Sunday, April 15, 2007

Lorenzo and the Turncoat by Lila and Rick Guzman

LORENZO AND THE TURNCOAT, by Lila and Rick Guzman, is about Lorenzo Bannister, a former member of the Continental Army, now a doctor. The book starts out as a British general, Robert Hawthorne, is throwing a party in honor of the British Army’s latest victory. In the middle of the party, a messenger bursts in, telling Hawthorne that his cousin has been hung for treason by Colonel Galvez, leader of the Spanish Army, in New Orleans. Hawthorne sets out for New Orleans on a mission to clear his family name. Meanwhile, Dr. Lorenzo finishes a pleasant lunch with his fiancĂ©e, Eugenie, and heads to work. When he arrives, he meets with a most curious patient, Charles Peel. Charles has been having strange migraines. After prescribing Charles some “medicine,” Lorenzo walks home as a hurricane is starting to brew. Unfortunately Lorenzo is approached by Colonel Galvez, who notifies him that Eugenie has been kidnapped! Will Hawthorne clear his family name? Will Lorenzo rescue Eugenie? Read LORENZO AND THE TURNCOAT to find out!

I thought LORENZO AND THE TURNCOAT was a great book even though it is not of the usual Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre that I usually enjoy. The book was filled with historical events, times, locations, and people, which was interesting. The only thing I did not care for in the book was the excessive detail in places. But all in all it was a really good book. I would recommend LORENZO AND THE TURNCOAT to anyone who enjoys reading about the Revolutionary War or who liked the book OCTAVIAN NOTHING: TRAITOR TO THE NATION, by M. T. Anderson.Content:2For vague sexual references: e.g., "I will not ravish you. . . . I have never bedded an unwilling woman" (p. 49) and "He had slept with so many women, he had lost count and had never caught a disease. And now he had caught one from a woman he had shared a bed with, but had not slept with" (p. 101).

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Saugerties, NY USA