Shirley Harrison

Although CPA Natalie Goodman is like a bloodhound when it comes to finding accounting irregularities, she is more like a greyhound when it comes to commitment. After watching her mother's self confidence destroyed by her father, who eventually walked out on the family, she has vowed never to become emotionally involved with a lover. Relationships are for pleasure, not any type of permanence. A year ago, when she realized she was really falling for her best friend Davina's brother David, she show more pushed him away. Because it was what she wanted, he left. While David may not understand Natalie, he also can't forget her. Davina keep bringing them back together, but it will be up to David to show Natalie how good love can be. When Natalia's latest accounting assignment uncovers massive fraud and deception, she will have to rely on someone other than herself if she wants to survive. Harrison does a wonderful job of combining the suspense financial misconduct, survival, and romance. show less

A few days prior to beginning “The Life and Times of the Real Winnie-the-Pooh”, I read Ann Thwaite’s “Goodbye Christopher Robin: A.A. Milne and the Making of Winnie-the-Pooh”, which provided a nice context for and complement to this story. However, I would venture to say that “The Life and Times of the Real Winnie-the-Pooh” by Shirley Harrison was somewhat lighter fare, having for its main subject the eponymous bear himself. While of course A.A. Milne, Daphne Milne, Christopher show more Robin, and Nanny Nou each have their respective roles, along with E.H. Shepard and those responsible for the proliferation and preservation of Pooh through the years, more emphasis is placed on the background and cultural exposition of the bear.

This story, complete with handy inset notes describing certain details with which the reader might be unfamiliar, is truly a must-read for Pooh lovers everywhere, a nice blend of history and a travelogue of the original Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends, all of whom currently reside at New York Children’s Library. Harrison’s research unearths fascinating tidbits of how Pooh became world-famous and the impact that this had upon not only the Milnes but also literature and the world itself. A list of charities benefiting from Winnie-the-Pooh’s legacy, as well as captioned photos, a “Pooh Lifeline” (a chronological timeline), and an index all serve to enhance the reading experience. For all of those the world over who have grown up with and been touched by the indomitable Pooh and his fellow Ashdown Forest companions, this book provides a nostalgic, memorable trip to the Hundred Acre Wood and beyond.

I received a complimentary e-copy of this book via the BookLikes Giveaway contest, and Pen and Sword Books kindly provided a different format when the original was incompatible with my computer. show less

The subject matter and theory is interesting if you have the patience and time to sort out the rampant bias from the facts. Ms. Jackson's one-a-page, unsubstantiated claims (such as, "...which of course, must be false..." Oh really? Why must it? Is there evidence? Where is it?) can be quite maddening and the reader will be forgiven for having spent his/her time doing something else. It's the kind of read that, even if true (and that's a big if), it leaves one with far more questions than show more answers and additionally, a feeling of having tried unsuccessfully to eat a VERY sloppy joe.

But if you have the time and divinely inspired patience to sort the facts from the opinions, AND read additional works on the subject, then it presents an intriguing, if indulgent, idea. show less

A very intriguing read- I feel it brings about more questions. I feel it is his diary and shows James Maybrick was Jack the Ripper. It gave great historical insight into Florie being accused of murdering him which in acway would be ironic if she truly had. Good read if you are pulled into the Ripper mystery.