The Charlatan's Boy, by Jonathan Rogers

In the tradition of Southern fiction, Jonathan Rogers, a child of the South, writes The Charlatan's Boy.  Set in the fiction land of Corenwald, which Rogers models after his own Georgia homeland, Grady is the charlatan's boy, who has lived with Floyd (the "perfesser"), a traveling showman who has tried a variety of tricks, displays, and miracle cures to gain copper coins from unsuspecting townspeople.  But his most successful scheme is showing off his feechie boy, who, of course, is simply Grady covered in mud and acting like an animal.  Grady and Floyd create a mythology of feechies, supposedly the native peoples who lived in Corenwald before the civilized people came to settle there.

Told from the perspective of Grady, with colloquial speech resembling an American Southern bumpkin, this is a fun story of a foundling trying to discover himself.  He has no idea where he came from, who his parents might have been, and whether he has a place in the world.  Floyd, unfortunately, is full of stories and tall tales, and little helpful information.

There is potential here for exploration of deeper themes which Rogers only--barely--hints at.  Rogers leaves such exploration solely to the reader.  Thus, The Charlatan's Boy can be read on a variety of levels, and is entertaining and fun no matter how deep you want the message of the book to be.

Seconds to Live, by Susan Sleeman

Veteran novelist Susan Sleeman has started a new series with her character Taylor Mills, a U.S. Marshall with the Witness Protection Program.  In Seconds to Live, a hacker has stolen lists of all the protectees' personal information and put it for sale on the dark web.  Hundreds of lives are in danger, including many under Taylor's personal protection.  Given the scope of the threat, an FBI team comes in to assist Taylor's unit.

Taylor's life becomes much more interesting when the head of the FBI unit shows up--it's her friend Sean, whom she's never met face-to-face, but with whom she's had a long online friendship.  They found each other as confidants who, given their similar lines of work, could be trusted to bounce ideas off of, share frustrations, and give and receive encouragement.  Of course, each is instantly smitten with the other.  She's gorgeous, and he's a hunk.  Throughout the book, you know they're going to get together, but they are constantly trying not to, as they want to preserve their friendship, they live on opposite coasts, they don't want to be distracted from their work, etc.

Woven through their romance is a decent suspense story.  They and their teams are tracking this hacker, rooting out betrayal within their own ranks, and trying to protect their witnesses agains all odds.  It's a fun story and Sleeman keeps us guessing about where it's going.  Sleeman's stock in trade is the suspense romance.  This is the first book of hers I've read, so I only have other book covers to compare.  I suspect (based superficially on the covers, by which I'm not supposed to judge a book) that Seconds to Live is less romance-oriented than her other books.  But it was romance-y enough to detract from the story for me.  Everyone's a fashion model, the lead characters have this heart-pounding electricity between them all the time.  Overall, I enjoyed it, and I appreciate the fact the main characters are Christians who take their faith seriously enough to discuss it with each other and pray about their jobs.  But for the reading experience, I will take Lee Child or Vince Flynn for a more substantial helping of action and suspense.

We are Called to Be a Movement, by William J. Barber II

In 2017, William J. Barber II preached a sermon that is even more relevant today than it was then.  Published in book form as We are Called to Be a Movement, Barber evokes Martin Luther King, Jr., continuing his tradition of prophetic preaching.  As MLK's followers know, at the time of his death, King was broadening his appeal from racial equality to efforts to lift the poor.  Barber points out that "Jesus's reconstruction project begins with good news to the poor and the brokenhearted and the bruised and the battered and all of those made to feel like they are not accepted.  Jesus is explicit in his commitment to begin with the rejected."

Barber calls on Americans to reconsider the foundations of American culture and economy that have led to disparity.  "I love America because of her potential.  But I know that America will never complete the work of reconstruction--will never even get close to being a more perfect union--until we are honest about her past and the politics of rejection."  

Barber draws from the Old Testament prophetic tradition, but draws almost as deeply from politically left-leaning talking points.  He's doing good work with the Poor People's Campaign, and (I assume) preaching the gospel regularly, but I'd like to see less partisanship, less liberalism, and more Jesus.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

False Alarm, by Bjorn Lomborg

Bjorn Lomborg made waves in 1990s with The Skeptical Environmentalist, bucking against the conventional wisdom of environmental alarmists.  His new book False Alarm: How Climate Change Panic Costs Us Trillions, Hurts the Poor, and Fails to Fix the Planet updates this message.  Global warming and environmental issues are not easy issues, but Lomborg has a rather simple message.

First of all, Lomborg is not a "climate change denier" who hates science and rejects the mainstream scientific consensus that the earth is warming.  His message is this: "climate change is real," and "global warming is mostly caused by humans," but "fears of a climate apocalypse are unfounded.  Global warming is real, but it is not the end of the world."

Lomborg wants scientists and their willing accomplices in the press to dial back the panic, and put in place policies and strategies that will actually address problems related to global warming, not waste money trying to reduce carbon emissions.  Most policies designed to address carbon emissions are exceedingly costly with minimal impact on temperature change.  For example, on the question of rising ocean levels and the risk of low-lying areas being permanently flooded, Lomborg argues that the cost of building dikes and flood control measures is minuscule compared to losses from any potential flooding.  Similarly, when a drought or famine occurs, many will respond by calling on reduced carbon emissions to address warming, but the impact of those measures is insignificant, and a much smaller investment can address poverty and food production in affected areas.

But the larger point is that the alarmists are simply wrong about the impact of global warming.  "Deaths caused by climate-related disasters have declined precipitously over the past century."  "Is extreme weather causing more damage to human life?  The answer is a resounding no."  "The incidence of flooding is not on the rise, nor is there any evidence that global warming has led to more floods."  And when the media and scientists promote an alarmist perspective, it "leads to policies that while well intentioned, crowd out much more effective ways of helping people."

The ways we have tried to address climate change have not been effective.  Lomborg concludes that "today's popular climate change policies of rolling out solar panels and wind turbines have insidious effects; they push up energy costs, hurt the poor, cut emissions ineffectively, and put us on an unsustainable pathway where taxpayers are eventually likely to revolt.  Instead, we need to invest in innovation, smart carbon taxes, R&D into geoengineering, and adaptation."  His perspective also places the human condition at the center.  "We can improve the human condition far more by opening the world to free trade, ending tuberculosis, and ensuring access to nutrition, contraception, health, education, and technology."

Lomborg rejects mainstream responses to global warming while accepting the mainstream view that global warming is a real, man-made problem with serious consequences.  He just wants the scientific and public policy decision makers to stop and examine the costs and benefits of policies they promote.  To many are costly and ineffective.  To him, the problem is not simply that resources are being wasted, but that diverting funds from "opportunities we have to improve life for billions of people" is "morally wrong."  I wish I had confidence that U.S. political and thought leaders shared this perspective.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

Nissan Z, by Pete Evanow

When I went to college in the 80's, my dad generously sent me away with his silver 1979 280ZX.  I loved that car.  So it was with a sense of nostalgia that I perused Pete Evenow's Nissan Z: 50 Years of Exhilarating Performance.  He covers some of the same ground (obviously) as his 2005 book Z: 35 Years of Nissan's Sports Car, but there's plenty new material and photos here for the enthusiast to be enthused about.

Evanow covers the history of the company, the introduction of the Z car, the evolution of the models up to the current manifestation, the 370Z, and the worlds of racing and hobbyists.  The best part of the book was the nostalgia, seeing the older models and the other non-Z Datsun products (just the name Datsun is a bit nostalgic!).  I must say, while the 370Z is a car I would not turn down if it were gifted to me, the look is a bit generic and doesn't match up to the character of the 240/260/280 models.

Fans of the Z cars through the years will want to get a copy of this--but be careful--your next stop will be the Nissan dealer or autotrader.com. . . .

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

Dot Con, by James Veitch

Have you ever gotten and spam email and thought, "What if I reply?"  Probably not; you probably just delete those emails with annoyance.  James Veitch became famous for his TED talk and media appearances talking about his extended conversations with spammers.  In Dot Con: The Art of Scamming a Scammer he captures the transcripts of some of his exchanges with spammers.

Some of these conversations are laugh-out-loud funny.  It's amazing how long he can keep some of these scammers engaged.  Most of the examples are typical "you can get this great wealth if you first wire me some money" scams.  What makes the book fun is Veitch's goofy responses.  Do his correspondents fail to catch his sarcasm and humor because of the language differences?  Cultural differences?  Or are they simply blinded by their excitement that someone is finally writing them back?  Probably a combination of all of that.

Veitch is very funny, stringing them along as long as he can, and we get to see the results.  Maybe we can even be inspired to follow his example.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

Get a taste of his humor with his TED talks: https://www.ted.com/speakers/james_veitch

Darkship Thieves, by Sarah A. Hoyt

Sarah A. Hoyt has written mysteries, fantasies, and historical fiction, but has perhaps seen her greatest success in sci-fi.  Darkship Thieves is the first of what has turned out to be a 5-book series.  She dedicates the book to Robert A. Heinlein and writes in his tradition.  It's a space opera that spans the solar system, with human civilization fractured and developing on separate tracks. 

Centuries ago, starting in the 21st, bioengineering developed to the point that humans had created their own masters.  Many revolted against the presence of these superior humans, and drove them off-planet.  They established a colony, Eden, on a distant asteroid and cut off all communication with Earth.  However, the Edenites still have to come back to the vicinity of Earth in their darkships to steal energy pods. 

When one of these darkships picks up Athena, an aristocratic teenage from Earth, the pilot's only choice is to take her back to Eden.  As she adjusts to life on Eden, and eventually falls in love with her rescuer, the worlds of Earth and Eden become mixed.  The newlyweds return to get energy pods and end up back in the grips of her controlling father.  She has to choose between her new and old lives, and sacrifice to get her husband back to Eden.

Hoyt writes memorable characters, builds richly detailed worlds, creates an interesting technological future, and, most importantly, tells a great story.  Darkship Theives won the 2011 Prometheus Award for Best Libertarian SF Novel.  On Eden, there are no laws, but generally agreed upon cultural norms.  Back on Earth, there are a few Usaids, people who remember the old United States.  (Athena amusingly refers to the stars and stripes as the symbol of the Usaids's male deity.  A green, robed figure represents the female deity.)  Darkship Thieves is a fun, fast-paced escape.

The Eighth Sister, by Robert Dugoni

Robert Dugoni, who has written popular legal thrillers, mysteries, and other fiction, cuts his teeth on the spy genre in The Eighth Sister.  Charles Jenkins has been enjoying a quiet life on his farm, running a private security firm and raising his young family.  But then his old station chief, from the days decades earlier when Jenkins worked for the CIA in Mexico City, comes calling.

Jenkins, his former boss says, is uniquely situated for a mission to Moscow.  He's fluent in Russian, and his security firm does business in Moscow.  Desperate for funds for his struggling company, Jenkins agrees to go.  The mission: to aid a group of Russian women who have been spying for the US for decades, since the days of the USSR.  Of course, things don't always work out so well.  When his cover is blown, Jenkins has to rely on a Russian CIA informer to get out of the country.  Once back in the US, he learns that his old station chief may not have been working for the CIA after all, and Jenkins is accused of selling US secrets.

The best part of the book is the sequence with Paulina, the woman who comes to Jenkins's aid in Russia.  Their flight from Moscow and Jenkins's ultimate escape is gripping.  Then the legal case and courtroom drama back in the US brings the betrayals and back stories together.  This is a fun read, and Dugoni is on his way to being worthy of a spot on the bookshelf next to Robert Ludlum and John LeCarrè.  

The United States of Socialism, by Dinesh D'Souza

To many of us who have read a little bit of history, it would seem that there is no need to write yet another book critical of socialism.  But socialism is in vogue among college students, Democrats, and broadly among left-leaning people across the U.S.  Bernie Sanders's campaigns for the presidency have brought socialism to the forefront, as have members of congress who openly call themselves socialist.  In this environment, Dinesh D'Souza responds with The United States of Socialism: Who's Behind It, Why It's Evil, How to Stop It.

D'Souza calls socialism "the most discredited idea in history."  It has "proved to make everyday existence a living hell nearly everywhere it has been tried, all over the world."  The current American expression of socialism draws deeply from the well of the German philosopher Herbert Marcuse, applying his radical activism to the identity socialism that has come to dominate.  D'Souza repeatedly points out the ways that Marx would mock the American socialist movement. 

D'Souza addresses the mischaracterization of Sweden as a model of socialism, and argues that the Venezuela model is more likely the direction that American socialists will take the nation.  He makes a strong defense of capitalism and the market, demonstrating that "a market economy involves a level of popular participation and democratic consent that political can only envy.  We don't need to extend democracy from the political to the economic sphere; we already have it."  This is a pretty brilliant point.  We can vote in political elections once every 2 or 4 years, but we vote with our dollars every day.  

The battle to defeat socialism, in the current moment in our history, is battle to defeat Trump's opponents.  D'Souza is critical of press coverage of Trump, his impeachment and the Russian collusion investigation, and the many efforts to bring him and his people down.  The many double standards are easy to identify, but one that he featured was news to me.  Stormy Daniels became a household name when she accused Trump of paying for her silence after an affair.  But when a gay man named Larry Sinclair stated that he had two sexual liaisons with Obama when he was a state senator, and when reports of Obama's affair with the choir director at his church circulated (and who was murdered shortly before the Iowa caucuses), the stories were silenced or ignored.  These stories had at least as much credibility as Stormy's, but Stormy was lionized when these Obama accusers were ignored.  

Whatever you think of Trump and his presidency, socialism in the United States is a credible threat and must be stopped.  History has demonstrated repeatedly that socialism is not only a failure but is lethal.  D'Souza does us a great service by placing socialism in the contemporary political setting and providing the ammunition to bring it down.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

Alpha and Omega, by Harry Turtledove

Prolific author of fiction Harry Turtledove, once dubbed the "Master of Alternate History," takes a peek into biblical prophecy to write Alpha and Omega.  Set in a very near future, the story centers around the discovery of the long lost Ark of the Covenant, the fulfillment of the prophecy of the red cow, and a messiah figure to bring on the end times.

For most of the book, it reads like much biblical apocalyptic fiction (e.g., the Left Behind series).  Turtledove is Jewish; I don't know how devout.  In Alpha and Omega, he lands on a sort of universalism that leaves the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian characters a bit befuddled.  

I enjoyed the fact that Hogan treats scripture and religion respectfully, even if a bit distantly.  As a Christian believer, I found myself cheering on the fulfillment of biblical prophecy.  The first half is a fun read, seeing the responses especially of the Jewish characters as they saw prophecy being fulfilled.  But by the end the fantasy yarn-spinning got a little out of hand in my opinion and I ended up disappointed.  

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

Bible Quiz Show, by Paul Kent

Paul Kent's Bible Quiz Show: An A-to-Z Trivia Challenge is exactly what it sounds like.  You think you know your Bible?  Even the most faith Bible student will likely find some challenges here.  Some Bible quiz books are arranged by topic.  Not so with Bible Quiz Show.  As you would expect from the subtitle, the questions are arranged in groups from A to Z.  Each letter has several sets of questions that may or may not be related, but which have something to do with the title.  Arranged game show style from easier to harder (with corresponding scores), you can create your own game show or family night of gaming.  My family's style would be more like calling out answers on a car trip, but you might implement a game board or score card.

Have fun with this one, but be prepared to be stumped a time or two!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

For God and Country, by Ralph Reed

As a Christian Trump voter, I am continually frustrated by the maligning by liberals in the press (but I repeat myself), Democrats, Never Trumpers, left-wing Christians, and even some conservative Christians, all of whom attempt to call out Christians for supporting Trump.  Trump is an adulterer, womanizer, misogynist, liar, unprincipled businessman, a bully, and on and on, and any Christian who supports him must not be a real Christian.  

Ralph Reed articulates a response for Christians like me in his new book For God and Country: The Christian Case for Trump.  Reed honestly confronts Trump's well-known character issues, placing his presidency in proper historical and political context, and defends the idea that Trump was the best choice in 2016 and continues to promote ideas and policies that are important to Christians.  As Reed writes, Trump "has mad mistakes and has come up short in his life but now advances policies that protect life, defend the First Amendment right to freedom of religion, strengthen the family, and support Israel." 

Reed's perspective is unique in that he's the consummate political insider.  He has been deeply involved in Republican politics since the Christian Coalition days in the 1980s and 1990s.  Since then, as a Republican Party activist and now as a consultant with his firm Century Strategies, he's been intimately involved with political races, activism, and fund raising.  As an insider, he has had behind-the-scenes access to political rallies, conventions, and campaigns over the course of many years.  

Trump had talked about his presidential ambitions for many years, but no one never thought he was serious to go through with it.  He called Reed to his office to talk about running in 2012, but got a sweet deal from NBC to extend his successful TV show, so he decided not to run.  (Ironically, by giving him that lucrative contract, NBC put off Trump's running for president for 4 years.  Surely he would have lost to an incumbent Obama.  So arguably, Trump was elected in 2016 due, in part, to NBC's intervention 4-5 years earlier.)

After announcing his intent to run in 2016, Trump faced a huge field of candidates in the primaries.  Two-thirds of Evangelicals supported a variety of other candidates besides Trump, but as candidates dropped out, support coalesced behind Trump.  In the general election, the choice was clear.  When faced with a choice between Hillary and Trump, "they faced a binary choice between him and Hillary (who had her own ethical and character issues), the vacancy on the Supreme Court, and the broader policy implications of the election."  Plenty of Trump supporters had "concerns and reservations about Trump's character" but considered that "Hillary's character, dishonesty, and ethical lapses . . . were even greater." 

Even though there were plenty of reasons to question Trump's commitment to the policy priorities that caused Evangelicals to support him, it didn't take long for him to prove himself.  He was the first president to appear at the March for Life.  He has appointed not one but two pro-life Supreme Court justices, as well as dozens of judges for lower courts.  He moved the American embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.  He has been a consistent voice on issue that are important to conservative and pro-life voters.

Reed's front-row view of the 2016 election and at key events of Trump's presidency is the best reason to read this book.  But besides the historical perspective, Reed gives a reasonable defense of Trump from a Christian perspective.  If you are a Christian Trump supporter, Reed will fill in any gaps in your thinking about what that support means.  If you are a Christian Never Trumper, For God and Country will, at the very least, give you a bit more perspective on Trump supporters.  As the 2020 election nears, I hope that Christian Trump voters will come out in even greater numbers than 2016 and that Never Trumpers will evaluate Trump on his conservative governance and cast a vote for him.

(Reed closes the book with a 25 page appendix, "Promises Made, Promises Kept."  If you doubt Trump's record, at least peruse this list.)

I wanted to read this after seeing Reed interviewed by Eric Metaxas.  Check it out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cPB72BA9s0

Additional quotes:

"These self-appointed cultural elites point the finger at CHristians who support Trump, accusing them of bastardizing their faith and cheapening the Gospel by backing the Manhattan billionaire.  They assert that Christians have surrendered their moral authority as a result and are disqualified from ever speaking out on matters of public morality again.  In the simplest of terms, the media and the Left twist the Trump-Evangelical alliance into a weapon with which they hope to bludgeon people of faith into shame as silence." p. 8

"As Christians, effective citizenship requires that we work with individuals with whom we sometimes disagree and with whom we have theological and moral differences--some of them deep and abiding. . . . Given that the agenda offered by the Democratic nominees in 2016 (and again in 2020) is openly hostile to and completely antithetical to the principles of their biblical Christian faith, and most certainly to the right to life, Evangelicals and pro-life Roman Catholics are fully justified in supporting Trump for president." p. 19

"The marriage between Trump and the Evangelical movement would prove to be a shotgun wedding, with the real estate magnate in avid pursuit and most Evangelicals in love with someone else, at least initially.  That changed with the passage of time and a herculean effort by Trump--aided by the horrifying prospect of a Hillary Clinton presidency." p. 55

"Despite the media's fixation on Trump's checkered past and occasionally awkward phrases, Evangelicals were driven far less by identity politics than they were by the issues.  They also extended far more grace to Trump than the media ever did.  Evangelicals accepted Trump for who and where he was spiritually, believing that by loving him and showing him kindness and mercy thay might have a sublime influence on him. . . . The chattering class misunderstood the Trump-Evangelical connection as purely transactional or the product of rank hypocrisy.  In truth, it was based on shared values and his enthusiasm for championing them and the issues that animated Evangelicals.  This resonated at the grassroots level, where many believed the GOP establishment had long promised to advance their issues, only to then pay lip service once in office." p. 72

"I had an accidental (or divinely ordered, depending on one's perspective) advantage over some of these leaders, having gotten to know Trump years before.  He and I had many frank and candid conversations about his views on the issues, including those dear to Evangelicals." p. 84

"For Trump in 2016, the Scalia vacancy meant that for the first time in 156 years the presidency and control of the Supreme Court hung in the balance while a critical seat sat vacant.  This would play a significant role in encouraging Evangelicals and other conservative Christians to put aside their reservations about Trump and strongly support him in the general election." p. 90

For Tony Perkins, of the Family Research Council, "it boiled down to a binary choice.  'We have a choice.  Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump,' he said.  Taking a veiled shot at Evangelical Never Trumpers, he called it 'irresponsible' to complain from the sidelines without taking sides.  Perkins said, 'I want him to be successful, because if he's successful, America survives.  That's the bottom line.'" p. 124

"Liberal reporters rushed to find other faith leaders to renounce Trump in what I believed was a calculated and systematic campaign to suppress Evangelical turnout." p. 133

"Soon the media would realize that voters of faith--led by a record turnout of Evangelicals--had provided the margin of victory on an historic night when Trump and down-the-ballot Republican Senate and House candidates won all over the country." p. 147

"Evangelicals and pro-life Roman Catholics were the largest and most vibrant single constituency in the electorate.  From the day Donald Trump entered the presidential race, he appealed to them with a single-minded focus while Hillary and the Democratic Party ignored and insulted them at their own peril." p. 148

"What these critics really resented is that Evangelicals continued to support Trump because they faced a binary choice between him and Hillary (who had her own ethical and character issues), the vacancy on the Supreme Court, and the broader policy implications of the election." p. 150

"Evangelicals have never asserted that someone who fails to live up to Christ's teachings in their personal life can never make a positive contribution to their community and nation.  That is a false and misleading caricature of the Christian faith drawn by those who mean it no good." p. 155

"Two-thirds of [Evangelicals] supported someone other than Donald Trump in the early Republican primaries.  In the general election, they held deep reservations about both candidates.  But in the final analysis, they viewed the protection of life from conception to natural death as both a biblical and moral issue, considered abortion-on-demand to be the most profound evil of their time, and saw Roe v. Wade as a black stain on the history of our country." p. 158

"People of faith, confronted with a less-than-perfect choice between two flawed candidates, chose to do all they could to protect innocent life." p. 159

"Without the Scalia vacancy and other pending Supreme Court appointments as a campaign issue, Trump might well have not been elected." p. 162

Night of the Assassins, by Howard Blum

So many crucial stories in history turn on tiny events, the "what ifs" that could have changed the fate of the world.  In Howard Blum's Night of the Assassins: The Untold Story of Hitler's Plot to Kill FDR, Churchill, and Stalin, Blum recounts plenty of those types of events.  With World War 2 rolling along toward a seemingly inevitable loss, Hitler's only hope might be to assassinate the Allied leaders.  If he can get them all at once, what a statement that would make!

Blum tells the story chiefly from the perspectives of Mike Reilly, the son of Irish immigrants, who, against expectations, came to be the head of FDR's secret service security detail, and Walter Schellenberg, a German intelligence officer.  Schellenberger devises Operation Long Jump and starts the task of trying to discover when and where the rumored meeting will take place.

This book is a great example of taking a personal view of crucial historical events.  Schellenberger, Reilly, and the other players' challenges and frustrations are palpable.  It's hard enough to protect the President, but a president who uses a wheelchair, during wartime--Reilly had his work cut out for him.  Schellenberger had the challenge of planning a mission with an undetermined date or place.  He got some decent intelligence and made some good guesses, and realistically came close to pulling it off.  (Spoiler alert: the mission failed. :) )

Blum gathers tons of first-hand accounts to bring the events alive.  Much of this reads like a spy novel.  Some of the action sequences are summer blockbuster worthy.  A Churchill doppelgänger was successfully taken out (along with a plane load of innocent people) by German fighters.  I had never heard the story of Mussolini's being freed from a mountaintop prison by German soldiers who arrived by gliders to take over the prison.  During FDR's trip across the Atlantic, his battleship was nearly hit by a friendly fire torpedo! 

This is the kind of history that is fun to read, a real page-turner giving a glimpse into a little-known vignette of WW2  history.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!