One of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole

OMG!!!! What a continuous mind twist! The plot slid about like a living thing, every time you thought you had a grasp, it slithered away again! Not only was I able to learn something about DID (dissociative identity disorder), but I was also introduced to one extremely kickass author - Alyssa Cole - whose other works I shall be searching for.

Kenetria Nash was hoping for a career as a historical preservationist. That is until a breakdown and a simple diagnosis shattered her life and dreams. Ken suffers from DID, Disassociative Identity Disorder. A rather fascinating disorder that had me falling into the black hole of the internet for hours as I learned about it. As it is with most disorders, life went on, although Ken vanished into the inner realms of her mind and let one of the ‘alters’ front for her. That is, a different identity led life for everyone within. 

When Ken suddenly finds herself back ‘in front’ after a six year ‘hiatus’, she is about to embark on what sounds like a wonderful adventure. Perhaps a second chance to make her dreams come true, which one of the alters had found a way to set up. A job as the caretaker of the historic home on the isolated Kavanaugh island in the Hudson River. Determined not to ruin what could be the opportunity of a lifetime, Ken speaks very little and listens much. 

She should have listened to her gut when it didn’t want to board the little boat taking her to the island. After all it did sound far too good to be true. With the help of the groundskeeper, Celeste, Ken is able to survive the first night. A night which apparently kills people. There’s numerous tales of goblins, ghosts and witches and death. Enough to arouse Ken’s interest and make her wonder just what she is stepping into.

A nor’easter blows in just as the home’s conservation trust comes to visit the island. Ken finds herself well and truly trapped on the supposedly haunted little island with a group of people who may well be dangerous, the leaders of which are faces from her past. The only person who could possibly be on her side is Celeste. Twisted tales of historical events blended with bloodlines and equally twisted minds set Ken and her alters on edge. They must actually find a way to come together and save themselves from the deadly ending that is closing in on them, both in the inner world and the outer world. 

I would love to say that I just couldn't put this novel down, but exhaustion from work and life had me reading in fits and spurts. However, IF l'd had a choice, it would have been a binge/marathon read!

This is a dark thriller and a mystery, with a very light sprinkle of romance. A tale whose very existence will haunt the darker corners of your imagination!

Alyssa Cole

William Morrow 2024

Harper Collins Publishing 

The Wicker Witch by Cheryl Low

 

 

Charlotte Crowe and best friend Rebecca Greenleigh were born and raised on the mountain, their ancestors having carved out an existence and built the town of Wicker within its stony embrace.

 

There had been a dreadful price to be paid all those generations ago. A price whose gruesome details had been all but forgotten. A price which hadn’t been kept up and was now overdue. An evil has now begun to walk the mountain. A relentlessly savage darkness which calls the mountain its own. An evil which has no interest in sharing what it claims to have created.

 

Charlotte and Rebecca are in for the battle of their lives if they are to have any hope of saving their loved ones, themselves or their beloved mountain home. How can they have any hope of defeating the seemingly invulnerable.

 

The characters are so well written they might well be living and breathing. Their families, friends and the town folk all come into play. More and more of them is revealed every time they pass through the pages, fighting to survive and escape the grasp of the Wicker Witch.

 

There is not one wasted word in this enthralling tale, each and every one feeding into a well-plotted culmination of adrenaline and terror.

 

Be prepared! This novel will bring a torrent of emotions while the tale hurtles along at harrowing speed, weaving through sunlit glades and the darkest of forest shadows towards an unanticipated end.

 

Rarely do I give 5 stars, but this is definitely one of the deserving. I could NOT put it down!

Crystal Lake Publishing

 

The Woman Outside My Door by Rachel Ryan

 

Secrets are never a good thing to keep from loved ones. Georgina finds this out all too well when someone targets her son posing as his ‘new granny’. She’s already dealing with the recent heart wrenching loss of her mother, and a confessed minor infidelity from her husband adds to the sense that there is danger lurking in every nook and cranny of her existence. Can no one be trusted? Neighbours, friends and even family all fall under suspicion as the plot unfolds, leaving Georgina completely alone and in fear for her son.

This is a new voice which cross-sects the suspense, psychological thriller and mystery genres. A great multi-level read that had me suspecting four different characters! I look forward to hearing far more from this talented writer.  

Simon and Schuster Canada 2020

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

I was more than intrigued by the publishing campaign for Greenlights. I am not normally interested in memoirs, but this is so much deeper and meatier than your standard memoir! Matthew McConaughey is a bit of a wild child, a throw back to a time when life was a little less frantic, and while not my favourite actor, he is perhaps one of the people I most respect in this world. He lays his entire life open for readers and listeners to share. From the laughter to the tears, the amazing leaps of intelligence that piece together an amazing philosophy on life make this book worth every cent and then some!

I treated myself and got the audiobook. Not only do I get all of McConaughey’s wisdom and life story, but he is actually narrating it. His warm and inviting voice wraps around you, holding your attention rapt while he divulges the priceless information on the business of living that he has gleaned over the years. Greenlights is filled with poetry, prescribed notes for living, bumper stickers and some good ol’ honesty that the world seems to be missing in spades! It is as inviting as the warm golden lamp that sits in the window during a snowstorm to light the way.

Matthew is a unique man, a "McConaissance" man for certain. Not only multi-talented but he excels at so many of those talents! A wild child, as I said, but a father, husband and man who lives freely within the many responsibilities he shoulders. Pick up the book in any of its forms and catch a greenlight or two with this magical man. I highly recommend the ride!

 

 Penguin Random House Canada

#penguinrandomhouse

#greenlightsbook

#matthewmcconaughey

 

 

How A Woman Becomes A Lake by Marjorie Celona

It has been quite a while since I have been sucked into a book so quickly and completely. Marjorie Celona has a gift for crafting characters of great such interest and such depth that they seem to belong in the non-fiction section; their emotions and reactions have an amazing realism about them. They are not easy to let go of once you put the book down... or, perhaps, it is the characters holding onto you.

When a woman takes her dog for a morning walk at the lake  in the morning on New Year’s Day, there are numerous directions, complete with various twists and turns the tale can take. These only increase in number when she finds a young boy standing in the snow, alone and freezing, and almost forces him into her car for warmth. Her gorgeous dog is an unwitting lure to the boy.

Neither of them knows at this point that the world is about to shatter and spin out of control in ways that nobody could have predicted. They will both be launched into a lifelong nightmare of silence, although for one of them, it will be all too short.

I honestly cannot see this title in the mystery genre, it is perhaps more fitting for thriller. It is a slow pace, but it is steady and unrelenting. I would highly recommend this title to those who like a good solid read! It kept me a little unbalanced throughout... just when you are sure you know what is coming - nope!

Born and raised on Vancouver Island, BC Canada, author Marjorie Celona’s debut novel, Y, won France’s Grand Prix Littéraire de l’Heroïne, and was nominated for the 2012 Scotiabank Giller Prize.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC!

#NetGalley
#HowaWomanBecomesaLake

A Tune on the Mist by Celtic Knotwork

This is an intriguing group, to say the least. Celtic Knotwork was begun by Mary Baxley as a casual partnership with harpist Christie Saunders, who has since left the band but appears here as a guest musician. It would seem that Celtic Knotwork is not such a casual endeavour anymore, which is a lucky thing for those of us who enjoy Celtic music.

This is a Scottish-American group which integrates a diverse blend of vocals - singing in English, Broad Scots, and of course, Gaelic - as well as instrumentals. According to themselves, they "celebrate the tradition of Scottish and Irish music." And this CD is a testimony of that celebration, being a very lively and uplifting selection of both traditional and original compositions.

Celtic Knotwork is Mary Baxley (lead vocals, bodhran, guitar), Ken McCormick (classic guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin, vocals), Jason Nickerson (lead vocals, keyboard, transverse flute, whistle, accordion, highland pipes, small pipes), Judy Warner (fiddle, keyboards, vocals), with guest Christie Saunders (harp). Together they provide a very mature and polished sound for a first CD; singularly, they are all accomplished musicians with a great deal of experience.

The title (and first) track of this CD is an original composition by Ken McCormick and Jason Nickerson. It begins with the waves rushing in and out on a beach and a flute solo: simplistic and yet beautiful. The waves cease as the rest of the group joins in. The song becomes harder and more intense as it goes along, only to end with the flute and the waves, a circle from beginning to end and back again.

Sir Walter Scott provided the words to "MacGregor's Gathering." Mary Baxley's versatile vocals come straight from the heart to create goose bumps and a longing to transcend time itself and join the gathering. This track begins with the pipes, and the vocals are in English and danced about by a mournful fiddle.

The shortest track on the disc is a traditional one, "The Butterfly." It is flawlessly performed a capella by the entire group. Their voices harmonize and blend exquisitely, providing an all-too-brief treat.

I really enjoyed reviewing this CD, and realized that Celtic Knotwork is somewhat similar sounding to another group I really enjoy: the Rankin Family.

Sadly, I can find nothing at all online about this group. I fear that they have called it quits somewhere along the line, and definitely wish them well in what they are doing. If you are lucky enough to find a second hand CD somewhere, give it a listen!

APT= 50:35

A Tune On The Mist
The Stormy Seas of Cape Horn / Am Muilean Dubh
Macgregor's Gathering
The Butterfly
S'ann An Ile
Cold Blows The Wind
The Duke of Edlentown / The Duchess of Gordon
O'Carolyn's Ramble to Cashel
Love Gregor
Wee Elisabeth
Alaisdar Oig Mhic 'ic Neachail
Lord Lovat's Lament / Johnny Cope
Griogal Cridhe

Camp Cooking: 100 Years from the National Museum of Forest Service History

I love to cook. I love to camp. A book entitled “Camp Cooking” is right up my alley! I also love to experiment with old recipes, and some of the ones in this book are just grand. I found a whole new use for my Dutch oven, as I’d been using it for making beans in and nothing else. What a waste! All these years and I could have been using it while we were out camping.

Sourdough is a weakness that I will readily confess to, and I let my starter slip out of my grasp a number of years ago. However, there is one here that is wonderful! You’d never know it was the same starter you’d been nursing for years. I put together the starter and then when it was ready, I borrowed the backyard fire-pit for a time and pretended I was out camping. Some bacon drippings and a couple of cups of sourdough starter, and I had a loaf of bread baking away in my Dutch oven. It was incredible!

Around here we tend to like our eggplant fried in onion and garlic, and served up with a little parmesan sprinkled on top. I spotted this recipe for “Batter Fried Eggplant” and had to give it a try. With spices like curry and ginger, it really aroused my curiosity. For this one I just used a cast iron skillet over hot coals and an inch or so of oil. They came out golden and kicked French fries off of the map!

Desserts are a favourite, whether there’s company or not. The Dutch oven was put back into use for “Easy Peach Dutch Oven Cobbler,” since late summer peaches are available and juicily delicious. This recipe had three ingredients, easy to carry on a camping trip! It took a little finesse, ensuring that the correct number of briquettes were in use and that the oven was rotated on schedule. However, when it was done, this delicious cobbler did serve 8-10 people and was lip smacking with ice cream served alongside. Next time I’m trying the cherry cobbler!

There are some newer recipes here as well, they’re not all old. So you can really have a good time trying out new things and old while enjoying a peaceful camping trip at the lake, or the ocean, or wherever you happen to be. I would suggest bringing a copy along with you, though, it could prove invaluable!

Published by: Gibbs-Smith 2004

Raincoast Books