Book ~ "The Other Side" (2013) Chevy Stevens

From Goodreads ~ Sandy is working the biggest case of her life - the Campsite Killer, who has been hunting women for almost forty years. She’s finally close to nailing him, if she can just keep her head in the game. 

But when an old friend calls with a lead about Sandy’s mother’s murder, Sandy is pulled into the past - a past she thought she’d closed the door on. Her life is about to get real complicated, real fast.

Sandy is a cop looking for the Campsite Killer.  He has been on the run for many years but popped up recently when he contacted his adult daughter, Sara.  She is also dealing with something from her past ... her mother had been murdered by her father and then he disappeared.  And if that wasn't enough, her boyfriend of many years is pressuring her to have a baby.

This is a side story of Never Knowing focusing on Sandy, which I read last month.  It's written in first person perspective from Sandy's point of view.  There are characters from Never Knowing including Billy (Sandy's partner) and Nadine (Sara's psychiatrist).

Book ~ "Drink Dirt Eat Stone" (2015) Kyle Fleishman

From Goodreads ~ Former Native Syndicate hitman and Gulf War hero Tristan Stonehorse walks out of Stony Mountain Penitentiary a free man for the first time in fourteen years. 

But Tristan owes. Kill one last man and he can put his violent past behind him and possibly mend the relationship with his grown daughter. If only things were that simple. 

When the job goes sideways, his would-be killers are dead and Tristan finds himself on the run with a group of highly skilled, anonymous killers trying to put him down for good. As he traverses the country he must do the one thing he hates most. Explore his own past.

Tristan has just been released from prison.  He wants to put his life back together and hopefully reconnect with his now adult daughter.  Tristan just has to kill one more person and he can move on.  But things get complicated when he is being stalked and many are trying to kill him ... he has to figure out why and who is behind it.

I liked the writing style and story.  Tristan didn't have a nice upbringing so did what he had to do what he had to do to survive.  He ended up becoming a hitman, eventually eliminating most of the members of the Hell's Angels when they tried to take over Vancouver.  With not a lot of options, he joins the military and because of his unique skills, he becomes a war hero.  When he returns home, he has revenge in mind for things done to him when he was a child, which is what lands him in prison.

The book jumps back and forth from the present to the past.  I found it confusing at first until I picked up on the rhythm ... the present is written in present tense and the past is written in past tense.  I'm assuming the author did this to build suspense as nothing is revealed right away.  It is written in third person perspective with a focus on Tristan.  As a head's up, there is a lot of swearing and brutal violence and some adult activity.

This is the debut novel from this author and I look forward to reading more in the future.

Book ~ "Tell Me to My Face" (2011) Angelo Mosca and Steve Milton

From Goodreads ~ "Tell Me To My Face" is an intimate and surprising story of Angelo Mosca's journey from a hard-scrabble upbringing to playing in a record nine Grey Cups, becoming the most hated man in the CFL and wrestling as the infamous King Kong Mosca.

Angelo Mosco is a former football player (primarily for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Gord's favourite CFL team) and wrestler.  To be honest, I've never heard of him but Gord recently read this book and said I'd enjoy it as I like reading bios ... and I did like this book.

Mosca was born outside of Boston to Italian parents who were alcoholics.  His father physically abused him and his siblings and his mother allowed it.  He took advantage of football scholarship at Notre Dame to get away from home, which led him to play football for the Tiger-Cats.

During the off-season, he wrestled as King Kong Mosca and continued after he left football.

I thought his story was interesting. He was honest in both his achievements and his faults. He sounds like a fun guy to sit down and talk with.  As a head's up, there is swearing.

It was self-published and there were a lot of typos and grammatical errors, which is surprising considering he had a sports writer helping him out.

Book ~ "The Only Average Guy: Inside the Uncommon World of Rob Ford" (2015) John Filion

From Goodreads ~ The first book to go beyond the scandal and distraction of the world's most infamous local politician and reveal what drives Rob Ford and the many voters who steadfastly support him.

Eye-opening and at times frightening, "The Only Average Guy" cuts through the uproar that followed Ford everywhere. A journalist before entering politics, Filion peels back the layers of an extremely complicated man. Weaving together the personal and political stories, he explains how Ford's tragic weaknesses helped propel him to power before leading to his inevitable failure. Through Ford, the book also explains the growing North American phenomenon by which angry voters are attracted to outspoken candidates flaunting outrageous flaws.

For fifteen years, Toronto city councillor John Filion has had an uncommon relationship with Rob Ford. Sitting two seats away from the wildly unpredictable councillor from Etobicoke, who served as mayor from 2010 to 2014, Filion formed an unlikely camaraderie that allowed him to look beyond Rob's red-faced persona, seeing a boy still longing for the approval of his father, struggling with the impossible expectations of a family that fancied itself a political dynasty. 

Rob Ford was a councillor of Etobicoke from 2000 to 2010 and mayor of Toronto from 2010 to 2014.  He appealed to many because of his promises to save taxpayer and "stop the gravy train" and "Ford Nation" formed.  When Rob was mayor, his brother, Doug, was councillor of Etobicoke.  Together they were a united front.  I've never been a fan of either of the Fords ... I think they are lying arrogant bullies.

As Rob's alcohol and drug addictions took hold of him, having him as our mayor became an embarrassment to our city (it is North America’s fourth largest city and Canada’s sixth largest government) and he became a laughingstock around the world.

Rob spent less and less time at City Hall and more time on the missing list. He started showing up at events hammered and stoned. There were rumours that he was hanging out with drug dealers and murderers. When it was reported that there was a video of Ford doing coke, he denied its existence and proclaimed that he didn't do drugs. It was only when he was backed up against a wall that he admitted the truth ... that seemed to be the way he dealt with everything. Deny deny deny until proof comes out to show he was lying.

Eventually because he couldn't be kicked out of the office, the councillors voted to strip him of his powers so for his last year he was our mayor in name only. When yet another video surfaced of him in less-than-stellar behaviour, he said he was heading to rehab (he was only there for about a month).  He vowed to become elected again as mayor in the 2014 election but was forced to quit because it was discovered he had cancer and he needed to have it treated.  Instead he ran for his former position as councillor and won.

This book is written by Rob's fellow councillor, John Filion who spent 15 years working with him.  Filion interviewed more than 75 people (including Rob and Doug) to get the story on what Rob makes Rob who he is today.  He starts by telling about their parents, Doug Sr. and Diane, who seem to have only cared about prestige and it didn't sound like they gave their four children (Rob and Doug are the third and fourth children) praise or love.  Rob is dysfunctionally always trying to make his father proud, even though the man's been dead for many years.  Rob liked the idea of being mayor but didn't actually enjoy doing the work.  He has a short attention span and no filters.

This book gave a good insight on Rob Ford and his family. I enjoyed it ... it's an interesting read, especially for people living in Toronto.

Book ~ "Mayor Rob Ford: Uncontrollable: How I Tried to Help the World's Most Notorious Mayor" (2015) Mark Towhey and Johanna Schneller

From Goodreads ~ In February 2013, Toronto’s former mayor, Rob Ford, was caught on video smoking crack cocaine. Weeks later, he was accused of groping a campaign rival, had to leave a gala for being too intoxicated and was fired as the coach of a high school football team. The events were part of a stream of Rob Ford “mishaps”, which include a DUI, accusations of domestic violence, a trial where the Toronto City Council stripped him of his powers, even accusations of murder.

Through it all, Ford’s former chief of staff, Mark Towhey, stood by his side. Towhey was part of Ford’s inner circle; he’d joined Ford’s mayoral campaign in 2010 and quickly became one of his closest advisors. He responded to media questions regarding Ford’s drug and alcohol additions, his anger management problems, and, of course, the video of Ford smoking crack.

In May 2013, Mark Towhey had a confidential conversation with Ford. Much speculations has been about this conversation but thus far, the public only knows two words from that conversation; Towhey told Ford to “get help.” They also know what happened next, Towhey was fired.

In "Mayor Rob Ford: Uncontrollable", Towhey recounts the conversation and shares what Ford was like behind the scenes. This is a candid insider account of working with Ford, covering for him, respecting his strengths, and managing his weaknesses. 

Mark Towhey was senior advisor and Chief of Staff to former Toronto mayor Rob Ford from 2010 to 2013.  This is his story of what it was like working with Rob Ford and his brother, Doug, and all the damage control he and others did to protect Ford and make decisions in his absence.

I've never been a fan of either of the Fords ... I think they are lying arrogant bullies.  But from the sound of it, Ford's heart was in the right place in the beginning ... fighting for the "little guy".  But as Ford's alcohol and drug addictions took hold of him, having him as our mayor became an embarrassment to our city (it is North America’s fourth largest city and Canada’s sixth largest government) and he became a laughingstock around the world.

As time went on, Ford spent less and less time at City Hall and more time on the missing list.  He started showing up at events hammered and stoned.  There were rumours that he was hanging out with drug dealers and murderers.  When it was reported that there was a video of Ford doing coke, he denied its existence and proclaimed that he didn't do drugs.  It was only when he was backed up against a wall that he admitted the truth ... that seemed to be the way he dealt with everything.  Deny deny deny until proof comes out to show he was lying.

Eventually because he couldn't be kicked out of the office, the councillors voted to strip him of his powers so for his last year he was our mayor in name only.  When yet another video surfaced of him in less-than-stellar behaviour, he said he was heading to rehab (he was only there for about a month).  All these events played out in the news and it was interesting to get a behind-the-scene view of what was going on.

I enjoyed this book.  It's an interesting read, especially for people living in Toronto.  If more of the "Ford Nation" read it, perhaps they wouldn't be as brainwashed into still idolizing Ford.

Book ~ "Those Girls" (2015) Chevy Stevens

From Goodreads ~ Life has never been easy for the three Campbell sisters. Jess, Courtney and Dani live on a remote ranch in Western Canada where they work hard and try to stay out of the way of their father’s fists. 

One night, a fight gets out of hand and the sisters are forced to go on the run, only to get caught in an even worse nightmare when their truck breaks down in a small town. Events spiral out of control and a chance encounter with the wrong people leaves them in a horrific and desperate situation. They are left with no choice but to change their names and create new lives.

 Eighteen years later, they are still trying to forget what happened that summer when one of the sisters goes missing and they are pulled back into their past. 

This time there’s nowhere left to run. 

It's 1997 and Dani, Courtney and Jess are teenage sisters living in rural British Columbia.  Their mother is dead and their father works three weeks away and is home for one.  When he is home, he is drunk and abusive.  Something happens one night that brings things to a head.  The girls, fearing they will be put in a foster home, they take off and head to Vancouver.  Along the way, their truck breaks down in a small town.  They hook up with the wrong people for help and things get a lot worse.

It's now 2015 and as Dallas, Crystal and Jamie, the sisters are living in Vancouver along with Jamie's teenage daughter, Skylar.  Dallas and Jamie have settled into steady jobs and Crystal flits from one job to another and from one man to another.  None of them have forgotten their life-changing experiences.  In fact, one of the sisters heads back to seek revenge which starts everything in motion again.

This is the fifth book I've read by this author and it was really intense.  It's written in first person perspective from Jess/Jamie's and Skylar's point of view ... it alternates by sections and chapters but they are labeled so you know whose voice it is.  As a head's up, there is swearing, graphic violence and sexual abuse ... I found it a bit too violent for my liking.  It was fairly predictable in some spots.

When they were young, the sisters were naïve and made some dumb mistakes that got them into a lot of trouble.  Eighteen years later, they are still making dumb and dangerous mistakes when they should know better since they knew what/who they were dealing with.  Though Skylar loves her mother and her aunts, she knows they are keeping things from her and she doesn't like it.  She too makes dumb mistakes ... I can't believe that she was as naïve as she was, especially considering she grew up around a boxing gym with some rough characters.

Book ~ "Never Knowing" (2011) Chevy Stevens

From Goodreads ~ At thirty-three Sara Gallagher is finally happy. Her antique furniture restoration business is taking off and she’s engaged to a wonderful man. But there’s one big question that still haunts her - who are her birth parents? Sara is finally ready to find out. 

Sara’s birth mother rejects her - again. Then she discovers her biological father is an infamous killer who’s been hunting women every summer for almost forty years. Sara tries to come to terms with her horrifying parentage - and her fears that she’s inherited more than his looks.  But soon Sara realizes the only thing worse than finding out your father is a killer is him inding out about you. 

 Some questions are better left unanswered. "Never knowing" is a complex and compelling portrayal of one woman’s quest to understand where she comes from. That is, if she can survive … 

Sara is 33 and about to get married to Evan.  She is the oldest of three girls and has always known she was adopted.  Growing up, her mother was great but her father didn't treat her as well as her treated his "real" daughters.  She always fantasized about finding her birth parents and everything would be okay.  She hires a detective to find her birth parents and he does.  Her birth mother wants nothing to do with her.  When she finds out that her birth father is a serial killer, she obviously wants nothing to do with him ... but he has other ideas and finds her and wants to be a dad.

Working with the police, she tries to draw her father in so he can be captured.  But in doing this, she puts her life and that of her family in danger.

This is the fourth book I've read by this author and I liked it.  It's written in first person perspective from Sara's point of view ... each chapter is a session she is having with her psychiatrist (interesting concept).  As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.

I liked Sara.  She has a lot going on with her business, planning a wedding and dealing with being adopted ... and then has to decide whether to help the police catch her serial killer father.  She knows that if she doesn't, he will kill again.  I don't usually like kids in books and wasn't a fan of Sara's six-year-old daughter, Ally.  When she didn't get her way, she would throw a huge fit and even got abusive with the dog at one point.  Sara's adoptive dad was a A-hole who was rude to everyone but his wife and Evan ... but no one ever stood up to him.  Maybe I missed it but I still don't know why he treated Sara so badly when she was growing up.  Evan was caring and supportive but his job took him out of town a lot so he wasn't physically there so support Sara so she came to depend on one of the police officers, Billy.

Book ~ "Broken Promise" (2015) Linwood Barclay

From Goodreads ~ After his wife’s death and the collapse of his newspaper, David Harwood has no choice but to uproot his nine-year-old son and move back into his childhood home in Promise Falls, New York. David believes his life is in free fall and he can’t find a way to stop his descent.

Then he comes across a family secret of epic proportions. A year after a devastating miscarriage, David’s cousin, Marla, has continued to struggle. But when David’s mother asks him to check on her, he’s horrified to discover that she’s been secretly raising a child who is not her own - a baby she claims was a gift from an “angel” left on her porch.

When the baby’s real mother is found murdered, David can’t help wanting to piece together what happened - even if it means proving his own cousin’s guilt. But as he uncovers each piece of evidence, David realizes that Marla’s mysterious child is just the tip of the iceberg.

Other strange things are happening. Animals are found ritually slaughtered. An ominous abandoned ferris wheel seems to stand as a warning that something dark has infected Promise Falls. And someone has decided that the entire town must pay for the sins of its past … in blood.

David Harwood, who we met in Never Look Away, is a journalist who was working in Boston.  He moved him and his son, Ethan, back home to Promise Falls so he can spend more time with Ethan.  He had landed a job with the local newspaper, which shut down on his first day.  Until he finds another job and gets on his feet, he and Ethan are living with his parents in his childhood home.

David's mom asks him to take some food over to his cousin, Marla.  Marla is still recovering from the stillborn death of her daughter last year.  When David arrives, he discovers that Marla is taking care of a baby ... an "angel" had apparently dropped him off at her door yesterday.  David finds an address in the stroller and he figures that's where the baby's parents live.  When he goes to the address, he discovers the baby's father had just arrived home from a business trip and his mother has been murdered in the kitchen.  Needless to say, all hell breaks out.

Because Marla has the baby, it is assumed that she also killed the mother and the police focus their attention on her.  In the meantime, the baby's nanny has disappeared and everyone is looking for her for answers.

There is a lot going on besides the main story of Marla and the baby.  Dead squirrels are found tied to a fence.  Something bizarre is found on the ferris wheel at the abandoned amusement park.  There is someone running loose at the university attempting to rape women.  The former mayor, who is a sleaze, wants to run for mayor again is looking to the local police detective for favours and has offered David a job.  David is attracted to a woman who has more baggage than he does.  David's elderly mom is getting forgetful and his dad is fretting over something.

This is the first in the Promise Falls series and it should be interesting to see how the series develops.   I've read many books by this author over the years ... some I've liked a lot and some not so much.  As I was reading this one, I was enjoying it.  In anticipation of future books in the series, I guess, I found there were too many things left unanswered which I found annoying.  I thought the main story was interesting as were the subplots.  I enjoyed the writing style and thought it moved at a good pace.  As a head's up, there is swearing (lots of F-bombs).

Book ~ "The Twelve Days of Christmas in Canada" (2015) Ellen Warwick and Kim Smith

From Goodreads ~ O Canada, in Christmastime! Come with Juliette and her "crazy Canuck cousin" as they take a holiday trip across the country, all the way from Prince Edward Island and vieux Québec to Winnipeg and Vancouver. 

Along the way Juliette gets really cool Canadian gifts - like 8 bears a-swimming, 6 Mounties marching, and a loon in a maple tree!

Juliette is heading to Canada to spend the Christmas holidays with her grandmother and cousin, Theo.

They start off in Charlottetown, PEI, and finish their travels in Victoria, BC, making their way by plane, train, car, boat and even dog sled!  Their travels are recorded in letters that Juliette is sending back home to her parents.  In keeping with the 12 days of Christmas, Juliette gets some great Canadian gifts along the way ... like a loon in a maple tree, two mummers' masks, three lobsters, etc.

Along the way, they do a lot of exploring and learn about the regions.  For example, did you know that from 1928 to 1971, one million people from all over the world arrived at Pier 21 in Halifax by sea to start new lives in Canada?  Or that Quebec produces 77% of the world's supply of maple syrup?

This is a children's book that is entertaining AND educational.  It is colourfully illustrated and there is a lot of attention to detail.

At the end, there are a couple page with facts about amazing Canadians, awesome Canadian inventions (such as the telephone and instant mashed potatoes), cool Canadian records (the world's tallest recorded female was born in Nova Scotia in 1846), wacky Canadian landmarks (the world's largest hockey stick is in Duncan, BC), astounding Canadian history (the hottest recorded day in Canada was 45C/113F in 1937 in Yellow Grass, SK) and glorious Canadian nature (Canada has about 60% of the all the world's lakes [about three million]).

Book ~ "Open Heart, Open Mind" (2015) Clara Hughes

From Goodreads ~ In 2006, when Clara Hughes stepped onto the Olympic podium in Torino, Italy, she became the first and only athlete ever to win multiple medals in both Summer and Winter Games. Four years later, she was proud to carry the Canadian flag at the head of the Canadian team as they participated in the opening ceremony of the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. But there’s another story behind her celebrated career as an athlete, behind her signature billboard smile.

While most professional athletes devote their entire lives to training, Clara spent her teenage years using drugs and drinking to escape the stifling home life her alcoholic father had created in Elmwood, Winnipeg. She was headed nowhere fast when, at sixteen, she watched transfixed in her living room as gold medal speed skater Gaétan Boucher effortlessly raced in the 1988 Calgary Olympics. Dreaming of one day competing herself, Clara channeled her anger, frustration, and raw ambition into the endurance sports of speed skating and cycling. By 2010, she had become a six-time Olympic champion.

But after more than a decade in the grueling world of professional sports that stripped away her confidence and bruised her body, Clara began to realize that her physical extremes, her emotional setbacks and her partying habits were masking a severe depression. After winning bronze in the last speed skating race of her career, she decided to retire, determined to repair herself. She has emerged as one of our most committed humanitarians, advocating for a variety of social causes both in Canada and around the world. In 2010, she became national spokesperson for Bell Canada’s Let’s Talk campaign in support of mental health awareness, using her Olympic standing to share the positive message of the power of forgiveness.

Told with honesty and passion, Open Heart, Open Mind is Clara’s personal journey through physical and mental pain to a life where love and understanding can thrive. This revelatory and inspiring story will touch the hearts of readers everywhere. 

Clara Hughes is a Canadian cyclist and speed skater, who has won multiple Olympic medals in both sports.  She is tied with Cindy Klassen as the Canadian with the most Olympic medals, with six medals total.  She is one of the few athletes who have competed in both the Summer and Winter Olympic games.

Because of her success in sports and her humanitarian efforts, Hughes was named to both the Order of Manitoba and as an Officer of the Order of Canada. She is involved with Right To Play, which is an athlete-driven international humanitarian organization that uses sports to encourage the development of youth in disadvantaged areas.  She has received a star on the Canadian Walk of Fame and was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.

This book is her story of growing up in Winnipeg with a father was an alcoholic who verbally abused their mother.  As a teen, she drank, used drugs and skipped school, trying to escape her home life.  When she was 16, she turned her life around when she saw gold medal speed skater, Gaétan Boucher, race in the 1988 Calgary Olympics ... that's what she wanted to do.  She tells of her highs and lows, of training, of lacking in confidence, meeting and marrying Peter, of the grueling physical vacations that she and Peter have taken (our idea of vacations are definitely different ... ha!), of her realization that she suffered from depression, and more.

I liked the writing style.  I found her to be honest, down to earth, likable and human (like freaking out when she's frustrated and angry).  She's not afraid to swear and even drops the F-bomb.

Gord saw her speak a couple weeks ago at Indigo (I was out of town) ... jealous!

I was at a conference in 2010 and Clara was the "motivational" speaker.  Afterwards she let everyone hold/wear her medals, signed autographs and had pictures taken.  Even then her mantra was open mind, open heart, warrior.

Clara and I and the bronze medal she won at the 2010 Winter Olympics
in the 5000 metre speed skating (her final Olympic race).
It weighed 2.5 pounds and seemed heavy!

Book ~ "The Mountain Story" (2015) Lori Lansens

From Goodreads ~ On his 18th birthday, Wolf Truly takes the tramway to the top of the mountain that looms over Palm Springs, intending to jump to his death. Instead he encounters strangers wandering in the mountain wilderness, three women who will change the course of his life. Through a series of missteps he and the women wind up stranded, in view of the city below, but without a way down. They endure five days in freezing temperatures without food or water or shelter, and somehow find the courage to carry on.

Wolf, now a grown man, has never told his son or anyone, what happened on the mountain during those five days but he can't put it off any longer. And in telling the story to his only child, Daniel, he at last explores the nature of the ties that bind and the sacrifices people will make for love. The mountain still has a hold on Wolf, composed of equal parts beauty and terror. 

Wolf's mother died when he was young, his father is in prison and he's still reeling from his best friend's accident a year ago.  He feels he has nothing to live for so he heads to the top of the mountain on his 18th birthday with the intent of committing suicide.  On one of the paths, he comes across three women who are lost.  After he begrudgingly gets them back on track again, he is going to continue with his plan ... but they become lost.  For five days they wander around the mountain trying to find their way again or hope that rescuers are looking for them.  They have no food, no water, freezing temperatures threatening frostbite and coyotes licking their lips.

The book is Wolf's letter and account of the incident to his son, Daniel, who is attending university.  Wolf feels it's time to be honest about what happened on the mountain ... there are things he is revealing that no one, even his wife (Daniel's mother), knows.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I liked it.  I liked the writing style and found it suspenseful ... you know that that Wolf makes it out alive but do the others?  The chapters are chunked up by the days they are lost.  It is written in third person perspective from Wolf's point of view.  The ending had a surprising twist.

I liked the characters.  I felt bad for Wolf.  He had a loser dad who was never around.  They lived with his father's cousin who had questionable parenting skills.  The only person Wolf was close to was his friend, Byrd, and he lost him a year earlier.  Wolf is forced to mature quickly when he takes on the responsibility of the three women on the mountain.

I look forward to reading other books by this author.

Book ~ "Let's Start a Riot: How A Young Drunk Punk became A Hollywood Dad" (2014) Bruce McCulloch

From Goodreads ~ Comedian, writer, director and legendary Kid in the Hall Bruce McCulloch chronicles his journey from wild early days as a ‘young punk’ in 80s Alberta, to his flannel plaid days and futon nights in 90's Toronto, to becoming a ‘pajama-clad dad’ living in the Hollywood Hills. 

From scowling teenager to father of two, this biting, funny collection of personal stories, peppered with moments of surprising poignancy, proves that although this infamous Kid may be all grown up, his singular brand of humor and signature wit remain firmly intact.

I was a fan of Kids in the Hall and watched their show in the late 80s/early 90s ... I went to their 2015 tour in April at the Danforth Music Hall.

Bruce McCulloch is one of the five Kids and that's why this book caught my eye.  This is his high level story of growing up in Edmonton, trying to figure out what he wanted to do with his life, moving to Toronto and forming Kids in the Hall, meeting and marrying his wife, having kids, and his life in Hollywood.

I liked the writing style ... I found it amusing.  I could hear Bruce's voice when he was telling his stories.  Obviously his funny stories are funny but he also tells his more serious stories (like his relationships with his parents, suspecting he has liver cancer, Scott Thompson's cancer, etc.) in a funny and sarcastic yet at times caring way.  As a head's up, there is swearing and adult activity.

I have Bruce's album Shame-Based Man on my ipod and occasionally listen to it (I bought it originally on cassette when it came out in 1995).  In the book there are references to Daves I Know and The Vigil (What are you going to wear to the vigil?  Black, of course!).

If you are a Kids in the Hall fan, you'll enjoy this book.

Book ~ "Always Watching" (2013) Chevy Stevens

From Goodreads ~ In the lockdown ward of a psychiatric hospital, Dr. Nadine Lavoie is in her element. She has the tools to help people and she has the desire - healing broken families is what she lives for. But Nadine doesn’t want to look too closely at her own past because there are whole chunks of her life that are black holes. It takes all her willpower to tamp down her recurrent claustrophobia, and her daughter, Lisa, is a runaway who has been on the streets for seven years.

When a distraught woman, Heather Simeon, is brought into the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit after a suicide attempt, Nadine gently coaxes her story out of her - and learns of some troubling parallels with her own life. Digging deeper, Nadine is forced to confront her traumatic childhood and the damage that began when she and her brother were brought by their mother to a remote commune on Vancouver Island. What happened to Nadine? Why was their family destroyed? And why does the name Aaron Quinn, the group’s leader, bring complex feelings of terror to Nadine even today?

And then, the unthinkable happens, and Nadine realizes that danger is closer to home than she ever imagined. She has no choice but to face what terrifies her the most … and fight back.

Sometimes you can leave the past, but you can never escape.

When Nadine was younger, her mother took her and her brother to live in a commune run by Aaron Quinn for eight months.  It wasn't a happy time for Nadine.  She is now claustrophobic and assumes something at the commune had caused it.  Now in her fifties and widowed, she works in a psychiatric hospital helping others.

When a patient named Heather is admitted after a suicide attempt, Nadine discovers that they have a lot in common.  Heather and her husband had been living in a commune run by Quinn.  When they left, Quinn had said that they would be punished and bad things would happen to them.  In her unstable mind, Heather starts to believe this to be true.

Talking with Heather starts to stir up long forgotten memories for Nadine and she becomes determined to find out what happened to her at the commune and hopefully shut it down so others won't be damaged as she was.

In the meantime, Nadine's daughter, Lisa, who is in her twenties, ran away seven years ago and has been become an addict.  Nadine has over the years tried to find her and bring her home to get cleaned up.

I thought this book was okay.  Reading about the commune and the charismatic leader's ability to have such control over people was interesting.  In this case, it came down to hope for a better life and weed.  I thought the writing was okay ... I found it dragged a bit in some places.  It's written in first person perspective from Nadine's point of view. As a head's up, there is swearing and descriptions of sexual abuse of children.

It was nice to read about a character my age for a change (most heroines are in their twenties and thirties).  Nadine was trying to deal with a bunch of crap from her childhood and how it affects her today.  Though I know Lisa had addiction problems, I didn't find her likable at all and had no sympathy for her.  If I'd been Nadine, I would have written her off a long time ago.  You can't help people if they won't help themselves ... and Lisa was so nasty.

Book ~ "Cataract City" (2013) Craig Davidson

From Goodreads ~ Owen and Duncan are childhood friends who've grown up in picturesque Niagara Falls - known to them by the grittier name "Cataract City". As the two know well, there's more to the bordertown than meets the eye: behind the gaudy storefronts and sidewalk vendors, past the hawkers of tourist T-shirts and cheap souvenirs live the real people who scrape together a living by toiling at the Bisk, the local cookie factory. And then there are the truly desperate, those who find themselves drawn to the borderline and a world of dog-racing, bare-knuckle fighting and night-time smuggling. 

Owen and Duncan think they are different: both dream of escape, a longing made more urgent by a near-death incident in childhood that sealed their bond. But in adulthood their paths diverge, and as Duncan, the less privileged, falls deep into the town's underworld, he and Owen become reluctant adversaries at opposite ends of the law. At stake is not only survival and escape, but a lifelong friendship that can only be broken at an unthinkable price.

Duncan and Owen live in Niagara Falls, ON, and have been friends on and off since they were kids.  There isn't a lot of opportunity in Niagara Falls.  Owen ends up being a cop and escapes for a few years by heading out west.  Duncan works in the local cookie factory, supplementing his income by racing his greyhound, participating in illegal fights and agreeing to smuggle illegal cigarettes across the Canada/U.S. border.  He is living with his former babysitter, Edwina, who also works at the cookie factory.

The story starts with Duncan getting out of prison after eight years and asking Owen, who is back in Niagara Falls, to pick him up.  The book jumps back and forth in time and changes perspective (first person voice) between Duncan and Owen.

I started out enjoying this book but then I found that it started getting long about halfway (it seemed longer than 416 pages).  I thought the writing could have been tighter.  There was a lot of information and detail provided (more than I needed at times).  As a head's up, there is swearing and gruesome fight scenes.  I could have done without the detailed descriptions of abuse of dogs, dog fighting and the illegal fights Duncan gets into to make money.

In general, I found it to be a dreary and depressing story ... there wasn't a lot of happiness.  I found the ending was flat.  After devoting so much time to this book and not giving up, I thought, "This is it?  This is how it ends?"

Book ~ "Arranged" (2012) Catherine McKenzie

From Goodreads ~ Anne Blythe has a great life: a good job, good friends and a potential book deal for her first novel. When it comes to finding someone to share it with, however, she just can't seem to get it right.

After yet another relationship ends, Anne comes across a business card for what she thinks is a dating service and she pockets it just in case. When her best friend, Sarah, announces she's engaged, Anne can't help feeling envious. On an impulse, she decides to give the service a try because maybe she could use a little assistance in finding the right man. But Anne soon discovers the company isn't a dating service; it's an exclusive, and pricey, arranged marriage service. She initially rejects the idea, but the more she thinks about it - and the company's success rate - the more it appeals to her. After all, arranged marriages are the norm for millions of women around the world, so why wouldn't it work for her?

A few months later, Anne is travelling to a Mexican resort, where in one short weekend she will meet and marry Jack. And against all odds, it seems to be working out - until Anne learns that Jack, and the company that arranged their marriage, are not what they seem at all.

Yet another of Anne's relationships has ended.  When her best friend, Sarah, gets engaged, Anne, who is in her early thirties, wants what Sarah has.  She had found a business card on the street for a matchmaking agency and she eventually calls them.  That's when she discovered that it's not a matchmaking agency but an agency that arranges marriages.  It costs $10,000 and there is a quite a rigorous process including an intensive questionnaire, counselling sessions before and after the marriage and a marriage/honeymoon in Mexico.

Anne signs up and is matched with Jack, another writer.  They feel a connection and go ahead with the marriage.  Things are going well between them until Anne discovers something about Jack.

I liked the writing style and thought it was well-paced.  It is written in first person perspective in Anne's voice.  As a head's up, there is swearing and adult activity.

I thought this was an interesting premise ... an arranged marriage between two professionals who wouldn't normally do it for religious or cultural reasons.  I can't imagine being brave enough to do it.  Everything happens really quickly but I was buying it.  I liked Anne and Jack and thought they were good together and was cheering for them.  I liked Jack's sense of humour, which was at times a tad sarcastic.  I also liked William, Anne's boss, and his interactions with Anne ... they were funny together.  Anne had a lot of support with her friend, Sarah, and her brother and sister-in-law, Gilbert and Cathy.

I would recommend this book, especially if you are looking for something different in a chick lit.

Book ~ "Crime Seen: Stories from Behind the Yellow Tape, From Patrol Cop to Profiler" (2015) Kate Lines

From Penguin Random House ~ A criminal profiler, trained at Quantico, former Chief Superintendent of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Kate Lines recounts her remarkable story using pivotal cases she worked on in the course of her career.

How does a farm girl from Ennismore enter a male-dominated field and become a top criminal profiler and groundbreaking leader? For Kate Lines, it started humbly, patrolling highways. She learned quickly that the best way to thrive was to keep calm, carry on and never lose her sense of humour. In what would be the first of many dramatic turns in her career, Kate traded in her uniform for a tight miniskirt and a leather jacket, becoming one of the OPP’s first female undercover officers.

In 1990 came the opportunity of a lifetime: to be chosen as the 2nd-ever Canadian in an elite program at Quantico, Virginia in what was then the emerging field of criminal profiling. After 10 months of an intensive education in the intricacies of violent crime, Kate’s new skills made her much in demand back home. Over the years she was involved in a number of high-profile cases, such as the abduction and murder of Kristen French and of Tori Stafford and the disappearance of Michael Dunahee.

Kate was an early proponent of ViCLAS (the Violent Crime Linkage Analysis System) and when she took charge of the new and massive Behavioural Sciences division in Orillia, she took over ViCLAS and turned the department into a hub of innovation. Kate was awarded a Governor General’s medal for being in the top 1/10th of 1% of the members of police forces that year. The following year the Canadian Police Leadership Foundation named her Police Leader of the Year.

I like reading mystery and crime novels.  This book caught my eye for a few reasons.  It's the true account of how profiling is done.  The author is a woman (and a very impressive one at that!) and she from the Toronto area.  Here's her background ...

Kate Lines joined the Ontario Provincial Police in 1977. Her early days at work comprised uniform patrol, undercover drugs, fraud and major crimes. In 1991, she completed the FBI's Criminal Profiling Fellowship Program in Quantico, VA, the second Canadian to graduate from the program. She later became the first female Director of Intelligence Bureau. Much honoured during her 33-year policing career, Lines received the Officer of the Order of Merit Medal, Queen's Commission, International Association of Women Police Excellence in Performance Award, Ontario Women in Law Enforcement Excellence in Performance and Team Endeavours Award and Canadian Police Leadership Forum's Police Leader of the Year award. She currently acts as a consultant to businesses and police forces and on TV shows such as Rookie Blue and Flashpoint.

This book starts with the author's background, as the last born child and raised on a farm.  She had wanted to go to law school but wasn't accepted so went into law enforcement instead (Ontario Provincial Police).  She describes the experience she gained and relationships she built while on patrol and undercover.  She came across some opportunities to train and advance and took advantage of them.

Retired now, she worked on some high profile murder cases in Ontario and provides high level summaries:

• Nancy and Ian Blackburn, who were found dead in the trunk of their car in 1992
• Kristen French, Leslie Mahaffy and Tammy Homolka, murdered by Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo in the early 1990s
• Eight-year-old Tori Stafford in Woodstock in 2009
• Eleven-year-old Christopher Stephenson in 1988 (the man convicted had a long history of violence and sexual offences against children)
• Russell Williams, base commander at CFB Trenton, who had 80+ charges against him in 2010 including two for murder

I enjoyed the writing style.  I found there was just enough information provided without being too detailed.  As a head's up, there is swearing and graphic descriptions.

Book ~ "Mayors Gone Bad" (2015) Philip Slayton

From Goodreads ~ Whether they’ve misappropriated funds, had cosy relationships with Mafia hoods, been caught with prostitutes or admitted to smoking crack, Canada’s mayors are a colourful collection: 

• Peter Kelly, long-serving mayor of Halifax, driven from office by investigative reporting of ethical lapses
• Gerard Tremblay of Montreal resigned in suspicious circumstances
• Michael Applebaum of Montreal faces criminal charges of fraud
• Gilles Vaillancourt of Laval also resigned and faces similar criminal charges
• Alexandre Duplessis of Laval left after a hooker scandal
• Joe Fontana was convicted of fraud and is under house arrest
• Susan Fennell of Brampton was under police investigation for possible criminal use of city funds
• Sam Katz of Winnipeg was dogged throughout his mayoralty by conflict-of-interest allegations
• Rob Ford made headlines across North America as “the crack-smoking mayor of Toronto” 

But it’s not all bad news.  Philip Slayton writes about the “western triangle of mayoral goodness,” Nenshi of Calgary, Iveson of Edmonton, and Robertson of Vancouver. Also, Slayton features four foreign mayors who have made an impact: Jón Gnarr of Reykjavik, Boris Johnson of London, Michael Bloomberg of New York, and Anne Hidalgo of Paris. 

Aside from creating a rogues’ gallery of mayors, Slayton offers insight into the nature of municipal government in Canada and speculates about why people seek the office of mayor. Little real power is exercised by any mayor, but the abuses of that power are nonetheless significant. As well, Slayton provides a series of proposals to reform municipal government. 

Toronto suffered through the debacle of Rob Ford, who was our mayor until last fall.  This book caught my eye because it focuses on some loser mayors across Canada, including Ford.  There couldn't be worse mayors that Ford, could there?!

Eleven mayors from across Canada have chapters devoted to them.  The stories were interesting but obviously I was most interested to read about Rob Ford.  The author gave a really high level description of Ford's escapades and I'm assuming he did the same with the others ... I found it was too high level.  Someone who didn't know about the Ford scandal wouldn't be aware that he was photographed with known drug users, that he was videoed numerous times wasted, that he denied smoking crack but had to backtrack when a video (which was deleted) was found and most importantly that he had his mayoral powers removed.

I'm not political and I found the author gave me just enough background on how municipal politics work.

Book ~ "Miss Montreal" (2013) Howard Shrier

From Goodreads ~ After what happened in Boston, P.I. Jonah Geller can't show his face in the U.S. again. Which is fine with him. He's got a new case in Montreal, one of the world's most colourful and downright scandalous cities. An old friend has been brutally murdered there, and the police investigation is stalled. 

With an election looming and tensions seething, Jonah and former hit man Dante Ryan have to battle religious fanatics, gun runners and a twisted political dynasty to get to the truth.

Jonah Geller is a PI in Toronto.  He is hired by a wealthy old man who is dying to find out who murdered his grandson, Sammy, who was living in Montreal.  Sammy was found viciously beaten to death. Jonah and his friend, Dante Ryan, who is a former hitman, drive to Montreal to find out what happened.

Sammy was well-liked and respected and was a magazine columnist.  He was working on two stories ... one involved an immigrant family from Afghanistan and their new lives in Canada and the other involved a right wing anti-immigrant politician who is running for office.  Did being involved in one of these stories cause Sammy's death or was it a hate crime as it appears to be?

This is the fourth in the Jonah Geller series (and the fourth I've read by this author) and I liked it. I liked the writing style.  It's written in first person perspective from Jonah's point of view.  Because it is his voice, we get to read his thoughts and feelings ... at times Jonah is sarcastic which I appreciated.  As a head's up, there is violence and swearing.

I liked the main characters.  Jonah seems like a nice guy who is loyal to his friends and clients.  I like having Ryan as Jonah's sidekick ... I found him amusing.  He is a tough guy (almost every sentence has the F-word) with his own sense of justice and will do whatever it takes to right what he thinks is a wrong.  And there's no doubting the strong bond between Jonah and his best friend, Jenn.

Having it set in Montreal was fun.  I go to Montreal a couple times a year and I knew where some of the places Jonah went to.  Jonah speaks a bit of French and was forced to do so at times ... I was able to figure out what he was saying most of the time with my high school French.

I look forward to reading more by this author.

Book ~ "Boston Cream" (2012) Howard Shrier

From Goodreads ~ David Fine is not the kind of guy to go missing. Or so his father tells PI Jonah Geller. A brilliant young surgeon-in-training, devout, devoted to his parents- - last seen two weeks ago leaving the Boston hospital where he worked. 

Still recovering from a concussion, Jonah and partner, Jenn Raudsepp, soon find out that David fled for his life after a vicious Irish crime boss tried to abduct him. And that he's more likely dead than alive. 

Then Jenn joins the ranks of the missing and Jonah needs help from former hit man, Dante Ryan, and two local wise guys as he races the clock to save her life, one step ahead of the Boston law. 

Jonah Geller is a private investigator in Toronto.  He gets hired by David Fine's parents, who live in Toronto, to find their son, a surgeon-in-training in Boston.  Jonah and his partner, Jenn, head to Boston to see what happened to David.

Disappearing is not characteristic of David, who is studious and serious.  In searching his apartment, Jonah discovers books on how to play poker, history on David's computer that he's played on poker sites and $5000 in cash.  As Jonah continues to dig, he discovers that David is running from Irish crime boss, Sean, and there are many in David's small circle who could be involved is his disappearance in one way or another.

When Jonah and Jenn get too close, Jenn is kidnapped and Jonah calls his friend, Dante Ryan, a former hit man who now owns a restaurant in Toronto, for help.  Ryan doesn't hesitate to do what he has to do.

This is the third in the Jonah Geller series (and the third that I've read by this author) and I enjoyed it.  I found it started a bit slow but picked up pretty quickly.  I liked the writing style.  It kept me wanting to read more to see what was going to happen.  It's written in first person perspective from Jonah's point of view.  Because it is his voice, we get to read his thoughts and feelings ... at times Jonah is sarcastic which I appreciated.  As a head's up, there is violence and swearing.

I look forward to reading more by this author.

Book ~ "The Essential Guide to Women's Herbal Medicine" (2015) Cyndi Gilbert

From Goodreads ~ Botanical medicine is one of the main therapies employed by naturopathic doctors, and many women are now turning to natural remedies for treating and preventing health problems, either as an alternative or as a complement to conventional health care. This pursuit of optimum health care can often be confusing and overwhelming because of the wide range of information that is available.

Gilbert provides clear information on herbal medicine treatments that meet the distinctive needs of women. There are 25 topics covered, from anemia and Dysmenorrhea to pregnancy, menopause and endometriosis. A complete profile for 49 herbs is featured with the corresponding condition or ailment it treats along with an easy-to-follow protocol.

Every herb can be found in a local pharmacy or health food store, and special instructions are included for the safety of each herb with potential adverse effects and drug interactions.

The easy-to-understand format, combined with the most current research information available, make this an indispensable guide for women. 

I like reading about how to treat things naturally and that's why this book caught my eye.  It was especially interesting because it is focused on women's issue.  The author is a Naturopathic Doctor with an inclusive clinical practice with focuses on women's health and mental health here in Toronto.

There are three parts to the book:

1. Introduction to herbal medicine - history, how to use the herbs, etc.
2. Women's health conditions
3. Women's medicinal herbs

Right at the beginning of the book, there is a chart which is a quick guide to herbal treatments.  Under the health conditions section, there is a lot more detail:

• a description of what it is
• signs and symptoms
• associated conditions
• first-line herbal care
• other herbal treatments
• common combinations
• conventional medical treatments
• case studies
• forklore info
• tips

Also right at the beginning of the book, there is a chart which is a quick guide to various herbs.  Under the herbs section, there are details:

• current medical uses
• history and energetics
• research evidence
• safety
• further reading

Here are some handy things to know from the book:

• Cinnamon blunts the blood sugar spikes from super sweet foods (we put cinnamon in our shakes in the morning).
• Ginger is a great herb for nausea, arthritis and menstrual cramps.
• Lemon balm is useful for anxiety and cold sores.

The book is written in an easy-to-read way and is a great guide to have handy.