A Baby Whale Ventures North by Samantha Baker

Come along and frolic in the waves with a baby humpback whale and her Momma as they travel from their breeding grounds in the south to the northern coastal waters of Newfoundland in Samantha Baker's second book A Baby Whale Ventures North.  As the two mammals swim side by side on their long journey the humpback calf learns so many things about it's ocean home and the many sea creatures that share her habitat. From learning to feed on capelin to taking deep dives and resurfacing for air, the young calf delights in the many sights and sounds that the coast has to offer. But most importantly, the calf learns that her mother is always by her side! 

A Baby Whale Ventures North is the second collaboration for daughter and mother duo, Samantha and Dawn Baker. Author Samantha Baker does a superb job at chronicling the journey of these two majestic ocean mammals! The tale is simple and delightful, tenderly written with a most uplifting message. Baker superbly weaves tidbits of information about the growing calf throughout the entire narrative, invoking excellent opportunities for inquiry and questioning, while at the same time introducing children to the many seabirds, fish and crustaceans that make the North Atlantic their home. The illustrations, by Dawn Baker, are bold, colorful and action oriented and reinforce the theme that all living things have needs supported by our adult caregivers, our mothers. They present wonderful opportunities for young children to interact with this Science themed book. I particularly enjoyed the "Did you spot?" section of the book where readers are encouraged to go back into the text and look for "6 Blue Mussels" , "3 Common Sea Stars", or "2 Common Terns". It is also nice to see iconic Newfoundland images like Signal Hill and, what looks to be, the Cape Spear Lighthouse incorporated throughout. An excellent addition to a home library and school resource centre, A Baby Whale Ventures North is simply a stunning book for the little person in your life. Congratulations, Samantha and Dawn Baker, on another wonderful collaboration! This book is a Flanker Press publication.

 The summer is coming to an end and the baby whale feels much braver than she did when she first arrived in the North Atlantic Ocean. She is eager to show off to her mother and leaps out of the water! Her mother proudly watches. .... Though the calf's world is about to change again, one thing remains the same: her mother will be by her side.

Murder At Lover's Leap ~ A Novel ~ By Patrick J. Collins

It is August 1927. Sergeant Frank Fallon is back on the beat at the Newfoundland Constabulary office in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland when reports of a ghastly discovery of two bodies at the foot of Lovers Leap is reported. Upon investigation Sergeant Fallon discovers that one of the men is the school teacher from the neighbouring community of Bristol's Hope, Mr. Nicholas Peddle, found clutching a woman's shawl with a superficial stab wound to the neck. The other severely injured deceased victim, an unknown gentleman with an interesting but crudely executed tattoo, is lying face up a short distance away. Fallon and estranged partner Christine Sullivan spring to action and quickly discover that Master Nicholas Peddle is not the well respected school teacher characteristic of the time. Over the course of the next four days, some deep secrets regarding the school master's conduct are uncovered and the list of possible suspects continues to grow until eventually the trail grows cold. Fast forward fifty years, 88 year old Fallon receives an unexpected phone call from the RCMP with news of a discovery that just might break this case wide open. Will an artifact recovered from the path near Lovers Leap bring closure to this unsolved mystery? What really happened on that August night?

From where he was standing, the shoreline leading to Lover's Leap was visible almost as far as the cliff itself, but it disappeared into a cove just before O'Keefe's Grove. He was glad he had tossed the hat and jacket earlier. It was a good half-mile jog to Lover's Leap. With his bad knee and feeling greatly under the weather, Frank wasn't at all confident he was up for the jaunt. But duty called. 

He braved a steady pace for the first few yards. The uneven pathway made the run even more challenging, forcing him to carefully place each and every step. Until now, he hadn't appreciated the degree of elevation as he moved along the headland. Within minutes he slowed to a fast, limping walk. Taking a lot longer than he thought, he arrived near the ledge of Lover's Leap, puffing and blowing.....He saw a thick rope dangling over the precipice. One of the men was securing a heavy line around his body, while the other was busy lashing the rope around a nearby tree. It was obvious to Frank that one of them was about to rappel down the face of the 100-foot cliff.

Murder At Lover's Leap is the twelfth publication for retired educator and author Patrick J. Collins. Inspired by a pair of true "but equally unnerving events", Collins' inspiration for this second narrative is based on the attempted double murder of two young lovers who, back in 1864, found themselves at the base of Lover's Leap. This unsolved crime coupled with the discovery in 2021 of a lead casing containing a badly deteriorated note suggesting that a murder was about to occur was the impetus for this latest narrative. Collins does an excellent job of crafting a tightly woven crime story utilizing these two events and seamlessly incorporates other factually accurate tidbits of information. Being a lover of Newfoundland history, I particularly enjoyed how the author was able to weave the construction of the Harbour Grace Airfield into the story while at the same time utilizing this local lore to aid in the construction of characters that are central to the story. 

As in Collins' previous crime thriller, Body On The Beach, this most current work also features the      detective-sleuthing of the romantically inclined duo of Detective Frank Fallon and investigative reporter Christine Sullivan. Collins crafts a crime thrilling story using authentic characters that are real and relatable while putting forth a narrative that will keep readers turning the pages to the very end. In this follow up novel,  the author effectively uses a flashback technique to pique the interest of it's readers. At the beginning of the story,  the author presents a very senior sergeant tormented by an unsolved double murder that had taken place 50 years previously, intrigued by the discovery of evidence that could lead to solving the crime. Readers are then taken back to a very different time and place as Frank Fallon relives the investigation and tells the story. At the beginning of the novel readers will get a sense that Fallon's continued struggle with "the bottle" is the result of some past triggering event, which will become clear at the end and readers will certainly be sympathetic with Christine's reluctance to continue the relationship with Frank under such conditions. As clues and suspects pile up, their commitment to each other is tested.  Readers will come to enjoy the flirtatious antics of the Irish barmaid Fiona who tries to serve more than just brew to the broken hearted Sergeant and interest will be piqued when the cocky son of Judge Donnelly makes a play for Christine. Readers will be happy to know that all will truly be revealed in the end when we find ourselves sitting with an elderly Mr. and Mrs. Fallon awaiting the outcome of the recent discovery. 

Murder At Lover's Leap by Patrick J. Collins is a well written crime thriller with expertly researched historical touches. The subplots that run parallel to the mystery provide an extra layer of interest that pulls the reader in, resulting in an entertaining and enjoyable read. I highly recommend reading Collins' first crime thriller, Body On The Beach,  for ultimate enjoyment however Murder At Lover's Leap is a great stand-alone mystery that really doesn't require the reader to have any background information. Murder At Lover's Leap ~ A Novel~ is a Flanker Press publication. 

 

 

Me and Issy ~ A Four Seasons Romance

 

Me & Issy is the Cinderella story of author Rosalie Wise Sharp. Her rags to riches autobiographical account spans seven decades and details how a young, woman from a poor, immigrant family meets and falls in love with a man, Isadore Sharp, who would one day change the course of her life. Rosalie's story tells of her early beginnings in a North Toronto home. Growing up in a Jewish family surrounded by households that were not of the same faith was difficult. The author speaks candidly about her parents and family, and even steps back in time to a dark period when many of her relatives were lost in the Holocaust. However, her chance meeting of the man who would eventually become her husband and hotel resort pioneer, is a true love story that transcends time. Their partnership in life and love would eventually yield a family of four sons and an ever expanding Four Seasons hotel chain valued at $10 billion U.S. today. And to think that this was the brainchild of a man who once earned just $40 per week while his wife diligently raised their children and worked hard to kick start her own career in art and design? With the triumphs, however, there was defeat. When their son Chris was diagnosed with cancer and eventually passed at the tender age of just 17, this powerful duo did not buckle under the sadness and the loss but were strengthened in their resolve to support other families and victims of cancer by establishing the Terry Fox Foundation. As an accomplished woman in her right,  Rosalie continues to work in partnership with her husband to make a difference in the lives of her own family and in the lives of others. 

Snooping around in our childhood is our days occupation during this year of the pandemic 2020. We are after answers. How did it happen that my husband and I are still best friends and lovers after 69 years? How did our random journeys from childhood fit each other as easily as my Apple earbuds slide seductively into their sleek white case? How did it happen that Isadore has become a global hero both to us and to his 40 000 employees? And why do we fly first class in a private plane and live in a rather nice house? Maybe the answer can be found in patching up the past, probably a regular pastime of all of us old fogeys although we don't admit to being old, just "older". Isadore and I come from similar privileged beginnings. Not moneyed but rich as only an immigrant household can be. 

Me & Issy ~ A Four Seasons Romance is quite simply an enjoyable and inspiring memoir. Leaving no stone unturned, the author Rosalie Wise Sharp is honest and forthright in laying out her life to the world. Readers will appreciate the conversational style and will immediately feel at home with the author, as if they were sipping tea from her beautiful china, sharing secrets of her love life. Supplemented by family photos from the past to the present, as well as colored photos of the author's artwork, readers will gain a greater appreciation of Sharp's seven decade story with anecdotes that evoke emotions ranging from sadness to surprise, anger to happiness. All in all, this little piece of Canadiana was an inspirational read. Rosalie Wise Sharp's memoir is more than just an immigrant success story but rather a tale of lifelong love with an unfailing partnership and service to others at its core. Me & Issy is an ECW Press publication. 

 

Rig Wives ~ Stories Edited by Kelly Earle

 

Told with honesty and gratitude, Rig Wives by Kelly Earle is the biographical/autobiographical tale of partners and wives of rotational oil rig workers. Earle provides a candid sneak peak inside the lives of families who are left to to keep the home fires burning while the lure of a lucrative living calls their men to the icy North Atlantic. In an easy to read format, this first time author details her own loneliness, depression, and struggles of adjusting to a part-time husband and Dad while dispelling the many myths encountered from her female friends, acquaintances and co-workers who just "don't get" the lifestyle. The fear and ever present danger of rig life is real, as detailed in the recounting of past tragedies, but experienced differently by different families. In relating both her positive and negative encounters, Earle relates the feelings and experiences of other couples; some who have adapted and live strong healthy marriages and others, unfortunately, who grew apart and were unable to withstand the pressures. Readers will also appreciate hearing from the "rig kids" who provide their own interesting perspectives about having a Dad that works offshore. One cannot help but feel teary eyed when these children recount missed birthdays and holidays. 

Offshore oil rigs are among the country's most dangerous workplaces that put rig workers at a high risk of injury and death. As I sit here with a cup of tea in hand, the house quiet after another day of "joyful chaos," I can't help but wonder if Jamie is warm in his bed, does he sleep as soundly as he would at home, does he feel safe?- all the little things I take for granted at home and which he is probably wishing for out there. 

The author does a superb job at relaying the triumphs and tragedies of a life common to many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. For decades our people have had to leave their families and communities behind to make a living elsewhere. This book provides an interesting perspective by those left behind and is a small tribute to their perseverance and resilience in holding down the fort while maintaining a house and a home.    

Old Broad Road/On The Rock by Phyllis L. Humby

When 63 year old Sylvia Kramer showed up in Chapel's Cove, Newfoundland she was far from ready to embark upon another love affair. That, however, is exactly what happened. Still in shock over her recent divorce from husband Paul, after what was perceived to be a marriage rooted in love and respect, and estranged from her adult children and grandchildren, Sylvia was broken and in need of an escape. A one way ticket to an east coast destination is what Sylvia seems to need; a place where she would be embraced by warmth and friendliness, eclectic people and unknown dialects, new delicacies waiting to be explored. A healthy dose of the North Atlantic is indeed the tonic that brings new life to Sylvia but evil lurks in all corners of the world and Sylvia is certainly forced to endure her share of the worst, plunging her into a tailspin of depression and doubt and experimentation with unorthodox coping strategies. Old Broad Road and On The Rock by author Phyllis L. Humby is the two part, two novel story of one woman’s will to survive and to make sense of her seemingly senseless world. 

On Route 60, I pulled the truck over and walked to a bench at the shoreline. My breath quickened at the natural beauty of Conception Bay as I gazed across the horizon. The drizzle had ended and the sun was remarkably warm. I removed my jacket to soak up the rays and then stretched my legs out in front of me until I settled into a relaxed position. My eyes grew heavy.   

I could see myself, arms outstretched, walk to the water's edge. Cautiously hop from rock to boulder. The blue sea lapped around my feet. The water crept up my legs past my knees. It stretched up my thighs and circled my hips, the silky surface luring me to its depths. My feet drifted off the rocks. My body submerged into the mysterious wet underworld. The icy water warmed me as I succumbed to the zenith of serenity. 

 (Old Broad Road)

In this two part series, Humby crafts a beautiful story that is masterfully written in the first person. In many respects,

the story has an “Eat, Pray, Love” feel with the main character Sylvia embarking upon a voyage of self discovery and new beginnings.  Though there are some heartbreaking incidents throughout both books that test Sylvia’s resolve,  this amazing piece of Canadiana is more about how love and friendship can conquer all. It is very much a feel good story that the reader just won’t want to put down and the tragic events are just part of that story. Humby also pens beautiful descriptions of an outport lifestyle that would be the envy of any writer. Her descriptions are factually accurate and truly invite the reader to become part of the story. Likewise, the author creates a wonderfully diverse cast of authentic characters that are as colourful as the jelly bean row houses located in old St. John’s. Instrumental to the development of the story and to Sylvia’s own personal development, the characters are funny and joyous, humble and adventurous. They are a wholesome mix of hearty Newfoundlanders (and some “Come From Aways”), a group I secretly wished to be a part of especially when they got together for celebrations and dinner parties.

Old Broad Road and On The Rock by Phyllis L. Humby is the story of one woman’s love affair with a place and with people who are just good for the soul. This book will leave you laughing, smiling, and crying and definitely booking your next adventure to Newfoundland. Phyllis L. Humby lives in the municipality of Lambton Shores, Ontario. She is the author of Hazards of The Tree, Old Broad Road and On The Rock published by Crossfield Publishing.