My review can also be seen at www.romrevtoday.com

Present day Seattle & San Juan Islands, Washington

Marion MacDonald's duo of suspense/adventure stories is fun for the whole family. While they are aimed at young adults, I enjoyed both stories.

THE CHRISTMAS ICE MYSTERY: Lora arrives from her home on the San Juan Islands to spend the holidays with her Aunt Shannon, Uncle Richard and cousin Jamie. In exchange for brand new skis and a fantastic skiing holiday, Lora and Jamie accept temporary jobs in Richard's business, Hammond's Department Store. Lora takes a job at Santa's Wonderland where children of all ages come to see Santa and have their picture taken. Jamie helps out as a stock boy working throughout the store where he has the advantage of watching all of his co- workers.

The shrill clang of the fire alarm puts a damper on their first day at work. After a fire is set in the men's bathroom, the Winter Ice Display is stolen from the jewelry department. Diamonds valued at more than one million dollars vanish without a trace and police are sure it was an inside job. When a misunderstanding about insurance coverage threatens to put Richard out of business, Lora and Jamie begin a hunt for suspects that may put them in danger. Can they solve the mystery and save the store?

SAN JUAN SECRET reunites Lora and Jamie for another intriguing mystery. This time Jamie has come to the San Juan Islands to spend a few weeks with Lora's family. After they discover an old plaque from a shipwreck, they bring it to the attention of Lora's neighbor, Marie. Marie's late husband died years ago on a bootlegging run and the plaque stirs up more than memories. Someone wants to keep the kids away from Jones Island where the plaque was discovered. Now Jamie and Lora need to figure out what is so important about that old wreck.

SAN JUAN SECRET was my favorite of the two. Past secrets collide to bring a thrilling end for all involved. The suspense kept me hooked from beginning to end. Vivid narrative and an understanding of how a child would react to the grown-ups around made both stories a thrill to read. There were a number of typos and one inconsistency, however, which tended to distract me from what I was reading. In the first story, Jamie's parents were named Richard and Shannon. In the second book, their names were John and Judy. It left me wondering if Lora had another cousin Jamie who lived in the city.

I was quite impressed by the fact that a book of this nature existed. It outlines the mecanics of a language fairly unknown in the world scene. But buyer beware Mixteco is a language that changes from city to city and even from family to family. Get this book only if you plan to go to San Juan Colorado> FOr it will be foriegn to anyone not living there and claiming Mixteco as his mother tounge,

This book was chock full 'o information, but at times was a little hard to read. At the same time, it provided me the information I was looking for, and provided me insight of the natural hitory of the area.

The cost of stay in the san juan island is shocking. Quality and value of san juan lodgings is very low to the high prices you pay.

This book and its successor lists eats and lodging but does not put any quality measure of what you are paying for. A lot of lodging on Orcas are high-priced rat-holes.

This book over its successor provides great maps for going out and about the islands. Why the successor removed them was a mistake.

Verificar informacion de Felisa Rincon para la escuel