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.

Adventures of a Lightkeeper: A Memoir by Barry Porter

Adventures of A Lightkeeper: A Memoir by Barry Porter is, quite simply, a romantic recounting of the maritime lifestyle of light keeping on the rugged northeast coastline of Newfoundland. Written with passion and great respect for the solitary life such a profession brings, Porter's book opens the door to these beautiful beacons of light and provides an exclusive tour of these lonely behemoths and the mystique for which they have become famous. 

Born to a farming family in Porterville, Newfoundland, Barry Porter was a young welder who started his career in Alberta, as a lot of young Newfoundland trades people do. He interviewed for an offshore welding position on the prized drilling rig the Ocean Ranger but quickly made the decision to leave the offshore life and the welding profession on February 15, 1982 after the tragic sinking of that drill ship. As one would say, the rest was history. Porter applied to be a relief lighthouse keeper with the Canadian Coast Guard and would devote the next 23 years living and working near the sea as lightkeeper in four different locations. 

I observed Mother Nature at her finest and sometimes at her most wicked. Every day, I would walk out on the helicopter pad nearby or onto the rocks, anchor my two feet, and just breathe, taking it all in, standing on the very edge of the cliff, binoculars gripped in hand, with the wild ocean churning below me. Scanning over the turbulent seas, I let the salt air blow over every inch of my skin and my soul. The endless sky, the clouds, the sea conditions, the wind direction and it's strength, the visibility, the colours - my senses were on overload. Most days I could see for endless miles, right to the horizon, where the sky would drop into the sea. It was so beautiful and so peaceful but also wild and dangerous. 

The recounting is a well balanced combination of intricate details and facts combined with beautifully written descriptions and thoughts, allowing the reader to gain a complete and full understanding of the time and place in which the author is describing. Whether it is the light station on historic Exploits Island or Long Point Lighthouse on beautiful Twillingate Island, Porter's life consisted of more than just operating a light and fog horn. Maintenance and upkeep of grounds and buildings were paramount and aiding in search and rescue operations were expected. Not to mention the administrative tasks of maintaining logbooks and weather reports. Readers will come to enjoy the many photos throughout the memoir that chronicle Porter's life as a lightkeeper. However, it was not all work and no play. There were many entertaining CB radio chats and opportunities to meet interesting people like Dr. Jon Lien, Geoff Stirling and Captain Peter Troake. But some of the more poignant memories recounted by Porter were of the intense moments of loneliness. Maintaining traditions like a freshly cut and decorated Christmas tree or a hot home cooked meal as well as frequent communication with home helped to ease the homesickness. It would be remiss of me not to mention Porter's canine companion and lighthouse beagle, Gypsy, who was by Porter's side 24 hours a day through three different lighthouses. This book was a relaxing and easy read, often enjoyed with a fresh hot brew, that opened my eyes to the adventures of remote living.

I was three-quarters through my lengthy shift on Bacalhao Island when I started to count off my days. I would hardly look at a calendar until I was a few days over the halfway mark. That was in my constitution out there. Winter months were always the longest, especially on this remote island. Sometimes, if you were lucky, the Marine Aids Office would send out a couple of technicians to repair the furnace or install a new Lister motor. In that case, the men would usually have to stay at the lighthouse for a few days. To have company and another person to talk to was always a pleasant change. 

Adventures of a Lightkeeper by Barry Porter is a great book that will whisk you away to another life, during another time when lighthouses were manned by adventure seeking, brave young souls who didn't mind being keepers of the light. It is a Flanker Press publication. 

 

If I Cry I'll Fill the Ocean ~ The Catherine Linehan Young Story as told to Ida Linehan Young

 

A quick Google search of North Harbour, St. Mary's Bay returns colorful images of a quaint Newfoundland community built on the shores of the cold North Atlantic. The single two lane road that hugs the shoreline is dotted by the homes of its 200 or so residents. Fishing stages, boats, and a community church sit reverently in the quietness of this village place. Up on a grassy hill in the seaview graveyard sits a row of five headstones, each telling the sorrowful story of a tragic day in June 1980, when Catherine and Edward Linehan lost five of their 10 children in a horrific house fire. If I Cry I'll Fill The Ocean is the true story of Catherine Linehan as told to her surviving daughter, author Ida Linehan Young. 

They are the absence of light. Like shadows bruising where the sun cannot see, though the picture is bright on the canvas. Every second, every minute, every hour has that shadow. It moves and darkens and lightens but is there. The absence of five lives that she bore while the weight of motherhood remains, the weight of love for what is missing. 

Written as a tribute to her mother's resilience as well as to acknowledge the unfathomable loss that her mother has endured, Ida Linehan Young portrays the life of a woman who has "traversed the uncharted swamps of grief".  The "vignettes" are masterfully penned and presented in three distinct parts; The Before Compartment, The Chasm, and The After Compartment. Such thoughtful and well planned organization highlights the compartmentalized life her mother has been left to endure, evoking a depth of sadness within the reader that is difficult to contain. Told in her own mother's words, Linehan Young does an excellent job at portraying Catherine's "layered life" since the tragedy 40 years previously;  happy and smiling on the outside but stricken with the loneliness of grief and the personal daily struggle of an event where the calendar is forever turned to June 19, 1980. Surrounded by a wonderfully supportive community, family and friends Catherine is left to navigate an unimaginable void and the memories of what could have been. The strength and courage of Catherine to push through each day despite the complex challenges of daily living are pitiful but instead the reader is left inspired and hopeful that she will eventually catch a break.  Readers will laugh and will cry but will certainly feel great admiration and a deep respect for Catherine. As Linehan Young intended, this story does provide a sense of peace, hope and gratitude especially to those who, like Catherine, are left to bare "the weight of emptiness" and "suffocating absence". In some strange way, the Linehan story has an undeniable therapeutic quality that makes one feel as if any hardship can be tackled and overcome.

If I Cry I'll Fill the Ocean is Ida Linehan Young's sixth novel. Though this true story is a departure from her previous four novels of historical fiction, this story is very much a personal journey of discovery for the author. Having suffered her own trauma as a survivor of the fire as chronicled in No Turning Back: Surviving the Linehan Family Tragedy (2014), this is Catherine's story; a novel that ends the speculation of one woman's suffering and is an honourable tribute written by a daughter in an attempt to piece together and make sense of such an extraordinary mother. If I Cry I'll Fill the Ocean is a Flanker Press publication. Please check out other books by Ida Linehan Young by visiting the Flanker Press website.

She is not Queen Elizabeth, nor Joan of Arc, nor Amelia Earhart, nor will she be recorded in the annals of history. She is Catherine (Power) Linehan from North Harbour, St. Mary's Bay, and an inspiration to many whom she's encountered over the years.