Book ~ "Hallowed Bones" (2004) Carolyn Haines

From Goodreads ~ The leaves of the calendar may be shedding faster than the sycamores on her family’s decaying Mississippi plantation but thirty-something southern belle Sarah Booth Delaney isn’t ready to sing the blues. Not when she’s got a thriving detective agency and the outspoken, outrageously attired ghost of her great-great-grandmother’s nanny to keep her on her toes. But the matchmaking phantom may have the last word on motherhood when Sarah Booth takes on the controversial case of an accused baby killer.

Although Doreen Mallory’s been arrested for feeding sleeping pills to her ten-week-old daughter, no one could accuse her of lacking faith. A healer who, tragically, couldn’t save her own baby girl, born with multiple birth defects, Doreen has her own crosses to bear. While the local law seems convinced of Doreen’s guilt, Sarah Booth isn’t so sure. But why is Doreen reluctant to talk about the men in her life? Like the televangelist who stands to lose a lot more than his flock. Or the married politician with family ties to the Mob. Either of them could be little Rebekah’s father; either of them could also be her killer.

With Halloween approaching and her own personal life up for grabs, Sarah Booth could use a little faith healing herself. Torn between a married sheriff and an old flame who’s literally sweeping her off her feet, she’d better be prepared for the fallout of her most unpopular case yet. Justice may not stand a ghost of a chance as a decades-old secret explodes, unleashing a storm of fury on Sarah Booth and all those she loves.

Sarah Booth Delaney is single, in her thirties, the last of her line, living in her family's plantation and is a private detective. Doreen is a faith healer in New Orleans. When her 10-week-old baby dies and it's determined she was murdered, Doreen is arrested. The police officer in charge assumes she did it so does very little investigating. A nun friend of Doreen's hires Sarah to investigate to find the real killer.

This is the fifth in the Sarah Booth Delaney series (there are currently 26 books in the series) ... it works as a stand alone as there is enough background provided but it's helpful if you've read the previous ones. It is written in first person perspective in Sarah's voice. As a head's up, there is swearing.

I recently read the first four and liked them enough to keep going with the series. I gave up on this one, though, about 65% into it. All the storylines were ridiculous and I'd had enough so I skipped ahead to the end to see the "whodunnit". 

Sarah is still torn between two men ... Coleman, the local married police sheriff who is in love with her but staying with his wife because she's pregnant, and Hamilton, who she met in the first book and has barely had any contact with him but he suddenly reappears from Paris and wants a future with her. 

At a fancy ball, two well-dressed society women get into adumb physical fight ... really?! Sarah's not a very responsible pet owner ... she has a dog she lets run free, even when she's out of town for days at a time. Coleman has his wife's best friend working for him and she is extremely rude to and about Sarah and Coleman doesn't discipline her. Sarah has a friend who may have cancer and rather than let the doctors take care of it, she instead puts her faith in Doreen to heal her. 

Sarah's mother's last name was Booth and her father's last name was Delaney and I think it's weird everyone calls her "Sarah Booth" rather than just "Sarah". It's odd that Jitty, the ghost of her great-great-grandmother's nanny, "lives" with her. Jitty is still really annoying ... she's very negative and always putting Sarah down and nagging her about being single and childless. I'm tired about hearing about Sarah's womb.

I think I have to take a break from this series for a while. 

Book ~ "Chicken Soup for the Soul Celebrates Dogs: And the People Who Love Them" (2004) Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen

From Goodreads ~ Dogs. Our best friends. From thedawn of civilization, we have cherished them as our loyal companions, exuberant playmates, healing and gentle souls. 

From adorable puppies with floppy ears and wobbly steps to full-grown guardinas of our love and trust, there is no other animal that compares to the dog. A playful growl, a boisterous bark, a cock of the head, an inquisitive stare - each inspires us with love and adoration. 

The stories and photographs in this wonderful volume celebrate the humor, loyalty, love, courage and healing power of our canine companions. Each page in this book rejoices in the wonderful and poignant moments we share with our furry friends and the lessons of love they teach us each and every day. 

I love reading stories about animals.  And I've read a few Chicken Soup for the Soul books over the years.

This is a cute quick read.  There are ten short stories about people and their dogs.  Plus there pictures of dogs throughout the book.

Book ~ "Hissy Fit" (2004) Mary Kay Andrews

From Goodreads ~ Keeley Murdock's wedding to A. J. Jernigan should have been the social event of the season. But when she catches her fiance doing the deed with her maid of honor at the country club rehearsal dinner, all bets are off. And so is the wedding. Keeley pitches the hissy fit of the century, earning herself instant notoriety in the small town of Madison, Georgia.

Even worse is the financial pressure A.J.'s banking family brings to bear on Keeley's interior design business. But riding to the rescue - in a vintage yellow Cadillac - is the redheaded stranger who's purchased a failing local bra plant. Will Mahoney hires Keeley to redo the derelict antebellum mansion he's bought. Her assignment: decorate it for the woman of his dreams - a woman he's never met.

Only a designing woman like Keeley Murdock can find a way to clear her name and give her cheating varmint of an ex-fiance the comeuppance he so richly deserves. 

Keely is an interior decorator and engaged to marry A.J., the son of a local wealthy banker.  On the night before the wedding, at the rehearsal dinner, Keeley catches A.J. and her maid of honour and best friend doing naked stuff they shouldn't be doing.  Keeley freaks out and needless to say, the wedding is off.   A.J., though, hasn't given up and tries to woo Keeley into going back to him.

In the meantime, Keeley is hired by Will, a rich business owner who has recently purchased a plantation house, and he has a very aggressive schedule.  He wants Keeley to redo the house so it will be the marital of home for him and Stephanie, a lawyer.  Will, though, has never met Stephanie.  He saw her on TV on a telethon and fell in love with her.  By making a large donation, she has agreed to go to dinner with him.  He feels that once she gets to know him and the house, they will live happily ever after.  Seriously?!  I thought he was either very arrogant or very stupid to think this way.  And Stephanie is a lawyer but I thought she came off as very dumb.

On top of of this, there is the story of Jeanine, Keeley's mom, who had run off with one of her dad's employees 25 years ago.  Neither was ever seen or heard from again.  Keeley realizes she may have abandonment issues so decides to find out where her mother is after all these years.

I've read quite a few books by this author and I didn't really like this one.  I found most of the storylines (except for the one about finding Jeanine) absurb.  It is written in first person perspective in Keeley's voice.  As a head's up, there is swearing and adult activity.

I found the author's portrayal of some of the characters questionable.  The two gay men were so stereotypical and it made me wonder whether the author had ever met a gay man before.  There is an Asian woman named Selena and I thought the author's portrayal of her was racist and I cringed a bit.  Keeley seems surprised that Selena has a Southern accent.  And she's also surprised that Selena is making Shrimp Creole and not "some sort of chop suey or stir-fry" for supper.  Later when Keeley and her friend are talking about Selena, her friend wonders whether she knows any "kinky geisha girl tricks ... sort of like that whole Kama Sutra thing".

As I was reading this, I was happy that the author had seemed veer away from her usual style which was girl meets boy, girl and boy get together, something happens to break up girl and boy but they end up together in the end.  The last chapter was disappointing as apparently a happy ending can't happen unless a girl is finally with a boy (this came out of the blue).

Book ~ "R is for Ricochet" (2004) Sue Grafton

From Goodreads ~ Kinsey Millhone, employed by Nord Lafferty to drive his daughter home from her incarceration at the Californian Institute for Women, marvels at the simplicity of the task. But Reba Lafferty emerges feisty and rebellious, and Kinsey is soon fighting to prevent her charge from breaking the conditions of her parole. 

As she finds herself befriending the ex-gambler, ex-alcoholic and ex-con, Kinsey discovers that Reba had taken the fall for her boss, also her lover, when he conducted a highly-crafted money laundering scam. Alan Beckwith has so far escaped the clutches of the FBI. Now they believe he is laundering money for a Columbian drug cartel - they just need the proof. 

When Kinsey is asked by the police to persuade Reba to unveil crucial evidence guaranteed to put Beckwith behind bars, she doesn't expect cooperation. But when she hears of shocking new information about her lover, Reba is suddenly all too eager to do everything she can to ruin him. Embroiled in a cunning challenge of wits, and meanwhile bemused by her own blossoming romance, Kinsey must try to control the bitter, angry Reba as she launches her dangerous revenge.

It's the late 1980s and Kinsey Millhone is a 37-year-old private detective in Santa Teresa, CA.  She is hired by an elderly ill man to pick up his daughter, Reba, who is being released from prison, bring her home and ensure she gets to the meeting with her parole officer the next day.  An easy job!  They kind of become friends and Reba hooks up the next night with Alan, her former boyfriend and boss who she had embezzled money from, hence the reason she went to prison.  But Reba discovers Alan isn't as honest as she thought he was so considers turning evidence against him to the police and FBI when she's approached.

In the meantime, Kinsey is now dating Cheney, a police office, who she has been attracted to for a few years.  Things get hot and heavy very quickly.  Henry, Kinsey's elderly landlord, is having issues with his love life.  A woman he met on a recent cruise has been visiting but Henry's older brothers interfere in the potential romance.  Instead of telling his brothers to buzz off, he wimps out and backs off, which I thought was dumb.

I thought this story was just okay.  Kinsey was hired basically as a babysitter for a couple days and for some reason she, who has always been a loner, is interested in becoming friends with Reba.  She even looks to Reba for fashion advice, which seemed out of character for Kinsey (she's never cared about clothes and would trim her hair when necessary with nail scissors).  I found the Kinsey/Cheney relationship odd and unbelievable.  As far as she knew, he was married.  It turns out he was but it only lasted less than two months.  Kinsey and Cheney get together very quickly and he's all she seems to be thinking about.  It didn't seem like the Kinsey we've gotten to know.  It's written in first person perspective in Kinsey's voice.   As a head's up, there is swearing and adult activity.

This is the eighteenth in the "alphabet series" featuring Kinsey Millhone.  Though it is part of a series, it works as a stand alone.  I discovered this series in the mid-1990s and have read them all.  I started rereading them last year.  With the author's recent death, Y is for Yesterday will be the end of the series.

Book ~ "Mum's the Word" (2004) Kate Collins

From Goodreads ~ I don't mean to meddle, honest! But can I help it if my nose for injustice is as keen as my green thumb? Now I, Abby Knight, law school dropout, am the proud new owner of Bloomers, my hometown flower shop. I'm devoted to making my business grow but I'm no shrinking violet if someone needs my help to right a wrong -- even if that person is already dead.

So maybe Abby's life isn't the bed of roses she was hoping it would be. She adores her job but a new low-cost competitor is killing her profits - and a black SUV just rammed her vintage Corvette in a hit and run. Determined to track down the driver, she accepts the help of hunky ex-cop Marco Salvare. But their budding relationship is threatened when the trail turns deadly. Now Abby is caught in a tangle of menacing phone calls, police corruption, and murderous road rage. If she's not careful, the next flower arrangement might be for her own funeral.

Abby was going to law school to fulfill her mother's dream of her becoming a lawyer.  But she wasn't passionate about it and ended up dropping out ... which prompted her rich fiancé to break up with her.  She buys the flower shop where she'd worked part-time as that's where her interest lies.

Just as Abby has parked her vintage Corvette one day, someone runs into it and takes off.  Then she discovers that there was a murder nearby and she thinks the person who ran into her car is the murderer.  She is determine to find the murderer and bring him to justice with the help of the nearby hot restaurant owner who used to be a cop and now works as a part-time private detective.

This is the first book in the Flower Shop Mystery series.  It caught my eye because I recently read that Brooke Shields is starring in this series.   Not that I'm a big fan of Brooke Shields but I like reading books in a series so I thought I'd check it out.

I liked the writing style ... it was easy to read and flowed well.  It was a bit of a stretch to believe that a former law student/now the owner of a flower shop would get THAT involved in solving a local murder just because they hit her car, even though every one was telling her to stop "meddling".  There is the beginnings of the romance between Abby and Marco, the restaurant owner.  This book was okay.  I liked it enough to give the next one in the series a try.

Given that Abby is in her 20s in the book and Brooke Shields isn't (by many years) in the movies, no doubt they will take some liberties.

Book ~ "First Degree" (2004) David Rosenfelt

From Goodreads ~ No one can separate defense attorney Andy Carpenter from his golden retriever, Tara, and she returns his affection, standing loyally beside him through every investigation, no matter how dangerous or puzzling - and he is about to be confronted with one of his most difficult cases yet. 

 When a cop's body is found burned and decapitated, the last thing Andy expects is for a stranger to waltz into his office and admit to the crime. For the wisecracking millionaire attorney suffering from "lawyer's block," the case looks like a no-brainer, until the cops pick up another suspect: Andy's lead P.I., Laurie Collins, who happens to be the love of his life. 

Soon Laurie's case is looking bleak and Andy is becoming increasingly desperate. All he had wanted was a case to sink his teeth into. Now he gets one that's a kick in the head ... and the heart. 

Andy has been taking a breather for the six months since he won Willie Miller's retrial.  Then a man is arrested when a cop's body is found burned and decapitated.  A stranger tries to hire Andy in case he needs legal representation because he says he is really the murderer.  Andy turns him down but it compels him to offer to represent the man he now knows is being falsely accused.  As Andy and Laurie, his lead investigator and girlfriend, start to do the groundwork, the charges are suddenly dropped and Laurie is arrested for the murder.

Laurie used to be a cop and worked with the murdered cop and had brought to light that he was a dirty cop.  The cop received just a slap on the hand which prompted Laurie to quit and open shop on her own.  With all the evidence mounting against Laurie, Andy has to do whatever he can to keep her out of prison for the rest of her life.

This is the second book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it.  I liked the writing style as it was funny, sarcastic and amusing.  It was written in first person perspective in Andy's voice.  It is the second in the Andy Carpenter series (there are 13 as of July 2015) and it works as a stand alone (so you don't need to have read the first one to know what is going on) ... my plan is to get eventually caught up on the series and read others by this author.

I liked Andy.  He's smart and shifty and recognizes his weaknesses.  He loves his dog, Tara.  Laurie had a more passive role in this book since she was under house arrest.  Willie, his client, is a hoot and no doubt we'll see more of him in future books.

Book ~ "3rd Degree" (2004) James Patterson and Andrew Gross

From Goodreads ~ Plunging into a burning town house, Detective Lindsay Boxer discovers three dead bodies ... and a mysterious message at the scene. 

When more corpses turn up, Lindsay asks her friends Claire Washburn of the medical examiner's office, Assistant D.A. Jill Bernhardt, and San Francisco Chronicle reporter Cindy Thomas, to help her find a murderer who vows to kill every three days. Even more terrifying, he has targeted one of the four friends. Which one will it be?

There are four members of the Women's Murder Club ... Lindsay, Cindy, Claire and Jill.

Lindsay is a police lieutenant in San Francisco.  She is jogging with her dog when a house blows up as she's passing by.  Three dead bodies are found inside, one is the owner of a company from which he had recently sold his stock, thus plunging the price down.  As more murders happen and more notes are found, the group taking responsibility want fairer conditioners for people around the world.  Joe, a deputy director from Homeland Security, is brought in to help the San Francisco police department solve these murders.

This is the third in the Women's Murder Club series (and the fourth one I've read).  Though it is part of a series, it does work as a stand alone.

I enjoyed the writing style and it went at a good pace. I liked the short choppy chapters. The point of view shifted ... it was first person perspective when the focus was on Lindsay and third person perspective when the focus was on everyone else ... but it was easy to figure out.  As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.  Out of the blue, domestic violence appears but it's nipped in the bud rather quickly (too quickly I thought).

I found this book a bit too political and as a Canadian, I didn't get some of the American references to things that have happened in the past.  I'd never heard of the Weathermen and there was no explanation of who they were and I don't really know what Homeland Security is.

I thought this was just okay and will continue to get caught up in the series.

Book ~ "Toronto Sketches 8: The Way We Were" (2004) Mike Filey

From Goodreads ~ Toronto Sun columnist Mike Filey is back with "Toronto Sketches 8", the series that captures the people, politics, and architecture of Toronto's past with photographs and anecdotes that will change the way you see the city forever. 

The book brings us back to the time of Toronto's original horse-drawn streetcar, the construction of Maple Leaf Gardens, and other memories of Toronto, many of which show how history repeats itself, as in the gas price wars of the early 20th century or the debate in 1911 over building a bridge to Toronto island.

Mike Filey had a column in the Toronto Sun for about 30 years and I read it for many years (I like learning about the history of Toronto) ... this book is a compilation of some of his columns.

We learn about the Eaton's store, Marilyn Bell, car shows, transit (streetcars, buses and the subway), sports (baseball and hockey), what the CN Tower and city hall could have looked like, the Dufferin Park Racetrack, and more.

Dufferin Park Racetrack, a horse racetrack which operated from 1907
until it was demolished in 1955 (this is looking east)

This space is now the Dufferin Mall (the closest mall to me),
which was built in 1956 as a plaza and converted to
enclosed mall space in the 1970s

Even though the book was published in 2004, it was still an interesting book because it dealt with many historical events in Toronto. 

If you live in Toronto or are from Toronto, you should check it out.

Book ~ "Fruit: A Novel About a Boy and His Nipples" (2004) Brian Francis

From Goodreads ~ Thirteen-year-old Peter Paddington is overweight, the subject of his classmates' ridicule and the victim of too many bad movie-of-the-week storylines. 

When his nipples begin speaking to him one day and inform him of their diabolical plan to expose his secret desires, Peter finds himself cornered in a world that seems to have no tolerance for difference.  Peter's only solace is "The Bedtime Movies" - perfect-world fantasies that lull him to sleep every night. 

But when the lines between Peter's fantasies and his reality begin to blur, his hilarious adventures in overeating, family dysfunction and the terrifying world of sexual awakening really begin.

Peter is 13-years-old and is overweight (205 pounds).  He is picked on at school and his only friend is his 14-year-old neighbour Daniela, the daughter of Italian immigrants, who has a potty mouth. He spends a lot of time alone in his room (with a chair jammed under the doorknob so his mother can't barge in) and on his paper route.  He is always searching for a "boy friend".

At night, he has "Bedtime Movies" in which he fantasizes about Mr. Hanlan (a man on his paper route), male teachers and fellow male students. 

Peter monitors how much weight he's gained by how far his finger can go into his belly button.  One day he realizes his nipples have grown to the size of small cherries and he tapes them down to hide them because he's embarrassed.  I will admit that I was a bit hesitant to read this book when I read that his nipples speak to him but it surprisingly worked.

This is the second book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it.  It is written in first person perspective in Peter's 13-year-old voice.  I found the language, tone and actions true to his age.  It was at times funny.  As a head's up, there is swearing (lots of F-bombs by Daniela).

I liked the diverse characters.  Peter's not into sports and would rather learn calligraphy than baseball and home ec. rather than industrial arts.  He has a list of things he wants to accomplish this year ... the first and last things are to lose weight.  He is scared of Daniela but loyal to her.  Peter's mother is going through the "change" and is very emotional, which doesn't help since she is so overprotective as it is.  His dad works shift work and just wants peace.  His sisters are always fighting ... one of them feels smug because she works at Peoples Jewellers.

This story takes place in Sarnia, Ontario, in 1984 ... it was a fun reminder about Woolco, rugby pants, Jane Fonda workout videos, Olivia Newton John records, etc.  It was definitely a different time.

You should check it out if you are looking for something different and quirky.

Book ~ "125 Best Indoor Grill Recipes" (2004) Ilana Simon

From Goodreads ~ "Enjoy the ease of grilling year round."

Indoor grills are very popular (especially the George Foreman grill). Millions of consumers rely on this kitchen appliance to create low-fat grilled food without the fuss of an outdoor grill or leaving the kitchen.

125 Best Indoor Grill Recipes includes tantalizing recipes that work anytime - from quick weekday suppers to weekend entertaining:

• Blackened Red Fish - the sizzling southern flavor of New Orleans 
• Greek-inspired Beef Souvlaki with Tzaziki Sauce 
• Cilantro Lime Chicken Caesar Burger - Caesar Salad crossed with a hamburger 
• Portobello Mushroom Burger - the ultimate in vegetarian cuisine 
• Three Meat Panini with Provolone - a simple sandwich taken to new heights 
• Shrimp Satay 
• Southern Fried Chicken 
• Honey Dill Salmon with Dijon 
• Fajitas 
• Teriyaki Chicken

More than 2.5 million indoor grills are sold each year. Indoor grill-chefs will love these great recipes and practical indoor grilling tips and techniques.

When I got this book, I didn't realize it was for indoor grills (like the George Forman grill).  I thought it was for recipes you can grill indoors.  But looking at the recipes, I'm sure they could be adapted ... or perhaps I should go buy an indoor grill!  

If you are considering buy an indoor grill, the author discusses the differences between the different types.  And if you have one and are new to indoor grilling, there are some tips.

The chapters are:

• Appetizers
• Salads and side dishes
• Sandwiches
• Burgers
• Main entrees - beef
• Main entrees - chicken and turkey
• Main entrees - fish and seafood
• Main entrees - pork, lamb and veal
• Desserts

The recipes list tips, if you can make things ahead, variations, etc.  Here's an example of a dessert ... sounds yummy!

The only thing that was missing with the recipes for me was the nutritional information (calories, amount of protein, etc.).

I received a copy of this book at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Book ~ "Midnight at the Dragon Cafe" (2004) Judy Fong Bates

From Amazon ~ Su-Jen Chou, six, meets her elderly father for the first time when she and her beautiful mother leave China to join him in a small Ontario town in the 1950s. She sleeps between her parents in the same bed in a room upstairs from the restaurant. "They settled into an uneasy and distant relationship. Their love, their tenderness, they gave to me." Then her adult half-brother joins them and his mail-order bride is on her way. Su-Jen, now Annie, is soon comfortable in English and makes friends as she grows up Canadian; her mother remains stranded among strangers, unable to speak the language. But even at home, the unspeakable drowns out what is being said. True to the young girl's viewpoint, the plain first-person narrative tells an immigrant story with rare intensity, the anger and the sadness, as the adults fight about one thing while Su-Jen wants to shout about what they all pretend they do not know. The mounting suspense of family secrets makes this first novel a breathless read, even as the simple, beautiful words make you want to stop and read the sentences over and over again.

I borrowed this book from my local library. They had a table set up by the door that had books set in Toronto so I checked it out and thought this one sounded interesting.

The first couple of chapters weren't grabbing me. If I can't get into a book, I stop reading it and move onto the next one. I'm glad that I stuck with this one because I ended up really enjoyed it. I liked the writing style and the story.

The story is written in Annie's voice, from age six to twelve. She manages to fit in in the small town where they are the only Chinese family and become Canadian. Annie knows she's different from the other kids but she doesn't want to be and assumes she doesn't have to be different.

Her young and beautiful mom, on the other hand, is bitter about having to leave China and live in a small dead town in Ontario. She doesn't bother to fit in or learn English which just makes it worse for her.

Annie's elderly dad owns a Chinese restaurant. Because he feels the only way to get ahead is to work hard, that's all he does. Her older brother eventually moves from Owen Sound and buys into the restaurant and works with them. Their dad is very intent on getting him married off, whether that is with a "mail order bride" or using a matchmaker, and her brother resists.

The book doesn't tell you what adult Annie is doing. Did she stay in Irvine and help her brother and sister-in-law run the restaurant? Or did she accomplish what her parents had hoped for her ... go to university and get a good job. Did she married a Chinese guy as her family expected or did she avoid an arranged marriage and marry a white guy? It would be interesting to know ... but maybe we are better off just hoping for the best for this family.

Book ~ "The Devil's in the Details" (2004) Mary Jane Maffini

From MaryJaneMaffini.com ~ It's Labour Day, Camilla's favourite weekend of the year. She's planning to relax and ponder what's happening in her newly evolving relationship with policeman Sgt. Ray Deveau (warm heart, cold feet), who is inconveniently located back in Sydney. She's emphatically not planning to get involved in anything that means trouble. No wonder the news that an old acquaintance has had an accident comes as a surprise. There must be some mistake. By the time Camilla unearths Laura Brown's connection to a violent revolutionary group active two decades earlier, she's had several blows to the head and discovered that women she's been talking to or talking about keep ending up dead. Looks like someone will do anything to keep Laura's connections secret. Soon getting arrested is the least of Camilla's problems. Camilla relies on her old friends, like Elaine Ekstein, and her old enemies like Sgt. Leonard Mombourquette and her old clients like that sexy reformed burglar, Bunny Mayhew. But will that be enough to keep her from joining those other women in the morgue?

This is the fourth book in the Camilla MacPhee series, which is set in Ottawa.

I finished the second one in the series last week and found it kind of flat. I must say that I really enjoyed this one. The story was interesting and moved along quickly. Sure, it was far fetched at times but it was fun.

The ending was a surprise but I bought it and was happy with it.

I'd definitely recommend this one.

Book ~ "A Girl Like Sugar" (2004) ~ Emily Pohl-Weary

From emilypohlweary.com - Award-winning author Emily Pohl-Weary brings us contemporary heroine Sugar Jones in a sexy and spirited coming of age tale.

After Sugar’s rock star boyfriend dies, she spends sleepless nights in her basement apartment, watching Parker Posey movies and talking to his ghost.

With her New Age mother and her blue-haired best friend hounding her to get a job, Sugar digs herself out and connects with an eclectic cast of urban heroes.

Camcorder in hand, Sugar stands up to her demons -- real and imagined -- and shakes the awful-sweet boy she loved.

I was attracted to this book because it's based in Toronto ... as it turns out, Sugar doesn't live far from me.

Definitely not a boring cast of characters! And I liked the story and was cheering for Sugar.

I enjoyed it because it was wacky and different and dark.

Book ~ "Facing Ali: 15 Fighters/15 Stories" (2004) ~ Stephen Brunt

From Amazon ~ Muhammad Ali has been written about ad nauseum but here we have a fresh approach: examine Ali the boxer through the eyes of his opponents. From the champs (Foreman), to the contenders (George Chuvalo), to the hopelessly overmatched (Jean-Pierre Coopman), the lives of Ali's opponents were profoundly shaped by facing (and, usually, getting pummeled by) an international icon. While Ali transcended boxing, his opponents didn't, and most of these fighters spent their lives getting beat up in the ring and out of it. That makes for fascinating reading, but for those who care more about Ali than, say, Earnie Shavers, the book is also chock-full of anecdotes and opinions about Ali as seen by his opponents. From each fighter's story, a different Ali emerges. To Frazier, Ali is a cruel bully. To Chuck Wepner, Ali is Apollo Creed to Wepner's Rocky Balboa. To Joe Bugner, Ali is just a brilliant businessman who knew how to put butts in seats. Between the perspectives on Ali and the witty, elegant retelling of 15 fighters' lives, this is a must for boxing fans.

Gord read this book last month and thought I would enjoy it ... and I did.

I had only heard of about five of the fifteen boxers but it was still interesting to read their stories ... where they came from and where they are now. Some knew going in they would get beat and did it for the paycheque.

Book ~ "The Year Of Living Famously" (2004) Laura Caldwell

From Amazon ~ Plenty of women wonder what it would be like to be married to a movie star but designer Kyra Felis finds out when she marries Irish actor Declan McKenna. When Kyra meets Declan in Las Vegas, he is on the cusp of stardom. The two have a whirlwind courtship and Declan proposes after a few months. Kyra is reluctant to leave New York for L.A. but her love for Declan wins out. At first, it's just a matter of adjusting to the culture and attending a premiere here and there, but then Normandy is released to rave reviews and an eager, vast audience, and its star, Declan, and, by default, Kyra are launched into superstardom. Everyone wants to interview Declan, and the paparazzi follow the couple everywhere. Declan's success helps to launch Kyra's clothing line but she is not sure she can deal with life in the spotlight. Caldwell's snazzy, gripping third novel gives readers an exciting taste of life in the fast lane, exposing the truth behind the fairy tale.

It was interesting to see what life is like behind the scenes of an actor and his wife.

I didn't like Kyra ... she was such a downer. She was always whining about something and was such a wet rag. There's no way she could have landed a fun Irishman like Declan. Why would he marry her?

I was imagining Gerry from P.S. I Love You when I was reading about Declan. He sounded like a good guy and was the only one I marginally cared about.

Book ~ "How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free" (2004) Ernie J. Zelinski

From Amazon ~ What sets this retirement book apart from all the others is its holistic approach to the fears, hopes and dreams that retirees have about their retirement years. This international bestseller goes way beyond the numbers that is often the main focus of retirement planning in most retirement books. Readers can better envision their individual retirement goals, including where they want to live, what they want to do in retirement, and what they should do when they are still working to ensure that they have a happy retirement. There are many ingredients of a happy retirement and several retirement planning tools that help retirees plan for their retirement in new and more meaningful ways. One of the most powerful tools is The Get-a-Life Tree that you won't find in any other retirement books. In short, How to Retire Happy Wild, and Free helps readers create an active, satisfying, and happy retirement in a way such that they don't need a million dollars to retire.

Definitely a different approach to retirement since most books tackle financial planning.

This books covers why to stay engaged and happy ... have friends, keeping learning, keep active, etc.

A refreshing preparation for retirement no matter what age you are.

You can check out the author's website here.

Book ~ "Lauchie, Liza and Rory" (2004) Sheldon Currie

A whimsical comedy about loyalty and misplaced love set in 1940s Cape Breton and centers around Lauchie and Rory Macdonald, identical twins who share a love for the same woman, Liza.

Gord and I saw this play, which was written by a former prof of mine, in August.

I enjoyed the play and it was interesting to read this.

Book ~ "Chasing Elvis" (2004) Glenn P. Marcel

From Invisible College Press ~ Elvis died in 1977, or did he?

n 1982 an Elvis impersonator clumsily robs a bank and incredibly all of the evidence points to the supposedly deceased Elvis as being the robber. A detective hot on the trail of the robber is convinced that he is chasing Elvis but is killed in an accidental car crash near Moscow, TN, leaving behind a five-year-old daughter. Twenty years later, the daughter is a tabloid reporter for Weird Magazine, a shameless, check-out counter rag. She is assigned to cover an Elvis Festival in Moscow, discovers her father's notes and quickly stumbles onto the Elvis-robber's trail.

What she discovers in rural Tennessee just may be the news story of the young century.

This book had promise. I enjoyed the author's writing style. It was quick and snappy. But that's the only thing I enjoyed about this book.

There were a few totally different story lines and it's not 'til you get to the end that you see how they are connected. It all falls into place too conveniently.

I didn't like any of the characters. They were way too quirky to be believable. For example, Bennie is a drug addicted nympho rich kid who is turning tricks for loser Freddy. She's dumb dumb dumb! Her friend, Lannie, isn't much better. There's no sorrow when Lannie's mother dies of cancer ... Bennie and Lannie are more interested in the mom's possessions.

Someone obviously didn't do a very good job in proofreading this book because there were typos and lots and lots of sloppy punctuation ... they need to learn about quotation marks. Very annoying.

Is Elvis the bankrobber? I'd love to tell you so you wouldn't waste your time reading this book but I don't want to spoil the ending if you do read it.

Book ~ "Fire Up Your Metabolism" (2004) Lyssie Lakatos and Tammy Lakatos Shames

From Amazon.com ~ You may not realize it but you can take control of your metabolism. Identical twins and registered dietitians, Lyssie Lakatos and Tammy Lakatos Shames embarked on a twin study to determine precisely what does and doesn't increase the rate at which our bodies burn calories and fat. Their findings? Small changes have big results. The nine weight-loss principles and the 200 tips that help you incorporate them into your lifestyle in Fire Up Your Metabolism are surprisingly simple: Eat breakfast before you get to work. Learn which sugary snacks trump others (peanut M&Ms boost metabolism but Twizzlers don't). Drink water, which is essential to burning calories. Always eat dinner, even if it's late. Focus on muscle building, not cardiovascular workouts. With Fire Up Your Metabolism, you won't have to avoid restaurants or follow a diet (though one is included if you like regimentation). The fatigue and distracting hunger that derail most dieters won't affect you because revving your metabolism is all about eating. You will enjoy breads and other carbohydrates. You will boost your metabolism with power proteins, including hamburgers, and avoid other proteins that bog you down. You will indulge in snacks you thought a dieter could never touch. Lyssie and Tammy's clients have experienced not only dramatic weight loss but also the thrill of having more energy than ever before. Now you, too, can rewire your metabolism to lose weight fast and forever.

To be honest, there is nothing new in this book. But it's an excellent book!

What are the nine principles?

1. Never skip meals.
2. Eat at the right times.
3. Choose a diet rich in the best carbohydrates.
4. Appropriately time intake of lean proteins.
5. Drink appropriate amounts of certain beverages at specific times.
6. Eat a diet low in "bad" fat.
7. Get enough sleep every night.
8. Find surprising ways to stay active.
9. Incorporate muscle strengthening in your exercise routine.

Everything is well explained. There are food lists, sample meals, workouts, etc.

I read this book a couple years ago and it was a good reminder for me.

Book ~ "Something from the Oven: Reinventing Dinner in 1950s America" (2004) - Laura Shapiro

From Amazon.com ~ In the fifties, we're always told, the food industry barged into the American kitchen, waving TV dinners, and destroyed home cooking. Not so fast, Shapiro says. As she reveals, women refused many of the new convenience foods. Fish sticks they accepted, but not ham sticks. Canned peaches, yes; canned hamburgers, no. The industry people hired psychologists to help them combat such resistance; the women's magazines, fond of their advertisers, told readers how, by splashing some sherry over the frozen peas, they could still make dinner look as though they had cooked it.

Interesting book to read considering where we are today with convenience meals ... Lean Cuisines, President's Choice products, etc.

The quotes from those times were hilarious. Gord and my favourite from radio personality, Mary Margaret McBride:

"She went on to predict that homemade biscuits and cakes would never lose their appeal, 'just as no satisfaction will ever equal the joy a woman finds in setting those biscuits and other delicious products of her own skill before her family.'"