This week's book reviews, by Connie Forst, as submitted for publication in the Tofield Mercury.

Breaking the silence : veterans' untold stories from the Great War to Afghanistan / Ted Barris

Describing combat, imprisonment or lost comrades from the wars was thought to be reserved for Remembrance Day or the Legion lounge. Nobody was ever supposed to see a soldier get emotional, or show their vulnerability. About 25 years ago, Ted Barris began breaking through this silence. Because of his unique interviewing skills, he found that veterans would talk to him, set the record straight and put a face on the service and sacrifice of men and women in uniform.  

The perfect Christmas / Debbie Macomber

Thirty-three-year-old Cassie wants a husband and kids, and she turns to Simon Dodson, a professional matchmaker for help. Dodson assigns her three tasks to complete, and despite a number of comical mishaps, Cassie completes them all. Her Christmas match turns out to be a wonderful surprise.           

Lakeshore Christmas / Susan Wiggs

The prim librarian is finally getting her choice to direct Avalon's annual holiday pageant, and she's determined to make it spectacular. But it might just require one of those Christmas miracles she's always read about.  

The professional / Robert B. Parker

A knock on Spenser's office door can only mean one thing: a new case. This time the visitor is a local lawyer with an interesting story. Elizabeth Shaw specializes in wills and trusts, and over the years she's developed friendships with the wives of very wealthy men. However, these rich wives have a mutual secret: they've all had an affair with a man named Gary Eisenhower - and now he's blackmailing them for money.  

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