Book ~ "Darling Girls" (2024) Sally Hepworth

From Goodreads ~ For as long as they can remember, Jessica, Norah and Alicia have been told how lucky they are. As young girls, they were rescued from family tragedies and raised by a loving foster mother, Miss Fairchild, on an idyllic farming estate and given an elusive second chance at a happy family life.

But their childhood wasn’t the fairy tale everyone thinks it was. Miss Fairchild had rules. Miss Fairchild could be unpredictable. And Miss Fairchild was never ever to be crossed. In a moment of desperation, the three broke away from Miss Fairchild and thought they were free. Even though they never saw her again, she was always somewhere in the shadows of their minds. When a body is discovered under the home they grew up in, the foster sisters find themselves thrust into the spotlight as key witnesses. Or are they prime suspects?

When Jessica was five, she was fostered by Miss Fairchild, who doted on her. Five years later Miss Fairchild fosters Norah and then Alicia and Jessica doesn't get the same loving attention she used to. But as Miss Fairchild begins to be cruel to the girls and trying to play them off against each other, Jessica, Norah and Alicia bond as sisters. They eventually were able to break free of Miss Fairchild. They age out of foster care and, though each has their own issues, they remain close.

Twenty-five years later, Miss Fairchild has sold her house and when it is being demolished, the body of a child is found. Jessica, Norah and Alicia are contacted by the police and questioned. They remember young children being brought into the house and disappearing when they lived with Miss Fairchild, specifically one named Amy ... is this one of them.

I've read a few books by this author and I thought it was just okay. It's written in first person perspective in the voice of the patient of a psychiatrist (these parts are labeled) and third person perspective as the story unfolds. It was a depressing read and some may find this story upsetting as it deals with child abuse. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Book ~ "The Five Year Lie" (2024) Sarina Bowen

From Goodreads ~ She thought it was love. Then he vanished.

On an ordinary Monday morning, Ariel Cafferty's phone buzzes with a disturbing text message. "Something’s happened. I need to see you. Meet me under the candelabra tree ASAP." The words would be jarring from anyone but the sender is the only man she ever loved. And it's been several years since she learned he died.

Seeing Drew’s name pop up is heart-stopping. Ariel’s gut says it can’t be real. But she goes to the tree anyway. She has to.

Nobody shows. But the text upends everything she thought she knew about the day he left her. The more questions she asks, the more sinister the answers get. Only two things are clear: everything she was told five years ago is wrong and someone is still lying to her.

The truth has to be out there somewhere. To safeguard herself - and her son - she’ll have to find it before it finds her. And with it, the answer to what became of Drew.

Arial has had a mindless job for the last five years working for the company her uncle and late father set up.  It allows her to do what she really wants to do, which is glass blowing. Arial is a single mom to four-year-old Buzz and she hasn't seen Drew, his father, since he took off before she realized she was pregnant. She'd done some digging and discovered from Drew's obituary that he had passed away not long after he left her.

One day she receives a text from Drew out of the blue asking her to meet him ASAP. Though Drew has been dead for five years, she still goes to the meeting place and no one  shows up. This prompts her to start reinvestigating Drew and as she does, she discovers he may not be who he said he was and she's determined to find out the truth.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I thought it was okay. It was a bit convoluted and confusing at times. It's written in first person perspective in Ariel's voice and third person perspective in Drew's voice. It jumps back in time from today to five years ago (the chapters are labeled). Slowly we discover what Drew was up to and why he had to vanish. The ending comes rather quickly with a happy ending. I wasn't really digging the characters and didn't find them overly likable. I usually find young children annoying in stories but Buzz (who names their son Buzz?!) wasn't too bad. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Book ~ "The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife" (2024) Anna Johnston

From Goodreads ~ Frederick Fife was born with an extra helping of kindness in his heart. If he borrowed your car, he’d return it washed with a full tank of gas. The problem is there’s nobody left in Fred’s life to borrow from. At eighty-two, he’s desperately lonely, broke and on the brink of homelessness. But Fred’s luck changes when, in a bizarre case of mistaken identity, he takes the place of grumpy Bernard Greer at the local nursing home. Now he has warm meals in his belly and a roof over his head - as long as his poker face is in better shape than his prostate and that his look-alike never turns up.

Denise Simms is stuck breathing the same disappointing air again and again. A middle-aged mom and caregiver at Bernard's facility, her crumbling marriage and daughter's health concerns are suffocating her joy for life. Wounded by her two-faced husband, she vows never to let a man deceive her again.

As Fred walks in Bernard’s shoes, he leaves a trail of kindness behind him, fueling Denise's suspicions about his true identity. When unexpected truths are revealed, Fred and Denise rediscover their sense of purpose and learn how to return a broken life to mint condition.

Fred Fife is a widower in his 80s who would do anything for anyone. Over the years, his money had gone to taking care of Dawn, his beloved wife, who eventually passed away from cancer. He's being evicted from his apartment and has nowhere to do. He finds a deceased Bernard in a wheelchair and wants to alert someone ... the next thing he knows, he's being whisked away to a retirement home with everyone thinking he's the Bernard. When he tries to tell everyone he's not Bernard, they attribute it to Bernard's dementia. No one will listen to him, so feeling a bit of guilt, he settles into Bernard's life, appreciating having a place to live, a full belly and newfound friends.  Denise works at the retirement home and suspects something is off as "Bernard" now seems to not be deaf or incontinent or have dementia and is actually friendly, helpful and nice.

I really liked this story. I liked the writing style ... it was humourous and touching at times. As I was reading it, I was thinking it would make a good movie. It's written in third person perspective. I liked the characters, even Denise who was mean to the residents at times but had a lot going on at home. It highlights how sad it can be when the elderly grow older and are alone.

Book ~ "Cher: The Memoir, Part 1" (2024) Cher

From Goodreads ~ THERE IS ONLY ONE CHER …

… and for seven decades she has been showing us why. Cher holds the attention of the world with her voice, her acting, her style, her wit and her unstoppable spirit. Now, for the first time, she tells her story in her own voice - as honest as it is hilarious, as powerful as it is perceptive.

Cher’s childhood was anything but normal. As her mother Georgia -  blessed with movie-star looks and a knockout voice – moved them around the country over and again in the hope of finding fame, her school life wasn’t straightforward. But she always knew she was going to be somebody when she grew up.

Cher’s powerful instinct to keep moving eventually landed her in the arms of Sonny Bono. The duo became famous beyond their wildest dreams, from humble beginnings singing backup in Phil Spector’s studio through to pop stardom as Sonny and Cher, and then on to the television show that made them household names. But as time passed, fame changed the dynamic of their relationship and Cher evolved from a wide-eyed teenager into a woman. She started fighting for herself, breaking away from Sonny’s control - and realising that things were not as they seemed.

Taking risks, making headlines, falling in love, Cher struggled and stumbled while trying to become her own woman. "The Memoir, Part One" brings us to the brink of her next chapter, as she begins to chart her own path, finally claiming her rightful place in the world and becoming CHER.

While I'm not a huge fan of Cher's, I like reading bios/memoirs and thought her story would probably be an interesting one ... and it was.

The book starts long before Cher was born with her maternal grandparents' story, Lynda and Roy, two young poor kids who got together, split up and kept getting back together. Lynda was 13 when Georgia (then Jackie Jean), Cher's mother, was born and not mature enough to be a mother, and Roy was 20 with alcohol and violence issues. Tossed from home to home, Georgia didn't have a stable childhood and that affected her life choices and men. 

When Cher met Sonny when she was 16, she found some stability in having an older and mature best friend, that eventually became more. He saw talent in her and she was a ticket to fame and fortune for him. Without her realizing it, he became controlling until, according to her, she wasn't allowed to do anything with anyone but him. She eventually untangled herself from him and despite how badly he had treated her over the years, she still counted on him when she needed someone ... I wouldn't have been as kind of generous.

I didn't like Georgia and found her selfish. When you have a messed up upbringing, I would hope that you do all you can to ensure your children have a more stable one and she didn't do that. She was married and divorced seven times before she was 50 ... even twice to Cher's father who had deserted them when Cher was a baby and then 20 years later when he came back into their lives after Cher became famous. So it's not a surprise that Cher's childhood wasn't stable either.

I liked the writing style (I'm assuming there was a ghost writer). It's written at a high level with just enough detail for me. It was interesting reading about the people she met and the experiences she had. The book ends just as she's thinking seriously about become an actress ... so after her relationships with David Geffen, Gregg Allman and Gene Simmons (I'd forgotten they'd been an item).  I liked that there were lots of photographs at the end. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Book ~ "The Haters" (2024) Robyn Harding

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

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

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

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

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

This is the second book I've read by this author and I liked it.  I liked the writing style and it moved at a quick pace. It is written in first person perspective in Camryn's voice. Interspersed in the story are chapters from Camryn's book. The ending came quickly and for the most part I was buying it. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Book ~ "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" (2024) Sophie Cousens

From Goodreads ~ Columnist Anna Appleby has left her love life behind after a painful divorce. Who needs a man when she has two kids, a cat and uncontested control of the TV remote? Besides, she’d rather be single than subject herself to the hell of online dating. But her office rival is vying for her column and no column means no stable source of income. In a desperate attempt to keep her job, Anna finds herself pitching a unique angle: seven dates, all found offline, chosen by her children.

From awkward encounters to unexpected connections, Anna gamely begins to put herself out there, asking out waiters, the mailman and even her celebrity crush. But when a romantic connection appears where she least expected it, will she be brave enough to take another chance on love?

Anna is 38, divorced with two kids. She works as a columnist at an online publication which is struggling. In an effort to keep it alive, the owner brings in an investor who wants it rejuvenated. Though a good writer, Anna needs to kick it up a notch if she wants to keep her column (and her income) especially since Will, another columnist, seems to have his eye on her space.

So Anna embarks on a journey to date men who her children choose for her and this will be the content for her columns ... she goes out with a younger waiter, her mailman and even tries speed dating. It's decided that Will will write a similar column but about his online dating experiences. When the book starts, Anna doesn't like Will and finds him arrogant but as they start working together, she gets to know him better and finds that he's not the jerk she thought he was.

I thought this story was okay ... it was light and predictable. It's written in first person perspective in Anna's voice. Not a big surprise that Anna does fall for someone ... it happens very quickly, though, and there's a happy ending for all. As a head's up, there is swearing and adult activity.

Book ~ "The Paris Widow" (2024) Kimberly Belle

From Goodreads ~ When Stella met Adam, she thought she had finally found a nice normal guy - a welcome change from her previous boyfriend and her precarious jetsetter lifestyle with him. But her secure world comes crashing down when Adam goes missing after an explosion in the city square. Unable to reach him, she panics. 

As the French police investigate, it’s revealed that Adam was on their radar as a dealer of rare and stolen antiquities with a long roster of criminal clients. Reeling from this news, Stella is determined not to leave Paris until she has the full story. Was Adam a random victim or the target of the explosion? And why is someone following her through the streets of Paris?

Stella and Adam have been married for four years and she tags along with him on a business trip around Europe. A couple hours before they are due to fly home to the States, they check out a cute spot for a snack. As they are heading back to the hotel in Paris to pick up their luggage before they leave for the airport, Adam forgets his sunglasses on their table and goes back for them as Stella carries on to the hotel. Moments later there is an explosion at the restaurant where they just were and Adam is missing. Not giving up hope, Stella stays on in Paris until she can find out if Adam is alive or not. 

During the investigation of the explosion, the police inform Stella that Adam wasn't just a regular dealer in antiques ... he had a secret life and was actually selling stolen antiquities to the rich around the world who could afford them. Was Adam in the wrong place at the wrong time or was her a target of the explosion and why.

I've read many books by this author but I thought this one was okay. It's written from two perspectives which bounce back and forth (the chapters are labeled) in Stella and Adam's voices during their travels. After the explosion, I thought it was farfetched with Stella investigating what happened to him (she works for a caterer back home) and I found the details a bit draggy and confusing at times. It was lucky that Stella had someone from her past who was coincidentally connected to the stolen antiquities market she was able to tap into for info (!!). I wasn't buying the ending. As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.

Book ~ "Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books" (2024) Kirsten Miller

From Goodreads ~ Beverly Underwood and her arch enemy, Lula Dean, live in the tiny town of Troy, Georgia, where they were born and raised. Now Beverly is on the school board and Lula has become a local celebrity by embarking on mission to rid the public libraries of all inappropriate books - none of which she’s actually read. To replace the “pornographic” books she’s challenged at the local public library, Lula starts her own lending library in front of her home: a cute wooden hutch with glass doors and neat rows of the worthy literature that she’s sure the town’s readers need.

But Beverly’s daughter Lindsay sneaks in by night and secretly fills Lula Dean’s little free library with banned books wrapped in “wholesome” dust jackets. The "Girl’s Guide to the Revolution" is wrapped in the cover of "The Southern Belle’s Guide to Etiquette". A jacket that belongs to "Our Confederate Heroes" ends up on "Beloved". One by one, neighbors who borrow books from Lula Dean’s library find their lives changed in unexpected ways. Finally one of Lula Dean’s enemies discovers the library and decides to turn the tables on her, just as Lula and Beverly are running against each other to replace the town’s disgraced mayor.

That’s when all the townspeople who’ve been borrowing from Lula’s library begin to reveal themselves. It’s a diverse and surprising bunch - including the local postman, the prom queen, housewives, a farmer and the former DA - all of whom have been changed by what they’ve read. When Lindsay is forced to own up to what she’s done, the showdown that’s been brewing between Beverly and Lula will roil the whole town ... and change it forever.

Growing up, Lula's family was well-to-do but that changed when her father lost his company (and the family lost their lavish lifestyle) because of  his questionable business practices, which is something Lula never got over. When Lula's husband died young, she received a large insurance payout and she became intolerable ... so much so that as soon as her two children were old enough to leave home, they did and Lula never heard from them again. Lula was cut from the cheerleading squad in high school by Beverly and never forgave her. Now the two are running for mayor of their small town and Lula will do anything to win. 

As Lula has gotten older, she has gotten worse ... her latest mission was to rid the town library of what she deems to be inappropriate books. She creates a small free library in front of her house filled with what she feels are more wholesome books. Lyndsay, Beverly's daughter, doesn't think this is right so as a prank removes those books and refills the library with the banned books but with the dust jackets of the books that been approved by Lula. People in the town are borrowing books from the library, surprised once they start reading them that they aren't actually the books they were expecting but continuing to read them. The books start changing the lives of the readers, with some of the residents becoming more tolerant of others' races and sexual orientations but others becoming increasingly more militant.

I thought this book was okay but there was a lot going on ... the back stories included racism, slavery, homophobia, Nazis, rape, terrorism, spousal abuse and more. The writing style was okay but I thought it dragged a bit in the middle. It's written in third person perspective. I liked the beginning because it seemed like the chapters were devoted to a specific banned book and how it changed the reader's life for the better. I found there were a lot of characters and I had to keep going backwards to remind myself who they were and what their story was again. Some of the characters a bit unbelievable. For example, there is a woman who met and married her husband very young and had a child right away. Twenty or so years later, she has no life other than serving her husband and son but miraculously changes once she read a book. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Book ~ "Why Can't I Be You" (2013) Allie Larkin

From Goodreads ~ When Jenny Shaw hears someone shout “Jessie!” across a hotel lobby, she impulsively answers. All her life, Jenny has toed the line but something propels her to seize the opportunity to become Jessie Morgan, a woman to whom she bears an uncanny resemblance. 

Lonely in her own life, Jenny is embraced by Jessie’s warm circle of friends - and finds unexpected romance. But when she delves into Jessie’s past, Jenny discovers a secret that spurs her to take another leap into the unknown.

Jenny works in PR and is excited about heading off to a work conference. When her boyfriend drops her off at the airport, he breaks up with her, shattering her plans for their future. When she gets to her hotel in Seattle, Myra, who is there attending a high school reunion, mistakes her for her friend, Jessie, who she hasn't seen since high school. Given her state of mind, Jenny impulsively goes with it. 

As she gets to meet the others in Myra (and Jessie's) circle of high school friends, Jenny keeps meaning to tell them she's not Jessie. But she didn't have a happy childhood or have many friends growing up so is relishing this experience of belonging and rationalizes that it's temporary. As she gets to know them better, it becomes even harder to tell them the truth.

This sounded like an interesting premise for a story and it was. I was wondering how/if Jenny was going to be able to pull it off and for how long. She had the benefit of Jessie mysteriously disappearing 13 years ago with no contact with anyone. I liked the writing style. It's written in first person perspective in Jenny's voice. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Book ~ "A Talent for Murder" (2024) Peter Swanson

From Goodreads ~ Martha Ratliff conceded long ago that she’d likely spend her life alone. She was fine with it, happy with her solo existence, stimulated by her job as an archival librarian, constantly surrounded by thought-provoking ideas and the books she loved. But then she met Alan, a charming and sweet-natured divorcee with a job that took him on the road for half the year. When he asked her to marry him, she said yes, even though he still felt a little bit like a stranger.

A year in and the marriage was good, except for that strange blood streak on the back of one of his shirts he’d worn to a conference in Denver. Her curiosity turning to suspicion, Martha investigates the cities Alan visited over the past year and uncovers a disturbing pattern - five unsolved cases of murdered women.

Is she married to a serial killer? Or could it merely be a coincidence? Unsure what to think, Martha contacts an old friend from graduate school for advice. Lily Kintner once helped Martha out of a jam with an abusive boyfriend and may have some insight. Intrigued, Lily offers to meet Alan to find out what kind of man he really is ... but what Lily uncovers is more perplexing and wicked than they ever could have expected.

Matilda has no friends and is happy being alone. When she meets Alan, they start dating and eventually he asks her to marry him. She feels he is still a stranger but likes him (maybe even loves him) enough to say "yes". Alan works as a travelling salesman so he's not around a lot which suits Matilda fine. 

One night Alan comes home from a sales trip and Matilda is watching him from the window unload his car. He does something odd so the next day she starts tracking his previous sales trips and discovers that women have been murdered near where he's been. She suspects her husband might be a serial killer. Not wanting to accuse him in case she is wrong, which would ruin their marriage, Matilda contacts Lily, a friend she hasn't talked with since university, who had helped her out of a bad situation years ago. Lily agrees to check out Alan and asks Harry, her private investigator friend, to help.

I thought this story was okay. It was farfetched at times but I went with it. As with this author's other books, there are fun twists and turns. I thought it was odd how Matilda jumped to the conclusion that Alan was a serial killer because of a single random gesture. It was sad that when Matilda needed help the only person she thought to turn to was Lily, someone she hasn't had any contact with in many years ... and assumed Lily would want to help ... and Lily jumped into action, risking her life. I liked the ultimate ending but not how it was carried out (I thought it was a bit lame).

This is the third in the Henry Kimball/Lily Kintner series ... it works as a stand alone but it helps if you've read that first two (I have) to know the history and dynamics between Henry and Lily. It's written in first person perspective in Lily's voice and third person perspective otherwise (sometimes even when Lily is in the scene). Usually I don't mind the mixing of perspectives but I found this a bit confusing at times. As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.

Book ~ "Brothers" (2024) Alex Van Halen

From Goodreads ~ In this intimate and open account - nothing like any rock-and-roll memoir you’ve ever read - Alex Van Halen shares his personal story of family, friendship, music and brotherly love in a remarkable tribute to his beloved brother and band mate.

Told with acclaimed New Yorker writer Ariel Levy, "Brothers" is seventy-year-old drummer Alex Van Halen’s love letter to his younger brother, Edward, (maybe “Ed” but never “Eddie”), written while still mourning his untimely death.

In his rough yet sweet voice, Alex recounts the brothers’ childhood, first in the Netherlands and then in working class Pasadena, California, with an itinerant musician father and a very proper Indonesian-born mother - the kind of mom who admonished her boys to “always wear a suit” no matter how famous they became - a woman who was both proud and practical, nonchalant about taking a doggie bag from a star-studded dinner. He also shares tales of musical politics, infighting and plenty of bad-boy behavior. But mostly his is a story of brotherhood, music, and enduring love.

"I was with him from day one,” Alex writes. “We shared the experience of coming to this country and figuring out how to fit in. We shared a record player, an 800 square foot house, a mom and dad, and a work ethic. Later we shared the back of a tour bus, alcoholism, the experience of becoming famous, of becoming fathers and uncles, and of spending more hours in the studio than I’ve spent doing anything else in this life. We shared a depth of understanding that most people can only hope to achieve in a lifetime."

There has never been an accurate account of them or the band and Alex wants to set the record straight on Edward’s life and death.

Brothers includes never-before-seen photos from the author’s private archives.

I wouldn't say I'm a big fan of Van Halen but I like some of their songs. My sister borrowed this book ... I like reading bios/memoirs so I thought I'd read it too.

It's written by Alex, the older of the Van Halen brothers. The book starts before he and Ed were born, with their parents ... a Dutch father and Indonesian mother meeting and getting married. Growing up, their first language was Dutch so they knew no English when the family moved to California when the boys were young. Their mother made them learn how to play the piano. They loved music, they eventually moved on to Alex learning to play the guitar and Ed learning to play the drums. They swapped instruments and the rest is history.

Alex and Ed weren't stellar students ... they wanted to play music and formed a few bands before finding the right combination with Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth and becoming Van Halen. There was a lot of paying their dues playing in bars, schools, etc. before moving on to be opening acts for Journey, Black Sabbath and more. Along the way, they recorded albums which went platinum. The book ends in 1984 with the release of the album 1984.

I liked this book more than I expected I would. I liked the writing style and it was interesting to read the stories of them being young men on the road touring (it sounds like they had a lot of fun, which was destructive and expensive). It was obvious Alex and Ed were tight as brothers. Alex doesn't through a lot of shade but there are some honest stories of people who did them wrong. I like that there were lots of photographs at the end.

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

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

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

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

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

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

She doesn’t want to believe it.

But guilty people run.

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

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

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

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

Book ~ "The Rom-Commers" (2024) Katherine Center

From Goodreads ~ She’s rewriting his love story. But can she rewrite her own?

Emma Wheeler desperately longs to be a screenwriter. She’s spent her life studying, obsessing over and writing romantic comedies - good ones! That win contests! But she’s also been the sole caretaker for her kind-hearted dad, who needs full-time care. Now, when she gets a chance to re-write a script for famous screenwriter Charlie Yates - The Charlie Yates! Her personal writing god! - it’s a break too big to pass up.

Emma’s younger sister steps in for caretaking duties and Emma moves to L.A. for six weeks for the writing gig of a lifetime. But what is it they say? Don’t meet your heroes? Charlie Yates doesn’t want to write with anyone - much less “a failed, nobody screenwriter.” Worse, the romantic comedy he’s written is so terrible it might actually bring on the apocalypse. Plus! He doesn’t even care about the script - it’s just a means to get a different one green-lit. Oh, and he thinks love is an emotional Ponzi scheme.

But Emma’s not going down without a fight. She will stand up for herself and for rom-coms and for love itself. She will convince him that love stories matter - even if she has to kiss him senseless to do it. But ... what if that kiss is accidentally amazing? What if real life turns out to be so much ... more real than fiction? What if the love story they’re writing breaks all Emma’s rules - and comes true?

Emma has is a writer. She would like to be a screenwriter but because of an accident ten years ago, her father needs constant care. She gives up her dreams to take care of her father and so her younger sister can have the life she wants. Her high school friend, Logan, presents her with the opportunity to rewrite a terrible movie script with her idol, Charlie Yates. That means spending six weeks in LA and her sister agrees to take care of their father. 

When Emma arrives in LA, she discovers that Charlie has no idea what's going on and begrudgingly takes her on. Charlie isn't serious about the movie script and is only working on it so he can get another movie made so Emma pushes him to make it a better script. As she starts breaking him down, they become friends and Emma starts having feelings for him but Charlie keeps pushing her away and saying nasty things behind her back.

I thought this story was okay and predictable. It is written in first person perspective in Emma's voice as if she is talking to you and telling you what's going on. I wasn't seeing a lot of spark between Emma and Charlie so I don't know how they ended up together.

Book ~ "Damn Glad to Meet You: My Seven Decades in the Hollywood Trenches" (2024) Tim Matheson

From Goodreads ~ For the past seven decades, Tim Matheson has been an on-screen favorite in Hollywood. In his debut memoir, Tim takes fans behind-the-scenes of his illustrious career, and reveals what it was like to learn from and work alongside the greats, including Lucille Ball, Dick Van Dyke, Steven Spielberg, and Aaron Sorkin. Tim also talks about how he transitioned from acting to directing, the role in The West Wing that nabbed him two Emmy nominations–and so much more.

Filled to the brim with both riveting stories of the ever-changing entertainment industry and illuminating insight via “film school boot camp” sidebars, readers everywhere are going to be “damn glad” they read this fascinating memoir.

I know Tim Matheson as Otter in Animal House, a movie I've seen about a million times, and the older sad dude in the Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. I like reading bios/memoirs and getting the behind-the-scenes scoops. I wasn't sure how interesting I would find this book or Matheson's life since I don't have a lot of exposure to him. Surprisingly I enjoyed it than I thought I would.

Matheson starts off in the beginning with his childhood (alcoholic parents, broken family and discovering acting at a young age) and brings us up-to-date with what he's doing today (happily married for the third time and in a Netflix series). He's been in many movies and shows, which I didn't know as they aren't shows I watch or have watched. 

I liked the writing style ... it was conversational as if he was telling his story to you in person over a cup of coffee or glass of wine. It's fairly high level with just enough detail. I liked his honesty and humor ... he doesn't shy away from the fact that it sounds like he was a slimy dog when he was younger (his second marriage and becoming a father seemed to have settled him down) but I still found him likeable (he sounds like a nice guy). It was interesting to read about his relationships with others in and out of show business and how he always had to keep reinventing himself. I wish there had been photos scattered throughout the book. As a head's up, there is swearing.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book ~ "The More The Terrier" (2024) David Rosenfelt

From Goodreads ~ Reluctant lawyer Andy Carpenter is relieved to be headed back to Paterson, New Jersey, after a week-long family vacation in the Adirondacks. He's ready to put the holly jolly season way behind him and settle in at home with his three dogs. But when they finally arrive, there is an extra dog eagerly awaiting them, as well as one anxious dog sitter.

When the dog showed up on the doorstep a few days ago, the sitter knew Andy would know what to do. Indeed, Andy recognizes Murphy, who the Carpenters fostered before the dog went home with BJ Bremer and his mother. BJ wanted to learn all he could about caring for Murphy, which made Andy like him immediately.

When Andy goes to take Murphy back to the Bremers, though, instead of the happy reunion he expects, he finds BJ's mother in tears. It turns out Murphy ran off ... after BJ was arrested for murder. Andy had hoped for a quiet Christmas vacation but he likes Murphy’s family and his golden retriever, Tara, likes Murphy so he can't resist getting involved. The case isn’t as simple as Andy thought it would be, though, with BJ suspected of murdering one of his professors. With nothing to go on but Andy's own conviction in BJ's dog-loving character, proving his innocence would be a Christmas miracle.

Andy is a criminal defense lawyer who doesn't want any clients.  Because of the money his father left him and some lucrative cases, he is able to not work and spend his time with his friend, Willie, running the Tara Foundation, a dog rescue that he and Willie formed.  He is married to Laurie, they have a teenage son, Ricky, three dogs and he is enjoying his life.

When Andy and his family get back from a vacation, there are four dogs waiting for him instead of three. His dog sitter said the fourth dog arrived a couple days ago and she didn't know what else to do so took him in. They recognize the dog as Murphy, a former foster dog, and return the dog to the family who had adopted him. That's when Andy discovers that BJ, the son, had been arrested for murdering one of his professors. When Andy meets the lawyer who has stepped up to defend BJ, he senses something isn't right and takes over the case to ensure BJ gets a fair trial. As Andy and his team start investigating, it doesn't take long until potential witnesses start to disappear.

This is the 30th in the Andy Carpenter series ... I've read them all and I'm still enjoying this series.  Even though it is part of a series, it works as a stand alone (so you don't need to have read the ones before it to know what is going on). I like the writing style as it was funny, sarcastic and amusing. The author even includes himself in this book as Laurie is reading a book by David Rosenfelt and Andy doesn't see why he is her favourite author! It was written mostly in first person perspective in Andy's voice.

I like Andy ... I think he would be a hoot to be around and he's quite generous with his time and money (he never charges for his services and he always picks up the tab for his friends at his favourite restaurant whether he is there or not). Andy admits he is a bit of a wimp so part of his team is the K-Team (Laurie, a former police officer and now an investigator, Marcus and Cory, a former police officer). Sam is his accountant who is also a computer hack who wants to be part of the action.

Book ~ "What Does It Feel Like?" (2024) Sophie Kinsella

From Goodreads ~ Eve is a successful novelist who wakes up one day in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there. Her husband, never far from her side, explains that she has had an operation to remove the large, malignant tumor growing in her brain.

As Eve learns to walk, talk, and write again - and as she wrestles with her diagnosis, and how and when to explain it to her beloved children - she begins to recall what’s most important to her: long walks with her husband’s hand clasped firmly around her own, family game nights, and always buying that dress when she sees it.

Recounted in brief anecdotes, each one is an attempt to answer the type of impossible questions recognizable to anyone navigating the labyrinth of grief. This short, extraordinary novel is a celebration of life, shot through with warmth and humor - it will both break your heart and put it back together again.

Eve is an author who after changing the focus of her latest book becomes even more successful after it is made into a movie. She has every thing she wants ... a loving husband, five children and a career. Then one day she wakes up in the hospital and has no idea why. It has been discovered that she had a brain tumor and it was removed. She has a long healing process and has to learn to walk again, can't remember things or conversations that happened yesterday and the survival rate is on average 12 months (hopefully longer). She's lucky that she has a supporting and loving family to help her get well.

It wasn't until I had finished this book that I discovered that "Eve" is actually the author, who was diagnosed in 2022 with a brain tumor and these are the things she has been living through since then. I liked the writing style and it's broken up in story form, emails, texts, etc. I wish the author all the best in her recovery.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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