At once humorously serious, "Golden Cages- Illusion of Freedom", is a moral story about some of the most important life lessons. It is a story of the unconditional love between a man and his mentor and how that love helped him grow and flourish despite the struggles presented by his estranged relationships, life patterns, and programmed principles.

Allegiances are broken, choices are made, and Ryan has no alternative but to pick between the two women he loves. His mother, Maria, ridiculously refuses to give up control. His wife, Clara, has surrendered under duress. Which wolf Ryan feeds will determine the outcome. Either way, there are consequences and destructive aftermath to deal with. Ryan gathers his courage and makes his move, knowing full well that he could lose it all in the process.

Ryan sticks with the counseling, despite his constant instinct to flee. He learns to let go of the heavy influences that shaped his current dysfunctional reality. The ghosts of the past come out to haunt him. This leads him to learn more about the family's past and its generational traumas which undoubtedly have been inherited and are now being passed down to his own children.

Francis has not divulged much information about himself, which unnerved Ryan from the start. He claimed to be an Indigenous American elder but doesn't look much like one. Ryan is stunned and embarrassed about how he treated Francis in the beginning. Especially when Francis finally unveils the truth behind his childhood and how he became who he is today. Francis' unorthodox methods and customs all make sense in the end.

Being flipped upside down proved to be what he needed after all. Ryan realizes that his whole life was one big lie. He is finished with hiding the truth about himself from other people. Francis teaches him how to show what his feelings truly are while learning to man up at the same time. With his newfound skill of normalizing difficult emotional experiences, Ryan finally understands the sanctity of the word honour. He makes a new plan with Andrew to help others. He has a new pattern and program to live by now and a different story to tell.

A tale about an ordinary man- an orphan! -an extraordinary can of Coke. This novel of stability vs. vulnerability is an absolute knockout- sure to render its reader conscious!

"Follow my lead, and I'll help you get lost."

- Kimberley A. Doucette -