Book Review - Once Brothers

Another review of one of my wife's novels. You can find her at http://pdworkman.com. She has several promos going on right now, including a giveaway of a signed copy of Once Brothers on Goodreads. 

Growing up, I was taught to stay away from the gangs and wild kids. Which was not to hard for me to do, because we did not have to deal with gangs in my day. Back then, we mostly got around by dinosaur, but I digress. For this reason, when I started reading Once Brothers, I was wondering how much I was going to hate these kids.  Much to my surprise, I found the exact opposite

The biggest lesson I learned from reading this marvelous book was the old saying you can never judge a book by its cover. In reality, we never know the real reason a homeless kid goes astray. Do you know what going on with those kids? What made those kids make the decisions they made?

I found myself in a predicament reading the book of being furious with the characters one moment and feeling sorry for them the next. Take Jacob for instance. Having a father who is a policeman is bad enough. Being constantly in the spotlight with so much pressure to be perfect. But Jacob had a much darker secret in his life. He has a smaller brother, Nicholas, who he has to take under his arm thanks to his abusive father. Jacob, a fifteen-year-old, was being forced to be a man much too young.  Jacob was looking anywhere for protection, to get away from his father. But can he leave his brother with his dad? His decisions lead to gang life. Can he get out? Can he save himself and his brother?

Deke is out on his own. He has no family, no one to look up to. No one to look to for answers. Where will he go who can he trust? How will he survive day to day? Future goals like education aren't even his priority. He first has to survive from day to day. What kind of chance does Deke have when everything seems to be against him in an unforgiving world? Is the gang life the only answer?

 

Sammy is a ten-year-old who would love to have a mother who is not always drunk or stoned. He would like to come home just once without worrying if his mother is still alive. When he is confronted by a gang who want him to be a courier, how is suppose to say no? Sammy has to make some tough decisions. Will they be the right ones?

Pam brings these kids to life in her thought-provoking novel. She makes you realize that life is not always black and white. Quite simply, life is not always as simple as it looks. She makes you think that those kids in the gang might not have the luxuries that you I take for granted.

You will find yourself pulling for these children. She will have you on the edge of your seat until the end. You won't be able to put this book down.

Are the Leafs Happy?

Let me ask the Leafs fans: Should we be happy with the team this season?

I was very pleased that we have brought up the kids and let them play. We need to know the state of our kids. We have to know exactly what we have in our prospects bank. The only way we can do that is by playing them. Honestly, we have nothing to lose. The results are not an issue right now.

Who are the kids I refer to? Finnish gold medal hero Kasperi Kapanen. Swedish number one pick William Nylander. The highly-skilled Russian Nikita Soshnikov. These are the names that come to mind when I mention the kids coming up.

The so-called tank issue is in full bloom right now.

But the tank mindset cannot enter the dressing room. Don't get me wrong; management cannot be too unhappy with losses. But they cannot allow the players to be satisfied with losing. The tanking issue has to be nipped in the bud now.

So what does this mean? Management has to be smiling on the inside, not the outside. They want to lose, but they do not want the players to want to lose.

SO WHAT CAN WE EXPECT OF THESE KIDS?

They have to do what it takes to win. We need these kids to do what got them on the Leafs roster in the first place.  Each of them needs to trust in their ability and play to their strengths. They do not have to be perfect, but they do have to care, and they have to try.  They will make mistakes, but they have to learn from those mistakes. For in a true player's heart is their ability to cover their weakness. The Leafs have to start breeding champions.

I have no doubt that all three kids will be on the roster next year.  So why not prepare them for the days ahead?

SO HOW CAN THEY BE GRADED?

By playing them in every aspect of the game. They have to play in power play units.  Do they know how to distribute the puck?  Do they know where to position themselves in the powerplay? Are they getting in position to receive the puck? They must be constantly aware of where the puck is.

They have to play in penalty kill situations. Are they defensively sound? Are they responsible in their own zone and do they cover their man? Are they me players or team players?

All these questions have to be answered. The only way to get to know the kids is to play them. Remember, they are our future.

Analyzing the Flames' Season

Originally blogged at Flames Jambalaya.

What word describes the Calgary Flames' Season?  Would it be underachievers?  Would it be unprepared?  Would it be disappointment? More than likely, all three of those words come to mind for most Flames fans.  If I was honest, maybe some other words, which I cannot use here.

So what happened?  If I ask most of you their biggest problem, you would say goaltending.

Some of you might put it on the defense.  Way too many giveaways in the offensive and defensive zones.  Defensive breakdowns were all too common.

Often there are no forwards within miles to back up the goalie. Too many floaters on the Flames this season. Forwards are staying up in the neutral zone waiting for the puck to come to them.  For some reason, this team’s grit has long gone south for the season.

Some may say the offensive scoring has to improve. Let's face facts. Outside of Johnny Hockey, would you give anyone a passing grade? No doubt this puts a lot of pressure on the goaltender.  Most nights, the Flames score only one or two goals.

That being said, the defense has taken a beating this season. Most of the time they were playing like they were walking on eggshells. The tender was guaranteed to give up at least one bad goal a game.

The defense is under pressure to play 100 percent mistake free because they have no confidence in the Goalies.  Add the pressure of the offense not being proficient enough to overcome inept goaltending.

All of this causes the enormous pressure on the defense not to make mistakes.  They jump at every chance they can, which usually results in way too many 2-on-1’s.

Then there is the other issue; their prima donna attitude. In other words, certain players are not willing to do what it takes to win.  Which is not being taken well by certain vets in the locker room.

If the rumors of a divided locker room are true, there could be a much deeper problem.  I have not been able to confirm it, but rumors of the Flames divided locker room are out there.

None of these problems can excuse the Flames.  There is way too much talent on this team for them to have such a poor season.

Flames: Crap is crap. What the heck?

Originally blogged at: http://www.flamesjambalaya.com/2016/02/crap-is-crap-what-heck.html

After the incident Monday morning with Hartley leaving practice, someone has to worry that maybe Hartley has lost a little control of the dressing room. Are the inmates running the asylum? If this were the first time, I wouldn't worry, but this is not the first time this has happened. Hence, my alarm, or should I say, concern on this incident.

The Flames have been inconsistent at best. In fact, the Flames have been more awful than good. And this incident really worries me, because a team in shambles should not be doing the crap they displayed on Monday, February 8th.

There is no excuse for this, and I understand why Hartley did what he did. The players have to realize that the season is on the line here. If they continue to play the way they are playing, they may not be able to recover. Which will result in major changes in the offseason. Trust me, it will happen.

Stupid, lazy players are taking off whole periods at a time. Too many times I have said the Flames have to play a full 60 minutes. I, for one, am tired of seeing a very bad powerplay. They have done nothing all season and continue to struggle.

Forwards giving up on plays, floating in defensive zone coverage. Too many breakdowns in their zone. Defense caught standing still while opposing forwards skate around them, and no forwards to back them up.

Then let's talk about the goaltending. Actually, let's not, and pretend we did. At least they have been outstanding since the All-Star break. Unfortunately, it's way too late to save the season. I, for one, wonder why it took them so long to show up.

So you tell me, what gives these players the right to be so happy and pull the stunt they pulled on Monday? This happy-go-lucky attitude may very well mean the end of the Flames. Good on Hartley for doing what he did.

More to life than hockey, a tribute to my wife

If my wife had told me that I would have read seven books of hers, I would have called her crazy. Not because they are bad books, but simply because I am not a reader. Truth be told, it is a testament to the books.

A while ago, I decided to enrich my life, to include more than just hockey. I wanted a better existence. I started reading her books and could not put them down. Now I have read seven of them.

I thought I would give you my thoughts on my favorite top three. I may do a review of the other four. But as this blog ended up being longer than I thought because of how much I love these three books.

1. Looking Over Your Shoulder

A brain-teasing thriller that addresses the very important issue of mental illness. You are sitting there wondering if Abe actually is being watched. This book will keep you on your edge of you seat until the end. It will get you heavily invested into Abe, and it will have you cheering for him from cover to cover.

As you watch Abe, you wonder if he is going to crack and how far. Can he handle the pressure? Will he do something that he will regret? Can he keep his family safe? Can he convince them that he is not going crazy?

What will his wife do? Can she trust him? What can she do when it comes to protecting the family? Can she keep her family from imploding? Can she allow her children to see their father?

Looking Over Your Shoulder emphasizes the importance of family. It reminds us of how grateful we should be for what we take for granted in our lives. It really puts the issue out there: How far would we go to keep our children safe? What would we do when we lose our trust for our spouse? A genuine thriller that will keep you guessing until the end.

2. Cynthia Has a Secret

This book is so good because it could be real. It shows what could really happen to families if they continue to ignore the real issues. Carmina Knight has everything taken away from her. She has to reevaluate her life and her ideals as she loses her family and her possessions.

You learn how she was raised and it makes you realize what kind of influence you have on your own children. You may not think they listen, but they do. Carmina was raised to believe her parents' ideals. You learn how Julius Knight's ideals led his child down the wrong path. It is a chilling reminder that unrighteous dominion is real and how it can affect the family unit.

With every battle she has, you find yourself hoping Carmina can win. It gives you a true understanding of self-worth. As Carmina gets to know and love herself, you are proud of her for what she accomplishes against the odds.

We read of a wonderful mother, Esther Knight, and what mental illness stole from her as she was forced into the shadows of the domineering male in the home. You hope that somehow her influence can shine on Carmina and somehow help her in the end.

You hope as Carmina is forced to live on the streets that she finds a friend to rely on and help guide her through the homeless life. You find yourself wondering if you can trust her friend Toto, or if he will he just use her.

Cynthia Has a Secret is an enticing story that keeps you wanting more, at the same time reminding you how important your role as a father can be. It gives you true insight into what a domineering enforcer can do to a youth's life.

3. Questing for a Dream

A truly inspiring look into aboriginal life in Canada. Questing for a Dream shows you the prejudice that we as nation have against the Native peoples. As I was reading about Nadie Laplante's life, I began to learn more about myself.

I recognized the judgments she was facing. I was so upset at the other characters; but at the same time, I remembered the times I saw Natives on the road hitchhiking and how I judged them because of their appearances.

Nadie was a good girl who was raised in a rough life without a mom. She was raised by her grandfather. You watch them struggling together with what the world gives them. You watch Grandfather battle with his demons, and Nadie’s fight against those demons as well.

The only way Nadie could win her battle was by facing them. In order to become whole, you have to remember you are not whole.

Questing for a Dream taught me some of the traditions of Native heritage. I truly had no idea of their beliefs. It gives you a true insight into the Native life. It gave me more respect and taught me to be more careful about judging people on first impressions. Never judge anyone until you have worn their shoes.

For those do not know, I am writing this on my anniversary to my wonderful sweetheart. With fondest regards, I give tribute to her and her writing. She is a wonderful wife and mother with a real gift for writing. I look forward to reading more and more of her books. With each book, I learn to love her talent more.

You can find her at http://pdworkman.com and you can find her books on any of the major online bookstores such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iBooks. The links in this blog will take you to Amazon.

Randy

Leafs Choices... What to do...?

I have been going over this again and again. And I suspect I am not the only blogger. This issue is what to do with JVR? He is probably playing the best hockey in his career. The price would go through the roof right now. The question is, do we dare trade our best asset for the future?

The business side of me says absolutely; it would speed up the rebuild. The Leafs need to do this the right way, building up the assets as much as we can. The more picks and prospects, the better our chances are that they will pan out. As we know, predicting whether a prospect is ‘can't miss’ is a crap shoot. The more crap shots we get, the more future players we get.

So the next question about the Leafs is the Bernier play. What do they do with him? Bernier has one more year left on his contract, and Reimer is a UFA. So… what to do, what to do… Does Reimer deserve a contract offer? Which one do the Leafs keep? Or do they sign both? My pick is to trade Bernier; again, simply because we can get more assets for him.

Do the Leafs want to win this year? Obviously, they are not going to go public and admit they aren’t aiming to win. But let's face facts. No one wants to win this year. For the rebuild to be successful, it has to be painful. We have to keep the bare bones and sell off the rest to the highest bidder. It will get far uglier before it gets better.

Randy