As the population ages the issues of the elderly become more widespread and crucial. Robin Cohen Westmiller has written a factual, detailed story of her family's struggle with guardianship abuse. She has courageously told the story of what she, her children and, most importantly, her parents suffered from a system not prepared to face the realities of this theft and mistreatment. Ruby and Regina Cohen worked hard all their lives taking care of their business, their daughter and their extended family of nieces and nephews. Retirement should have been a time of relaxing together to enjoy the security of family and financial stability. A small stroke changes all that. Ruby suffers a stroke that mildly seems to alter his thought process. For many years he had spent a few weeks in Florida on vacation while Regina stayed home. His health seems to preclude another visit but calls from his niece convince him to go. Nothing his wife or daughter say can convince him that he is not in shape for the journey, not mentally or physically . In March 2004 he got a friend to drive him to the airport and flew to Florida. That was the last his wife would see him for close to 2 years. What follows is an eye opening tale of the difficulties of fighting a system that is not set up to protect the well being of the elderly. Ms Westmiller's cousins were able to convince Ruby to file for divorce from his wife, refuse to see or speak with his daughter and granddaughters, attempt to empty his bank account and not return home. . As his health becomes worse and worse, Ruby is confined to nursing homes and hospitals. Even the court appointed guardian, the hope to change the situation, continues to drain his bank account, continues the divorce proceedings and let the cousins have a say in his life. Ms Westmiller must battle for her parents future in New York while her father is trapped in Florida from her home in California.  --Front Street Reviews

*****

I read to escape reality and to assure myself that there will be a "happily ever after" ending. I let other reviewers tackle the non-fiction novels. However, on rare occasions, a non-fiction book captures my attention. Such is the case with "Blood Tastes Lousy With Scotch". What can one person do when the justice system is set up in such a way that distant relatives, lawyers, and state approved organizations can LEGALLY STEAL your parents' entire life savings and financial assets? The answer is nothing, unless that one person is ready to step up to the plate, chance losing everything they own, and happen to have a miracle or two occur. If your parents live over 3,000 miles away, the chances are worse. This is exactly what Robin Cohen Westmiller faced and won. Ruby and Reginia Cohen grew up during the Depression Era. They worked hard all their lives tending their bakery business in Ellenville, New York. Robin Cohen Westmiller was their only child. Robin, her husband Bill, and their daughters lived in California; totally across country. As the events in this book were happening, the daughters were in school. Robin, herself, was enrolled in college, as a law student. In the spring of 2002, Robin's mother called to inform her that Ruby had suffered a minor stroke while working at the bakery. Seventy-nine-year-old Reginia was able to take care of her husband though and did not want Robin to fly all the way to New York. The stroke forced them to sell the family business. Ruby had little or no damage physically, but his memory and mental faculties were severely impaired. Robin had no idea how badly her father was impaired though. The beginning of the end occurred in March 2004 when Ruby flew to Florida, against Reginia's urgent pleas, to visit his niece, Gail. Gail immediately began using Florida's weak justice system to imprison Ruby within the state of Florida, begin stealing all of Ruby and Reginia's financial assets, keep Ruby hidden from his immediate family.---Huntress Book Reviews

*****

This was a terrific read. Robin opens the door on America's nasty little secret. Our vulnerable citizens are being hunted and incarcerated by court supported and encouraged predators whose only interest is in how much they can steal from those too helpless to stop them. Robin shares the story of her struggle with her father's "guardian." She struggled mightily to free him while the guardians and their loathsome attorney struggled to keep him so they could continue to loot and plunder the assets he spent a lifetime working to acquire. These were assets he sacrificed to save for his old age and for his grandchildren. With great difficulty, Robin got him out of their insatiable jaws, but they got away with most of his assets. This is a cautionary tale of greed, deceit, and the probate court's inability or unwillingness to prevent it. Robin exposes a problem that if we don't fix it, will put us all at risk of being held hostage by predatory "guardians." --Sharan Denny