Book ~ "The Last House on the Street" (2022) Diane Chamberlain

From Goodreads ~ When Kayla Carter's husband dies in an accident while building their dream house, she knows she has to stay strong for their four-year-old daughter. But the trophy home in Shadow Ridge Estates, a new development in sleepy Round Hill, North Carolina, will always hold tragic memories. But when she is confronted by an odd, older woman telling her not to move in, she almost agrees. It's clear this woman has some kind of connection to the area ... and a connection to Kayla herself. 

Kayla's elderly new neighbor, Ellie Hockley, is more welcoming but it's clear she too has secrets that stretch back almost fifty years. Is Ellie on a quest to right the wrongs of the past? And does the house at the end of the street hold the key? 

Told in dual time periods, "The Last House on the Street" is a novel of shocking prejudice and violence, forbidden love, the search for justice, and the tangled vines of two families. 

1965

Ellie is a white university student who spends her summers working in her father's pharmacy.  When she hears about The Summer Community Organization and Political Education (SCOPE) Project, whose goal was to recruit white college students to help prepare African Americans for voting and to maintain pressure on Congress to pass what became the Voting Rights Act of 1965, she signs up.  Her family and friends in her small town try to dissuade her but she feels strongly enough to risk losing her family and friends for this cause.  While involved, she experiences violence which only makes her conviction stronger.

2010

Kayla and her husband were building their dream home when he passed away in a freak accident in the house before it was finished so she has a love-hate relationship with house.  Kayla and her young daughter move in and strange and scary things start to happen.  Ellie has moved back home for a while to take care of her ailing mother and brother and she and Kayla become friends.

I've read many books by this author and thought this one was just okay.  In 2010, it is first person perspective in Kayla's voice and in 1965 in Ellie's voice.  It bounces back and forth between the two different time periods and the chapters are marked as to what the time period is and whose voice it is.  I found the writing slow for most of the book ... it's not until towards the end that it picked up.  

When I decided to read this book, I didn't know what it was going to be about.  The focus is less on the mystery of why someone doesn't want Kayla to be in the house (which is what I was expecting) and more on Ellie's 1965 story, which was fine as SCOPE was a worthy and interesting cause (I hadn't heard of it before) but there were a lot of details and information which I found slowed the writing down.

Given all that Kayla was going through, with her husband recently passing away and being terrorized to drive her out of her house, she didn't seem overly stressed.  It seemed like she was more concerned about being loyal to her husband's dream of living in the house than protecting her young daughter, which seemed unrealistic.  I found that Ellie, given her privileged white upbringing was just too gung ho about being involved with SCOPE.  It was quite a switch in her lifestyle (one house she stayed in had an outhouse and no electricity) and her family and friends disowned her yet she still carried on with the cause.

As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.

Book ~ "Bake, Borrow, and Steal" (2021) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ As the autumnal hues of November fall over the Shakespearean hamlet of Ashland, Oregon, Jules and her team at Torte are working on their biggest event ever. They’ve been invited to create chocolate showpieces for the gala opening of a new exhibit, Shakespeare’s Lost Pages at SOMA. The museum, located on the campus of Southern Oregon University, is getting ready to unveil the Bard’s lost manuscript, Double Falsehood, which is being touted as the greatest artistic discovery of modern times. In addition to molding luscious, silky chocolate into magnificent structures, Torte will be serving an authentic Elizabethan feast straight from the pages of a sixteenth century cookbook featuring Lardy cakes, Frangipane tarts, and jellies with chestnut cream.

Jules has underestimated the amount of work required to pull off such a culinary feat. She finds herself in the strange position of feeling frazzled and stressed as the day of the gala approaches. However, her team rallies around her and once the massive works of chocolate art are safely installed at the museum, she can finally let out a sigh of relief and revel in the excitement of the grand celebration. But her relief is short-lived. Right before the unveiling, news quickly begins to spread that Shakespeare’s lost manuscript is missing. Not only that, but the security guard tasked with keeping the priceless artifact safe has been killed. Is this a case of a heist gone terribly wrong? Or could it be that a killer is lurking in the museum archives? 

Juliet (aka Jules) was raised in small town Ashland, OR.  She grew up helping her parents in their bakery and went on to culinary school.  After working for many years on a cruise line, where she met her husband, Carlos, she moved back home to take over the family bakery.  She now shares ownership of it with her mother, who recently married the local head of police.  After a two year separation, Jules has worked things out with Carlos and he is running the winery they have majority ownership of.

A lost manuscript of William Shakespeare has been discovered and, since Ashland is home to a Shakespearean theatre and the town has a Shakespearean theme, the director of the local museum has managed to have it exhibited in there.  It is a big deal and Tortes has been hired to provide the catering for the opening night gala, which has all the staff at Torte racing around preparing the food.  At the unveiling gala, there is a lot of tension, both with the museum staff and the Torte staff.  It doesn't help when it's discovered that the manuscript has been stolen, the maintenance man has been attacked, a guard killed and the director of the museum is then arrested for everything.

This is the fourteenth in the Bakeshop Mystery series (I've read them all) and I thought it was okay.  It's written in first person perspective in Jules' voice.  It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity.  I suspect there will probably not be many more in this series as everyone is settled down happily and Jules is thinking about having a baby.

Book ~ "Enjoying Rum: A Tasting Guide and Journal" (2021) Frank Flannery

From Goodreads ~ From classic to new-generation rums hailing from countries around the world, this book gives you the information you need to enjoy rum with knowledge. Whether you are a straight-up sipper or a frozen-with-an-umbrella-drink type, "Enjoying Rum" offers a hands-on guide and reference to the world of rum and its many varieties and tastes.

With the growth of rum distilleries worldwide, this spirit is surpassing its reputation as just a spirit to mix in an island cocktail. The days of Captain Morgan’s being the only option are long gone and savvy spirit aficionados are developing a newfound respect and love for this once-swashbuckling spirit. There are now subtle and distinct flavor variations and nuances in rum options that hail from diverse regions around the globe. The premium rum market is growing fast as a segment of the spirits market both in the U.S. and abroad.

"Enjoying Rum" offers insight into the growing world of this versatile liquor - with its complex flavors tastes and classic cocktails that are synonymous with relaxation. With this book in hand, you may be inclined to make rum your spirit of choice as you:

• Discover rum's dry, sweet, rich, and mellow variations
• Choose from a collection of classic cocktail recipes
• Follow tasting notes on a full range of rums

Enjoying Rum is the perfect gift for your rum-loving friends (or just for yourself!) - no matter what flavor path they choose.

I like rum, especially spiced and dark rums, so thought this would be an interesting book to check out.

The author provides high level information about the history of rum, how rum is made, how to read labels, tasting rum, a spotlight on some famous rums (Bacardi, Captain Morgan [one of my favs], Mount Gay, Appleton and El Dorado) and a handful of rum cocktails.  At the end, there are almost 60 pages so you can journal as you taste different rums.  

I read it as an ebook ... it works better as a book book because you are invited to write in the book and use it as your tasting journal.  It would be handy if a link was provided so you could download a printable pdf and can keep track of the same info for your future reference.

Book ~ "Massey Hall" (2021) David McPherson

From Goodreads ~ Known for its intimacy and sense of occasion, a night at Toronto’s Massey Hall is magical for both audiences and performers. For many musicians, playing the hall is the surest sign that they have made it. Looking out over the crowd, performers often comment that they feel they have joined history as they stand on the stage where Sarah Vaughan, Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, and so many other legends have stood.

Based on scores of interviews and meticulous research, "Massey Hall" chronicles not only the historical and musical moments of the past 127 years but also the community of artists and supporters that has built up around the hall. Covering both emerging artists such as Shakura S’Aida and William Prince and musical giants from Herbie Hancock to the Tragically Hip, this full-colour book is a celebration of music, community, and our shared cultural heritage.

Massey Hall is a performing arts theatre in downtown Toronto ... I've been to many concerts there so was interested to learn more about it.  Plus I like to learn about history.

Opening in 1894, Hart Massey wanted to build a music hall in order to fill the need for a meeting place where people from the Toronto area could meet and enjoy choral music not of a religious theme. He also wanted to construct the building in memory of his son, Charles, who loved music.  Massey also did not want the music hall to make large profits ... he wanted both rich and poor to attend events.  It closed in July 2018 for a two-year-long renovation including a new seven-storey addition and two smaller concert rooms and recently reopened.

The book covers a lot of information:

1. The House that Hart Built
2. The Early Years:  Opening Night to the Great Depression
3. The Jazz Age and Beyond
4. For Folk's Sake:  The 1960s
5. Let There Be Rock:  The 1970s
6. The 1980s
7. Canadians Take Centre Stage:  The 1990s
8. The New Millennium
9. The House of Gord - focusing on Gordon Lightfoot
10. Last Call at the Hall
11. Revitalization
12. Artist Development and Outreach
13. Legendary Leaders
14. A Beacon of Hope

There were many pictures and it was interesting to see how styles and tastes had changed over the years.  It was entertaining to hear stories about Massey Hall, especially from performers.

Book ~ "Missing from the Village: The Story of Serial Killer Bruce McArthur, the Search for Justice, and the System That Failed Toronto's Queer Community" (2020) Justin Ling

From Goodreads ~ The tragic and resonant story of the disappearance of eight men - the victims of serial killer Bruce McArthur - from Toronto's queer community and the failures of the social and political systems which allowed the cases to go unsolved for so long.

In 2013, the Toronto Police Service announced that the disappearances of three missing men - Skandaraj Navaratnam, Abdulbasir Faizi, and Majeed Kayhan - from Toronto's gay village were, perhaps, linked. On paper, an investigation continued for a year but remained "open but suspended." By 2015, investigative journalist Justin Ling had begun to put in multiple requests to speak to the investigators on the case. Meanwhile, more men would go missing and police would continue to deny that there might be a serial killer. On January 18, 2018, Bruce McArthur, a landscaper, would be charged with three counts of first-degree murder. In February 2019, he was convicted of eight counts of first-degree murder. 

This extraordinary book tells the complete story of the McArthur murders. Based on more than five years of in-depth reporting, this is also a story of police failure, of how the gay community failed its own, and the story of the eight men who went missing and the lives they left behind. In telling that story, Justin Ling uncovers the latent homophobia and racism that kept this case unsolved and unseen. This gripping book reveals how police agencies across the country fail to treat missing persons cases seriously, and how policies and laws, written at every level of government, pushed McArthur's victims out of the light and into the shadows. 

I like reading true stories and this one was especially interesting to me since it happened in Toronto not that long ago.  

Starting in 2013, men who frequented Toronto's gay village started disappearing ... some of the men were openly gay while others had families in the suburbs leading double lives.  At first the police didn't think the disappearances were connected.  As soon as Bruce McArthur landed on their radar around the beginning of 2018, the pieces started to fall into place.  McArthur was a 66-year-old landscaper who had been married and had two children before separating from his wife in 1997.  He knew the men, meeting them in gay bars or online.  The police found remnants of his victims in planters at his clients' sites.  He was sentenced to life imprisonment with no parole eligibility for 25 years.

It was interesting to get the scoop on this story.  I liked the writing style ... I found it was written at a high level and there was enough information given.  The author also provided information on what else was going on at the time (other murders, missing people, crimes, etc.).  I found the author went on rants at times expressing his own opinion rather than being unbiased but it's his book and he can write what he wants, right?  But it was obvious he had put a lot of time and effort into researching this book and it was near and dear to his heart since he was a journalist and a gay man.

Book ~ "Talking to Canadians: A Memoir" (2021) Rick Mercer

From Goodreads ~ Canada’s beloved comic genius tells his own story for the first time.

What is Rick Mercer going to do now? That was the question on everyone’s lips when the beloved comedian retired his hugely successful TV show after 15 seasons - and at the peak of its popularity. The answer came not long after, when he roared back in a new role as stand-up-comedian, playing to sold-out houses wherever he appeared.

And then Covid-19 struck. And his legions of fans began asking again: What is Rick Mercer going to do now? Well, for one thing, he’s been writing a comic masterpiece. For the first time, this most private of public figures has turned the spotlight on himself, in a memoir that’s as revealing as it is hilarious. In riveting anecdotal style, Rick charts his rise from highly unpromising schoolboy (in his reports “the word ‘disappointment’ appeared a fair bit”) to the heights of TV fame. Along the way came an amazing break when, not long out of his teens, his one-man show "Show Me the Button, I’ll Push It. Or, Charles Lynch Must Die", became an overnight sensation - thanks in part to a bizarre ambush by its target, Charles Lynch himself. That’s one story you won’t soon forget, and this book is full of them.

There’s a tale of how little Rick helped himself to a tree from the neighbours’ garden that’s set to become a new Christmas classic. There’s Rick the aspiring actor, braving “the scariest thing I have ever done in my life” by performing with the Newfoundland Shakespeare Company; unforgettable scenes with politicians of every variety, from Jean Chretien to George W. Bush to Stockwell Day; and a wealth of behind-the-scenes revelations about the origins and making of "This Hour Has 22 Minutes", "Made in Canada", and "Talking to Americans". All leading of course to the greenlighting of that mega-hit, "Rick Mercer Report".

It’s a life so packed with incident (did we mention Bosnia and Kabul?) and laughter we can only hope that a future answer to “What is Rick Mercer going to do now?” is: “Write volume two.”

I like reading bios/autobios and I like Rick Mercer and that's why I read this book.

Rick Mercer was born 50+ years ago in St. John's, Newfoundland and these are his stories of his family, friends, career and spouse.  

School wasn't his thing but once he discovered entertaining, he knew it was what he wanted to do.  After being part of some groups, he hit it big with a one-man show with the name of a journalist in the title ... and it caught the attention of the journalist who staged mock confrontations, which publicized it even more.  From there he went on to create and be a part of This Hour Has 22 Minutes and Made in Canada.  He tells of heading to the U.S. for Talking to Americans segments and was amazed at how much the Americans really don't know much about Canada.  It was interesting to read about his experiences with the members of our Armed Forces.  The book ends just before The Rick Mercer Report.

I liked the writing style.  It was honest and amusing at times ... I could "hear" Rick's voice in the writing.

Book ~ "Peace by Chocolate" (2020) Jon Tattrie

From Goodreads ~ Tareq Hadhad was worried about his father: Isam did not know what to do with his life. Before the war began in Syria, Isam had run a chocolate company for over twenty years. But that life was gone now. The factory was destroyed and he and his family had spent three years in limbo as refugees before coming to Canada. So, in an unfamiliar kitchen in a small town, Isam began to make chocolate again.

This remarkable book tells the extraordinary story of the Hadhad family - Isam, his wife Shahnaz, and their sons and daughters - and the founding of the chocolatier, Peace by Chocolate. From the devastation of the Syrian civil war, through their life as refugees in Lebanon, to their arrival in a small town in Atlantic Canada, Peace by Chocolate is the story of one family. It is also the story of the people of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, and so many towns across Canada, who welcomed strangers and helped them face the challenges of settling in an unfamiliar land. 

The Hadhad family lived in war torn Syria.  Patriarch Isam had started a chocolate factory when he was a young man and grew it into a beloved business for over 20 years.  The building was bombed as was their home so the family fled to Lebanon to be safe.  From there, for the next three years they tried to figure out what to do next.  An opportunity arose to head to Canada.

In the meantime, the residents of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, wanted to help the refugees of Syria and started raising money so they could bring families to Antigonish and help them get a fresh start.  The Hadhad family was one of the families that benefited from their help.  In 2016, Tareq was the first of the Hadhad children to arrive in Antigonish.  The rest of his family eventually got permission to join him and start a new life.

Isam had lost so much and it took a while to get his groove back.  He started making chocolates in their kitchen and giving them out to show his appreciation.  This led to him selling chocolates at farmers' markets and eventually he started and Tareq his business again, which they called Peace by Chocolate.  The business is now one of the larger employers in the area and Tareq has become an international spokesperson of peace.

I went to university in Antigonish and lived there for four years afterwards (I moved to Toronto in 1987) so this story was a bit more near and dear to my heart.  I loved that the residents of Antigonish banded to together to help families that were so different from them but needed help.

I liked the writing style ... the author kept it high level but the heartfelt emotions still came through.  It's so nice to see a family that had so much and then lost it has been able to get back on their feet again and help and be appreciative of their new community.

Book ~ "Don't Tell a Soul" (2008) David Rosenfelt

From Goodreads ~ Tim Wallace's wife died in a boating accident several months ago. Tim was the only eye witness and one New Jersey cop is sure he killed her. He didn't but even if the police eventually clear his name, he'll never get over this terrible tragedy. 

On New Year's Eve, his two best friends and business partners finally convince him to go out for the first time since Maggie's death, and at their neighborhood pub just a few minutes before midnight, things in Tim Wallace's life go from bad to worse. "Can you keep a secret? A really big one?" a drunken stranger asks him. Before Tim can say anything or turn away, the man confesses to a months-old murder, even offering as proof the location of the woman's body. "Now it's your problem," he says and walks away. 

When the man turns out to have been telling the truth, Tim's life and work are put under the microscope again by the cops, and this time they're not giving up. But neither is Tim, even when things keep getting worse for him, and eventually he realizes he's the only person who can figure out what's really going on  - even if it kills him.

Tim finally convinced his bride, Maggie, to go on his beloved boat.  While on the water, the boat blows up, killing Maggie.  Novak, the investigating police officer, is convinced Tim had something to do with it.  Tim has been mourning many months later, throwing himself into his work.  His two best friends convince him to go out on New Years Eve to their favourite bar.  Tim's not in the mood and just before he's ready to head for home, a drunk stranger approaches him and unburdens him with a secret ... he murdered a woman a couple months go and buried her in a playground.  Being a good citizen, Tim tells Novak about it but Novak automatically thinks Tim did it.  When more people end up disappearing and/or getting killed, Novak continues to try to prove that Tim is the killer.  Tim realizes he must do whatever he has to to prove his innocence.

I've read many books by this author, mostly his Andy Carpenter series which I enjoy, and this is a stand alone.  I like the writing style and it is written in third person perspective.  I thought the story was really convoluted, though, and think the "whodunnit" and why could have gone in a more interesting direction.  And I am still confused as to why Tim's boat exploded in the first place.  There were lots of characters, many ended up dead.  The end wraps up rather quickly.  As a head's up, there is swearing.

Book ~ "The Moonshine Shack Murder" (2021) Diane Kelly

From Goodreads ~ The Hayes family has made moonshine in Chattanooga since the days of Prohibition and Hattie is happy to continue the tradition, serving up fun, fruity flavors in mason jars for locals and tourists alike. All signs indicate her new 'shine shop will be a smashing success. What's more, mounted police officer Marlon Landers has taken a shine to Hattie. For the first time ever, the stars seemed to have aligned in both her work and romantic life. But when a body ends up on her store's doorstep alongside a broken jar of her Firefly Moonshine, it just might be lights out for her fledgling business.

The homicide detective can't seem to identify the person who killed the owner of a nearby bar. The only witness is Hattie's longhaired gray cat and Smoky isn't talking. When the detective learns that the victim and Hattie had a heated exchange shortly before his murder, she becomes her prime suspect.

Lest Hattie end up behind bars like her bootlegging great-grandfather a century before, she must distill the evidence herself and serve the killer a swift shot of justice.

Hattie recently gave up her job to open a shop selling the moonshine she makes from recipes passed down from generations.  Marlon is a local police officer who rides by on a horse.  He stops by her store often and they become friends, though Hattie hopes it will become more.  He annoyingly refers to her as a "filly" and I hope he stops that.  

To promote her business, Hattie goes around and meets the business people in the neighbourhood, hoping there will be some synergies for working together and cross-promotion.  She gets resistance from the Cormac, the pub owner across the street.  Late one night Hattie heads to her store because she doubts she had locked up properly.  She hears a commotion in front and finds Cormac murdered and the weapon seems to be a bottle of her moonshine, which makes Hattie a suspect.  Though Marlon and the police officer in charge tell her to stay out of it, Hattie starts snooping around to find out who murdered Cormac so she can prove her innocence.

I've read many books (and series) by this author and I thought this one was okay ... it's the first in the Southern Homebrew Mystery series.  I liked the writing style.  It is written in first person perspective from Hattie's point of view.  It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity.  Having it set in moonshine country made an interesting and different setting.

Book ~ "Whiskey Lullaby" (2020) Liliana Hart

From Goodreads ~ Addison Holmes has her hands full. Marriage changes a woman and pregnancy hormones are no joke. But despite her promise to retire from dangerous P.I. work, she has no choice but to take this case.

Twenty years ago, her father and his partner cracked the case of their careers. But it was all a set-up. They sent the wrong men to prison and now it's time for the real culprits to tie up loose ends. Her father is dead but his partner, who happens to be her mom's new husband, is very much alive. At least for the time being.

Discovering the truth is no easy task, but saving her father's legacy and her step-father's life is her top priority. Because family means everything.

Until recently, Addison Holmes worked at her friend, Kate's detective agency.  She and Nick, a police officer, recently got married and she is pregnant.  Kate is shutting down her detective agency and looking for other opportunities.

Vince, Addison's stepfather, has disappeared.   Her mother suspects he is having an affair when she finds a woman's phone number.  She asks Addison to check things out.  Vince and Charlie, Addison's late father, were former police officers.  There was one case 20 years ago that didn't seem right so Charlie continued to investigate.  It turns out that Vince has now picked up where Charlie left off before his death and there's no other woman ... he's just hunting down clues.  As Addison tries to find Vince, she has the help of her best friends, Kate and Rosemary, and her eccentric great aunt, Scarlett.

It was a light fun book to read.  It is written in first person perspective from Addison's point of view.  I liked the writing style ... it was amusing.  There is some minor swearing.

Though it is the seventh in the Addison Holmes series (I've read them all), it works as a stand alone.  It had been a few years since I'd read the sixth one so it took a while for the characters and relationships to come back to me.

Book ~ "My Best Mistake: Epic Fails and Silver Linings (2021) Terry O'Reilly

From Goodreads ~ The Incredible Hulk was originally supposed to be grey but a printing glitch led to the superhero’s iconic green colour. NHL hall-of-famer Serge Savard’s hockey career nearly ended prematurely, not because of an injury, but because of an oversight. And the invention of a beloved treat, the Popsicle, began with a simple mistake.

In his fascinating and meticulously researched new book, Terry O’Reilly recounts how some of the biggest breakthroughs and best-loved products originated with a mistake. Some people’s “mistakes” led to dramatic life changes - losing their jobs, their companies and often their credibility - only for them to discover new opportunities on the other shore. Other people’s mistakes seemed minor, almost insignificant - until they led to a famous brand, a legendary band or a groundbreaking work of art. And in a few instances, a mistake actually saved lives.

The fear of failing often holds us back. "My Best Mistake" will change how you think about screwing up and will encourage you to accept mistakes and embrace the obstacles that may arise from these errors, leading you to unexpected breakthroughs and silver linings of your own.

I saw an interview on TV a couple weeks ago with Terry O'Reilly and he was talking about this book.  It sounded interesting so I thought I'd check it out ... and it was.

The stories were varied and included those about Billy Joel, Rob Lowe, Ellen DeGeneres, Seth MacFarlane, Steve Jobs, Swanson's TV Dinners, Kellogg's Corn Flakes, Jaws, Scotty Bowman, Ski-Doos, Bill Maher, the Dixie Chicks, Popsicles and more.

I liked the writing style.  It was written at a high level and gave me just enough information.

Book ~ "Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark" (2021) Cassandra Peterson

From Goodreads ~ On Good Friday in 1953, at only 18 months old, 25 miles from the nearest hospital in Manhattan, Kansas, Cassandra Peterson reached for a pot on the stove and doused herself in boiling water. Third-degree burns covered 35% of her body and the prognosis wasn't good. But she survived. Burned and scarred, the impact stayed with her and became an obstacle she was determined to overcome. Feeling like a misfit led to her love of horror. While her sisters played with Barbie dolls, Cassandra built model kits of Frankenstein and Dracula and idolized Vincent Price.

Due to a complicated relationship with her mother, Cassandra left home at 14 and by age 17, she was performing at the famed Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas. Run-ins with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Tom Jones helped her grow up fast. Then a chance encounter with her idol, Elvis Presley, changed the course of her life forever and led her to Europe where she worked in film and traveled Italy as lead singer of an Italian pop band. She eventually made her way to Los Angeles, where she joined the famed comedy improv group, The Groundlings, and worked alongside Phil Hartman and Paul "Pee-wee" Reubens, honing her comedic skills.

Nearing age 30, a struggling actress considered past her prime, she auditioned at local LA channel KHJ as hostess for the late night vintage horror movies. Cassandra improvised, made the role her own and got the job on the spot. "Yours Cruelly, Elvira" is an unforgettably wild memoir. Cassandra doesn't shy away from revealing exactly who she is and how she overcame seemingly insurmountable odds. Always original and sometimes outrageous, her story is loaded with twists, travails, revelry and downright shocking experiences. It is the candid, often funny, and sometimes heart-breaking tale of a Midwest farm girl's long strange trip to become the world's sexiest, sassiest Halloween icon. 

I like reading bios/autobios and thought Cassandra Peterson might have an interesting life to read about.  I knew she was Elvira but didn't realize how much "Elvira" had done.

Cassandra was born in a small town in Kansas.  Growing up, she was more interested in horror-themed things than girly things.  She didn't have a happy childhood (her mother had issues) and left home in her mid-teens and became a go-go dancer.  Her ambition was to be a Las Vegas showgirl and she realized this dream when she was in her late teens.  She did some acting, was in a pop band in Italy before becoming Elvira in 1981, which has been her focus since.

I liked the writing style and it sounds like she is/was a free spirit.  She tells lots and lots of stories ... about the celebrities she has met, partied with and had adult relations with (some are happy experiences and some aren't), the drugs, her friends, her travels, etc.  The book focuses on the earlier parts of her life ... there are just a couple chapters on the last 20 or years of her life (she divorced her emotionally abusive husband of 25 years and found love again).  There are lots of pictures at the ends.

Book ~ "Hana Khan Carries On" (2021) Uzma Jalaluddin

From Goodreads ~ Hana Khan's family-run halal restaurant is on its last legs. So when a flashy competitor gets ready to open nearby, bringing their inevitable closure even closer, she turns to her anonymously-hosted podcast, and her lively and long-lasting relationship with one of her listeners, for advice. 

But a hate-motivated attack on their neighbourhood complicates the situation further, as does Hana's growing attraction for Aydin, the young owner of the rival business. Who might not be a complete stranger after all.

Hana's mother has been running a halal restaurant in the close-knit Golden Crescent neighbourhood in Toronto's east end for 15 years.  Hana's sister and brother-in-law work there as does Hana.  What Hana wants to do, though, is be in radio and she has an internship with a radio station plus she has just started doing podcasts.  She has been exchanging comments with a listener named "StanleyP" and, though they have never met or provided details of their real life, they have become friends.

Hana's mother's restaurant is failing and it doesn't help when a rude aggressive businessman from Vancouver buys the restaurant nearby for his son, Aydin, to open and run.  His goal is to buy all the other property in the area and develop it for condos.  Hana will do all she can to keep her mother's restaurant in business and clashes with Aydin, despite being drawn to him.

I liked this story and the writing style.  It is written in first person perspective in Hana's voice. Though she is 24, she seems a lot younger.  There is a lot going on, however, with so many different storylines in so many different directions.  I found it interesting learning more about the Muslim beliefs and practices.  As a head's up, there is some swearing and violence.

Book ~ "Getaway With Murder" (2021) Diane Kelly

From Goodreads ~ As if hitting the half-century mark wasn’t enough, Misty Murphy celebrated her landmark birthday by amicably ending her marriage and investing her settlement in a dilapidated mountain lodge at the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With the old inn teetering on both a bluff and bankruptcy, she must have lost her ever-loving mind.

Luckily handyman Rocky Crowder has a knack for rehabbing virtual ruins and for doing it on a dime and to Misty’s delight, the lodge is fully booked on opening night, every room filled with flexible folks who’d slipped into spandex and ascended the peak for a yoga retreat with plans to namastay for a full week. Misty and her guests are feeling zen - at least until the yoga instructor is found dead.

With a killer on the loose and the lodge’s reputation hanging in the balance, Misty must put her detective-skills to the test. Only one thing is as clear as a sunny mountain morning - she must solve the crime before the lodge ends up, once again, on the brink.

Misty is fifty and is starting a new life.  She and her husband have amicably split after many years and her sons are off to college.  She buys a mountain lodge which she'd visited many times and has fond memories of.  It needs some repairs and luckily Rocky, a local handyman, will do them cheaply and stay on to do maintenance in return for a room.  Misty hires Brynn as her assistant and the restaurant across the street will be providing a buffet breakfast in the mornings so she's good to go.  She even has a group booked for a week for a yoga retreat.  Things become not so zen when the leader of the yoga retreat is found murdered.  Misty is concerned because there may be a killer staying at her lodge, which is not a good way to start a business.

I've read many books (and series) by this author and I liked this one ... it's the first in the Mountain Lodge Mystery series.  I liked the writing style.  It is written in first person perspective from Misty's point of view and third person perspective from Yeti, Misty's cat's point of view (the author has done this in other series ... had dogs and cats share their point of view, which as an animal lover I find cute).

It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity.  I liked the characters and look forward to reading others in this series.  And I liked that Misty is a more mature age (so closer to mine) than a younger woman.

Book ~ "Heart of a Killer" (2012) David Rosenfelt

From Goodreads ~ Jamie Wagner is a young lawyer who is happy to be flying under the radar at a large firm. It’s not that he isn’t smart. He is. It’s just that hard work, not to mention the whole legal thing, isn’t exactly his passion. Underachiever? A little. Content? Right up until the firm puts him on a case that turns his whole world upside down. 

Sheryl Harrison has served four years of a thirty-year murder sentence for killing her husband, who she claims was abusive. The case is settled - there shouldn’t be anything for Jamie to do - except Sheryl’s fourteen-year-old daughter, Karen, is sick. She has a congenital heart defect and will die without a transplant. Her blood type is rare, making their chances of finding a matching donor remote at best. Sheryl wants to be that donor for her daughter, and Jamie is in way over his head. Suicide, no matter the motive, is illegal. So with Sheryl on suicide watch, Jamie’s only shot at helping her and saving Karen is to reopen the murder case, prove Sheryl’s innocence, and get her freed so that she can pursue her plan on her own.

Jamie is a smart guy but not overly motivated.  He knows he'll never make partner in the law firm he works for and he's okay with that.  He is handed a pro bono case ... Sheryl has been in prison for six years for murdering her husband.  Her teenage daughter, Karen, has a heart defect and needs a transplant and Sheryl is a rare match for her.  So Sheryl wants to be able to be killed so her daughter can have her heart and live.  Assisted suicides are illegal so Sheryl needs legal assistance.  Jamie enlists the help of Sheryl's arresting officer, Novack.  Despite Sheryl admitting at the time that she had murdered her husband, he never believed her and this is his chance at redemption and to prove her innocence.

In the meantime, a hacker is causing chaos across the country by taking control and crashing planes and trains, etc. in return for money.  While Novack would like to focus on Sheryl's situation, he is also pulled in to try to find the hacker as they could be local.

I've read many books by this author, mostly his Andy Carpenter series which I enjoy, and this is a stand alone.  I like the writing style and it is written in first person perspective in Jamie's voice and third person perspective when the focus is on others.  It's a bit of a depressing story with Sheryl wanting to be killed so she could donate her heart to her dying daughter.  I thought the "whodunnit" was a bit convoluted, though, and I could have done without the hacking/terrorism side story (I didn't find it all that interesting).

Book ~ "Without Warning" (2014) David Rosenfelt

From Goodreads ~ Years ago, Katie Sanford's husband was convicted of the murder of Jenny Robbins, then died himself in prison. It's a small town and memories are long and Katie and Jenny's husband, Chief of Police Jake Robbins, have had to work at putting the tragedy behind them. But it's all brought up again in the wake of a hurricane which has just wreaked havoc on their quiet Maine town. 

Since its founding, Wilton has had a quaint tradition of creating a time capsule every fifty years and the storm unearthed the most recent capsule. As the editor of the local paper, Katie joins Chief Robbins to supervise its opening. Neither of them is prepared for the macabre set of predictions, dating back to months before Jenny's murder, that they find inside. Someone predicted her death, as well as eleven other tragedies, which are still occurring even long after the death of Katie's husband. 

At last, after all these years, Katie has reason to hope that her husband might not have been guilty of Jenny's murder after all. But as she and Jake race to stop the next predictions from coming true, they find themselves caught in a terrifying mind game with no rules ... and life or death consequences.

Wilton is a small town and every 50 years a time capsule is buried.  A hurricane comes through the town and disrupts the time capsule that was buried there about four years ago and a body is found with it.  Jake is the chief of police and wants to get into the time capsule to see if there is anything funky inside it.  Kate is the editor of the local paper and is on hand when it's opened.  Inside are some predictions ... some have already happened (such as the murders of Kate and Jake's spouses, which happened after their deaths) and some, it's assumed, are still to come and Jake wants to make sure they don't, especially when all eyes turn to him as the killer.

I've read many books by this author, mostly his Andy Carpenter series which I enjoy, and this is a stand alone.  I like the writing style and it is written in first person perspective in Jake's voice and third person perspective when the focus is on others.  I thought the "whodunnit" was a bit convoluted, though, and found it unbelievable that the "whodunnit" was able to make it all happen.

Book ~ "The Perfect Family" (2021) Robyn Harding

From Goodreads ~ Thomas and Viv Adler are the envy of their neighbors: attractive, successful, with well-mannered children and a beautifully restored home.

Until one morning, when they wake up to find their porch has been pelted with eggs. It’s a prank, Thomas insists; the work of a few out-of-control kids. But when a smoke bomb is tossed on their front lawn and their car’s tires are punctured, the family begins to worry. Surveillance cameras show nothing but grainy images of shadowy figures in hoodies. And the police dismiss the attacks, insisting they’re just the work of bored teenagers. 

Unable to identify the perpetrators, the Adlers are helpless as the assaults escalate into violence, and worse. And each new violation brings with it a growing fear. Because everyone in the Adler family is keeping a secret - not just from the outside world but from each other. And secrets can be very dangerous.

Thomas is a real estate agent and Viv is a stager/designer.  They seem to have the perfect life and appearances are important to them.  When their son, Eli, returns home from his first year of university, he says he's not going back but doesn't say why.  Thomas and Viv figure they will be able to pressure him into going back but Eli knows that's not going to work.  Tarryn is their teenage daughter ... she's moody and friendless and spends most of her time in her bedroom in the basement.

The family begins being harassed ... it starts with eggs being tossed at the house and quickly escalates to tires being slashed and smoke bombs and more.  Thomas and Viv contact the police, who dismiss it as childish pranks.  But the family knows this isn't the case and all four have secrets that would be the cause of these attacks but they can't reveal them to each other.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I liked it.  I liked the writing style and it moved at a quick pace.  It is written in first person perspective alternating between Thomas, Viv, Eli and Tarryn (the chapters are labeled so you know whose voice it is).  I was buying the "whodunnit" but thought there were still some incidents not explained so those loops weren't closed enough for me.  As a head's up, there is swearing.

I look forward to reading other books by this author.

Book ~ "Fishnets & Fantasies" (2021) Jane Doucet

From Goodreads ~ Wendy Hebb has been a fisherman’s wife for forty years. She has also been a mother, a yoga instructor and part-time soap maker. She loves her life in picturesque Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, but it’s just not enough anymore. With a burning entrepreneurial desire, she decides that when her husband, Paul, retires, it will finally be her turn to live out her dream. The catch: her dream is to open a sex shop. 

While Paul begrudgingly goes along with Wendy’s “half-cocked” idea, it’s out of a sense of guilt; a recently spilled secret has their marriage on the rocks. As soon as the townspeople get wind of Wendy’s plans, it opens up a whole other can of worms - and Paul finds himself bait for the local rumour mill. Her silent, “invisible” partner in the project, he secretly hopes her plan for the shop will fail.

Orbiting around Paul and Wendy’s story is a motley crew of characters including the Hebbs’ daughter, Ellen, a feminist academic who catches the eye of a lady-killer coworker while home for the summer; Wendy’s best friend, Betty, a chain-smoking seamstress with secrets of her own; the local minister and her husband, who secretly indulge in role play; and the wealthy Sonya and Booth, who will stop at nothing to make sure the shop never opens its doors - as long as they can avoid discussing their failing marriage.

Paul has been a fisherman for 40 years and though it's breaking his heart to sell his boat and license, he knows it's time to retire.  His wife, Wendy, has been waiting for this day as she plans on opening her own business when Paul retires.  Over the years, she has tried many things and now has her sights set on opening a sex shop in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, the small town where they live about an hour's drive from Halifax.  

Paul resists as he's concerned with what his friends and the other townsfolk will say and think.  But Wendy doesn't care and she has the support of their adult daughter, Ellen, and her friends.  Sonya and Booth had gone to high school with Wendy and Paul and had made it big in Toronto.  They recently moved "back home" and are opposed to Wendy's plans and try to rustle up enough people in town to sign a petition to stop it.

What initially caught my attention to this book was that it was set in Nova Scotia (and I'm originally from there).  I wasn't sure what to expect from the description and subject matter.  But it was a cute story and I liked it.  The writing is in third person perspective in the voices of various characters including Wendy, Paul, Ellen and more and they use lingo and sayings that a Nova Scotian would use (especially Wendy's friend, Betty).  I liked that the characters were "mature" ... they were my age, on the cusp of turning sixty.  Plus the author used actually places in Lunenburg ... for example, the bar that Ellen works at during the summer is an actual place (I was curious and Googled).  As a head's up, there is swearing and discussions of adult activity.

Book ~ "A Little Christmas Spirit" (2021) Sheila Roberts

From Goodreads ~ Single mom Lexie Bell hopes to make this first Christmas in their new home special for her six-year-old son, Brock. Festive lights and homemade fudge, check. Friendly neighbors? Uh, no. The reclusive widower next door is more grinchy than nice. But maybe he just needs a reminder of what matters most. At least sharing some holiday cheer with him will distract her from her own lack of romance.

Stanley Mann lost his Christmas spirit when he lost his wife and he sees no point in looking for it. Until she shows up in his dreams and informs him it’s time to ditch his scroogey attitude. Stanley digs in his heels but she’s determined to haunt him until he wakes up and rediscovers the joys of the season. He can start by being a little more neighborly to the single mom next door. In spite of his protests, he’s soon making snowmen and decorating Christmas trees. How will it all end?

Merrily, of course. A certain Christmas ghost is going to make sure of that! 

Lexie is a single mother of six-year-old.  She has recently moved to a small town in Washington because of a teaching job and has bought a house.  She had to leave her family behind in California but looking forward to starting a new life there.  

Stanley is a senior widower and Lexie's neighbour.  When Carol, his beloved wife, passed away in an car accident three years ago, he shut himself off from life.  When Lexie and Brock move in next door, he wants no part of them.  He and Carol never had children and he's never wanted any.  But Brock adopts him as his grandpa and when Stanley tries to resist, Carol starts haunting him in his dreams, pushing him to open up and have a life again.  That starts with being neighbourly and helping Lexie and Brock since they don't know anyone yet.  As reluctant as he initially is, he has to admit he eventually enjoys being part of someone's family.

I've read many books by this author and liked this one.  It is written in third person perspective with the focus shifting between Lexie and Stanley.  The story jumps back and forth in time starting in present time with Lexie, Brock and Stanley and going back to when Stanley and Carole met and telling about their life together.  Because it is a Christmas story, there is a happy ending so a nice "feel good" book just in time for the holidays.

Book ~ "An Embarrassment of Critch's: Immature Stories from My Grown-Up Life" (2021) Mark Critch

From Goodreads ~ One of Mark Critch's earliest acting gigs was in a Newfoundland tourist production alongside a cast of displaced fishery workers. Since, he's found increasing opportunities to take his show on the road. In "An Embarrassment of Critch's", the star of CBC's "This Hour Has 22 Minutes" revisits some of his career's - and the country's - biggest moments, revealing all the things you might not know happened along the way: A wishful rumour spread by Mark's father results in his big break; two bottles of Scotch nearly get him kicked out of a secret Canadian airbase in the United Arab Emirates; and for anyone wondering how to get an interview with the Prime Minister and Bono (yes, that Bono) on the same evening, Critch might recommend a journey to the 2003 Liberal Convention.

Critch's top-secret access to all of the funniest behind-the-scenes moments involve many of the charismatic and notorious politicians we love to see blush, including fearless leaders Justin Trudeau, Stephen Harper, Paul Martin and Jean Chrétien, celebrities such as Pamela Anderson and Robin Williams, and other colourful figures he's met over years of pulling off daring skits at home and abroad. 

Remember when MP Carolyn Parrish took her boot to George W. Bush Jr.'s head in an interview? Or when Critch asked Justin Trudeau where the best place to smoke pot on Parliament Hill was before pulling out a joint for them to share? There's more to each of those stories than you know. Though Critch has spent years crisscrossing the country - and the globe - with the explicit aim of causing trouble everywhere he goes, like the best journeys, this one takes him right back home. 

Mark Critch is a Canadian comedian, actor and writer. He is best known for his work on the CBC comedy series, This Hour Has 22 Minutes.  I must admit that I've never watched This Hour Has 22 Minutes but I do know who Mark Critch is ... he was in The Grand Seduction, a fun movie I've seen quite a few times (in fact, I just watched it again a couple weeks ago).

I like reading bios/autobios, he's Canadian and I grew up in the Atlantic provinces so that's why it caught my eye.  Plus I'd read his first book, Son of a Critch: A Childish Newfoundland Memoir, and liked it

This book picks up when Critch was trying to figure out what to do with his life.  He knew he wanted to entertain and his first big job was with a theatre group in Trinity, a small town in Newfoundland.  His big break came when he got a two week gig writing for This Hour Has 22 Minutes in 2003 and he's still there!  Over the years, he has met many people, travelled to many places all over the world and have had many adventures, and it was interesting to read about it.  He has a lot of guts and this bodes him well when he has to charge up to get interviews from unsuspecting people.

I liked this book.  I liked the writing style and thought it was honest and amusing at times.