Rating: 
Summary: Three Cheers for SUNLIGHT AND SHADOW
Review: SUNLIGHT AND SHADOW is the first book I've read by Sue Boggio and Mare Pearl and I think they are great writers. The book reads like a true crime. The book is character driven. All of the characters are fully developed. My experience as a reader was the characters were real people. I cared about all of them, with all of their strengths and flaws. Think you're safe when you go out in a town you've known your entire life? Read this book. Think everyone you know can't possibly be a threat to you? Read this book. All of Sue and Mare characters are someone I may know. All of the characters are so real. You have no choice but to put yourself into shoes of the victims, their sick worry, grieving relatives and hard police work to find Bobby. Get ready to examine all of your relationships. Get ready to be looking over your shoulder. Sue and Mare's first published novel SUNLIGHT AND SHADOW is a concise and insightful look into the life and culture of New Mexico. But more than that, it is a chilling look into the often forgotten realm of marrying outside of your family and community expectations. It left me speculating about the rewards and sacrifices Abby, Bobby, CeCe, Miguel, Rachel and Charlie experienced with the choice they made to marry outside of their family expectations and culture. New Mexico is more tolerant of the differences but people still make scarifies for their choices here in the Land of Enchantment, Sue and Mare brilliantly show the reader that we have a long way to go . . . as humans. Didn't we all come here to LOVE? Can love be bad? The relationship between Abby and Rachel is most intriguing. Rachel's fantasy of Bobby and her romantic love relationship supersedes reality. Sue and Mare does an amazing job of developing all the characters in this account. Skillfully they cover Rachel's and Bobby's childhood, Bobby's role in Rachel's life as a teenager. Rachel's fantasy and expectation of Roberto / Bobby is necessitate when she becomes his lover as a teenager; he's the man who took Rachel's virginity when she was just fifteen is compelling. Rachel has convinced herself that Roberto / Bobby will come back to New Mexico, marry her, live on their families land and will live the fairytale dream and be happy ever after. Instead, Bobby returns with Abby his pregnant wealthy WASP wife. Can anything be worse? Yes, Bobby / Roberto disappear from both Abby and Rachel's life without a trace. The change in both Rachel and Abby is captivating. Examining the definition of family was a central theme in SUNLIGHT AND SHADOW. The people of Esperanza espouse the value of the family. It was interesting which characters exemplifies this value and who fall short. It will make you examine your definition of family and your values. The New Mexico setting is also treated like a character. I recognized the land I love and my home in SUNLIGHT AND SHADOW. Especially the three dimensional description of Madrid the old east mountain mining town that is now home to flower children of the sixties, biker bars, growers markets and art galleries. ***WARNING*** SUNLIGHT AND SHADOW'S town of Esperanza is fictional. I've lived in NM for forty-five years. My sister owns "Kritter Kuts by Kris", a dog grooming business in Los Lunas, NM. I drive through Isleta Pueblo, Bosque Farms, Los Lunas at least once month to have Harry AKA handstand Harry, my rescued bearded collie (the breed used in Honda commercials, the long hair blowing in the wind, dog) groomed at his auntie Kris'. I thought I had been totally asleep and missed the town of Esperanza my entire life. My sister drives throughout the community where SUNLIGHT AND SHADOW is set every week. Wednesdays is "Kritter Kuts by Kris" senior citizens special. (free pick up and delivery for senior citizen's and their dogs) Kris has lived in Los Lunas for twenty years and she knows every crook and cranny of her community. Before opening "Kritter Kuts by Kris", my sister drove a Semi-truck cross country with her husband. She has her CDL license and is very good with directions. Kris assured me that there was no town of Esperanza between Isleta Pueblo and Bosque Farms. I poured over maps and could not find the small town of Esperanza. When I finished SUNLIGHT AND SHADOW it was revealed in "a conversation with Sue Boggio and Mare Pearl" at the back of the book, that Esperanza was fictional. Everyone thought I was a loon and had a good laugh. Okay, I keep my hair blond to warn people. With that said, SUNLIGHT AND SHADOW setting is three dimensional. Santiago Baca young tragic life pulled at my heart strings. Santiago reminded me of my neighbor Joey Baca. Joey as a child would give me special gifts rocks, wild flowers when I was out hoeing weeds. My Joey lost his mother to breast cancer around the same age as Santiago was introduced. Joey's father would never strike any of his four children or raise his voice to them. Joey and I shared Harry Potter series just like Abby and Santiago. James the younger boy loved Edith Tarbescu's THE BOY WHO STUCK OUT HIS TONGUE: A Yiddish Folk Tail. My German grandmother would tell me the same story as a child. We had fun with theYiddish phrases. My Joey is now fourteen and works part-time as a busboy at Village Pizza. The theme of the goats is very realistic. I awake to the sound of Joey's great aunt, my neighbor's hungry goat. The mystical element of the Bruja was realistic. Every book needs a good villain. What is better than a witch casting spells? Oh my! SUNLIGHT AND SHADOW is a quick read that will have you turning the pages. I look forward to more of Sue Boggio and Mare Pearl books. Enjoy! Viva Sue y Mare!
Rating: 
Summary: How did this get published?
Review: That so much sturm and drang occurs in the first 10 pages is amazing. It's also hard to believe that there really was a great meeting-of-the-mind relationship between Abby and Bobby in that after his having been away for so long in the Navy their communciation skills seem to be reduced to the bed. I had to stop reading this book which is rare. For me a novel with two authors rings warning bells. And unfortunately this was no exception. Really hack work that makes one wonder why it got past some editor's slush pile. I'd have given it no stars if I could have done.
Rating:
Summary: not just for women
Review: This book is a heartwarming story that has an excellent plot and keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is also true to the southwestern culture. I recommend this book for anybody and everybody.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable reading
Review: This book is a heartwarming story that has an excellent plot and keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is also true to the southwestern culture. I recommend this book for anybody and everybody.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: What a heartfelt and intriguing story! It opened with a glimpse of the almost idyllic relationship between Abby and Bobby Silva. But their lives were abruptly turned upside-down, and the events that followed left me wondering up to the very end how they would be resolved. At the same time, I was completely caught up in the story, and reluctant to see the "journey" come to a close. One character I didn't trust at the beginning was Rachel, who seemed intent on insinuating herself into Bobby's life and breaking up his marriage. Yet as the story unfolded and her character evolved, I found myself drawn to her. All the characters are so authentic -- never stereotypical or one-dimensional. I highly recommend this book, which quickly became one of my favorites!
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