Book ~ "Happy Accidents: A Memoir" (2011) Jane Lynch

From Goodreads ~ In the summer of 1974, a fourteen-year-old girl in Dolton, Illinois, had a dream. A dream to become an actress, like her idols Ron Howard and Vicki Lawrence. But it was a long way from the south side of Chicago to Hollywood and it didn't help that she'd recently dropped out of the school play, "The Ugly Duckling". Or that the Hollywood casting directors she wrote to replied that "professional training was a requirement."

But the funny thing is, it all came true. Through a series of happy accidents, Jane Lynch created an improbable and hilarious path to success. In those early years, despite her dreams, she was also consumed with anxiety, feeling out of place in both her body and her family. To deal with her worries about her sexuality, she escaped in positive ways such as joining a high school chorus not unlike the one in Glee but also found destructive outlets. She started drinking almost every night her freshman year of high school and developed a mean and judgmental streak that turned her into a real- life Sue Sylvester.

Then at thirty-one, she started to get her life together. She was finally able to embrace her sexuality, come out to her parents and quit drinking for good. Soon after, a Frosted Flakes commercial and a chance meeting in a coffee shop led to a role in the Christopher Guest movie "Best in Show", which helped her get cast in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin". Similar coincidences and chance meetings led to roles in movies starring Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd and even Meryl Streep in 2009's "Julie & Julia". Then, of course, came the two lucky accidents that truly changed her life. Getting lost in a hotel led to an introduction to her future wife, Lara. Then a series she'd signed up for abruptly got canceled, making it possible for her to take the role of Sue Sylvester in "Glee", which made her a megastar.

Today Jane Lynch has finally found the contentment she thought she'd never have. Part comic memoir and part inspirational narrative, this is a book equally for the rabid "Glee" fan and for anyone who needs a new perspective on life, love, and success.

I like reading bios/memoirs and had put this book on my Goodreads to-be-read list ten years ago and then forgot about it. I recently found it there so even though the book was written 13 years ago, I thought I'd check it out.

I haven't seen Lynch in any TV shows nor have I ever watched Glee but I have seen and liked her in many movies. I always find it interesting to read about how people "make it" and I liked getting the behind the scenes scoop in show business. 

Once she realized she was gay and embraced it, Lynch was searching for a relationship but ended up sabotaging them (most of her relationships never lasted more than two months). She would do the same with friendships but her true friends saw through this and stuck with her. The book is written about a year after she marries Lara, her first wife, so it was weird reading about how much in love they were and how settled she'd become knowing they would be divorced just a couple years later and she is now married to someone else.

I liked the writing style and that there were pictures along the way. As a head's up, there is swearing.

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 ~ "Duchess" (2011) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Mia and Michael Battelli have a special way with cats and kittens. Their family fosters kitties in need, giving them love and proper care until they find the perfect home.

When Mia discovers that Duchess's owner is moving, she offers to help. But Duchess is used to being pampered and adored. It won't be easy finding someone who'll want to spoil the pretty white Persian. Can Mia find her a new home that's fit for a queen?

Mia and Michael are in elementary school. They'd like to have a pet but they live in an apartment and their parents don't it's the right time or place to have one.

A friend of Mia's tells her that his neighbours are moving to Iceland and rather put their cat, Duchess, in quarantine, they want to find her a new home. Mia's family has fostered kittens and offer to foster Duchess and find her a new home. Because Duchess is a Persian cat, she needs more work in keeping her fur brushed. Plus she is used to being treated like a duchess in that she only eats out of a crystal bowl and likes having special meals prepared for her. It could be tricky but Mia is determine to find her the perfect home.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There was a cat quiz at the end along some info about cats. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Duchess' point of view. It is the third book in the Kitty Corner series.

Book ~ "Otis" (2011) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Someone has left Otis, an adorable tabby, all alone at the local community center. When Michael and Mia hear about the abandoned kitty, they volunteer to help. 

Otis is wary of strangers and scared of loud noises. His sad yowls keep the family up all night! Michael knows not just any owner will love this tentative tabby. Can he find Otis a forever home?

Mia and Michael are in elementary school. They'd like to have a pet but they live in an apartment and their parents don't it's the right time or place to have one.

Mia and Michael are in an elevator at the recreation centre when they see a fast food bag. Thinking it's litter, they go to pick it up and are surprised when it hisses. Inside is an orange tabby kitten. Peter, Michael's guitar teacher, agrees to adopt Otis (named after the elevator he was found in) but discovers it's not a good fit after all. Pete's band practices at his place and the loud noise scares Otis. So it's up to Mia and Michael to find Otis a good home.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There was a cat quiz at the end along some info about cats. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Otis' point of view. It is the second book in the Kitty Corner series.

Book ~ "Callie" (2011) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Mia and Michael Battelli want a pet more than anything. And a cuddly cat or kitten would be perfect for their small brownstone apartment. But their parents aren't sure Mia and Michael are ready for the responsibility.

Then Mia spots a tiny calico foraging for food. Callie doesn't seem to belong to anyone - and she's hurt. Mia can't just leave her to fend for herself! But what if she can't convince her parents to keep the sweet little kitten? Will Callie ever find a home?

Mia and Michael are in elementary school. They'd like to have a pet but they live in an apartment and their parents don't it's the right time or place to have one.

One day Mia and Michael are going home after school and Mia hears a meow. She discovers a kitten and when they catch her, they discover the kitten, who Mia names Callie since she is a calico, has a cut on her paw and take her to the vet. They agree to foster Callie for a week until her paw is better. But Callie isn't used to being cooped up in an apartment and wants to be free. They don't feel comfortable with the thought of letting the kitten loose so they need to find the right home for her.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There was a cat quiz at the end along some info about cats. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Callie's point of view. It is the first book in the Kitty Corner series.

Book ~ "Ziggy" (2011) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ The Petersons have become experts at fostering puppies until they can find them a perfect forever home. 

Charles brings home Ziggy, an adorable short-haired black-and-tan dachshund, from an overwhelmed owner at a local dog show. Ziggy is an active, curious little guy, who loves to explore. 

But when Ziggy manages to dig a hole under the backyard fence, his curiosity leads him into trouble. The Petersons have never lost a dog that they were fostering before! How will they find Ziggy? Where did he go?

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.

When Charles is at a dog show with his aunt, he meets Rosie who breeds and shows dachshunds. She has a cute puppy named Ziggy but because he has an overbite, she can't show or breed him so she must find a home for him because she has many dogs. Despite being really attached to him, she allows the Petersons to foster him and find him a home. But the curious puppy digs a hole and escapes under the fence and the search is on for him.

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 Ziggy's point of view. It is the twenty-first in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 66 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "Moose" (2011) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Charles is determined to help Moose, a giant Great Dane puppy. The problem is that this huge pup is scared of everything-loud noises, other dogs, even his own shadow! Charles has a lot of work cut out for him. 

With the help of his Aunt Amanda, Charles figures out a way to slowly get the dog adjusted to scary noises and fast movements. Once Moose is trained, his original owners are happy to take him back.

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 aunt Amanda runs a doggy daycare and one of the puppies who attends is Moose, a big Great Dane puppy. Despite his size, Moose is afraid of EVERYTHING and his owners are running out of patience. Moose seems taken with Charles so Amanda asks him if he would accompany her, a couple other dogs and Moose to her getaway cabin for the weekend and work with Moose to make him less afraid.

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 Moose's point of view. It is the twenty-third in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 66 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "Muttley" (2011) Ellen Miles

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

At first, Muttley the mutt seems untrainable but he quickly becomes a hero when he smells smoke in the Peterson's house and rescues the family.

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.

Lizzie volunteers at an animal shelter and there's a lazy puppy named Muttley who just sleeps all the time. The vet has checked him out and there's nothing wrong with him. The Petersons agree to foster him to see if Buddy can liven him up and show him what it's like being a puppy. He sleeps a lot at the Petersons but they also discover his loyalty and awareness when he awakens the household when there is a fire and becomes a local hero.

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 Muttley, the puppy's point of view. It is the twentieth in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 64 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "Bella" (2011) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Charles and Lizzie Peterson love puppies. They enjoy taking care of the dogs themselves but the best part is finding a perfect new owner for these adorable animals. Bella is an orphaned newborn cocker spaniel. She is very weak and almost doesn't survive her first night. Lizzie is determined to save the pint-sized pup. The Peterson's bottle-feed her around the clock until she's healthy enough to be adopted. But who will give this sweet little dog the home she deserves?

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.

Lizzie was at a birthday party at an animal shelter she volunteers at when a weak four-week cocker spaniel puppy was brought in. Her mother was sick and the owner was busy taking care of her so she asked the owner of the shelter for help. The puppy wasn't expected to make it through the night but does. Lizzie and her family offer to foster the puppy who they name Bella. Taking care of such a young puppy is a lot of work for the family. Though they try to keep Buddy away from Bella, it turns out he is the best surrogate mom for her.

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 Bella and Buddy, the puppies' points of view. It is the twenty-second in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 64 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "Creep" (2011) Jennifer Hillier

From Goodreads ~ If he can’t have her ...

Dr. Sheila Tao is a professor of psychology. An expert in human behavior. And when she began an affair with sexy, charming graduate student Ethan Wolfe, she knew she was playing with fire. Consumed by lust when they were together, riddled with guilt when they weren’t, she knows the three-month fling with her teaching assistant has to end. After all, she’s finally engaged to a kind and loving investment banker who adores her and she’s taking control of her life. But when she attempts to end the affair, Ethan Wolfe won’t let her walk away.

... no one else can.

Ethan has plans for Sheila, plans that involve posting a sex video that would surely get her fired and destroy her prestigious career. Plans to make her pay for rejecting him. And as she attempts to counter his every threatening move without her colleagues or her fiancé discovering her most intimate secrets, a shattering crime rocks Puget Sound State University: a female student, a star athlete, is found stabbed to death. Someone is raising the stakes of violence, sex, and blackmail ... and before she knows it, Sheila is caught in a terrifying cat-and-mouse game with the lover she couldn’t resist - who is now the monster who won’t let her go.

Sheila is a professor, who while dating a banker named Morris, has an affair with Ethan, her much younger teaching assistant. When Morris proposes, Sheila breaks it off with Ethan but Ethan isn't going to make it easy for her. He threatens to publish a video of them and tell everyone about their affair. Eventually Sheila realizes she has to be honest with Morris about it and hopes he'll understand and still want to marry her. When Ethan discovers she's done this, he decides that if he can't have her no one can and arranges for Sheila to disappear. Morris can't believe she would leave like that and suspects something has happened to her and doesn't give up looking for her.

I've liked other books by this author and thought this one was okay. It is written in third person perspective with a focus on where the action was. I thought some of the actions were extreme and unbelievable but went with it ... like how Ethan got away with what he did and that Morris could perhaps forgive Sheila after all that had happened. There were a lot of addictions, which was excessive ... I thought picking one would have been enough for the story. As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.

Book ~ "On Borrowed Time" (2011) David Rosenfelt

From Goodreads ~ Richard Kilmer is head over heels in love with Jennifer Ryan, who takes him home to meet her parents, where she accepts his marriage proposal. 

While visiting, they set out on a nostalgic drive up to Kendrick Falls. On their way there, a freak storm rolls in, Richard loses control of his car, and it rolls. When the storm clears in a matter of seconds, Jen is gone. Richard can't find her and neither can the police who respond to the scene. 

More horrifying is that no one in Richard's life will even confirm Jen's existence, and all traces of her have disappeared. Where could she be? Has Richard lost his mind, or has something far worse happened?

Richard is a freelance journalist.  He meets Jennifer at a rally and they fall in love and move in together.  When they visit her parents, he proposes and she accepts.  One day before they head home they go for a drive and a sudden storm comes up.  They get in an accident and Jennifer ends up missing.  Richard heads back to her parents' house to see if she went there but her mother has no idea who Richard is, Jennifer's father has been dead for 20 years and Jennifer apparently passed away when she was a young child.  When Richard goes home, none of his friends who he and Jennifer had spent time with have any recollection of Jennifer.  Huh?

Richard isn't sure what's going on but is determined to figure it out.  After he writes about his experience, he gets a call from Allie, whose identical twin, Julie, is missing and Richard and Allie somehow assume that Julie is Jennifer.  Together they start investigating to see what happened to Julie and/or Jennifer.

I've read many books by this author, mostly his Andy Carpenter series, and this is a stand alone.  I like the writing style and it is written in first person perspective in Richard's voice and third person perspective when the focus is on others.  As a head's up, there is swearing.

I really like the Andy Carpenter series and thought this storyline was intriguing.  I found the ending a bit convoluted and confusing, though.

Book ~ "Ever By My Side: A Memoir in Eight [Acts] Pets" (2011) Nick Trout

From Goodreads ~ "In Ever By My Side", veterinarian Nick Trout turns the lens inward to offer a funny, moving, and intimate memoir about how the pets he has had throughout his life have shaped him into the son, husband, father, and doctor he is today. Using his relationships with those beloved animals to tell his life story, Nick shares the profound lessons he's learned about friendship, loyalty and resilience. The result is a moving story that speaks not just to animal lovers but to any reader who appreciates the bonds we have with our loved ones, be they animal or human, and the lengths to which we go to nurture those bonds.

Nick waxes nostalgic about his boyhood in a working-class British suburb, where a large German shepherd named Patch was the perfect companion to a scrawny, bookish boy in a neighborhood full of bullies. He writes about his relationship with his father, the man who nurtured Nick's dream of becoming a vet, even though he couldn't have imagined the career would lead his only son 3,000 miles away. He describes wooing his future wife and stepdaughter and (perhaps most difficult of all) their ornery cat. And he offers a poignant chronicle of his daughter's devastating diagnosis of cystic fibrosis and how a little yellow Labrador retriever played an important role in bringing joy to their family when they needed it most. Alongside Nick's warm reflections, the pets in these pages come alive as irresistible characters in their own right and showcase the power of animals to offer a lifetime of consolation, guidance, and abiding affection.

Nick Trout is a veterinarian who was born and raised in England but moved to the States after vet school graduation.  While Duncan, his father, was pleased and proud his son wanted to be a vet, Duncan had dreams of him living the country life of James Herriot.  Alas, this wasn't meant to be because Nick moved to the States, fell in love and got married and made a life there.

When Nick was young, Duncan loved dogs but his mother did not.  After a lot of convincing, the family finally got a German Shepherd named Patch.  Unfortunately Patch wasn't trained well and wasn't very social around people or other dogs.  But Duncan loved Patch and Patch was definitely Duncan's dog.  After Patch's passing, his family got two more dogs, Whiskey and Bess.  Whiskey and Bess loved Duncan and again they were definitely his dogs.

Nick moved to the States and met Kathy, who had a young daughter named Whitney and a cat named Reggie.  Nick was never a "cat person" and it took a long time for Reggie to warm up to Nick.  A small dog named Sophie came into the family and became Whitney's dog.  Their younger daughter, Emily, has cystic fibrosis and wanted a dog of her own so that's how Meg, a golden lab, came into their lives.

This book is about the pets Nick has had in his life, including his grandmothers' dogs (one dog was nice and the other was nasty) and the lessons he'd learned from them and the experiences he's had with them.  I like reading books about animals and have read a couple others by this author.  I liked the writing style ... it was funny at times.  I found his stories and experiences interesting.

Book ~ "Dramatic Life of a Country Doctor: Fifty Years of Disasters and Diagnoses" (2011) Arnold Burden

From Goodreads ~ Dr. Arnold Burden's career began unintentionally when he performed his first surgery in the woods following a hunting accident at age fourteen. 

As a twenty-year-old hospital clerk, he handled battle casualties after D-Day in France and Germany. His early years as a doctor began in rural Prince Edward Island, where he served in the combined role of doctor and coroner. 

Back home in Springhill, Nova Scotia, Dr. Burden was the first medic to enter the mines after the deadly No. 4 mine explosion in 1956 and the No. 2 mine bump, the most severe bump ever recorded in North America, in 1958. In both cases he risked his life alongside the underground rescue teams to bring the gassed and trapped miners to the surface. 

Dr. Burden gives his account of an active life and of a man dedicated to his patients; a man full of common-sense and interesting stories, who writes candidly of his dealings with patients, unusual cases and brave efforts made under difficult conditions. As the author states: The real satisfaction in life has come from helping people. 

Dr. Arnold Burden (1922 – 2018) was a Canadian doctor born in Springhill, NS.  He enrolled in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps during World War II and would be part of the No. 7 Canadian General Hospital when they landed on Juno Beach during D-Day.  He graduated from Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS, receiving his medical degree, and would work as a doctor for the next 50 years in Prince Edward Island and Springhill.  He had worked in the mines in Springhill when he was a university student and would take part in the rescue operations of both the 1956 and 1958 mining disasters.

This book starts with his childhood in Springhill.  Then he details being in the army doing accounting and then heading home to go to school to become a doctor.  He spent time in Prince Edward Island before moving back home to Springhill.  Anne Murray was the babysitter for his kids!

I liked this book and found it interesting.  It caught my eye because it took place in Nova Scotia.  It could have been edited better, though, as there were many typos.

Book ~ "Tales from Under the Rim: The Marketing of Tim Hortons" (2011) Ron Buist

From Goodreads ~ "Tales from Under the Rim" is a behind-the-scenes look at a simple business that became a Canadian icon. "Tales from Under the Rim" chronicles the rise of Tim Hortons, from its humble beginnings to a national institution. The recipe was simple: it took "one hockey player, one favourite barber shop, one former drummer, and one police officer" plus "the luck hard work brings" to transform a once unknown donut shop into one of Canada's leading franchise operations.

In this bestselling business memoir, Ron Buist shows how Tim Hortons became a second home to millions of Canadians. It includes the grass-roots marketing strategy that defined the early years, the Tim Hortons habit of listening to customers, and the whole story of Roll Up the Rim to Win, the no-frills contest that has become a defining feature of Canadian life.

Ron Buist spent over 24 years as Director of Marketing at Tim Hortons (he retired in 2001).

Tim Hortons was founded in 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario, by Canadian hockey player Tim Horton and Jim Charade (who owned the donut shop next to Horton's barber).  Initially the restaurants sold hamburgers and chicken and weren't successful.  Ron Joyce bought out Charade's shares in 1966 and assumed control over operations after Horton died in a car crash in 1974.  He expanded the chain into a multimillion-dollar franchise, eventually selling it to Burger King's parent company in 2014 for $11.4 billion.

I found this book to be interesting for the most part.  It provided details on how it came to be and how it's grown to almost 5,000 locations around the world.  It also covered how marketing campaigns such as "Roll Up the Rim" and "True Stories" were developed.  According to the author, there was very little money and he had to do things creatively.  There was carpooling, catching red-eyes to avoid hotel costs, etc.  There was also a chapter on how Tim Hortons has given back to the community.

The book was originally published 2001 and republished ten years later.  There were typos in the version I read (the 2011 version) so I would have thought they would have been picked up and fixed from the original version.  I didn't read anything that indicated it had been updated to 2010 ... it stopped in 2001.

Book ~ "Summer Rental" (2011) Mary Kay Andrews

From Goodreads ~ Ellis, Julia, and Dorie. Best friends since Catholic grade school, they now find themselves in their mid-thirties, at the crossroads of life and love. Ellis, recently fired from a job she gave everything to, is rudderless and now beginning to question the choices she's made over the past decade of her life. Julia, whose caustic wit covers up her wounds, has a man who loves her and is offering her the world but she can't hide from how deeply insecure she feels about her looks, her brains, her life. And Dorie has just been shockingly betrayed by the man she loved and trusted the most in the world ... though this is just the tip of the iceberg of her problems and secrets. A month in North Carolina's Outer Banks is just what they each of them needs.

Ty Bazemore is their landlord, though he's hanging on to the rambling old beach house by a thin thread. After an inauspicious first meeting with Ellis, the two find themselves disturbingly attracted to one another, even as Ty is about to lose everything he's ever cared about.

Maryn Shackleford is a stranger and a woman on the run. Maryn needs just a few things in life: no questions, a good hiding place and a new identity. Ellis, Julia and Dorie can provide what Maryn wants; can they also provide what she needs?

Mary Kay Andrews' novel is the story of five people questioning everything they ever thought they knew about life. Five people on a journey that will uncover their secrets and point them on the path to forgiveness. Five people who each need a sea change and one month in a summer rental that might just give it to them.

Ellis, Julia and Dorie are in their mid-thirties and have been friends since they were children in school together.  They rent a beach house in Nags Head for the month of August to spend some time together.  Ellis has just been downsized from her job at the bank and has no employment prospects or love life.  She's very structured and likes to live by a schedule so is concerned about her future.  Julia is a model who has been living in London with her long-time boyfriend, Booker.  He wants to get married but she keeps resisting.  Dorie's husband, Stephen, was supposed to join them but he backed out at the last minute and Dorie doesn't reveal why right away.

The girls are renting the house from Ty.  He is behind in his bills and if he doesn't catch up soon, he is going to lose the house.  There is an attraction between him and Ellis.  Maryn is married to an abusive husband.  When she realizes the depth of his brutality, she runs away and ends up driving aimlessly.  She ends up in Nags Head and rents a room from the girls but keeps to herself.

I've read a few books by this author and I liked this one.  I liked the writing style and found the storyline entertaining (it's a fun summer book).  It is written in third person perspective focusing on wherever the action is.  The editing could have been tighter as there were some typos.   As a head's up, there is swearing, adult activity and violence.

I liked the characters.  I found Ellis a bit annoying in the beginning because she was so anal (her good friends found her a bit annoying too).  I started liking her more as she chilled out. 

I look forward to reading other books by this author.

Book ~ "Through the Glass" (2011) Shannon Moroney

From Goodreads ~ When Shannon Moroney married in October of 2005, she had no idea that her happy life as a newlywed was about to come crashing down around her. One month after her wedding, a police officer arrived at her door to tell her that her husband, Jason, had been arrested and charged in the brutal assault and kidnapping of two women. In the aftermath of these crimes, Shannon dealt with a heavy burden of grief, the stress and publicity of a major criminal investigation, and the painful stigma of guilt-by-association, all while attempting to understand what had made Jason turn to such violence.

In this intimate and gripping journey into prisons, courtrooms and the human heart, Shannon reveals the far-reaching impact of Jason's crimes, the agonizing choices faced by the loved ones of offenders and the implicit dangers of a correctional system and a society that prioritizes punishment over rehabilitation, and victimhood over recovery. 

In 2005, Shannon was a 30-year-old guidance counsellor and newlywed living in Peterborough, about an hour and a half northeast of Toronto.  When they had met a couple years earlier, Jason had been honest with Shannon and told her that he has spent ten years in prison for murder.  They moved forward with their relationship, eventually getting married and planning on having a family.

Jason hadn't had a happy childhood.  He was a adopted and his adoptive mother was bipolar and abusive and his adoptive father passed away when he was young.  His mother had moved in with her boyfriend when Jason was 18 and found an older woman to be his roommate.  They ended up having a relationship but he eventually killed her after a fight.

A month after her wedding, she was at a conference in Toronto and a police officer showed up to tell her that her husband, Jason Staples, had been arrested for kidnapping and raping two woman ... Jason's "blackness" had resurfaced.

This is Shannon (and Jason's) true story of dealing with the aftermath.  Throughout it all, Shannon and her family supported and forgave Jason, the person, but not what he had done.  In 2008, Jason pleaded guilty and instructed his lawyer not to contest the Crown's application for dangerous offender status. He is currently serving an indefinite sentence in a medium-security federal prison.  Shannon has gone on to remarry and have twins.

I thought this was an interesting story (I don't remember it happening).  Though I know this book was about Shannon and the fall-out of her husband being a rapist and kidnapper, I had a hard time having a lot of sympathy for her.  Yes, she was a victim because of what her husband had done but it seemed like she felt she was on the same level as Jason's victims.  Jason committed some heinous acts yet she chose to stick by him ... she visited him regularly in prison, hugged him, told him she loved him and fantasized having a life with him eventually.

She wasn't sleeping or eating ... I bet if she hadn't stayed as involved with Jason as she had, she wouldn't have been so stressed.  I didn't think it was reasonable that she was offended and hurt when friends and colleagues turned their backs on her, she was surprised when the school where she was working wouldn't let her keep her job, etc.

Book ~ "V is for Vengeance" (2011) Sue Grafton

From Goodreads ~ A woman with a murky past who kills herself - or was it murder? A spoiled kid awash in gambling debt who thinks he can beat the system. A lovely woman whose life is about to splinter into a thousand fragments. A professional shoplifting ring working for the Mob, racking up millions from stolen goods. A wandering husband, rich and ruthless. A dirty cop so entrenched on the force he is immune to exposure. A sinister gangster, conscienceless and brutal. A lonely widower mourning the death of his lover, desperate for answers, which may be worse than the pain of his loss. A private detective, Kinsey Millhone, whose thirty-eighth-birthday gift is a punch in the face that leaves her with two black eyes and a busted nose.

It's 1988 and Kinsey Millhone is a soon-to-be 38-year-old private detective in Santa Teresa, CA.  Kinsey is in Nordstrom's and witnesses a woman shoplifting. She tells a clerk, who alerts store security, and they capture and arrest the woman (Audrey), who eventually commits suicide ... or does she?  Audrey's boyfriend, Marvin, can't believe she was part of a shoplifting ring and hires Kinsey to investigate.

Audrey was indeed part of a shoplifting ring, headed by Dante, who is also a loan shark.  In a side story, Dante meets Nora, an unhappy rich wife of a lawyer, when she tries to sell some jewelry in case she wants to leave her husband.  They are attracted to each other and hook up.  I wasn't crazy about Nora but did like Dante, even though he is a "bad guy".

I thought this story was okay.  There was a lot going on and lots of side stories!  It's written in first person perspective in Kinsey's voice but in third person perspective when it's in Nora and Dante's voices.  As a head's up, there is swearing.

This is the twenty-second 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 ~ "Run Your Butt Off!: A Breakthrough Plan to Lose Weight and Start Running (No Experience Necessary!)" (2011) Sarah Butler, Budd Coates and Leslie Bonci

From Goodreads ~ Shed unwanted pounds and keep them off ONCE AND FOR ALL with "Run Your Butt Off!", a back-to-basics, test panel-approved weight-loss plan and beginners' running program that yields sustainable, healthy results. 

"The Run Your Butt Off!" program is founded on the simple concept that in order to lose weight, calories burned must exceed calories consumed. No gimmicks, no shortcuts, no silver bullets can circumvent that reality. With this program, you'll learn to burn fat from both sides of the weight-loss equation - the calories in and the calories out - at the same time. "Run Your Butt Off!" will make you fitter, stronger, and leaner. 

I've never been a runner but have always wanted to be. I recently started a Couch to 5K program (I have the app on my phone).  It's been tough but I made it to day 2/week 5 last week.  I found the jump from day 2/week 5 to day 3/week 5 HUGE and couldn't do it (it meant going from running for 8 minutes twice with a walking break to running for 20 minutes straight).  I got discouraged and considered quitting the whole idea of running but instead decided to read a couple books for beginner runners to find inspiration and guidance.  In the meantime, I decided to repeat day 1/week 5 (which I did today) until I feel comfortable enough to move on.

This book is written by a writer who loves to run (Sarah), a director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (Leslie) and the senior director of health and fitness with the company that publishes Runner's World (Budd).

In each chapter, a stage (there are 12 stages in total) of the running plan is revealed along with information about nutrition, injuries, when and how to run, etc.  It was interesting that there weren't individual chapters focused on each of the topics (like a chapter on nutrition, exercise, etc.).  I thought this worked well as the information was given in bite-sized chunks and built on the information provided in the previous chapters.  I read the book straight through but it would probably work better if you read a chapter a week and practiced what was discussed before moving on.  Also in each chapter were results and stories from a test panel and tips and lessons from Leslie and Budd.

The running program is directed at beginners with the first week just walking.  By week 12, you should be able to run for 30 minutes non-stop.  This program is more gradual than the one I'm doing so I'll have to check to see if there is an app available for my phone.  I thought it was interesting how they explained going from running for 9 minutes to 13 minutes (stage 9 to 10) and from running from 14 minutes to 30 minutes (stage 11 to 12) ... apparently it's a mental thing.

The chapters were:

• Get moving!
• It starts with a single step
• Timing is everything
• Sticking with it
• The race is on!
• A jog, not a sprint
• Fight the urge to sit
• Sometimes it's not about the scale
• Boredom busters
• Don't stop now

In the appendices, there is a summary of the 12 rules for weight loss success and the 12 stages of running for beginners (the running program).  Keeping track of calories eaten, calories needed, exercise, etc. is encouraged.  In fact, there is a link to a 65 page personal workbook pdf provided to use.  Participants are also encouraged to take things slow, not to rush and to not skip any stages.

I thought this book provided a lot of good information for beginners and is a good support guide.

Book ~ "The Second Wife" (2011) Brenda Chapman

From Goodreads ~  Gwen Lake is a forty-five-year-old police officer with a desk job, an ex-husband and a future not even close to the American dream. 

A year after her divorce, and more out of boredom and curiosity than anything else, she agrees to a meeting with her ex's new wife. She has no idea that the encounter will lead to murder. And she has decidedly mixed emotions when her ex-husband is arrested for the crime. 

Instead of accepting the lead detective's advice to book a Club Med vacation and leave the investigation to the professionals, Gwen decides to work the case on her own. Her life is about to get a lot less predictable and a lot more dangerous.

Gwen Lake is a cop but the chief of police has her in a desk job because she has a great memory for numbers and information.  She's in her mid-forties and her husband, Brian, recently left her for someone else.  When Marjory, the new wife, wants to meet her for a coffee, Gwen agrees out of curiosity.  Marjory tells Gwen that she is scared of Brian, which Gwen scoffs at since he is a mild-mannered shoe salesman.  Marjory then turns up dead and Brian is arrested for her murder.  Gwen is the only one who believes in his innocence and it's up to her to prove it.

I've read a few books by this author and I liked this one.  It's a quick read at less than 100 pages and moves at a quick pace.  I like this author's writing style.  It is written in first person perspective in Gwen's voice.  There is some swearing.

Book ~ "No One to Trust" (2011) Julie Moffett

From Goodreads ~ SWFG: Single, White, Female, Geek.

That’s me, Lexi Carmichael, a reformed hacker who was gainfully employed by the National Security Agency. But a series of extraordinary events led me to leave government life behind for a fresh start with a brand-new company and an incredibly sexy boss, Finn Shaughnessy. It may not be kosher to have the hots for your boss but he seems to have the hots for me, too. If only things didn’t get so complicated.

Darren Greening, a genius researcher from Flow Technologies (our first client!) is missing, and his bosses think I’m involved. And they aren’t the only ones - the man who nearly snapped my neck in the parking garage thinks so, too.

Now I’m caught in the middle of a complex and dangerous case. I’ll have to use all my geek skills and a little help from my friends to solve the mystery of Darren’s disappearance before Neck-Snapping-Man makes a return visit.

Lexi used to work for a government agency and has exceptional hacking and research skills.  Finn Shaughnessy, a lawyer she'd recently met, has started an intelligence and security company and hired Lexi.  Their first case is an employer who wants to find his employee Darren, a genius researcher, who has disappeared.  Lexi has no idea who Darren is but for some reason he has left clues pointing to Lexi.

Though this is the second in the Lexi Carmichael series (there are currently seven in the series and the third one I've read), it works as a stand alone as you are provided with enough background.  I enjoyed it and I'm enjoying this series.  I liked the writing style and found it funny a lot of the time.  It is written in first person perspective from Lexi's point of view.

Lexi is a 25-year-old socially-awkward computer geek who has a small circle of friends.  Elvis and Xavier, the Zimmerman twins, are multi-millionaire geniuses who help her with hacking to try and find Darren.  Basia is Lexi's best friend.  She is pretty and petite (the opposite of Lexi) and into shopping and guys and is always trying to help Lexi be more feminine and girly (which Lexi protests).  Slash is a government agent who has a thing for Lexi and keeps popping up when she least expects him.  Lexi is attracted to Finn, her boss, and thinks he's attracted to her.  Finn is handsome, Irish and rich.  Since Lexi lacks confidence and social skills, Basia helps her with this, hoping she'll land Finn.   Well, it doesn't go as planned on numerous occasions (but with funny results) but it's not a big surprise since it is Lexi after all.