|
When Armando Garcia finds himself in a tiny little town called Treasure, his life changes. Running from a bad situation in L.A. leaves him feeling hopeless, scared and as if living an honest life may not be worth it. He finds himself the hired help of a woman he’d considered robbing and finds even more than he bargained for.
“Armando’s Treasure” is an interesting look at what a life on the brink of disaster can become when one steps away from the edge. Armando is a confused Latino guy wanting to do right, but feeling he can’t ever get the break he needs. His opportunity to help out another lost soul seems to be the beginning of hope for him. But can he believe it and really start to dream?
Dora Chase, at 80, has lived a life full of great joys and great pains. The crushing blows of loss she’s suffered have driven bitterness deep into her heart with little hope of ever breaking free. One decision to offer room and board to a stranger changes her life in ways she couldn’t possibly expect.
The point of view characters are Armando and Dora. From their eyes we see life’s good and bad. We are able to feel the sorrow of loss and the joy of accomplishment. The dread of the unknown and the hope of a future. Melody Carlson has done a wonderful job of weaving the different points of view, one a twenty-something male and the other an eighty-something female, into a story which shows the grief we suffer in life when we refuse to forgive. All the baggage we carry and all the lives we taint with such bitterness. Faith and forgiveness are great themes through “Armando’s Treasure”.
There is no swearing in this book and there are no intimate scenes to make it unsuitable for older teens to read. I would recommend not allowing younger teens to read it as drug and alcohol use are depicted in realistically.
I recommend “Armando’s Treasure” and look forward to reading more from Melody Carlson in the future.
Reviewed by Allison M. Wilson
for The Road to Romance
November 11, 2005
|
