant, Absorbs Drops. Super Light (Only; Brand: Random; Review: I got this because I have a 5 year old. She's dropped my phone several times since I've received the case and no damage to the phone or the case! I have used otterbox in the past and was skeptical, but this case is awesome!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Iphone 6 Plus Tempered Glass Screen Protector - Crystallize Protection for Your Apple Iphone 6; Brand: Crystallize; Review: Good screen protector. I can't see anything that would set it apart from other screen protectors, though.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: CHOOBY Compatible Cellphone Adapter Replacement for Cellphone (Black); Brand: CHOOBY; Review: I like this one. I've tried so many mounts. It would work better without my otterbox on my phone though.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: QuGi iphone 6 case Air Cushioned Transparent Hybrid Bumper Case for the Apple iPhone 6; Brand: QuGi International; Review: I sent this to my brother. He likes it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: iPhone Case 6-Luxury Designer Case for Your Apple iPhone 6 Case [Scratch Resistant] [4.7]NEW; Brand: Cellutech; Review: I love this case. Slim, sleek, perfect for me.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Cell_Phones_and_Accessories |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Palarine; City: Erts La Massana Parish; Review: When a thing is done well , it all seems easy, rooms are kept clean, warm. Plenty of food appears at the correct time, staff are happy Hotel Palarine is a little jem ,its only negative point is well pointed out that it is 10 mins from the gondola, and you may have to use the free bus, but that being said you are first to get on the bus and always have a seat, The hotel food is fantastic, buffet style as much or as little as you want, full English with quality bacon or anything continental , with a wide time slot ,evenings are themed and buffet, again with a flexible time and seating, would love to return; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Montane; City: Arinsal La Massana Parish; Review: We booked Montane through neilsons, and stayed 12 to 19/1/ 2014 our main reason was to be as near to the gondola as possible,and to this, the hotel has the best position in resort, but a good hotel was also important and having a chef wife, food came high on the list. Being used to a large house we booked one of the larger rooms , and found it newly decorated clean. warm and pleasant, with two double doors to the front, a new bath and sanitary ware, a large double bed, and one single small flat screen TV with two English speaking channels. Access to the rooms is obtained by a modern card system Hotel Montane is a tight run ship, any extras (ski locker 5euro per day) are made apparent ,as with all hotels, all problems must be first notified to the reception, and when a light bulb put my rooms electrical power out it was dealt with promptly, Skis are not allowed in the hotel, and the wearing of ski boots only permitted to fetch the ski locker key ,at first this seemed strange in a hotel so dependant on skiers for its income, but after trying it I can see the merits of the walls and floors not damaged giving the hotel a cared for appearance. Breakfast is buffet European style, and was always plentiful and of a good quality,staff were on hand, and a full English option available for 5 euro Evening meals were a joy, table served 3 course 3 choices , with value of product on the plate and cooked by people who cared . Mulled wine is available in the afternoons and a wood burner was a nice touch in reception , if you are wanting a mad place to party then the montane is not for you ,But I enjoyed my time there and would go back One word of warning if you book this hotel through neilsons the buses to and from the airport stop for a comfort break at the Can valls restaurant there are no prices displayed and I was charged 24 euros for 2 beers and 2 sandwiches; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hovi Cabins; City: Beitostolen Oystre Slidre Municipality Oppland Eastern Norway; Review: My wife and I stayed in the Hovi cabins early Feb 2014 and booked through Crystal. The cabin was warm, clean, and well appointed, but some of the furniture a little tired, there is no WiFi and although the TV provided is analogue. 50 per cent of the programs are in English, underfloor heating is supplied to the toilet and front hall areas, electric heaters throughout the rest (along with a wood burning stove in the lounge ) This is important in a Norwegian winter where everywhere looks like a picture postcard. the cabins are of traditional Norwegian construction of timber and the roofs covered with soil ( and snow) and are a ten minute walk up hill to the ski slopes, we took our ski boots with us and changed near the six person chair lift , but you could ski all the way back .The snow conditions condition of the piste and piste staff were all perfect, Norway is gorgeous in its winter whites with mountains and ice lakes. We used the facilities at the radision blue hotel, and enjoyed every minute in the land of trolls and nogin the nog Cristal staff tried very hard and would always go the extra mile to help.In the resort every one speaks english and was helpfull and polite Norway is expensive but we new that before we went, so took all our own food and most of our drink, most bars have WiFi , would do it all again; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Brunerie Hotel; City: Les Deux Alpes Isere Auvergne Rhone Alpes; Review: Last ski this season took us to The brunerie in LDA booked through crystal with offers on ski passes and staying half board Another good choice, near to the fast gondola , rooms, warm, clean and with 4 english TV channels, internet connection in the room, inclusive ski storage in warm secure room and staff attentive and professional, The food was fantastic with variation, imagination, and as much or as little as required I must have put on 5kg The French are good with food and I am told wine I however dont get wine and the brunerie will not sell you a beer in the restaurant so it was water , this resulted in a zero hotel bill (my first in 40 years ) however I enjoyed every meal and loved the place I might go back and not bother skiing, just for the food fantastic travel tip Take some egg cups as their seems to be a shortage at the Brunerie; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Lion; City: Borovets Sofia Region; Review: we stayed in the lion borovets over Christmas 2014,And were pleased with our decision of the lion hotel.The lion is a good hotel that carters for skiers, and not a hotel that is only used by skiers,until we arrived there was no ski rack ,however asking on reception produced a newly crafted ski rack by the next morning.meals were in a large time frame ,and all eat as much as you want buffet with lots of choice ,the lion is a slick professionly run hotel and part of the lion hotels group and as such would stand fair in any modern city,the steam room sauna and pool are all new as is the relaxation area ,the hotel mini bus to the ski lift was OK and worked well at the start and end of the shift ,but shuts down for a advertised hour at lunch , that seemed on one occasion to extend to two hours ,hotel bar and drinks were all good a large beer costing 1.30 pounds well done lion; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Neilson Hotel Del Clos; City: El Tarter Canillo Parish; Review: We have never stayed in a neilson only hotel before,and I was apprehensive that it may be a hi di hi experience but Del clos was a pleasent surprise plenty of wholesome food,rooms big for a skiing hotel.Everywhere,clean and always a member of staff on hand ,the big fault with this package is the neilson bus from the airport will not drop customers outside the hotel,and deposits its customers at the bottom of a hill, leaving you to carry your luggage and ski equipment five minutes up a 30% slope, I was told that a mini bus should have been their to take our luggage ,and for the downhill return leg it was,so make sure you tell the buss rep to do their job and phone the hotel and get your lift; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Sonnschein; City: Niederau Wildschonau Tirol Austrian Alps; Review: Pleasant enough stay,at the sonnschein, rooms large, staff friendly, main public area's could do with a refurb, food OK but only the salad bar and breakfast were unlimited , on our visit out of school holiday time their were lots of children screaming and running around And in the adults only area lots of unsupervised children.probably off the list; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel La Mirandola; City: Passo del Tonale Province of Trento Trentino Alto Adige; Review: A hotel in a old monestry ,out of the town and in a secluded quite location when we visited mid march the snow was fantastic so we could ski in and out with a bit of polling and off piste excitement, a free hotel shuttle was always available with a friendly driver.Breakfast typical continental, buffet, Rooms, basic clean,worn, but serviceable, evening meals were served with piano playing and the unseen kitchen staff were producing unique Master chief dishes of local design,sadly I fear these were often produced with love and care but were left in the system and not always as hot as I would have liked, 4 waiter served courses usually made evening meals two hours so OK for adults over a bottle or two ,but a long time for children, A open fire would have been fantastic in the stone built monastery, but that's only my passion , WiFi was avalable but unreliable ,very good value; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Patagonia Atiram Hotel; City: Arinsal La Massana Parish; Review: Great location, like having your own personal fast modern chair lift Buffet style food very Spanish with lots of variety and always lots available. The rooms are more like small apartments,useful to have a fridge and a sink .cooked breakfast with unlimited sausage eggs and bacon as well as continental as with most of Andorra fantastic WiFi throughout plenty of bang for your buck I have stopped in 3 hotels in arinsal so far and this one suited me best; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Muehle Resort 1900; City: Obergurgl Tirol Austrian Alps; Review: Being in the hospitality industry we have little free time in the summer, so winter holidays are for us . Booking this hotel through Crystal we were amazed,the professionalism of the staff , the fittings and fixtures, the food , attention to detail ,from sheepskin rugs put out each day at the hotels own bus stop ,to heated face towels in the guests lobby , a ski locker room that would shame a lot of hotel receptions,six course evening meals flowed smoothly and as swift as swallow on a summers evening, breakfast a joy with Hotel newspaper and chef that would cook your hot options anyway you wanted ,a spar that was perfect and the hotel has its own mountain water on tap ,thank you muehl resort ,for giving me the best ski holiday; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maeva Residence Grand Bois; City: La Tania Courchevel Savoie Auvergne Rhone Alpes; Review: Apart from camping I have never stayed in accommodation without a wardrobe until the grand Bois , a 7ft x7ft bedroom with a sliding door with two 6ft6 x 3ft beds was cozy but not very practical. The accommodation was warm and plenty of hot water the kitchen had dishwasher ,kettle lots of plates cutlery , even a pressure cooker a welcome pack in the fridge of beer , yoghurts ,ice cream ,pasta , orange juices, ( might have been left by previous occupants); Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Robert Blake's Daughter Speaks Out for First Time About 'Traumatic Childhood' After Mom's Murder; Abstract: Robert Blake's Daughter Speaks Out for First Time; Category: tv
Title: Gabbard hits back at 'queen of warmongers' Clinton; Abstract: Presidential candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) did not hold back Friday when responding to 2016 nominee Hilary Clinton's suggestion that she is the "favorite of the Russians" for 2020, excoriating the former secretary of State as "the queen of warmongers" and "personification of the rot that has sickened the Democratic Party."; Category: news
Title: How Much Advil Is Too Much?; Abstract: Studies show that men are notorious for taking too much Advil, Aleve, or aspirin. There are consequences. Find out if you're overdoing it.; Category: health
Title: An Awkward Moment As Meghan Markle Met A Curtsy Attempt With An American Greeting; Abstract: Customs vary by country and a hug was lost in translation when Meghan Markle took the stage. Buzz60's Keri Lumm reports.; Category: lifestyle
Title: 'Potentially historic wind event' over weekend could inflame California wildfires; Abstract: Northern California could experience a potentially historic wind event this weekend, which could have a dangerous effect on wildfires.; Category: weather
Title: SNL's Michael Che Sparks Backlash for 'Sexist and Ageist' Comments During Weekend Update; Abstract: SNL's Michael Che Sparks Backlash 'Sexist and Ageist' Comments; Category: tv
Title: Browns cut Jermaine Whitehead after racist Twitter rant that included death threats; Abstract: ; Category: sports
Title: 17 hours a day, 7 days a week: Cruise-ship workers describe the grueling conditions they face on the job; Abstract: Business Insider spoke with 45 current and former employees of Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and other cruise lines.; Category: travel
Title: 'Cryptic pregnancies' happen more often than you might think; Abstract: A model didn't know she was pregnant until she gave birth. This can happen to as many as one in 2,500 women.; Category: health | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Clarks Women's Un.Boost Slip-On Loafer; Brand: ; Review: The shoes were exactly as I expected, and the fit was correct. Very comfortable, and I like the wide width.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Portlandia Women's Calistoga Ankle Boot; Brand: Portlandia; Review: The fit was good, but the straps over the shoes were stuck with velcro. From the first time I wore it, the first strap from both shoes slipped off the velcro, when the shoe stretched whilst walking. This was happening constantly, and the velcro did not stick well. I now had to stick a small piece of blutack to hold it in place. For the price I paid being a sale item, am ok with the product.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lauren Ralph Lauren Women's Anaya Sandal; Brand: Lauren by Ralph Lauren; Review: Fit as expected, and I like the colour.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DV by Dolce Vita Women's Greer Loafer; Brand: ; Review: Shoe is really cute. Only thing is that its slightly too narrow in front, maybe cos my feet are a bit wide.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: BC Footwear Women's Prepare For Landing T-Strap Pump; Brand: BC Footwear; Review: The shoe is true to size. Look nice.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Franco Sarto Women's Gizmo Wedge Sandal; Brand: Franco Sarto; Review: Lovely colour, and the high heel with platform was quite comfortable. Felt a bit too snug, but my foot is slightly wide.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Karen Kane Women's Drape Bolero Jacket; Brand: ; Review: Nice blouse, fits well and a lovely casual bolero.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Naturalizer Women's Bankston Wedge Sandal; Brand: Naturalizer; Review: Very disappointed, ordered size 6.5 C/D, expecting the shoe to be wide width. It's actually a B width, which is regular and so the shoe is too tight to slip my foot through. As I live in Australia, so not sure I can return it. Money wasted.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Aerosoles Women's Wise Choice; Brand: ; Review: The leather is soft, and good heel height. Its not very neatly made, so looks a bit tacky. However, for the discounted price the shoe is a good buy.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Drago's Seafood Restaurant; City: Metairie, LA; Review: Here's the deal Lobster awesome Steak tender shrimp perfect and the grilled oysters are perfect.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Café Du Monde; City: New Orleans, LA; Review: This place is historic and tasty when people say come here listen to them it's not just hype it's the real deal I can't wait to come back here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Palace Café; City: New Orleans, LA; Review: I never thought I would try duck but I'm glad I did I was blown away on how good the flavor was and the banana foster here was on point as well if your in town try both they were great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pat's King of Steaks; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Ok so I knew when I was in town I had to try this place or Genos now I scoped out both and I'm sorry Genos you looked like you were holding back on the steak also I like the fact that Pats cuts up the steak that makes it so much better.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kabuki Japanese Restaurant; City: King of Prussia, PA; Review: Solid spot in these parts I'm from California so I'm spoiled with sushi spots and this place is up there with them the food was excellent.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Applebee's Grill + Bar; City: Plant City, FL; Review: Slow service food was lukewarm must of been club night music was blasting not the best Applebee's I've been too and it wasn't even packed.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Darfons Restaurant & Lounge; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Just a stone throw away from the good ole BW Plus I thought I'd give this place a shot I'm happy I did, salad was perfect with bacon cheese and the pasta was amazing I have to come back and try that jack Daniels steak that sounds so good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Noshville Delicatessen; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Ok food my sandwich was good could have used more meat bacon was good and fris were tasty.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Los Tres Amigos; City: Harvey, LA; Review: Ok Mexican food wish there was more meat in the fajitas, could be because we came in 45 min till closing not sure but our server was nice.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Luke; City: New Orleans, LA; Review: Fine dining and service type of place, food was seasoned perfectly and cooked the way I asked, the rib eye was soft and every bite was consistent, this is a place I will be back to eat.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Bomb .com man talk about a lot of food and talk about a lot of flavor and taste wow I was blown away by this place what an amazing BBQ spot.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Merchants; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Decent steak and food not to sure about price however if you want a really cool old school feel and close to downtown this is the spot for you service is top notch and desert was great.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sindoore - Indian By Nature; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Very good authentic Indian food place was very small but very nice, with a great location and service what more could anyone ask for.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chauhan Ale & Masala House; City: Nashville, TN; Review: The style here is Indian fusion and let me tell you they do it right, some of the best lamb chops I've ever had the only thing I didn't care for were the mussels but everything else was excellent.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stax; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Great place to grab a quick meal when staying or visiting the Gaylord Hotel I was very impressed by quality of food.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Service here was top notch loved the fitness room and layout of property, was a little disappointed in food here as restaurants and room service was not up to par best place to eat here is the Stax burger spot but I would skip the room service.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ten For Thai Esane; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Ehh ok nothing to write home about, I was disappointed they didn't have mango and sticky rice and also the papaya salad wasn't good at all and the food if you order spicy that just means they grow more chili flakes in there maybe I'm picky but I was expecting better Thai food from here.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Casa Maria Mexican Grill; City: Belleville, IL; Review: Bomb street tacos, I'm Mexican from Southern California these tacos are authentic and the flavor is amazing, who would have thought Illinois would have tacos like this.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Red Fish Grill; City: New Orleans, LA; Review: Excellent food, the BBQ oysters were differentiated a good way never had them that why I was surprised how great they tasted, I went for the chicken which was amazing and corn bread was top notch I also got to say hi to Ike who stared in Treme show in HBO over all what a great night.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vieux Carre Pizza; City: New Orleans, LA; Review: It's ok but I have to be honest Crescent City Pizza down the street is better l, don't get me wrong this place is good but something was missing.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crescent City Pizza Works; City: New Orleans, LA; Review: Bomb.com what can I say this is this best pizza in NOLA I tried other spots and trust me they don't match up to this place and on top of great pizza the service was excellent great spot anytime of day.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mother's Restaurant; City: New Orleans, LA; Review: What's up with some of the reviews on here? Not sure why others didn't like it, it's simple wait in line order sit get food and enjoy one of the best PO Boys or Ham this sandwich made my month the Ferdi special was amazing as was the jambalaya can't wait to come back.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Acme Oyster House; City: New Orleans, LA; Review: Great spot I always come here when in NOLA and I always get the charred oysters, I didn't know how good the other food was here I loved the red beans and rice the jambalaya and the hush puppies you have to try this place when in NOLA.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cook Out; City: Nashville, TN; Review: This has to be the worst cookout I've ever been too, the person taking our order didn't know what came with what burger was burnt and other sides were dry.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Mauro Mansion; City: Amsterdam North Holland Province; Review: Loved the design of the hotel. A few minutes walk from central station in the red light district. We had a quiet court yard room. A great breakfast. Would stay again. Very easy walking distance to all areas of central Amsterdam, easy access to trams, boat tours, bus tours. There are so many great restaurants in the area it is hard to choose where to go. The staff was very welcoming and helpful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Misc Eatdrinksleep; City: Amsterdam North Holland Province; Review: This hotel/B&B is located adjacent to the new market in the red light district. We took a room on the court yard side. There was some noise at night from loud voices in the small street next to the hotel. The room was very functional with three large windows and a nice bathroom. The breakfast was outstanding with cold cuts, cheese, fresh bread and croissants plus eggs cooked as you wanted them with generous bacon, fresh coffee and juice. A great value for your money.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Excelsior Hotel Ernst; City: Cologne North Rhine Westphalia; Review: There isn't a hotel better located in Cologne. It is about 150 meters from the central train station, right at the square for the cathedral, and adjacent to the pedestrian only shopping area. The hotel has been renovated to make it a first class hotel. The staff is excellent. We stayed two nights but if we were going back to Cologne we would not stay here. Smoking is still allowed in the hotel and we are non smokers and do not like to breath second hand smoke. There is smoking in the lobby, restaurant, elevators and hall ways. Our first room was a smoking room and we couldn't stand it. We asked for a non smoking room and the staff tried hard to find one. They came up with a room but on the way to show us the room the clerk warned us that people who smoke who get a non smoking room, still smoke in the room without penalty. We were ok with the new room but after so many years without second hand smoke in North America, the smoking spoiled it fir us.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre; City: Whistler British Columbia; Review: This is our third time staying at this hotel. We keep coming back because everything here makes our stay so enjoyable. We have taken advantage of the specials, and those specials start at checkin. We are greeted by friendly people who have informed us that we have been upgraded and it continues for our entire stay. The hotel provides us with a locker at its sister hotel right on the slopes. The locker is just steps away from the Blackcomb gondola and across Whistler square to the Whistler gondola. The rooms are clean, have a full kitchen, fireplace, modern bathroom and 2 flat screen TV's. The included breakfast is a wonderful buffet with hot and cold meals. Our dog received a welcoming treat and in room dish and blanket. We find the après skiing is a lot of fun. We have a drink and find that the other guest like to socialize and we enjoy meeting them. The staff are friendly and set the tone, visiting every table and making sure we are enjoying ourselves. We have our suppers at the Dubh Linn Gate pub in the mountain side hotel as we love the food, the atmosphere and we get a discount from staying in the hotel. The hotel is right in the village and we love to walk and look in the stores and people watch. We live in Squamish which is only 40 minutes away but we like to come here a couple of nights a week a few times a month to enjoy the skiing, relax without having to worry about road conditions, and really we just love to stay here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Pines Condominiums; City: Keystone Colorado; Review: We stayed at the pines for two weeks. The two bedroom unit we stayed in was great, it had a wood fireplace and beautiful view. The units are quite inconvenient. It is a long walk from the parking lot to the units for carrying things. It snowed a lot when we were there and the carts provided were hard to push through the snow. The sidewalk clearing was poor. We got fresh towels every five days. The sheets were not changed in our two week stay. There was no vacuuming in our stay or cleaning of the unit. On trash pickup day they missed our kitchen trash and when we called they said the second visit ti get the trash would count as an attendance and we wouldn't get fresh towels. The t.v. in the great room didn't work. We phoned maintenance and they came and said it would have to be replaced but they needed the owners approval to do that. Apparently the owner didn't approve because we did not get a tv that worked. All units are walk up with a common stairwell. The stairwell was filthy when we arrived, it never got cleaned and was really bad when we left. Laundry is not self contained, you must walk to a central building. It was very cold when we were there and this was very inconvenient. We would not stay here again.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: El Convento Boutique Hotel; City: Antigua Sacatepequez Department; Review: We were 8 couples here for a wedding at Los Cappuccinos which is directly across the street. Everything at the hotel was perfect. We were picked up at the airport by the shuttle which was there when we came out of customs. Our rooms were ready for us on arrival. The rooms were all different, unique and beautiful. The grounds are like a holiday in a museum. The staff was eager to please. The food in the restaurant was gourmet. The hotel is easy walking to the central square, the markets and other first class restaurants. Everyone had a great time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hagia Sophia Hotel Istanbul Old City; City: Istanbul; Review: As others have stated this hotel is so well located, that that alone is reason to stay here. Added to that its a great hotel. Our room was 1305 and we had an excellent view of the Hagia Sophia. The view was so good and the Internet so strong we FaceTimed our daughter in Vancouver so she could see the view and she was blown away. The restaurants rated 1 and 2 in Istanbul are right next door so dinning choices were simple. It's been a great introduction on our first visit to this wonderful city.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel de Lutece; City: Paris Ile de France; Review: This hotel is perfectly located in Paris. Our room was spacious and quiet. We love the island and the must see sights close by. The walks along the Seine were spectacular. The staff was very helpful. We first stayed here in 1975 and try to come back each time we are in Paris. We booked this 9 months in advance and there were only a few rooms left. So if this is appealing don't wait to book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Kota Kinabalu; City: Kota Kinabalu Kota Kinabalu District West Coast Division Sabah; Review: We are staying here for a total of 5 nights on a 2 week trip to Malaysian Borneo. The hotel is wonderful. Rooms are comfy and very modern. The best part of the hotel is the staff. All of the staff really show that they want us to have a great stay. They always smile and say hello and truly seem to enjoy their jobs. A special thanks to the manager for working out a small problem for us and then checking up to make sure we were happy..; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: The Camberley; City: Harrogate North Yorkshire England; Review: Free car park but was a bit dubious when i saw the back, however they welcomed us then showed us to a lovely room no.10 it had a four poster bed and lovely en suite.. comfy... Breakfast was excellent and plenty of it. I would certainly reccommend this hotel. Only one small point and may not bother any one else he wore the same shirt for 3 days.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seagrove Hotel; City: Sandown Isle of Wight England; Review: Take our advice and never go to this place keep hold of your money Try reading the local paper 15th July 2011 the review will tell all. Surprised Travelstyle haven,t sent someone to check it out maybe not brave enough; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Bocardo; City: Oxford Oxfordshire England; Review: I was surprised at first there was just a doorway with a flight of stairs then the reception was on the first floor. Although the room was small the decor and bathroom were lovely. Anton was pleasant and helpful.. But i do think one bottle of water between two could be improved upon.. Anybody wanting to spend a couple of nights in Oxford this is an ideal location..; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Guildhall Tavern Hotel Restaurant; City: Denbigh Denbighshire North Wales Wales; Review: Really good value, lovely breakfast and evening meal superb... Room lovely and warm, bathroom clean,however the mattress does need replacing. Only a small thing but tables not set for breakfast lots of dishes on tables. Maybe short staffed? Staff working there are very helpful.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ty Dderw; City: Moelfre Anglesey North Wales Wales; Review: We had a lovely stay for my husbands birthday 12th &13th October lovely meal on the first night room comfortable nice bathroom.. Staff friendly and helpful, they went the extra mile when they returned keys we had left there. Would go back again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mercure Liverpool Atlantic Tower Hotel; City: Liverpool Merseyside England; Review: The room was lovely clean and spacious we had a great view over the city. Staff pleasant and thoughtful they left us a card and wine to celebrate our Anniversary would go back and stay again. The bar was comfortable but TVs showing the football only..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grand Hotel del Gianicolo; City: Rome Lazio; Review: This is a lovely hotel the pool and gardens are a bonus. Only had breakfast here but plenty to choose from and a fantastic view of St Peters Basilica from the 4th floor. Only problem its quite a walk down a very steep dangerous hill no pavements or lights, however there is a bus 115 that stops outside the hotel.. Must be a good walker..Only problem we had our first night we got put in a room right beside the reception, we had no water in wash basin and not toilet seat. The following day we did get moved but no explanation or compensation maybe overbooked?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Plus Lancashire Manor Hotel; City: Skelmersdale Lancashire England; Review: We had a lovely stay over .... food lovely was a bbq and good variety of food plenty to go around.. venue exceptional decor so beautiful in the big room seating cosy set for two as it was a special occassion .... bedrooms excellent to top it all we had a Michael Buble tribute ....; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Oasis Park Splash; City: Calella Catalonia; Review: Just spent some time in Oasis Park and have to say great value for money... Rooms spacious and clean however the towels could do with replacing abit thread bare Dining room clean bright and could find something to eat chicken really nice plenty variety of salads chips potatoes and desserts... Pools just fantastic enjoyed aqua arobics... entertainment well cant please everyone all of the time but did enjoy singer and music quiz.... Staff very friendly and helpful One bad thing was the system for getting drinks one drink each and must return glass for a refill must be a reason for this?? i found that being with a party of 6 we were all up and down 1 at a time.... this doesn't happen in Liverpool we get a round in for all friends ..... maybe this wouldn't bother a lot of people but thought it a strange method... We used hoppa bus from airport and they waited for us at airport took us directly to hotel and returned to pick us up for our flight home promptly on the dot..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Helios Benidorm; City: Benidorm Costa Blanca Province of Alicante Valencian Country; Review: We have been on holiday for a short winter break during the half term. The weather was very kind and sunny most days bit of cloud but it is February The hotel very clean dining a bit chaotic but on the whole good... our bedroom was big and comfortable however didn't get any sun on terrace at the back of hotel so do ask to be looking over pool.. Pool was heated and beautiful however towels on sun loungers reserved mainly by Germans...The entertainment in the hotel was really bad parrots doing whatever, circus not sure, and line dancing for the Spanish constantly. However it is centrally located and Benidorm offers excellent entertainment a short distance away..aStaff are hard working and pleasant..; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Saint Georges; City: Lourdes Hautes Pyrenees Occitanie; Review: St Georges Hotel is a stone throw from Lourdes domain, we flew into Toulouse Airport however the journey was 2 hours mini bus ride to St Georges, we get their late in the evening and they had left us a salad with beautiful lean ham which was enjoyable. The breakfast could have been better no fruit as in grapefruit, just cornflakes french stick cheese jam or marmalade... but ample for breakfast. Most of the meals were enjoyable and satisfying...some strange fatty raw ham that resembled bacon?. The staff were lovely and hlepful. The rooms mmmm what can l say woodchip paper dark brown carpet but was very clean also the bathroom, big enough but very basic two separate low beds with sheets blankets and chintz bedspread covers and curtains from the 70s.. We had booked double bed so a bit disappointed... Location was excellent. The hotel had a small bar which was ok. The hotel across the river Paradis was lively and had happy hour late each evening.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Don Jorge Apartamentos; City: Benidorm Costa Blanca Province of Alicante Valencian Country; Review: Very nice apartments they have everything you need. Clean fresh linen sheets towels etc..... Lifts pretty quick as we where on the 14th Floor. Beautiful view from the spacious balcony. The apartments are attached to The Palm Beach Hotel, a courtesy bus runs frequently and the drivers are cheerful. The swimming pool is big, there is a sauna and a gym. You must wear bathing caps. Changing rooms small but do the job. The location of the apartments and hotel is central to beach and main areas, however there is a very steep long hill to climb to reach by foot, then lots of steps to climb. The supermarket is half way down the hill .... Really enjoyable if you can manage the walk.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bay Dilkhusa Grand Hotel; City: Ilfracombe Devon England; Review: Just spent an enjoyable week in Ilfracombe Devon.... We were lucky and had four days of Sun then the rest of the week cloudy and rain. We stayed at the Dilkhusa Grand Hotel for the full week. Our room 226 was a really good size overlooking the park and we had a view of the sea. Although the room and and the hotel in general needs some love and attention the bathroom was in great need of a make over. The linen and cleanliness was good and the choice of evening meals excellent. The staff are extremely pleasant and hard working. So do leave them a nice tip. The breakfast could do with some variation, change of fruit, the same each day for the week.... The hotel entertainment not marvelous but lively enough a singer each night some repeating their same routine when they are on twice in the week.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: MedPlaya Hotel Santa Monica; City: Calella Catalonia; Review: The hotel is in a central area which is good. There are 8 floors we where on the 7th which gave us a wonderful view of the sea.The room itself was basic but clean, however the smell of cigarette smoke was sickening, i was given an air freshener when l let the maid know but she told me someone has been smoking in here?? this was obvious but if they had been there a few days maybe she should have pointed out the no smoking signs clearly in the room. The lower floors had obscured view, the lifts did get busy but only at meal times. The dining room and the food really good and lots of choice. But the queuing time for the evening meal was a joke. Maybe an idea would be to open earlier 6.30 instead of 7.30 as it was frustrating waiting for a table .... The hotel was clean and then staff helpful. The entertainment was aimed at the children with discos and activities. only one night did we have a singer but then the entertainment team filled the dance floor with silly dancing and kids. I must say though Jet2 holidays arranged the pick up far too early for the flight time and the hotel dining Manage was so helpful seeing breakfast did not start until 7.30 so he allowed us to go in early and have breakfast which was helpful seeing our flight was 11.30. On the whole the hotel was a good base and near to the train station to get about by near l mean 15 mins walk but could go to lots of places from there. There was lots of restaurants and eating places but not many music bars. The main one had nightly bingo on we are not ready for that yet.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The King s Arms Hotel Restaurant; City: Bicester Oxfordshire England; Review: Last weekend we stayed at Royal Kings arms in Lancaster... It was booked through Booking.com On the site it said £55 per room or premier £77 inclusive of breakfast which we paid... First impression from the back was ok from car park.... However room was on the fourth floor Via a goods lift... The room was adequate but no way premier....the window was broken and taped up... Breakfast was nice which was stated as inclusive... But when we were leaving £12.95 each Was added to our final bill... When we saw it on our statement we rang the King's arms and spoke To receptionist Ian had was Impatient and totally disregarded Information we have about booking .com.. keep away from this hotel. We have since checked on the website and it is clearly stated..; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: 25 Pack - 12 inch Multi Bullseye - Splatterburst Shooting Targets - Gun - Rifle - Pistol - AirSoft; Brand: Splatterburst Targets; Review: Product was rcvd exactly as described. I like the bursting effect that it provides. It would have been a 5 star rating if it has a self adhesive backing, but I like the product and would buy it again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Butler Creek 20-21 Objective Multiflex Flip-Open Scope Cover; Brand: Butler Creek; Review: Product perfectly fits my Nikon P-22 scope. Good quality....recommend this product to anyone looking for scope cover. Outstanding service, can't complain.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nikon P-22 2-7x32 Matte NP (Extra Turret); Brand: Nikon; Review: It serves the purpose that I intended. I can see my target clearly @100 yds, but don't know if magnification is the same at 200 & beyond. The shooting range I go to is only to 100 yds. I am happy with the quality but not to happy for not having the holder comes with the scope.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Howard Leight by Honeywell Leightning L0F Folding Ultraslim Shooting Earmuff (R-01523); Brand: Howard Leight; Review: It does the job at the range. If the NRR is 30 or above, definitely a 5. Fitting is very good & really love the compactness.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Team Golf NFL Golf Club Mallet Putter Headcover, Fits Most Mallet Putters, Scotty Cameron, Daddy Long Legs, Taylormade, Odyssey,; Brand: Team Golf; Review: Fits my Ping putter nicely. Well made & material quality is very good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Team Golf NFL Embroidered Golf Towel, Checkered Scrubber Design, Embroidered Logo; Brand: Team Golf; Review: Nice golf towel. I'll buy it again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Team Golf NCAA Divot Tool with 3 Golf Ball Markers Pack, Markers are Removable Magnetic Double-Sided Enamel; Brand: Team Golf; Review: Very satisfied.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: McArthur NFL Set of Three Headcovers; Brand: McArthur; Review: Very nice & very satisfied. Good quality & well made.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Northern Exposure: Spring Break VHS; Brand: Rob Morrow; Review: it was just as the seller said it would be and a great price too.i would buy from this seller again; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Despicable Me 2 (Mandarin Chinese Edition); Brand: Pierre Coffin; Review: Got the movies super fast and this movie I think is a little better than the first , but if you have kids they will love it and so will the grown ups .; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mirror Mirror; Brand: Julia Roberts; Review: Cute little movie . Got it fast and a great price.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Puss in Boots; Brand: Antonio Banderas; Review: This is a cute movie that the whole family can enjoy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rise of the Guardians: Easter Gift Set; Brand: Chris Pine; Review: I love this movie . It has a wonderful meaning to it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rio; Brand: Jesse Eisenberg; Review: Great movie for the whole family.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tooth Fairy; Brand: Dwayne Johnson; Review: Cute movie for the kids.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(WS) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(WS); Brand: Adam Sandler; Review: Cute little movie that you can watch with your kids.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Transylvania 2; Brand: Genndy Tartakovsky; Review: Very cute movie for all the family to watch.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shrek 2; Brand: Mike Myers; Review: Buy all the shriek movies you want be disappointed. And they go up in value .; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shrek the Third; Brand: ; Review: Love this movie .; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mary Poppins (Fully Restored Limited Edition) (Walt Disney's Masterpiece) (Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection); Brand: Robert Stevenson; Review: You can't go wrong with Walt Disney. This brought back a lot of good memories. Everyone needs at least one of these.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Disney's A Christmas Carol; Brand: Jim Carrey; Review: Another great Disney movie. I would recommend it highly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Megamind; Brand: Will Ferrell; Review: Cute for the little kids and the whole family.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Polar Express; Brand: Nona Gaye; Review: A wonderful Christmas movie for the kids young and old . Tom hanks makes very good movie and this is one for your collection; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TYLER PERRY'S A MADEA CHRISTMAS; Brand: Tyler Perry; Review: Funny adult movie . Tyler Perry makes some very good movie and this is the one of them . You know you are going to laugh with madea and Larry the cable guy plus all the others added in.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Norm Of The North Digital; Brand: Rob Schneider; Review: Very cute kids movie; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Christmas with the Kranks; Brand: Tim Allen; Review: Movie was very funny though out the whole thing. It's a great movie that the whole family can enjoy; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Disney World's Skyliner system up and running for tests, reports say; Abstract: Disney World's Skyliner system is back up and running, but without passengers, as the park begins testing the system before reopening to guests.; Category: travel
Title: Panera Bread worker fired after TikTok exposed frozen mac and cheese; Abstract: On Friday, the poster said on Twitter that she was fired for the video, showing her place a frozen bag of macaroni and cheese into a vat of hot water.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Burning questions for Lions vs Packers on 'Monday Night Football'; Abstract: The Green Bay Packers host the Detroit Lions for an NFC North special edition of Monday Night Football to cap off a lively NFL Week 6 slate.; Category: sports
Title: Michael Douglas Weighs In on College Admissions Scandal: It's 'Egregious'; Abstract: Michael Douglas Weighs In on College Admissions Scandal: It's 'Egregious'; Category: movies
Title: NFL world reacts to officials handing Packers win over Lions; Abstract: It's a regular occurrence for NFL officiating to cause controversy, with the Packers seeming to benefit from a questionable call against Lions defensive end Trey Flowers.; Category: sports
Title: 'Wheel Of Fortune' Guest Delivers Hilarious, Off The Rails Introduction; Abstract: We'd like to solve the puzzle, Pat: Blair Davis' loveless marriage? On Monday, "Wheel of Fortune" welcomed as a new contestant trucking business owner Blair Davis, who offered a biting introduction for himself. When host Pat Sajak asked the man from Cardiff, California, about his family, Davis plunged into one of the darkest personal summaries the show has likely ever heard. "I've been trapped in a loveless marriage for the last 12 years to an...; Category: tv
Title: High school soccer: Chloe DeLyser sets record for most goals scored; Abstract: Chloe DeLyser, an Ohio State commit, scored her 317th goal Tuesday night, setting a new national record for a high school girls soccer player.; Category: sports
Title: Trump says he thought family of UK teen wanted meeting with diplomat's wife; Abstract: "I thought they were -- based on what I thought -- that they wanted to meet," Trump told reporters of Harry Dunn's parents declining to meet with Anne Sacoolas.; Category: news
Title: Mad About You Star Helen Hunt Taken to Hospital After Car Is T-Boned and Rolls Over in Accident; Abstract: Helen Hunt Rushed to Hospital After Car Gets T-Boned in Accident; Category: tv
Title: Can you spot the hidden gift in this brainteaser in under 11 seconds?; Abstract: GiftsOnline4U created a holiday-themed brainteaser with a wrapped present hidden among bows. Can you spot the gift box?; Category: lifestyle
Title: James Mattis mocks Trump's bone spurs; Abstract: Former Defense Secretary James Mattis makes light of President Trump calling him "the world's most overrated general" during his keynote address at the annual Al Smith dinner, a philanthropic event where roasts are tradition.; Category: video
Title: Former Arizona Senate staffer who won discrimination lawsuit will get $353K and her job back; Abstract: Talonya Adams will get more than $353,000 in back pay, lost earnings, vacation time and other damages and her job back, a judge ruled Wednesday.; Category: news
Title: Woman Spots Deadly Animal Hiding In Photo Of Her Kids; Abstract: Her unsuspecting children weren't the only ones posing for the pictures.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Best, worst QB performances from NFL Week 7; Abstract: Several quarterbacks had banner days on Sunday, while others will be looking to quickly forget Week 7.; Category: sports
Title: Under Armour founder Kevin Plank to step down as CEO; Abstract: Chief executive is stepping down at the sporting goods company he launched more than two decades ago; Category: finance
Title: NFL Week 8 Power Rankings: Old-school football rules the day; Abstract: NFL Week 8 Power Rankings: Old-school football rules the day; Category: sports
Title: Dancing with the Stars: Sailor Brinkley-Cook Is Sent Home in 'Shocking' Elimination; Abstract: Dancing with the Stars: Sailor Brinkley-Cook Eliminated During Week 6; Category: tv
Title: Four flight attendants were arrested in Miami's airport after bringing in thousands in cash, police say; Abstract: Four American Airlines flight attendants were arrested at the Miami International Airport and charged with money laundering after bringing large amounts of cash into the country, police said.; Category: news
Title: Georgia sheriff's 'No Trick-or-Treat' signs trigger lawsuit from sex offenders; Abstract: A group of sex offenders in Georgia is suing the Butts County Sheriff's office for posting "No Trick-or-Treat" signs on their homes.; Category: news
Title: Climate change has finally caught up to this Alaska village; Abstract: "Many folks are not happy to be leaving the place they've known their whole lives." After 20 years of melting permafrost, residents of Newtok now must move.; Category: weather
Title: Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams made it clear in officer firing: The buck stops with her; Abstract: Phoenix's police chief resisted calls for swift justice. But in the end, she did the right thing in firing an officer who messed up.; Category: news
Title: Chipotle's "Boorito" Deal Is Back Again, So Get Your Costume Ready And You Can Get A Burrito For $4; Abstract: Being hangry is truly scary.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Bed, Bath and Beyond Pulls 'Blackface Pumpkins From the Shelves; Abstract: The pumpkins were removed from stores after an upstate New York community filed complaints.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Trump blasts 'Never Trump' Republicans as 'human scum'; Abstract: President Trump on Wednesday excoriated so-called Never Trump Republicans.; Category: news
Title: This Dog's Terrifyingly Cute 'Killer' Costume Just Won Halloween; Abstract: This pup's Halloween costume is a unique blend of "AAH!" and "AWW!"; Category: lifestyle
Title: Jennifer Lawrence Hired A Food Truck For Her Wedding And The Owner Had No Idea Who She Was; Abstract: Kinda mad I wasn't invited, TBH.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Flight shaming is gaining traction and could cost airlines billions; Abstract: Consumers are paying more attention to their carbon footprint and it could cost airlines billions of dollars, Citi said in a note to clients Tuesday.; Category: finance
Title: The Best Celebrity Halloween Costumes Ever; Abstract: Some celebrities bring their A-game year after year.; Category: entertainment
Title: Trump education official to resign and call for mass student loan forgiveness; Abstract: A senior student-loan official in the Trump administration said he would resign Thursday and endorse canceling most of the nation's outstanding student debt, calling the student-loan system "fundamentally broken."; Category: finance
Title: It's illegal to leave your pumpkins outside in Maricopa County; Abstract: 'Tis the season for carving faces and other designs into pumpkins before putting candles inside the rotting ghords to celebrate Halloween. It's a wonderful tradition which comes with a very important caveat in many Arizona counties. "Putting out a pumpkin for a javelina is definitely feeding wildlife," said Amy Burnett with Arizona game and Fish. Leaving your pumpkins outside in Maricopa County is illegal and you could be fined for doing do. The...; Category: news
Title: NFL Week 9 Power Rankings: More ammo for Belichick as greatest coach ever; Abstract: Doug Farrar offers up myriad surprises in Touchdown Wire's Week 9 NFL Power Rankings.; Category: sports
Title: 'DWTS' Recap: A Fan Favorite Goes Home In Yet Another Crazy Elimination; Abstract: So many epic performances filled Halloween Night on 'DWTS' and the night ended with another jaw-dropping elimination when two of the best performers were in the bottom two. Len Goodman decided who went home.; Category: tv
Title: UK to hold rare December election with Brexit on table; Abstract: LONDON (AP) Britain is to hold an early election on Dec. 12 after the House of Commons passed a bill authorizing the vote. Lawmakers voted 438-20 in favor of the bill to give Prime Minister Boris Johnson the early election he sought. It will become law once it is approved Wednesday by the unelected House of Lords, which does not have the power to overrule the elected Commons. WHY IS JOHNSON CALLING FOR A VOTE? The next scheduled election is...; Category: news
Title: Customers Are Trolling Papa John's Over Their Jack-O'-Lantern Pizzas; Abstract: This is truly scary.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: New Jersey woman sues waiter for spilling wine on her Hermès handbag; Abstract: The woman is seeking $30,000 for the light-pink luxury handbag, which has been discontinued.; Category: news
Title: Chick-fil-A Apologizes to Customers for Promoting National Sandwich Day Which Is on a Sunday; Abstract: Chick-fil-A Apologizes for Promoting National Sandwich Day; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Pamela Anderson gets backlash after wearing a Native American headdress for Halloween; Abstract: Pamela Anderson is under fire after posting risqué photos of herself wearing a Native American headdress in honor of Halloween. The Canadian actress and animal rights activist, who rose to fame for her role as a lifeguard on the series Baywatch, took to Twitter like many other celebrities to post photos of herself in her Halloween costume. In the first photo, the 51-year-old sports a pair of high-waisted underwear, and appears to be drenched in...; Category: tv
Title: Severe weather shifts boat stuck on Niagara Falls rocks for 101 years; Abstract: A barge that has been stuck atop some rocks in Niagara Falls for more than 100 years has finally shifted as a result of severe weather.; Category: news
Title: 4 mistakes that'll stunt your 401(k)'s growth; Abstract: Avoid these at all costs -- your retirement depends on it.; Category: finance
Title: Peter Luger's Savage NYT Review Likely Won't Hurt It, Based On History; Abstract: New York Times restaurant reviewer Pete Wells is not a fan of Peter Luger Steak House. Ears perked up as his review published Tuesday, titled "Peter Luger used to sizzle. Now it sputters," started making the rounds.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Patriots wanted a test. Now, they need some answers; Abstract: The first quarter was the worst the Patriots had played all season.; Category: sports
Title: Here Are the Biggest Deals We're Anticipating for Black Friday; Abstract: The Black Friday deals for 2019 have already begun leaking out. Get a sneak peek at what to expect from popular retailers like Costco, Walmart, and Best Buy. Browse our guide and use it to plan your attack for the biggest shopping event of the year.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Cause determined in Jessi Combs' fatal speed record crash; Abstract: Occurred at speeds near 550 mph; Category: autos
Title: Man dies after stabbing in Maryland Popeyes; fight over chicken sandwich, sources say; Abstract: A man was fatally stabbed Monday evening while inside a Maryland Popeyes following a fight over a chicken sandwich, a source told Fox News.; Category: news
Title: Maryland man, 46, gets probation after he killed a father and his four daughters when his SUV crossed a median and slammed into their minivan; Abstract: Alvin Hubbard III, 46, of Cambridge, Maryland, was sentenced to one year of probation after he killed a father and his four daughters when his SUV slammed into a family's minivan in 2018; Category: news
Title: Air Force airman missing after fall into Gulf of Mexico from C-130 aircraft; Abstract: A U.S. Air Force airman went missing Tuesday after falling from a C-130 aircraft into the Gulf of Mexico, according to reports.; Category: news
Title: Mid-Engine C8 Corvette Production Postponed Until February 2020; Abstract: The car was supposed to be hitting dealers by the end of 2019. That's no longer happening.; Category: autos
Title: LA firefighter banked $360,010 in overtime pay in one year, city audit finds; Abstract: Eighteen employees of the Los Angeles Fire Department earned more than $200,000 in overtime pay last fiscal year, with one firefighter making $360,010 in overtime alone, according to an audit released Wednesday by City Controller Ron Galperin.; Category: news
Title: Holocaust survivor under guard amid death threats; Abstract: Liliana Segre, 89, is assigned two police officers in Italy after hundreds of anti-Semitic messages.; Category: news
Title: Ian Ziering's Wife Erin Ludwig Files for Divorce Days After Split Announcement; Abstract: Ian Ziering's Wife Erin Ludwig Files for Divorce; Category: tv
Title: Las Vegas adopts ban on sleeping, camping on streets, sidewalks; Abstract: Opponents say the measure unfairly criminalizes the city's homeless population.; Category: news
Title: Meghan McCain confronts Trump Jr.: 'You and your family have hurt a lot of people'; Abstract: Donald Trump Jr., the president's son, defended his family after "View" co-host Meghan McCain suggested they were responsible for the lack of "character" in American politics.; Category: news
Title: I went to Peter Luger after it received zero stars from New York Times; Abstract: The burger was so juicy I had to wipe my fingers after every bite. And everyone from regulars to tourists couldn't stop singing Peter Luger's praises.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Snow crab sells for record price in Japan; Abstract: A "five shining star" snow crab was auctioned off in Tottori, Japan for a record-breaking 5 million yen ($46,000). wide.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Chrissy Teigen Apologizes for Her 'Tone Deaf' Joke About Her Mom; Abstract: "I'm sorry and I will do better to not be such an a------."; Category: tv
Title: Fox legal analyst Napolitano emerges as Trump critic; Abstract: NEW YORK (AP) More than two decades into his career as a commentator at Fox News Channel, Andrew Napolitano reached a milestone of sorts when he was called a "fool" on his own network. Not to his face, of course. But Tucker Carlson guest Joseph diGenova's dismissal of Napolitano for saying that soliciting campaign aid from a foreign government is against the law illustrates the awkward place that the former New Jersey Superior Court judge...; Category: news | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: I followed Oprah's morning routine for a week, which includes $100 affirmation cards and 'spiritual exercises.' It was surprisingly difficult.; Abstract: The star kicks off her day by meditating, observing nature, caring for her five dogs, and reading costly inspirational cards.; Category: lifestyle
Title: 'Time was of the essence': Politicians add to reward for missing 3-year-old; Abstract: Kamille "Cupcake" McKinney was playing at a birthday party when she disappeared.; Category: news
Title: This Bride's BFFs Surprised Her With A Gigantic Chicken Nugget Bouquet In The Middle Of Her Wedding; Abstract: This might be my dream wedding.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Deion Sanders, Ed Reed named head coaches at 2020 Under Armour All-America Game; Abstract: NFL -- Hall of Famers Deion Sanders and Ed Reed will serve as the head coaches for Team Pressure and Team Savage, respectively, and the three captains of each squad were announced on Thursday for the 2020 Under Armour All-America Game. The 13th annual game will be Jan. 2 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando at 5 p.m. CT on ESPN2. A final roster will be announced in December. Super Bowl ...; Category: sports
Title: Shaquille O'Neal donates home to family of Atlanta boy paralyzed in shooting; Abstract: Shaquille O'Neal heard Isaiah Payton couldn't go home after he was paralyzed from the chest down. So Shaq donated an accessible house to his family.; Category: sports
Title: Subtle Signs You May Have Clogged Arteries; Abstract: These surprising clues can point to clogged arteries and underlying heart disease.; Category: health
Title: Tamron Hall says she 'never dealt' cocaine after reports say she confessed to doing so; Abstract: Tamron Hall issued a statement in response to the Daily Mail reporting that she confessed to facilitating the sale of cocaine as a teenager.; Category: tv
Title: Mesquite Whataburger honors Rockwall cheerleader who saved choking child during homecoming parade; Abstract: Tyra Winters, a Rockwall High School cheerleader, was riding on a homecoming parade float when she noticed an emergency. A child was choking. She jumped off the float to help the young boy, who was choking on a piece of candy, a spokesperson for the burger chain said. Winters performed the Heimlich maneuver and saved him. Now, she's been able to make another big difference with the help of Whataburger. She was named a 'Whataburger Hometown Hero'...; Category: lifestyle
Title: Dignitaries honor Rep. Elijah Cummings in the U.S. Capitol, remember 'the moral force of his life'; Abstract: U.S. House and Senate leaders of both parties paused at the Capitol to honor the late Baltimore congressman and civil rights advocate.; Category: news
Title: Grocery Chain Serving Free Meals To Tornado Victims; Abstract: DALLAS (1080 KRLD) - HEB/Central Market will serve lunch to people who live and work in Preston Hollow for the next three days. The company has set up a mobile kitchen outside the Central Market store at Preston and Royal. "It's a little scary, especially when you know you have good friends and even some co-workers who've lost everything; no home, no nothing and having to start from scratch. says Donetta Wallace, who has worked at the store...; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Deer fatally attacks hunter who shot him; Abstract: In what officials are calling a bizarre incident, an Arkansas hunter was killed by a deer that he thought he had killed.; Category: news
Title: Family of toddler who fell from cruise ship 'utterly crushed' after grandfather charged; Abstract: The charge of negligent homicide was "like pouring salt on an open wound" for the girl's parents, the family's lawyer told NBC News.; Category: news
Title: Science Says: How daylight saving time affects health; Abstract: Many sleep scientists and circadian biologists are pushing for a permanent ban.; Category: health
Title: Kentucky man dies trying to save sons from Florida rip current during family trip; Abstract: Stephone Ritchie Sr. was on a family vacation in Florida when he died. "He got caught in the waves," after ushering sons out of water, a cousin said.; Category: news
Title: Man who advocated caning for adultery gets caned for adultery; Abstract: An Indonesian man has been publicly flogged for adultery, under a draconian law he helped create.; Category: news
Title: 1 Family's Adoption Photo Shoot Is on Point, but the Touching Story Behind It Is Everything; Abstract: When Keia Jones-Baldwin married her husband, Richardro, she was eager to expand her family.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Kim Kardashian Wants to 'Honor' Kanye West's 'Life Change': 'But I'm Always Going to Be Me'; Abstract: The mother of four opens up about how the rapper has adjusted their home life.; Category: tv
Title: This Man Is Behind Every Single Antique You See In Cracker Barrel Stores; Abstract: All the magic happens in Lebanon, Tennessee.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: US Rep. Ilhan Omar divorces husband in Minnesota; Abstract: Rep. Ilhan Omar has officially divorced from her husband in Minnesota, just a month after she filed a petition saying there was an "irretrievable breakdown" in their marriage. Omar and Ahmed Hirsi had been married since January 2018 but were longtime partners. Omar says Hirsi is the father of her three children. The marriage was dissolved Tuesday after paperwork was signed by court personnel. The divorce comes months after a...; Category: news
Title: Man Dies Days After Being Shot In Arlington, Suspect Charged With Murder; Abstract: A 24-year-old man has died after he was shot last week in a neighborhood in west Arlington, police say.; Category: news
Title: Katie Holmes Talks About That Bra and Cardigan Moment; Abstract: Katie Holmes Talks About That Bra and Cardigan Moment; Category: lifestyle
Title: Injured Cowboys DL Daniel Ross arrested on drug, gun charges; Abstract: Cowboys defensive lineman Daniel Ross won't play this season after being placed on injured reserve in August because of a shoulder injury and any future availability may be impacted by a suspension. Ross was arrested on Wednesday morning in Frisco, Texas. The Frisco police department said, via Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, that [more]; Category: sports
Title: Kanye West Gets Ridiculed for Serving Sad, Soggy Pancakes at Expensive "Brunchella"; Abstract: On November 1, some who attended "Brunchella," a Kanye West performance in Louisiana, paid $55 for a brunch add-on and they were not happy with the results.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Fiancee of victim killed in Hard Rock Hotel accident describes his final moments; Abstract: The body of Hard Rock Hotel collapse victim Quinnyon Wimberly will not be recovered before a demolition of the building.; Category: news
Title: Man who inherited 6 figures shares advice he'd give his younger self; Abstract: Brandon Neth inherited around $123,000 from his late father and grandfather when he was 20. He spent most of it on cars, clothes, and restaurants.; Category: finance
Title: Joanna Gaines reveals her family's favorite recipes in new cookbook; Abstract: The cookbook is available for pre-order on Amazon now.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: America's Largest Home Also Has the Most Amazing Christmas Decorations; Abstract: Over 13,000 ornaments are deployed around the Biltmore Estate in NC.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Three school workers charged in death of special needs student; Abstract: The student was reportedly restrained face-down for nearly an hour before becoming unresponsive; Category: news | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Tote-N-Store 20123 Portable Waste Transport 4 Wheeler, 25 Gallon; Brand: Tote-N-Stor; Review: First let me say this is very heavy when full! We bought this to empty grandmas camper so she didn't have to pack up for us to haul it to a dump site which is a big pain for her to do every week. The construction is sturdy and the clear tube is nice. The 3 foot waste tube is a bit short to get the job of dumping done so we purchased a 10ft one instead. I am glad we purchased the 4 wheel version as I cant imagine hauling the 2 wheel considering the weight. The unit is very easy to clean and the hose attachment is great to have and keeps your garden hose clean. After about a month of use the only thing I think it lacks is a gauge that warns when its almost full, on our first use we could not clearly see the flow through the tube due to its smoke color and the shining sun. We are definitely more careful now. I would buy this again; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Camco No Insect Bumper Cap Small- Vent Holes and Squeeze Grip for Easy Installation and Removal (2 Pack) (40325); Brand: Camco; Review: Purchased as a gift, my firend had a bird building a nest in her bumper a week after she bought it. I gave her these and I installed them in an instant, very easy to remove the original and replace with these!! Now I just need a set for my camper cause this is a must have at an excellent price!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Classic Accessories OverDrive Deluxe RV Wheel Cover, Wheels 27" - 30" Diameter, 8.75 Tire Width, Snow White; Brand: Classic Accessories; Review: Perfect fit, nice quality. Set of 4 with a storage bag. Our rim size is 15" e load tires; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Yuasa YUAM2655B 6N5.5-1D Battery; Brand: Yuasa; Review: Perfect fit for my old Honda ct200, got a bottle of battery acid at o'riley auto parts.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Schumacher XP2260 1200 Peak Amp Instant Portable Power Source and Jump Starter; Brand: Schumacher; Review: I have had this for a year now and do not travel or boat without it! It has been a lifesaver and we just purchased a second one for my father in law for his boat. We had a flat on the truck while pulling the camper and used it to fill the tire, we use it to charge cell phones while primitive camping among lots of other things, wouldn't leave town without it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: JT Sprockets JTC428HDR108SL 428 HDR 108-Link Heavy Duty Drive Chain; Brand: JT Sprockets; Review: Exact fit for my 1971 Honda CT90; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Sunabouzu; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Ecchi, Sci-Fi, Shounen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Neon Genesis Evangelion; Genres: Action, Dementia, Drama, Mecha, Psychological, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.0/10.0
Title: Chobits; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Ecchi, Romance, Sci-Fi, Seinen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Full Metal Panic!; Genres: Action, Comedy, Mecha, Military, Sci-Fi; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu; Genres: Action, Comedy, School; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid; Genres: Action, Mecha, Military; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Fullmetal Alchemist; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Magic, Military, Shounen; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Samurai Champloo; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Historical, Samurai, Shounen; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: The Law of Ueki; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Ergo Proxy; Genres: Mystery, Psychological, Sci-Fi; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: xxxHOLiC; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Mystery, Psychological, Supernatural; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Afro Samurai; Genres: Action, Adventure, Samurai; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Mecha, Sci-Fi; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Darker than Black: Kuro no Keiyakusha; Genres: Action, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Mnemosyne: Mnemosyne no Musume-tachi; Genres: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi, Shoujo Ai, Supernatural; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood; Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Magic, Military, Shounen; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Angel Beats!; Genres: Action, Comedy, Drama, School, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Deadman Wonderland; Genres: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Magic, School, Shounen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Highschool of the Dead; Genres: Action, Ecchi, Horror, Supernatural; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Mirai Nikki (TV); Genres: Action, Mystery, Psychological, Shounen, Supernatural, Thriller; Rating: 10.0/10.0 | anime |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: USB C, Veckle Type C to USB 3.0 (USB 3.1 Gen; Brand: Veckle; Review: Works fine with Nexus 6p. Cable has very high quality construction.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: (2-Pack) Maserus Lighting to 3.5mm Headphones Jack Adapter Cable Compatible with iPhone 7/7 Plus / pad; Brand: Jackery; Review: Received Type S Titan today. I bought this to use with my Nexus 6P for Usb-C 3 amp charging. I already own the non Type S Titan, which I gave an excellent 5 star review. However, when I opened the Type S, I found that the plastic bar endcaps of both the end with the jacks and the other end were scraped up and scratched , mostly at the very top and bottom horizontal edges, with a nick next to one of the Type A usb connectors. As far as I can tell it appears that this unit was used, not brand new, as that is the only explanation I have for the fine scratches. I've attached a couple photos. Because my camera cannot focus at a macro distance, these photos show the scratches from about a one foot away shot as milky areas of the endcap plastic. It is much more clearly seen by my naked eye up close than the photos. I just went to my account and marked it for a return to Amazon. I will purchase another unit, and if I get one that appears brand new, I will update this review.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Speck Products CandyShell Grip Cell Phone Case for Google Nexus 6P Smartphone - Retail Packaging - White/Black; Brand: Speck; Review: Fits my Nexus 6p like a glove. Has soft rubber over the volume rocker and power switch, so it does not bind those as cheap plastic cases do. Rubber ribs provide excellent grip as opposed to slippery aluminum stock phone case. However, I did wish the back of the case was more rigid as the Nexus 6p had documented problems with the metal back bending, and I wanted to find a case that would protect from bending. The case is extremely expensive. The cutouts for the back camera and laser range finder are perfect and there is a dust seal, as well as the cutout for the fingerprint reader. The cutout for the Usb-C power connector and audio jack appear to be recessed very well, so there should be no issues with plugging into either connector.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: VicTsing USB 3.1 Type-C to Micro USB Convert Connector,Support Data Transfer and Charging, for OnePlus; Brand: VicTsing; Review: According to Benson Leung, Google Engineer and reviewer of Usb-C devices ([url]) the converter fails to comply with the Usb 3.0 spec. So it might be dangerous to use. Don't want to take the chance.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: RhinoShield Nexus 6P Screen Protector, [Impact-Resistant] Hammer Tested [Bubble Free] Easy to Apply Perfect Transparency and Premium Feel; Brand: RhinoShield; Review: Cutouts on screen match camera eye and laser eye perfectly. Instructions are not good as to how to position screen perfectly. Better instructions are on Youtube to use flaps of tape to ensure that the screen is adhered in the right place: [...] I suggest using the method in the YouTube video. I have not tested the protection by dropping the phone on the screen, but the instructions do say that you can expect scratches as normal wear on the screen. This is in contrast to tempered glass protectors, but the plastic in this protector should absorb energy much better than tempered glass which would only pass all the force onto the normal screen.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: dodocool USB C Charger 30W USB Type-C Wall Charger with Power Delivery Foldable Plug for Apple New MacBook, Chromebook; Brand: dodocool; Review: Poor Quality. Charger worked for two months of a handful of uses then died completely when I was trying to charge my Nexus 6p today. Not recommended for poor reliability.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Cell_Phones_and_Accessories |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Apollo Condominiums; City: Marco Island Florida; Review: We stayed at the Apollo in Dec 2004. The Apollo has a superb location, right on the beach (and so, incidentally, do many other condos), however, I believe it is a little older than some of the other complexes, and the units are a little worn. We had a one bedroom condo with balcony right onto the ocean (all their units face straight to the beach). It was acceptably clean, however the furniture could have used some updating, as could the towels and the linens. The kitchen had everything we needed to fix breakfast in the morning and occasionally a snack, but the utensils and pots and pans were in deplorable condition. Of course, one has to consider that the rental for a week at the Apollo is significantly lower than at other properties along S. Collier. (we paid $550 for the week, as opposed to $900 and up for other properties). But, this trip was planned on the spur of the moment, so I didn't spend much time investigating options. However, we really liked Marco and are planning to go back at Thanksgiving, but will stay somewhere more comfortable.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Marriott s Barony Beach Club; City: Hilton Head South Carolina; Review: I have to agree with an earlier post - if you're unlucky to get stuck in a garden unit, you have quite a hike to the beach. You have to cross the parking lot, an access street to a hotel, and only then do you enter the beachside of the Marriott property. We didn't mind the walking, but what is missing is the sensation of being near the ocean. from the garden units, you cannot even catch a glimpse of the the ocean (you get the feeling, you're somewhere inland). The units themselves are beautiful, though, and the Marriott facilities/garden were well maintained. The main pool near the beach is usually very, very crowded, but that is to be expected at a family oriented resort.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SpringHill Suites Las Vegas Convention Center; City: Las Vegas Nevada; Review: My husband and I just returned from a stay at the Spring Hill Suites. The building just recently opened, is well appointed, room are spacious with separate sleeping area and sitting area, separate bathroom/shower and toilet. Room are well furnished, modern and very comfortable (as in all Marriotts, their beds are great) Staff and check in were very uneventfull and very friendly. There is a small heated pool in the roofdeck, as well as a fire pit. Breakfast is included with the room rates and, unlike some reports of other travellers, it was always stocked and replenished - everything from eggs, wafles, fresh fruite, bagels, pastries, juices, yoghurt, etc - an excellent breakfast buffet. Breakfast is served in the very spacious and airy lobby. We had a rental car - there is a parking garage on the lower floors of the building (parking is free). Drive from the hotel to the Strip is a few minutes (parking at hotels on the Strip such as Bellagio, Venetian is free). Walking from Springhill Suites is also an option - we walked several times, but are avid walkers (so this wasn't a problem) - a leisurely walk is about 10 - 15 min to the Strip. The metro train station is across the street by the Hilton - we never used it. Hotel has computers in the lobby to access your email and print boarding passes. Apart from eating breakfast there, we did not sample the food or the bar. It is not an upscale luxury hotel - we knew that - but an incredibly good value, since we did not want to stay right on the strip. Would definitely stay there again and can recommend in best conscience.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort; City: Palm Eagle Beach Aruba; Review: My husband and I stayed at the Divi Phoenix in Aruba from 4/10-17, 2012 and had a wonderful experience. I admit I was a little concerned having read some reviews complaining of moldy odors and other unpleasant issues. However, when we arrived there (our room was not ready when we arrived at 3 pm, but they told us it would be ready at check in at 4 pm and so it was) and were shown our unit in the new beach tower on the 5th floor, we couldn't have been more pleased. We had taken advantage of the honeymoon package (it wasn't our honeymoon) because of the very excellent pricing which included a 1 bedroom unit with balcony overlooking the pool and beach with breakfast daily, one dinner at the beach bistro and a bottle of champagne. There is a little wear around some areas like the elevators, but when we opened the door to your unit, we were impressed. Last year we had stayed at the Marriott Stellaris, but didn't want to pay $400+ for a hotel room. Our unit had tiled floors throughout with an area rug in the living room. The living room, dining area and full kitchen was one spacious room and very attractive. There was a separate bedroom, also very spacious. Furnishings and kitchen appliances were well taken care of and modern, kitchen and the 2 full bathrooms had granite countertops. Both bathrooms were very modern and well appointed. We detected no odors of any kind (and I have a sentive nose), everything in the unit, such as air conditioning, plumbing, etc. was in excellent working order, and we had no issues whatsoever. Daily maid service was always good. The beach area is lovely since the Phoenix has a little cove and being located at the beginning of Palm Beach, the beach is not so crowded as further down. There is some 'competition' for the beach huts; we never got up at 6 am to park our stuff at a hut, but went down around 9 am and never had a problem finding a hut, or, if all the huts are taken, there are enough palm trees to find a shady spot. So, not a problem for us. We didn't expect too much of the daily breakfast included with our rate, but, again, were pleasantly surprised. A full breakfast is served at the bistro, with egg station prepared any way you like, breads, patries, bagles, fruit, yoghurt - that was excellent. We did not prepare meals in the unit, we just made coffee and kept wine and snacks in the fridge. We also had a washer/dryer in the unit, but didn't use it; we could have asked at the desk how to use it, since all the instructions on the machine were in spanish, but we didn't feel like bothering and spending time on this. Our complementary dinner a the bistro on the beach was lovely, we both had fish and is was excellent. The staff was always friendly and accommodating. Again, one had to remember that; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Canal Deluxe B B; City: Bruges West Flanders Province; Review: We stayed 3 nights at the Canal Deluxe in Bruges in May 14 and couldn't have picked a better accommodation. We stayed in the Euphasie cottage which has 3 levels - modern bathroom with tub, sink, & toilet in the bottom level which has an outside sitting area overlooking the canal, living room on the next level and loft bedroom on top - no problem negotiating the 3 levels with spiral staircases (something to consider for guests who have issues negotiating narrow stairs). There is a terrace outside the living room in the walled garden - very peaceful for relaxing after a day's siteseeing and before and after dinner. We took our breakfast on the terrace since the weather was beautiful. Breakfasts were always varied and plentiful with eggs, cold meats and cheeses, yoghurt, cereals, fruit, juice, coffee. The room had a mini fridge - good for storing a bottle of wine and a coffee maker. After site-seeing in the afternoon, there was always a sweet treat which was a very nice touch. The hosts were attentive and provided a map and refreshments upon check in and had many excellent suggestions for dinner and site seeing. We had a rental car and rented a nearby (walking distance) spot to park the car for a minimal fee from the owners. Not least of all we enjoyed Seppe's company who'd stroll around the garden and come visiting. The B&B is well located within easy walking distance to everything, but in a quiet and peaceful street. All in all, we highly recommend the charming Canal Deluxe.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Somerset Bed Breakfast; City: Niagara on the Lake Ontario; Review: ; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: 11 Quay Walls; City: Berwick upon Tweed Northumberland England; Review: We were visiting a place we'd always by-passed in our working lives, and wanted somewhere interesting to stay while in the town. We found it, a lovely position up above the quayside, with tremendous views across the river Tweed, and a very friendly host. Derek made us welcome and suggested a few things we could do locally (walk around the walls, a good beer-only pub, and a nearby restaurant). Our room (the African room) was very comfortable and tastefully decorated. Great breakfast- kippers a dream, my husband tucked into the Northumberland breakfast with relish. The steps up to the B&B from the public carpark behind the B&B were a bit steep, especially when carrying suitcases,but it all adds to the character of the place. Very good value for money, and we would stay there again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Langholmen Hotell; City: Stockholm; Review: We stayed in this unusual hotel for four nights, quite an experience. The location is fabulous, on the island of Langholmen, a short distance by a small bridge to the rest of Stockholm. We had a twin room, a rare facility, there appeared to be only two of these on each of the three floors. The whole place has been carefully re-fitted, very comfortable rooms, if slightly on the small size, but then it was originally a prison until 1975! Good hot showers. We had a room on the ground floor, with the original guard house outside, including a model guard and well lit at night. Our Swedish friends thought it was expensive for what we got. We found that Stockholm, by English standards, is a very expensive city to stay in, but we thought we had a really good place to stay for our money. The island is worth a walk around. A beach, wooded walks, and community gardens which we thought were rather like allotments. Breakfast was a diverse spread of meats, cheeses, yogurts, fruit, crispbreads, rye bread, and excellent coffee. Swedish tea is a weak teabag in a mug of hot water thing. Best avoided. Great place, would stay there again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Shellbrooke Guest House; City: Hunstanton Norfolk East Anglia England; Review: A very friendly and comfortable place, with parking directly opposite. The hotel is not far from the beach, so in summertime would be a great location for a spot of beach activity. It was a quick February visit for us, but we enjoyed our stay, the room, at the back of the hotel, was small but comfortable and the breakfast was good. I do like scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, and these were very tasty. In former times Mark was a chef, so we think the evening meals must be good, although we didn't try them. Mark was helpful with information about local places to eat out at in the evenings, which is very useful when visiting a place for the first time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hodsock Priory; City: Blyth Worksop Nottinghamshire England; Review: Our 1st visit to Hodsock Priory was on March 1st. We had a bit of trouble finding the entrance because of the signs up for a wedding fair. I appreciate that its rather late in the snowdrop season but we were somewhat underwhelmed. The place was overall much smaller than we were expecting, and the woodland area was not particulary extensive, a stroll more than a walk really.The catering in the tent area was expensive, especially for coffee served in paper cups! The bacon butty was good, but expensive. The garden in front of the house with its fan display in the lawn was very pleasant. There was a wedding going on in the Priory itself, so we only got to view the outside.Would have been a good idea to have been advised of this at the entrance. The chimneys are interesting. We purchased some snowdrops in pots (5 pots for £10) in the end of season sale. I'm glad we've seen it, but I'm sorry to say we won't be going back.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Whitstable Bay Bed and Breakfast; City: Whitstable Kent England; Review: We visited Whitstable for a long weekend to visit our niece, who had made a few suggestions about B&B's in the area. This was a very good choice, Denise and Barry were very friendly hosts, and the Garden Room we stayed in was a spacious, clean and well furnished delight. We had a great continental breakfast downstairs in the kitchen overlooking the garden, and chatted with Denise. The top quality selection of fresh fruit was presented in a way which far surpassed any hotel breakfasts we'd experienced in the past. We enjoyed the croissants and toast too. The B&B is on the western edge of Whitstable, and Joy Lane is a long road running from Whitstable to a small suburb of Seasalter. The location of the B&B is an easy 10 - 15 minute walk into Whitstable itself, and well worth a visit. You can park your car on site too. We'd stay there again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Eddie Van Halen traveling to Germany to treat throat cancer; Abstract: You won't believe how Eddie Van Halen thinks he got cancer.; Category: music
Title: Celebs react to Robert Forster death; Abstract: Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Samuel L. Jackson and more react to Robert Forster's death.; Category: movies
Title: Going Dairy-Free Doesn't Have to Be Complicated When You Have This Guide; Abstract: Thinking of trying out a dairy free diet? Registered dietitians give their insight, including what foods you should and shouldn't eat.; Category: health
Title: Patrick Day in coma after suffering brutal knockout; Abstract: The junior middleweight underwent emergency brain surgery after being knocked out by Charles Conwell.; Category: sports
Title: A Texas mom is going to prison after putting her son through unnecessary medical procedures; Abstract: A Dallas mother made her son go through unnecessary medical procedures throughout the first years of his life, court documents say.; Category: news
Title: Miguel Cervantes' Wife Reveals Daughter, 3, 'Died in My Arms' After Entering Hospice Care; Abstract: Miguel Cervantes' Wife Reveals Daughter 'Died in My Arms' After Hospice Care; Category: tv
Title: Eddy Merckx Hospitalized for Serious Head Injury Following Bike Crash; Abstract: The five-time Tour de France winner was injured Sunday during a bike outing with friends.; Category: sports
Title: Soldier wounded searching for Bergdahl dies; Abstract: Allen's unit was ambushed when they were looking for Bergdahl after he deserted his base in 2009; Category: news
Title: 'Wheel Of Fortune' Guest Delivers Hilarious, Off The Rails Introduction; Abstract: We'd like to solve the puzzle, Pat: Blair Davis' loveless marriage? On Monday, "Wheel of Fortune" welcomed as a new contestant trucking business owner Blair Davis, who offered a biting introduction for himself. When host Pat Sajak asked the man from Cardiff, California, about his family, Davis plunged into one of the darkest personal summaries the show has likely ever heard. "I've been trapped in a loveless marriage for the last 12 years to an...; Category: tv
Title: Matt Lauer allegations: Megyn Kelly lauds Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry; Abstract: Former NBC host Megyn Kelly is recognizing some of the females whom she described as "forces for good" in the Matt Lauer scandal.; Category: news
Title: Photo of emotional nurse after 'particularly hard day' goes viral; Abstract: Her sister revealed that she had just wrapped up four days worth of work that included assisting in the delivery of a stillborn baby.; Category: health
Title: 'Tarzan' Actor Ron Ely: Actor's son allegedly killed his mother before deputies shot and killed him, sheriff's office says; Abstract: The son of "Tarzan" actor Ron Ely killed his mother before he was shot and killed by deputies on Tuesday, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.; Category: tv
Title: Rosie O'Donnell: Barbara Walters Isn't 'Up to Speaking to People' Right Now; Abstract: Rosie O'Donnell: Barbara Walters Isn't 'Up to Speaking to People' Right Now; Category: tv
Title: Quiet Riot Drummer Reveals Stage-Four Cancer Diagnosis; Abstract: Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali has revealed that he has been battling stage-four pancreatic cancer since this past April. Since the 2007 death of singer Kevin DuBrow, Banali has been the only member of the band's classic lineup to continue to play with the band. He's also been the group's most consistent band member since 1982. "The original prognosis was very scary," he said in a statement posted to podcast host Mitch Lafon's Facebook page....; Category: music
Title: He dropped an amazing 475 pounds, then ran Detroit's marathon; Abstract: Once one of Michigan's most obese people, this man shed so much weight after changing his lifestyle, he ran the Detroit marathon.; Category: health
Title: 20 States with the Highest Cancer Rates; Abstract: The U.S. cancer risk isn't spread evenly across the states.; Category: health
Title: All The Ways Life As A Teen Is Different Than It Was 50 Years Ago; Abstract: The times they have a-changed.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Ohio teen in wheelchair scores touchdown with help from his teammates; Abstract: A teen with Spina Bifida got to score a touchdown Wednesday night with Miamisburg's eighth-grade football team.; Category: sports
Title: Willie Brown, Hall of Famer and Raiders legend, dies at 78; Abstract: "My job was not catching passes," Brown would once say. "My job was to stop the receiver from catching it."; Category: sports
Title: 14 Weird Rules Fast-Food Employees Have to Follow; Abstract: Fast food may seem easy, but there are quite a few intricate rules employees have to follow.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: CNN Poll: Biden's lead in Democratic primary hits widest margin since April; Abstract: Former Vice President Joe Biden's lead in the race for the Democratic nomination for president has rebounded, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS.; Category: news
Title: Why aren't more women getting mammograms?; Abstract: Is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month working?; Category: health
Title: 5 Signs of Protein Deficiency You Should Never Ignore; Abstract: A dietitian explains the common symptoms of protein deficiency and provides helpful ways you can ensure that you're consuming adequate protein each day.; Category: health
Title: Dog The Bounty Hunter Is Cutting Out White Foods After His Recent Health Scare; Abstract: Dog real name Duane Chapman is taking steps to make sure he's not part of the 15% of people diagnosed with pulmonary embolism who die as a result of it.; Category: health
Title: 17 photos that show the ugly truth of living in a tiny house; Abstract: From cramped lofts that are hard to access to small appliances, this is what it's really like to live in a tiny house.; Category: lifestyle
Title: This Wedding Photo of a Canine Best Man Captures Just How Deep a Dog's Love Truly Is; Abstract: When Mark Doublet made his dog, Marley, the best man at his wedding, he took his duties very seriously, and a photo of them together has gone viral.; Category: lifestyle
Title: The most common things we do each day that can throw our body alignment off; Abstract: We're all pretty much guilty of doing these common rituals that aren't doing us any favors.; Category: health
Title: Kevin Spacey Won't Be Charged in Sexual Assault Case After Accuser Dies; Abstract: The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has formally dropped a case against actor Kevin Spacey, after the accuser died.; Category: movies
Title: Kevin Spacey Won't Be Charged in Sexual Assault Case After Accuser Dies; Abstract: The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has formally dropped a case against actor Kevin Spacey, after the accuser died.; Category: movies
Title: Bill Murray Applied To Work At An Airport P.F. Chang's And They're Totally Down To Hire Him; Abstract: Dude loves a lettuce wrap.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: The One Thing Kourtney Kardashian Drinks Every Morning for Younger-Looking Skin; Abstract: Instead of waking up with a hot cup of coffee, the "Keeping Up with The Kardashians" star makes a warm collagen powder beverage to kick-start her day.; Category: health
Title: Family of toddler who fell from cruise ship 'utterly crushed' after grandfather charged; Abstract: The charge of negligent homicide was "like pouring salt on an open wound" for the girl's parents, the family's lawyer told NBC News.; Category: news
Title: Avoiding a Second Breast Cancer Surgery; Abstract: Lumpectomies aren't perfect: Around 20% of the time, a second procedure is needed to remove lingering cancer cells.; Category: health
Title: Heidi Klum's 2019 Halloween Costume Transformation Is Mind-Blowing But, Like, What Is It?; Abstract: You might say she's scary good at playing dress-up, because Heidi Klum's 2019 Halloween costume is even more impressive than we could have imagined and that's saying a lot, considering transformative Halloween costumes are kind of her thing. But this year Klum took it up one more notch as she shared her metamorphosis into,; Category: lifestyle
Title: Silent Signs of Colon Cancer; Abstract: Colon cancer remains the second most lethal cancer in men and third most in women. Here are the signs and symptoms of colon cancer you need to look out for.; Category: health
Title: Prince Charles Teared Up When Prince William Talked About Succeeding Him; Abstract: "Frankly, it reduced me to tears," he said.; Category: lifestyle
Title: This Is What Queen Elizabeth Is Doing About the Prince William-Prince Harry Feud; Abstract: According to royal insiders, Queen Elizabeth has directed Prince Charles to put a stop to the feud between William and Harry. Here's why she's so worried.; Category: lifestyle
Title: President Trump says UFC reception was 'like walking into a Trump Rally'; Abstract: Despite hearing boos, President Trump compares reception from crowd at UFC 244 in New York to one at a campaign event. "Plenty of MAGA ..."; Category: sports
Title: Patriots wanted a test. Now, they need some answers; Abstract: The first quarter was the worst the Patriots had played all season.; Category: sports
Title: My Doctors Told Me I Had IBS. 4 Years Later, I Found out It Was a Completely Different Disorder; Abstract: One in three women has this disorder, and it often goes undiagnosed.; Category: health
Title: The Best Casserole Recipe from Every State; Abstract: Take a bite out of the best casserole recipes in the country. The post The Best Casserole Recipe from Every State appeared first on Reader's Digest.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Wisconsin GOP-controlled Senate fires agriculture secretary; Abstract: MADISON, Wis. (AP) Wisconsin's Republican-controlled Senate fired the state agriculture secretary on Tuesday as the Democratic governor who appointed him watched quietly a row behind lawmakers, a dramatic and highly unusual appearance on the floor of the Senate chamber during debate. The vote to oust Gov. Tony Evers' Cabinet secretary was the latest in a series of skirmishes between the governor and the GOP that comes as Wisconsin is losing...; Category: news
Title: Air Force airman missing after fall into Gulf of Mexico from C-130 aircraft; Abstract: A U.S. Air Force airman went missing Tuesday after falling from a C-130 aircraft into the Gulf of Mexico, according to reports.; Category: news
Title: Is Miss USA Ready for Its First Woman In a Wheelchair?; Abstract: Madeline Delp opens up to Glamour about finding a formal gown that works with her disability, dealing with bladder incontinence on stage, and competing for the crown this weekend at the Miss North Carolina USA pageant, the last step before making it to Miss USA 2020.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Donald Trump Jr. reflects on explosive 'View' chat: 'I don't think they like me much anymore'; Abstract: After a heated appearance on "The View" Thursday, Donald Trump Jr. talked about the experience later that day with Sean Hannity on Fox News.; Category: tv
Title: Dean Foods files for bankruptcy; Abstract: Dean Foods, America's largest milk producer, is filing for bankruptcy.; Category: finance | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: HUE Super Opaque Tights with Control Top; Brand: ; Review: Not opaque, you can see through them. The waist rolls down when you bend over. Not a good pair of tights.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: HUE Super Opaque Tights with Control Top; Brand: ; Review: Not opaque, you can see through them. The waist rolls down when you bend over. Not a good pair of tights.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: HUE Super Opaque Tights with Control Top; Brand: ; Review: Not opaque, you can see through them. The waist rolls down when you bend over. Not a good pair of tights.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Connoisseurs Precious Jewelry Cleaner, 8 Fl Oz; Brand: Connoisseurs; Review: Really disappointing. This product had zero cleaning impact on my jewelry - truly there was no difference.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: J+S Piha Classic Chic Round Cat Eyes Matte Polarized 400UV Sunglasses Women Men; Brand: J+S; Review: Really happy with these glasses! They're sturdy, look good, and come with a nice hard shell zip case. They look and feel so much more expensive.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Saucony Women's 3 Pack Inferno Tab Socks; Brand: Saucony; Review: No complaints on these socks, they get the job done. Thick enough to protect your feet, but not too thick.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Las Ranitas Eco Boutique Hotel; City: Tulum Yucatan Peninsula; Review: We spent a wonderful afternoon under the palapa at Las Ranitas! We are searching for the perfect place to celebrate our wedding anniversary in January 2012. Not only were the margaritas outstanding, the guacamole - made right in front of us was excellent. We were given a tour of some of the rooms and then returned to the palapa to enjoy a "safari" of various drinks including Mezcal, Posh, and Tequila. This safari included salt from the dead sea, orange slices, and fried grasshoppers. All of this plus the view of the white sand beach and beautiful water. It was an amazing experience and we are looking forward to our return to Las Ranitas.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Desert Pearl Inn; City: Springdale Utah; Review: We are here - beautiful room on the river with the sounds of fast running water over the rocks - looking at some of the most beautiful country. We have a king bed, sofa, desk, kitchen table, small kitchen - and a covered deck. This would be a perfect place for our next family reunion!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Las Ranitas Eco Boutique Hotel; City: Tulum Yucatan Peninsula; Review: We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary with 40 of our family and friends. The rooms were fine, the view awesome, the food and service - outstanding. All of our guests were very satisfied! Angelina Cardenas helped to coordinate a wonderful Mayan ceremony on the beach as well as a terrific dinner and party for all of us. We will be back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Western Riviera Lakeside Lodging Events; City: Grand Lake Grand County Colorado; Review: Our family reunion has enjoyed the Western Riviera twice. We're returning in July for another gathering. The staff are friendly and helpful, the scenery is beautiful, and there are accommodations for families, couples, and more. The town offers a quaint variety of shops and restaurants and sits at the eastern entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Western Riviera Lakeside Lodging Events; City: Grand Lake Grand County Colorado; Review: Our family gathered this month at the Western Riviera in Grand Lake. We reserved most of the Courtyard Cabins which gave us a terrific gathering place. The staff at the Western Riv were friendly and helpful - as always! We enjoyed our stay - cabins are nice and each have kitchenettes so preparing food for everyone was easy! Grand Lake offers something for everyone - shopping, scenery, hiking, swimming and boating. The antique boat show was on display and the weather was wonderful. We even enjoyed a double rainbow on Saturday nite - what a bonus!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hyatt Place Columbia; City: Irmo South Carolina; Review: We asked for ground floor and received it - but it was next to the kitchen - so quite a bit of noise. And, the TV turned on automatically at 6:00 a.m. We could not find any indication that an alarm was set - so unplugged the TV on the 3rd night. We reported to the front desk on 2nd day and at check out...one person said "that was strange" the other made a written report and apologized. The room was ok - bed not very comfortable and it was not cleaned after the first night. It was cleaned after the second night. This is the 2nd time we've stayed here - probably will choose another property next time. Staff was friendly - but seemed to spend their time chatting together around the food & drink for sale.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nacional Beach Club Bungalows; City: Mahahual Costa Maya Yucatan Peninsula; Review: We spent a wonderful day at the Nacional Beach Club. Evan made us feel at home, showed us room choices (yes we want to stay here!), invited us to enjoy his beach, and made awesome margaritas! We had a terrific lunch by the pool and watched people walk by. We even observed a film crew working on the beach. What a great place with super people!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Z Bar Cabins and Motel; City: Buffalo Wyoming; Review: About 20 of us had stayed here 10 years ago and we thought it might work for our family of 50+. We met with George who runs the Z-Bar - he wasn't particularly interested in giving us information. After asking a lot of questions, he finally started providing a few answers. Again, we were familiar with the property and the grounds were probably sufficient - we were just trying to determine how many could be accommodated here. George gave us a lot of negative facts and was pretty unpleasant. So much so, that we decided to take the Z-Bar off our list. What a shame.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: South Fork Mountain Lodge; City: Buffalo Wyoming; Review: We met with Holly Jones, owner, to take a look at this property. She was very cordial showing us a few cabins and the magnificent grounds we could use as a gathering place. We want to accommodate 50+ people wth a common area to meet, cook out, eat meals together, sit around a fire pit and enjoy the scenery. South Fork Lodge has so much to offer and we loved the grounds. Plus they have a restaurant on the property. Sadly, many of the cabins do not have bathrooms - the occupants must use a central bath house. Maybe we're spoiled, but we just didn't think the accommodations would fit our group. Again, this is a fabulous location and would certainly work if we had a smaller group!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blue Gables Motel; City: Buffalo Wyoming; Review: Searching for a family reunion site for 50+ folks in Buffalo, WY - we found this place by accident when driving by. Jim, the owner, greeted us and was extremely helpful in determining if this property would work. Besides, cabins for couples & families with kids, we need a central place to cook out, eat, sit around watching the fire pit, etc. Blue Gables has a small grassy area with benches, a covered pavilion with 2 long tables, and a small swimming pool - great for kids! There are 17 cabins that will sleep the majority of our group, it's close enough to some chain motels that we decided we could split up for sleeping! The grounds are covered with flower beds, everything is neat, clean and tidy, and the owner is ready willing and able to help us plan our gathering. Great service and a super location close to downtown Buffalo and the Big Horns!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mountain View Motel and Campground; City: Buffalo Wyoming; Review: Looking for a place for our large family reunion and stopped by this property to check it out. The folks were friendly and invited us to look inside one cabin that they were cleaning. It was somewhat updated and had the basics - we understood that most cabins had not been updated but didn't see inside any others. One important feature for us is a central gathering spot - for 50+ people - to meet, eat meals, cook out, enjoy a fire pit, etc. The Mountain View does have a small central grassy courtyard with shrubs and lots of trees for shade. There was a huge grill and several small tables/chairs. No fire pit although there were a few chimeneas for tiny fires. Our concern was the messy, dirty appearance of the grounds - lots of trash and miscellaneous junk all around. The location is good but just not a good fit for our crowd.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa; City: Chesapeake Beach Calvert County Maryland; Review: What a pretty place on the Chesapeake Bay with stunning scenery. Our room was very nice and we enjoyed the balcony overlooking all the boats at the pier. The lady at the front desk wasn't particularly helpful - we aksed for change to tip the valet. She couldn't give change and sent us over to the restaurant (another building). We got the change and went to ask for our car but the valet station was closed - with a sign that said go to the fornt desk! We had to return to the front desk to ask the same lady for help getting our car. She would not give us our keys but had to call security to get our car. Seems as though she enjoyed the entire process. Again - the property is very nice but the front desk needs an attitude adjustment! One other observation - the property advertizes a casino which is upstairs in another building. The "casino" only contains electronic bingo and slots...it was somewhat crowded although not too noisy.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fairfield Inn Suites Melbourne Palm Bay Viera; City: Melbourne Brevard County Florida; Review: We chose this location to be close to our daughter's home and we booked a "suite" for 5 nights ($119/night). The price was fine - but the "suite" was a little lacking. We did have a separate sitting area with a couch & TV. There also was a mini fridge. The coffee pot was a one-cup pot and we were given one packet of regular coffee per day. There was also a package of de-caf which we don't drink. So, every evening we would go to the front desk and request extra coffee so that we could each have one cup in the morning. Our stay was between Christmas & New Year's so the place was booked pretty full. The general manager was not very good at handling problems...she was defensive instead of managing customer care. The breakfast room was a zoo every morning and the set up was poor. Only one person could get to the coffee at a time as it was placed in a small corner. 2 different customers expressed surprise at the inconvenience. This property is not a bad place and it would be ok for one night. But we travel to this city often and will return to the Residence Inn for future stays.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Hotel Suites Waycross; City: Waycross Georgia; Review: We stayed here twice coming and going to FL at the end of December, 2015. The staff was very nice - service friendly and the property is clean. However, we found that the beds were so high it was difficult to climb in on our first night and the mattress was soft. The return trip we stayed again but asked for a different room. Once again, the bed was so high - we asked for another room. The front desk upgraded us to a suite with 2 double/queen beds that were lower. Again, the mattress was too soft - back aches the next day. And, pets were allowed - we did NOT enjoy the barking in the room next door.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Fayetteville; City: Fayetteville Georgia; Review: We stopped here for an overnight before heading to the ATL airport the next day. This was the closest available lodging. The property is old, run down and looks shabby - inside and out. The bed was very high - difficult to climb in. While the room appeared to be clean, there were nicks and dents in the walls. The breakfast room was crowded with table/chairs (not people) and is in need of fresh paint - especially on the woodwork. Staff was friendly/helpful but this property does NOT represent Holiday Inn well.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Buffalo; City: Buffalo Wyoming; Review: We were in Buffalo for Longmire Days and booked this property several months in advance. Our room was ready and very nice. We had stayed here previously in Sep 2015. The location offers easy access to town and the interstate. Staff is very friendly and we will come back again! Although the hotel was booked full, the breakfast room was well kept, neat, and well stocked! WiFi was a bit slow and the bathroom fan was really LOUD! Otherwise, everything was great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harbor 360 Hotel; City: Seward Alaska; Review: We stayed one night after taking the Kenai Fjords tour. Service friendly and we had booked a Harbor View Room. Front desk upgraded us to a room with a balcony - sadly it had a lot of standing water so we couldn't stand on it - but the view was wonderful. This property is adequate but is showing its age. We did have breakfast in the morning and again, service was very nice. A bit pricey (almost $300/nite) but Alaska is pricey!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn by Marriott Melbourne; City: Melbourne Brevard County Florida; Review: We've chosen this property for several years when we visit family in Melbourne. The suites and the studios with full kitchen make for a great place to stay and the location is great. There's a Publix across the street to supply the kitchen and you're close to restaurants, shopping and the beach. While the public areas have been renovated, the rooms are really starting to look worn and the mattresses are a bit lumpy. Otherwise, this is a great place to stay, customer service is fine, and the breakfast is ample.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: La Quinta Inn Suites Newport; City: Newport Oregon; Review: We spent 4 nights in Oregon - 1 night in Newport. Check in took awhile - the lady was checking in people in front of us; the lobby was a mess with new flooring being installed; and there was quite a wait. The room was very nice but the bathroom was old with a huge jacuzzi tub/shower. Basically the workmanship was shoddy as far as finishes - this is an older property that they are updating. Location was good but we probably wouldn't stay here again...too many small things not done well.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Suites Portland Airport; City: Portland Oregon; Review: We chose this property because of its proximity to PDX and it offered a shuttle to/from the airport. After getting our bags, we called for the shuttle and it came in about 15 minutes. The area where the hotel is located is a little shabby. The room was ok - just average - but no complaints. Breakfast was good and the shuttle driver took us to our rental car company rather than the airport which we appreciated. Important to note - there is a Comfort Inn & Suites in this area as well.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Golden Spike Inn Suites; City: Hill City South Dakota; Review: We planned one night in Hill City and chose this property based on price. We got a great rate and were very pleasantly surprised when we arrived to check in! A pretty lobby with a bakery and clothing shop! Plus a very congenial, service oriented person at the front desk. Our rooms were clean and comfortable - we will certainly recommend this property to our family and friends.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Inn Suites; City: Hill City South Dakota; Review: Our room was fine - clean and comfortable. But the carpeting in front of the elevator and in the hall way was really dirty - so that makes a bad "first" impression. This property is right beside the Holiday Inn Express which looks/seems a little newer. However, we chose the Comfort Inn for price and we are members of Choice. Again, our room and breakfast the next morning was fine.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hilltop Motel; City: Crawford Nebraska; Review: We have been to the Crawford area many times - usually staying at Ft. Robinson. However, this time we chose the Hilltop Motel and we were really pleased. The rooms are neat and clean with comfortable beds and "modern" bedding (all white cotton.) And, the owners were very helpful with suggestions for lunch and dinner!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: The Laurels Bed Breakfast Lodge; City: Omagh County Tyrone Northern Ireland; Review: Just back from this b&b and felt compelled to say how fantastic it was. Joyce and bills hospitality was wonderful, even going to the extent of Joyce pressing my husbands shirt for a wedding we were attending. Rooms superb, hot tub great, and the ulster fry delicious, we will be back.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Troy Hall Bed and Breakfast; City: Derry County Londonderry Northern Ireland; Review: A beautiful grand old stately home, rooms were gorgeous, we stayed in the Belmont suite, it had a double and two single beds. Ann greeted us when we arrived and gave us our keys. We were at a wedding so we didn't spend much time in the enormous room. Ann and Michael had a lovely full Irish breakfast waiting on us at 10 the next morning inc black pudding, potatoe and soda bread, which was just what we needed. At £70 a room maybe you could find cheaper in Derry but we loved it. And if 4 were sharing It would work out good value.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dobbins Inn Hotel; City: Carrickfergus County Antrim Northern Ireland; Review: Lovely staff, edible breakfast, rooms need a good overall, nice bed linen and decent curtains do not make up for the rest of the rooms quality, I know it's an old building, but it just seems tired and grubby, smoke alarm kept on going off from the steam from shower (we are both non smokers) £65 for the night, sorry just not worth it!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: BQ Belvedere Hotel; City: Palma de Mallorca Majorca Balearic Islands; Review: Brilliant choice, excellent food, brilliant value for money. Wines not great but you can buy a decent bottle for about €12. They let us keep our room on at no extra charge and ordered us a taxi. (pre order taxi before you go, we used an airport taxi and it was €40!!!!!! It was €27 when hotel ordered it. This hotel could easily be a 4* if they just tweaked a few things the beds and pillows are awful!!!! And rooms could do with a freshening up and new bed linen and curtains as getting a bit grubby. Lastly, even tho I requested a quiet room I was above the kitchens and where the bin men etc emptied the bins and the workers gathered, so very very noisy early in the morning, but don't let this put you off, it's still a good hotel, not much in cala major as a resort; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Knysna Tonquani Lodge Spa; City: Knysna Western Cape; Review: We stayed on 5th may, initially it was for one night. Chalet #12 was beautiful! Petals on the bed, a gorgeous big bed with an electric blanket, which we needed as it was a particularly cold night. Bathroom was stunning and living area was spacious and stylishly decorated. The breakfast was served in the room as dining room undergoing improvements. It was nice, but I was disappointed in the fruit salad. ( a bit slobbery and cut too finely, so a bit mushy) We had a massage in the spa, which was wonderful! We decided to stay another night, but had to move to a 2 bedroomed chalet, it was huge, with a fire, we went out for the day, so the staff preheated our room, staff great, ESP maurita, we had a lovely stay!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Carslogie House; City: Summerstrand Port Elizabeth Eastern Cape; Review: We stayed in carslogie house on 3rd may. Lovely big room, clean and nicely furnished, bathroom could do with a bit of a face lift. Breakfast good and fresh. Owners not there at time we stayed, but the girl in charge very nice and friendly. Close to beach and a nice walk. Cafe kaffiene lovely for lunch and the coachman for dinner does amazing steaks!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blackheath Lodge; City: Cape Town Central Western Cape; Review: After reading reviews on BHL I couldn't get a price, so contacted them directly, Antony was prompt in his reply. He gave us a couple of options as the guest house was full for our 1st two days. We decided on the standard room for 2 nights then the deluxe room for 2nights, both rooms are lovely, we were sorry we had decided to change rooms, as the deluxe room was on the street and really really noisy, but it had been our choice, so can't fault BHL The decor is really quirky, even the butter is in the shape of a Star Wars storm trooper!!!! Which I loved. The breakfast was excellent with loads of variety! Plenty of room for car parking. It's a bit of a walk to v&a waterfront but we enjoyed the walk, and walked back at night time too, we didn't feel threatened or uncomfortable walking about. We would stay again if we ever get the chance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sea Breeze; City: Plettenberg Bay Western Cape; Review: We stayed for one night on 4th may, we arrived late, but it was no bother for erica and yan, all though we had booked honeymoon suite, when erica saw that my husband is rather tall, she said that if we preferred a room with a shower we could have another, the rooms were very clean and comfy. The breakfast was amazing and erica was lovely entertainment, informing us about the area and how part of the beach was flooded and destroyed, showing us pictures on her computer. There are no sea views but its really close, just a short walk down a boardwalk. We loved our stay!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hermanus Guesthouse; City: Hermanus Overstrand Overberg District Western Cape; Review: Stayed 8th may, had a room out the back in the car park, but it was fine, room was beautifully decorated, all though a bit small for a family suite, breakfast was 1st class, We had been travelling for almost a week so had loads of dirty laundry, I asked if there was a laundry near by, the lovely owner phoned the local laundrette, which came over in 5 minutes, all though we had to be out of room for 10? (Can't quite remember) we left the car parked at guest house, went for a walk around hermanus, came back at 1pm, and the laundry fairy had returned our clothes! Very friendly, helpful staff in a beautiful guest house!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tamarina Golf Spa Boutique Hotel; City: Tamarin; Review: We stayed for a week to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. We had the most stunning time! The food is good, and you can eat at casala park and also the golf course, which is great for a wee change of scenery. We used the free spa treatments which were excellent. The rooms were ok, to be honest because I booked honeymoon package I expected a little bit more, we couldn't see the sea because of the trees, but we had such a lovely time, it didn't matter. Yes certain foods and drinks are at a charge, but enough to choose from. (Bar man nevin is a star) on our last night we had a fantastic "special" menu, that our dear friends were allowed to join us, which consisted of, smoked marlin, tuna terrine, captain fish, and macaroons for desert, it was exceptional!!!! There is a free glass bottomed boat, which is a bit boring if you don't snorkel and actually verging on the dangerous to get to,through a forest and over a couple of streams to get to sugar beach, definitely not suitable for the elderly, disabled or if your not fit. We met a lovely couple, which probably made our stay so wonderful! (Drinks finish at 11) The only real problem I had with hotel was the birds at breakfast time, they need to change the cabinets, so that the birds can't get at the cheese and ham, not just cover it with cling film. Would stay again; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Buffelsdrift Game Lodge; City: Oudtshoorn Western Cape; Review: We stayed on 7th may, we had a lovely waterfront tent, which was clean and luxurious, the decking goes right over the dam with stunning views, we loved having a glass of wine, watching the hippos, elephants and deer. Only thing was the geese, the noise! But it didn't spoil our trip! We ate at the restaurant that night, which was very good, you can take in your own wine for a corkage fee, ( good value if a few people drinking it) The breakfast was excellent, with plenty of variety and fresh omelettes made! And you can even get a latte or cappuccino. Yes it's dark walking back, but you can get a lift if you want, they do supply a torch, but ours didn't work, when we asked for new one we were told that they were all not bright enough, so maybe they could look into that, we chatted with the owner and he seemed a lovely man. We loved our stay!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Old City Apartments; City: Krakow Lesser Poland Province Southern Poland; Review: If you value your sanity, don't stay in this apartment!!!!!! It's attached to a dance/ music school, the piano during the day, you could suffer, but the all night partying was an absolute disgrace!!!!! The front door is locked after 10pm, so we had people buzzing our door to be let in, as the music was so loud they couldn't hear it in the school, someone wrapped our door, wanting in, as they thought party was in our apartment, then promptly vomited in the hallway!!! I emailed and phoned old city apartments and told them what was happening every day, they said they would send someone round or phone the police, I don't think this ever happened, on our penultimate day they turned off the wifi, (I think they were fed up with me emailing them) when we left they apologised and gave me a bottle of wine and chocolates, the wine they had to keep as we only had hand luggage, you know it's a shame this spoilt our trip, because apartment is actually nice and in a really good location. Will be back in krakow but not to these apartments, they really should state on their website that it can be noisy, then you can make an informed choice! We have stayed in the francuski, just around the corner, and all though oldy worldy, you got a good nights sleep! Galaxy also a really good hotel!!!! I'm sorry I didn't return to one of them to be honest!!!!!!!!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Riad Chayma; City: Marrakech Marrakech Tensift El Haouz Region; Review: Just back last night from riad chayma, (14/05/14) this is a beautiful riad, we stayed in the saffron suite and it was lovely, air con great in 47 degree heat! Breakfast good, fresh orange juice, and lovely omelette, staff great and very helpful (esp Adil) riad is situated close to the city walls, so handy for taxis etc but that means it's about a 15min walk to Jemma El fna, the street you walk down is smack bang in with the locals and a mosque, so the 5am call to prayer can be heard, we were 2 women, and no one bothered us, only the odd look off disgust and disdain, it's a very very busy street with mopeds, and bikes going a mile a minute up and down it! So do be careful! Marrakech was an experience, not one that I want to repeat, but that has no reflection on the riad. Word off warning leave plenty off time when going back to airport as you have to fill in a form, have your boarding card stamped, then we had a 70 min wait at passport control,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Glu Hotel; City: Buenos Aires Capital Federal District; Review: The Glu is a lovely hotel, in the heart of Palermo soho, we love the location! The staff definitely make this hotel, they let us borrow adapters, ironed my husbands shirt for a wedding and printed off our boarding cards!!! Nothing was too much bother!!!! We had a glam suite, which was huge with a fridge, micro, a kettle, and a wee sink. The bathroom had products by l'occtaine. The sheets were Egyptian cotton. Our room was to the back which was quiet. We also stayed in a 5* down town and they didn't give as much service! Nor were the rooms as well equipped as the Glu!!!!!! Don't look anywhere else!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Disney s Caribbean Beach Resort; City: Orlando Florida; Review: We had the disney dining plan. So no need to eat in, otherwise we would have really missed a kettle and toaster. Eating breakfast was sometimes crazy trying to get a table! Buses not really frequent enough, and they have to go round the whole resort, which means your on the bus about half hour before actually reaching the parks. But free parking in the parks, so take your car. Comfy beds and very quiet, it was upsetting though we had to be out for 11am and our flight was not until 6pm, no offer of a shower only they would hold onto our luggage, so we couldn't go into parks on our last day.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bella Elena Apartments; City: Malia Crete; Review: After reading reviews and being a moany aul doll, I was worried about staying here. When we arrived we were given a room on ground floor with balcony facing a wall. It was of a decent size but very noisy. I asked the next day about getting moved, thankfully we were moved to a third floor room out the back and it was great! (We have 3 teenage girls, and wanted to get away from their music for a bit of piece and quiet) I loved the location in the old town with lovely restaurants like milos, zorbas, toto lotto , odas, San georgios, all lovely but hard to get a decent glass of red wine anywhere. We would stay again, but not in the height of season, as think it would be a nightmare for me but for a cheapie in September it was fine. Staff friendly, bins need to be emptied every day, and beds are like bricks, but for a week, you could put up with it. We went to Santorini for the day booked it with wee shop facing domino's pizza on the strip for €99 each the Olympic rep was charging €140 pp.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Carslogie House; City: Summerstrand Port Elizabeth Eastern Cape; Review: This our second visit, and don't think we would stay anywhere else in summer strand. This is the first time we had met the owner, and she greeted us warmly, but she was horrified at our hired car as it didn't have a parcel shelf, she insisted on phoning them to tell them to give us another car. She was like a mother hen looking after us which we appreciated very much. Luckily the airport is only about 20mins away so we were happy to drive back and get the car changed. Carslogie house is still as lovely as ever. Breakfast fresh and delicious! Rooms clean and really comfy bed. Thank you carslogie team!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Milkwood Manor on Sea; City: Plettenberg Bay Western Cape; Review: We loved here with the stunning views! Rooms are nice, and breakfast fantastic!!! Staff friendly and the car being cleaned was a bonus! The reason I haven't given 5* is because of the noise, we were in room 6 (I think) right at the top of the only stairs up and down, this was a pain in the back side as everyone had to pass our door, talking, trailing suitcases etc, suppose not the fault of hotel, but maybe put on a double door? Be careful also as the top stair is smaller than all the rest, so a bit dodgy. After all that, we would go back but would not take that room.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Knysna Tonquani Lodge Spa; City: Knysna Western Cape; Review: This is second time we've stayed here.. after being sent the wrong way by the sat nav, and my husband arguing with it, cause he could vaguely remember where we were going, we arrived at the stunning tonquani lodge. We were delighted to be upgraded to the honeymoon suite, it was absolutely gorgeous! With its own plunge pool, it was too cold to use it, so we lit the fire and relaxed with a free bottle of wine. We used the spa and would really recommend it. We had breakfast in the room the next day and it was delicious! Glad to see that they took heed of my previous review about the fruit salad. Another brilliant stay! Staff amazing! Going back next year for our 25th wedding anniversary!!!!!!!! That you can be sure off!!!! Thank you tonquani, sorry it's taken this long to do review; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kingslyn Boutique Guesthouse; City: Cape Town Central Western Cape; Review: We previously stayed in Blackheath lodge not too far away from Kingslyn as we love that area, but unfortunately it was fully booked, so went with kingslyn. I had previously contacted them to request a quiet room as I'm a really light sleeper. We were given a room on ground floor, that was next to reception/ dining area, was off the main hall from kitchen, and the stairway, and cars parked outside the window. The noise that first night was absolutely horrendous and I was up the whole night. (This room has 2 doors to open to get in and out because of the noise) the room did look nice in the pics but it was actually very grubby and in need of updating. Anyhow, next morning I told the manageress that we weren't staying in the room another night, she did apologise and offered us another room to the back of the house which was quieter. There appeared to be no smoke alarms in the rooms, no telephones, and there was bars on the windows. No security on at night and 2 different keys to get in and out the front door. Sorry but I just wasn't comfortable. In saying that this was in September, so things may have improved. Lastly the manageress was very informative so thank you for that; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bamboo Guest House; City: Hermanus Overstrand Overberg District Western Cape; Review: Clean comfortable rooms, breakfast decent, hosts attentive, bit of a walk from the centre. The reason why I didn't give 5* is, we found it very noisy. there's a lot of tiling, so there's nothing to "absorb" everyday noises; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holden Manz Country House; City: Franschhoek Western Cape; Review: This place is amazingly beautiful, set in stunning grounds. It's full of art, and beautiful items. The room was warm and comfortable with quirky little touches. We did the wine tasting and bought a couple of bottles, Big G was my favourite!!!! The food was good, lovely open fire and the wine tram stops here. Eniel was lovely and very helpful when the Franshoek pass was blocked by an accident! (45 min journey ended up taking us 3 hours) breakfast excellent! You wouldn't think it but the rooms are quite near a road, so some traffic noise, but it didn't spoil our stay. Next year we will be returning for our 25th wedding anniversary and will stay longer!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clouds Wine Guest Estate; City: Stellenbosch Western Cape; Review: We stayed for just one night. And fell in love with the view, just stunning! The negatives was the noise, our room was close to reception and the noise carried, it needs some serious soundproofing. So maybe contact them first. Also there was only one waiter that seemed to be in training. The managers had to help set the tables etc. She also interviewed for a member of staff the next morning in the dining area which to me wasn't really appropriate. The food was mediocre and breakfast took forever. Good job we weren't in a hurry, I hope by now they've ironed out all the creases, as this was in September. Having said all that, we would stay again for the views; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Buffelsdrift Game Lodge; City: Oudtshoorn Western Cape; Review: We stayed here before for 1 night and it wasn't long enough! So on this visit we stayed for 2 and I contacted them directly to see if there was a 2 day package. They got back to me really quickly, with an amazing deal. They were in the process of modernising the luxury tents, we were in one of the old ones, but it didn't matter as we were on the waterfront and we had heating and an electric blanket that the staff turned on for us whilst we were at dinner. Included in our package was a games drive, feeding the elephants, a trip to cango caves, all excellent (we also went to a wildlife park, but would not recommend it) do the wine tasting in Karusa instead. (Which was great) staff were fantastic, and very helpful. Food and restaurant very good, with a wide selection and lovely big open fire. We love it here and plan to go back next year for our 25th wedding anniversary, a big thank you to Bufflesdrift; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ballygally Castle; City: Ballygally County Antrim Northern Ireland; Review: Went for a wedding last weekend, food, grounds, rooms all excellent! Norman the manager was an absolute star! Oh and they have one of the doors that was made from the dark hedges, for all game of thrones fans. Will be back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holden Manz Country House; City: Franschhoek Western Cape; Review: This is out second visit here, first time meeting the owners which was a pleasure. My mother in law and daughter had the suite above the front stairs, amazing room, almost like 2 rooms really as the beds were that far apart with bathroom separating them. Our room was fab too. Breakfast great. Staff great, and it was my birthday the day we were leaving, and I got a lovely feet and leg massage free from them. Truly wonderful place, and amazing staff; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anvershiel House; City: Portrush County Antrim Northern Ireland; Review: My husband and I stayed for 2 nights in December. We had awful weather so didn't bother venturing out, it was just lovely to relax and chill out. Our hosts were a delight! And very kind and welcoming. Within Walking distance to great restaurants like the ramore and 55 degrees north. B&b is beautifully decorated with all mod cons. Breakfast was excellent too! Thank you Alan and Janice; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Amazones Village Suites; City: Piskopiano Hersonissos Crete; Review: Arrived on 14th May, was in room A6 just out the back of reception/ bar. I was worried initially about the noise, but I needn't have bothered, as once the door was shut you could hear very little. Room was big with separate living area, with all mod cons Inc toaster, kettle and hairdryer. FREE air con FREE breakfast (Inc in our price) FREE towels for pool FREE replacement of toilet rolls, all these a bonus when in Greece, as aircon alone is €7 a day! Staff were lovely, helpful and nothing was too much trouble, special shout out to Nikos the barman, who was a star and even bought us an anniversary present! The location for us was superb but could be very difficult for those with young children, elderly, or if you have walking/breathing problems. When you are dropped of by bus sign reads Amazones 150m this is not accurate as my hubby measured it and it's actually 350m, we kept thinking we had passed hotel. We loved our stay, and would go back tomorrow! Thank you to everyone x; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Smartline Infinity Blue; City: Hersonissos Crete; Review: We had stayed in another place in koutouloufari as we love the village, but our apartments were grim, so after 8 days, and the weather to change, (to rain) we decided to have 5 nights in infinity blue, we paid for the superior room with a 2 person, proper Jacuzzi, well worth it! I contacted them before hand and respectfully requested, a quiet room with double bed and a sea view, all of these requests were given! The rooms are fantastic! Beds are comfortable, large shower, Netflix, soft close drawers, really top notch finishes etc Rooms were cleaned every day, and the maid was great. Pool area was lovely and relaxing, but I would suggest in the winter to take down a few of the parasols as you had to chase the sun around the pool (don't think this would be a problem in the summer) the wee guy who worked round the pool was lovely, and the free fruit salad was a lovely touch. Restaurant had stunning view, and was kept clean and tidy, another suggestion would be to have the food warmer, especially in winter. And freshly squeezed orange would be welcome at breakfast. We enjoyed it so much we actually booked another night! So a very big thank you to all at infinity blue for making our holiday very special!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Petra Village Apartments; City: Koutouloufari Hersonissos Crete; Review: We have heard that Petra village is up for sale, and currently being rented from current owners, to me this shows as there is no pride in the accommodation at all, the pool area is In desperate need of a good power hose, and weeds removed from broken paving, there is a couple of 4 poster bed things around the pool, but they're enough to give you the willies. The are manky but the resident cats seem to like them. Sunbeds really uncomfortable too. Music so loud you can't have a conversation. And dominated by returning/ long stay guests who love playing air guitar!!!!!! Apartments are extremely basic. Single beds on solid concrete (bubble wrap under mattress for comfort? !!!!!!!) Frying pan not useable, double bed was so hard, lumpy, and just awful! We had no hot water our first 2 days. (Eventually it was fixed) shower laughable, you have to shower with half the curtain open as so small, plus nylon shower curtain clinging to you. After spending 8 days there, we decided to spend 6 nights in a spa hotel. So that we were well relaxed and rested before we went home. The 2 bar men were friendly but they seemed to be the only staff working there. Great location, near koutouloufari one way, go other way (down hill) leads you to Hersonisis. Im sorry but really the only positive I can say; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Leighinmohr House Hotel; City: Ballymena County Antrim Northern Ireland; Review: We took advantage of the "lazy sunday" deal they have on and was treated to a lovely room, a gorgeous 3 course dinner and a hearty breakfast. Whilst sitting with drinks by the open fire we were told that our side of the hotels water system had broken and there was no hot water so we were moved to a family room which was just as nice, only thing was that after dinner and going back to the room I realised there was no kettle for a cup of tea. (To be expected really with it being a family room) I know it wouldn't have been a bother to the staff, but it was late on, so didn't bother. Staff were lovely and very helpful. (This was about 4 weeks ago) We were at a wedding yesterday in Leighinmohr and again it did not disappoint! Food for a wedding was absolutely lovely! And the spuds! Everyone commented on them ( apparently locally sourced from Broughshane) Beautiful Venue, lovely Staff and gorgeous food, what more could you ask for? Shame we couldn't get a room last night, as we would have stayed an extra night! But with only having 20 rooms or so it's bound to book up quickly especially at weddings. Thank you to all the staff. we will be back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Lakeview Lodge Motel; City: Lakeview Oregon; Review: We were coming back from klamath falls, heading home to sisters Oregon. We thought lakeview Oregon would be a great place to explore. This hotel was wonderful! Clean! Cozy! Super friendly owners.. Chit chatted with them. Great place!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bridge Street Inn; City: Baker City Oregon; Review: This was a crazy weekend!!! There was a bike race going on, so we got one of the last rooms. Very clean, nice people and great doggie area! No air conditioning! Heard lots of noise, bell tower & train with the window open. Great breakfast also!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mirabeau Park Hotel; City: Spokane Valley Washington; Review: This is a beautiful place. Rooms were fantastic! The air in the room was loud.. But we lived thru it. When we checked it we were told there wasn't an elevator to our room.. I said I was never told that I have my 73 yr old mom with me. The front desk told me that there were no notes saying we needed one.. I said well, your website says elevator .. I would assume all rooms have elevators.. That should be told at booking! Also we tried for an hour to get room service for breakfast.. always busy! We went elsewhere for breakfast. The Cottage. All in all.. A nice stay. But not 100% happy.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: La Quinta Inn Suites Woodburn; City: Woodburn Oregon; Review: We don't live very far but went to a wedding and wanted to stay close. The room was nice.. Nice big kitchen.. Kinda hard bed and small bathroom. But if we are going to pay $180 for one night.. We should have hot water! I couldn't shower because I waited over 20 minutes.. They said they fixed something .. And still not warm!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lakeview Lodge Motel; City: Lakeview Oregon; Review: My husband has been going to Lakeview Lodge for the pass few years. bob & barbra were always very good to him.. gave him the trucker rate & frequent stayer rate! $55! Plus he has a dog. They would even leave a key for him!! Now the new owners want almost $100 for the room and the dog! He has even said that he is there like 2-3 times a week, every week! But nope.. 🙄 So he might have to change his route a little to go somewhere else.. pretty sad. It’s a great place.. older but always clean! Wish Bob & Barbra the best.. but we sure miss them!! 😭; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Inn Suites Walla Walla; City: Walla Walla Washington; Review: We love it here .. used to come once a year !! This time we are here picking up a new puppy.. we got here late and checked in.. when I called for the reservations I told the desk clerk I could get my member rewards through trip advisor but was calling.. she says she saw my member number and info .. but when we got here I didn’t get the $10 savings.. the desk clerk didn’t give it too me either.. the rate on TA was $149 and my rate was $159.49 .. plus the $25 dog fed.. kind of disappointed but wasn’t worth the hassle and we were tired. Moral: book through trip advisor. Great place in all other ways!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Woodland Inn; City: Woodland Washington; Review: My husband stays at your hotel a lot! We like it.. it’s great for him to park the truck and a great place for dog.,. BUT pretty much every morning when he goes to leave the coffee is not ready.. always either out completely or he just gets barely any.. also breakfast is supposed to start at 6am.. it is not! This morning there were other people waiting and the breakfast wasn’t even starting to be put out by 6:15 and then wasn’t completely out until at least 6:30! Just not acceptable! For a Best Western I would expect more.. We are writing this review after being in this position many times. It takes a lot to complain from us.. but it is just very annoying.. Just another thing too .. if you have coffee pots in the lobby , why wouldn’t you have hot coffee in your pots at all times?? Especially in the early morning ..; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Motel 6 Portland North; City: Portland Oregon; Review: Husband went there yesterday and was told that the coffee would be ready early in the morning.. he leaves around 5-530am.. at 5am he asked the clerk if she would have coffee ready , she it would be ready around 530-6.. he said to her that he would probably take most of it in his thermos ... and would appreciate it.. went back to his room to get ready to leave.. it was not ready when he left.. seriously? Is graveyard shift that swamped that she couldn’t make him coffee? Also, since when does at motel 6 charge a dog fee? 🤔 Other than that.. room was clean and very good truck parking.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Plus Peppertree Airport Inn; City: Spokane Washington; Review: So.. the hotel is very nice.. the staff is kind and pleasant .. and everything is clean.. the one complaint we have is the COFFEE 😮 It is HORRIFIC 😬 It tastes like dirty water.. the room has those one cup , fill your cup put water in and the pod in thing.. it’s so gross.. I couldn’t finish it. We went to breakfast .. which was good.. but thinking the coffee would be better there.. NOPE! Come on Best Western.. you can do better than that! Get better suppliers of coffee ... please! We are members and stay at a lot of BW... please... up your coffee game 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Ramada Brussels Woluwe; City: Woluwe Saint Lambert Brussels; Review: We stayed 3 nights in this hotel and it was a very pleasant experience. The beds were extremely comfortable, everything was very clean and breakfast was tasty. The only downside of this hotel is probably its location. Although a very quiet place, pretty far away from center.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Residencial Horizonte; City: Lisbon Lisbon District Central Portugal; Review: Our stay at this hotel was rather cheap, so I thought we got a good value for money. Although the rooms are very small, it has a great location (near the metro station, which was very helpful, also close to supermarkets, malls and restaurants). Also, very clean and the breakfast really surprised us, as it surpassed our expectations. The staff were very nice and we also got our luggage carried to our room (which hadn't happened in other hotels). The only downside to it was the noise in the morning. Also, I would have decorated differently, to enhance the space. But all in all, it was an enjoyable stay, and at this price, I would return.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Girassol; City: Funchal Madeira Madeira Islands; Review: We went here for our honeymoon recently, and we thought it was an excellent hotel. Friendly staff, rooms were very clean and comfy and the food was good. I saw mixed reviews about the food, we were half board and we actually enjoyed the food very much, we thought it was delicious. The pool was great, I loved the fact that it had different depths, as I am a short person who doesn't swim very well, and sometimes I find it hard to get into pools which are too deep for me. A very nice touch was that they expected us with a basket of fruits and a glass of champagne (we did announce it was our honeymoon). Also, the hotel is very well positioned, next to the Lido promenade, not far from the Forum shopping center, and only easy 20 minutes of walk to the center of Funchal. I recommend it for a relaxing vacation.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grupotel Montecarlo; City: Ca n Picafort Majorca Balearic Islands; Review: Before going on vacation here I read all the reviews I could find about the hotel, which were not too many or too current, so I had a few concerns. So I would like to share all the things I would have liked to known: First of all, this is actually a really nice hotel, much nicer than the old pictures I still see online. It looks great and it is very clean, I even liked the housekeepers, they were very nice and always smiling. The room space was enough, the furniture looked new, the air conditioning functioned perfectly (our room was always nice and cool compared to the hot temperatures outside). We had a pool view and considering we were here in July, so middle of the season, there wasn't any noise coming from outside. Speaking of the pool, I read some comments about it being across the road, it actually sounds worse than it is. The road is tiny, I didn't see a single car passing through there, so I wouldn't say there is much of a distance. That's all I can say about it though, because we never went to the pool, the beach is 300m away and it is absolutely AMAZING, I can't see how anyone would prefer a pool over a white sand beach and turquoise clear sea. I want to make a special point about the food, which I saw mixed reviews about. I thought it was really great. I stayed in a few hotels in Europe around the same budget and I can definitely say this was the best in terms of food. The breakfast was my favorite, there were many many options, I ate something different everyday, they even served champagne and smoked salmon on a Sunday and I though the fresh orange juice (the machine would squeeze the oranges right in front of you) was a nice touch. The dinner was good too, I thought everything was cooked nicely and both me and my husband are really picky about this. My favorite was the mixed paella for sure. Another plus for this hotel is the location, it is close to the beach, the center of Ca'n Picafort and also the bus stations. The staff are not the best English speakers I have ever seen (Ca'n Picafort is mostly a German destination), but they were friendly. When we checked out the receptionist asked us the time the bus to the airport was going to pick us up (which was a few hours later) and when it did, he came outside, waved us goodbye and wished us a good flight. I thought that was really nice and we felt appreciated as guests. There would be only two things that I would change in this hotel for it to be excellent: First would be the beds. I did my research and I think it is common in Mallorca to have two single beds next to each other instead of just one queen/king size bed, but I found it a bit annoying that if you were to; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dem Guesthouse; City: Rome Lazio; Review: We stayed at the Filippo Turati location, which I chose because it was close to the Termini station. Termini is not the nicest place in Rome, but it is great if you are looking to have fast and easy connections all over the city, including the airport. The place was very clean, the room was comfortable, especially the bed, in which I slept great. I also liked the bathroom, we had everything necessary from clean towels and slippers to toiletries and even some snacks in the mini-fridge. Also a safe, which was really helpful. All these came in a very affordable price. Now for the negatives. My main complain was the wi-fi, which didn't work at all. In our room we couldn't even get the signal, on the hallway we could connect, but the internet didn't work anyway. When you are visiting a new city in a foreign country you kind of rely on the internet to get around, so this was very unfortunate. The room was also a bit chilly, but that might have been my personal issue because I couldn't understand how the AC worked. We did have a blanket though that kept us warm enough at night. Breakfast was so and so, we had coffee, croissants and some other stuff, which were enough to get us going, but I had much better.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Living Quarters; City: Budapest Central Hungary; Review: We stayed here two nights in April and we had to switch rooms, so we got to see two of these wonderful apartaments. First of all, the location is absolutely perfect, I would stay here again anytime. It's close to everything. The apartments were decorated beautifully, they were big and clean and the personnel was nice. I liked living in an artsy space, but which such modern facilities.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Brody House; City: Budapest Central Hungary; Review: We stayed in the Etienne apartment, which was really beautiful. The wooden couch is actually super comfortable and I could see it as a third bed. The regular bed was amazing, I felt like sleeping in a cloud. We have enough space for our clothes and I loved the modern bathroom. I think this was a great stay and I would definitely recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Park Plaza Berlin Kudamm; City: Berlin; Review: I really liked the hotel, it had everything we needed. The room was cozy, the bed was very comfortable (we really liked the double bed, it was super large), the TV had some nice English programs, wi-fi worked great, both the room and the bathroom were very cleaned and have a lot of complementary bath products which were ok. We also liked the location, there are a lot of restaurants, pubs and shopping centers around and it has great transport connections throughout the city. The receptionist was also very nice and spoke good English. Can't really think of anything negative to say about it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SENTIDO Pearl Beach; City: Rethymnon Rethymnon Prefecture Crete; Review: I had a great vacation at this hotel with my family. It was me, my husband, my 11 month old baby in one room and my parents in another. All in all it was a great stay, but let me break it down: + The food was amazing, I think the best we had at a hotel. We were half-board. Both breakfast and dinner had a great variety of options and I also found a lot of things to feed my baby. There was a lot of Greek food (this is what we came for, so yey), fish, seafood even, but there were also great options for my parents who are not very adventurous eaters like chicken, veal and pork. Everything was delicious. + The employees were very nice and helpful + The rooms were clean and practical, we had everything we needed and plenty of towels + Air conditioning (tip: you have to close the balcony door in order for it to work) + Fridge, which is actually a mini-bar. They also left us some complementary water when we arrived, which was so needed (we had a late flight) + The pool was nice, perfect water temperature and plenty sunbeds + The beach was very close and very clean, we also had the option of ordering drinks and food directly on the beach + A lot of markets and taverns around Some minor things I think can be improved: - a double bed instead of two twins put together. Although I think it's common practice in the area because it was the same for all the hotels I looked at, I just hate it. They were very nice to put a baby bed in room, but our baby sleeps in our bed and I always had to put things between the beds so he didn't get stuck in there. - more fresh fruits for both breakfast and dinner; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Final 'Star Wars Episode IX' trailer arrives; Abstract: On what would have been Carrie Fisher's 63rd birthday, the final trailer for 'Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker', which will mark her last appearance on film, dropped on Monday (October 21) during halftime of the Patriots and the Jets American football match on ESPN. Ryan Brooks reports.; Category: movies
Title: MLB bans women who flashed their chests behind home plate during Game 5 of World Series; Abstract: MLB has indefinitely banned two women who flashed their chests on television during the seventh inning of Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday night.; Category: sports
Title: Lions safety Tracy Walker leaves game vs. Giants with knee injury; Abstract: The Lions safety left the game after being injured in the end zone.; Category: sports
Title: Detroit Metro Airport to Allow Limited Visitors Past Security; Abstract: DTW joins airports in Pittsburgh and Tampa as the only in the country to allow non-ticketed guests past security.; Category: travel
Title: Leanna's Weight-Loss Journey Started Out With Workouts in Her Garage; Abstract: After the birth of her second child, Leanna Baucum said, "I was overweight and had a closet full of clothes I wasn't able to wear." Now, she's competing in bikini contests.; Category: health
Title: Nats beat Astros 7-2, force Game 7; Abstract: Stephen Strasburg gutted through without his best fastball to throw a five-hitter Tuesday night, and now it's on to Game 7 in the first World Series ever in which the visiting team won each of the first six games.; Category: sports
Title: The successful Detroit Lions' kickoff strategy no one else is using; Abstract: Unlike the rest of the league, the Lions aren't afraid of kickoffs.; Category: sports
Title: New York lawmakers are considering a ban on tackle football for kids under 12; Abstract: Several states, including Massachusetts and New Jersey, have similar bills.; Category: news
Title: Detroit Lions injury update: Tracy Walker misses second-straight practice; Abstract: Walker's status for Sunday is very much in doubt.; Category: sports
Title: Molson Coors changes its name and will cut up to 500 jobs; Abstract: Molson Coors is struggling as younger drinkers continue to shun mass-produced beer for trendy beverages like White Claw and other "spiked seltzers."; Category: finance
Title: Heidi Klum's 2019 Halloween Costume Transformation Is Mind-Blowing But, Like, What Is It?; Abstract: You might say she's scary good at playing dress-up, because Heidi Klum's 2019 Halloween costume is even more impressive than we could have imagined and that's saying a lot, considering transformative Halloween costumes are kind of her thing. But this year Klum took it up one more notch as she shared her metamorphosis into,; Category: lifestyle
Title: Five biggest NFL surprises at season's midway point; Abstract: It may be hard to believe, but the 2019 NFL regular season is already at the midway point and we're all headed back down the mountain from here.; Category: news
Title: Trent Williams says he had cancer, alleges Redskins failed to test for it for nearly 6 years; Abstract: After a lengthy holdout, Washington Redskins offensive tackle Trent Williams said he had cancer and alleged the team misdiagnosed him.; Category: sports
Title: 1 killed in crash near Lowell; Abstract: KENT COUNTY, MI One person was killed in a crash Friday, Nov. 1, on Lincoln Lake Avenue NE north of Lowell, Kent County sheriff's deputies said. The crash was reported at 4:59 a.m. in the 3200 block of Lincoln Lake Avenue in Vergennes Township. Sheriff's deputies expect to release additional information shortly.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Girl, 7, critically wounded in shooting while trick-or-treating in Little Village on Southwest Side; suspect in custody; Abstract: ; Category: news
Title: Detroit Lions' comeback falls 1-yard short, lose to Raiders 24-31; Abstract: The Lions suffered a heartbreaking loss at the hands of the Raiders.; Category: sports
Title: Detroit Lions Week 9 Game Ball: 5 players of the game vs. Raiders; Abstract: A few players played well. Let's talk about them.; Category: sports
Title: Pamela Anderson gets backlash after wearing a Native American headdress for Halloween; Abstract: Pamela Anderson is under fire after posting risqué photos of herself wearing a Native American headdress in honor of Halloween. The Canadian actress and animal rights activist, who rose to fame for her role as a lifeguard on the series Baywatch, took to Twitter like many other celebrities to post photos of herself in her Halloween costume. In the first photo, the 51-year-old sports a pair of high-waisted underwear, and appears to be drenched in...; Category: tv
Title: Injury update: T.J. Hockenson did not suffer concussion vs Raiders; Abstract: The team isn't worried about a brain injury after the rookie tight end suffered a scary hit on Sunday.; Category: sports
Title: Exclusive: Ukraine to fire prosecutor who discussed Bidens with Giuliani - source; Abstract: Exclusive: Ukraine to fire prosecutor who discussed Bidens with Giuliani - source; Category: news
Title: Best Places to Retire If You Can't Save Up $1,000,000; Abstract: If you can't retire with $1 million, you can still live well.; Category: finance
Title: Monday night's win over the Giants emblematic of bigger issue for Cowboys; Abstract: Sure, the Dallas Cowboys won Monday night, but falling behind to the New York Giants was symbolic of a larger problem for the NFC East leaders.; Category: sports
Title: Election Day 2019: Most Important Races and What to Watch For; Abstract: In elections that will determine policy, the political makeup of state legislatures and who lives in governors' mansions, voters will head to the polls Tuesday in states across the country.; Category: news
Title: Firefighters Find a Diamond Ring in the Getty Fire Rubble; Abstract: Firefighters were putting out hot spots last week from the Getty Fire in West Los Angeles when they noticed a small box on a walkway in front of the rubble where a home once stood.; Category: news
Title: Maryland man, 46, gets probation after he killed a father and his four daughters when his SUV crossed a median and slammed into their minivan; Abstract: Alvin Hubbard III, 46, of Cambridge, Maryland, was sentenced to one year of probation after he killed a father and his four daughters when his SUV slammed into a family's minivan in 2018; Category: news
Title: Election Day 2019: Most Important Races and What to Watch For; Abstract: In elections that will determine policy, the political makeup of state legislatures and who lives in governors' mansions, voters will head to the polls Tuesday in states across the country.; Category: news
Title: 26 biggest retail boycotts of all time; Abstract: Consumers and even entire countries have voted with their purses by boycotting certain goods and services in the hope of effecting change. Events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott stand out as both successful and historic, while others have had little impact. Find out which protests continue to this day.; Category: finance
Title: 21 Costco Bulk Buys to Score for Thanksgiving; Abstract: Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and the time is nigh for resurfacing that gravy boat and thinking about how many extra leaves you need for the dining table. This particular holiday is a favorite for many people, including me and mine, but also a stressful one, because getting a big meal with lots of components on the table is not instinctual for even the most perfectly capable cooks. There is a lot to say about being more prepared and relaxed...; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Under shroud of secrecy US weapons arrive in Yemen despite Congressional outrage; Abstract: The awkward camera angle is meant to hide the fact that the owner of the phone is filming, but there is no mistaking the outlines of the heavy cargo being deposited on the dock in the Yemeni port of Aden last week.; Category: news
Title: 7 Easy-to-Miss Milestones That Indicate You're On Track to Becoming Successful; Abstract: Success is hard enough to come by, don't blow by these signs of it.; Category: lifestyle | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: ASC Chevy Silverado or GMC Sierra Full Size Extended Cab Truck 2007-2013 Dual; Brand: American Sound Connection; Review: Great box, fit perfect under my seat. Good construction of box too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MicroBypass Automatic Video in Motion Interface for Pioneer Models AVH-X1500DVD AVH-X1600DVD AVH-X2500BT AVH-X2600BT AVH-X3500BHS AVH-X3600BHS AVH-X4500BT AVH-X4600BT AVH-X5500BHS AVH-X5600BHS AVH-X6500DVD; Brand: MicroBypass; Review: Worked well with my Pioneer AVH-X5600BHS radio.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pioneer AVH-X5600BHS 2-DIN Multimedia DVD Receiver with 7" WVGA Touchscreen Display (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: Pioneer; Review: Great radio. Love it and all of its functions.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Infinity 609CS 270W (Peak) 6-1/2 x 6-3/4 Two-Way Component System Speakers (Pair); Brand: Infinity; Review: Awesome speakers and great price; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Infinity 629I 225W (Peak) Two-Way Speakers (Pair)- 6-1/2 x 6-3/4 -Inch; Brand: Yoyamo; Review: Speakers are loud and fit great; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |