Book ~ "The Story of Us" (2014) Dani Atkins

From Goodreads ~ Emma Marshall can't wait to marry her childhood sweetheart, Richard. But then a tragic accident changes everything, and introduces a stranger, Jack, into her life. Gorgeous and mysterious, Jack is like no one Emma has met before. But Richard is the man she loves.

Two different men.

Two different destinies.

How will Emma end her story?

Emma is engaged to marry Richard in a couple weeks. As Emma and her two best friends, Caroline and Amy, are driving home from her bachelorette party with a sober Caroline at the wheel, they get into an accident. Jack, an American writer who is living in England for a few months, happens to come along and helps them before the car explodes. Unfortunately Amy doesn't survive the accident which obviously postpones the wedding. Emma and Jack are drawn to each other and become even closer after Emma learns a heartbreaking thing about Richard.

I thought this story was okay. I found it was a bit draggy and the writing could have been tighter. It is written in first person perspective from Emma's point of view. I found the last chapter a bit confusing so had to read it a few times to realize how it ended. As a head's up, there is swearing and adult activity.

Book ~ "The Cold Hard Truth On Men, Women and Money" (2012) Kevin O'Leary

From Goodreads ~ Getting a handle on finances can be challenging at any age. Whether you're a parent struggling to explain savings to your children, a newly engaged couple considering joint bank accounts, or a baby boomer entering retirement, Kevin O'Leary has advice to help you make and keep more money. 

As a lead Dragon of CBC's Dragons' Den and ABC's Shark Tank, Kevin's success with money management and in business is legendary. But he's made mistakes along the way, too, and he's writing this book so others - like his son and daughter - can benefit from his experiences. Each chapter is geared to a specific age or stage in life. You'll find real-life examples of common money mistakes (and strategies for avoiding them), "Cold Hard Truth" quizzes and charts aimed at boosting your Wallet Wisdom, and tips and tricks for making more money and growing it faster to achieve financial freedom. 

I work in the retirement planning industry plus I'm a fan of Dragons' Den and Shark Tank ... so I thought it would be interesting to get O'Leary's thoughts on financial planning.  I conduct one-on-ones in addition to seminars and it's amazing the amount of people I talk with who don't have a clue how they should be planning for their retirement or assume that though they have very little savings, they will be able to retirement early and live well. This book would be a big help to them.

The chapters include:

• Spend less, save well, invest often - money lessons he learned from his mother; figuring out your 90-day number; save your money, save your life; invest right, invest now; debt-free first
• Youth and money learning & earning, dating & mating - Kids and cash; the high cost of higher eduction; boomers and boomerangs:  when generations financially collide; young love and money
• Marriage, mortgage and children - marriage and money; house poor, house rich; cash in the cradle; avoiding money pits
• Midlife money matters & your financial legacy - midlife and money karma divorce, remarriage and gold diggers; debt, divesting and downsizing

Throughout the book, there are quizzes and tips (like ten ways for getting your adult kid out of your basement and five ways to minimize baby-spending madness).

I enjoyed this book and thought the author did an excellent job covering the different stages in life to make the reader more aware of the importance of saving early and investing appropriately, having the money conversation with someone when you start dating, renting versus buying a house, buying a new car versus leasing one, ensuring you have enough for your retirement before you start helping others financially, etc. 

I liked the writing style and thought it flowed well.  Since I watched the author on Dragons' Den and Shark Tank, I would hear "Uncle Kevin's" voice in his writing ... at times it was funny and sarcastic yet intolerant.  There were a few pictures throughout the book of him and his family throughout the years.

I'd recommend this book.  It is informative yet entertaining.

Book ~ "100 Ways to Take Better Nature & Wildlife Photographs" (2009) Guy Edwardes

From Goodreads ~ This guide is suitable for all levels of photographers. "100 Ways to Take Better Nature and Wildlife Photographs" features 100 practical and inspiring tips on every aspect of the genre.Guy Edwardes' breath-taking pictures accompany his easy-to-follow advice on a wide range of subjects from capturing the actions of large mammals to snapping wild birds and flowers in the garden. 

 With tips on everything from technique to composition, coping with extreme field conditions to Photoshop software manipulation, this is an invaluable guide for anyone with a passion for photography of the natural world.

I have three cameras ... a Canon point-and-shoot that is usually in my purse, a Nikon D5100 DSLR along with some lenses, and a Nikon CoolPix (that's in between the two). Needless to say, I take a lot of pictures.  I'm still an amateur and like reading photography books to see what professionals take pictures of and how they do it.

The content of book includes:

• Nature and wildlife:  photography basics - keep a diary (to remember locations, conditions, angles, etc.), recording action and behaviour, legal issues, etc.
• Technical considerations - understanding the histogram, depth of field, lenses, etc.
• Fieldcraft - researching locations, setting up feeding stations, working from hides, etc.
• Composition - the best focal length, natural patterns, controlling the background, etc.
• Lighting - front, side, artificial, etc.
• Photographing birds and animals - in the nest, in flight, in your garden, etc.
• Photographing flora and fungi - with a telephoto lens, in wet weather, removing debris, etc.
• Close-ups in nature - using a macros lens, shooting abstracts, capturing a sharp image, etc.
• Photographing the seasons - autumn colour, cold climates, hot dry climates, etc.
• Digital cameras and post-production  - RAW vs jpeg, finetuning, etc.

For every one of the 100 tips, there is an intro about it, a picture, a description of how the picture was set-up, where the picture was taken and the specs of the picture (the type of camera, aperture, shutter speed, tripod/beanbag, etc.), which I found helpful.  Here is a sample of one of the tips:

The pictures are inspiring ... the author obviously knows what he is doing and enjoys doing it.

I enjoyed this book ... though there is a lot of information, I found that I understand most of it.

Book ~ "Expressive Photography: The Shutter Sisters' Guide to Shooting from the Heart" (2010) Karen Walrond, Jen Lemen, Sarah-Ji, Kate Inglis, Andrea Scher, Tracey Clark, Paige Balcer, Stephanie Roberts, Irene Nam and Maile Wilson

From Goodreads ~ For most photographers, the perfect shot is not the one which has the sharpest focus, the cleanest composition or the most balanced exposure. The perfect shot is the one that captures the personality of the subject, the character of a scene or the dynamic of the moment and this is the first book that explores different approaches to shooting with that aim in mind. 

The Shutter Sisters, an innovative partnership of ten photographers, have been sharing their expertise for years on a successful blog; this is their first book. 

Valuing the evocative and emotional, they show how to balance the technical craft of photography with the demands of the moment and the avoidance of cliché. With thematic chapters including Childhood, Togetherness and Solitude, Expressive Photography offers a wealth of ideas for the shooter who wants to move beyond dry technique. 

I have three cameras ... a Canon point-and-shoot that is usually in my purse, a Nikon D5100 DSLR along with some lenses, and a Nikon CoolPix (that's in between the two) that I use often. Needless to say, I take a lot of pictures.

I'm still an amateur and like reading photography books to see what professionals take pictures of and how they do it.

Shutter Sisters began in January 2008 as a collaborative photo blog - written for women, by women - which quickly grew into a trusted source of photographic inspiration. Shutter Sisters has, over the years, been cultivated by a handful of extraordinary women; storytellers who through images and words have helped build a warm, welcoming, and inclusive global community. Through this collaborative spirit, Shutter Sisters has gathered and connected women with a passion for photography, creating an authentic and true sisterhood that transcends even the expansive borders of the web.

This book had ten chapters with different focuses:

• Horizons
• Portraiture
• Nature
• Spaces
• Childhood
• Stillness
• Documentary
• Creatures
• Table
• Togetherness

In each chapter, there is an introduction, blog posts by a couple of the authors, approach, perspective, composition, lighting, details and processing.

The pictures for the most part were inspiring and helped me look at different ways to take photographs (angles, content, etc). Some of the pictures, though, looked like ones I've taken and trashed (not my style, I guess). I'm a fan of playing around with aperture and there were a lot of pictures with a shallow depth of field which I like. Though some photos had the details (shutter speed, aperture, ISO, etc.), it would have been nice if more did. So it's not a book if you are looking to learn how to technically take photos ... more to give you some creative ideas.

Book ~ "Gooseberry Island" (2015) Steven Manchester

From Goodreads ~ They met at the worst possible moment ... or maybe it was just in time. 

David McClain was about to go to war and Lindsey Wood was there at his going-away party, capturing his heart when falling for a woman was the last thing on his mind. While David was serving his country, he stayed in close contact with Lindsey. 

But war changes a person, and when he came home very little had the same meaning that it had before – including the romance that had sustained him. Was love truly unconquerable or would it prove to be just another battlefield casualty?

David is a soldier and just about to head to Afghanistan for a year when he meets Lindsey.  They spend his last night sitting on a bench talking and getting to know each other.  They become pen pals while he is gone and fall in love, planning for their future together when he returns home.

But David has horrible experiences in Afghanistan and comes back a changed man suffering from  PSTD.  Nothing matters to David anymore as he tries to get on with his life.  Lindsey's father also suffers from PSTD because of his experience in the Gulf War and she doesn't think she can handle having someone else with it in her life.

This is the fifth book I've read by this author.  It is written in third person perspective with a focus on David and Lindsey.  It's dealing with a serious topic that I imagine many who have been in wars have to deal with.  David was lucky he had people in his life who cared about him and never gave up on him.

I found David and Lindsey's interactions a bit over the top ... too sweet and unrealistic.  I can't imagine a man saying the sugary stuff David did.  For example, in the first chapter, David is on a date who tells him he is "worse than a girl" because rather than going dancing, he would rather sit on the beach and spend the night talking about their past, their dreams and their future.  I can't imagine a guy ever saying stuff like that to someone, especially someone he isn't serious about.  With that kind of writing, the book was like a Harlequin Romance ... but then it got serious when David got to Afghanistan, which I found to be a conflict in tones.

FYI, until January 31, 2015, the author and the publisher, The Story Plant, will donate $1 to the Wounded Warrior Project for every copy of Gooseberry Island that is pre-ordered and sold. All you have to do is email them a copy of your receipt and they will make the donation. In addition, they will also donate a copy of the ebook to returning soldiers (one donation for each copy sold).   The book is available for sale at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo and IndieBound.

I received a copy of this ebook from the author at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Book ~ "Paw and Order" (2014) Diane Kelly

From Goodreads ~ Police officer Megan Luz and her loyal K-9 partner, Brigit, are back on the beat - and under the gun - when the local rodeo show goes to the dogs.

After capturing the notorious Fort Worth "Tunabomber", Megan and Brigit are practically celebrities. Which is why the police chief lassoed them into doing rodeo duty - mostly as a public relations stunt for the department. Megan’s not a fan of calf roping, bull riding or goat milking contests. But when a thief appears to be working the circuit, her trusty K-9 partner starts sniffing for clues

The culprit is "Robin Hood", a young Texas golddigger who steals from the rich to give to the poor - namely, herself. With Brigit hot on the trail, Megan has to juggle her on-again off-again reputation in the FWPD with her on-again off-again relationship with sexy bomb-squader, Seth Rutledge. This time, Megan is determined to rope in her suspect and her man … before chaos and/or her trusted furry partner, is unleashed.

Because they are local celebrities for recently catching a bomber, Police Officer Megan, and her K-9 partner, Brigit, are on rodeo duty ... patrolling the grounds and taking pictures with the patrons as a public relations stunt for the police department.  When thieves start stealing purses from the ladies' washrooms and move on to seducing men at the rodeo to steal their wallets, Megan and Brigit ramp things up to catch them.

Robin Hood is the thief.  Growing up poor in a trailer park but wanting so much more, Robin feels she deserves to take from the rich and keep it herself ... just until she finds someone who will make her a trophy wife.

Sean, who works for the bomb squad, had broken up with Megan a couple months ago and now regrets it and wants her back.  Megan doesn't want her feelings hurt again and wants to take things slow.  Also influencing her decision to take things slow is the spark between her and Clint, a deputy and championship horse rider in the rodeo.

This is the ninth book I've read by this author (and the second in the series ... reading the first one in this series had introduced me to this author) and I liked it.  I liked the writing style ... it was funny and sarcastic at times.  It is written in first person perspective from Megan's point of view and third person perspective from Brigit's point of view (which is funny) and Robin's point of view.  As a head's up, there is some mild adult activity and swearing.

I liked Megan.  It was good to see her more confident than in the first book.  Rather than taking Seth back, she took the time to put her own needs and feelings first to make the right decisions.  Brigit is a hoot and deep down is still a dog who loves food and chewing on Megan's shoes.  As much as Megan tries to outsmart Brigit and keep her locked out of the closet where has her shoes, Brigit shows her determination every time and succeeds in ruining yet another shoe or boot.

Book ~ "Secret Rage" (2012) Brent Pilkey

From Goodreads ~ A predator is stalking the streets of downtown Toronto. Haunted by a tortured past, he preys upon sex workers, leaving carnage in his wake. 

Officer Jack Warren and his partner, Jenny Alton, join with the Major Crime division to hunt down this dangerous madman. But when Jenny is targeted as the next victim, the chase becomes personal for Jack. A violent confrontation reveals horrifying secrets and Jack’s own bloody link to the monster.

Jack is a cop working in 51 Division in Toronto.  It's a rough area to work in because of the drugs and the prostitutes but he loves it.

Someone is brutally beating prostitutes and Jack, Jenny (his partner) and the rest of 51 Division are trying to find out who that is.  Plus to clean up the area and send out a message, Jenny poses as a prostitute so they can arrest the johns.

In the meantime, tension at home is increasing as Karen, Jack's wife, and her parents are pressuring Jack to quit 51 Division and the police force.  The only thing welcoming for Jack at home is his newly adopted dog, Justice.

This is the third book I've read by this author (it's the third in a series) and I enjoyed it.  I liked the writing style ... it's written in third person perspective with the focus on wherever the action is taking place, not just from Jack's perspective.  As a head's up, there is violence, adult activity and a lot of swearing.

The author is a cop and had spent many years in 51 Division so writes from experience.  Even though the story is fiction, it was interesting to get the insight into the life of a cop, both on the job and at home. 

Jack could take the easy way out and quit his job to make his wife and in-laws happy but he doesn't because he's good at what he does and he wants to make the city a better place.  Karen seems totally unreasonable but I can see it from her perspective.  Yes, Jack was a cop when she married him but she doesn't want to get a call that he's been killed in the line of action.  Too bad she hadn't thought of that before she married him ... or too bad she thought she could change him once they were married.  Jack met Jenny when he transferred to 51 Division last year.  There has always been a spark between them but they've never acted on it because he's married, though unhappily.  It was nice to to know the supporting characters more in this book which made them more human ... like Jack's father-in-law's experience driving through 51 Division so he could see for himself the area that Jack takes care of every day. 

I'd recommend this book and look forward to reading others by this author.  

Book ~ "Savage Rage" (2011) Brent Pilkey

From Goodreads ~ Transferred to 53 Division - known as the “Sleepy Hollow of Toronto” - after the murder of his partner, officer Jack Warren yearns to return to 51 Division, where his former colleagues are busy pursuing a criminal mastermind. 

Randall Kayne has been committing violent, bloody crimes that are hitting close to home in 51 Division, yet he manages to stay just one step ahead of the police. 

Although Jack’s wife wants him to leave the force entirely, an old enemy soon drags him into the Kayne case against his will, forcing a confrontation with Kayne that only one of them can survive. 

Masterfully entering into the hearts and minds of the cops of 51 Division, the second book in this exciting series propels Jack Warren deeper into the dangers of underground Toronto. 

Jack is a young police officer in Toronto.  His wife didn't like him working in 51 Division so she pressured him to transfer to a less dangerous one.  He finds 53 Division extremely boring and jumps at the chance to return to 51 Division.  There's been a change there, though ... there is a new staff sergeant who is a huge pain for everyone.

Kayne is an ex-con who has been brutally beating up drug dealers to build up his reputation ... his signature is carving a "K" in his victims' foreheads.  He is convinced by a weaselly small-time thug that the ultimate would be to do the same to a cop ... and he has his eye on Jack.

Things are still tense at home between Jack and his wife, Karen.  She doesn't want him to be a cop anymore and is plotting with her mom, who is being unusually civil to Jack, to make that happen.

This is the second book I've read by this author (it's the second in a series) and I enjoyed it.  I liked the writing style ... it's written in third person perspective with the focus on wherever the action is taking place (on Jack or on Jesse and Kayne).  I thought the pace moved along well.  The author is a cop and had spent many years in 51 Division so writes from experience.  Even though the story is fiction, it was interesting to get the insight into the life of a cop, both on the job and at home.  As a head's up, there is violence, adult activity and a lot of swearing.

I liked Jack.  He is driven to make the city a better place, especially if it involves protecting the rights of children and animals.  Some of his colleagues from the first book are back like his good friends, Manny, Paul and Jenny.

I'd recommend this book and look forward to reading others by this author. 

Book ~ "Lethal Rage" (2010) Brent Pilkey

From Goodreads ~ When an organized drug gang starts selling crack dyed black, Division 51 of the Toronto Police gets the brunt of the action and street cop Jack Warren and his partner face the ugly realities of crime in their city.

To gain experience, Jack, a young Toronto police officer, has recently transferred downtown to 51 Division, known for its drugs and prostitution.  A new crack (Black Crack) has been introduced by a drug dealer who is trying to take over the area.  It becomes the mission of the officers of 51 Division to find and stop him.

51 Division is a lot different than what Jack is used to but he's loving it!  His wife, Karen, and her parents, though, aren't.  Karen thinks 51 Division is too dangerous and wants Jack to transfer out of it.  Her parents have never made it a secret that they don't think Jack is good enough for their daughter.  Needless to say, this causes tension at home.

What attracted me to this book is that it's set in Toronto and makes no secret that it is.  As Jack and his fellow officers were racing around the east end of the downtown core, I knew exactly where they were.  Plus I like mysteries.

This is the first book I've read by this author (it's the first in a series) and I enjoyed it.  I liked the writing style ... it's written in third person perspective with the focus on Jack.  I thought the pace moved along well.  The author is a cop and had spent many years in 51 Division so writes from experience.  Even though the story is fiction, it was interesting to get the insight into the life of a cop, both on the job and at home.  As a head's up, there is violence, adult activity and a lot of swearing.

I liked Jack.  Despite what his in-laws may think, he is intelligent and driven.  He enjoys being a cop and making the city a better place.  It was interesting to watch him evolve to become more hardened the longer he was in 51 Division.  There are officers who are supporting characters and despite their different personalities and quirks, most were hardworking and loyal to each other.

I'd recommend this book and look forward to reading others by this author.

Book ~ "Duke City Hit" (2014) Max Austin

From Goodreads ~ According to Vic Walters, the secret to happiness is low overhead and few demands. Living rent-free in a modest bachelor pad behind his boss’s house, he has no debts, no entanglements and no expensive relationships. He works just a few days a month but his bank accounts keep growing.

Vic is a high-priced hitman with a legendary record of success. That is, until someone starts eliminating his marks before he can get to them ... until his manager puts him in the middle of a vicious drug-cartel feud ... and until a young man walks into his life with a big .45 and a startling revelation.

For Vic Walters, it’s time to step out of the shadows. Which means it’s killing time in Duke City,

Vic is in his fifties and he used to be a bounty hunter ... until he found he had a talent for being a hitman.  His life is very structured ... he has a rotating set of charcoal grey suits (one to wear, one in the closet and one at the dry cleaners), he eats all of his meals in restaurants because he doesn't like to cook and he has no close friends or relatives.  One day out of the blue Ryan walks into his life wanting Vic to teach him all he knows.  Vic's dilemma is to take him under his wing or get rid of him since Ryan knows so much about his occupation.

This is the second book I've read by this author and I really enjoyed it.  I liked the writing style and thought it flowed very well.  The story was interesting and I kept wanting to read more to see what was going to happen.  It's written in third person perspective, with a focus on whoever and whatever was happening at the time.  I liked the interaction between Vic and Ryan.  As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.

I would recommend this book and look forward to reading more from this author!

Book ~ "Vengeance Road" (2009) Rick Mofina

From Goodreads ~ The murder of a broken-hearted woman and the chilling disappearance of her friend raise questions about their ties to a respected detective and lead to one journalist’s obsession to find the truth! 

The body of Bernice Hogan, a troubled young ex-nursing student with a tragic past, is found in a shallow grave near a forest creek. 

Jolene Peller, a single mom struggling to build a new life with her little boy, vanishes the night she tried to find Bernice. 

Hero cop, Karl Styebeck, is beloved by his community but privately police are uneasy with the answers he gives to protect the life - and the lie - he’s lived. 

The case haunts Jack Gannon, a gritty, blue-collar reporter whose sister ran away from their family years ago. Gannon risks more than his job to pursue the story behind Styebeck's dark secret, his link to the women and the mysterious big rig roaming America's loneliest highways on its descent into eternal darkness.

Jolene is a former hooker who has turned her life around and is moving to Florida to start a new life with her young son.  She tries one last time to convince her friend, Bernice, also a hooker to do the same.  But then Bernice is found dead and Jolene disappears, her bus ticket unused.

Jack Gannon is a reporter who had once had bright future.  He put his dreams on hold when his parents were killed in a car accident.  He missed his opportunity and is still a reporter for a newspaper in Buffalo.  He is investigating the murder of Bernice when he gets inside information that a hero cop named Styebeck is the killer and prints his story.  Refusing to reveal his sources or retract the story, Jack is fired.  Determined to find out what happened, Jack continues to investigate and uncovers some shocking information about Styebeck's past (which is interesting yet sordid).

This is the third book I've read by this author and I liked it.  I liked the writing style ... it was written in third person perspective with the focus bouncing around depending on what was going on.  Plus it goes back in time to give you some background (it's in italics so you know you've stepped into a different time period).  As a head's up, there are some F-bombs.

I liked Jack.  Despite being threatened with the loss of his job, he is honourable and trustworthy and doesn't give up his sources.   Jolene's mom trust hims and looks to him to find the truth when no one else would help her.  He seems to lead a lonely existence, though, because he has no friends, family, romantic interest or pets.

It is the first in the Jack Gannon series and I look forward to reading the others.

Book ~ "Six Seconds" (2009) Rick Mofina

From Goodreads ~ A vengeful woman who aches for her place in paradise ... 

In Iraq, an aid worker who lost her husband and child in a brutal attack saves the life of an American contractor. Believing he can help her avenge her family's deaths, she follows him back home to the United States. 

An anguished mother desperate to find her child ...

In California a soccer mom arrives to pick up her son from school, only to discover that her husband has taken their child and vanished without a trace.

A detective who needs to redeem himself ...

In the Rocky Mountains, an off-duty cop rescues a little girl from a raging river moments before she utters her final words in his arms. Haunted by failure, he launches an investigation that leads him to a Montana school where time is ticking down on an event that will rewrite history.

Three strangers entangled in a plot to change the world in only six seconds.

Samara is an aid worker in Iraq whose husband and son were killed in a brutal attack.  Brutalized and lost, she is taken in and shown how she can be with her family again in paradise.  Jake is a truck driver who takes a job in Iraq because he and his family need the money.  Samara saves him after his he has been kidnapped.  When Jake returns home to the States, he isn't the same.  Convinced his wife, Maggie, is cheating on him, he takes their son, Logan, and takes off to make a life with Samara who has followed Jake to the States.

Dan is a Canadian Mountie whose wife has just died.  While in the mountains grieving, he rescues a young girl in a river.  When she dies, he sets out to find out how her family died in an accident.  His investigation leads Dan to Maggie.

During all this, the Pope is planning on visiting a small town in Montana and the Secret Service are determined to do all they can to protect him.

This is the second book I've read by this author and I thought it was okay.  The terrorist plot was far-fetched but I just went with it.  I liked the writing style.  It was written in third person perspective with the focus bouncing around depending on what was going on.

I liked the characters. Dan is grieving over the death of his wife and solving the deaths of the family in the mountain gave him focus and a chance to redeem himself.  I felt for Maggie.  She was dealing with a husband who had a terrible experience in Iraq (though he never talked about it) while assuring her young son that everything was going to be okay ... until her husband kidnapped her son.  Despite the fact that no one would help her, she never gave up and kept looking.

I'd recommend this book if you are into stories about terrorists.

Book ~ "Fixing Freddie: A True Story about a Boy, a Single Mom, and the Very Bad Beagle Who Saved Them" (2010) Paula Munier

From Goodreads ~ We didn’t need a dog. We had a perfectly nice dog named Shakespeare, a big, loveable, huggable shaggy black mutt from the pound. And a cat, a beautiful tabby named Isis. We were a family - me and the dog and the cat and Mikey, my youngest child and the only one left at home. His siblings were grown and gone. His father was just gone. When I finally scraped up the money to buy a little house, Mikey reminded me that it was time for the puppy.

“What puppy?” I didn’t do puppies.

“‘When we get a home of our own,’ you said. You promised,” insisted Mikey.

You promised - the two words in the English language most likely to bring a single mother to her knees.

We didn’t need a dog. We certainly didn’t need a beagle. And we most certainly didn’t need Freddie.

There are bad dogs - and then there are bad beagles.

In this hilarious and heartwarming memoir, single mother Paula Munier takes on the world's worst beagle - and loses every time. She tries everything to fix Freddie - but nothing really works. As her youngest son grows up and prepares to leave her soon-to-be empty nest, Paula's worst fear is that after more than thirty years of raising kids, she'll be left all alone - with Freddie.

I love reading stories about dogs and that's why this book caught my attention.  But it turns out that it was less about Freddie, the beagle, and more about the author and her quest to find a husband.

Paula has been divorced twice and has three children ... two are older and live on their own (their father is loser husband #1) and Mikey is a pre-teen (his father is loser husband #2) when the book begins ... and she keeps attracting and falling for losers.  When Paula buys a house on a lake and she and Mikey settle in, Mikey reminds her of her promise that she would get him a dog once they have their own house.  So despite already having a big dog and a cat off they go and they come home with Freddie, a six-month-old beagle pup.  Over the years, Freddie has discipline issues ... he would lunge at and try to attack men.

While I liked the writing style, I didn't connect with the characters.  I found Paula a bit sad and needy because she was always on the hunt for husband #3 and was always lamenting about her failed love life and past relationships.  I didn't find Mikey likeable ... he was spoiled and Paula gave him what he wanted even when she couldn't afford it.  He demanded a dog so she got him a dog.  When he was 16, he wanted an iphone so she got him an iphone (she had to approach his father to pay for half).

I found Paula irresponsible in getting a dog she knew nothing about.  She is a book editor so has access to and knowledge of the Internet.  They should have done some research to find which would be the appropriate dog for them instead of impulsively buying Freddie and then figuring it out.  Freddie was about five when she finally figured out how to train him ... I felt bad for Freddie.

Book ~ "Boo: The Life of the World's Cutest Dog" (2011) J.H. Lee

From Goodreads ~ Everyone loves Boo! 

His signature fluffy head and teddy bear like persona are irresistibly adorable. With nearly a million Facebook fans, and adding more each day, Boo is poised to become an international superstar. 

This charming book features exclusive new photographs of Boo doing all his favorite things: lounging around, playing with friends, exploring the whole wide world, and making those famous puppy-dog eyes. To know Boo is to love him, and this book is for anyone who loves the cutest dog ever. 

I've never heard of Boo but what caught my eye was that it was a book about a dog ... and I love dogs!

Boo is a Pomeranian that became an Internet sensation. Known for his short haircut, he has a popular Facebook page and is the subject of four photo books (including this one).  He belongs to a San Francisco-based Facebook employee who created a Facebook page for the dog with a statement "My name is Boo. I am a dog. Life is good." He became popular in October 2010 after singer Ke$ha sent a tweet that she had a new boyfriend, linking to the page, and Khloé Kardashian called him the "cutest dog on the planet".

It's a cute book.  The pictures are great and show Boo and his life.

Book ~ "Meow: I Love Cats" (2011) Rachael Hale McKenna, Catherine Ledner and Gandee Vasan

From Goodreads ~ This ultimate celebration of the cat features witty quotes about felines and images by three of the world's most beloved animal photographers. 

Whether playing, pouncing, or just purring contentedly, these are some of the most adorable kittens and cats ever to grace the printed page.

I love reading books about cats so that's why this one caught my eye.  How cute is that kitty on the cover?!

It is made up of quotes.  Here is one:

To bathe a cat takes brute force, perseverance, courage of conviction - and a cat.  The last ingredient is usually the hardest to come by.  Stephen Baker

The quotes are accompanied by beautiful pictures by Rachael Hale McKenna, Catherine Ledner and Gandee Vasan.

Cat lovers will enjoy it.

Book ~ "Cat Capers: Catitude for Cat Lovers" (2008) Gandee Vasan

From Goodreads ~ America's 70 million cat owners will rejoice in finding a captivating coffee table book that is as purr-fect as their beloved feline companion.

Forty-seven percent of cat owners confess that they have more photos of their beloved Morris than of their spouse or significant other. Looking through the pages and portraits of Gandee Vasan's "Cat Capers", this doesn't seem far-fetched.

Scaredy cats, cat burglars and mystery cats inhabit Vasan's pictorials and are presented alongside humorous cat-classifieds, interesting trivia, and delightful musings on all things feline.

Vasan's work has been exhibited at The National Portrait Gallery in London and has garnered numerous awards. He finds his inspiration in absorbing what he sees around him and transforming it into what he wants others to see. 

I enjoy reading books about cats.  This is a cute one that has a variety of short stories, sayings, poems, definitions and lots of beautiful pictures of cats.

Here's a poem by Eleanor Farjeon

Cats sleep ...
Anywhere, Any table,
Any chair, Top of piano,
Window-ledge, in the middle,
On the edge, Open drawer,
Empty shoe,
Anybody's lap will do,
Filling in a cardboard box,
In the cupboard,
With the frocks - anywhere!
They don't care!
Cats sleep anywhere!

Politically correct cat definitions ...

• The cat is not far; he is mass enhanced.
• The cat is not lazy; he is motivationally challenged.

A couple of the pictures:

Book ~ "Falling Backwards" (2011) Jann Arden

From Goodreads ~ This long-time darling of the music industry and singer-songwriter of international renown will capture your heart - and keep you in stitches - with her powerful stories about coming of age as an artist and as a human being. 

 Jann's legions of fans are drawn to her sincerity, wit, humour and that infectious sparkle she brings to everything she does. Oh, and did we mention her sense of humour? Jann's natural comedic talents translate seamlessly into her writing, and her dedicated fans will delight in the details of this memoir--where there is no such thing as too much information. 

Readers will learn about how her brother used to steal her maxi pads to repurpose as GI Joe bunk beds and how she once got gum stuck in her hair so badly that when she woke up her head was glued to the pillow. But with the good times come the bad and Jann opens up about the darker side of her so-called prairie-perfect nuclear family and the first signs that her brother was a uniquely troubled young man. Jann's readable prose keeps the reader tuned in as she reminds us of the inestimable value of having a teacher who believes in you, wide-open spaces to play and be a child and a good mother. 

Though I like Jann Arden's music, I was drawn to read her book because of her appearances on the Rick Mercer Report.  I liked her interactions with Rick Mercer and she's seemed like a hoot.  I enjoyed this book and her personality comes through.

Jann tells her story of the family's beginnings in Calgary and her early years there.  The family moved outside Calgary to the country when she was young.  While initially devastated, she quickly adapted by becoming friends with Leonard and Dale who taught her how to shoot a gun and a bow and arrow and they would take rides around the countryside on Snoopy, their big horse.

She tells of trying to figure out what she wanted to do with her life.  She realized that she wanted to be a singer and moved to Vancouver to make that happen.  Except it didn't and she ended up working a variety of jobs including busking in a touristy part of Vancouver and on a salmon fishing boat.  Miserable she moved back home a couple years later and eventually made the right connections and became the recording artist she is today.

I liked the writing style ... it was funny and sarcastic.  But it was also honest as she talks about her older brother's problems with the law, her father's alcoholism, the abuse she put herself through as she was trying to find herself, etc.

Jann and I were born the same year so I could relate to a lot of what she talked about.  Like Jann, we thought nothing of riding our bikes wherever we wanted and be gone all day, walking to school on our own, etc.  She tells the story of her mom making lunches for school.  She opened her thermos one day and there was a cooked wiener inside.  Because it had sat in hot water all morning, it was huge.  I can dig it as my mother did that when I was a kid too ... I thought I was the only one!  My mother would also wrap up a bun or a piece of bread with ketchup and mustard to make it a hot dog ... except the ketchup and mustard became glue and I wouldn't be able to pry it apart so I'd eat them separately.

Book ~ "Does This Collar Make My Butt Look Big? A Diet Book for Cats" (2013) Dena Harris

From Goodreads ~ This diet-guide parody shows "extra furry" cats how to get svelte with kitty-specific versions of popular weight-loss and fitness regimes like the Zone, South Beach, Mayo Clinic, and French Women Don't Get Fat (But Their Cats Do). 

Americans own more than 86 million cats and the wild popularity of cat videos - from YouTube to the Internet Cat Video Film Festival - proves that cat-lovers can't get enough kitty humor. This book pokes fun at tubby tabbies - the world's cutest (and surliest) fat creatures - with laugh-out-loud details that will tickle the funnybone of anyone "owned" by a cat. 

Lampooning trendy weight-loss regimes and health gurus, this book will also make people feel better about their own battle of the bulge in comparison to cats' insatiable appetites and lazy lifestyles. By eating right for their blood type, sourcing raw and living foods, joining Weight Stalkers, avoiding toxic treats, and exercising while lying down, felines of every shape (round) and size (round) will soon be motivated to ditch the fifth serving of Beef Morsels in Gravy for fresh, local options like that vole in the backyard.

This book is directed to the less than svelte kitty.  It starts with an introduction of taking stock of where your kitty is now (whether he is plump, stocky, obese or big boned) followed by a review of the feline food pyramid. 

Then comes the quiz with 20 questions to determine what kind of a dieter your cat is ... comatose, OCD, ADD, chronic dieter or combination.  Recommended diets are then suggested for each kind of dieter include the South Beach Diet, Eat Right for Your Blood Type, Catty Craig, Weight Stalkers and more.  For example, Weight Stalkers is for your kitty if their goal is a healthy relationship with food instead of the meaningless one-night stands with rotisserie chicken they have been having  It's not for your kitty if they don't like dealing with paid consultants whose job it is to be thinner and prettier than your kitty in hopes of luring them into buying two-for-one frozen mouse meal delivery packages.

Through the book, there are helpful hints and information such as the three simple ways to cut calories:

1. Eat less.  (Ha ha - kidding!)
2. Break food ito small pieces - crumbs don't have calories
3. Eat with a friend.  If you both eat the same amount, the calories each other out.

There is a bonus section in the back for cat owners on putting a cat on a diet in 21 easy steps and an "Ask Flabby Tabby" advice section.

Written with sarcasm and humour, it's a fun read!

Book ~ "The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts" (2008) Tom Farley Jr. and Tanner Colby

From Goodreads ~ No one dominated a stage the way Chris Farley did. For him, comedy was not a routine; it was a way of life. He could not enter a room unnoticed or let a conversation go without making someone laugh. Fans knew Chris as "Saturday Night Live"’s sweaty, swaggering, motivational speaker; as the irresistible Chippendales stripper; and as Tommy Callahan, the underdog hero of "Tommy Boy". His family knew him as sensitive and passionate, deeply religious, and devoted to bringing laughter into others’ lives. 

But Chris did not know moderation, either in his boundless generosity toward friends or in the reckless abandon of his drug and alcohol abuse. For ten years, Chris cycled in and out of rehabilitation centers, constantly fighting his insecurities and his fears. Despite three hard-fought years of sobriety, addiction would ultimately take his life at the tragically young age of thirty-three. Fame on "SNL" and three straight number-one box office hits gave way to a string of embarrassing public appearances, followed by a fatal overdose in December 1997. 

Here is Chris Farley as remembered by his family, friends, and colleagues - the true story of a man who lived to make us laugh and died as a result. "The Chris Farley Show" is an evocative and harrowing portrait of a family trapped by addiction, a father forced to bury a son, and a gifted and kindhearted man ultimately torn apart by the demons inside him.

I liked Saturday Night Live back in the beginning and had stopped watching it by the time Chris Farley (1964 - 97) was on it in the early to mid-1990s. I hadn't seen a lot of what he was in (he'd only been in ten movies and starred in four of those) but I thought his story would be interesting ... and it was.

It's written by one of his brothers, Tom, and starts back when they were kids.  Chris was a football jock and always wanted to get laughs.  He barely got through university and went to work for his family's business, which was run by his dad and started by his grandfather (his dad had to quit school and give up his dreams to take over the business when his grandfather got sick).  Though he eventually quit so he could pursue his dream of getting into comedy, Chris never stopped seeking his father's approval.  

Like his father, Chris had an addiction to food and alcohol.  No one acknowledged that their father had addictions, though (his father was over 600 pounds when he died a year after Chris).  Chris was in and out of rehab for food, drugs and alcohol over the years.  He eventually was clean for three years but something drove him back into it the last two years of his life.  He couldn't get work because no one would insure him until he was clean for two years, which didn't happen.

I liked the structure of the book.  Instead of Tom telling the story, it is told by his brothers, friends and co-stars (like Alec Baldwin, Tim Meadows, David Spade, Chris Rock, John Goodman and Lorne Michaels).

It's a sad story.  Chris had so much going for him but he couldn't control his demons.  He was religious and went to mass every week, had priests for friends and helped so many people ... but he couldn't help himself.

Book ~ "John Wayne: My Father" (1998) Aissa Wayne

From Goodreads ~ In "John Wayne: My Father", Aissa Wayne delves into her father's childhood, his film career, and his life off the screen. The result is an affecting portrait that offers a new perspective on one of America's most enduring hero's humanity.

I wasn't a fan of John Wayne's (1907 - 79) but I wasn't not a fan.  I like reading memoirs/bio and I thought this would be an interesting one.

It's written by his oldest daughter of his third marriage (the fifth oldest of his seven children).  She tells us of his childhood.  Born Marion Morrison and teased about his feminine name as a child, his parents didn't get along and eventually split up.  His mother paid more attention his younger brother, Robert, and the author feels this is why as an adult he always needed constant assurance of everyone's love for him.  She also tells of his experiences making movies, his friends, his wives, his relationship with his kids and dealing with cancer.

Though it was interesting, I found that it was more about the author, though, than it was about John Wayne.  Because her parent were concerned about her getting kidnapped, she led a sheltered life.  As a child, she had elephants at her birthday parties, got to wear diamond for magazine photospreads and traveled the world with her parents.  She was born when her father was about fifty so he wasn't as hip and happening as her friends' dads.  The book seemed to focus more on her reactions to having John Wayne as her dad rather than him.

The book could have been tighter ... she went into a lot of detail at times and it was all about her.  But all in all, it was an interesting rea.

If you watch Amazing Race, the author is the mother of Jennifer Wayne who was on seasons 22 and 24.