It is with much sadness I report that my father-in-law passed away on January 10^th, 2014. He will be deeply missed by my family. My wife has also had two surgeries in the last three months, so life has been a challenge lately, and there has not been any time for hockey book reviewing.

Now, however, things have settled down. I am slated to receive a book in the very near future, and this will mark my return to the hockey book review “world.” Keep an eye out for my next review...

As a side note, although not hockey related, I have published an adventure novel. The title is Cascade Caper. It's available on Amazon. Check it out.

I haven't posted anything for about two weeks now. This is because of some unpleasant family circumstances. My wife's father is dying, and all of us are spending as much time with him as possible.

I haven't done much reading at all lately, let alone any hockey books.

With Christmas thrown in as well, I highly doubt I will be posting any reviews until after the new year.

Thanks for your support... Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays.

 Today, I'm reviewing My Last Fight: The true story of a hockey rock star, by Darren McCarty, with Kevin Allen.

McCarty made his way to the professional ranks the old-fashioned way; he earned it. He fought tooth and nail, threw body checks, and basically clawed his way to the Red Wings. He would become a huge fan favorite as part of the “Grind Line,” a fourth line checking unit who's job was mostly to shut down and prevent the other team's top players from scoring.

He speaks candidly about the issues that he faced and dealt with during his career; drugs, alcohol, trying to deal with the fame that came as a popular player at bars and clubs. His never-back-down attitude was likely seen by many as a facade, and yet, as an NHL tough guy, that was his role on the ice that spilled over into life off the ice.

McCarty's book is a no-holds-barred trip through his 4 Stanley Cup titles, the ups and downs of his career, and a very honest look at his post-hockey life. Some of the language may not be for the faint of heart, and yet, it seems to suit whatever story he may be telling at any given moment. It's easily a wonderful tale of a player that had quite a bit, was at the peak of the sport, and came crashing back to earth, and is content with where he has settled at present. Perhaps that's the best way to finish... being content with life after everything else has come and gone...

Special thanks to Triumph Books for making this title available for reviewing purposes!

Link to Triumph Books: http://www.triumphbooks.com/products/my_last_fight_/1572436631.php

Link to Powell's City of Books: http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9781600788857-0

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/My-Last-Fight-Story-Hockey/dp/1600788858/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386113271&sr=1-1&keywords=My+Last+Fight%3A+The+True+Story+of+a+Hockey+Rock+Star

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-last-fight-darren-mccarty/1115150419?ean=9781623686796

One more review for today... I'm reviewing Fighting Back: The Chris Nilan Story, by Chris “Knuckles” Nilan.

Chris Nilan played nearly 700 games in the NHL, racking up more than three thousand penalty minutes. It is safe to say that he probably took on every single heavyweight player in the league in his career, plus anyone else who was willing “to go” as well.

But there was more to him than just the penalty minutes. From his upbringing in some mean streets in Boston, to playing NCAA college in Boston, he managed to not only prove himself, but make a name for himself. Drafted 231^st of 234 in the 1978 NHL Entry Draft by Montreal, he faced the longest of odds just to even make it to training camp or the minors in the AHL, but Nilan managed to not only make it, but he would become a mainstay of the Montreal roster for several years. He would win a Stanley Cup ring in 1986 as well.

But it was after his career ended that the most difficult of challenges began to mount. Alcohol and drugs began to take their toll on Chris, making family life difficult.

This is the story of a man who rose to the highest highs in the NHL, won a championship, fell all the way down, somehow cheated death, and fought tooth and nail all the way back. In an ironic twist, Nilan is now counseling teens against bullying. He even has his own brand of hats and shirts to promote his message: Never Back Down, Never Stay Down. I’d say that it's an apt message. You can check that out on his page at www.knucklesbrand.com or his own page at www.knucklesnilan.com

In closing, I was eagerly waiting for a chance to read this book. I was not disappointed. I am fairly certain that, by the time you reach the end, you will not be either.

Special thanks to Triumph Books for making this book available for reviewing purposes!

Link to Triumph Books: http://www.triumphbooks.com/products/fighting_back_/1572436676.php

Link to Powell's City of Books: http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9781600789670-0

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Fighting-Back-Chris-Nilan-Story/dp/1600789676/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385786336&sr=1-1&keywords=Fighting+Back%3A+The+Chris+Nilan+Story

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fighting-back-chris-nilan/1115221716?ean=9781600789670

 I'm catching up on reviews today, so here's a second to keep you interested while you munch on those Thanksgiving leftovers.

This book is titled The Boston Garden, by Richard A. Johnson and Brian Codagnone.

It's one of Images of Sports collection by Arcadia Publishing. These books have wonderful pictures spanning decades of history.

Boston Garden opened on November 17, 1928, for a boxing match. Three days later, the Boston Bruins began playing hockey in the arena. For nearly 70 years, it would play host to numerous sporting events and concerts.

The Boston Bruins won hockey Stanley Cups, the Celtics won more than a dozen basketball titles, and large numbers of college tournaments were held as well. There is even a full page picture depicting the December 12, 1933 Ace Bailey/Eddie Shore Bruins game incident. Everything is pictured and explained in probably the best manner I've ever seen.

On November 10^th 1971, Elvis Presley made his only appearance in Boston Garden, while on September 12, 1964, the Beatles played their sole concert in the Garden.

No doubt, there are plenty of pictures of history being made, and this book is a wonderful pictorial testament to the history of the Boston Garden and it's strong impact on the city. Sadly, the arena closed in 1995, yielding to the Fleet Center. The Garden had to be dismantled slowly, rather than be imploded, due to extreme proximity to other structures. Long may the memories live!!

Special thanks to Arcadia Publishing for making this title available for reviewing purposes

Link to Arcadia Publishing: http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/9780738511528/The-Boston-Garden

Link to Powell's City of Books: http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9780738511528-0

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Boston-Garden-MA-Images-Sports/dp/0738511528/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385767292&sr=1-2&keywords=The+Boston+Garden

Link to Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/boston-garden-richard-a-johnson/1100604764?ean=9780738511528

 Today, I'm reviewing Unmasked, by Bernie Parent, with Stan Hochman.

Bernie Parent played goalie for Philadelphia in the late 1960s and the mid to late 1970s, winning two Stanley Cup titles, in 1974 and 1975. He also won the Conn Smythe trophy both years as the playoff MVP.

The book has a nice, almost low-key style to it. Unlike some books where a player will focus heavily on his childhood, due to key issues growing up or stressing a particular method of upbringing, Bernie's book moves quickly into hockey career in the junior ranks, and then up to the minor pros.

Along the way, he talks about his teammates in Philly, being traded to Toronto, leaving the NHL for the rival, rebel WHA, and then returning to Philadelphia and leading the Flyers to the promised land, not once but twice.

I found one moment to be particularly poignant; the moment where, during a game against the Rangers, the end of a hockey stick was somehow, accidentally, pushed through the eyehole of Bernie's goalie mask. See, back then, the goalies wore masks that resembled the “Jason Voorhees/Friday the 13th” mask.

Players tried multiple times, but no one was able to recreate just how it happened. All Bernie knew was that he was blind in one eye. His career was over, just like that. There is, however, ultimately a positive to this particular story. Sixteen years after that freak accident, the one that took his eyesight, Bernie met a doctor that would change his life. This doctor, through a long surgical procedure, restored Bernie's vision to 20/15.

As the book closes, Bernie reflects on the state of today's hockey game, for better or worse. He also looks back on playing in the Winter Classic Alumni Game, with the Flyers Alums.

All in all, it's a wonderful book, by a Hall of Fame goalie. You don't have to be a Flyers fan to really get behind Bernie and his jovial outlook on life. I'm sure anyone who saw me reading probably wondered why I kept smiling. Read the book and you will find out as well.

Special thanks to Triumph Books for making this title available for reviewing purposes

Link to Triumph Books: http://www.triumphbooks.com/products/unmasked_/1572436509.php

Link to Powell's City of Books: http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-9781600787614-0

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Unmasked-Bernie-Parent-Street-Bullies/dp/1600787614/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385765763&sr=1-1&keywords=Unmasked%3A+Bernie+Parent+and+the+Broad+Street+Bullies

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unmasked-bernie-parent/1111318001?ean=9781600787614

 Today, I'm looking at Keith Magnuson: The inspiring Life and Times of a Beloved Blackhawk, by Doug Feldmann.

Keith Magnuson was a defensive standout for Chicago between 1969 and 1980. He probably experienced just about everything in his tenure with the team, except one thing; a Stanley Cup championship. He did see the rise of Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita, he watched as the WHA came and raided the NHL rosters, tearing apart a Blackhawks team that could have challenged for the Stanley Cup, and he saw the departure of Bobby Hull to the WHA.

Not to mention the constant string of injuries that, for many players, would have pulled someone out of the line-up much more often. But, somehow, Magnuson stayed in, and thrived. He simply would not allow any excuses to keep him out of the lineup on a nightly basis. He was very well liked and appreciated by his teammates and coaches, not to mention the opposition, who respected him every single game they would face him.

Although told by someone else, in this book you really get a feeling for what “Maggie” was like. From the stories by his teammates, he was the type of player who would give almost anything and practically everything to someone if it meant they would benefit from it.

On December 14, 2003, Magnuson was riding in a car driven by former NHL defenseman standout Rob Ramage. Ramage lost control of the car, and crashed. While Ramage would survive his injuries, Magnuson would be pronounced dead at the scene. The ensuing memorial would be attended by so many that over 200 people had to sit in another room with the services being shown on televisions.

Maggie's number three would eventually hang in the rafters of the United Center, a fitting tribute to a defenseman that “did it right, every night.” What better legacy need be said?

Special thanks to Triumph Books for making this book available for reviewing purposes.

Link to Triumph Books: http://www.triumphbooks.com/products/keith_magnuson_/1572436622.php

Link to Powell's City of Books: http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-9781600788314-0

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Keith-Magnuson-Inspiring-Beloved-Blackhawk/dp/1600788319/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385012386&sr=1-1&keywords=Keith+Magnuson%3A+The+Inspiring+Life+and+Times+of+a+Beloved+Blackhawk

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/keith-magnuson-doug-feldmann/1114986815?ean=9781600788314