Book ~ "The Drowning Woman" (2023) Robyn Harding

From Goodreads ~ Lee Gulliver never thought she’d find herself living on the streets - no one ever does - but when her restaurant fails and she falls deeper into debt, she leaves her old life behind with nothing but her clothes and her Toyota Corolla. 

In Seattle, she parks in a secluded spot by the beach to lay low and plan her next move - until early one morning, she sees a sobbing woman throw herself into the ocean. Lee hauls the woman back to the surface but instead of appreciation, she is met with fury. The drowning woman, Hazel, tells her that she wanted to die, that she’s trapped in a toxic, abusive marriage, that she’s a prisoner in her own home. Lee has thwarted her one chance to escape her life.

Out of options, Hazel retreats to her gilded cage and Lee thinks she’s seen the last of her until her unexpected return the next morning. Bonded by disparate but difficult circumstances, the women soon strike up a close and unlikely friendship. And then one day, Hazel makes a shocking request: she wants Lee to help her disappear. It’ll be easy, Hazel assures her but Lee soon learns that nothing is as it seems, and that Hazel may not be the friend Lee thought she was.

Lee had borrowed money from a gangster to open a restaurant in New York City. When the pandemic hit, she lost everything but the gangster still wanted his money so her only option was to run. She ends up in Seattle, working for cash as a waitress and living in her car. She parks at night by the beach in a rich area to sleep. Lee wakes up one morning to find a woman heading into the water committing suicide. She saves the woman and finds out Hazel wanted to kill herself because she is stuck in an abusive marriage.

The two become friends and Hazel asks Lee how to disappear ... she wants to escape to Panama where her husband won't find her. In return, Hazel will get Lee some fake ID so she can move on with her life. In the meantime, Lee meets and falls for Jesse, a customer who comes into the restaurant where she works, and starts to imagine having a real life again.

I enjoyed this story. I liked the writing style and found it to be a quick read. It's written in first person perspective in Lee and Hazel's voices (the sections are labelled). It was interesting to read the same things that had happened but from their different points of view. There are lots of twists and turns and they worked for me. As a head's up, there is swearing.

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

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

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

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

The book is divided into four sections:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book ~ "The Seven Year Slip" (2023) Ashley Poston

From Goodreads ~ Sometimes the worst day of your life happens and you have to figure out how to live after it.

So Clementine forms a plan to keep her heart safe: work hard, find someone decent to love and try to remember to chase the moon. The last one is silly and obviously metaphorical but her aunt always told her that you needed at least one big dream to keep going. And for the last year, that plan has gone off without a hitch. Mostly. The love part is hard because she doesn’t want to get too close to anyone - she isn’t sure her heart can take it.

And then she finds a strange man standing in the kitchen of her late aunt’s apartment. A man with kind eyes and a Southern drawl and a taste for lemon pies. The kind of man that, before it all, she would’ve fallen head-over-heels for. And she might again.

Except he exists in the past. Seven years ago, to be exact. And she, quite literally, lives seven years in his future.

Her aunt always said the apartment was a pinch in time, a place where moments blended together like watercolors. And Clementine knows that if she lets her heart fall, she’ll be doomed.

After all, love is never a matter of time - but a matter of timing.

Clementine has worked for a publishing company for seven years ago and is poised to move into her boss' job. One day she comes home and finds a strange man named Iwan in her apartment. He is the son of her aunt's friend and apparently her aunt had let him stay there for the summer while she was away ... except her aunt passed away six month ago. Clementine realizes that Iwan's timeline is seven years in the past. She remembers her aunt had told her that the apartment is "magical" and this is what's happening. Clementine allows Iwan to stay but sometimes when Clementine comes home, Iwan is in her apartment and it's seven years ago and sometimes he's not ... she never knows when or how it will happen again. As she gradually gets to know Iwan, she starts to fall in love with him but not knowing when he'll appear makes it difficult.

I like reading time travel books and that's why this book caught my eye. I thought the writing style and story was okay (it was a bit draggy). I liked the concept but thought it could be carried out better. I found it a bit hard to believe that Clementine and Iwan would fall for each other so quickly considering they had infrequent random encounters. It's written in first person's perspective in Clementine's voice. As a head's up, there is swearing and adult activity.

Book ~ "Never Alone: A Solo Arctic Survival Journey" (2023) Woniya Dawn Thibeault

From Goodreads ~ Woniya Thibeault wasn't looking for an adventure of such magnitude but when the opportunity to participate in "Alone" Season 6 fell into her lap, she couldn't say no. "Never Alone" is the story of that journey.

Dropped into the Arctic wilderness - solo - as winter descended, Woniya intended not only to survive but to thrive. With only a few tools and meager resources, she would need her survival skills, quick wits and whole heart to make it through.

In her debut memoir, "Never A Solo Arctic Survival Journey", Woniya shares how months of starving by herself in the Arctic wilderness brought more healing than suffering and led to a deep sense of belonging and peace. Her story affirms the incredible strength of the human spirit and shows us that strength comes in many surprising forms. "Never Alone"'s message is one of inspiration and learning to trust in ourselves and the land around us; embracing the wild and being wholly and beautifully human, flaws and all.

"Never Alone" will take you on an Arctic journey through challenges and triumphs, joys and heartbreaks, and leave you inspired and wanting more.

Season 11 of Alone just ended a couple weeks ago (congrats to the winner!) and then I came across this book. I watched the season Woniya was on so I thought it would be an interesting read to get a firsthand account of what it was like and what she experienced.

Woniya came in second place that season, lasting 72 days ... she "tapped out" on her 43rd birthday. This book tells of her survival over those 72 days and the things she had to do. She also gives us some background about herself and her beliefs and what took her to go on such an adventure. Throughout her 72 days, she always expressed gratitude to the wildlife, trees, plants, etc. that gave their lives so she could be there and respected the land and those who had been there before her. The last couple chapters were especially interesting as she talked about what it was like making the final decision to "tap out" and her recovery back to reality. She went on to return and win Alone: Frozen (whoever lasted 50 days won $500,000US).

Though the prize money is $500,000US, you'll never see me doing it but it's interesting to see what drives others to.

Book ~ "Ale I Want for Christmas is a Clue" (2023) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ 'Tis the season for frothy winter ales and the annual Bavarian holiday market in the charming alpine village of Leavenworth, Washington. Brewing partners Sloan Krause and Garrett Strong are debuting their latest collaboration, “Merry Brew Year,” a hoppy ale brewed with caramel, toffee, and cinnamon for the opening night of Christkindlmarkt. It’s a festival atmosphere in Front Street Park as the snow begins to fall and the children’s lantern parade illuminates the street. But not all is merry and bright when a twisted turn of events leaves a local vendor as dead as last year's Tannenbaum. 

Now Sloan Krause must tap into the mystery and pour over the clues. Can she barrel through the lies and uncask the truth, or will the holiday season end in a bitter finish? With their new beer on the line and a killer who's not afraid to malt the competition, Sloan must unravel the mystery before the final toast is made. Will it be a "hoppy" holiday, or will the murderer's cold-hearted draft leave everyone's spirits flat?

I like beer and I like mysteries so that's why this series has caught my eye.

Sloan works with Garrett in his microbrewery/pub, Nitro. It's time for the annual Bavarian holiday market in Leavenworth and Nitro has a booth along with other local vendors. Owen, a merchant who recently moved to the village, isn't particularly liked because he's not a very nice fella. When he's found with a knife in his head and barely alive, there are a few who could have wanted him dead. Sloan sets out to find out who would want him dead.

This is a novella after the sixth book in the Sloan Krause Series and I liked it.  I've read the others and this works as a stand alone (there is enough background provided). It's written in first person perspective in Sloan's voice.  There is some talk about beer and food pairings and recipes at the end. It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity.

Book ~ "A Brew to a Kill" (2023) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ It’s the opening weekend of the spring farmers market in the charming Bavarian village of Leavenworth, Washington, where the hills are alive with the sound of ... murder. 

Sloan Krause and Garrett Strong are eager to showcase their latest offering - canned hoppy Northwest ales. They’re even more enthusiastic when Josh, a young travel influencer known for scaling peaks and downing pints, offers to feature Nitro’s new cans at the top of the latest mountain he’s set to climb. Josh’s A Brew to a View has millions of followers and should mean great exposure for Nitro. 

But when Josh is found stone-cold dead at the local youth hostel, leaving a trail of breadcrumbs and brews behind, Sloan and Garrett will have to tap into their sleuthing skills to solve a crime that has left the picturesque village in a state of shock. Could the killer be a jealous rival travel influencer, an enigmatic hiker who has been seen around town or perhaps someone closer to home? Can Sloan piece together this intoxicating puzzle before it's too late? Because if she can’t crack open the truth, she might just find herself crushed under the weight of a sinister beer can conspiracy.

I like beer and I like mysteries so that's why this series has caught my eye.

Sloan works with Garrett in his microbrewery/pub, Nitro. The farmers market is starting up again and Nitro has a table selling their beer and swag. Two influencers are in town and are happy to promote Nitro's products. When one is found murdered in his room, there are a couple suspects ... the rival influencer, the influencer's ex-girlfriend and perhaps a local. Sloan and Garrett set out to help the local police figure it out.

This is a novella after the sixth book in the Sloan Krause Series and I liked it.  I've read the others and this works as a stand alone (there is enough background provided). It's written in first person perspective in Sloan's voice.  There is some talk about beer and food pairings and recipes at the end.  It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity.

Book ~ "Beer and Loathing" (2023) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ It’s ski week in everyone’s favorite Bavarian village of Leavenworth, Washington. Sloan Krause and her brewing partner in crime Garrett Strong are pouring pints of their deliciously decadent obsidian IPA and serving up slices of peanut butter chocolate pretzel bars. 

The mid-winter has everyone buzzing with excitement, especially Garrett. His family is arriving for a long overdue visit to Nitro. He can’t wait to show them around the village, spend afternoons skiing the surrounding alpine slopes and curling up in front of a crackling fire with a hearty evening stout. 

But the cozy vibe takes a dark turn when a young doctor has a fatal fall from the ski lift. At first, everyone assumes it was a terrible accident but Sloan isn’t convinced. Hazel Anders had insider information on medical research that could be worth killing for. Now barstool sleuth Sloan is on the case and using her nose for hops to sniff out murder.

I like beer and I like mysteries so that's why this series has caught my eye.

Sloan has been working with Garrett in his microbrewery/pub, Nitro. Over time, they have developed feelings for each other but are taking it slowly as she recently got out of a marriage to Mac, whom she'd caught cheating on her. Because Sloan and Garret have been getting closer, she is nervous but looking forward to meeting his parents and Leah, his sister, who are coming for a visit.

There is a lot of excitement in the village because the local hospital has been working on an important advancement in medicine. Hazel, one of the doctors on the project, has been jumpy lately, though, and when she mysterious falls from a ski lift, Sloan, Garrett and Leah start asking questions to find out if Hazel's death was an accident or was she murdered.

This is the sixth in the Sloan Krause Series and I liked it. I've read all in this series and this works as a stand alone (there is enough background provided). It's written in first person perspective in Sloan's voice. It was nice to get to know more about Garrett and his back story. There is a lot of talk about beer (which I found interesting) and there are also explanations about what was being talked about (what hops are and the varieties, for example). It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity. There are recipes at the end.

Other than murders, Leavenworth sounds like a fun place to visit!

Book ~ "The Good Part" (2023) Sophie Cousens

From Goodreads ~ At twenty-six, Lucy Young is tired. Tired of fetching coffees for senior TV producers, tired of going on disastrous dates, and definitely tired of living in a damp flat share with flatmates who never buy toilet roll. She could quit her job for a better living but she's not ready to give up on her dreams. Not just yet. 

After another diabolical date lands her in a sudden storm and no money for bus fare, Lucy finds herself seeking shelter in a tiny shop, where she stumbles upon a curious wishing machine. Pushing her last coin into the slot, Lucy closes her eyes and wishes with everything she's got: Please, let me skip to the good part of my life.

When she wakes the next morning to a handsome man, a ring on her finger, a high-powered job and storybook perfect little boy and baby girl, Lucy can't believe this is real - especially when she looks in the mirror and staring back is her own forty-something face. Has she really skipped ahead to the future she's always wanted or has she simply forgotten a huge chunk of her life? And as Lucy begins to embrace this new life and new relationships, she'll have to ask herself: Can she go back and if so, does she want to?

Lucy is 26 and is excited that she has just been promoted to junior researcher ... but it seems like she's still expected to do the same chores. She shares an apartment with three others (one of them is her best friend who is moving out). The ceiling in her bedroom is always leaking, there's never any toilet paper and one of her roommates puts weird things in the bathtub. She's tired of living paycheque to paycheque so when she comes across a strange machine in a convenience store, she makes a wish that she'd like to jump ahead to "the good part".

When Lucy wakes up the next day, she is in a strange bed in a strange bedroom with a strange man. She discovers she has jumped ahead 16 years and is now 42 and married to Sam, is the mother of Felix and Amy and has her dream job. But she can't remember the last 16 years and Felix thinks she is an alien who has replaced his mummy. As Lucy tries to catch up to her new time, she finds out about what's happened over the last 16 years, the good and the bad, with her family and friends helping her along the way. In the meantime, she searches for the "time machine" that has sent her into the future.

I find time travel stories interesting and liked this one. It's written in first person perspective in Lucy's voice. As I was reading this book, I didn't know whether Lucy had indeed travelled to the future, did she have amnesia (as everyone suspected) or was it all a dream ... you find out in the end. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Book ~ "Murphy's Logic: Insights from 45 Years in the News Business" (2023) Steve Murphy

From Goodreads ~ Former anchor of CTV News at Six Steve Murphy offers lessons learned and opinions garnered on the changing face of the news industry over his forty-five-year career in this candid memoir. 

After a lifetime of reporting news and showcasing the opinions of others, Steve Murphy is finally ready to express his own opinions about the things he's done and the people he's met along the way. "Murphy's Logic" delves without reservation into Murphy's informal education in broadcasting, beginning as a sixteen-year-old kid who "just wanted to be on the radio." Mixing memoir and commentary, Murphy writes about his adventures covering significant regional, national, and international events and offers unique insight into the more than five thousand interviews he has conducted over his forty-five-year career - with five prime ministers, thirty-five premiers and numerous historic figures and celebrities.

Both candid and brutally honest, "Murphy's Logic" examines, for the first time, two high-profile occasions during which Murphy unintentionally - and uncomfortably - became part of the stories he was covering. He offers pointed views on how the proliferation of social media has dramatically affected the news industry, and challenges readers to think critically about the media they consume.

Steve Murphy is a former anchor of CTV News out of Halifax, NS, and he retired at the end of 2021. The book starts with him telling us how it all began ... working at a radio station in Saint John, NB, when he was still in high school. He knew it was what he wanted to do and was able to advance throughout his career with no formal education by working hard and being in the right place at the right time.

I moved from Nova Scotia in the spring of 1987 so many things and people he talked about brought back memories (I graduated from high school with one of his former colleagues). As a newsman, he has many stories, not surprising that the majority are political ... I'm not political at all and am not really up on the politics of the Maritime Provinces so found these less interesting. It was interesting, though, to read about the behind-the-scenes of how radio and TV stations work.

Book ~ "The Revenge List" (2023) Hannah Mary McKinnon

From Goodreads ~ The people in Frankie Morgan’s life say she’s angry. Emotionally stunted. Combative. But really, who can blame her? It’s hard being nice when your clients are insufferable, your next-door neighbor is a miserable woman and the cowardly driver who killed your mother is still out living it up somewhere.

Somehow, though, she finds herself at her very first anger-management group session - drinking terrible coffee and learning all about how “forgiveness is a process.”

One that starts with a list.

Frankie is skeptical. A list of everyone who’s wronged her in some way over the years? More paper, please. Still, she makes the pointless list - with her own name in a prominent spot - and promptly forgets about it ... until it goes missing. And one by one, the people she’s named start getting hurt in freak accidents, each deadlier than the last.

Could it be coincidence giving her the revenge she never dared to seek ... or something more sinister?

If Frankie doesn’t find out who’s behind it all, she might be next.

Frankie works for her father in his construction business. She has a bad temper and her father finally has enough and tells her she has to get anger management training or else. She goes to the first meeting and the assignment is to make a list of everyone who has wronged you. No problem ... her list includes people from her past and present. She throws the list out when she gets home but then goes looking for it when accidents start happening to people on the list. She wonders whether it's a coincidence and if it's not, who is doing it. In the meantime, she starts to receive sunflowers (her favourites) left anonymously at her door and her brother's young daughter needs immediate medical attention.

I've read and liked a few books by this author but I thought this one was dumb and I didn't like it. Frankie is an adult and has a wicked temper ... she knows she has a wicked temper ... yet she keeps freaking out and doing stupid things and gets arrested. Her father has had enough yet she still lashes out at him. I found Frankie unrealistic and unlikable. She quickly thinks she figures out who is behind it and confronts them many times. The whodunnit came out of nowhere and I wasn't buying it.

It's written in first person perspective in Frankie's voice. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Book ~ "Coffee, Cream Pies, and Crimes" (2023) Harper Lin

From Goodreads ~ Fran's dream of winning the top prize of ten thousand dollars as a contestant on a new TV baking show is quickly shattered when one of the famous judges, Jeremy Johnson, is brutally stabbed in the middle of filming.

As Fran investigates, she uncovers a web of deceit, jealousy and betrayal among the contestants and judges. With tensions high and suspicions swirling, Fran realizes that the murderer could be someone she knows all too well. Can she find the culprit before they strike again? Or will she become the next victim in this deadly game of cooking and killing in Boston?

Francesca is in her mid-thirties and worked in New York for many years in PR.  She moved back home to run the family Italian café in a small town in Massachusetts when her mother passed away a year ago.

Fran is a big fan of baking and cooking competition TV shows. She is surprised when Matt, her boyfriend, enters her into one and she is accepted as one of five contestants. The filming is in Boston and Fran invites Matt along. The hours are long and Matt fills his time hanging out with a friend. There are two judges and the nastier one is found stabbed in his dressing room, which shuts down production maybe for good, as the police investigate.

This is the eleventh in the Cape Bay Cafe Mystery Series (I've read them all) ... it works as a stand alone (you don't have to read the others to know what's going on). It is written in first person perspective in Fran's voice. Matt was a jerk ... Fran didn't have a lot of free time and when she did, he already had made plans with his friend and she wasn't invited along. Considering it was Fran who found the body, you'd think he would be more concerned about her safety and want to spend time with her. The "whodunnit" and ending came together quickly. It was a quick light read. There are recipes at the end.

Book ~ "Someone Else's Shoes" (2023) Jojo Moyes

From Goodreads ~ Nisha Cantor lives the globetrotting life of the seriously wealthy, until her husband announces a divorce and cuts her off. Nisha is determined to hang onto her glamorous life. But in the meantime, she must scramble to cope - she doesn’t even have the shoes she was, until a moment ago, standing in.

That’s because Sam Kemp - in the bleakest point of her life - has accidentally taken Nisha’s gym bag. But Sam hardly has time to worry about a lost gym bag - she’s struggling to keep herself and her family afloat. When she tries on Nisha’s six-inch high Christian Louboutin red crocodile shoes, the resulting jolt of confidence that makes her realize something must change - and that thing is herself.

Sam's life is stressful. Phil, her husband, recently lost his father and his job and has sunk into a deep depression and won't do anything to help himself or around the house. Sam's company was recently bought out and her new boss hates her and is always looking for reasons to give her grief. One day at the gym, she's in a hurry heading off to a meeting and runs out with the wrong bag. In the bag, she discovers a pair of expensive high heel shoes which she's forced to wear that day because she left the gym in flip flops. When she tries to return the bag to the gym, she discovers it's closed down.

Nisha is married to Carl, an very rich man, and does everything for him. It's Nisha's bag that Sam has mistakenly taken at the gym and Nisha wants her shoes back!  As if her day isn't bad enough, that's the day that Carl cuts her off financially. He's not taking her calls, she has no money or friends, so she's forced to take a job working under the table at the hotel they were living while she schemes to get her clothes and passport from their room.

I thought this story was okay and there was a lot going on. There were a few things I found unbelievable, though. For example, why didn't Nisha go to the police or the U.S. Embassy (she's an American stuck in England) after Carl shut her down rather than lucking out and getting a menial job in the exact hotel she had been living in where she could work illegally? Or if Phil was that depressed, why did Sam and their daughter allow him to keep going as he was rather than making him help (I would have been afraid to leave him alone)? As if she didn't have enough going on with work and Phil, why did Sam put up with her demanding elderly parents for so long who were more sympathetic to Phil?

It's written in third person perspective bouncing back and forth with the focus on Sam and Nisha. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Book ~ "My Effin' Life" (2023) Geddy Lee

From Goodreads ~ Geddy Lee is one of rock and roll's most respected bassists. For nearly five decades, his playing and work as co-writer, vocalist and keyboardist has been an essential part of the success story of Canadian progressive rock trio Rush. Here for the first time is his account of life inside and outside the band.

Long before Rush accumulated more consecutive gold and platinum records than any rock band after the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, before the seven Grammy nominations or the countless electrifying live performances across the globe, Geddy Lee was Gershon Eliezer Weinrib, named after his grandfather murdered in the Holocaust.

As he recounts the transformation, Lee looks back on his family, in particular his loving parents and their horrific experiences as teenagers during World War II.

He talks candidly about his childhood and the pursuit of music that led him to drop out of high school.

He tracks the history of Rush which, after early struggles, exploded into one of the most beloved bands of all time.

He shares intimate stories of his lifelong friendships with bandmates Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart - deeply mourning Peart’s recent passing - and reveals his obsessions in music and beyond.

I've never been a fan of Rush's music ... in fact, I usually turn it off when it comes on (sorry, Geddy and Alex!). But I enjoy reading bios/autobios and thought Geddy's would be an interesting one ... and it was.

Geddy starts by talking about his family's past ... his mother and father were survivors of the Holocaust who moved to Canada for a better life and settled in the Toronto area. A lot of Geddy's life was influenced by his family's past and he grew to appreciate what they had gone through as he got older. 

Geddy wasn't interested in school ... all he wanted to be, much to his mother's despair, was a musician. He joined a band called Rush when he was still in his teens along with his buddies, Alex Lifeson and John Rutsey, and they worked hard to make a living. John was the drummer and was replaced by Neil Peart when he dropped out a couple albums in. After years of playing gigs in high schools and bars in small towns, they started opening for other bands and eventually became the main draw.

I liked the conversational writing style. Not being a Rush fan, I found the details about individual concerts and tours a bit draggy but it was interesting to read about the people who were with them on the tours ... it's obvious they worked hard but were appreciated. Geddy is honest in telling about their experiences, including the drugs they'd used and their then partying, the trouble being on the road caused to his marriage and the impact of Neil's death in 2020.

It is a big book but it's full of pictures, both during the chapters and at the end. Not a big surprise but there is swearing.

Book ~ "Barkley" (2023) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Barkley takes Lizzies breath away ... literally! 

Barkley, the Great Pyrenees, is a ball of energy, and far too big for the apartment he has been living in. Lizzie does her best to teach him manners, but she can't make him smaller! Then Lizzie stumbles on what just might be the perfect place for this protective, patient pup. Can Lizzie help Barkley get settled in his dream home?

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

When Lizzie is in the dog park with Buddy, she is knocked over by a Great Pyrenees puppy named Barkley. Barkley's owner, Sonia, kind of laughs it off but Lizzie knows Barkley needs training. Sonia is going out of town and asked the Petersons to dogsit while she's gone and Lizzie takes this opportunity to do some training with Barkley. She knows Barkley is too much dog for Sonia so she's hoping when Sonia gets home, she'll agree to let Lizzie find him a new more appropriate 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 Barkley's point of view. It is the 66th in the Puppy Place series.

Book ~ "How Canada Works: The People Who Make Our Nation Thrive" (2024) Peter Mansbridge and Mark Bulgutch

From Goodreads ~ In this latest collection of personal stories, Peter Mansbridge and former CBC producer Mark Bulgutch shine a light on the everyday jobs that keep our nation running and the inspiring people who perform them with empathy and kindness.

Meet the 911 operator in British Columbia who sends help to callers in crisis and stays on the line, steadying them as they wait. Hear from the chief of the Neskantaga First Nation in northern Ontario, who sacrifices his personal time to fight for better resources for his community, which has had a boil water advisory since the mid-1990s. From the air traffic controller who ensures people get to where they need to go, to the midwife in Saskatchewan who guides families through pregnancy and the birthing process, these are the jobs that connect Canadians on both a logistical and personal level.

Though Canada is still very much a work in progress, this enlightening book celebrates how we are greater than the sum of our parts by championing the people that make our country great.

Peter Mansbridge is a former anchor of CBC’s The National and Mark Bulgutch is a former CBC producer.  They have put together a collection of stories of ordinary Canadians which have been written by the Canadian themselves (so it's in first person perspective).

The stories are varied and interesting and include a Scarborough funeral director, an Edmonton window washer, a Saskatchewan midwife, a parole board member, a small town mayor, a Montreal tour guide, a St. John's wedding planner, a Winnipeg mall manager, an Edmonton zookeeper, a Halifax hotel manager and more. I liked that the stories were about people all across Canada and were a mix of men and women. We got to know them and why/how they chose their respective fields.

Book ~ "Scruffy" (2023) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ When Charles and Lizzy find Scruffy stuck in a fence at a scary old house, they aren’t sure if she’s lost or been abandoned. 

Either way, Scruffy has learned that smiling at humans always gets her what she wants ... and soon so does the rest of the world. When she hits social media, Scruffy goes viral, getting her tons of attention and many possible homes. Maybe even too many!

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.

Charles and his friend, Sammy, are walking home and they hear whining near an abandoned house. They investigate and discover a puppy stuck in a fence. Charles' dad helps get the puppy get free and when they take her to the vet, Rachel, the technician, names her Scruffy because of her appearance. Rachel is very much into social media and creates an account for Scruffy which becomes a hit. So there's no shortage of people wanting to adopt her. Charles and Lizzie, though, have been bickering a lot lately which might jeopardize their future in fostering puppies.

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 Scruffy's point of view. It is the 67th in the Puppy Place series.

Book ~ "The Vacation" (2023) John Marrs

From Goodreads ~ How far would you run to escape your past? 

Venice Beach, Los Angeles. A paradise on earth. Tourists flock to the golden coast and the promise of Hollywood. But for eight strangers at a beach-front hostel, there is far more on their minds than an extended vacation. All of them are running from something. And they all have secrets they’d kill to keep.

There is a rundown hostel in Venice Beach. It's not fancy but it's cheap and that's the attraction for many. This story focuses on eight people who staying there including Tommy who started off with his friend, Louis, touring around the States and is working there in exchange for room and board, Nicole and Eric who are reliving the adventure of an elderly patient of Nicole's who had recently passed away, Matty and Declan who are two young fun Irishmen, and Savanah who has run away from her controlling father and is trying to start a new life.

I liked this book. This is the fourth book I've read by this author and I liked the writing style. I found that it started off a bit slow but really picked up about halfway through. It is written in third person perspective in the various voices depending on what's going on. I found there were a lot of characters so it took a while to get to know them and keep them straight. The timeless jumps back and forth from present day to the past and it took a bit to get used to the rhythm. The endings of the characters' storylines were a bit farfetched but I went with it. As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.

Book ~ "Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy's Fight for Survival" (2023) Omid Scobie

From Goodreads ~ Queen Elizabeth II’s passing ruptured the already-fractured foundations of the House of Windsor - and dismantled the protective shield around it. With an institution long plagued by antiquated ideas around race, class and money, the monarchy and those who prop it up are now exposed and at odds with a rapidly modernizing world. 

Relying on his vast experience as a royal reporter and over a decade of conversations and interviews with current and former Palace staff, trusted friends of the royals and even the family members themselves, Scobie pulls back the curtain on an institution in turmoil to show what the monarchy must change in order to survive. This is the monarchy’s endgame. Do they have what it takes to save it?

I like reading bios/autobios and so this book caught my eye. The author apparently started writing it in the summer of 2022, a few months before the queen passed away so had to revise it to reflect this. 

This book covers the royal family, with chapters focusing on specific things like the rise of Camilla from mistress to queen, how Kate has changed since she became William's wife, Andrew's fall from grace and how Queen Elizabeth and Charles still dote on him, and more. There is lots of information about the personalities of Charles, Camilla, William, Kate, Harry and Meghan and how they choose to deal with things.

I found it to be an interesting read and there are lots of pictures at the end.  It's hard to say how much is true or not as there as there are many anonymous "sources". He comes across as being pro-Harry and Meghan (not that there's anything wrong with that) but does say nice things about the rest of the family. At times there is a lot of detailed historical background which was heavy and a bit boring. It should be interesting what happens with the monarchy once Charles (the "bridge") has passed on and William becomes king.

Book ~ "Would You Ask My Husband That?" (2023) Kathleen Whyman

From Goodreads ~ When Sarah's husband, Will, is unexpectedly fired, her first reaction is shock. Then she gets a call offering her his old job.

On principal, she should turn it down. But their young family needs the money and Sarah can't help feeling like her career has taken a backseat all these years. Now it is her turn to shine.

Overnight, Sarah and Will trade places.

She's now the departmental director commuting into the city five days a week and answering client calls on the weekend. He's doing the school run and the laundry. Or at least trying to.

They've always said they are equal partners so this should be simple right?

Wrong.

This change was supposed to be the making of them as a family but as Sarah fights for her chance to have it all, she might end up losing everything.

Sarah and Will worked for the same company. Will was a director and, though she had been there longer and would like to be a director, Sarah was a senior manager ... she had taken time off to have children so lost some ground plus carries most of the responsibilities of running their home. When Will was fired, Sarah was offered his job. This is an opportunity she didn't want to say no to. With his termination package, Will agreed not to work for the next six months so Sarah accepted the job, figuring Will will take over the household and children responsibilities.

What Sarah discovered was that not only did she now have a more stressful and demanding job, she was still carrying most of the load at home. She didn't want to be a nag but she had enough. Will thought he was doing more than was expected. Needless to say, they had many clashes.

This was the first book I've read by this author and I thought it was okay. I disliked Will and found his character to be over the top. Could he be that selfish and clueless when he was working that he never realized all Sarah did keeping their household going and working? Six months later, with all the time off he had, he thought he was doing an adequate job even though she was still doing everything at home. He was in his mid-40s so it was unbelievable in today's world that he assumed as the man, he should be the breadwinner. And he didn't realize his thinking that he was more deserving than Sarah was wrong ... he had to be told by a friend. Sarah was being treated badly at work by her new employees but never pushed to see why which at her level she should have.

The story takes place in and around London so there were lots of reference that I wasn't familiar with. It's written in first person perspective, alternating in Sarah and Will's voices (the chapters are labeled). I wonder about the relevance of the title of the book since no one ever asked Sarah anything out of the ordinary and made her wonder whether they would have asked Will that. The constant reference to Sarah’s glasses was annoying. As a head's up, there is swearing.