Book ~ "Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook" (2010) Anthony Bourdain

From Goodreads ~ "Medium Raw" marks the return of the inimitable Anthony Bourdain, author of the blockbuster bestseller "Kitchen Confidential" and three-time Emmy Award-nominated host of "No Reservations" on TV’s Travel Channel. 

Bourdain calls his book, “A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook,” and he is at his entertaining best as he takes aim at some of the biggest names in the foodie world, including David Chang, Alice Waters, the Top Chef winners and losers and many more.

Medium Raw is Bourdain’s follow-up to Kitchen Confidential, which I read last week. It's a series of essays where he writes about the food world, the people in it and how much everything (including himself) has changed. Bourdain’s older, in his second marriage, dad to a young daughter and no longer living the reckless chef life.

He talks about the behind-the-scenes reality of restaurants, shares some opinions on celebrity chefs (some he loves, some he absolutely does not) and gives props to the underappreciated people doing the real work in kitchens, like immigrant line cooks and fish guys who never get the spotlight. 

I thought this book was just okay. Because it is a series of essays, it jumps around a lot about many subjects. Some of the essays were interesting (like personal ones about himself) and some weren't. He makes references to people and restaurants I've never heard of (maybe they were part of the New York scene?) and I didn't really care about them. As a head's up, there is lots of swearing.

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.

Book ~ "Chewy And Chica" (2010) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Lizzie and Charles Peterson definitely enjoy competing with each other. Especially when Lizzie acts like she knows everything about dogs and Charles just doesn't want to listen. 

Fortunately, in this Special Edition, there are TWO chihuahuas to foster. Charles and Lizzie each agree to take one and see who can train theirs more successfully. Will the Peterson household make it through this sibling rivalry?

Lizzie and Charles are in elementary school. Their family, the Petersons, have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

Lizzie and Charles were volunteering at a local rescue when a man pulls up with his car full of puppies. There had been a man in a truck selling the puppies and he bought them all to ensure they could find good homes. The rescue has room for all the puppies except for two chihuahuas, which the Petersons agree to foster. Lizzie takes responsibility for the female, who she names Chica, and Charles takes responsibility for the male, who he names Chewy. Chica needs to learn to be better housetrained and Chewy needs to learn not to bite so Lizzie and Charles have a contest to see who can train their puppy the fastest and find a home for them.

In the meantime, their mother, who is a local journalist, investigates and discovers the puppies came from a puppy mill. Together they are all determined to educate people that it's better to adopt a puppy from a rescue than to buy one from a puppy mill.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Chewy, Chica and Buddy's points of view. It is part of the Puppy Place series.

Book ~ "The Kitchen House" (2010) Kathleen Grissom

From Goodreads ~ When a white servant girl violates the order of plantation society, she unleashes a tragedy that exposes the worst and best in the people she has come to call her family. 

Orphaned while onboard ship from Ireland, seven-year-old Lavinia arrives on the steps of a tobacco plantation where she is to live and work with the slaves of the kitchen house. Under the care of Belle, the master's illegitimate daughter, Lavinia becomes deeply bonded to her adopted family, though she is set apart from them by her white skin. 

Eventually, Lavinia is accepted into the world of the big house, where the master is absent and the mistress battles opium addiction. Lavinia finds herself perilously straddling two very different worlds. When she is forced to make a choice, loyalties are brought into question, dangerous truths are laid bare, and lives are put at risk.

In the late 1700s, seven-year-old Lavinia and her family are sailing from Ireland to the States for a better life. Her parents pass away during the voyage and when Lavinia and her brother arrive in the States, her brother is sold and she never sees him again. Lavinia is sent to a plantation where she lives and works with the slaves in the kitchen house. They become her family and she doesn't realize that she is different in that she is white.

As Lavinia gets older, the white owners of the plantation start to treat her a bit different ... she is taught to read and write, at church she is to sit up front with the white folk rather than standing in the back with black folk, etc. But Lavinia still doesn't realize she is different. She eventually is removed from the house and groomed to be a lady and marries well, or so everyone thinks.

This was a dreary book ... there isn't much happiness. It's written in first person perspective in Lavinia and Belle's (Lavinia's black "adopted mother") voices. There is a lot of violence ... black women being used by white men when results in lots of babies which become slaves themselves, families are ripped apart when members are sold, male slaves are taught lessons by being brutally beaten, etc. The master of the plantation is nice and caring but he's not around a lot as he has business to attend to. His wife has health issues and isn't mentally there. The plantation manager is stereotypically mean and abusive. After all that happened, I found the ending disappointing ... I was hoping for a happier one.

Book ~ "Sweetie" (2010) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Sweetie is a smart poodle pup, with a knack for learning tricks. Can Charles find an owner that will make use of her talents? 

Charles loves Sweetie at first sight. For such a small pup, she has a whole lot of charisma and she's amazing at learning tricks. But Buddy is jealous every time the new miniature poodle gets near the family. Can Charles find a home for this cuddly sweetheart without upsetting his own puppy?

Charles and his older sister, Lizzie, are in elementary school. The Peterson family have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

Their father brings home a co-worker with a problem ... he'd bought his girlfriend a poodle puppy named Sweetie as a surprise present but she broke up with him last week and he can't keep the puppy. Charles and his family agree to foster Sweetie and find her a home. Charles and his friends discover that Sweetie is really smart and knows a lot of tricks and wonders if she would be a good fit in a circus.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Sweetie and Buddy, the puppies' points of view. It is the eighteenth in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 64 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "Lucky" (2010) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Charles and Lizzie Peterson love puppies. Their family fosters these young dogs, giving them love and proper care, until they can find the perfect forever home.

Charles is on a backyard camping trip when he discovers a lost puppy by the stream. Lucky is scared, dirty and hungry. It's up to Charles and his new friend David to bring this dog to safety. Will they be able to find Lucky's home? 

Charles and his older sister, Lizzie, are in elementary school. The Peterson family have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

Charles was camping in the backyard of his new friend, David. A rain storm came up and David's mom told them to come and sleep inside instead of in Charles' tent. As they were going inside, Charles and David think they saw a puppy. The next day they go looking for it and find a tired and hungry puppy with a cut foot. They eventually catch him and take him to the vet. Then they are determined to find out who the puppy's owner is so they can return him home.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Lucky, the puppy's point of view. It is the sixteenth in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 64 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "Jack" (2010) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Jack is a boxer that loves to chew. Can Lizzie find him a forever home before he destroys the house?

Aunt Amanda knows that Lizzie can't turn down the chance to foster a new puppy, so she brings over a boxer with an interesting problem. Jack loves to chew up everything in sight! Lizzie is very patient with Jack - until he eats her favorite book. But when Lizzie gets in touch with the book's author, a dog fan, she feels better. Will Lizzie find the right owner for this special pup before her house is destroyed?

Lizzie and her younger brother, Charles, are in elementary school. The Peterson family have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

Jack is a boxer puppy who was too much for his owners to handle so one day when they leave him at doggy daycare, they don't pick him up. When Aunt Amanda, the owner of the doggy care, tries to find them, she discovers they have sold their house and moved away abandoning Jack. The Petersons agree to foster him but discover they can't leave him alone because he'll chew everything. Who is going to want to adopt a puppy that is so destructive and bored?

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Buddy and Jack's points of view. It is the seventeenth in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 64 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "Baxter" (2010) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Charles and Lizzie Peterson love puppies. Their family fosters dogs that are in need of a permanent home. 

Baxter is a Portuguese water dog whose owner has just lost her job. Lizzie offers to foster the puppy until they can find the perfect forever home. But Baxter can't be left alone for more than a few minutes without getting upset. Can Lizzie help this little doggy?

Lizzie and her younger brother, Charles, are in elementary school. The Peterson family have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

Baxter is a Portuguese water dog who had anxiety issues ... he can't be left alone so he spent his days at Lizzie and Charles' aunt's doggy day care. When his owner lost her job, she sadly gave Baxter to Lizzie to foster and find a home for him. As the Petersons discovered, Baxter couldn't be left alone but they couldn't be with him all the time so the only solution was to take him to an animal shelter and hope someone adopts him quickly.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Baxter's point of view. It is the nineteenth in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 64 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "Down to the Wire" (2010) David Rosenfelt

From Goodreads ~ A reporter for the Bergen News, Chris Turley could never measure up to his father. Edward Turley, a combination of Bob Woodward and Ernie Pyle, was one of the last great investigative reporters and a difficult man to impress. While stuck covering press conferences and town hall meetings, Chris, his father's legend in mind, has always dreamed of his own Pulitzer, however unlikely it seems.

Then one day while he's waiting to meet a source, a giant explosion takes out half of an office building next door. Shocked into action, Chris saves five people from the burning building. His firsthand account in the next day's paper makes him a hero and a celebrity.

And that's not all. The source's next tip delivers a second headline-grabber of a story for Chris, and suddenly his career is looking a lot more like his dad's. But then it seems this anonymous source has had a plan for Chris all along and his luck for being in the right place at the right time is not a coincidence at all. What seemed like a reporter's dream quickly becomes an inescapable nightmare.

Chris is a reporter working for the Bergen News.  He gets a call from a source named P.T. to meet him in a park as he has some information on a great story for Chris to write.  While Chris is waiting, the building across the street explodes.  Chris rushes in and saves five people and is considered a hero.  He gets a lot of notice when he writes about the experience first-hand in the newspaper.

P.T. touches base again about the information he was going to give to Chris which involves the city's mayor.  Chris is at the heart of this story and again writes about it first-hand.  He's attracting lots of positive attention ... until he just happens to be at the scene of a violent murder.  This is when Chris starts to realize that he perhaps being set up by P.T. who has ramped up his killings with random explosions.  Chris doesn't know why (though he suspects P.T. has is seeking revenge against his deceased father) and enlists the help of a friend who is a police officer.  As the amount of explosions escalate, the FBI are brought in and they start to suspect that perhaps Chris is P.T. to get attention.

I've read many books by this author, mostly his Andy Carpenter series, and this is a stand alone.  I like the writing style as it was a bit funny and sarcastic at times.  It is written in third person perspective with a focus on where the action is.  As a head's up, there is swearing.

I really like the Andy Carpenter series and thought this story was okay.  It was a bit farfetched as to how P.T. was able to execute so many explosions without getting caught and I didn't really buy why he was doing it.  

Book ~ "Thereby Hangs a Tail" (2010) Spencer Quinn

From Goodreads ~ What first seems like a walk in the park to wise and lovable canine narrator Chet and his human companion Bernie "to investigate threats made against a pretty, pampered show dog" turns into a serious case when Princess and her owner are abducted. 

To make matters worse, Bernie's on-again, off-again girlfriend, reporter Susie Sanchez, disappears too. When Chet is separated from Bernie, he's on his own to put the pieces together, find his way home and save the day. 

Bernie Little is a private detective and Chet is his canine partner.  Bernie is having money issues so when he is offered the job of protecting a show dog named Princess and get paid $2,000 a day, he's amazed.  Unfortunately Princess' owner isn't impressed with Bernie or Chet and they get fired before they even begin.

When Princess and her owner are kidnapped right afterwards, Bernie and Chet feel obliged to investigate whether they are getting paid or not.  When Bernie's ex-girlfriend, Suzie, who is a reporter, disappears, he has an even more vested interest in finding out what's going on.

I love dogs!  I love mysteries!  It's written from the perspective of Chet, which is interesting and funny as you get into the mind of the dog who is easily distracted and where chew toys rock!

I liked the writing style.  I had read the first in the series, Dog On It, when it came out in 2009 and thought it was cute.  For some reason, I didn't read any more in the series.  I'm going to have to fix that.  As a head's up, there is some swearing.

Book ~ "The Complete Photo Guide to Knitting" (2010) Margaret Hubert

From Goodreads ~ Looking for the perfect book on knitting? It's right here in "The Complete Photo Guide to Knitting". 

This stitch guide is the ultimate knitting reference! A comprehensive how-to book about all aspects of knitting, you'll be making scarves, hats, socks, mittens, sweaters, and other projects in no time! 

Inside this ultimate knitting guide you will find expanded basics for all knitting techniques, from cast-on to bind-off and every step in between. Learn to knit row by row and in the round; understand knitting jargon and how to follow a pattern; learn all the methods for increasing and decreasing stitches, seaming, and adding details like pockets and zippers. 

With twenty new stitch patterns, this section expands to 220 in all, arranged in style categories for easy reference. Projects at the end of each section give you opportunities to try some of the new techniques you've learned while making knitted items you can use or gift to others. 

Margaret Hubert will guide you through special knitting topics like cables, intarsia, entrelac, Fair Isle knitting, and lace knitting. With the updated information and all new projects, even if you have the first edition you are sure to want the second edition to complete your collection.

I've been knitting for about 40 years.  I used to knit a lot of islandic-style sweaters but haven't made one in years.  These days I'm into making quick projects ... dish cloths, slippers, mittens, etc.  It's been a while since I've read a knitting book and this one caught my eye.

The chapters include:

• Introduction
• History of knitting
• Knitting basics - needles and other tools, knitting instructions, techniques, and details and finishing techniques
• Stitch patterns - basic stitches, light textures, medium and heavy textures, laces, ribs, honeycomb and brioche stitches, eyelets, ripples and chevrons, slip stitches, color combos, motifs and cables
• Specialty knitting methods - One-piece knitting, entrelac knitting, free form knitting, crazy lace knitting, knitting with beads, intarsia knitting, twined knitting and ouroborus knitting

I found this book fairly easy to read and understand for the most part so think it's good for a beginner (the easy stuff) and a nice reference for an experienced knitter.  There are full-colour pictures for everything and I found most of the instructions easy to follow in my head (I haven't tried actually knitting anything from the book yet).  Everything is coded "easy", "intermediate" and "experienced".  There are patterns so you can try to make what you just learned about (hats, purses, sweaters, etc.)

I tend to learn trickier things, though, by watching rather than pictures so some things I think I'll have to look for on YouTube for more detailed step by step instructions.  There were some terms I wasn't familiar with and I couldn't find any reference to them in the book so I'll look them up as needed.

When I get back to making dish cloths again, I'll use some of the stitch patterns I haven't used or seen before.

Book ~ "This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection" (2010) Carol Burnett

From Goodreads ~ Carol Burnett is one of the most beloved and revered actresses and performers in America. "The Carol Burnett Show" was seen each week by millions of adoring fans and won twenty-five Emmys in its remarkable eleven-year run. Now, in This Time Together, Carol really lets her hair down and tells one funny or touching or memorable story after another - reading it feels like sitting down with an old friend who has wonderful tales to tell.

In engaging anecdotes, Carol discusses her remarkable friendships with stars such at Jimmy Stewart, Lucille Ball, Cary Grant, and Julie Andrews; the background behind famous scenes, like the moment she swept down the stairs in her curtain-rod dress in the legendary “Went With the Wind” skit; and things that would happen only to Carol - the prank with Julie Andrews that went wrong in front of the First Lady; the famous Tarzan Yell that saved her during a mugging; and the time she faked a wooden leg to get served in a famous ice cream emporium. This poignant look back allows us to cry with the actress during her sorrows, rejoice in her successes, and finally, always, to laugh. 

Now in her mid-80s, Carol Burnett is an American actress, comedian, singer and writer. She is best known for her TV variety show, The Carol Burnett Show, which ran from 1967 to 1978. She has achieved success on stage, television and film in dramatic and comedy roles.

This book is Carol telling stories about her life ... each chapter is a different story.  She was  born in Texas and lived with her grandmother, Nanny, and sister, Chrissy, in Hollywood from the time she was a child (her parents were alcoholics).  They were big fans of movies and would see them often.  As such, Carol had dreams of being on Broadway.

The stories include her childhood, her first successful role in a play called Once Upon a Mattress, becoming regular on the Garry Moore Show, anecdotes from her shows and specials, famous people she's met and was in awe of, her friends and family (husbands and children), buying her first computer and more.

I like reading bios/autobios.  I thought this book was a light but interesting read.  I liked the writing style ... Carol's personality comes through.  She's not mean or gossipy.  The chapter/stories are quick and she doesn't go into a lot of detail (the stories are pretty high level).  I was too young to remember her earlier roles but did watch The Carol Burnett Show.  After reading this book, I'd like to rewatch some of the shows to see if they stand the test of time.

Book ~ "Indefensible" (2010) Pamela Callow

From Goodreads ~ When Elise Vanderzell plummets from her bedroom balcony one gorgeous summer night, her children awaken to a nightmare.

Their mother is dead.

Their father is charged with her murder.

Lawyer Kate Lange knows all about nightmares. She’s survived the darkest period of her troubled life and the wounds are still raw. Now she’s been handed a case that seems utterly unwinnable: defending her boss, high-profile lawyer Randall Barrett. A prosecutor’s dream suspect, Randall is a man who was cuckolded by his ex-wife. A man who could not control his temper. A man who had argued bitterly with the victim the previous day in full view of his children.

With limited criminal law experience, Kate finds herself enmeshed in a family fractured by doubt. Randall’s teenage son is intent on killing him. His daughter wants only to feel safe again. And the entire legal community would like nothing better than to see Randall receive a public comeuppance. As Kate races to stay a step ahead of the prosecution, a silent predator is waiting for the perfect time to deal the final blow. 

Elise and Randall had been married and have two children, Lucy who is twelve and Nick who is fifteen.  When they split up, Elise stayed in Toronto and Randall moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and started his own law firm.  Elise brings the children to Halifax one summer to spend some time with their father.  Randall arrives unannounced where Elise is staying the day they arrive.  Randall and Elise have a big argument and that night Elise is found dead.  Nick swears he saw his father toss his mother over the balcony to her death and Randall is eventually arrested.  This takes up a big part of the book.  With few options, Randall asks Kate, a lawyer in his firm, to represent him.  With no criminal experience, an unlicensed partner and an attraction to Randall, Kate begrudgingly takes on his case.

This is the second book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it.  I liked the writing style.  It is written in third person perspective with the focus on wherever the action is.  The editing could have been a bit tighter, though, because Randall's dog is Charlie yet later in the book it is referred to as "Scrubby" a couple times.  As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.

The author was raised and lives in Halifax (I was born and lived in Nova Scotia until I was in my twenties ... my sister lives in Halifax).  I liked that the author set the story in Halifax and didn't make it look like it was Any Town, USA ... there are local references such as Kate's colleagues going to a pub called the Lower Deck and a bar called the Economy Shoe Shop (I've been to both) and she goes jogging in Point Pleasant Park (I've been there too).

This is the second in the Kate Lange series (so far there are four and I read the first one last month) and I look forward to reading the others in the series.

Book ~ "Damaged" (2010) Pamela Callow

From Goodreads ~ Haunted by the death of her sister and wounded by her ex-fiancé's accusations, Kate Lange throws herself into her new career at a high-powered law firm.

When the grandmother of a lonely private school student seeks her counsel, Kate thinks it's just another custody case. But then the teen is brutally murdered. And it isn't only Kate who wonders if her legal advice led to the girl's death.

How far are you willing to go to redeem yourself?

Put on notice by Randall Barrett, the firm's charismatic managing partner, Kate must fight for her career, for her reputation - and for redemption.

Unwilling to live with the damage she may have caused, Kate pursues the case on her own and unearths some chilling facts.

Facts that lead straight to the heart of a legal conspiracy.

Facts that lead Kate directly into the surgically skilled hands of the Body Butcher.

Kate is a lawyer and has just started working for a powerful law firm.  She's feeling frustrated because instead of giving exciting juicy cases, she's being handed boring ones.  Then one of the partners directs a client to her.  She's an older woman who is concerned about her teenage granddaughter ... her parents have split up and the grandmother feels she is being neglected.  Kate advises her to contact the authorities if she felt there was a abuse and sends her on her way.  The granddaughter turns up murdered the next day.  Kate feels like she has let the girl down and is determined to find out what happened.

In the meantime, Kate is still dealing her recent break-up with Ethan, a police officer.  She's moved on ... bought a house, got a dog, got a new job, etc. ... but keeps running into Ethan which keeps stirring up old feelings.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I liked it.  It is written in third person perspective with the focus on wherever the action is.  As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.  The author was raised and lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and that's where the story is set (I was born and lived in Nova Scotia until I was in my twenties ... my sister lives in Halifax).  I liked that the author set the story in Halifax and didn't make it look like it was Any Town, USA ... there are local references such as Kate's office is down by the water on Upper Water Street, she goes jogging in Point Pleasant Park and she visited the area of Dartmouth where I lived until I was ten.

This is the first in the Kate Lange series (so far there are four) and I look forward to reading the others in the series.

Book ~ "Unmarketing: Stop Marketing. Start Engaging." (2010) Scott Stratten

From Goodreads ~ From one of the leading experts in viral and social marketing-market your business effectively to today's customers.  For generations, marketing has been hypocritical. We've been taught to market to others in ways we hate being marketed to (cold-calling, flyers, ads, etc.). So why do we still keep trying the same stale marketing moves?

"UnMarketing" shows you how to unlearn the old ways and consistently attract and engage the right customers. You'll stop just pushing out your message and praying that it sticks somewhere. Potential and current customers want to be listened to, validated, and have a platform to be heard - especially online. With "UnMarketing", you'll create such a relationship with your customers, and make yourself the logical choice for their needs.

Shows how to create a mindset and systems to roll out a new, 21st century marketing approach.  Marketing expert Scott Stratten focuses on a Pull & Stay method (pulling your market towards you and staying/engaging with them, leading them to naturally choose you for their needs) rather than Push & Pray.  Redefines marketing as all points of engagement between a company and its customers, not just a single boxed-in activity. Traditional marketing methods are leading to diminishing returns and disaffected customers. The answer? Stop marketing, start UnMarketing!

Regardless of your role when you work for a company, we are all sales and marketing people, not only promoting whatever the product or service is but also the customer experience.  According to Scott, "marketing happens every time you engage (or not) with your past, present and potential customers."

This book is about "unmarketing" ... the ability to engage with your market.  It's what comes naturally, not being forced to do things that make you uncomfortable.  It's the authentic, it's personal and it's the way to building lifelong fans, relationships and customers.  This book is for you if you have had enough of the "old-school" ways of marketing and want to believe there is a better way.

If you believe business is built on relationships, make building them your business.  Scott Stratten

Scott starts with the hierarchy of buying ... with cold-calling on the bottom of the pyramid and referrals from current satisfied customers at the top.  He then discusses the value of being considered an expert and trust.  Various methods are described such as "pull and stay" rather than the "push and pray", social media such as Twitter, viral marketing, seminars and more.  He includes his experiences of what some companies did well and how others failed to live up to their promises.

I liked the writing style.  It is very conversational, casual and amusing.  He seems like he'd be a fun guy to sit down and talk with.  I read this book on my iPad and there are links which I found myself going to as I was reading to learn more about the experiences Scott talked about.

I look forward to reading his other books and hope sometime to see one of his keynotes.

Book ~ "In Plain Sight" (2010) Mike Knowles

From Goodreads ~ Wilson thought he had acquired freedom from being a gritty, gruesome criminal when a car accident puts him back in the crosshairs. This time dirty cops use him as bait, telling him the only way to stay out of cuffs is to put someone worse in them. 

Knowing that justice isn't blind in the city, Wilson picks a fight with the Russian mob to lure both the corrupt cops and brutal robbers into a trap, scavenging once again for his freedom. 

Wilson lives in Hamilton, ON.  All his life, he'd worked for an Italian mobster, Paolo.  Paolo recently was killed (something Wilson had a hand in).  Leaving the scene of Paolo's killing, Wilson has the misfortune of being hit by a drunk driver and wakes up in the hospital.

The police don't know who he is but Detective Morrison has taken a special interest in him.  Morrison knows Wilson was involved in Paolo's death and is willing to use him to lure in something which will get him promoted.  Wilson has to choose between helping Morrison or going to jail.  So Wilson goes after Igor, with whom he has a history, to lead him to Sergei, the head of the Russian mob in Hamilton.  But Igor is still carrying a grudge against Wilson because of an incident a couple years ago which makes him a very dangerous and crazy opponent.

This is the third (of six) in the Wilson series.  Though it is part of series, it works as a stand alone as there is enough information provided from the other two (Wilson encountered Igor in the first book and this book happens minutes after the second book ended).  As with the first two, I liked the writing style.  It's written in first person perspective from Wilson's point of view.  It was blunt and to the point.  As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.

I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Book ~ "In Winter's Grip" (2010) Brenda Chapman

From Goodreads ~ After her mothers suicide, Maja Cleary turned her back on her family and Duved Cove, Minnesota, until a desperate phone call reveals that her father has been murdered and her brother Jonas is the prime suspect. She flies home, knowing that she will have to confront shared memories of an abusive father. 

Even as she works to prove her brothers innocence, she cannot ignore the evidence that he had every reason to kill their father. The frigid, stormy Minnesota landscape sets the mood as she battles against time, the local police and the relentless snow. 

Maja is a plastic surgeon married to a businessman and living in Ottawa.  Though she keeps in touch with her brother, Jonas, she hasn't spoken to her father in years.  Their father wasn't a nice man when they were growing up, which led their mother to commit suicide when Maja was in university twenty years ago.  She heads home to Minnesota when she hears that her father has been murdered.

Wanting to protect Jonas, Maja starts asking around the town they are in trying to find out who had a reason to kill her father.  Though he was outwardly friendly and nice to others, not many knew the true nature of their father.  But she discovers that there are some who did have a reason to kill him and she wants to figure out who is the killer.

I've read a few books by this author and I like her writing style.  I though this one was okay.  I found the storyline interesting ... there were lots of people who could have killed the father with good reason.  It is written in first person perspective in Maja's voice.  As a head's up, there is swearing.

Damaged from their childhoods, Maja and Jonas are not the most open people.   Maja is in a so-so marriage but not willing to do anything about it.  She is still dreaming about her high school boyfriend, Billy, from more than twenty years ago, who she meets up with again when she goes home (I found this storyline a bit distracting).  Jonas is married to Claire and they have a young teenage son and there is a lot of tension in their house for some reason.  Tobias, the police officer, assigned to solve the murder seems more interested in flirting with Maja than was professional since he knew she was married.

Book ~ "Scars" (2010) Cheryl Rainfield

From Goodreads ~ Kendra, fifteen, hasn't felt safe since she began to recall devastating memories of childhood sexual abuse, especially because she still can't remember the most important detail - her abuser's identity. 

Frightened, Kendra believes someone is always watching and following her, leaving menacing messages only she understands. If she lets her guard down even for a minute, it could cost Kendra her life. 

To relieve the pressure, Kendra cuts; aside from her brilliantly expressive artwork, it's her only way of coping. Since her own mother is too self-absorbed to hear her cries for help, Kendra finds support in others instead: from her therapist and her art teacher, from Sandy, the close family friend who encourages her artwork, and from Meghan, the classmate who's becoming a friend and maybe more. 

But the truth about Kendra's abuse is just waiting to explode, with startling unforeseen consequences. Scars is the unforgettable story of one girl's frightening path to the truth.

Kendra is fifteen and was raped from the time she was a toddler until she was twelve but she can't remember who her abuser was.  She had suppressed the memories and they just started coming back about six months ago.  She copes by seeing a therapist and by cutting herself.

Her mother, according to Kendra, is self-absorbed and doesn't understand her.  Her father is getting downsized from his job so has enough to worry about.  They may have to move to a cheaper hourse outside the city which will take Kendra away from her school, her therapist and her new friend, Meghan.

This is the first book I've read by this author.  It's an intense story and they weren't easy subjects to read about.  It is written in first person perspective in Kendra's voice.  As a head's up, there is some swearing.  I thought the writing style was just okay.  The writing seemed a bit juvenile (ie directed at teens) but I wasn't sure given the content of the story.

There is a lot going on in this book (too much, I thought) besides Kendra's abuse and cutting.  Kendra is gay (her last girlfriend turned on her because she couldn't handle the cutting) and her parents wonder if it's because she was abused by a man when she was younger.  Her mother is homophobic even though she has a friend who is gay but doesn't trust him around Kendra.  Kendra and Meghan (who sleeps around with guys and has a mother who abuses her) meet at school and are in love within a week with Meghan forsaking all others ... I didn't find this realistic.  I figured out who the abuser was pretty quick and found the wrapping up at the end too neat and tidy.

So I wasn't crazy about this book ... maybe it's because I'm not the target audience?

Book ~ "The Journey from Tollgate to Parkway: African Canadians in Hamilton" (2010) Adrienne Shadd

From Goodreads ~ When the Lincoln Alexander Parkway was named, it was a triumph not only for this distinguished Canadian but for all African Canadians. "The Journey from Tollgate to Parkway" looks at the history of blacks in the Ancaster-Burlington-Hamilton area, their long struggle for justice and equality in education and opportunity, and their achievements, presented in a fascinating and meticulously researched historical narrative. 

Although popular wisdom suggests that blacks first came via the Underground Railroad, the possibility that slaves owned by early settlers were part of the initial community, then known as the "Head of the Lake," is explored. 

This book tells the history of African Canadians in Hamilton, Ontario, once known as Head of the Lake.  It starts in the 1700s with the first African Canadians arriving.  The last chapter provides the background of some prominent African Canadians who had made a difference.

There are eight chapters:

1. The journey begins:  slavery and freedom at the Head of the Lake
2. Routes to freedom
3. On course:  settling in by the Bay
4. Eyeing the summing, 1870 - 1900
5. Gathering Speed:   Anatomy of a community
6. At a crossroads:  the turn of a new century
7. Roadblocks head:  the Reverend Holland years
8. New pathways, old destinations:  contemporary fighters for social justice

This book is well-researched and provides details of many people, right down to family members, birth dates, where they came from and their backgrounds.  It starts by telling the story of slaves arriving in Hamilton, often escaping from the States via the Underground Railroad, wanting to make a new life for themselves and fighting for their rights, equality, education, etc. as free Canadians.

Book ~ "No One Lives Twice" (2010) Julie Moffett

From Goodreads ~ I'm Lexi Carmichael, geek extraordinaire. I spend my days stopping computer hackers at the National Security Agency. My nights? Those I spend avoiding my mother and eating cereal for dinner. Even though I work for a top-secret agency, I've never been in an exciting car chase, sipped a stirred (not shaken) martini or shot a poison dart from an umbrella. 

Until today, that is, when two gun-toting thugs popped up in my life and my best friend disappeared. So, I've enlisted the help of the Zimmerman twins - the reclusive architects of America's most sensitive electronic networks - to help me navigate a bewildering maze of leads to find her. Along the way, my path collides with a sexy government agent and a rich, handsome lawyer, both of whom seem to have the hots for me. Hacking, espionage, sexy spy-men - it's a geek girl's dream come true. If it weren't for those gun-toting thugs.

Lexi is a computer geek who works for the National Security Agency (NSA) tracking and trying to stop computer hackers.  One night on her way to dinner at her parents', she is accosted by a thug with a gun demanding a package Basia, her best friend, had supposedly given her.  What package?  When she gets home that night, there is another thug in her apartment demanding the same package.  She discovers the package was delivered to her neighbour,  Inside the package is what looks like a basic contract so Lexi is confused as to what the big deal is.

Lexi enlists the help of computer geeks, the Zimmerman twins (Elvis and Xavier).  They eventually figure out that the contract isn't just a basic contract and Lexi tries to find and save her best friend who is in danger.  The Zimmerman twins ask an even smarter but mysterious computer geek named Slash for help and he becomes protective of Lexi.  Lexi is approached by a lawyer named Finn who also wants to find Basia because he said he had asked her to translate the contract and now she's disappeared.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I liked it.  I liked the writing style and found it amusing at times.  I thought the main plot was interesting but wasn't crazy about the terrorist angle.  It is written in first person perspective from Lexi's point of view.

I liked Lexi.  She is a 25-year-old socially-awkward computer geek whose mother is always trying to set her up with prospective husbands.  This why she doesn't have a cell phone ... she doesn't want her mother to be able to reach her all the time.  I found this to be unbelievable considering Lexi is 25, works with technology and everyone in that age range (even in 2010 when the book was written) has a cell phone.  When she is given one, she has no idea and has to ask someone how to use it.  There were lots of lively supporting characters and I was able to keep them all straight except for two ... because their names both started with "Al-", I had to keep pausing to remember which was the rich prince and which was the terrorist.

This is the first in the Lexi Carmichael series (there are currently seven in the series).  I like getting into series and enjoyed this one enough to want to check out the next one.