Light, humourous and poignant, this first novel is a coming-of-middle-age story for Shinny as she settles in to being an unlikely matriarch for her family.Now that her mother has passed away, Shinny finds herself in a position that she never thought she'd encounter, leading her children and grandchildren as they deal with life's triumphs and failures. But could a well-meant bending of the truth change the very fabric of her family? One thing is for sure: eight-year-old Matthew's "research" for school has uncovered a far different past than the one Shinny knows. Set in Vancouver, Shinny comes to terms with her changing role in the family, finds new romance, and seeks revenge on the slick-talking mutual fund manager who has cost her thousands of dollars.