tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86147700251319399752024-03-04T20:17:01.327-08:00Shari's Book Notes"If you think reading is boring you're doing it the wrong way."Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.comBlogger143125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-22704787020294857302014-06-01T16:31:00.001-07:002014-06-01T16:31:59.888-07:00Beneath the Surface by Mike Martin<div class="MsoNormal">
Mike Martin is a Canadian writer and sets his mystery series
in the town of Grand Bank, Newfoundland.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Beneath the Surface is the 3<sup>rd</sup> in the series
starring Sgt Winston Windflower. I was
given this book to review and have not read either of the other books. Sometimes that can be a detriment in reviewing
a book that is part of a series but in this case there is enough background in
the book that it was easy enough to pick up the flow of the story of Sgt. Windflower’s
life. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Beneath the Surface opens with the murder of a young woman
from Grand Bank. During the course of
the investigation Winston will deal with the Russian mafia; human trafficking and
corrupt officials. The story is mostly a
police procedural so the focus is on how the Detachments are solving the crimes
that are involved.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Sgt. Windflower is a likeable and charming main
character. Among the threads of the
story is one that involves Winston’s Cree background. There
is a lot of Aboriginal history and
religious practice woven throughout the story.
There is also a lot of history and storytelling about St. John and the
Province of Newfoundland. I found these
threads to be interesting and well placed throughout the story. Another thread is one of food. Winston likes to eat and there is so much
talk of local delicacies that I thought there might be recipes at the end of
the book. A romance rounds out the story
making it truly a story that has a little bit of everything in it.</div>
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This was an easy and entertaining read and I recommend it
especially if you like Canadian stories set in Canadian places.<o:p></o:p></div>
Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-84419448329369788252014-01-12T09:45:00.001-08:002014-01-12T09:45:59.859-08:00The Zig Zag Path
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recently my mom found a notebook with some poems that my
grandmother had collected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My grandmother
died of cancer when she was 50 so I never got to know her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This collection of poems is a legacy that
helps me get to know her better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought
I’d share a few of them starting with this one called, The Zig Zag Path (author
unknown)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We climbed the height by the zig-zag path</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And wondered why -- until</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We understood it was made zig-zag<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To break the "force of the hill."<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A road straight up would prove too steep</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the traveler's feet to tread;</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The thought was kind in it's wise design</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of a zig-zag path instead.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is often so in our daily life;</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We fail to understand</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That the twisting way our feet must tread</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By Love alone was planned.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then murmur not at the winding way,</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is our Father's will</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To lead us Home by the zig-zag path</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To break the force of the hill.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-54667396721731934872013-12-03T09:08:00.001-08:002013-12-03T09:08:32.066-08:00The Theory of Opposites by Allison Winn Scotch
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This was the last book in the package from Get Red PR. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not normally my type of book so I was
surprised at how much I enjoyed it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Willa Chandler’s father is a famous author with his book “Is
it really your choice?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why Your Entire
Life May Be Out of Your Control.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
doesn’t believe in free will but instead thinks that everything happens for a
reason and it will happen no matter the choices you make.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Willa has had no trouble with this philosophy
fully embracing everything that life has brought her way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then things start to happen; her husband
wants to “take a break”; she loses her job and is suddenly faced with the
startling realization that she could maybe have made different choices and had
different results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story unfolds
from there and we are involved in Willa’s quest to change her life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is a smart, funny book with quirky characters that I
thoroughly enjoyed meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact
that I don’t necessarily agree with the philosophy behind the story or her ultimate choices had no
bearing on my enjoyment of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Allison
Winn Scotch is a new author for me and I think I will have to try some of her
other books.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-50777687055086804722013-11-20T15:06:00.000-08:002013-11-20T15:06:43.529-08:00Death Never Sleeps by E.J. Simon<div class="MsoNormal">
This was included in the box of books I got from Get Red
PR. I had high hopes for this book as I
liked the premise of the novel but it fell a bit flat for me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Alex Nicholas is a bookie and loan shark living in New York
City. He leads a life that crosses over
the moral and legal limits continuously and that life eventually gets him killed. His brother Michael is the exact opposite;
pillar of society, happily married man and successful businessman. After Alex’s untimely death, Michael is
pulled into his brother’s life in an effort to clean up his messes and provide
for Alex’s family. The problem is that
Alex is not as dead as Michael thinks he is!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a story about family, values and artificial
intelligence. It should be a fascinating
read and in some parts it is. There is
good information about the development of AI (artificial intelligence) and how
it could impact society over time. But
the story didn’t really flow for me.
Each scene seemed to be set in a different restaurant in New York or
Paris; there is lots of eating and drinking in this book! There is an over -abundance of swearing in my
opinion. I just don’t think it’s
necessary to portray every bad character with a curse word. At times it felt a bit one dimensional; like
reading a script. There needed to be some life put into the
conversations and action.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
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This is Simon’s first novel so some of the flatness could
just be inexperience. I’m sure that this will be a series so I’ll
read the next book and hope that the writing improves somewhat.<o:p></o:p></div>
Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-20244449776418214112013-11-08T17:42:00.000-08:002013-11-08T17:42:19.860-08:00Crystal Blue by John H Cunningham<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the perks of having a book review blog is that I
occasionally get emails from publishers or agents asking me to review a book . Recently an agent from Get Red PR out of New
York asked me to review another John H. Cunningham novel. If you’re interested you can read my reviews of his first two books, <a href="http://sharisbooknotes.blogspot.ca/2011/08/red-right-return-by-john-h-cunningham.html" target="_blank">Red Right Return</a> and <a href="http://sharisbooknotes.blogspot.ca/2012/08/green-to-go-by-john-h-cunningham.html" target="_blank">Green to Go</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Crystal Blue is his newest book (I’m not sure if he is doing
primary colour titles or just colours in general but it seems to be a
theme). This is the third in his
series of Buck Reilly Adventures.
Mis-adventures might be a better term as his is definitely a good
luck/bad luck story. Buck’s ability to
make strategic friendships is a continuing theme and it’s entertaining to see
who he will connect with next.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Buck is the owner of Last Resort Salvage and Charters. His latest customer has frayed his last nerve
and he resolves to give up the charter part of the business. However on his return to base he’s coerced
into a well- paying gig flying celebrities around the Caribbean for a charity concert. This seems to be the good luck part of the
story. The bad luck part comes when the husband
of the couple planning the party is kidnapped.
Buck commits to helping the wife
(yes her name is Crystal) find her husband.
The adventure story unfolds with the lines between the good guys and bad
guys often getting blurred.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a fun adventure story with likable characters
continuing from the previous two books.
It’s an easy , entertaining read and I highly recommend this colourful
series. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-60312778939679691782013-11-05T10:54:00.000-08:002013-11-05T10:59:27.861-08:00The Woman Who Died A Lot by Jasper FForde<div class="MsoNormal">
Thursday Next is dealing with getting older and not healing
so fast from her last near fatal accident in <a href="http://sharisbooknotes.blogspot.ca/2011/05/one-of-our-thursdays-is-missing-by.html" target="_blank">One of our Thursdays is Missing. </a> The opening of this novel finds her in a
career crisis, dealing with memories that aren’t real and a threat to the city
she lives in. Her accident has prevented
her from being able to do her detective work within the Book World so she’s
faced with dealing with the real world problems. Well, real in Jasper FForde’s sense of the
word</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While I missed the adventures that usually take place in the
Book world, this is still a very book related story. In fact Thursday’s new job is as chief
librarian of the city’s library. This
story tackles politics and religion in a typical FForde tongue in cheek style
along with some time travel anomalies. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It all makes for a mind bending story. There are some paragraphs that I had to read
twice just to figure out what he was saying but that’s part of the charm of the
book at least for me. If you are a
Jasper FForde fan you will enjoy these continued adventures of Thursday Next
who does indeed die a lot in this story, or does she?<o:p></o:p></div>
Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-35929975178903932792013-09-08T17:17:00.000-07:002013-09-08T17:20:51.090-07:00How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny also available as an audiobook<br />
MacMillan Publishers asked me to let you know that How the Light Gets in by Louise Penny is also available as an audiobook from MacMillian audio. If you click on the soundcloud clip you can hear a sample. <br />
(Please note that despite the 'F" word in this sample there is <u>not</u> a lot of swearing in this book. )<br />
<br />
<a href="https://soundcloud.com/macaudio-2/how-the-light-gets-in" target="_blank">https://soundcloud.com/macaudio-2/how-the-light-gets-in</a>Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-76189423240274503882013-09-02T11:23:00.000-07:002013-09-02T11:25:29.621-07:00How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Louise Penny is one my favourite authors and one of the
things I like the most about her is that there is not a very long wait in
between books. Another thing that I like about her is that
not only the characters continue in her novels about so does the story
line. How the Light Gets in is the
culmination a story line that began 4 books back. Penny says that when she began telling this
story In the Brutal Telling she knew how it would end. Each book has revealed a
bit of the plot and this book was definitely worth the wait<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All the regular characters are back and we see the result
that the ending of The Beautiful Mystery has had on Gamache. While dealing with the decimation of his
department he is desperately trying to find out who has been behind all that’s
been happening. As he becomes more isolated and unsure of who
he can trust he must rely on his instincts and the help of his friends in the
Village of Three Pines that he has come to know so well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But like all of her novels, this isn’t the only
storyline. She weaves an interesting
tale of quintuplets, murder and political espionage that keeps the pages
turning and the ending shrouded in mystery.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m not certain if this is the end of the Gamache series or
not. I am certain that she will continue
to write great books. Each of the
villagers in Three Pines could merit their own novel so perhaps she will go
that route; or else something totally different. All I know is that whatever she writes I will
read.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-43181759506204486882013-08-21T14:14:00.001-07:002013-08-21T14:14:28.259-07:00The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> was given a copy of this book by Penguin Books to review.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the year 2059 London and several other cities are under the
regime of the Scion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This regime has
banned all clairvoyants thus creating an underground of criminal activity which
is where Paige Mahoney lives and works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She is a type of clairvoyant termed a dreamwalker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the one of the highest levels of
clairvoyants and makes her a highly desirable commodity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One night she is captured by an enemy that
turns everything she thought she knew about her world upside down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As she learns more about her surroundings,
her captors and herself she’s faced with tough decisions and a battle for her
mind, body and soul.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bone Season is a
fantasy novel that’s being compared to Harry Potter or The Hunger Games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure I agree with these
comparisons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t have the rich
detail of Harry Potter or the tension of the Hunger Games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It reminded me more of the Dresden Files by
Jim Butcher with its interplay between the spirit world and humans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the story is good and there is plenty
of action as Paige learns to hone her gift and interacts with her captors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is Samantha Shannon’s first novel and she is only 21
which I think accounts for the lack of depth in her characters and
descriptions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suspect that she will
only get better as there is a plan for 6 more books in this series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I enjoyed the book and the story was entertaining
and for a first novel I think it’s a good introduction and shows good potential
for the rest of the series.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-63728720016681627302013-08-04T09:09:00.005-07:002013-08-04T09:09:51.694-07:00A Dangerous Fiction by Barbara Rogan
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(I received a copy of this from Penguin Books on
netgalley.com to review)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">35 year old Joanna Donavon owns a successful literary agency
and has a sixth sense about which books will sell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s mourning the death of her husband of 10
years and trying to get on with the rest of her life when she is accosted by a wann-
be writer in Central Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her Agency
has rejected his manuscript so he has opted for a more direct approach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
encounter begins a series of frightening and potentially harmful incidents, at
least to her agency, until a murder occurs and that changes the game.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I always enjoy books with a literary bent to them and since Barbara
Rogan is an editor,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>agency owner and
writer the settings ring true to life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
is behind-the-scenes quality to the book that is fun and informative. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thriller aspect of the novel had me
jumping at noises in my house while I was reading it which shows I was really
engrossed in the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had almost
figured out the suspect by the end of the book but that didn’t lessen the
ending’s satisfaction for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a
good, solid mystery with great characters and I hope there is a sequel in the
works.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Barbara Rogan has been around for a while as a writer but
she is new to me so I will definitely be reading some of her other books.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-43026739157797407182013-08-01T15:35:00.003-07:002013-08-01T15:36:16.943-07:00The Pawn by Steven James<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Pawn introduces us to Patrick Bowers; an FBI agent
specializing in geographic profiling of violent crimes<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s
back at work after his wife of 5 months has passed away from cancer and left
him with a teenage stepdaughter and a lot of emotional baggage to work through.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The case he is involved with is a serial killer who is crazy
smart and always seems to be one step ahead of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Patrick’s job is to make sense of the
patterns before he kills again but the bodies are piling up and the killer
seems to be targeting him and his family as well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a well written thriller that actually had me scared
sometimes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The themes are good vs.
evil, choices and family ties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
an understated Christian message that has the main character questioning God,
the problem of pain and suffering and the problem of good vs. evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m always happy to discover a new author and especially
happy that this is the start of a series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve already downloaded the Rook, the second in the series and look
forward to reading it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But first I have
to do some housework as I almost didn’t put this book down until I was done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-35436920271800055372013-07-18T11:04:00.000-07:002013-07-18T11:04:31.934-07:00Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the 17<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> book in George’s long running series
starring Inspector Thomas Lynley, a British Lord turned Detective and one of
Scotland Yard’s finest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This book begins with a lie, is saturated with lies and at
the end, no one is really set free by the truth. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lynley is sent to investigate an accident and
to prove that it’s not a murder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
problem is that he can’t tell anyone that he is investigating so he needs to
concoct other ways to interview suspects and inspect the scene of the crime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As his investigation continues all sorts of
lies and secretes are revealed while he is struggling with his own problems
after the death of his wife a couple of books ago.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve read most of the books in this series and was starting
to get a bit tired of the characters and the story telling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But my faith has been restored in this latest
book. Unlike most series, this is a book that you could read and not have any
need for the back ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s
enough of a sense to give you an idea of what has gone on before but this is a
story where the characters are trying to move on from their past and learn from
their mistakes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The best part for me is that this is a long book but I didn’t
lose interest in the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m looking
forward to seeing how she continues the tale in subsequent books.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
</div>
Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-35340849030926371342013-07-12T15:51:00.000-07:002013-07-12T15:51:18.610-07:00419 by Will Ferguson
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">419 is the nickname for the Nigerian-run internet scam that
preys on people’s natural desire to help someone in need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just after reading this book I received an
email much like the ones portrayed in this book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately I knew enough to just delete it
and not respond!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laura Curtis’ father dies in a car crash that at first seems
like an accident and is later ruled a suicide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>During the investigation it is revealed that he has been a victim of an
internet scam and has lost all his life savings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In her grief, Laura decides that the
perpetrators of the scam must pay for what they did to her father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And thus starts a quest for revenge that
will have her questioning her beliefs, her lifestyle and her relationships.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Juxtaposed on this plot line is another plot that follows
the Nigerian scam artist and his family along with a mysterious woman whose
journey across the desert is interspersed between these two story lines. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At times this is a complicated book to follow
but the stories do eventually intersect and resolve.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I enjoyed this book although I found some of the
descriptions a bit long and boring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
is a lot of African history which didn’t always add to the flow of the book in
my opinion but was interesting none the less. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You won’t find much of the humour that
Ferguson is so well known for in this story but the tale is well-told and will
convince you to double check your email security.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-36015130746593049712013-06-11T15:00:00.001-07:002013-06-11T15:00:50.915-07:00A Question of Identity by Susan Hill
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Susan Hill’s Simon Serrailler novels are all set in the town
of Lafferton in England.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throughout the
series we have been introduced to Simon and his family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been interesting to watch the
characters develop and grow and A Question of Identity continues to flesh out
the Serrailler family in a fascinating study on family dynamics while
entertaining us with his most complicated murder investigation to date.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Identity is a big theme in this novel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously it’s a question of identity because
Simon needs to identify a killer who seems to be invisible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s also a question of identity for
Simon’s sister who is trying to make a life for herself after the death of her
husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a question of identity for
the woman who loves Simon yet is bound to her ill and dying husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a question of identity for Simon’s 14
year old nephew who seems to be morphing into the opposite of who he has
been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surprisingly in a way the only person not
questioning his identity in this novel seems to be Simon himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has a handle on his job, his love and
his life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is not really a whodunit as the reader knows early on
who Simon is looking for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In between
chapters is a chilling look into the mind of the killer which helps to move the
plot along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a good police
procedural with lots of twists and turns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I enjoyed this novel and look forward to more of the
Serrailler family drama in future stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can read other reviews of her books<a href="http://sharisbooknotes.blogspot.ca/2012/04/betryal-of-trust-by-susan-hill.html" target="_blank"> here</a> and <a href="http://sharisbooknotes.blogspot.ca/2011/03/shadows-in-street-by-susan-hill.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-27579124097454227892013-06-07T20:29:00.000-07:002013-06-08T10:58:15.454-07:00The Confession by John Grisham<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">John Grisham is well known for his legal thrillers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tackling corrupt juries, judges and lawyers
is the fodder of most of his novels. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has
also attacked issues like prejudice, vigilantism and in this latest book he
takes on the death penalty.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wrapping up a counselling session, Reverend Keith Schroeder
reads a quick email from his wife who is covering the office that day; the
email says “there’s a convicted felon out here who says he must see you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not realizing what he’s getting into the
pastor allows Travis Boyette into his office and hears his confession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile, Donte <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drumm is sitting on death row about to be
executed for a crime he supposedly committed 9 years earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has always maintained his innocence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His lawyers believe him and have been
frantically filing last minute appeals to get a stay of execution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Texas is a state that loves its death
penalty and so far every appeal has been denied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throw in a couple or three corrupt police and
government officials and you have the recipe for a cover up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once Keith Schroeder
realizes that he has the real murderer in his office; the quest to stop the
execution begins and no one’ s life is ever the same.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The story is told in the 3<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup> person <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and this gives us the ability to see into the
thoughts and minds of all the main characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Often I prefer a 1<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> person story but in this case it really
helps to be able to see all sides of the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story is not centered on the court room
drama as so many of his books are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead
the action is in the lawyer’s office and the debate as both sides of the death
penalty are discussed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This could have been
a preachy novel but Grisham manages to avoid that and it is a harrowing but
entertaining look at a very divisive issue.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wherever you land on the death penalty debate I highly
recommend this book but don’t expect to get anything else done while you’re
reading it; it is hard to put down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-100291324375527402013-05-16T14:04:00.000-07:002013-05-16T14:04:01.777-07:00His Majesty's Hope by Susan Elia MacNeal
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His Majesty’s Hope by Susan Elia MacNeal covers a few genres
namely historical/mystery/spy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
read a lot of historical fiction but I do like mysteries and the fact that this
was a female spy story set in WW 2 Berlin made this an intriguing story for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The story doesn’t disappoint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maggie Hope is a newly trained spy for the
British Intelligence and is set to go on her first foreign mission into
Berlin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are specific reasons that
she’s been chosen for this mission although she isn’t privy to this knowledge
for most of the novel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The historical
background in this novel is impressive and the characters are
well-written.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story has lots of
intrigue and suspense and I found this book hard to put down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I requested a copy from netgalley.com to review I had
no idea it was the 3<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup> book in a series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, you don’t necessarily need to know
the back story to enjoy this book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s
enough information to be able to connect the dots and if you happen to start
with this book it will just make you want to read the first two.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you like spy stories that feature strong female
characters then you will like this book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I would recommend it even if you haven’t read the first 2 but if you
want to read them in order it starts with Mr. Churchill’s Secretary and then
Princess Elizabeth’s Spy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is at work
on the 4<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> installment and I look forward to reading them all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-90538038172123768522013-05-08T10:49:00.000-07:002013-05-16T14:40:26.715-07:00Ground Truth by Rob Sangster<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve discovered that I am considered a “professional reader”
because I review books on my blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because of that I’ve been able to join netgalley.com.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Netgalley is a place where professional
readers can request titles to review direct from publishers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a good selection of titles
available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As far as I can tell only
digital formats are available so if you don’t have an e-reader you’re out of
luck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Otherwise they seem to support all
the popular brands of e-readers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So Ground Truth was the first title I requested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I requested it because it was a
mystery/thriller and because it is Sangster’s first novel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The main character is Jack Strider, a corporate lawyer with
aspirations to the Supreme Court.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His world
is turned upside down when his father commits suicide and ugly truths are
revealed about what he was involved in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jack is immediately tainted by this even though he and his father were
not close or working together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result
he is thrust into a new company with a new mandate which almost immediately
starts getting him into trouble.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This novel is a fast-paced thriller that was only slowed
down for me by some of the awkward formatting on my Kindle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt some of the scene changes were a bit
sloppy and I sometimes had to read a few pages back to figure out how the
transition had happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This could
just be an editing issue rather than a flaw in the writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The plot centers on hazardous waste and water issues in Mexico.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It turns out that Sangster has the background
to write this type of novel since he was a lawyer, has done a lot of travelling
and is involved in bringing clean water to Mexico.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The story is interesting and the characters are
well-developed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems a bit preachy
at times but clearly the author is passionate about his subject so that the
novel not only entertains but informs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would highly recommend this book and look forward to more
from this author.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-80692075725517498822013-04-03T19:50:00.000-07:002013-04-14T16:43:42.756-07:00Review of the Human Division by John Scalzi and a Rant<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First the Review:</span></span></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is typical Scalzi; brilliantly written, very funny and imaginative. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On to the Rant:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There’s a relatively new phenomena in publishing, only it isn’t
really that new, just an old form updated. I’m talking about serial
writing. In the early days of publishing, stories were serialized in
magazines and readers would have to wait for their next monthly installment to
find out what happened. Well this form has reared its ugly head again in
the form of episodic chapters written for e-readers and audio
books. I experienced this recently with the novel by John Scalzi
called the Human Division.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As you will
know from my other <a href="http://sharisbooknotes.blogspot.ca/2010/11/agent-to-stars-by-john-scalzi.html" target="_blank">reviews</a> of Scalzi’s works I’m a big fan. His view of
alien/human interaction is funny and I enjoy reading his books. So I was
pleased to see the Human Division in my Kindle Store. It was written in
episodes and I immediately downloaded several and began enjoying the
story. It wasn’t until I got to the end of the available episodes that I
realized that this was still a work in progress and so I’ve had to download the
final several episodes weekly to find out the end of the story. At $1.15
per episode this seems reasonable until you discover that there will be 14 in
all. This irks me as I have steadfastly refused to pay the rising
costs on Kindle and would never have started the novel if I had realized what
was happening.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don’t
understand the appeal of this form of writing from a readers point of view (I
fully understand it from an author/publisher point of view). These
episode are short and the cliff hanger aspect of waiting for the next one gets
old really fast. Moreover it’s easy to lose track of the characters
especially in this case as each episode tends to feature different people and
that loses some of the continuity for me. I suppose if you’re a slow
reader or an especially big fan of short stories you might enjoy this type of
reading. I’m not and I don’t. Maybe it boils down to what my mother
calls “chicken today feathers tomorrow” philosophy. I’ve always been the
type of person who wants the whole chicken today and I’ll deal later with
only having feathers tomorrow. If you’re the type of person who likes to
prolong their pleasure then maybe this type of reading is for you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have no
idea how many people read this blog so I could be ranting into thin air.
I know there a couple publishers that stop by occasionally and I hope
they take note of this. ( Incidentally, the book I previously reviewed<a href="http://sharisbooknotes.blogspot.ca/2010/11/agent-to-stars-by-john-scalzi.html" target="_blank"> Wool</a> was
also first published as a serial. I’m glad I didn’t get it until there
was a fully published novel!)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-10012212398702193682013-03-31T19:41:00.001-07:002013-03-31T19:41:14.859-07:00Wool by Hugh Howey
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s not often these days that I find a book so good that I
read it in a couple of days but Wool was definitely that book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simon and Schuster sent me a copy to review.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a post-apocalyptic world, a remnant of humans remain
living underground in a silo that is 144 levels deep. It is a society based on
strict rules and regulations and generations have already come and gone when we
meet the current inhabitants of the silo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The society is segregated by function; the farmers and mechanical people
are in the lower third, the people who run the information technology sector
are in the middle third and the professionals are in the top third.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The top third is the only place that there is
a view to the outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The silo is
self-sufficient and efficient in the way it’s run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the secrets are becoming known and the
fabric of the society is starting to unravel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The heroine of the story is a 34 year old woman named Juliette who is
from the mechanical sector.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A series of
events lead to her moving up to the top level and becoming entangled in the
mysteries of the silo.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The writing is tight and atmospheric.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I almost felt the claustrophobia of
people who had to live underground all their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is lots of action and the characters
themselves are likeable, well-written and I found myself caring about what
happened to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This book is a page-turner
and like Juliette the reader becomes entangled in the mysteries of the
silo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was happy with the ending and I hope there is a sequel in the
works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recommend this book to
everyone, even if this isn’t your typical genre to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story is just that good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-52958602755564321292013-03-17T13:28:00.000-07:002013-03-17T13:28:32.382-07:00Happy St Patrick's Day
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">St. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Patrick is the patron saint
of Ireland and although I’m not catholic I am part Irish so top of the mornin’
to you and may St Patrick’s prayer be your prayer today.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 19.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Prayer of St. Patrick<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 1.5pt 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I arise today<br />
Through the strength of heaven;<br />
Light of the sun,<br />
Splendor of fire,<br />
Speed of lightning,<br />
Swiftness of the wind,<br />
Depth of the sea,<br />
Stability of the earth,<br />
Firmness of the rock.<br />
<br />
I arise today<br />
Through God's strength to pilot me;<br />
God's might to uphold me,<br />
God's wisdom to guide me,<br />
God's eye to look before me,<br />
God's ear to hear me,<br />
God's word to speak for me,<br />
God's hand to guard me,<br />
God's way to lie before me,<br />
God's shield to protect me,<br />
God's hosts to save me<br />
Afar and anear,<br />
Alone or in a multiude.<br />
<br />
Christ shield me today<br />
Against wounding<br />
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,<br />
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,<br />
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,<br />
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,<br />
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,<br />
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,<br />
Christ in the eye that sees me,<br />
Christ in the ear that hears me.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 1.5pt 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br />
I arise todayThrough the mighty strength<br />
Of the Lord of creation.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-47966799073544706952013-03-10T19:01:00.001-07:002013-03-10T19:01:36.131-07:00Billy Graham and Me by Steve Posner and Amy Newmark
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Simon and Schuster sent me a copy of Billy Graham and Me to
review.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> This is an anthology of stories from the Chicken Soup for the Soul people.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a collection of short stories from the famous people
who have known Billy Graham throughout his lifetime; presidents, ministry leaders,
leaders of other countries, actors, actresses and musicians have written their
memories and praises of this iconic figure in modern Christianity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interspersed among these stories are memories
from the people who know him best, his family and co-workers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also
included are leaders from other faiths who have interacted with Billy Graham
and appreciate him for his ability to be with those who don’t believe the same
as he does and to interact without judgement or condemnation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is an amazing and inspirational read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like a living eulogy for a 94 year old
man who has lived his life and served God with integrity and humility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To a person, they laud his gentle spirit, his
caring for others and his unwavering faith in the message that he
preached.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although offered other
positions of power and influence throughout his life; he remained committed to
preaching the gospel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is also a fun book to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides the touching memories are funny
stories and behind the scenes glimpses that bring Billy Graham and his ministry
to life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The best part of the book for me is the Afterword from Billy
Graham.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He can’t write any more because
of eye disease but he humbly thanks the people who have written and then, in typical
Billy Graham style says “to God be the glory”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I highly recommend this book.</span></div>
Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-15741672025587776382013-02-23T16:17:00.000-08:002013-02-24T09:31:07.624-08:00Crossroads by Wm. Paul Young<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is Young’s second book after his controversial and
popular book<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Shack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the first few chapters I thought it was
too much like the Shack to bother with reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And then somehow the story took hold in my mind and I had a hard time
putting the book down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anthony Spencer is a self-made millionaire, twice divorced and
twice married to the same woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s
vindictive, selfish and lousy at relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he’s in a coma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
in the coma he “wakes up” in another time and place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first person he meets is Jack and they
have a conversation about God and belief and unbelief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is where the story mirrors the Shack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as the story moves along Tony encounters
the Holy Spirit portrayed as a First Nations woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Tony begins to examine his choices
throughout his life he comes face to face with the kind of person he was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally he is told he is going on another
journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not going to describe this
part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suffice it to stay that I’ve
watched enough Star Trek not to be wierded out by entities inhabiting human
beings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I enjoy a good science fiction story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a little harder to follow in a spiritual
sense but as the story continues I was able to ignore the way Tony was getting
around and enjoyed the characters he was meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each person helps him with the decision he
needs to make and along the way he, well you should really read the book if you
want to know how it ends.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Young has found his writing style and it is improving in my
opinion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The characters are endearing;
the conversation crisp and humorous and there are spiritual nuggets to glean
and enjoy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I doubt this will be as
controversial as the first book was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
wasn’t expecting to but in the end I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would
recommend it if you can read it with an open mind and heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-91354782403634534002013-02-09T08:52:00.000-08:002013-02-09T08:52:07.219-08:00Morning Cup of Murder by Vanessa Gray Bartal
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> desperately needed a break from reading Anna Karenina so I
downloaded<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Morning Cup of Murder by
Vanessa Gray Bartal to my Kindle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is what would be termed a cozy mystery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main character is Lacy Steele, a 25 year
old writer who is back home living with her grandma after a failed
relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life isn’t perfect but she
loves her Grandma and is working out what to do next in her life when there is
a murder in town and her Grandmother is inexplicably arrested for the murder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A lot of the story is a formula; geeky high schooler returns
to home town a beauty and runs into the popular jock who is now the good cop in
town and at first they don’t get along etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>but the characters are believable; the mystery itself is a good one and
the ending is a surprise. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along with
the good cop there is a new single pastor in town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He adds and interesting faith element to the
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would not immediately label
this Christian fiction but grace and mercy are definitely themes in the story.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I enjoyed this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
easy to read and only cost .98 cents for my Kindle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the first of a series so I’ve also
downloaded the second one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re
looking for an easy and entertaining read I would recommend this book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-68041812400463536362013-02-03T13:59:00.000-08:002013-04-14T17:10:50.938-07:00Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> often pick the books I’m going to read based solely on the
title.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like quirky names; I picked <a href="http://sharisbooknotes.blogspot.ca/2011/05/one-of-our-thursdays-is-missing-by.html" target="_blank">Jasper Fforde’s</a>
books to read because of the two F’s in his last name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when I saw this book that not only had a
quirky name but was about a bookstore I was sold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Web designer Clay Jannon has lost his job and is on the hunt
for a new one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being tired of sitting at
a computer all day he decides to take a walk and discovers a sign in bookstore advertising
for help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this is no ordinary bookstore
as he finds out on his first evening shift. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a remarkable story based on the oldest theme in the
world, the quest for immortality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
story combines modern day technology with old world literature and charming
characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mixture of old and new
in the story is part of what makes this book so remarkable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I
can only say that technology helps to break an ancient code that is hiding in
plain sight. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Old vs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>young is also a theme as the young Clay Jannon
is mentored by the elderly Mr. Penumbra. And finally the book is about
friendship; old and new and what friends will do for each other.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is Robin Sloane’s first book, I sincerely hope that he’s
working on another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614770025131939975.post-43955778523898657682013-02-03T11:31:00.001-08:002013-02-03T11:31:35.241-08:00Immortality
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m reading a novel about the quest for immortality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This seems to be the theme of many books both
fiction and nonfiction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As humans we
have a natural desire to live forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I don’t think we really start thinking about this until we hit 50 or
60 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of a sudden time
speeds up and years go by in the blink of an eye and we start to wonder about
eternity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are many ways to prolong our lives from living a
healthy life style to cryonics (the act of freezing the body after death hoping
for resuscitation later on).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
also ways to ensure we leave a legacy after our death; having families, producing
a great piece of art or literature, becoming a philanthropist etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Bible says in Ecclesiastes says that God has put
eternity in our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our quest for immortality
is really a God shaped vacuum longing to be filled put there by the Creator
Himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The search for immortality is
ultimately a search for God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The good
news is that God wants to be found and that He has provided a way for us to
live eternally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><em><span class="text">For God so loved the world that he gave his one and
only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John 3:16<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
Shari Morehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17278523428086509122noreply@blogger.com2