Book ~ "The Haters" (2024) Robyn Harding

From Goodreads ~ Camryn Lane is living her dream. After years of struggle and rejection, her first novel has finally been published. Her editor is happy, her teenage daughter is proud and her boyfriend and friends are all excited for her. She’s on top of the world - until she receives a disturbing message from an unknown sender.

Rattled by the accusations she finds there, Camryn swallows the sick feeling in her stomach and resolves to put the missive out of her mind. But when she checks her ratings on a popular book site, she finds a scathing one-star review. The reviewer is so articulate and convincing that soon, Camryn’s book is flooded with bad reviews. Could the reviewer be the same person who sent the ugly email? And why do they want to ruin her?

As the online harassment creeps into Camryn’s personal life, she vows to find out who’s behind it. Is it really a disgruntled reader? Or could it be someone she knows? The troll’s actions are escalating, and when the abuse turns deadly, it will take everything Camryn has to unmask the enemy so intent on destroying her - and finally learn why she's being targeted.

Camryn is a guidance counsellor at a private school. She is in her late 30s, divorced with a daughter who is graduating from high school, and has a younger boyfriend who she has nothing in common with. She recently fulfilled her dream of writing and publishing her first novel. 

When she receives a nasty email about how it's disgusting she used the stories of her students as material for her, she initially brushes it off. But when she starts getting hundreds one star reviews on a review site, she starts to get concerned, especially when the harassment gets personal. There are lots who might want to sabotage her writing career and she needs to figure out who it is before she loses everything including her friends, her job and her possible publishing opportunities.

This is the second 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 in Camryn's voice. Interspersed in the story are chapters from Camryn's book. The ending came quickly and for the most part I was buying it. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Book ~ "Murder on the Inside: The True Story of the Deadly Riot at Kingston Penitentiary" (2021) Catherine Fogarty

From Goodreads ~ On April 14, 1971, a handful of prisoners attacked the guards at Kingston Penitentiary and seized control, making headlines around the world. For four intense days, the prisoners held the guards hostage while their leaders negotiated with a citizens' committee of journalists and lawyers, drawing attention to the dehumanizing realities of their incarceration, including overcrowding, harsh punishment and extreme isolation. But when another group of convicts turned their pent-up rage towards some of the weakest prisoners, tensions inside the old stone walls erupted, with tragic consequences. As heavily armed soldiers prepared to regain control of the prison through a full military assault, the inmates were finally forced to surrender.

"Murder on the Inside" tells the harrowing story of a prison in crisis against the backdrop of a pivotal moment in the history of human rights. Occurring just months before the uprising at Attica Prison, the Kingston riot has remained largely undocumented, and few have known the details--yet the tense drama chronicled here is more relevant today than ever. A gripping account of the standoff and the efforts for justice and reform it inspired, Murder on the Inside is essential reading for our times.

I like reading true stories and Canadian stories so this book caught my eye. It's about the riot that happened at the Kingston Penitentiary in April 1971. I was young and don't remember it happening.

Kingston Penitentiary was a federal prison that opened in June 1835 and was the oldest prison in Canada before it closed in 2013 (now it's a museum). It was widely considered to be the harshest prison in Canada and in 1971 was overcrowded with 641 prisoners. Prisoners were not permitted to speak outside of their cells and solitary confinement was frequently used as a punishment for inmates. 

When the federal government started construction of a new prison at Millhaven to replace Kingston Penitentiary, there were rumors that Millhaven would be more harsh than Kingston Penitentiary. Billy Knight planned an uprising to protest conditions at Kingston penitentiary and it happened on April 14, 1971. Six guards were taken hostage but protected by a few inmates. Knight presented their demands which included better living conditions. Some prisoners eventually lost patience and, figuring they had nothing to lose, tortured the "undesirables" (child molesters, rapists, child killers and police informers). Eventually the prisoners, led by Barrie MacKenzie, surrendered. Many had to accept the consequences and were beaten by guards and/or faced their day in court for their actions.

If you're looking for a detailed account of the 1971 Kingston Penitentiary riot, you should read this book. In addition to information, there is also 24 pages of photographs.

Book ~ "Murder: Twelve True Stories of Homicide in Canada" (2011) Edward Butts

From Goodreads ~ Who committed Toronto’s Silk Stocking Murder? Why did a quiet accountant in Guelph, Ontario, murder his wife and two daughters? When did police in Alberta hire a self-styled mind reader to solve a mass murder? How did an American confidence man from Arizona find himself facing a murder charge in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia? 

These questions and more are answered in "Twelve True Stories of Homicide in Canada", the latest collection of thrilling true Canadian crime stories by Edward Butts. 

The keenly researched chapters tell the stories behind some of Canada’s most fascinating murder cases, from colonial times to the 20th century, and from the Atlantic provinces to the west coast and up to the Arctic. 

You’ll meet John Paul Radelmuller, the Gibraltar Point lighthouse keeper whose murder remains an unsolved mystery; wife-killer Dr. William Henry King; and Sinnisiak and Uluksuk, Inuit hunters whose trial for the murder of two priests became a national sensation. 

Butts also profiles the investigators who tracked the killers down, and in some cases sent them to the gallows in this collection of true tales that range from shocking and macabre to downright weird.

I like reading true stories and Canadian stories so this book caught my eye. It contains 12 true stories of homicide in Canada ... some I'd heard of but most I hadn't. They ranged from the 18th century to around the time of WWII.

I found this book interesting and I liked that there were pictures with some of the stories. I liked the writing style ... there was enough information but it wasn't too detailed. It's crazy what led some of these people to commit murder and expect to get away it.

Book ~ "Someone You Know: An Unforgettable Collection of Canadian True Crime Stories" (2023) Catherine Fogarty

From Goodreads ~ "Someone You Know" is an anthology of twelve unforgettable Canadian true-crime stories. Each story reveals the haunting truth and statistical reality that a person is more likely to be murdered by someone they know than by a stranger. And while “stranger danger” is often the stuff of our nightmares and Hollywood horror films, sometimes those who are closest to us are even more dangerous than strangers.

In this uniquely Canadian anthology, Fogarty digs up famous historical cases, often revealing new twists, and explores more recent murder cases that will shock even die-hard true-crime aficionados.

I like reading true stories and Canadian stories so this book caught my eye. It contains 12 true-crime stories with Canadian connections ... some happened in Canada while others involved a Canadian but happened in the USA.

The book is divided into four sections:

1. Fatal Friendships - when your best friend turns out to be your worst enemy
2. Family Ties That Bind - when family dysfunction becomes deadly
3. In the Name of Love - when obsession and jealousy lead to murder
4. ’Till Death Do Us Part - when matrimonial bliss turns into the kiss of death

I found this book interesting. It's amazing what would drive someone to commit murder. I liked the writing style ... there was enough information but it wasn't too detailed. I'd known some of the stories (like the Phil Hartman, Glen Davis and Jane Stafford stories) so it was interesting to get more info about them. It would have been nice to have some pictures, though ... I'm visual so I found myself Googling to see what everyone looked like.

Book ~ "We Rise Again: More Stories of Hope and Resilience from Nova Scotia during the COVID-19 Pandemic" (2021) Len Wagg and Angela Mombourquette

From Goodreads ~ It's been more than a year since COVID-19 arrived in Nova Scotia. In the spring of 2020, then-premier of Nova Scotia Stephen McNeil implored citizens to "stay the blazes home" - and they did. 

But the full-scale lockdown is now a thing of the past. As wide-scale testing and vaccines begin to have an impact, many people have returned, in limited ways, to their businesses, their pastimes, and even their social lives. And although we are still in the thick of the pandemic, 

Nova Scotians, by necessity and by nature, have continued to step up to help one another through the ongoing crisis. Who are these heroes who, on a daily basis, have continued to risk their lives, their livelihoods, and their own well-being to help us get through this pandemic? How have Nova Scotia's front-line workers, business owners, support workers, healthcare workers - people from all walks of life - adapted to find ways not just to survive and help others survive but to thrive through it all? 

In the follow-up to his national bestseller Stay the Blazes Home, award-winning photographer and author Len Wagg, now with co-author Angela Mombourquette, brings dozens of compelling stories and powerful images of hope and resilience to light, illuminating the many ways Nova Scotians continue to serve as beacons of hope for all Canadians.

This book was published in the fall of 2021, a year after the world closed down because of COVID-19 and things were starting to open up again. Everyone was trying to figure out what they had to do to keep themselves and everyone else safe. Vaccines were now available (I had gotten mine as soon as I could and continue to do so) and social distancing rules were in place.

There are many pictures and stories of how Nova Scotians reacted and supported each other, with a focus on front line health workers. Because it was written during the second summer as we were all experiencing COVID-19, these aren't memories or recollections ... these are the experiences of people at the time as they were living through it.

The author did a good job in capturing the essence of the time and it's a good reminder of what we all had been through.

Book ~ "Stay the Blazes Home" (2020) Len Wagg

From Goodreads ~ On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic and life, at that moment, changed drastically for every Nova Scotian.

People were ordered to practice physical distancing. Everyday tasks like grocery shopping were suddenly fraught with challenges. Travellers scrambled to get home before the borders closed, and were then ordered to self-quarantine. Hospitals and health-care facilities prepared for a potential influx of critically ill patients. Through it all, Nova Scotians reacted with kindness and empathy, and came to recognize their everyday heroes - from grocery clerks to delivery drivers to the doctors and nurses on the front lines. But tales of some who flouted the rules arose. During a daily media briefing, Premier Stephen McNeil made the spirit of the order perfectly clear: "Stay the blazes home."

Through dozens of powerful stories that illuminate the generosity and ingenuity of Nova Scotians, "Stay the Blazes Home" captures the many ways Nova Scotians adapted to and embraced life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Featuring photographs by author and award-winning photographer Len Wagg, in addition to submitted images from all over the province, "Stay the Blazes Home" serves as a record of the resilience and the spirit of Nova Scotians in a time of crisis. Portions of the proceeds from this book will be donated to local mental health initiatives.

This book was published in the fall of 2020, just after the world closed down because of COVID-19. Though it's only been four years, it seems like a lifetime ago. I think Nova Scotia (and the rest of of Atlantic Canada) stood out for the way they handled social distancing. They created family "bubbles", restricted travel from outside the provinces and the premier of Nova Scotia ordered everyone to "stay the blazes home".

There are many pictures and stories of how Nova Scotians reacted and supported each other. Because it was written during the first summer of COVID-19, these aren't memories or recollections ... these are the experiences of people at the time and their struggles to survive and adapt the best they could. The stories include how businesses pivoted, what people did to entertain themselves since we were all isolated, weddings, graduations, visiting eldering and sick loved ones and more.

I think the author did a good job in capturing the essence of the time and it's a good reminder of what we all had been through.

Book ~ "Only One Survives" (2024) Hannah Mary McKinnon

From Goodreads ~ Becoming the star is easier when the rest of your band is dead ...

All drummer Vienna Taylor ever wanted was to make music. If that came with fame, she’d take it - as long as her best friend, guitarist Madison Pierce, was sharing the spotlight and singing lead. And with their new all-female pop rock band gaining traction, soon everyone would hear their songs.

Except on the way to an event, the Bittersweet’s van careened off an icy mountain road during a blizzard - leaving one member dead and another severely injured.

In order to survive the frigid night, the rest took shelter in a nearby abandoned cabin. But Vienna’s dreams devolved into a terrifying nightmare as, one by one, her fellow band members met a gruesome end ... and Madison simply vanished in the night.

What really happened to the Bittersweet? Did Vienna’s closest friend finally decide to take center stage on her own terms?

She doesn’t want to believe it.

But guilty people run.

Vienna and Madison have been friends since they met in grade twelve. Vienna comes from a broken home with no money while Madison comes from a wealthy family who don't want her hanging out with Vienna because they think she is a bad influence. After graduation, Madison moves to New York City to go to university, which is all paid for by her parents, and Vienna, after a fight with her mother and stepfather, follows her there. 

Vienna and Madison had formed a band in high school and eventually form on in New York City called the Bittersweets. Just as they are starting to get popular, they get in a car accident in the middle of nowhere. One of the band members died on impact and another is serious injured. The four surviving members plus a friend find a cabin to take shelter in. By morning, Vienna is the only one left as a couple more have passed away and Madison has disappeared.

Vienna is left to suffer the ramifications. The Bittersweet's popularity rises even more but really happened at the cabin, where is Madison and what did she do?

It was a fun read and there was an interesting twist around the halfway point. I kind of had to leave my sense of belief behind at some points but I just went with it. It's written in first person perspective in Vienna's voice. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Book ~ "Terry & Me: The Inside Story of Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope" (2023) Bill Vigars and Ian Harvey

From Goodreads ~ There has never been a Canadian quite like Terry Fox and there’s never been a story quite like The Marathon of Hope. 

A twenty-two-year-old cancer survivor and amputee, Terry set out from St. John’s, Newfoundland, in April 1980, aiming to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. His first months on the road in Atlantic Canada and Quebec were not only physically taxing - he ran the equivalent of a marathon a day - but frustrating as Canadians were slow to recognize and support his endeavor. 

That all changed when he met a young man named Bill Vigars, who on behalf of the Canadian Cancer Society led a campaign to ensure that every person in Canada knew the story of this outstanding young man. Vigars was by Fox’s side through all the highs and lows until the tragic end of his journey in Thunder Bay. A recurrence of his cancer cut short Terry’s dream and, soon, his life. 

Now, for the first time, Vigars tells the inside story of the Marathon of Hope - the logistical nightmares, boardroom battles and moments of pure magic - while giving us a fresh, insightful portrait of one of the greatest Canadians who ever lived.

I've read a few books about Terry Fox and was a volunteer with our local Terry Fox Run. Bill Vigars, who passed away a few weeks ago, worked for the Canadian Cancer Society in Ontario and became Terry's public relations officer just before he entered Ontario. Bill's goal was to help raise awareness of what Terry was doing, therefore raising funds for cancer research. They spent a lot of time together and became friends. It was interesting to get a more personal and up-close account of his run from someone so close to him and still meant a lot to him all these years later.

Terry was an ordinary young man living in Port Coquitlam, BC. He was athletic and enjoyed running and basketball. When he was 19, they discovered he had a cancerous tumour and his right leg was amputated at the knee. With an artificial leg, he began running again and played wheelchair basketball.

On April 12, 1980, Terry began the Marathon of Hope, a cross-country run to raise money for cancer research. He hoped to raise one dollar from each of Canada's 24 million people. He began in St. John's, NF, in April and ran the equivalent of a full marathon every day. On September 1, 1980, he was forced to end his run outside Thunder Bay because the cancer had spread to his lungs. He headed home to BC immediately to begin treatment and passed away in June 1981.

One of Terry's earliest supporters was Isadore Sharp, founder of the Four Seasons Hotels, who proposed an annual fundraising run in Terry's name. Terry agreed but insisted that the runs be non-competitive.  The first Terry Fox Run was on on September 13, 1981 ... over 300,000 people took part and raised $3.5 million.  The Run has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries and is now the world's largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research ... almost a billion dollars has been raised.

In the middle of the book, there were 15 pages of pictures, some I've never seen before. One major criticism of the book is there were an appalling amount of typos and grammatical errors in this book ... whoever signed off on it at the publisher should be fired.

Book ~ "Hope by Terry Fox" (2024) Barbara Adhiya

From Goodreads ~ Featuring excerpts from Terry’s very own Marathon of Hope journal, "Hope by Terry Fox" shares the untold story of a well known hero - the goofy, resilient, and courageous 21-year-old who rallied a nation behind his mission.

In 1976, when Terry Fox was just eighteen years old, he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma and his right leg was amputated just above the knee. It quickly became his mission to help cure cancer so others would not have to endure what he had gone through. He dreamed up a Marathon of Hope - a fundraising run across Canada, from St. John’s, Newfoundland, to Victoria, British Columbia. 5,300 miles.

When he set off on April 12, 1980, Canadians were dubious. But as he continued across the country, enthusiasm grew to a frenzy. Sadly, Terry’s cancer returned, and after 143 days and 3,339 miles, he was forced to stop his Marathon of Hope. He passed away in 1981 but the nation picked up his mission where he left off and the annual Terry Fox Run has even spread to cities around the world, raising more than $850 million to date - well over Terry’s goal of one dollar for every Canadian.

After conducting over fifty interviews with people throughout Terry’s life - ranging from his siblings, nurses and coaches to volunteers during the Marathon of Hope - editor Barbara Adhiya discovers how Terry was able to run a marathon a day. Through their stories, passages from Terry’s marathon journal, and over 200 photos and documents, "Hope by Terry Fox" shows that with enough resilience, determination, humility, and support, ordinary people can do impossible things.

I've read a few books about Terry Fox and when new ones come out, I check them out. Terry was an ordinary young man living in Port Coquitlam, BC. He was athletic and enjoyed running and basketball. When he was 19, they discovered he had a cancerous tumour and his right leg was amputated at the knee. With an artificial leg, he began running again and played wheelchair basketball.

On April 12, 1980, Terry began the Marathon of Hope, a cross-country run to raise money for cancer research. He hoped to raise one dollar from each of Canada's 24 million people. He began in St. John's, NF, in April and ran the equivalent of a full marathon every day. On September 1, 1980, he was forced to end his run outside Thunder Bay because the cancer had spread to his lungs. He headed home to BC immediately to begin treatment and passed away in June 1981.

One of Terry's earliest supporters was Isadore Sharp, founder of the Four Seasons Hotels, who proposed an annual fundraising run in Terry's name. Terry agreed but insisted that the runs be non-competitive.  The first Terry Fox Run was on on September 13, 1981 ... over 300,000 people took part and raised $3.5 million.  The Run has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries and is now the world's largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research ... about $900 million has been raised.

This book is a collection of interviews of people who knew, had met or were affected by Terry Fox ... it includes his nurses and doctors, his friends and family, his coaches and mentors, volunteers of the Marathon of Hope and Terry Fox Run, media and more. It was interesting to read how Terry Fox challenged himself and affected the lives of so many during his Marathon of Hope and since his death. Some were close to him and others had fleeting meetings that changed them forever. There were lots and lots pictures of letters, photos, newspaper articles and more that provided more personal information about what was happening at the time along with excerpts from Terry Fox's diary.

While I enjoyed the book, I read it as an e-book borrowed from the library and the formatting wasn't great. It took me a while to clue in to the formatting because it would be in the author's voice then her interview with someone would follow ... but there was no breakage, change of font, etc. So I didn't realize that it was no longer the author's voice. Then it would flip back without notice to the author's voice. Very confusing. Plus Terry's diary excerpts could have been set apart in a fancy or something ... they just followed as part of the text at the end of the chapters.

Book ~ "The Widow's Guide to Dead Bastards" (2024) Jessica Waite

From Goodreads ~ A widow’s life is turned upside when she uncovers the truth about her late husband in this lyrical, witty and deeply moving memoir of tragedy and betrayal.

In the midst of mourning her husband’s sudden death, writer Jessica Waite discovered shocking secrets that undermined everything she thought she knew about the man she’d loved and trusted. From uncovered affairs to drug use and a pornography addiction, Waite was overwhelmed reconciling this devastating information with her new reality as a widowed single mom. Then to further complicate matters, strange inexplicable coincidences forced her to consider whether her husband was reaching back from beyond the grave.

Jessica was a housewife and mom to Dash. Sean, her husband, travelled for work regularly from their home in Calgary to Denver. Their life wasn't perfect ... there were times when Sean would freak out and be verbally abusive and threaten to leave but never did. On the day Jessica is expecting Sean to be on a flight heading home, she gets a call that he had passed away suddenly in Denver. Not surprisingly she's shocked and has to deal with his death, his life insurance, close up his apartment in Denver and get his belongings home, and more. As this is happening, Jessica discovers that not only did Sean have a porn addiction but he was also unfaithful numerous times to her (and even had a girlfriend). So in addition to dealing with her grief, she has to also deal with his betrayal.

I thought this would be an interesting memoir and it was for the most part. I thought the writing was okay, though found it was a bit draggy at times especially in the second half. I can see why Jessica would be hurt, feel betrayed and pissed but she also had to think about protecting Sean's memory for their son and his family. It got a bit airy fairy as Jessica looked for answers and wondered whether Sean was trying to contact her when, for example, the lights flickered and electronics turned themselves on. She visited psychics and other spiritual people looking for answers. It sounds like she found what she was looking for and has found peace and forgiveness, though it seemed like she was taking some of the blame for Sean's "bastard" behaviour. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Book ~ "When the World Fell Silent" (2024) Donna Jones Alward

From Goodreads ~ A story of loss, hope and redemption against the most impossible odds. 1917. Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Nora Crowell wants more than her sister’s life as a wife and mother. As WWI rages across the Atlantic, she becomes a lieutenant in the Canadian Army Nursing Corp. But trouble is looming and it won’t be long before the truth comes to light.

Having lost her beloved husband in the trenches and with no one else to turn to, Charlotte Campbell now lives with his haughty relations who treat her like the help. It is baby Aileen, the joy and light of her life, who spurs her to dream of a better life.

When tragedy strikes in Halifax Harbour, nothing for these two women will ever be the same again. Their paths will cross in the most unexpected way, trailing both heartbreak and joy its wake.

It's 1917 and Nora is a nurse with the Canadian Army Nursing Corp in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is living with her sister and her sister's family and while she loves them, that's not the life she wants. She loves being a nurse and is very good at it. Charlotte's husband was killed overseas and since she has no family, she and her baby are forced to lived with her in-laws who treat her like a servant.

As if Halifax didn't have enough going on as an important port during WWI, the Halifax Explosion happened ... two ships collided in the harbour and wiped out much of the north end of Halifax, killing and wounding many.

As a nurse, Nora is tending to the wounded while wondering whether her family survived the explosion since she knew they were heading to the waterfront. Charlotte wakes up in the hospital and doesn't know whether her baby or in-laws survived the explosion. What follows is how Nora and Charlotte react to the ramifications of the disaster.

I like history and since I'm originally from Nova Scotia and knew about the Halifax Explosion, I thought it would be interesting to see how it would incorporated into a novel. I think the author did a good job describing what was happening and what everyone must have been going through before, during and after the explosion. It is written in first person perspective in Nora and Charlotte's voices. They had tough decisions to make and did what they had to do given their circumstances.

Book ~ "Heart on My Sleeve: Stories from a Life Well Worn" (2024) Jeanne Beker

From Goodreads ~ Fashion and style icon Jeanne Beker delivers an uplifting and inspiring memoir that walks us through a wardrobe of memory, one article of clothing at a time.

Jeanne Beker’s name is synonymous with style and grace in fashion. Recognized by many as the beloved host of "Fashion Television" and "The New Music", Jeanne has spent an entire career interviewing celebrities and uncovering their most private selves. Now in "Heart on My Sleeve", Jeanne reveals who she is in an all-new way. 

This is not just a memoir but a wardrobe of memory. Jeanne walks us through her recollections of specific pieces of clothing and jewelry, precious items that have made an indelible impact on her. She invites readers to think more deeply about how what we wear - whether it’s a thrift-store find or high-end couture - acts as a touchstone to our most treasured recollections, reminding us of who we once were or of loved ones we hold dear. 

With Jeanne as our style guide, we get up-close and personal with a star-studded cast, including Paul McCartney, Madonna, Karl Lagerfeld, Kate Moss, Oscar de la Renta, Beyoncé and Keith Richards. But equally important, Jeanne introduces us to the family members and loved ones who form her closest entourage - including her wise Yiddish mother and her industrious father, both Holocaust survivors; her childhood neighbor Mrs. Jaskolka, a style maven ahead of her time; her two trailblazing daughters; and her many warm and exuberant friends who have seen her through the best and worst of times.

I'm not much of a fashionista but I like reading books about and by Canadians and I remember Beker from The New Music. While I'm not into fashion, I did enjoy her stories and getting the scoop on the celebrities she got to meet, interview and befriend. She has had many adventures in her life because of her occupation and it sounds like she took joy from them.

I enjoyed the writing style. These were short stories on specific topics or people on a high level. It would have been nice to have seen pictures, though. I found at times I was Googling to see what she was referring to and not being able to find the picture.

Book ~ "Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands" (2022) Kate Beaton

From Goodreads ~ After university, Kate Beaton heads out west to take advantage of Alberta’s oil rush, part of the long tradition of East Coasters who seek gainful employment elsewhere when they can't find it in the homeland they love so much. With the singular goal of paying off her student loans, what the journey will actually cost Beaton will be far more than she anticipates.

Arriving in Fort McMurray, Beaton finds work in the lucrative camps owned and operated by the world’s largest oil companies. Being one of the few women among thousands of men, the culture shock is palpable. It does not hit home until she moves to a spartan, isolated worksite for higher pay. She encounters the harsh reality of life in the oil sands where trauma is an everyday occurrence yet never discussed. Her wounds may never heal.

After she graduated from university, the author left her home and family in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and headed to northern Alberta to work in the oil fields. She had racked up university debt and saw it as a way to make good money quickly as Alberta was booming at the time and many east coasters headed that way for work. What she discovered was there were 50 men to one woman in an isolated setting and there was a lack of respect towards women. The men made crude remarks and advances to her and the higher ups did nothing about it.

I'm not into graphic novels but this one had attracted so much attention so I was interested in reading it. It took me a while to get into the rhythm of reading a graphic novel. To be honest, I'm not sure why it received so much praise as I thought it was just okay.  I think she had an interesting story to tell of her two years of experiences and it would have worked better for me as a "normal" memoir (she's a cartoonist so I guess it was comfortable for her to present it this way). I'm originally from Nova Scotia so at times I could hear the voices with their east coast lingo.

I found it was disjointed and confusing as "scenes" would end and another would begin without any flow or context. I found there were so many characters in the different locations and I couldn't remember who was "good" and who was "bad" towards her and the other women. I'm glad I finally read it but I don't know what the fuss was about it. As a head's up, there is swearing, sexual content and abuse against women.

Book ~ "What Have You Done?" (2024) Shari Lapena

From Goodreads ~ Nothing ever happens in sleepy little Fairhill, Vermont. But this morning that will change. And one innocent question could be deadly. What have you done?

The teenagers get their kicks telling ghost stories in the old graveyard. The parents trust their kids will arrive home safe from school. Everyone knows everyone. Curtains rarely twitch. Front doors are left unlocked.

But Diana Brewer isn’t lying safely in her bed where she belongs. Instead she lies in a hayfield, circled by vultures, discovered by a local farmer.

How quickly a girl becomes a ghost. How quickly a town of friendly, familiar faces becomes a town of suspects, a place of fear and paranoia.

Someone in Fairhill did this. Everyone wants answers.

Diana is a popular teenager so everyone is surprised when her naked body is found in a farmer's field. Surprisingly there are lots of suspects for the police to interview. Mourning her are her mother, who believes Diana's presence is still with her, her broken-hearted boyfriend, Cameron, and her best friends, Riley and Evan. As the story evolves, we discover that many in the cute friendly town have secrets they don't want revealed.

I've read a few books by this author and thought this one was okay. I liked the writing style. It's written in third person perspective with a focus on wherever the action is along with Diana's ghostly narrations and Evan's diary entries. Though there were lots of red herrings as to who could have murdered Diana, I thought the "whodunnit" was a bit of a letdown and kind of came out of the blue. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Book ~ "The Off Season" (2024) Amber Cowie

From Goodreads ~ The Venatura Hotel desperately needs a facelift. Too bad renovations are murder on a marriage.

While recovering from a professional setback, documentary filmmaker Jane Duvall stays at a remote hotel during the off season with her new contractor husband, Dom, and his daughter, Sienna. Surrounded by an immense forest and the mighty Fraser River, Jane wants nothing more than to bond with her new family. But she’s unsettled by the cold quiet presence of the hotel’s owner, Peter, who is overseeing Dom’s renovations. 

When she starts asking questions, Dom grows distant and Sienna becomes belligerent. Undeterred, Jane uncovers secrets that make her question exactly who she married, including a series of strange disappearances at the hotel in previous seasons. When a rainstorm of epic proportions threatens to flood the banks of the river and claim the Venatura Hotel, Jane must solve these mysteries if she’s to survive the off season.

Jane is a filmmaker in British Columbia and reeling from the backlash of her latest documentary and a bad break-up. She heads to Spain on vacation where she meets and falls in love with Dom, who is also from British Columbia. They agree to get to know each other naturally and not Google each other. All she knows is that he's a widower, he's 13 years older than her and has a teenage daughter named Sienna who is an exchange student in France.

Less than six months later, they are married and they moving to the middle of nowhere in British Columbia to a hotel owned by his friend, Peter, that is closed for the winter and where Dom will finish renovations. Once there, she realizes that Dom expects her to be a "wife" and do all the cooking and cleaning, which she begrudgingly does. She has no idea how or when Melissa, Dom's late wife, passed away as he doesn't want to talk about it (he said he wasn't ready to talk about it). Sienna treats her like crap and does a couple despicable things and Dom chastises Jane for getting mad and reacting.

When Jane discovers one of the former workers at the hotel had disappeared and no one seems bothered about it, she sees a story and she and her partner start working on it. That's when she realizes there is more to it than just a missing man and starts to dig deeper.

Really? I found it hard to believe that Jane would be that dumb to marry a guy she chose to know nothing about and who was secretive about his past. Sienna was nasty and able to get away with it. I found none of the characters likable. It's written in third person perspective with the focus on Jane. I wasn't crazy about the writing style as I found it a bit draggy. The story had an interesting premise but didn't deliver for me. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Book ~ "All Good Intentions" (2018) Trudi Johnson

From Goodreads ~ Behind closed doors ...

In the summer of 1996, Jeanne Sinclair, a St. John’s socialite, is getting to know her biological mother, Hannah West, whom she meets for the first time in over thirty years in the rural community of Falcon Cove, Newfoundland. Mother and daughter have in common their devotion to Charles Sinclair, a wealthy businessman, recently deceased.

Jeanne’s life becomes more complicated with the arrival of Kevin Gillis, a land developer from Halifax who is determined to avenge the treatment of his father, an employee of Sinclair in the 1940s. As the summer unfolds, Jeanne and Kevin find their loyalty tested by a growing attraction to one another and the discovery of new and intriguing Sinclair family secrets.

In 1935, Hannah moved from a small village to work for Charles and Virginia, a wealthy family hours away in St. John's, NF. She has relations with Charles and gets pregnant with Jeanne. To avoid scandal, Charles and Virginia raise Jeanne as their own and Hannah moves back to Falcon Cove, eventually gets married and has another daughter, Carrie.

Sixty years later, Charles has passed away and Jeanne has just discovered the truth about her mother. She and Hannah have just met and trying to establish some kind of a relationship. Jeanne is hesitant because she's concerned about what others will think but Joe and Lauren, her adult children, and others welcome Hannah and Carrie as family.

In the meantime, Jeanne has inherited Charles' house and it trying to figure out what to do with it as she has her own house. Kevin, a developer from Halifax, approaches her and offers to buy the house so he can turn it into an inn. Kevin says he's also writing an article about St. John's businessmen and is asking a lot of questions and everyone wonders what he is really up to. As Jeanne considers selling her father's house to Kevin, more shocking secrets from the past start coming out.

This book is the continuation of From a Good Home, which I recently read ... it picks up on the afternoon Jeanne and Hannah meet. It works as a stand alone but it helps to read the first one to get the full background. It was written in third person perspective depending on where the action was. 

Though I liked the first one, I liked this one better. The writing style was still a bit stiff and unnatural but not as much. Whether they were rich like Jeanne and her family and more lower class like Joe and Lauren's friends, the way they spoke seemed like I was reading a book set in aristocratic England rather than Newfoundland or Canada. For example, everyone including Joe and Lauren and their friends called their parents "Mother" and "Father" rather than "Mom" and "Dad". 

As with the first book, there were a lot of characters but in this one there was a list at the beginning saying who was who which was helpful. I didn't find Jeanne as unlikeable in this one and she seemed to soften towards the end. I liked that the story took place in St. John's and the author didn't try to hide that.

Book ~ "From a Good Home" (2016) Trudi Johnson

From Goodreads ~ Every family has its secrets. 

In 1935, Hannah Parsons left her home in Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland, at the age of seventeen to work in service for Charles and Virginia Sinclair, a wealthy St. John’s family. While working for them, Hannah catches the eye of the patriarch of the household and her life takes an unexpected turn. 

Now sixty years later, Charles Sinclair has passed and his last living will and testament is about to throw his family into turmoil. His children and grandchildren learn that no family is as perfect as it seems and that some secrets refuse to stay buried forever.

In 1935, Hannah left her village in Newfoundland to work for Charles and Virginia Sinclair, a wealthy family hours away in St. John's. She's never been away from home but felt it was a good chance to grow and learn about life away from her large impoverished family.

Sixty years later, Charles Sinclair is a widower and on his deathbed. His younger daughter, Jeanne, has been taking care of him. When he passes on, his will clashes with his last promise to Jeanne. Jeanne has been bitter for years ... her husband had left her and she has driven Joe and Lauren, her adult children, away ... so this betrayal by her father hits her hard. As the will is read and coincidental gossip is exchanged, secrets from the past start coming out.

I liked this story and the way the secrets were slowly revealed. I thought the writing style was okay, though a bit stiff and unnatural. Whether they were rich like Jeanne and her family and more lower class like Joe and Lauren's friends, the way they spoke seemed like I was reading a book set in aristocratic England rather than Newfoundland or Canada. For example, everyone including Joe and Lauren and their friends called their parents "Mother" and "Father" rather than "Mom" and "Dad". It was written in third person perspective depending on where the action was.

There were a lot of characters and it was hard to keep track sometimes of who they were ... a guide in the beginning would have been helpful. I found Jeanne was a bit extreme. Growing up, she was her father's favourite but her mother was cold and unemotional, which is how Jeanne chose to be. She didn't seem to get along with anyone, including her children and her only sister. I liked that the story took place in St. John's and as I've been there, I knew where the action was most of the time.

Book ~ "Fighting for Decency" (2024) Gordon K. Jones

From Goodreads ~ After drone specialist and newly-licensed private investigator Cody Marshall assists police in preventing the kidnapping of a young boy, his first official case is being hired by the boy's father to delve into why the child was taken. Cody’s girlfriend, the level-headed Toronto Police Officer Taylor Brant, is also assigned to investigate who was behind the attempt. As the couple follow up separately, they both arrive at the same the kidnapping was part of an elaborate scheme to raise money for the newly-formed violent white supremacist terror organization, Pyre.

Cody and Taylor soon find that their lives are in danger as they work to take down Pyre before the terrorists can unleash their fiery hate upon the city. Will Taylor and Cody be able to stop this violent hate organization before it’s too late? More importantly, will they be able to survive their first time working together?

Cody is a drone specialist and private detective. A young boy has been kidnapped and Cody is asked by the police to use his drone to track down the boy and kidnapper in a large park. Once he does that, the boy’s father is very appreciative and since Cody is also a private detective, he hires Cody to find out who was behind the kidnapping of his son and why. Once Cody starts investigating, he discovers the boy was kidnapped by a white supremacist group and it’s distressing and disturbing when they learn who is heading up the group.

This story had an interesting premise. It’s written in first person perspective in Cody’s voice. Not only do we get to follow along as he tries to find out more about why the boy was kidnapped but we also get to know him personally because his girlfriend, Taylor, is a police officer also investigating the kidnapping. I liked that the author didn’t hide the fact it’s in Toronto rather than some anonymous American city and I knew exactly where the locations were. As a head’s up, there is violence and swearing.

Book ~ "Halifax and Me" (2020) Harry Bruce

From Goodreads ~ Essays recounting Canadian author Harry Bruce's love affair with the fascinating, historic, quirky city of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Though I've never lived in Halifax (my sister does), I'm originally from Nova Scotia and that's why this book caught my eye.

This a collection of essays written by Harry Bruce, who when he wrote the book, was living in Halifax again. He has moved around a lot across Canada in his almost 90 years and Halifax kept drawing him back. His paternal family had roots in Guysborough County so he had spent time there as a child.

The essays were interesting for the most part but rambling at times. He wrote about the history and people of Halifax and Nova Scotia, comparing it to the other places he's lived (the farthest he'd lived from there was in Vancouver), his family and work history, the people he's met over the years and more.

The book could have been edited better as there were typos and grammatical/spacing errors.

Book ~ "Never Saw it Coming" (2010) Linwood Barclay

From Goodreads ~ Keisha Ceylon is a psychic. At least, that's what she passes herself off as. The truth is, Keisha's real powers have more to do with separating troubled families from their money than actually seeing into the netherworld. Keisha watches the news for stories of missing family members. She gives it a few days, then moves in, tells these families she's had a vision, that she may have some clue to where these missing people are. And by the way, she charges for this service, and likes to see the money up front.

Keisha's latest mark is a man whose wife disappeared a week ago. She's seen him on TV, pleading for his wife to come home, or, if she's been abducted, pleading with whoever took her to let her go. Keisha knows a payoff when she sees one. So she pays a visit to our troubled husband and tells him her vision.

The trouble is, her vision just happens to be close enough to the truth that it leaves this man rattled. And it may very well leave Keisha dead.

Eleanor wakes up in her car. She realizes she is strapped into the passenger seat, has stab wounds to her stomach and her car is sitting precariously on a semi-frozen lake ... and then the car goes under.

In the meantime, Wendell and Melissa, Eleanor's husband and daughter, are pleading for her safe return and working with the police to ensure that happens. When Keisha comes across situations of missing family members, she approaches them and offers her help as a psychic. It's just a scam for her to take advantage of families ... she gives them just enough high level information (that could apply to anyone) in return for payment. Keisha seems an opportunity and introduces herself to Wendell. Ironically the information she gives him is too close to being true and she has to deal with his reaction.

I've read many books by this author and I thought this one was okay. It is written in third person perspective depending on where the action is. There were some quirky twists that were interesting. I thought the person who admitted to stabbing Eleanor was a bit much and overreacted given the situation. As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.