Can everyone be a parent? What if you don’t have the typical 9 months to prepare? What if, one day, you unexpectedly find yourself the legal guardian to a 2½-year-old after his parents are in a tragic car crash? Could you cope?
French Canadian Bern Fortin is a young retiree at 45. Bern cut short his military career as a Canadian Forces commander to become the coroner for a small mountain town in BC. Bern's history in war-torn counties still haunt his everyday, but he escapes his symptoms of PTSD by burying himself in his gardening hobby. Evie Chapelle just turned 40 and buries herself in her job as the safety manager for Kootenay Landing's main employer Bugaboo Brewery.
Bookalicious Guest Blogger Tara Wagg had the opportunity to enjoy the novel Idol Hands and interview the author Cynthia Hill. You can find out Tara's take on Cynthia's character "Tara". Read on to see what I mean!
Mother's Day 2009 was a pivotal day for me, not just because my husband and two boys were spoiling me that day, but this was the day when Erica Ehm called to offer me the book blogger position with YMC. It's been 3 years and what a wild ride it has been! I've had the privilege to work along side so many fabulous bloggers, terrific YMC staff members, and wonderful Canadian publishers. It's like a dream come true for a book blogger to have the opportunity to work with awesome authors and help them promote their work!
In the 1950s Barbara Arrowsmith-Young was a child growing up with multiple learning deficits. She had considerable difficulty relating to the world on several levels and her parents were told their daughter had a "mental block." Taking this "diagnosis" literally, Barbara pictured a square cube in her head, blocking her brain from working properly. Barbara's world was confusing and incomprehensible. She was frustrated with this disconnect but refused to accept her limitations.
If you stopped by to read this blog about books then you're probably already aware of some great places to read reviews, share recommendations and catch up the latest literary news. I have a few favourite places of my own and wanted to share some sites and what they can offer to avid readers.
Different Kinds Of Special is a wonderful children's book that celebrates the differences that make us all unique. The delightful story shares a message of inclusion, acceptance, empathy, and friendship across differences. Donna Carol Koffman is a Canadian author and poet.
If you're using Pinterest—and I really mean the word using—you know how addictive this social media sharing tool can be. It starts out as an innocent hobby but it can quickly turn into a full blown obsession to PIN EVERYTHING YOU LIKE and hard to quit habit! Seriously though, it can get that bad once you start following other pinners' pinning activities and start "liking" and "repinning" their stuff all over your boards.
Sometimes one's true identity can be a bit of a mystery. Sharon is a housewife in her forties with a family...but who is she really? Sharon has secrets and psychological trauma. How does she cope with her memories? She alters her reality. Sharon has Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) aka Mulitiple Personality Disorder.
Over the past few weeks there's been some creative videos that have been floating around the television screen and the social media scene. In case you missed out on all the fun, I'm sharing them here so get ready to laugh and be transported by books!
If you like stories about crime, spies, sleuths and PI's sprinkled with a dash of whimsy and peppered with witty writing then Lisa Lutz has the secret formula for you in the form of her Spellman series.
Do you love to listen to the radio? What about the commercials? Do you turn the channel as soon as a particular advertisment comes on? Are there some catchy jingles that just stick in your head? What's with all these questions? Well, did I get your attention? We could all probably share a few likes and dislikes when it comes to radio ads. This is where I get to introduce you to this very accomplished but very modest Canadian treasure named Neil Hedley.
Catherine The Great is one of the most intriguing and powerful figures in the history of women rulers. Eva Stachniak is the bestselling author of the award-winning novel Necessary Lies and the Garden of Venus. Her recent novel The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine The Great tells a tale of young princess Sophie's destiny to rule as Catherine The Great. Her story is told through the voice of Sophie's servant Barbara.
Valentine's Day is approaching so you might notice there's a little something something in the air. Is it love? Is it lust? Is it more like "whatever happened to us?" No matter the state of your love life, I'm sure any one of us could use a tip, or a trick or two in the romance department. To celebrate all there is to offer our mate, tempt cupid's bow or just leave it all up to fate, Random House of Canada has a Bodacious Books prize pack for one very lucky Bookalicious reader!
Have you ever wondered what you would do if faced with making an end-of-life decision for a family member? What would you want your family to do if you were incapacitated and not able to consider your own options? These are some of the questions that arise in Jodi Picoult's new novel Lone Wolf.
I've always been a fan of British comedies. Absolutely Fabulous was a big fave for me and of course the original version of The Office is still on the top of my sitcom list, along with anything involving Ricky Gervais. When The Office was adapted for a North American audience I was thrilled to bits to follow the new cast of characters and their workplace drama.
It's a new year and once again we hear it's time to make resolutions. If prompted many people would say they would like to get in better shape, lose weight or organize their lives, but what about finances? Is it time to put yourself on a debt diet? If you think it's about time you take control of your money, stop wasting it away, find a way to decrease your debt and figure out where to invest to save for your retirement?
About 18 years ago my grandmother gave me a copy of 1001 Cookie Recipes and it's been the blame for many cookie cravings and an inspiration for many cookie baking sessions. My grandmother isn't with us anymore but her cook book collection and recipes were handed down so family members can continue cooking, baking and making memories for years to come.
