tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63150069072597756312024-03-07T13:18:50.151-06:00Jennifer Oberth, Mystery Author-author of the Ella Westin MysteriesJennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comBlogger259125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-10228760748582080372020-10-16T12:18:00.004-05:002020-10-16T14:02:56.898-05:00<p> Greetings, everybody!</p><p><br /></p><p>I'm not a prolific blogger, as you can clearly see if you scroll down a post and look at the date (you don't have to do that, seriously, it's embarrassing), but I do tweet and am fairly active on Goodreads.</p><p>I'll just leave some links here in case you want to connect with me.</p><p>And I wouldn't be a writer worth her salt if I didn't ask for you to leave reviews of my books, so please leave reviews of my books!</p><p>I hope you've enjoyed my stories or will enjoy my stories (or both)!</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://twitter.com/JenniferOberth" target="_blank">Twitter</a></p><p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4981259.Jennifer_Oberth" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></p><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Jennifer-Oberth-Books-130807510319849" target="_blank">Facebook</a></p><p><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jenniferoberth" target="_blank">Smashwords</a></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Oberth/e/B005JU9GP6?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1602868485&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a></p>Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-47090664894561953032017-09-27T17:30:00.001-05:002017-09-27T17:30:42.924-05:00<i>Queen's Quest</i> has been released!<br />
<br />
#5 in the Ella Westin mysteries.<br />
<br />
Check it out at <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/744834">Smashwords</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Queens-Quest-Ella-Westin-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07562TP9B/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1506551224&sr=8-1&keywords=jennifer+oberth">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/queens-quest/id1276765830?mt=11">Apple</a> and many other places.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQmNxtEV5LsIZ41TRt-lGXszwY_5PZgveybQ0ERlSfRRW2-pALdgtHdoi4WFCCoGDiDGvhCG4QlcH0dkQR5TKqimpoU-9koazuaf9S7Huu69BHWj4dhMm0yz-ZyNk_P3M0e4QemDlY2E/s1600/QQ+Final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQmNxtEV5LsIZ41TRt-lGXszwY_5PZgveybQ0ERlSfRRW2-pALdgtHdoi4WFCCoGDiDGvhCG4QlcH0dkQR5TKqimpoU-9koazuaf9S7Huu69BHWj4dhMm0yz-ZyNk_P3M0e4QemDlY2E/s320/QQ+Final.jpg" width="248" height="320" data-original-width="1238" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><br />
Ella Westin is tasked with investigating a haunted house – though she doesn’t believe in such things. A clue leads her straight into the heart of a plot to rob the Port Bass Museum. Can she catch the thieves or will she become one of them?<br />
<br />
This is the fifth story in the Ella Westin Mysteries and is 30,644 words - only 99 cents!!!!<br />
<br />
Order your copy today!Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-49723803320516026772015-11-27T09:40:00.000-06:002015-11-27T09:42:30.425-06:00COVER REVEAL! 'Unpacking the Undertaker' (Ella Westin #4)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kvFHsq9NTQy6ub0Z1CYmKrkLbtbGTAqTYk613Mza3pg9R83myZm6fdYyLILko8YsWHfvw_PypSjAi8_oPlSpNUar5cby0afanRuvQQ5CkCqlFoHC0jS2nfcY-fLDZ02ChRUpm6EaUxw/s1600/unpack+undertaker+%2528final%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kvFHsq9NTQy6ub0Z1CYmKrkLbtbGTAqTYk613Mza3pg9R83myZm6fdYyLILko8YsWHfvw_PypSjAi8_oPlSpNUar5cby0afanRuvQQ5CkCqlFoHC0jS2nfcY-fLDZ02ChRUpm6EaUxw/s640/unpack+undertaker+%2528final%2529.jpg" width="403" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Release Date: December 27, 2015</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pre-order now: <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unpacking-the-undertaker-jennifer-oberth/1122266096?ean=2940152017618" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/unpacking-the-undertaker/id1017010916?mt=11" target="_blank">iTunes</a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>(Available everywhere December 27, 2015)</b></span></div>
<br />Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-49884834539507523192015-07-25T11:19:00.000-05:002015-07-25T11:20:32.997-05:00'Married To Murder' & 'Masked Rider: Origins' On Sale Through July 31, 2015I've taken advantage of the Smashwords July Summer/Winter Sale, and I've put two stories on sale.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5-li-FQQq-qlVjrK-yNgk5FIS1ludjbELFzQKg36rMWgl1ImaO3JUPP_zzmhbrccBkYChRL1hhHdH_opkiHy7VVWyWrLJkzld2yDO-1hF5fVUBTiAgqzhtLtbNTV1uC_SOf0wCB6I6E/s1600/%2527MM%2527+sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5-li-FQQq-qlVjrK-yNgk5FIS1ludjbELFzQKg36rMWgl1ImaO3JUPP_zzmhbrccBkYChRL1hhHdH_opkiHy7VVWyWrLJkzld2yDO-1hF5fVUBTiAgqzhtLtbNTV1uC_SOf0wCB6I6E/s640/%2527MM%2527+sale.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<i><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/39549" target="_blank">Married To Murder</a></i>, the Ella Westin series starter, is FREE through July 31, 2015.</div>
<div>
Just enter the code "SW100" at checkout.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
*****</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you like <i><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/39549" target="_blank">Married To Murder</a></i>, be sure to continue reading with <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/84457" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Honeymoon Homicide</a> <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">99</span></span></span><span style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.375px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">¢</span></span><i>.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9YKosSDKNzQ0FJnFGnS_FkYdG-Z-EnpRmvMMIb614C9DKYvnrffWSK5B6gqL2Qffo1PzyNBIfPL9HSW6AaAeexOHCvklegA05rf26TzwYukfNqHShsFTT9btTkfvpOEfFHE8E4SW-oIU/s1600/Honeymoon+Homicide+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9YKosSDKNzQ0FJnFGnS_FkYdG-Z-EnpRmvMMIb614C9DKYvnrffWSK5B6gqL2Qffo1PzyNBIfPL9HSW6AaAeexOHCvklegA05rf26TzwYukfNqHShsFTT9btTkfvpOEfFHE8E4SW-oIU/s320/Honeymoon+Homicide+Cover.jpg" width="243" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;">Ella is awakened in the middle of the night by her new husband. But it's not what you think – he wants her to solve a murder. At 4 a.m. Can she do it? Or will she add another homicide to her honeymoon?</span></div>
<br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;" />
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;">This is the second story in the Ella Westin Mysteries.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;">8,383 words.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
*****</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: start;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Need more Ella? Try <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/166124" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Toxic Train</a> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">99</span></span></span><span style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.375px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">¢</span></span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qxbEqeKbhmwZwOZG-wQ3Hgz3eRok8kwRyY5ILdwWVSIXj4J0noZHqSTGOCJYqqEVESMgGtlRpEQVb3iQXWPiyRpj5r41IOdC72i1LfcNgbh0DSV9ntdYqh3N-z5fPCJjIQw4MUb6FRI/s1600/Toxic+Train.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qxbEqeKbhmwZwOZG-wQ3Hgz3eRok8kwRyY5ILdwWVSIXj4J0noZHqSTGOCJYqqEVESMgGtlRpEQVb3iQXWPiyRpj5r41IOdC72i1LfcNgbh0DSV9ntdYqh3N-z5fPCJjIQw4MUb6FRI/s320/Toxic+Train.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;">When a fellow train passenger is murdered right in front of her eyes, newlywed Ella Westin thinks it's great that all the suspects are trapped with her. But when she can't check out backgrounds or confirm motives - or lack of - she soon finds herself in over her head. </span></div>
<br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;" />
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;">Then an unthinking Joe seems more determined to sabotage Ella's efforts than the murderer. Will she be able to solve the case before a second death occurs? Did the murderer engineer too good a crime for even Ella's skills? Can she track the criminal or will she be derailed before she can put her plan in motion? If the couple survive, is this just the beginning of a toxic relationship?</span><br />
<br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;" />
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;">This is the third story in the Ella Westin Mysteries.</span><br />
<br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;" />
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;">19,968 words.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
*****</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: start;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Now you can pre-order the fourth installment of the Ella Westin Mysteries at <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unpacking-the-undertaker-jennifer-oberth/1122266096?ean=2940152017618" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> or the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/unpacking-the-undertaker/id1017010916?mt=11" target="_blank">Apple</a> store!</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><b style="font-style: italic;">Unpacking the Undertaker</b> - 99</span></span></span><span style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.375px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">¢</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: start;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Ella is back from her honeymoon and is moving into her new home. She unpacked a particularly heavy crate and got a nasty shock. All she wanted to do was put her books on the bookshelf. Is it too late to close the crate and send it back?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">#4 in the Ella Westin Mysteries coming <b>December 27, 2015</b></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
</span><br />
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
*****</div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
Can't get enough of Ella's"retired" pirate father-in-law?</div>
<div>
Read <i>Ella & Jasper Shorts</i> for FREE.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSchSwtx0Uk-a_4_YtXCDfWXJk9Blino6v7qE7xjDmbobaHnlbZmtN3XPny_A7OaCOiaFLG727dvnUPPoGVrTsDQ1XjaH92pH8asSYfQGgwi6Cfh2XOt3tZDYu3s9xMgDhgwgVbPfbNCg/s1600/Ella+%2526+Jasper+Shorts+%25231+-+1600x2480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSchSwtx0Uk-a_4_YtXCDfWXJk9Blino6v7qE7xjDmbobaHnlbZmtN3XPny_A7OaCOiaFLG727dvnUPPoGVrTsDQ1XjaH92pH8asSYfQGgwi6Cfh2XOt3tZDYu3s9xMgDhgwgVbPfbNCg/s320/Ella+%2526+Jasper+Shorts+%25231+-+1600x2480.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">When Ella marries Joe Westin, she inherits a father-in-law who gets her into more trouble than the bad guys. As a former thief turned government agent, Ella thinks she’s up for any assignment that comes her way, but Jasper Westin just might be more than she can handle.</span><br />
<br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">In <i>Ernest Effort</i>, a parrot-keeper is kidnapped, and a dangerous pirate orders Ella to find his son immediately. Not one to give in to demands, Ella makes an announcement that stuns everyone.</span><br />
<br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">In <i>Missing Monkey</i>, Jasper’s cohorts have misplaced their pet monkey, but the primate isn't the only thing that’s vanished. Ella needs to track the monkey down before nightfall or Jasper will pay the consequences.</span><br />
<br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">In <i>Close Quarters</i>, Ella is in a grim predicament—she and Jasper are about to be hanged for murder, and while she’s armed to the teeth, the only weapon at her disposal is her tongue. What could go wrong?</span><br />
<br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Set in the 1820s, these three quick reads offer a fun glimpse into Ella’s new family life.</span><br />
<br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i>Ernest Effort</i> (2,205 words)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i>Missing Monkey</i> (1,479 words)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i>Close Quarters</i> (3,500 words)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
*****</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">And if you can't get enough of Westins in general, check out <i><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/174791" target="_blank">Masked Rider: Origins</a></i> - also on sale through July 31, 2015. 50% off!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Just enter the code "SSW50" at checkout.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLADc3ghVpKJLf-kK38qDGlVaCPOKbdX3ut4bMGaCcI4DvpsnLWcoX3BoAa9K6ybZfyGye5_S19AmcyRUgulKZUyclZZbcUgVPvWKMhC8TAIqR6BUuGvnqHm_CizdkLIqsnj7FJ3neN4/s1600/MRO+-+sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLADc3ghVpKJLf-kK38qDGlVaCPOKbdX3ut4bMGaCcI4DvpsnLWcoX3BoAa9K6ybZfyGye5_S19AmcyRUgulKZUyclZZbcUgVPvWKMhC8TAIqR6BUuGvnqHm_CizdkLIqsnj7FJ3neN4/s640/MRO+-+sale.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div>
Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-69874351619255761002015-01-09T17:52:00.000-06:002015-01-09T17:52:48.489-06:00'Except the Dying' by Maureen Jennings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgEAc0QJJ_GKuecfPPaJPl60J38HdCYlmupYDqKxpzZLQUJtOn9d3wQx3TBjvsiJ0-IshTsFddZxiBeUNjuIa6xta2OAoUm9LixA_4Zc0p5saF41NQeRYSqUykQAl8l-d6JcO4Qr3oUA/s1600/Except+the+Dying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgEAc0QJJ_GKuecfPPaJPl60J38HdCYlmupYDqKxpzZLQUJtOn9d3wQx3TBjvsiJ0-IshTsFddZxiBeUNjuIa6xta2OAoUm9LixA_4Zc0p5saF41NQeRYSqUykQAl8l-d6JcO4Qr3oUA/s1600/Except+the+Dying.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span id="freeText9798014323890440971"><span style="color: blue;">"In the middle of the bitterly cold winter of 1895 in Toronto, the naked body of a young servant girl has recently been discovered in a deserted laneway. Detective William Murdoch must determine the reason why she died under such miserable circumstances. To catch his criminal, Murdoch crosses the class lines of a society that still clings to a British hierarchical system, and behind the chenille curtains of the wealthy, he uncovers personalities capable of committing ugly crimes."</span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">-Book Description</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<u>My Review</u>:<br />
<br />
I fell in love with the <em>Murdoch Mysteries</em> TV show and saw it was based on novels. So I decided to read the first novel and checked out reviews on Goodreads to see how the books were. The show is a bit graphic in the autopsy room and I wondered if the books were gory. What people said was, 'if you like the TV show, you'll love the books'.<br />
<br />
Those people could not be more wrong.<br />
<br />
I don't get it. The show has a fine sense of humor. Murdoch is known for trying out cutting edge techniques in law enforcement. Constable George Crabtree is a young man, fresh-faced, unmarried, always coming up with crazy theories and loyal almost to a fault. (I crave 'George-theories'! Like when a body was discovered in a tree with no footprints anywhere. No one can figure it out. Murdoch and George talk about it and George says, "Most of my conclusions I've had to rule out due to sheer impossibility but the most feasible solution I've come to is that he was shot out of a canon." I fell in love with him just a little bit more when he said that.)<br />
<br />
In the books, Murdoch just goes around town asking people about their whereabouts. He uses almost no other technique to find the murderer. He doesn't like anybody he works with, except Crabtree, who gets maybe five minutes in the book. Crabtree is a massive fellow with about six kids. There is no humor that I could discern.<br />
<br />
The book was very well written, I just didn't like it. Not only was I expecting a similar experience to the show (since the show is based on the books and since reviews indicated they were alike) and quite disappointed that didn't pan out.<br />
<br />
The book was harsh and I'm not talking about the weather. (A girl is found dead in the snow during a bitter winter in Toronto. I read it while we, here in Chicago, were having another day of 30 below zero, wind chill.) The attitude toward women is deplorable. The language used throughout the book is callous. I'm not easily offended but 255 pages of reading about how woman are barely good for one thing left a nasty taste in my mouth.<br />
<br />
All the characters smelled, almost all of them were dirty, living in awful conditions and the overall feel of the book was depressing and morose. Furthermore, every single person in the book is sick, either physically or mentally, except for one man introduced toward the end. This is not a cheerful book. I'm not saying it should be, I just don't understand how the show came from it and why other people stated I'd like it.<br />
<br />
Try for yourself if you like, my only problems are personal preference so go for it. Make up your own mind.Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-19376991627830458902015-01-04T18:13:00.003-06:002015-01-09T17:53:08.694-06:00'A Christmas Arrangement' by Annie Adams<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTY762F5X0o7wxWNnbH7tKHlvUsaTntTghtg1UQkNIS7mTqrarfFu21PSSgi4hH3zxda2A5wN5KQ4lJ6lMO-8QLvF6gecetUmUPbfyi_qVM68tHnobp2mt2zSqzXZpWGTWY8uBlwMlsIk/s1600/A+Christmas+Arrangement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTY762F5X0o7wxWNnbH7tKHlvUsaTntTghtg1UQkNIS7mTqrarfFu21PSSgi4hH3zxda2A5wN5KQ4lJ6lMO-8QLvF6gecetUmUPbfyi_qVM68tHnobp2mt2zSqzXZpWGTWY8uBlwMlsIk/s1600/A+Christmas+Arrangement.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<u>About the book</u>:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
"<span id="freeText16030236002431397843">It's Christmastime in Hillside, but there's a lack of holiday spirit for flower shop owner Quincy McKay. She's in charge of the town festival and her shop's open house, but her Santa's a no-show and her flower cooler is on the fritz. To make matters worse, she's learned her ex-husband isn't as ex as she'd thought. Just when she thought things couldn't get any worse, her boyfriend, hot cop Alex Cooper announces his parents are coming to town.<br /><br />Alex Cooper is the perfect man in Quincy's book, but unfortunately his mother thinks so too. And no woman is perfect enough for her perfect son, but especially not the weird flower shop girl who works too much, can't cook and who she catches kissing another man in the department store. And what's this she hears about Quincy being married? Eleanor Cooper must help her son dodge a bullet (and not the kind from his job) during the romantic holiday season to prevent him from being ensnared in a regrettable relationship.<br /><br />Quincy's dignity (of which lately she's in short supply), her reputation, and every business in town are riding upon the success of the city's Christmas celebration. If she can figure out a way to make it work despite failing equipment, helpers dropping out of the picture as fast as snowflakes in a blizzard, a troubling and inappropriate Secret Santa, and the possibility of arrest, she might win the respect of everyone in the town, but more importantly, Alex's parents.<br /><br />If Alex can survive his loving but meddling mother until Christmas, and keep Quincy safe from her crazy ex-husband, with a little help from the MLM (Mormon Ladies Mafia), and K.C. the she-Santa, he'll arrange for the perfect holiday for himself and the woman who has captured his heart.</span>"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<u></u> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<u>My Review</u>:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<em> A Christmas Arrangement</em> was fun - an
entertaining read. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in this book. Now, this
is unfair to the author, but I was really annoyed at first because I was under
the impression it was a cozy mystery when in fact, it’s a light-hearted,
humorous romance. Part of my confusion was due to the fact I found this book in
a cozy mystery thread on Goodreads, and the other part was because this is part
of a mystery series. But, I enjoyed the story so much that I dropped my
annoyance of waiting for a victim, waiting for a murder investigation, waiting
for what I thought was foreshadowing and clues to pan out – that when I
finished reading, I went straight to the first book in this series, <em>The
Final Arrangement.</em> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Some of the crazy situations Quincy (the main character) got
into were so far-fetched you knew they were contrived (breaking that fourth
wall) but Quincy was such a delight to read that I didn’t mind. The humor was
seamless, the action gripping, the suspense delicious and the characters
awesome.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
I loved this story!</div>
Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-85806830035418714672014-12-19T18:42:00.000-06:002014-12-19T19:41:06.713-06:00'Mousetrap' Play (Agatha Christie)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sCM8_nyRBmbZf5K5oLmcrwmeZzSQNXdnWyx7FE2u-mOnzAi5ld_P6OASSLU_3h4q-NwD1lQLwxyuy3yDry32tWIDKOUF9l8iwNBGd3FSbw6Uu9izncKmY0sqetsNOVDG1dqAsbDeAO8/s1600/mousetrap-250x250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sCM8_nyRBmbZf5K5oLmcrwmeZzSQNXdnWyx7FE2u-mOnzAi5ld_P6OASSLU_3h4q-NwD1lQLwxyuy3yDry32tWIDKOUF9l8iwNBGd3FSbw6Uu9izncKmY0sqetsNOVDG1dqAsbDeAO8/s1600/mousetrap-250x250.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"On a snowy night at Monkswell Manor, newlyweds Mollie and Giles welcome a group of strangers to their guest house, only to discover news of a murderer in their midst! A police investigation reveals the sordid details of each guest's mysterious past, but not soon enough to stop the killer from striking again. Agatha Christie's masterful whodunit weaves an intricate plot filled with nerve-rattling suspense, all leading up to the ultimate final twist!"<br />
-From the <a href="http://www.northlight.org//pages/2014_2015_season/348.php" target="_blank">website</a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://ellieoberth.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mom</a> took me to see Agatha Christie’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.footlights.com/theatre-companies/northlight-theatre-company/events/the-mousetrap/" target="_blank">Mousetrap</a></i> at the <a href="http://www.footlights.com/city/milwaukee/" target="_blank">Footlights Theater</a> last Saturday. We handed over our
tickets and walked into the main theater. I followed Mom. She walked down the steps…past seats…past
half the rows…past <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> of the rows.
We sat in the first row! When I stretched my leg out, my foot was on the level
stage. During the performance, sometimes the actors would walk toward us and I
actually hunched back a couple of times because they were so close – it was
great!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnB8bG_j8urE3nDw1xuzLOjpinI2j2ZzitW0xhWqbRJn_QFYjuIc18U-lTjlkFJiNniQ1oYq0-CRsh_u1jWMvXNlSD2leOEcUl0-z7uNZGk3qJlCFATqzcSWCLWXWt7ujyCD0dmBThj-A/s1600/B2mTcpXCYAEqRPQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnB8bG_j8urE3nDw1xuzLOjpinI2j2ZzitW0xhWqbRJn_QFYjuIc18U-lTjlkFJiNniQ1oYq0-CRsh_u1jWMvXNlSD2leOEcUl0-z7uNZGk3qJlCFATqzcSWCLWXWt7ujyCD0dmBThj-A/s1600/B2mTcpXCYAEqRPQ.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
The actors did a splendid job.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/joey_deb" target="_blank">Joey deBettencourt</a> played Christopher Wren and he was superb. He reminded me of David Tennant in <em>Randall and Hopkirk</em> - completely crazy and awesome. He laughed at inappropriate times and made the other characters feel so uncomfortable that you felt uncomfortable. Then he would break out in song or say something so off-the-wall that the audience laughed, thus lifting the tension.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4273213/" target="_blank">Greg Matthew Anderson</a> was also wonderful as Sergeant Trotter. He was thoroughly enjoyable to watch. I found myself staring at Joey deBettencourt or Greg Matthew Anderson when they were on stage, even if they weren't talking or the focus was elsewhere.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0165816/" target="_blank">Patrick Clear</a> played Major Metcalf and he reminded me of every kind, old, retired military person ever played in any movie, TV or play - and that's meant as a compliment. He was perfect and played his part to perfection. (And he was on <em>Early Edition</em>!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/lauratfisher" target="_blank">Laura T. Fisher</a> was Mrs. Boyle. She, also, played her part to perfection. She got all the straight lines that others would play off. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.lindseypearlman.com/" target="_blank">Lindsey Pearlman</a> as Miss Casewell was a perfect fit. She <em>was</em> Miss Casewell. When she wasn't delivering a line, she was listening, reacting. She was fantastic.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1035292/" target="_blank">Joe Dempsey</a> played Mr. Paravicini and I loved how he used the accent to make his character come alive. Mr. Paravicini was another one who was a little bit crazy and said the most inappropriate things at the worst times - delightful for the audience, not so much for the other characters. (And he was on <em>Early Edition</em>, too!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.coravanderbroek.com/" target="_blank">Cora Vander Broek</a> played Mollie Ralston and was a delight to watch. All she wanted to do was run her new bed-and-breakfast but everything conspired against her, from the weather to her strange guests and, of course, a killer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.northlight.org/pages/the_mousetrap/359.php" target="_blank">Keith Neagle</a> played Giles Ralston, Mollie's husband. He was excellent! Whenever his character was interrupted, he held back, looking like he either wanted to murder the person or wait for his turn to speak. You weren't sure which!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
The clothes were old
fashioned, the set dressed simply but elegantly and the accents were pretty
good. I think my favorite detail was the snow outside the window. Facing our
awesome seats - a little to the right - a big picture window (that opened and
closed, allowing two characters to exit as needed) seemed to look outside. You knew
it led backstage, you knew we were deep inside a building, in a windowless
room, yet it really looked like a huge winter storm blew outside this fake
window. “Snow” fell during the entire play. There was a sound, natural and
familiar. It was low enough that you didn’t quite realize you were hearing a blowing
wind. I think the scene was set so perfectly that we all fell for it. I know it
was the middle of December and it’s quite possible the theater was kept cold,
but I was freezing. At intermission, I looked around to see if it was just me,
but everyone was huddled in their winter coats. I still don’t know if it was
the temperature or our minds.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
The performances were so enjoyable and the time flew
by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Naturally, afterward,
Mom and I talked about all sorts of little details of the mystery and how it compared to the actual book –
without spoilers because I haven’t read this one (or did so, so long ago that I
don’t remember it). There was a whole character Mom didn’t remember being in
the book. I also got an idea for a mystery plot, too. Nothing like what was in the play but something made me think of a cool line to travel down. (I'll have to remember to link to this post after I write it!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
We went home and I went to a Christmas party. We met up later in the
evening at our writer’s group's game night. She told me while I was at the party,
she went to the bookcase and reread <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mousetrap</i>.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
All in all, a lovely, wonderful evening.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Thank you, Mom!</div>
Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-60852996650489869602014-12-14T15:23:00.000-06:002022-12-16T13:21:23.246-06:00'Antiques Slay Ride' Review<h2>
<em>Antiques Slay Ride</em> (A Trash 'n' Treasure Mystery #7.5) by Barbara Allan</h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oucNQL2TSFPFTgFlIvIBsRf3NTM6JgcgRhYVwj4-rh53wrtG3iGn3x3_KTcYLIEZM2aX7_RzNYf17AFiJ4Z9Od4bHeD7_pC0O-8_0APH6E5rlLNEjZy6Wd4iwVWQV-pe8DsGV00m4o4/s1600/AntiquesSlayRide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oucNQL2TSFPFTgFlIvIBsRf3NTM6JgcgRhYVwj4-rh53wrtG3iGn3x3_KTcYLIEZM2aX7_RzNYf17AFiJ4Z9Od4bHeD7_pC0O-8_0APH6E5rlLNEjZy6Wd4iwVWQV-pe8DsGV00m4o4/s1600/AntiquesSlayRide.jpg" height="320" width="206" /></a></div>
<br />
<span id="freeText10892484010500985215"></span><br />
<u>About the book</u>:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">"Ho Ho Homicide. The Christmas rush is on as Brandy Borne and her quaintly quirky mother, Vivian, sniff out plum collectibles for resale, only to find the owner of a Santa's workshop worth of treasures has received some deadly tidings. It's beginning to look a lot like murder...but who wanted the deceased closed for the holidays-permanently? Maybe a rival antiques dealer, a Grinch who collects Christmas? Or the victim's suspiciously frosty stepchildren? Brandy and Vivian check their list of who's been naughty or nice, but it may take a Christmas miracle-and some help from Sushi, their elfin shih tzu-to tie a bow around the season's most wanted killer!"<br /><br />19,500 Words</span><br />
<br />
<u>My Review</u>:<br />
<br />
At first, I was thrown by the style of writing. There are many so-called rules of writing and the good authors break them successfully. This author (Barbara Allen is really two authors collaborating - Barbara Collins and Max Allan Collins) does whatever she wants and I warmed up to it very quickly. The short story switches from first person Brandy (daughter) to first person Vivian (crazy mother) - which is becoming more popular - but in this series, they sometimes talk to <em>us</em>!<br />
<br />
During a scene, the mother or daughter will break into the other's narration and they start arguing with one another. Then the editor steps in. It's oh so wrong and works oh so perfectly!<br />
<br />
I love how the narrator will refer to a past event that took place in a previous book - and states which book to read for it. Right in the middle of the story!<br />
<br />
The book was funny, easy to follow (once you get used to the broken fourth wall) and a Christmas delight. I love the characters, love the blind dog, and can't wait to read the rest of the series. This is a short story, hence the #7.5, but I can't wait to read a full-length tale told by these two characters.<br />
<br />
I have to share my favorite quote from <em><a href="http://www.barbaraallan.com/" target="_blank">Antiques Slay Ride</a></em>:<br />
<br />
"Ekhardt's fame began in the 1950s when he got a woman off scot-free for shooting her abusive husband in self-defense. In the back. Five times. For a good while after that, husbands around here really went out of their way to be especially nice to their better halves."<br />
<br />
I just love the humor!<br />
<br />
Check out Barbara Allan <a href="http://www.barbaraallan.com/" target="_blank">here</a>, Barbara Collins <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/223628.Barbara_Collins" target="_blank">here</a>, Max Allan Collins <a href="http://www.maxallancollins.com/blog/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-66866713911811942712014-12-14T15:14:00.001-06:002014-12-14T15:33:04.567-06:00Foodies Read 2015 Reading Challenge<br />
<div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #1f066a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://foodiesread2015.blogspot.com/2014/11/join-foodies-read-2015-challenge-sign.html" target="_blank">Foodies Read 2015</a></h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://foodiesread2015.blogspot.com/2014/11/join-foodies-read-2015-challenge-sign.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5H72lTArqcDvuOJ0HEA_GqUUvLqvgfj-dnCKPrTfHoaKrZYQfgPJcU5Zri2WE4nHtmVYTDCITL8rrjc0wVem4LuFAyrfFZV7NHyt2Ht0T5dlaSwlfkf-GvWzimfOsAsS3-0660A2WVws/s1600/Foodies+Read+2015+Button.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px;">Vicki from <a href="http://foodiesread2015.blogspot.com/2014/11/join-foodies-read-2015-challenge-sign.html" target="_blank">I'd Rather Be At the Beach</a> is hosting this cool challenge.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px;">Vicki defined a "food book" as one centered around food and/or drinks. This can be any genre, even non-fiction.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px;">The challenge runs from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px;">You don't need a pre-selected list of books.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px;">It's okay to cross over with other challenges.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px;">Any book format is allowed (print, audio, ebook)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<u style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px;">Levels</u><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px;">:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px;">Short Order Cook: 1 to 3 books</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px;">Pastry Chef: 4 to 8 books</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px;">Sous-Chef: 9 to 13 books</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px;">Chef de Cuisine: 14 to 18 books</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px;">Cordon-Bleu Chef: More than 19 books</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px;">I'm going for Short Order Cook. As a cozy mystery reader, I'm sure I'll be surprised at reading my fair share of food-related books this coming year!</span></span></div>
Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-80094448243403483022014-12-08T12:06:00.000-06:002014-12-14T15:31:42.164-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5PKW1lPu0SV6mTpPZyHTHBFsHQa-7z5YL7r91GXVYQvpldjepNgWVqbKWy1GhN0UJIGFZx4Ieu_e2Jl7i-NVqCSL3rIn5MaXcqI2ozS-GWIlrpJ3rU35CquCl9rFjZt-IXj_NPRKVa4/s1600/Death+Comes+to+Town+by+KJ+Emrick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5PKW1lPu0SV6mTpPZyHTHBFsHQa-7z5YL7r91GXVYQvpldjepNgWVqbKWy1GhN0UJIGFZx4Ieu_e2Jl7i-NVqCSL3rIn5MaXcqI2ozS-GWIlrpJ3rU35CquCl9rFjZt-IXj_NPRKVa4/s1600/Death+Comes+to+Town+by+KJ+Emrick.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
About the book:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">"Darcy Sweet would like to think that she is just an ordinary woman, happy in her life running the Sweet Read bookstore. But she isn't ordinary. She has a connection to the other side that seems to draw her into mysterious situations more often than not. Add to the mix the antics of a rather naughty, slightly psychic cat and the eccentric ghost of her great-aunt Millie, and you have a recipe for anything but the ordinary.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">When Darcy's neighbor is murdered she is drawn into the mystery against her will when she finds the body. She tries to leave the investigation to the police, one of which is her sister, but an overheard conversation and a small nudge from the other side has her investigating the murder. The stakes are raised when the murderer strikes again. Who was killing the people in her life?</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">Things are complicated even more by her building attraction to her sister's new cop partner, who makes it clear he does not appreciate Darcy's interference in the investigation. Sparks fly between the two of them as they get further into the mystery surrounding the deaths. <br /><br />With a town full of suspects how will Darcy work out who the murderer is? None of the pieces to the puzzle fit. Things become more complicated and dangerous as Darcy's own life is threatened. Will she survive to see justice served?"</span><br />
<br />
<u>I read this book and below is my review</u>:<br />
<br />
The story was okay. It moved fast, but not in the way I like. Darcy (the main character) would get an idea about the mystery and then go follow it and change mid-course for seemingly no reason. We didn't get to follow along with her, we were more along for the ride without knowing where we were going or why. This left me feeling like an outsider as opposed to a participant.<br />
<br />
There were questions I had that were never answered - not loose ends but things that didn't make sense. I can't really give an example without spoiling the book. At one point, a character is somewhere and will be there for a long time. Minutes later, that character is suddenly somewhere else, with no explanation or even a passing thought of our character wondering how it was possible. Also, Darcy would suspect somebody (for no reason) and then dismiss them as a suspect (for no reason). There was even one point where she suspected someone and questioned them, found out the person had no alibi and then thought to herself, she didn't' really think it was that person anyway. Huh?<br />
<br />
The characters weren't fully fleshed out, either, but I liked them anyway. Even though we didn't get deep into anyone's life or deep into a mystery or follow accurate police procedures, it was still a fun read. I enjoyed the story. Darcy is a nice character and pretty upbeat, even in the midst of murder and deceit. Even though I didn't feel as connected to her as I would have liked, I still got to enjoy her story.<br />
<br />
Oh, and I love the cat.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.kathrineemrick.com/" target="_blank">K.J. Emrick</a>Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-47825880901959514922014-11-12T20:16:00.002-06:002014-12-14T15:33:16.693-06:00Cruisin' Through the Cozies Reading Challenge 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQixekMNTG0ptu2A-OQT7pMozFzcgH6TwE0YTTFFBOXdPlTWO7xaoMWtkHcdM9LO1l_Nh7LuFPLJqqMIGAO1w3rn0OBiMuGMnYA0ZcBbdhEj9zUkr8imTnwCo5lMfdjjoZmauTrMlCyY/s1600/Cruisin.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQixekMNTG0ptu2A-OQT7pMozFzcgH6TwE0YTTFFBOXdPlTWO7xaoMWtkHcdM9LO1l_Nh7LuFPLJqqMIGAO1w3rn0OBiMuGMnYA0ZcBbdhEj9zUkr8imTnwCo5lMfdjjoZmauTrMlCyY/s320/Cruisin.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Yvonne at Socrates Book Reviews Blog is hosting this challenge for the fifth year in a row!<br />
<br />
You can click <a href="http://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2014/11/cruisin-thru-cozies-reading-challenge.html" target="_blank">here</a> to find out more about the challenge and sign up if you want to!<br />
<br />
There are four levels to choose from.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: magenta;">Level 1 - Snoop - Read at least 6 books<br /><br /> Level 2 - Investigator - Read 7-12 books<br /><br /> Level 3 - Super Sleuth - Read 13 or more books<br /><br /> Level 4 - Sleuth Extraordinaire - Read 20 or more</span><br />
<br />
This year I'm going for Level 1, Snoop.<br />
<br />
I've downloaded so many cozies on my Nook, I can't even begin to choose which six right now. That'll be a fun task!<br />
<br />
You can also join or keep abreast of people's progress on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/58571-cruisin-thru-the-cozies-reading-challenge" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>.<br />
<br />
So how about you? Signing up? If so, what level?Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-44294650135694644582014-07-24T08:00:00.000-05:002014-07-24T08:00:04.012-05:00'Death by Chocolate' (Dessert First Cozy Mysteries, #1) by Carol Lee<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgZCcLq8J2QxTSXfVN-RWaa4um_9CfH2hvNWaH4q-FbXYSmrUSBmR6aOPVmMeXRsv2Z3ysekw6HjTFI13gHNkvyfQidCR3Kw-QeOSQjWfAxGWnSn8qYJaxSImsoKoVLbmxK1G2EQtmcg/s1600/Death+by+Chocolate+by+Carol+Lee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgZCcLq8J2QxTSXfVN-RWaa4um_9CfH2hvNWaH4q-FbXYSmrUSBmR6aOPVmMeXRsv2Z3ysekw6HjTFI13gHNkvyfQidCR3Kw-QeOSQjWfAxGWnSn8qYJaxSImsoKoVLbmxK1G2EQtmcg/s1600/Death+by+Chocolate+by+Carol+Lee.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"> <u>About the book</u>: </span><span style="color: blue;">"</span>Myra Bailey is living the dream she’s had for years—opening her coffee shop bakery, Dessert First, and leaving her good for nothing husband in the dust. She couldn’t be happier to finally be on her own and proving her success one scone at a time."</span><br />
<br />
<u>My Review</u>:<br />
<br />
I liked the short story despite some problems it had. The punctuation was bad throughout and there was something I couldn't quite put my finger on...I liked the characters but the story read too...too easy, maybe. We're taken from point A to B to C and then it ended with no letdown. One of the reasons I adore cozies is because there's always a bit of a decompression between the characters, after the killer is revealed and life returns to normal. We don't get that from this story. It just ends.<br />
<br />
<em><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/398958" target="_blank">Death by Chocolate</a></em>Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-44266054917028596622014-07-20T22:01:00.000-05:002014-07-20T22:01:43.193-05:00James GarnerI'm saddened to hear that James Garner has passed away.<br />
<br />
I've adored this man for many, many, many years!<br />
<br />
He's on TV every time I turn it on! Each weekday, <em>Maverick</em> is on at 10am (CST) and <em>Rockford Files</em> is on at 11am (CST) and there are several <em>Maverick </em>episodes on Saturday and <em>Rockford Files</em> again on Sunday. There's no chance of James Garner withdrawl!<br />
<br />
I named my fictional village in the Masked Rider series 'Maverick Flatts' in honor of James Garner. I was going to use 'Rockford' but there's already a Rockford, Illinois and I didn't want to use a real place. (I also fell in love with Jack Kelly because of <em>Maverick</em> so I get to include him in my little tribute, too.)<br />
<br />
I love everything I've read about James Garner. He's done some great interviews.<br />
<br />
He will be missed but he's left us hours - days - of entertainment, that future generations can also enjoy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3OCtb8Ee2NmTTttYDI9EglWHZc4mSNQ25bcK9rr_DosQCzA46qa3HhY8-ccMIpYEMc71zm8iIQQ0mLCHQDlbdHd4vj86WuGcAOok7FHccCgb-ZJvCSv32kj9jBFB8n7G5HUTwhiCU_E/s1600/James+Garner+Autobiography.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3OCtb8Ee2NmTTttYDI9EglWHZc4mSNQ25bcK9rr_DosQCzA46qa3HhY8-ccMIpYEMc71zm8iIQQ0mLCHQDlbdHd4vj86WuGcAOok7FHccCgb-ZJvCSv32kj9jBFB8n7G5HUTwhiCU_E/s1600/James+Garner+Autobiography.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It's past time I bump up his autobiography to the top of my reading pile. I got this book from my mother for my birthday and I can't wait to read it. (Thank you, Mom!)Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-37047823965838321572014-07-17T10:16:00.000-05:002014-07-17T10:16:00.580-05:00Tides Inn by Bill Wilke<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYbZnkH1107H8Npc5L6OL79FRuo5WmssFXq7G_cl81c50EeywWwmFY87toRgp-t_yY4u0S5BNnE1-vCx9lXo_PLlJyqSf8A8PwnkASQ7EVJ9tRgWpC6U8bAU4N-1hL6zaUMt85btEyL4/s1600/Tides+Inn+by+Bill+Wilke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYbZnkH1107H8Npc5L6OL79FRuo5WmssFXq7G_cl81c50EeywWwmFY87toRgp-t_yY4u0S5BNnE1-vCx9lXo_PLlJyqSf8A8PwnkASQ7EVJ9tRgWpC6U8bAU4N-1hL6zaUMt85btEyL4/s1600/Tides+Inn+by+Bill+Wilke.jpg" height="320" width="232" /></a></div>
<br />
<u>About the book</u>:<span style="color: blue;"> "<em>The Tides Inn</em>, a one-of-a-kind British pub, is built on the end of a small peninsula jutting out from the Yorkshire mainland. At low tide the water is below the top of the walkway and people can freely enter or exit. But when the tide comes in, access goes out, and everyone present is a captive audience. Very few customers complain. The drinks never stop flowing. However, on this night, while the walkway is inaccessible, one of the eight imbibers is murdered. The seven survivors all have motives. Apparently there is absolutely no opportunity for any of the seven to do it. <br /><br /> Gruff Police Sergeant Reggie Duke and attractive Constable Dawn Tompkins clash as they jointly attempt to provide the solution to this baffling case. <br /><br /> A charming, classical, old-fashioned "who-done-it" that will delight all Agatha Christy. enthusiasts."</span><br />
<br />
<u>My Review</u>:<br />
<br />
I love Agatha Christie and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I adored the setting - a cozy British pub containing suspects and murder victim by a roaring fire - perfect! I like the characters, too. I would have liked the POV to be a bit closer, to give us a little more insight, but on the other hand, I liked the omniscient POV, too. I haven't read a POV like that in a long time and I sure miss it - but the sacrifice is that tighter...closeness I'm now so used to.<br />
<br />
I recommend this short story to anyone who likes mysteries, especially cozy, British mysteries.<br />
<br />
(As usual in my reviews, I'm going to mention the technical aspects of the writing. I'm a very picky reader. There were punctuation errors throughout. It didn't mar my enjoyment too much but they were there.<br />
Also, the short story is currently $1.99 and listed as 11,880 words but the mystery is only about 65% of that. On my Nook Simple Touch, with my settings, the mystery ended on page 25 out of 38. The rest of the pages are about the author and samplings of his other books which is a great bonus.)<br />
<br />
Check the book out for yourselves!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/319040?ref=jenniferoberth" target="_blank"><em>Tides Inn</em></a> by <a href="http://billwilke-international.com/index.html" target="_blank">Bill Wilke</a>Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-31590104631958481412014-07-14T15:30:00.000-05:002014-07-14T15:30:00.864-05:00Exciting News - Indie Books Gone Wild<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Great news! I now work as an editor through Indie Books Gone Wild. It’s an exciting position for me and I can’t wait to assist Indie authors in the last stages of prepping their manuscripts for publication.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-D9r7NxPzWvV6HtsEs3TUDn6PXC_d_L2Wskgsgj5fDYVlFrvRbGNNIy9CBQ8QVRrozKAVqMMxqrZZpVBzmAvDWSzBmPMZscp-9_aWJIoNjZshE97925JbGBXJsAXUruLSsCOPD9Krjnk/s1600/LogoFlatSFW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-D9r7NxPzWvV6HtsEs3TUDn6PXC_d_L2Wskgsgj5fDYVlFrvRbGNNIy9CBQ8QVRrozKAVqMMxqrZZpVBzmAvDWSzBmPMZscp-9_aWJIoNjZshE97925JbGBXJsAXUruLSsCOPD9Krjnk/s1600/LogoFlatSFW.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://indiebooksgonewild.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Indie Books Gone Wild</a> is a great place and serves all of your editing needs. If you follow the links to Jo Michaels’ <a href="http://jomichaels.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blog</a>, you can find wonderful articles about <a href="http://jomichaels.blogspot.com/p/writing-tips-how-tos.html" target="_blank">grammar, editing, writing tips and how-tos</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">If you’re in need of an editor, check us out <a href="http://indiebooksgonewild.blogspot.com/p/editing-services.html" target="_blank">here</a>. We also offer <a href="http://indiebooksgonewild.blogspot.com/p/beta-reading-services.html" target="_blank">beta-reading services</a> and <a href="http://indiebooksgonewild.blogspot.com/p/proofreading-services.html" target="_blank">proofreading services</a>. If you’re not sure what kind of editor you need, check out <a href="http://jomichaels.blogspot.com/2014/02/what-kind-of-editor-do-you-need.html" target="_blank">this article</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">IBGW even provides <a href="http://indiebooksgonewild.blogspot.com/p/print-book-formatting.html" target="_blank">formatting</a> for your print book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
*****</div>
<br />
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">
<a href="http://indiebooksgonewild.blogspot.com/p/mission-statement.html" target="_blank"><u>Mission Statement</u></a>:</h2>
<br />
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.4in;">
“Our mission here at IBGW is to remove the stigma currently surrounding Indie published books.”<o:p></o:p></h4>
<br />
I love this. It’s simple, achievable and profound.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
*****</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">IBGW isn’t just for authors. We run many giveaways and it’s a great way find high-quality books to read.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I’m so glad I found Indie Books Gone Wild and I’m sure you will be, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-44167043165015589742014-07-10T22:14:00.000-05:002014-07-10T22:14:00.673-05:00<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/338283" target="_blank">Beginning Detective Tips</a></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/338283" target="_blank">, A Floyd Sisters Mystery Series: Floyd Sisters Mystery, Book 1</a> by Sinda Cheri Floyd<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8X7tVPbJcsvg6gS4xJvzuhPa97WqBYXW6pWakk-lzcVfOctWo7-T4FsrHRwndXqKNPK-JkmjbUzbe_i-aTcQTyohqhBpRpTAvQNEO-zpBFsVvYl22FF9kIa40L9gpc_Swj9Q8bAw-3Y/s1600/Beginning+Detective+Tips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8X7tVPbJcsvg6gS4xJvzuhPa97WqBYXW6pWakk-lzcVfOctWo7-T4FsrHRwndXqKNPK-JkmjbUzbe_i-aTcQTyohqhBpRpTAvQNEO-zpBFsVvYl22FF9kIa40L9gpc_Swj9Q8bAw-3Y/s1600/Beginning+Detective+Tips.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">About the book: “The Floyd sisters are
Lynda, age 13, Cheri, age 11 and Sinda, age 8. They are amateur detectives who
live with their mother. The girls seem to find themselves in sometimes scary
situations which call for them to become sleuths. Lynda tries to be the
responsible one while Cheri and Sinda bicker a bit like sisters sometimes do.
They pull together when they need to or the situation calls for it. In Tips for
the Beginning Detective, the Floyd sisters offer advice to others who may find
themselves in scary or unknown situations. The girls also include a
mini-mystery for the reader to solve using their newfound detective tips.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">What a fun read! This short story for
kids was adorable and I can picture these three young sisters and their light
banter. We get tips on sleuthing from the three girls (their personalities
shine through) and then we get to test ourselves in a mini-mystery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I like the back story of the authors –
Sinda Cheri Floyd is really two people. Sisters, actually. For more about their
books and <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Sistermysteries" target="_blank">the authors</a>, click through to the <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/338283" target="_blank">Smashwords</a> website.</span></div>
Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-40907049642195864122014-07-07T21:06:00.001-05:002014-07-08T10:24:13.834-05:00'Virtually Scared To Death' by Gillian Larkin<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
<o:p>
</o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Ta4gmznhzYKZ6wdBjFtFzMkXSQHpSCu7pkMN_fHtw_WObkzWmAsBrT3mbG-hj5T6cOQGK4Y0kCKTWsPnRYhCEMirBrZH33D4hMucyGmweqVFFhftF4LGPsAbcQQ_P5PWaL9gUPpSQro/s1600/Virtually+Scared+To+Death.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Ta4gmznhzYKZ6wdBjFtFzMkXSQHpSCu7pkMN_fHtw_WObkzWmAsBrT3mbG-hj5T6cOQGK4Y0kCKTWsPnRYhCEMirBrZH33D4hMucyGmweqVFFhftF4LGPsAbcQQ_P5PWaL9gUPpSQro/s1600/Virtually+Scared+To+Death.jpg" height="320" width="265" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> <u>About the book</u>: <span style="color: blue;">"Julia Blake runs her own cleaning business. The first time she sees a dead body is when she discovers one of her clients, Mark Castle, lying dead on the floor of his luxury apartment. Julia soon suspects that Mark was murdered. He was a good friend and she is determined to find out who killed him."</span></o:p></span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><br />
<u>My Review</u>: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I liked this short murder mystery. It was fun! There were technical problems, mostly to do with punctuation that did throw me, but I was able to get past it. At one point in the story, Julia Blake became ‘Ms Devlin’ and obviously that threw me, too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> There wasn’t a lot of description and I liked that. I never got lost in a scene and I don’t really care what every single person looks like so it worked well for me. We could get to the action quick and without a loss of understanding.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> When Julia comes across the dead body and the police show up, it was a bit awkward with the inspector immediately claiming it was murder, without examining the death scene. Another character, and Julia herself, automatically jump to murder with no evidence to back it up. I would have liked this part to be a little slower, for the characters to organically come to the conclusion that it was murder – but that’s my preference.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> One thing that might not have worked - Julia figures out whodunit and then keeps it from us. It didn’t bother me too much because it’s revealed quickly afterwards.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The story went a bit too fast for me! But that only goes to show how much I liked it. I’d have loved to sink my teeth into the mystery!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I’m giving <em>Virtually Scared to Death</em> four stars despite the issues I’ve mentioned because I thoroughly enjoyed Julia. She was fun to follow around.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Note: I found this short story for <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/455297" target="_blank">free at Smashwords</a>. I'm not sure if it's free during the sitewide sale or if it's always free. Either way, don't wait. Go get a copy for yourself right now! (I must admit, I don't know that I'd spend $1.99 (next book) for such a short story and for the punctuation issues I mentioned above but that shouldn't prevent you from checking it out and making a decision for yourself.)</span></span><br />
<br />
More about <a href="http://www.gillianlarkin.co.uk/" target="_blank">Gillian Larkin</a></div>
<br /></div>
Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-63277659937469039452013-10-03T10:50:00.002-05:002013-10-03T10:51:07.010-05:00NaNoWriMo 2013I'm all geared up for <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">National Novel Writing Month</a> in November!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKK8Hgc_Hm4DGHxJRal4NmEMkIzA2caqPpIPawfusyZnKYZGU2nCmH0ApBUpcKd-A9tyrAVYwxtarqHIA2msnqhWdTRMyNfar5Pn9f3nLyONF78xeYbNl4vAuZoPsAWrcG6gu6zZzWLU/s1600/2013-Participant-Facebook-Cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKK8Hgc_Hm4DGHxJRal4NmEMkIzA2caqPpIPawfusyZnKYZGU2nCmH0ApBUpcKd-A9tyrAVYwxtarqHIA2msnqhWdTRMyNfar5Pn9f3nLyONF78xeYbNl4vAuZoPsAWrcG6gu6zZzWLU/s320/2013-Participant-Facebook-Cover.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The weather has turned. It's dark and cloudy - the gray sky dotted with the yellows, oranges and reds of the mighty trees, standing proud yet knowing they're about to stand as naked sentries through another bitter winter.<br />
<br />
Fallen leaves blanket the parking lots, sidewalks and dying lawns.<br />
<br />
Perfect planning weather for a nice murder mystery.<br />
<br />
This year, I'm going to write in a new series, as opposed to previous years in which I continued to write in the <em>Masked Rider</em> series.<br />
<br />
I've got my murderer, my victim, my motive, a couple of clues, and a few red herrings. I've got to flesh out my characters - all of them are brand new to me.<br />
<br />
I'm also trying something new in the POV department - I'm going to switch between two characters throughout the novel, both will be first person POV.<br />
<br />
I'm also going for a little darker, a little more serious than any of my other work. Will it stick? I don't know. I keep thinking of funny lines and there's always a sense of humor that comes through my work. Will it punctuate the seriousness of my character's problems or make light of it?<br />
<br />
We shall see...Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-71527143144779782072013-02-01T15:45:00.003-06:002013-02-01T15:45:30.492-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_oeNergtHLy7fEA1IfgdH-rLgwFcNwfL_pL8vh2wX1HRjzHnNFqhY_3vWntIvQeCECSVOCzqEr_lJ3WPQeccI5JKUKZ7mU_MJSoQh6QMGek7pENd5nHUCYK6-zqqKWb86lJtxvm6WIw/s1600/Take+A+Stand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_oeNergtHLy7fEA1IfgdH-rLgwFcNwfL_pL8vh2wX1HRjzHnNFqhY_3vWntIvQeCECSVOCzqEr_lJ3WPQeccI5JKUKZ7mU_MJSoQh6QMGek7pENd5nHUCYK6-zqqKWb86lJtxvm6WIw/s320/Take+A+Stand.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Every once in a while I'll read a book outside my
genre, and <i>Take A Stand</i> fits the
bill. I've never read a Christian fiction book before - I didn't even know the
category existed until recently!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Two major story lines are running concurrently. In
one, Christians are being persecuted and in the second, we are privy to the
growing love between Sean and Emma.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The interesting thing about this book, Sean is a
single-minded ex-Marine with a hot temper. He says he doesn't like playing
games in relationships, then sneaks out of his best friend's house for days and
ignored his calls - with a smile on his face. He's oblivious about being
exactly what he dislikes! When you add all his faults together, it should make
for a one-dimensional, boring main character that you can't stand - yet it's
the complete opposite in this story. Sean is my favorite character! I really cared
about what happened to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bandusky's writing is well done. It seemed a little
bogged down in some areas because I wanted to read faster than my brain could
go. It was a suspenseful story - I read it in two days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Despite my disagreeing with Sean's views, it was
easy to read. He thinks Jesus is the only way, for every single person, as a
path to salvation and he literally says it's the truth like a tree is a tree -
a narrow-minded view with no room for other's views. The irony is that he then
fights the government after a law is passed that Christians cannot own bibles
or talk about their beliefs in public. (Or in private for that matter but I don't
want to give too much away.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sean has to decide when and where to take a stand,
not sure who's with him or how far they'll go for their beliefs. He's fighting
a secret organization telling him what's right and what to think just as he
tells others the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The irony adds an extra dimension to the story
because Sean is so adamant and self-righteous, but so is the secret
organization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The highlight of the story for me is the
relationship between Sean and Emma as well as Sean and his best friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Actually, it's delightful to read Sean's
interactions with anyone because you just don't know how this guy is going to
act!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I won't say anything about the end because it'll
give it away but I will say these characters stay with you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Here's my biggest complaint: There are certain
things you don't do in my preferred genre (cozy mysteries) that Bandusky did.
Why would I be unfair about applying rules of one genre to another? Simply
because it was completely unnecessary. It was tacked on and the novel would
have stood just fine without that one sentence. (Spoiler: She kills animals but
not in a detailed way. They're in the wrong place and the wrong time. The book
would have been fine without it.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense.</span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-28323800697197682952013-01-12T11:12:00.000-06:002013-01-12T14:51:04.973-06:00'Doctor Who' Just Isn't The SameI love<i> Doctor Who</i>. Real <i>Doctor Who</i>. The original 20+ years. Not the new stuff.<br />
<br />
I realized for a while now that, as much as I love sci-fi, had I not grown up with <i>Doctor Who</i> (real, classic) and was exposed to it for the first time in 2005 (the new stuff) I wouldn't watch. I wouldn't be a fan and I wouldn't get it.<br />
<br />
Now, don't get me wrong, I think the writing is well done (except for the plot holes they ignore in order to get done what they want to get done) and the acting is great and the special effects are good and the music is superb - but it's not my cup of tea.<br />
<br />
They kill things in the new <i>Doctor Who</i>, all the time. Innocent things. Animals aren't even safe.<br />
<br />
And when companions leave, you know it's going to be bad. Not sad like, oh, there goes Sarah Jane Smith (companion to the third and fourth Doctor) after all those years and the Doctor is really going to miss her and she's really going to miss him but they'll both be all right and move on with their lives. But like death and dying and mental breakdowns and trapped for all eternity in parallel universes.<br />
<br />
Where the old series is fun, the new series is heavy.<br />
<br />
Where the old series is charming, the new series is sad.<br />
<br />
Where the old series is laughter, the new series is tears.<br />
<br />
Where the old series is full of hope and optimism, the new series is all about loss.<br />
<br />
The first 7 Doctors were fun to be around. (Even the 8th, I suppose, though I didn't like the movie.)<br />
<br />
These last 3 Doctors are miserable to be around.<br />
<br />
If a tall guy with curly brown hair and a large scarf walks up to me, I'd pack my bags in a heartbeat and run into the police box. If a guy in a black jacket, guy in a long trench coat or guy in a bow tie comes near me I will run the other way as fast as I possibly can.<br />
<br />
The other day, my Mom asked me why we watch the current show.<br />
<br />
"Tradition? Curiosity? A misplaced sense of loyalty? The undying hope that it'll somehow be what it once was?"<br />
<br />
We can't be the only ones who don't care much for the new series BECAUSE of our love of the old one but try finding people who were fans of the old one. I was a fan before anyone knew what the heck <i>Doctor Who</i> was. I used to hide reading my Target novels in school and get blank stares when talking to the boys about sci-fi if I brought it up.<br />
<br />
It's kind of the same nowadays except raving fans might be aware there was some show called <i>Doctor Who</i> decades ago, wasn't there a guy with a long scarf.<br />
<br />
Breaks my heart. Which is ironic since watching the new show breaks my heart every other episode as yet another nice person gets whacked or betrays the world. (Old <i>Doctor Who</i>, bad guys would turn good. New <i>Doctor Who</i>, good guys turn bad. Who wants to watch that?)<br />
<br />
Does anyone remember the guy with the scarf back when he ruled the airwaves and we didn't want it any other way?Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-26637724252821231372013-01-11T18:31:00.002-06:002013-01-12T14:52:58.634-06:00Cut The Cable Reading Challenge (2013) - Post Your ReviewsThis is for everyone to post their reviews of the books they've read for the <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1113127-cut-the-cable-reading-challenge-2013-books-tv?type=topic#comment_64527563" target="_blank">Cut The Cable Reading Challenge</a>.<br />
<br />
There is a separate post for you to <a href="http://jenniferoberth.blogspot.com/2013/01/cut-cable-reading-challenge-2013-update.html" target="_blank">share your progress</a>.<br />
<br />
I can't wait to read your reviews and find some more books for the challenge!Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-52628664430552650872013-01-11T18:28:00.001-06:002013-01-12T14:53:11.036-06:00Cut The Cable Reading Challenge (2013) - Update Your Progress HereThis is for everyone to post your progress of the <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1113127-cut-the-cable-reading-challenge-2013-books-tv?type=topic#comment_64527563" target="_blank">Cut The Cable Reading Challenge</a>.<br />
<br />
There is a separate post for you to <a href="http://jenniferoberth.blogspot.com/2013/01/cut-cable-reading-challenge-2013-post.html" target="_blank">share your reviews</a>.<br />
<br />
I look forward to seeing what you're reading and how far you're getting in the challenge!<br />
<br />
Enjoy!Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-69226691690361413132013-01-11T18:10:00.001-06:002013-01-12T14:53:25.217-06:00Cut The Cable Reading Challenge (2013)This is the first year I'm going to host a Reading Challenge!<br />
You can find my post at Goodreads in the <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1113127-cut-the-cable-reading-challenge-2013-books-tv?type=topic#comment_64527563" target="_blank">Challenge Factory</a> group.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;"><strong>CUT THE CABLE READING CHALLENGE</strong></span></div>
<br />
The challenge is to read books that were made into TV shows and/or novelizations based on TV shows.<br />
<br />
(Examples, <em>Perry Mason</em>, Dres<em>den Files</em>, <em>Doctor Who</em>.<br />
<br />
The first two were books made into TV shows, the last was a TV show first.)<br />
<br />
The challenge runs from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.<br />
<br />
You have to read the books in 2013.<br />
<br />
Short stories count (example, <em>Sherlock Holmes</em>,<em> Jeeves and Wooster</em>)<br />
Rereads count<br />
Crossovers with other reading challenges count<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><strong>Casual Viewer - 6 books</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><strong>Couch Potato - 12 books</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><strong>TV Junkie - 18 books</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><strong>TV Addict - 24 books</strong></span><br />
<br />
I am going to allow non-fiction books in this challenge as long as they are written by, or are about, an actor/personality that has been on television.<br />
<br />
Below, I've listed possible reads in different categories. You don't have to pick from the categories, I'm just using them to illustrate how diverse this challenge can be!<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><strong>a) Mystery/Detective</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Examples include <em>Diagnosis Murder</em>, <em>Monk</em>, <em>Perry Mason</em>, <em>Sherlock Holmes</em>, <em>Agatha Christie</em>, <em>Ellery Queen</em>, <em>Hamish Macbeth</em>, <em>Columbo</em>, <em>Psych</em>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><strong>b) Sci-Fi</strong></span><br />
<br />
Examples include <em>Doctor Who</em>, <em>Red Dwarf</em>, <em>Blake's 7</em>, <em>Torchwood</em>, <em>Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy</em>.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><strong>c) Paranormal/Fantasy</strong></span><br />
<br />
Examples include <em>Dresden Files</em>, <em>The Sword of Truth</em> series (novels) <em>Legend of the Seeker (TV)</em>, <em>Buffy The Vampire Slayer</em>, <em>Charmed</em>, <em>The Dead Zone</em>.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><strong>d) Humor</strong></span><br />
<br />
Examples include <em>Jeeves and Wooster</em>.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><strong>e) Adventure</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Examples include <em>Burn Notice</em>, <em>Zorro</em>, <em>A-Team</em>, <em>24</em>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><strong>f)</strong> <strong>Reality</strong></span><br />
<br />
Examples include <em>The Garner Files: A Memoir</em> by James Garner, <em>Destination Truth: Memoirs of a Monster Hunter</em> by Josh Gates, <em>David Janssen - My Fugitive</em> by Ellie Janssen, <em>From The Holocaust to Hogan's Heroes: The Autobiography of Robert Clary</em> by Robert Clary.<br />
<br />
Movies don't count for this challenge. The book could have been a movie but it has to have been a TV series (even if it didn't last all that long!). <em>Buffy The Vampire Slayer</em> was a movie, a book and a TV show and would count for this challenge. <em>James Bond</em> was books and then movies, I don't believe it was ever a TV show so it wouldn't count.<br />
<br />
I hope you like this challenge and take it on and have fun with it!<br />
<br />
If you have any questions, please e-mail me or put it in the comments. I tried to cover everything above and clearly!<br />
<br />
I've made a post page where you can <a href="http://jenniferoberth.blogspot.com/2013/01/cut-cable-reading-challenge-2013-update.html" target="_blank">update your progress</a> and <a href="http://jenniferoberth.blogspot.com/2013/01/cut-cable-reading-challenge-2013-post.html" target="_blank">post reviews</a> throughout the year. That way, we can find new reads and new friends.<br />
<br />
You can find this and other reading challenges I signed up for this year <a href="http://jenniferoberth.blogspot.com/p/2013-reading-challenges.html">here</a>.Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-6086112278568119952013-01-09T00:00:00.000-06:002013-01-09T00:00:01.892-06:00Wordless Wednesday - Team Grandpa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaXVA4_opu3geUWXXSOQenkP_ulaplY6wj9gb5rr0xVikgAcf_J2KHV_GbspsdCwnj7AU6EQeuQOTt9yq9lBvPd3MfuI7nG8usEETKBXxKKtiHIUaBMyS94MReLLI1tkqLAdZg40r_cFQ/s1600/Jan+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaXVA4_opu3geUWXXSOQenkP_ulaplY6wj9gb5rr0xVikgAcf_J2KHV_GbspsdCwnj7AU6EQeuQOTt9yq9lBvPd3MfuI7nG8usEETKBXxKKtiHIUaBMyS94MReLLI1tkqLAdZg40r_cFQ/s320/Jan+9.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315006907259775631.post-34873221586439172062013-01-02T00:27:00.000-06:002013-01-02T00:27:00.625-06:00Wordless Wednesday - Instructions Not Included<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKLtjFBNG3XSs37gteg0EnqqXKtnF52MbyG2JBLFLjR3yfOl6Egt8tisOdjTgLzZPOIl-3HFGucv9YG8EOr6r6yIkowTL3muriNaZziD40eOriV1ZIy-0tiZiLr1Y2sgooIy9KHSA3c8/s1600/Jan+2+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKLtjFBNG3XSs37gteg0EnqqXKtnF52MbyG2JBLFLjR3yfOl6Egt8tisOdjTgLzZPOIl-3HFGucv9YG8EOr6r6yIkowTL3muriNaZziD40eOriV1ZIy-0tiZiLr1Y2sgooIy9KHSA3c8/s320/Jan+2+(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJC2DPZ7Gv2ci9TZe5PywUdcQP34uUCSAaaWU39I-WVaF7D1hA8x1fgbehYafWni4uAu4bK9B-9_xkrlGIRbb0trjAEhudsUptUt5utHlPzjUZToS-WxoC1FCYD3yL7zYWjZSO-rpqmBI/s1600/Jan+2+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJC2DPZ7Gv2ci9TZe5PywUdcQP34uUCSAaaWU39I-WVaF7D1hA8x1fgbehYafWni4uAu4bK9B-9_xkrlGIRbb0trjAEhudsUptUt5utHlPzjUZToS-WxoC1FCYD3yL7zYWjZSO-rpqmBI/s320/Jan+2+(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCf8gNzGtnw-Lr3CN_hCll4wtmomv7pnF-GwYB7HrA-_-NB6A7myWeDCzFqQT6uxRfWrCy7u4BnZEmCO0Yjuc5pcPnwqwX6KiOgvSFqMM5bGL9ue1s_VE6ESGdYpAWOqNK3fWWYGfj4E/s1600/Jan+2+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCf8gNzGtnw-Lr3CN_hCll4wtmomv7pnF-GwYB7HrA-_-NB6A7myWeDCzFqQT6uxRfWrCy7u4BnZEmCO0Yjuc5pcPnwqwX6KiOgvSFqMM5bGL9ue1s_VE6ESGdYpAWOqNK3fWWYGfj4E/s320/Jan+2+(3).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LOpN5QzrYqzL7DJImM44cvwiQloeAZknqQp0usbSODyn8j-4X4zPYu_4eSPQf66NBG3tSxwzmyihQZAUWKn3KYfAM-V-0Tl7_iscYkHY_a7IuTE9ZFZozdEXjU1ryt-jMMl1tWNsVoo/s1600/Jan+2+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LOpN5QzrYqzL7DJImM44cvwiQloeAZknqQp0usbSODyn8j-4X4zPYu_4eSPQf66NBG3tSxwzmyihQZAUWKn3KYfAM-V-0Tl7_iscYkHY_a7IuTE9ZFZozdEXjU1ryt-jMMl1tWNsVoo/s320/Jan+2+(4).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1548678378"></span><span id="goog_1548678379"></span>Jennifer Oberthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14008884547045029128noreply@blogger.com