"Nova Scotia Politics 1945-2020: From Macdonald to MacNeil" by Graham Steele is an engaging overview of Nova Scotia’s political history from 1945 to 2020. Steele combines historical facts with his own experience as a former politician, making the book both informative and personal. He explains important political events, leaders, and issues in a clear and easy-to-understand style, which keeps the reader interested even if they are not very familiar with politics.

One of the book’s strengths is its balanced perspective. Steele discusses both the successes and failures of different governments while showing how politics affected everyday people in Nova Scotia. The book also highlights important topics such as economic development and environmental controversies.

Although some sections may feel detailed for readers who are not interested in politics, the book is overall insightful and well written. It is a valuable read for anyone wanting to learn more about Nova Scotia’s history and government.

The History of Rain is a neat little book. I wouldn’t read it again, but it was certainly interesting. It held my interest because it was a story about a disfigured man named Rain, who had to go about life with his new appearance after getting injured during the war. I forgot how gruesome and vulgar wartime media is/was, and so I didn’t love those bits. I understand that it’s a reflection of the culture/time period and all of that, but it’s not quite for me. In the realm of historical fiction I do like wartime stuff, but for my age and preferences… I might stick to romance novels haha.

Book: Bloodwork
Written by: John Graham-Pole
Published by HARP

Bloodwork by John Graham-Pole was such a good but devastating book. Readers follow our main character Moraig (also known as Raig) as she finds out that she has a debilitating Cancer diagnosis. Raig just wants to control something in her life but can’t. What she does changes everything.

Like all of Mr. John Graham-Pole books this one hit me hard and I loved it! I think I enjoy all of these books because I can connect with the books but especially Bloodwork because when you get sick, you often can’t control anything and this book truly showed that control and connection should be first priority for Hospital staff.

I truly cheered when Raig got better and I liked the fact that she eventually became a nurse to help other young patients with Cancer to get better.

I think anyone who wants a heartwarming book that may make you cry should read this book. I think it is very similar to The Fault In Our Stars by John Green so if you liked that book then you should definitely check out Bloodwork by John Graham-Pole!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 ( I want to rate it 10 stars)

Name your Game
By: Marlene Campbell
It is winter in PEI and Daniel MacDougall is ready to tackle this New Year. He has his schedule all balanced out so he can work, renovate his soon to be home, chores at his in-laws, act as captain for his hockey team all while trying to spend time with his family. Everything is going well until the mortgage on his house is due earlier than he expected. Daniel’s schedule just got more hectic when his hockey team makes it to provincials and now he needs to come up with $1200 within five weeks for his mortgage. Daniel is doing his best to work for the money while trying to fulfill his other roles as a husband, father and a captain. There just isn’t enough hours in the day! Will Daniel choose between his team for a once in forever moment or work extra hours to secure his family’s future.
I thought this book was ok. In my opinion I felt the story was a bit slow. Through the entire book the narrative kept jumping back and forth between characters, so it made it a little hard at times to follow along. Other than that I thought the story did a good job portraying the conflicting feelings of Daniel needing to figure out how to get the money without sacrificing anything he cared about and trying not to put stress on anyone else. I feel this book describes what most parents strive to do. I rate this book a 3/5.

``Life Sentence`` by Amy Bell is a powerful mix of true crime, memoir, and local history. The book tells the story of Bell’s father, who defended two men accused of killing police officers in 1974. While he believed that everyone deserved a fair trial, the case ended up destroying his career, damaging his reputation, and deeply affecting his family.

What makes this book stand out is that it is not only about the crime itself. Bell also focuses on the emotional impact the case had on everyone involved, especially her father and her family. She is very honest about her relationship with him, showing both the love she had for him and the hurt she felt because of the choices he made. This makes the story feel much more personal and emotional.

I also liked how the book explored flaws in the justice system. It raises important questions about fairness, guilt, and whether defending someone accused of a terrible crime is worth the cost. Bell stays neutral throughout the book, which makes it easier for readers to form their own opinions.

Overall, ``Life Sentence`` is a sad but meaningful book that is hard to put down. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys true crime, courtroom stories, or books that explore family relationships in a thoughtful way.