Donna has created a great tale with lots of Italian flavor in its pages. Her characters are believable and easy to relate too. I enjoyed the cover, it is a picture perfect of its content. The story, its characters, and the many saints that Antonia prays to are very real in the protagonist’s life.
Antonia, the main character, is a fifteen-year-old catholic schoolgirl living in the world of today. Like many other girls her age, she spends hours trying to figure out a way that her knee high uniform looks cool, beneath her mother’s strict scrutiny. However, unlike many girls her age, she knows and keeps a diary of a zillion saints and knows who to ask for all the favors she might need, every moment of the day.
She has a crush on a young man from the men’s Catholic school, yet her friend Michael spends a lot of time chasing her. Michael is the flirty type and calls every girl love, which Antonia disapproves of. Nonetheless, the boy she likes doesn’t pay any attention to her, but this is not going to discouraged her.
She is more than sure that every girl in the school has been kissed but her and she is dying to have that experience for herself. Yet, she isn’t going to let it happened with just anyone, specially not with Michael.
Antonia had devotedly written letters to the Vatican suggesting herself as a living Saint, every month for nine years. Each month is for a very important reason. Perhaps it has to do with her father dying in an accident, the month before she show more started her quest to sainthood. Her widow mother—the best Italian pasta maker in Rhode Island— is in charge of the family business, where Antonia, her mother, and grandmother live. Her mother is taken right out of an Italian Family, with mode-isms and a fiery vocabulary to match her Italian blood. It makes for many entertaining moments.
Her teenage life becomes very exciting when her mother hires the love of her life to work in the family store, and when she goes to a forbidden dance and gets busted. I recommend this book to anyone older than twelve years. Girls will identify with the protagonist and find it fascinatingly fun. show less
Antonia, the main character, is a fifteen-year-old catholic schoolgirl living in the world of today. Like many other girls her age, she spends hours trying to figure out a way that her knee high uniform looks cool, beneath her mother’s strict scrutiny. However, unlike many girls her age, she knows and keeps a diary of a zillion saints and knows who to ask for all the favors she might need, every moment of the day.
She has a crush on a young man from the men’s Catholic school, yet her friend Michael spends a lot of time chasing her. Michael is the flirty type and calls every girl love, which Antonia disapproves of. Nonetheless, the boy she likes doesn’t pay any attention to her, but this is not going to discouraged her.
She is more than sure that every girl in the school has been kissed but her and she is dying to have that experience for herself. Yet, she isn’t going to let it happened with just anyone, specially not with Michael.
Antonia had devotedly written letters to the Vatican suggesting herself as a living Saint, every month for nine years. Each month is for a very important reason. Perhaps it has to do with her father dying in an accident, the month before she show more started her quest to sainthood. Her widow mother—the best Italian pasta maker in Rhode Island— is in charge of the family business, where Antonia, her mother, and grandmother live. Her mother is taken right out of an Italian Family, with mode-isms and a fiery vocabulary to match her Italian blood. It makes for many entertaining moments.
Her teenage life becomes very exciting when her mother hires the love of her life to work in the family store, and when she goes to a forbidden dance and gets busted. I recommend this book to anyone older than twelve years. Girls will identify with the protagonist and find it fascinatingly fun. show less
Compulsion, by Jennifer Chase tells the story of Emily Stone’s secret pursuit of serial killers, especially those who prey on children. Once upon a time she was a police officer in her small town but soon realized that she had a knack to figure out how the killers mind work. Her best friend is an officer in the force and he help her with her pursued of justice for the families and the child kill. She utilizes sophisticated high tech equipment both in her car and at home to track and identify suspects. She is very prolific with her surveillance of the suspect so they will have no excuse to be put away. She then notifies police authorities anonymously so the killers can be caught. She meets Detective Rich Lopez when a serial killer strikes her California beach community. Her neighborhood’s serenity is shattered when a sinister neighbor moves in and soon Emily finds herself being pursued. The reader is drawn into her thrilling cross-country chase for safety.
I have enjoyed reading Freezing Point this past week. It is an intriguing tale of two different groups of people who find themselves in opposing roles but still connected to each other in the cold Antarctic. The one group collects icebergs to melt into water for the needs of the population in different parts of the world.
The other is a group of scientists that includes the diabetic wife of their leader together with two environmentalists who are not currently activists, yet are very much in tune with the planet.
All seems to be well until the diabetic woman gets pregnant and is keeping it from her husband or she will be shipped back home where she can have the care she needs. But her studies are important enough that she doesn't want anyone to know. She spends her days with horrible morning sickness that she hides by finding a cave where she goes to puke every morning.
Then they discover some neighbors, a pack of rats that are multiplying at a fast pace and have changed their habits to survive in this cold place. They start to hunt in packs and can kill most anything in just minutes. Then to add to the chaos, all of a sudden, people start to get sick with weird symptoms that start to be displayed by some in the scientific community. The mystery graduates to an even higher level when dead people start to pop up.
In the meantime, the group on the biggest iceberg known to that date is trying to melt it with a new wave created for this purpose. Everything is going fine until show more the best men in the group start to have memory problems and act radically in many ways. Then the man that is second in charge of the multi-million dollar project is found dead on the iceberg.
The pressure for a return on investors' money is great in the company especially after months without an iceberg from which to get water. For this reason the head of the company (and brother-in-law to the dead man) keep the manner of his death secret, which in turns starts a rumor that the dead man died as a result of the new waves they are using to melt the iceberg. This further incites the environmentalists against them.
This book will keep you in suspense every minute, making it hard to put down. The characters are believable normal people put into a frustrating and unusual situation in the coldest place on earth. Nonetheless, in the mist of harrowing experiences, the survivors manage to discover a secret that can change human life forever.
The author did a great job of representing the life and surroundings of the Antarctic and the nearby countries. The only thing I would like to add is that it is not an every day occurrence that policemen in my country, Chile carry an automatic weapon. Neither do they use them to keep peace amongst the people. They used them in Punta Arenas to keep peace with our neighboring countries and to make sure all recognize that we claim sovereignty over a piece of the Antarctic. I recommend this book for all lovers of mystery and suspense, but it is not for young readers. You will enjoy the surprising end to this freezing tale. show less
The other is a group of scientists that includes the diabetic wife of their leader together with two environmentalists who are not currently activists, yet are very much in tune with the planet.
All seems to be well until the diabetic woman gets pregnant and is keeping it from her husband or she will be shipped back home where she can have the care she needs. But her studies are important enough that she doesn't want anyone to know. She spends her days with horrible morning sickness that she hides by finding a cave where she goes to puke every morning.
Then they discover some neighbors, a pack of rats that are multiplying at a fast pace and have changed their habits to survive in this cold place. They start to hunt in packs and can kill most anything in just minutes. Then to add to the chaos, all of a sudden, people start to get sick with weird symptoms that start to be displayed by some in the scientific community. The mystery graduates to an even higher level when dead people start to pop up.
In the meantime, the group on the biggest iceberg known to that date is trying to melt it with a new wave created for this purpose. Everything is going fine until show more the best men in the group start to have memory problems and act radically in many ways. Then the man that is second in charge of the multi-million dollar project is found dead on the iceberg.
The pressure for a return on investors' money is great in the company especially after months without an iceberg from which to get water. For this reason the head of the company (and brother-in-law to the dead man) keep the manner of his death secret, which in turns starts a rumor that the dead man died as a result of the new waves they are using to melt the iceberg. This further incites the environmentalists against them.
This book will keep you in suspense every minute, making it hard to put down. The characters are believable normal people put into a frustrating and unusual situation in the coldest place on earth. Nonetheless, in the mist of harrowing experiences, the survivors manage to discover a secret that can change human life forever.
The author did a great job of representing the life and surroundings of the Antarctic and the nearby countries. The only thing I would like to add is that it is not an every day occurrence that policemen in my country, Chile carry an automatic weapon. Neither do they use them to keep peace amongst the people. They used them in Punta Arenas to keep peace with our neighboring countries and to make sure all recognize that we claim sovereignty over a piece of the Antarctic. I recommend this book for all lovers of mystery and suspense, but it is not for young readers. You will enjoy the surprising end to this freezing tale. show less
The awesome continuation of Aragon is a highly likable story full of mysteries and more magic. We left The young Aragon with his dragon hurt and with an invitation to visit the land of the elfs where he will find a teacher who will help him find the inner strength he posses. Aragon is challenge to his limits by the elfs some of whom like him and others who don’t. His connection with his dragon become stronger to the point that together they made a great weapon. His enemies fear him and his friends see him as their savior. This great writing and awesome tale will keep you turning the pages until late at night.
5 stars.
This is a well-written tale of four very intelligent classmates that by chance get a “right day” for themselves and those who come in contact with them.
The story begins with Destiny, a girl in her sixteenth year, living in a boarding school—the last of many. She has been surrounded by monotonous schedules day after day since she was sent to the boarding schools when she was seven years old. But this day was to be a different day; this day she was going to break the rules and take whatever came. She would have done it by herself but the beautiful car idling under a tree with no one in sight was too good to be true. However, she didn’t know how to drive so she had to find someone who would be willing to be an accomplice.
Seth is a year older and had his own car before coming to the school two months earlier. He is the only one she knows who can drive. It didn’t take long to convince him to come along since at that moment he was doing garbage duty, a truly unfair punishment. They start their adventures as they take the car and drive off. On the way out of the school they drive by the windows of all the classrooms.
Mira is an outgoing peacemaker that had adopted Destiny as her friend although Destiny doesn’t allow herself friends. She saw them and goes out to get in the car with them. Her teacher was out of the room for a moment so her escape went unnoticed.
As they drive by the hospital, right before making their get away, the school geek walks by show more pinching his nose with blood in his hand. He gives them one look, and he, too, gets in the car. Thus these four completely different souls drive for miles toward a new destiny together.
Although they weren’t the best of friends, fate has put them together for a greater purpose. In that day’s adventures they find friendship and much more. The foursome was able to put to rest many of the difficult things they had each endured during their short lives. Destiny is the one that has suffered the most, and thanks to her newfound friends, she is able to find peace and a brighter tomorrow.
This book is full of real life experiences and the shadows they leave behind over those that must go on when they collide with our lives. It deals with separation, love, death, friendship, and hope; all feelings that we must learn to cope with at any given time. Some of them are feelings that we would like to keep from our youngsters, but without them they will never be who they will become. We all must face setbacks in our lives to be able to progress and become whole once again, and in this book you will find that Mary has done a beautiful job of lading us through them. I recommend it to preteens and up, especially if they are going through tough times in their lives. show less
This is a well-written tale of four very intelligent classmates that by chance get a “right day” for themselves and those who come in contact with them.
The story begins with Destiny, a girl in her sixteenth year, living in a boarding school—the last of many. She has been surrounded by monotonous schedules day after day since she was sent to the boarding schools when she was seven years old. But this day was to be a different day; this day she was going to break the rules and take whatever came. She would have done it by herself but the beautiful car idling under a tree with no one in sight was too good to be true. However, she didn’t know how to drive so she had to find someone who would be willing to be an accomplice.
Seth is a year older and had his own car before coming to the school two months earlier. He is the only one she knows who can drive. It didn’t take long to convince him to come along since at that moment he was doing garbage duty, a truly unfair punishment. They start their adventures as they take the car and drive off. On the way out of the school they drive by the windows of all the classrooms.
Mira is an outgoing peacemaker that had adopted Destiny as her friend although Destiny doesn’t allow herself friends. She saw them and goes out to get in the car with them. Her teacher was out of the room for a moment so her escape went unnoticed.
As they drive by the hospital, right before making their get away, the school geek walks by show more pinching his nose with blood in his hand. He gives them one look, and he, too, gets in the car. Thus these four completely different souls drive for miles toward a new destiny together.
Although they weren’t the best of friends, fate has put them together for a greater purpose. In that day’s adventures they find friendship and much more. The foursome was able to put to rest many of the difficult things they had each endured during their short lives. Destiny is the one that has suffered the most, and thanks to her newfound friends, she is able to find peace and a brighter tomorrow.
This book is full of real life experiences and the shadows they leave behind over those that must go on when they collide with our lives. It deals with separation, love, death, friendship, and hope; all feelings that we must learn to cope with at any given time. Some of them are feelings that we would like to keep from our youngsters, but without them they will never be who they will become. We all must face setbacks in our lives to be able to progress and become whole once again, and in this book you will find that Mary has done a beautiful job of lading us through them. I recommend it to preteens and up, especially if they are going through tough times in their lives. show less
This is a refreshing book about nature and the beautiful lessons it teaches us. The author is very knowledgeable about fishing techniques, fly tying, and species procreation. I don’t think that many in our day have the depth of knowledge he has on this subject or about nature itself. He introduces the reader to a world full of olden day mannerisms and life. I enjoyed the book for all of the information passed on through real life stories of real people.
Maxwell will enchant his readers with old personal stories about:
Horseshoes, a game that many youngsters don’t even know exists.
Saltwater salmon fishing, ice fishing, and why would a fish wear a wedding ring?
Classes on how to make flies and which one to use to get a bite.
Skunks, an animal only seen dead in our roads today.
Coon hunting, the real animals in their own habitat.
Duck hunting, bull frogs, and earthworms and how they can get you in a lot of trouble.
Healing a crow, and lessons on the life of bees.
The proper way to trap woodchucks to help a neighbor and earn some money.
A crazy bull that destroyed a garden and a moose sighting in a tranquil town.
The story of an owl and the lesson he learned.
On Love and Animals also has real life experiences like a father out of job because of an accident, an uncle who drinks too much, falling in love, losing your girl friend and finding another, only to have her gone forever. You can find many parallels between real life and the life in nature through this book.
I would say that show more many real young adult nature fans will find On Love and Animals a source of wisdom in an art almost lost in this technological age. They will enjoy fun stories to be shared on a camping trip with their families or in scout groups. I would like to see this book in all of the recreation and park visitors’ centers stores show less
Maxwell will enchant his readers with old personal stories about:
Horseshoes, a game that many youngsters don’t even know exists.
Saltwater salmon fishing, ice fishing, and why would a fish wear a wedding ring?
Classes on how to make flies and which one to use to get a bite.
Skunks, an animal only seen dead in our roads today.
Coon hunting, the real animals in their own habitat.
Duck hunting, bull frogs, and earthworms and how they can get you in a lot of trouble.
Healing a crow, and lessons on the life of bees.
The proper way to trap woodchucks to help a neighbor and earn some money.
A crazy bull that destroyed a garden and a moose sighting in a tranquil town.
The story of an owl and the lesson he learned.
On Love and Animals also has real life experiences like a father out of job because of an accident, an uncle who drinks too much, falling in love, losing your girl friend and finding another, only to have her gone forever. You can find many parallels between real life and the life in nature through this book.
I would say that show more many real young adult nature fans will find On Love and Animals a source of wisdom in an art almost lost in this technological age. They will enjoy fun stories to be shared on a camping trip with their families or in scout groups. I would like to see this book in all of the recreation and park visitors’ centers stores show less
This is a most entertaining tale about a woman who has little going for herself except that she is the caricaturist of a children’s book. She does not appreciate this success however, especially since her twin sister is married and has teen kids to account for.
Her life changes dramatically when a bleeding man drops in her lap from the open sunroof in her sister’s car and she has to flee or take a shot herself. This man brought with him a stirring in her heart and confusion to her mind. Her peaceful existence was torn apart and her life changed forever.
This book had me glued to the pages with the witty ways the author tells her tale. I finished it in two days. The protagonist finds herself in many situations that not only turn her blood cold but make her heart and cheeks hot. The use of the English language is superb and you can share the feelings the characters are having in a very real way. Not many authors can convey to their readers these feelings, but Pauline did a superb job in this book. I recommend The Spy Who Kissed Me to anyone over eighteen and to all who want to have a warm fuzzy feeling while reading.
Her life changes dramatically when a bleeding man drops in her lap from the open sunroof in her sister’s car and she has to flee or take a shot herself. This man brought with him a stirring in her heart and confusion to her mind. Her peaceful existence was torn apart and her life changed forever.
This book had me glued to the pages with the witty ways the author tells her tale. I finished it in two days. The protagonist finds herself in many situations that not only turn her blood cold but make her heart and cheeks hot. The use of the English language is superb and you can share the feelings the characters are having in a very real way. Not many authors can convey to their readers these feelings, but Pauline did a superb job in this book. I recommend The Spy Who Kissed Me to anyone over eighteen and to all who want to have a warm fuzzy feeling while reading.
This is a very interesting book that portrays a family trying to survive their every day problems and the special ones which life has dealt them.
The story is told from the point of view of the older daughter and senior in High School. Zoe is the eighteen-year-old’s name. Her best friend is a very pretty and popular girl that always gets her way, especially with the boys and Zoe is feeling jealous. They like to attend parties that usually mean drinking and close contact with boys who don’t mind at all. (But then, why would they when you offer yourself for free?)
Zoe’s family consists of her overwhelmed parents, her brother (a teen on drugs), her little autistic sister, and herself, a social drinker or so she likes to believe.
The stress in the family comes mostly from five-year-old Abria. She was diagnostic with autism and everything has changed in their household. The parents both work and Zoe serves as the child’s second mom which causes her great anxiety. Abria likes to do very dangerous things, like climbing on the second story window sills—the family home is always locked for her safety. All this leaves Zoe’s family feeling that they have to have their full attention on the child, which leaves no time for themselves.
Everything changes for Zoe when she comes in contact with a magnificent young man who seems to be stalking her little sister. Her full protection antennas lock in and she becomes very protective of the innocent Abria.
Mathias, the young man in show more question, has the most enchanting charismatic personality and has the power to make Abria and Zoe feel at peace whenever he is around. Yet it is soon apparent that he is not a very typical young man and this leaves Zoe confused but very delighted.
Meantime, her Brother Luke is going with the wrong crowd and doing drugs that he swears he can stop whenever he wants. Zoe tries to talk with him and get him to quit but only gets in trouble when her brother tells their parents that she is the one using drugs.
The author has a great story going, but the use of today teen’s lingo throughout the book made it hard for me to follow. I could never tell if the girls were really very sexually active, or if they were only into heavy flirting. Also the copy I read has some editing problems that once resolved will make this a great book. I would recommend it for young adults to help them see the difference that believing in life after death can make in the choices they make today. We all belong to a family and they are what at the end will stand at our side when the times get rough. show less
The story is told from the point of view of the older daughter and senior in High School. Zoe is the eighteen-year-old’s name. Her best friend is a very pretty and popular girl that always gets her way, especially with the boys and Zoe is feeling jealous. They like to attend parties that usually mean drinking and close contact with boys who don’t mind at all. (But then, why would they when you offer yourself for free?)
Zoe’s family consists of her overwhelmed parents, her brother (a teen on drugs), her little autistic sister, and herself, a social drinker or so she likes to believe.
The stress in the family comes mostly from five-year-old Abria. She was diagnostic with autism and everything has changed in their household. The parents both work and Zoe serves as the child’s second mom which causes her great anxiety. Abria likes to do very dangerous things, like climbing on the second story window sills—the family home is always locked for her safety. All this leaves Zoe’s family feeling that they have to have their full attention on the child, which leaves no time for themselves.
Everything changes for Zoe when she comes in contact with a magnificent young man who seems to be stalking her little sister. Her full protection antennas lock in and she becomes very protective of the innocent Abria.
Mathias, the young man in show more question, has the most enchanting charismatic personality and has the power to make Abria and Zoe feel at peace whenever he is around. Yet it is soon apparent that he is not a very typical young man and this leaves Zoe confused but very delighted.
Meantime, her Brother Luke is going with the wrong crowd and doing drugs that he swears he can stop whenever he wants. Zoe tries to talk with him and get him to quit but only gets in trouble when her brother tells their parents that she is the one using drugs.
The author has a great story going, but the use of today teen’s lingo throughout the book made it hard for me to follow. I could never tell if the girls were really very sexually active, or if they were only into heavy flirting. Also the copy I read has some editing problems that once resolved will make this a great book. I would recommend it for young adults to help them see the difference that believing in life after death can make in the choices they make today. We all belong to a family and they are what at the end will stand at our side when the times get rough. show less
Green Dragon Codex By R.D. Henham aka Clint Johnson
This book was a great read. Preteens will love the story. I enjoyed the writing and the easy way that the author pulled me into the story.
When a ten-year-old boy (who is always getting himself into trouble) finds a chest near a dead dragon his life takes on a whole new meaning. The chest contains a tablet and a rock that later becomes a green dragon. He falls in love with the little hatchling and protects him from all that want to kill it. Everyone says that green dragons are evil by nature, but he doesn't care, this dragon will be different... He manages to get himself, his brother and a friend in dire troubles with a black wizard that almost cost them their lives.
Recommended to dragons lovers everywhere and all who love fantasy.
This book was a great read. Preteens will love the story. I enjoyed the writing and the easy way that the author pulled me into the story.
When a ten-year-old boy (who is always getting himself into trouble) finds a chest near a dead dragon his life takes on a whole new meaning. The chest contains a tablet and a rock that later becomes a green dragon. He falls in love with the little hatchling and protects him from all that want to kill it. Everyone says that green dragons are evil by nature, but he doesn't care, this dragon will be different... He manages to get himself, his brother and a friend in dire troubles with a black wizard that almost cost them their lives.
Recommended to dragons lovers everywhere and all who love fantasy.