Book ~ "Finding Flora" (2025) Elinor Florence

From Goodreads ~ In 1905, Scottish newcomer Flora Craigie jumps from a moving train to escape her abusive husband. Desperate to disappear, she claims a homestead near Alix, Alberta, determined to start a new life for herself. She finds that her nearest neighbours are also a Welsh widow with three children; two American women raising chickens; and a Métis woman who makes a living by breaking in wild horses. 

While battling the harsh environment (and draconian local attitudes toward female farmers), the five women grapple with the differences of their backgrounds and the secrets each struggles to keep. When their homes are threatened with expropriation by the hostile federal Minister of the Interior, the women join forces to “fire the heather,” a Scottish term meaning raising a ruckus. And as the competition for land along the new Canadian Pacific railway line heats up, Flora’s violent husband closes in, and an unscrupulous land agent threatens the lives and livelihoods of the women just as they’re coming into their own.

It's 1905 and Flora has just left her home in Scotland to move to Canada. Her new husband had made many promises about the grand lifestyle they will have there. It turns out he is abusive and it was all lies. Rather than live a life with him, she jumps off the moving train as they are going through Alberta on their way to British Columbia. With nothing but her valise and a few valuables, she sets out to make a life for herself (while hiding from her husband). She claims a homestead and it will be hers after three years if she meets the requirements. Conditions are challenging, though, including harsh weather (especially the winters), isolation, financial hardship and the physical labour required to build a home and cultivate the land along with the prejudice of women having the land in the first place.

I thought this story was okay. It made me appreciate living in the times I do! Such hard work to eek out a small living! It was interesting from a historical perspective since it told how Alberta came to be and what it was like being a single women in the early 20th century. Some actual people were included in the story like Alexia Westhead (the first white woman settler of the community), Irene Marlby (one of "the famous five" who had women legally declared persons in 1929) and CPR Chairman William Van Horne. It's written in third person perspective with a focus on Flora.

Book ~ "Ship of Dreams" (2025) Donna Jones Alward

From Goodreads ~ Aboard the Titanic, where opulence knows no bounds and the horizon seems limitless, two women fight for the futures they dream of, fraught with secrets that could change everything.

Hannah Martin is clinging to the hope that six days on this grand ship will heal the wounds in her marriage to Charles. Beneath her poised exterior lies a desperation to mend what was shattered and conceal a secret that could upend their lives forever.

Louisa Phillips, spirited and uncompromising, is escaping her family’s insistence on a passionless marriage. But this daring step could also sever the deepest bond in her life.

As the "unsinkable" ship strikes the iceberg, amidst the chaos and icy waters, lives are changed forever. In the face of impending doom, what dreams will Hannah and Lou decide are worth saving, and at what cost?

This is a historical novel set on the maiden voyage of the Titanic in 1912. The story follows two women traveling together. Hannah is hoping the trip will help fix her strained marriage to her husband, Charles, while she keeps a secret that could affect their future. Her friend, Louisa, joins the voyage to escape pressure from her family to marry someone she doesn’t love. Their friendship is tested as secrets and personal struggles come to the surface while they experience life aboard the ship. Near the end of the voyage, the Titanic hits an iceberg and begins to sink. The disaster forces the friends to face the reality of the situation and make decisions about survival and the people they care about.

I thought this book was okay. I found the story interesting. The sinking of the Titanic is a sad tale and this is told from a personal perspective. It's amazing how times have changed. The expectations for women were so different then. Hannah's goal was to marry well, which she did, and have a family. Louisa didn't want marriage and was more interested in pushing for women's rights. Her father had found a man he wanted her to marry and if she didn't, he would cut her off financially. She didn't want to marry him, hence the trip across the Atlantic with Hannah and Charles. Hannah and Louisa were in first class and everyone was so mannerly and proper ... so different from today. It's written in first person perspective alternating between Hannah and Louisa (the chapters/sections are marked). I found the writing a bit long and draggy at times and could have been tighter.

Book ~ "For the Love of a Son: A Memoir of Addiction, Loss, and Hope" (2025) Scott Oake

From Goodreads ~ When veteran broadcaster Scott Oake first held his infant son, Bruce, in his arms, he never imagined that Bruce would become a statistic in the losing battle to opioid abuse.

In those early days, Scott, a new father, watched Bruce with awe, marveling at the potential of his funny, charismatic boy. As Bruce got older, though, he struggled to fit in at school and began showing signs of having ADHD, including a streak of impulsiveness that often got him into trouble. Scott and his wife, Anne, did their best to support him, and for a time, he found community and belonging in boxing and local rap battles. But when Bruce was pulled into a world of drugs and gangs, Scott and Anne experienced a crash course in the reality of loving someone battling substance use disorder.

Then one quiet day in 2011, Scott got the phone call that every parent dreads. Bruce had accidentally overdosed. At just twenty-five, Scott’s vibrant, creative, first-born son was gone forever.

It was a loss that could have broken a man, a marriage, a family - but Scott, Anne, and their younger son, Darcy, instead turned the worst day of their lives into a way to help the thousands of Canadians struggling with addiction. After nearly a decade of fundraising and battling red tape and political machinations they launched the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre, a free, revolutionary treatment centre staffed by addicts and alcoholics in recovery.

For the Love of a Son: A Memoir of Addiction, Loss, and Hope by Scott Oake, a Canadian sportscaster, is an account of a father’s love in the face of loss. It follows Oake, his wife, Anne, and their younger son, Darcy, as he details his son, Bruce’s long and painful struggle with addiction. He describes what it was like as a family handling the fear, frustration and helplessness that go along with substance use. Oake tells of the many attempts to support Bruce, navigating treatment systems, relapses and moments of hope, while also dealing with the limits of what parents can control. 

I hadn't heard of Oake but I saw his book listed in the Toronto Star's 2025 Canadian top 20 non-fiction best sellers so I checked it out as I like reading bios/autobios. I'm glad I did as it's quite a story. I liked the writing style and found it honest as he doesn't shy away from telling about the family's guilt, denial, anger and constant worry. As a head's up, there is swearing.

With Bruce's death from an overdose in 2011 at the age of 25, the family turned it into something positive in 2013 by creating a foundation so other families wouldn't have to go through what they went through and to honour Bruce's memory. They created the Bruce Oake Centre, a 50-bed, nonprofit residential treatment program for in Winnipeg, Manitoba (long-term live-in and community-based services are offered to men seeking recovery from substance use disorder). The planning has started on the creation of the Anne Oake Family Recovery Centre too offer something similar for women.

Book ~ "The Deepest Fake" (2025) Daniel Kalla

From Goodreads ~ Liam Hirsch has it all - a loving family, a thriving career as CEO of an AI company, financial security and a bright future. But when he’s diagnosed with a terminal illness, just weeks after discovering his wife’s infidelity, his perfect life unravels. As he grapples with his fate, he prepares to face his final days on his own terms. 

However unexplained events inside his company make him question everything - including his diagnosis. In a world of deepfake videos, synthetic voices and digital deception, couldn’t these technologies be weaponized against him? What if nothing is as it seems? 

With time running out, Liam turns to Andrea DeWalt, a private investigator contending with her own feelings of betrayal, to help him uncover a conspiracy that threatens his life, his family and their future. In a world where nothing is as it seems and every digital footprint can be manipulated, who can Liam trust?

Liam is a successful AI company CEO who seems to have everything going for him until his life completely unravels. He suspects his wife is cheating on him so hires Andrea, a private investigator, who confirms her infidelity. But he's got other things to deal with as he has been diagnosed with ALS. Rather than have his family suffer as ALS robs him of his faculties, he decides to go the MAID route so he can leave on his own terms. But he wants to leave his family financially stable so he has to fix the strange inconsistencies within his company, push ahead with a breakthrough AI app and find out who is trying to sabotage his reputation and company. He can't do it alone so he asks Andrea to help.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it. I liked the write style and found it moved at a good pace. It's written in third person perspective with a focus on Liam and Andrea. There were so many people who could be messing with Liam so it was hard to figure out if someone really was. AI is moving us so quickly so it was interesting to see the creepy way it could be. As a head's up, there is swearing. I look forward to read other books by this author.

Book ~ "Sorry, Not Sorry: An Unapologetic Look at What Makes Canada Worth Fighting For" (2025) Mark Critch

From Goodreads ~ Known for his sharp-witted skits on CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes , Mark Critch uses his keen observational skills to explore the complexities of Canadian identity and the new wave of Canadian patriotism.

In Sorry, Not Sorry, Critch delves into the heart of what it means to be Canadian at a time when national pride is on the rise. Examining everything from the historical decision of Newfoundland to join Canada, to the modern-day implications of the Freedom Convoy, and the evolving symbolism of the Canadian flag, he reminds us of where we came from, and of the many reasons Canada is worth fighting for—elbows up!

In chapters like “The 51st State,” “I Want My Flag Back,” and “The Invasion,” Critch uses humour and satire to tackle serious questions about national identity, unity, and the future of Canada. He also offers a unique perspective on the country's relationship with the monarchy, the cultural impact of Canadian celebrities living abroad, and the hypothetical scenarios of provincial separations.

Sorry, Not Sorry is more than just a comedic take on Canadian life; it’s a deeply personal and insightful look at thefree country Critch has spent decades satirizing. Whether he’s writing as a war correspondent in a fictional American invasion or penning a love letter to Canada in the voice of Donald Trump, Critch’s essays are sure to entertain, provoke thought, and stir a sense of pride in listeners.

Mark Critch is a Canadian comedian, actor and writer. He is best known for his work on the CBC comedy series, This Hour Has 22 Minutes.

Sorry, Not Sorry is a collection of essays about what it means to be Canadian and why Canada is worth caring about. It was written in response to Trump saying that he'll make Canada the 51st state. Critch uses jokes, personal stories and satire to talk about Canadian identity, pride and unity. I liked the writing style and for the most part agreed with his opinions. He touches on everything including the Canadian flag, Newfoundland joining Confederation and Freedom Convoy. I enjoyed these essays and found them interesting and learned something. Some of the essays (like the letters Trump or Lt. Clem Boone might write) were too long and boring so I skipped over them.

Book ~ "Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum" (2025) Michael J. Fox and Nelle Fortenberry

From Goodreads ~ In early 1985, Michael J. Fox was one of the biggest stars on television. His world was about to get even bigger but only if he could survive the kind of double duty unheard of in Hollywood. Fox’s days were already dedicated to rehearsing and taping the hit sitcom "Family Ties" but then the chance of a lifetime came his way. Soon he committed his nights to a new time-travel adventure film being directed by Robert Zemeckis and produced by Steven Spielberg - "Back to the Future". Sitcom during the day, movie at night - day after day, for months.

Fox’s nightly commute from a soundstage at Paramount to the back lot at Universal Studios, from one dream job to another, would become his own space-time continuum. It was in this time portal that Alex P. Keaton handed the baton to Marty McFly while Michael J. Fox tried to catch a few minutes of sleep. Alex’s bravado, Marty’s flair and Fox’s comedic virtuosity all swirled together to create something truly special.

In "Future Boy", Fox tells the remarkable story of playing two landmark roles at the same time - a slice of entertainment history that’s never been told. Using new interviews with the cast and crew of both projects, the result is a vividly drawn and eye-opening story of creative achievement by a beloved icon.

Future Boy is Fox looking back on the wild year when his career exploded. In 1985, he was filming Family Ties during the day and Back to the Future at night, basically living on no sleep and running between studios like he was time-traveling for real. He shares behind-the-scenes stories from Back to the Future, how Marty McFly came together and what it was like juggling two huge roles at once. 

The book is a quick high level read and focused on that one moment in time rather than his life. There are lots of pages of pictures at the end of the book (making up 41% of the book).

Book ~ "You Thought You Knew" (2025) Kevin Federline

From Goodreads ~ Kevin dancer, father, accidental pop culture icon. His star rose electrifying stages alongside Pink, Destiny’s Child, Aaliyah, and more. But it was his turbulent marriage to pop superstar Britney Spears that made him a household name and triggered a relentless media storm, reducing him to a caricature in a world that barely knew him.

Behind the tabloid headlines was a devoted father fighting for his children and his sanity, navigating the fallout of fame and a fractured family, as everything around him spun out of control.

From the heights of global stardom to the pain of public ridicule, this memoir peels back the layers of celebrity, fatherhood, and survival to reveal the man behind the mythology. A man shaped not by spectacle or spotlight, but by love, resilience, and the steadfast resolve to give his kids a normal life.

What you thought you knew was only half the story.

Other than being Britney Spears' ex-husband, I don't know a lot about Kevin Federline. I like reading bios/memoirs and thought it might be interesting and it was. I'd read Britney Spears' memoir when it came out and thought it would be fun to find out Federline's account.

This book is Federline giving his side of the story. He talks about his childhood, his dancer days, his ride of sudden fame and his relationship and breakup with Britney Spears. He says he mostly wrote this book for his kids so they’ll know who he really is, not the loser the tabloids made him out to be. 

He dives deep into their marriage and the messy split. He brings up moments where he says he was worried about Britney’s behavior, including some disturbing stories involving their kids. For example, there was an incident where their sons supposedly woke up in the middle of the night and found her standing in their doorway holding a knife. He said he was scared for his kids and doing what he thought was right at the time. He feels when Britney’s conservatorship ended, the public treated it like a victory but things didn’t magically get better.

I liked the writing style. As a head's up, there is swearing and descriptions of drug use and partying. When reading memoirs, I tend to take them with a grain of salt ... some of it might be true and some might be what the author wants us to believe is true. I check out Britney Spears' Instagram account occasionally and she doesn't seem very stable so I had no problem believing a lot of what he said. I was surprised there were no pictures. 

Book ~ "The Last Hitman" (2025) Robin Yocum

From Goodreads ~ Once upon a time, being a “made man” meant something. Angelo Cipriani was a member of the inner circle of the Fortuna Crime Family, one of the biggest mafia families in the Ohio Valley. Not that Angelo would ever admit to such an organization even existing, let alone to all of the bodies he dropped for his boss. Angelo even stayed loyal after taking a bullet in the back and winding up in a coma for three months. 

But times have changed. Four decades have passed and the glory days of mob rule have waned. With FBI crackdowns and new rival gangs seizing territory, Angelo finds himself on the outs with the current administration, essentially “on the shelf.” Left with little excitement beyond a crush on the local diner waitress, he does the unthinkable and puts pen to paper, telling his story of coming up, a man of honor in a world that he barely recognizes. 

But Angelo’s reminiscences are rudely interrupted by a visit from the FBI, and the realization that the past is far from dead and buried. Faced with old secrets and fresh betrayals, Angelo finds himself The Last Hitman is ready to get back to work.

This is a story about Angelo, a hitman who is trying to survive a world that has moved on without him. He's is an aging mob enforcer who used to be one of the most trusted guys in the Fortunato crime family. He’s old-school loyal but times have changed. Little Tommy, the new boss, is into dealing drugs rather than hookers and gambling like his late father and late grandfather, and Angelo just doesn’t fit in anymore. He’s being pushed aside and spends his days drinking coffee at a diner, chatting with Carolyn, the waitress he has a crush on, and visiting Nickels, an old friend in a nursing home, who is out of it on meds most of the time. Not exactly the thrilling mob life he once had. Everything shifts when the FBI shows up and pressures him to talk. Suddenly Angelo has to choose ... stay loyal to a crime family that no longer respects him or work with the feds and risk becoming a target.

I enjoyed this book. I've read a few books by this author and have liked them. I liked the writing style of this one and it was surprisingly humorous at times. Angelo had done some really bad things in his day (and was looking forward to continuing to do so) but I found him likable. Being in the mob and loyal to "the boss" was all he knew and he was having a hard time staying loyal to Little Tommy, who was a scumbag. One thing I did have trouble believing is that Carolyn, knowing what he was, didn't have an issue with what he'd done in his past and would continue to do given the chance. The ending leaves things open that there could be a sequel. As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.

Book ~ "The Widow" (2025) John Grisham

From Goodreads ~ Simon Latch is a lawyer in rural Virginia, making just enough to pay his bills while his marriage slowly falls apart. Then into his office walks Eleanor Barnett, an elderly widow in need of a new will. Apparently, her husband left her a small fortune and no one knows about it. 

Once he hooks the richest client of his career, Simon works quietly to keep her wealth under the radar. But soon her story begins to crack. When she is hospitalized after a car accident, Simon realizes that nothing is as it seems and he finds himself on trial for a crime he swears he didn’t commit: murder. 

Simon knows he’s innocent. But he also knows the circumstantial evidence is against him and he could spend the rest of his life behind bars. To save himself, he must find the real killer. 

Simon is a small-town lawyer in rural Virginia barely keeping his life together ... his marriage is over, his finances are a mess, he has a gambling problem and his career feels stuck. Then Eleanor Barnett, an elderly widow, walks into his office and becomes the most interesting client he’s ever had. She wants to redo her will and hints that she has a huge secret fortune. Simon thinks he’s finally caught a break and befriends her. But the more he gets involved in her life, the stranger things get. Eleanor has secrets, her family is complicated, she won't reveal her true assets and nothing about her past adds up. She has no one else so Simon ends up doing everything for her.

Then Eleanor ends up in a serious car accident and dies of what they suspect is pneumonia but is determined to not be. Suddenly Simon is in the middle of a murder investigation. Everyone’s pointing fingers and most of the clues seem to point to him. To clear his name, Simon has to dig into Eleanor’s hidden life and figure out who actually had something to gain from her death. What starts as rewriting a will turns into a messy, twisty mystery full of money, lies and people who aren’t at all what they seem.

It's been almost 10 years since I've read a John Grisham novel and I thought this one was okay. It was a bit long and draggy. It's written in third person perspective, usually with Simon being the focus. I found Simon to be very unlikable so it was hard to cheer for him after Eleanor died and his life got even worse. I wasn't buying the ending ... it came out of nowhere and was a disappointment considering the time I'd put into reading the book.

Book ~ "Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice" (2025) Virginia Roberts Giuffre

From Goodreads ~ The world knows Virginia Roberts Giuffre as Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s most outspoken victim: the woman whose decision to speak out helped send both serial abusers to prison, whose photograph with Prince Andrew catalyzed his fall from grace. But her story has never been told in full, in her own words until now.

In April 2025, Giuffre took her own life. She left behind a memoir written in the years preceding her death and stated unequivocally that she wanted it published. "Nobody’s Girl" is the riveting and powerful story of an ordinary girl who would grow up to confront extraordinary adversity.

Here Giuffre offers an unsparing and definitive account of her time with Epstein and Maxwell, who trafficked her and others to numerous prominent men. She also details the molestation she suffered as a child, as well as her daring escape from Epstein and Maxwell’s grasp at nineteen. Giuffre remade her life from scratch and summoned the courage to not only hold her abusers to account but also advocate for other victims. The pages of Nobody’s Girl preserve her voice and her legacy forever.

This is a look at Giuffre's life, written in her voice from her troubled childhood to becoming one of the most well-known survivors connected to Jeffrey Epstein’s trafficking ring.  She opens up about being abused as a young girl, running away from home and later being recruited by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell when she was just a teenager. She describes how what started as a supposed “spa job” turned into years of manipulation, control and exploitation. The memoir tells of her escape and how she tried to rebuild her life in Australia. It's about how she decided to speak up, take legal action and fight for justice not just for herself but for other survivors too. 

I like reading bios/autobios and I knew this one would be a hard one. She went into a lot of detail at times about what what done to her. You can ask yourself why she stayed with Epstein and Maxwell as long as she did. She didn't have the best childhood which probably didn't help her decision making ability. She said she stayed because Epstein had threatened to harm her brother if she left. Eventually she did break away when she married her husband after knowing him for 10 days.

It's a tragic story but I did have some issues. The way she spoke about Robbie, her husband, sounded like he was the most loving and supportive husband ever. Yet there were incidents of domestic violence that had happened during their marriage where Robbie was arrested. You'd never know it by reading her story. After all she'd gone through, I would have thought she would never ever put up with any abuse at all. Shortly before she passed away, they were separated and there was an incident with Robbie and she ended up being prohibited from having contact with her children.

Not only did Giuffre's father sexually abuse her when she was young but he passed her over to his buddy who did the same. And her mother let it happen. When she had children, she had the need for them to get to know her parents and have a relationship with them. Huh?! After all she went through with her parents, if it was me, I would never had spoken to them again.

Book ~ "Secret Sauce: 200 Copycat Recipes to Re-Create Your Favorite Restaurant Sauces, Dips, and Dressings" (2025) Kelly Jaggers

From Goodreads ~ Skip the pricey restaurant bill and recreate your favorite restaurant sauces right at home with these 200 fast, easy and delicious copycat recipes for popular sauces, dips, dressings, and more!

Enjoy your favorite restaurant sauces ... without waiting in lines, paying inflated prices, or stocking up on sauce packets to save for later meals. With 200 quick and simple recipes, you can now recreate your favorite restaurant sauces, dressings, and dips right at home. You’ll find iconic recipes like:

• Chipotle’s Guacamole
• McDonald’s Tartar Sauce
• Applebee’s Oriental Vinaigrette
• Shake Shack’s Cheese Sauce
• Carrabba’s Dipping Oil
• Taco Bell’s Creamy Jalapeño Sauce
• And more!

With these classic tried and true recipes, Secret Sauce helps you recreate popular restaurant sauces as closely as possible - while still receiving the same rave reviews as the real thing - on a much smaller tab. 

This book is your guide to all the sauces you love from restaurants but wish you could make at home. The author collected 200 copycat recipes for everything from fast-food favourites to sit-down-restaurant classics. The book breaks each recipe down so it seems easy and uses everyday ingredients. 

The book is broken down into sections:

• Secret Sauces at Home - history, ingredients to have on hand, tools and appliances, preparation and serving, and storage and safety
• Turn Up the Heat
• From Tenders to Wings: Chicken Dipping Sauces
• Between Two Buns: Burger and Sandwich Sauces
• Into the Sea: Seafood Sauces
• Lighter Fare: Salad Dressings and Marinades
• On the Side: Side Dish Dipping Sauces
• The Finishing Touches: Cooking, Finishing and Topping Sauces
• Don't Fill Up on Dip: Hearty Dips

Before each recipe, there is a description of the restaurant and what the sauce is used for.

It's an American-based book so I hadn't heard of some of the sauces (or restaurants) but it will be fun to try to replicate the recipes.

Book ~ "Twice" (2025) Mitch Albom

From Goodreads ~ When he is eight years old, Alfie Logan discovers the magical ability to get a second chance at everything. He can undo any moment and live it again. The one catch: he must accept the consequences of his second try - for better or worse.

He grows up correcting his mistakes and saving himself from adolescent embarrassments. He even takes foolishly dangerous risks, just to see what it’s like to come close to death, before tapping back to safety.

Eventually, Alfie turns his gift to his love life, studying his crushes and going back to make himself more appealing. In time, he falls deeply in love with Gianna, the woman he believes is the one. He seems to find contentment.

But as the years pass, Alfie’s eye begins to wander. Which is when he learns a lone caveat to his power: once he undoes a love, that person can never fall in love with him again. Knowing if he gives into to temptation, he will risk losing what he has with Gianna, Alfie makes a choice that changes his life forever.

The book begins many years later, after an ailing Alfie is arrested for allegedly cheating and winning millions at a casino roulette wheel. As a curious detective interrogates him, he slowly uncovers Alfie’s incredible story, and its most unlikely conclusion.

Alfie has a secret ... ever since his missionary mother passed away when he was a kid in Kenya, he’s been able to relive any moment of his life twice. All he has to do is tap his body and say the word “twice” and he gets a do-over. The first time he lives something, the second time he knows what’s coming and can try to change it. At first, Alfie uses his ability for small stuff ... fixing mistakes, avoiding embarrassment, etc. Eventually he meets and falls in love with Gianna and tries to use his power to make their relationship perfect, which he finds isn't possible.

It's been a lot of years since I've read a Mitch Albom story and I thought this one was okay. It's written in third person perspective with an interesting twist ... it's also first person perspective in Alfie's voice when his composition book about his lives is being read. The story starts off in his present, where he’s been arrested for supposedly cheating in a casino in the Bahamas and then jumps back and forth from Alfie’s past to the present day (the chapters are labeled). I like time travel stories so it appealed to me as it has that aspect.

Book ~ "The Smiling Land: All Around the Circle in My Newfoundland and Labrador" (2025) Alan Doyle

From Goodreads ~ Few Canadian musicians or authors are as synonymous with their home province as Alan Doyle is with Newfoundland. And now Alan wants to introduce the rest of the world to his home, taking readers on a freewheeling, eclectic trip through the province. From Fogo Island to the Southwest Coast, Labrador to Ferryland and everywhere in-between, Alan's Newfoundland awaits.

There are plenty of stops along the way to admire the sites and take in the history and culture. Among the stops, a discussion of Newfoundland's eccentric place names, which include Horse Chops Island, Bread and Cheese Cove and, the (in)famous, Dildo. There are visits to wind-swept coastlines and towering crags, former Beothuk, Viking and Basque settlements, as well as more recent settlements, such as Foley's Shed, a jaunty live-music pub that, as its name suggests, happens to be located in some guy named Foley's shed. There are savvy insider tips, such as how to score fish and chips and a free ride by hopping into the delivery person's car as they deliver your food to your desired destination. And what tour of Alan's Newfoundland could be complete without a short history of what can best be described as "icebergs that look like things," an illustrious history that includes an exact replica of the Virgin Mary that once washed into St. John's harbour, and the more recent, and far less holy, "Dickie Berg," which made international headlines for looking like ... well, not the Virgin Mary.

I was a fan of Great Big Sea and had seen them many times in concert over the years. Alan Doyle was one of the members in Great Big Sea and this is his fourth book (I enjoyed his first three). 

This book is part travel guide/part homage to Doyle's home province of Newfoundland. He takes readers on a trip around Newfoundland and Labrador, sharing stories and history. He visits fishing towns, rugged coastlines and lively communities, mixing in local legends, music and humour. For example, he lets you know where to find the best fish and chips, how to spot puffins and tells tales about rumrunning and lighthouses.

It must have been fun for Doyle to embark on this project and to have his wife and son along with him on some of the adventures. I liked the writing style and found that his personality came through ... like we were sitting chatting and having a pint. I found the history of places for the most part interesting (it's obvious he did a ton of research) but I enjoyed his personal stories more of how they related to the places ... like one of his few experiences being in Port aux Basques years ago or his respect for Ron Hynes when visiting his house. 

His descriptions of buildings and places were vivid but it would have been nice to have pictures included (it sounded like he did stop and take pictures along the way) ... I would pause and Google so I could see what he was talking about. I've been to some of the places he wrote about (like St. John's and Saint Pierre) so it was fun to relive them through his eyes.

Book ~ "And to All a Good Bite" (2025) David Rosenfelt

From Goodreads ~ Reluctant lawyer Andy Carpenter can't wait for Christmas. He doesn't care much about the season, unless it's football season. Andy's excited to finally relax and watch the games. But when there's a murder related to an old case in Paterson, New Jersey, Andy puts the games on pause.

Two years ago, a gas leak in an office building led to a tragic explosion that killed seven people. Jeff Wheeler was there to pick up his girlfriend and ran into the building to help. All he heard was the barking of a dog, Rufus, and was able to save him. The pup was the sole survivor and Jeff was named a hero. Initially, Rufus went to the Tara Foundation since his owner had died in the accident. But Andy met Jeff and liked him, respecting his courage and allowed him to adopt Rufus. Since then, Jeff and Rufus have formed an unbreakable bond.

The accident never sat right with Jeff. He believed that one of the building owners was responsible for the tragedy. Now that owner has been murdered and Jeff is arrested for the crime, Rufus is left with Jeff's sister, who begs Andy to take the case. Andy remembered Jeff's tremendous bravery and with the lingering Christmas spirit, decides to help reunite the two.

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.

Last year there was a horrible gas explosion in an office building that killed seven people. Jeff had arrived to meet his girlfriend and found the building in flames. She didn’t make it but he managed to rescue a puppy named Rufus. Jeff eventually adopted Rufus, with Andy’s help. But Jeff’s never stopped wondering if one of the building’s owners had something to do with the explosion. When that owner ends up murdered, the police arrest Jeff after he was witnessed confronting the owner the night before. Jeff's sister asks Andy to defend him. Because of his past with Jeff and Rufus, Andy takes on the case and he’s has to figure out who really killed the building owner, clear Jeff’s name and make sure Rufus and his human are reunited.

This is the 32nd 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. 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, who has a specific way of dealing with bad guys, 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 ~ "The Hitchhikers" (2025) Chevy Stevens

From Goodreads ~ The open road beckons. A chance for them to reconnect. Then they make a fatal mistake.

It’s the summer of 1976 and Alice and Tom set out on the remote Canadian highways in their new RV, hoping to heal their broken hearts after a devastating tragedy.

They’ve planned the trip perfectly, taken care of every detail. Then they meet two young hitchhikers down on their luck and offer them a ride. But Simon and Jenny aren’t what they seem. They’ve left a trail of blood, destruction and madness behind them.

Now Alice and Tom are trapped, prisoners in a deadly game, with nowhere to turn. As the tension builds, the lines blur, and the question becomes, In whose heart does evil truly lie? What secrets are Jenny and Simon hiding? And who will live another day?

It’s the summer of 1976 and Alice and her husband, Tom, who are from Seattle, are taking a road trip through Canada in their RV, meandering their way from British Columbia to the Olympics in Montreal, hoping to heal after some heartbreaking losses. Along the way, they pick up two young hitchhikers who go by “Ocean” and “Blue.” At first, they just seem like free-spirited kids but Alice soon finds out they’re not who they say they are ... they are Jenny and Simon and are wanted for a horrific crime. 

From there, the trip takes a violent turn. Tom gets badly hurt and Alice is forced into a terrifying journey with these strangers who get more violent as time goes on. Alice has to figure out how to survive, protect Tom and hope more people don't get hurt along the way.

I thought this book was okay, though I found it long. There was so much going on and I found it dragged the story down. It got repetitious after a while with the violence. The details of a couple of the beatings could have been left out because I got right away that Simon wasn't a nice stable guy. Plus I didn't need every detail of when Alice cooked. The story was interesting enough and I was curious to see how it would end. 

The author is Canadian and didn't hide the fact that Alice, Tom, Simon and Jenny were traveling through British Columbia. It's written in third person perspective in Alice and Jenny's voices (the chapters are labeled) and sometimes goes back in time so we get Jenny and Simon's backstories. I didn't find Jenny to be a very believable character. Unbelievably after all the killing, robbing and kidnapping they'd done, she still thought she and Simon had a future. Because it's set in 1976, it was a time before cell phones and the Internet so there's no way Jenny and Simon could have stayed on the run as long as they did had it been set in present day. As a head's up, there is violence, swearing and sexual assault.

Book ~ "The Armchair Detectives" (2025) Matt Dunn

From Goodreads ~ They might be over the hill but they’re far from six feet under and now there’s a murder to solve!

Meet Martin Maxwell. As a former government operative, at eighty-four-years young he always pictured a retirement sipping shaken-not-stirred martinis on a far-flung island. But in need of some care after a new hip, he finds himself at Twilight Lodge on the decidedly cloudy English coast.

From the outside, it’s a picture-perfect place to recuperate. But when popular resident Elsie dies unexpectedly, Martin suspects foul play. She’s the third death in less than two weeks and always had a clean bill of health. Armed with a walking stick and his trusty notebook and pen, Martin decides to investigate.

While nobody believes him – death is an inevitable part of care home life after all – Martin is convinced something sinister is afoot. With his wheelchair-bound sidekick and former nemesis Albie in tow, they begin questioning the residents. Soon they learn that there are several suspects in the frame.

When they discover Albie’s love interest Barbara is in the killer’s sights, Martin knows time is running out. Will Albie’s heart be broken forever, or can they battle the effects of old age and each other, outwitting a murderer before it’s too late?

Martin is 84 and a widower, recovering from hip surgery and not wanting to burden his daughter to have to take care of him. Instead he checks into Twilight Lodge, a seaside care home where he plans on taking it easy and recuperate. But taking it easy doesn’t last long. When one of the residents dies unexpectedly (and then others start dying), Martin’s old instincts kick in. Martin isn’t your average retiree ... he used to work for “The Company” (something very spy-like). When he starts connecting the dots, he’s sure there’s foul play involved. Luckily his old partner, wheelchair-bound Albie, who claims to not remember Martin, is also at the home and the two end up sleuthing together along with Martin’s wild theories and his notebook full of half-remembered clues.

This was a fun story and it was interesting to have it written from the first person perspective of an 84-year-old man. It's surprisingly a cozy mystery as there is no swearing or violence. The interactions between Martin and Albie were cute. There are some red herrings and I was okay with the whodunnit. It seems like it's the first of a series and I look forward to reading the future books.

Book ~ "The Summers Between Us" (2025) Noreen Nanja

From Goodreads ~ A young ambitious lawyer returns to her family's rural property after 10 years and must confront her deepest fears and long-buried secrets for a second chance at love with the one that got away, despite her family's expectations.

Lia is a corporate lawyer who seems to have her life completely figured out ... she’s got the high-powered career, a potential boyfriend her mother will approve of and the perfect immigrant daughter image everyone expects from her. 

When her aunt, who has been staying at the family cottage needs surgery, Lia agrees to stay at the cottage to care of her teenage cousin. Next door to their cottage live Wes, Lia’s first love, and his mother. Lia and Wes' teenage romance happened over five summers but it didn’t last because of family expectations, cultural clashes and a secret (which we don't learn about until near the end) drove them apart. She runs into him again at the cottage after not seeing him for about ten years and she tries to resist the emotions that are coming back.

I thought this story was okay, though not original. It moves back and forth between the past (the five summers when Lia and Wes fell in love) and the present (the chapters are labeled). It's written in first person perspective in Lia's voice. I liked that it was set in Ontario and the author didn't try to hide that. I found it hard to believe that Lia and Wes, after not seeing each other for about ten years and nearing age thirty, still carried a torch for each other after all these years, considering it was a teenage romance. There is swearing and adult activity and it was icky reading about the teenage Lia and Wes partaking. I didn't find Lia and Wes overly believable as teenagers as they seemed too mature.

Book ~ "John Candy: A Life in Comedy" (2025) Paul Myers

From Goodreads ~ From his humble beginnings in sketch comedy with the Toronto branch of Second City, to his rise to fame in "SCTV" and Hollywood film classics like "Planes, Trains and Automobiles", "The Great Outdoors" and "Uncle Buck", John Candy captivated audiences with his self-deprecating humour, emotional warmth and gift for improvisation. Now for the first time since Candy’s tragic death, biographer Paul Myers tells the full story of the man behind the laughs.

Drawing on extensive research and exclusive interviews with many of Candy’s closest friends and colleagues including Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Tom Hanks, Ron Howard, Steve Martin, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short and many more, "John Candy: A Life in Comedy" celebrates the comedian’s unparalleled talent, infectious charm and generosity of spirit. Through ups and downs, successes and failures, and struggles with anxiety and self-doubt, Candy faced the world with a big smile and a warm demeanour that earned him the love and adoration of fans around the world.

This book is a behind-the-scenes look at the life and career of John Candy (1950 - 1994). It dives into Candy’s rise from local sketch comedy in Toronto to Hollywood fame, while also showing the kind, generous and sometimes troubled man behind all the laughs.

Candy grew up in Toronto and got his comedy start at Second City. Thanks to Dan Aykroyd, he landed a spot on SCTV and became a breakout star with his big heart and even bigger characters. From Stripes to The Blues Brothers to Uncle Buck, Planes, Trains and Automobiles to Cool Runnings, Candy built a career on playing lovable funny underdogs. This book takes you through those roles and others (there are whole chapters on most of his movies).

The author spoke with a lot of Candy’s friends and co-stars (including Steve Martin, Catherine O’Hara, Tom Hanks, Martin Short and Dan Aykroyd) to show the deep affection and admiration so many had for him. Off-camera Candy was generous and thoughtful ... for example, buying Thanksgiving dinner for entire film crews, comforting homesick extras and always making time for people. The book also looks at Candy’s struggles with anxiety, his weight and the pressure of being “the funny guy.”

I was (and still am) a fan of John Candy. He passed away just over 30 years ago and I'm surprised it's taken this long for someone to write such a book about him. I enjoyed it and it was interesting to learn more about Candy. It's obvious that it's well-researched and honest ... though he knew better (his father had passed away young of a heart attack), Candy liked his smokes, rum & Cokes and food. It would have been nice, though, to have some photographs included as it's just all text.

Book ~ "Living in the Present with John Prine" (2025) Tom Piazza

From Goodreads ~ In the spring of 2018, Tom Piazza climbed into a 1977 Coupe DeVille with the great singer-songwriter John Prine, taking a Florida road trip that soon evolved into a deep friendship, full of jokes and tall tales over epic meals, afternoons digging around antique malls and record stores, and long nights playing guitar and trading songs. 

Eventually they decided to write Prine’s memoir together and Prine shared intimate, often hilarious stories of his youth and family in Chicago and Kentucky, his breakthrough into the national spotlight, his riotous early years in the Nashville country scene, and much more. 

When Prine died suddenly of COVID in April 2020, that unfinished memoir evolved into an intimate narrative of the artist’s final years. Piazza offers fans an unforgettable portrait of the beloved musician in his late glory - as a boyish cut-up, an epic raconteur, a great American poet, and most importantly, the good friend his fans have always imagined.

John Prine was an American country/folk singer-songwriter who has been around since the early 1970s. I've been a fan of John Prine for over 40 years. I've seen him many times in concert and was happy I attended his last concert here in Toronto (The Tree of Forgiveness tour). I think his death during COVID probably hit me the hardest of all the celebs who had passed away during that time.

Tom Piazza spent time with Prine at home and on the road with the intent of writing an article about him before Prine asked him to work on a memoir about him. They ended up enjoying a two year friendship before he passed away. Piazza shared moments that showed Prine's sense of humor, his love for the simple things and the way he saw the world a little differently than most. Even after surviving cancer, Prine didn’t dwell on the past or future ... he was all about appreciating what was right in front of him (especially food and dessert!). Prine's songs were simple but packed with emotion, real life, heart and a touch of wry humor. 

I enjoyed this book. I like that there were actual interviews with Prine transcribed so we got to know Prine in his own words and his sense of humour. Prine sounds like a fun guy to hang out with. In addition to spending time with Prine, Piazza also spent time with his family including Prine's wife, Fiona, his sons and his late older brother, Dave. It was nice to see the intimate pictures of Prine as a regular guy. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Book ~ "The Names" (2025) Florence Knapp

From Goodreads ~ Can a name change the course of a life?

In the wake of a catastrophic storm, Cora sets off with her nine-year-old daughter, Maia, to register her son's birth. Her husband, Gordon, a local doctor, respected in the community but a terrifying and controlling presence at home, intends for her to name the infant after him. But when the registrar asks what she'd like to call the child, Cora hesitates.

Spanning thirty-five years, what follows are three alternate and alternating versions of Cora's and her young son's lives, shaped by her choice of name. In richly layered prose, "The Names" explores the painful ripple effects of domestic abuse, the messy ties of family and the possibilities of autonomy and healing.

In 1987, Cora has just had her second child and is heading to register her son's name. Gordon, her dominating and abusive husband, wants their son to be named "Gordon" after him and his father. Cora wants to name him "Julian". When she asks their nine-year-old daughter, Maia, what she would like him to be named, she suggests "Bear". What follows are the three different versions of the naming of their son over the 35 years. It's not the name itself that affects their lives but Gordon's reaction to the name and the repercussions.

I thought this was an interesting premise for a story ... kind of like the movie, Sliding Doors, which I've seen many times. The story is chopped up in seven year increments over the next 35 years, each covering the three name versions. I liked the writing style but I found I really had to focus because when the stories changed names and time periods, I'd have remember what was going on and who was involved. In hindsight, it might have been better to skip ahead and read all the same name sections at one time (so all the Bears, then Julians and then Gordons). As a head's up, it was hard to read the parts with the domestic violence.