Customer Reviews

Heading Home: A Novel

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't normally read Young Adult (YA) novels. Not that I have anything against them; I just haven't been a YA for a long time, although I remember with great fondness always being directed by any church we attended to the class for young couples. But even then we would have been too old to be classified as YAs.

Renee Riva's "Heading Home" is the third novel in a YA trilogy, preceded by "Saving Sailor" and "Taking Tuscany" (yes, I noticed the alliteration in all three of the titles). It's the story of 18-year-old A.J. Degulio, who returns home to the Pacific Northwest after eight years in Italy with her family. The family remains in Italy; she's coming back to see her dog Sailor, renew her friendship with her childhood friend Danny Morgan, and to start college, where she intends to study veterinary science. Sailor remembers her, Danny turns out to have become something of a hunk (A.J.'s words, not mine), and vet studies might have to take a back seat to A.J.'s intent to become a nun.

A nun?

How about a would-be nun who gets jealous when Danny begins dating someone else?

It's complicated. The lives of YAs are always complicated.

Here's what I learned from this well-written, fast-paced YA novel.

The audience is not YAs; the audience is most likely YA females.

Someone reading this book would not be embarrassed if her mother or father found her reading it. It's clean. For whatever reason, I was reminded of reading the Hardy Boys mysteries when I was slightly younger than a YA.

It's funny. Riva writes humor well, and there are scenes (including one involving blackberries) that first provoke a smile and then a laugh. Once the family arrives from Italy, and then the extended family from all over, the story moves into an ongoing series of funny scenes.

And "Heading Home" is touching, including one scene between A.J. and her father that's happened a million times in fiction but here seems fresh, tender and real.

"Heading Home" is not the kind of fiction I usually read, but it's aimed right at its target audience. The target audience's parents (and grandparents) won't mind reading it, either.

if you have not read the 2 previous novels in this trilogy (saving sailor and taking tuscany), do it! you will not regret it!

heading home is the book in which the fairy tale ending occurs, but with a twist. AJ returns to indian lake to pursue her vetrinary degree, and to reunite with her dog, sailor. her plan is to get her degree and marry Danny, her long-time sweetheart. but over the corse of this crazy end-of-summer-into-fall, a few things get in the way of her dream:

1) herself. AJ cannot seem to decide what is God's will for her life: to marry Danny, or become a nun? (if you've the previous books, you'll ask the same question i did: AJ? a nun?)

2) an aquaitance/dork from her childhood(saving sailor). Rodney Gizmode, who has turned into an even dorkier character, seems to think they belong together. obviously, AJ (and Danny) has other ideas.

3) her family. what will danny think of her roman/catholic/italian family? not to mention nona?

4) if they do get married, what will they be? this provides quite a dilemma, for both AJ and danny, because AJ is roman/catholic/italian and Danny is southern baptist.

5) if they do have a wedding, AJ's in-laws, the greeks will have to be invited. this poses the problem of how to tell nonna that her daughter (AJ's aunt) married a greek, which will surely, to say the least, upset nonna!

6) where do they get married? AJ's mother is convinced that nothing will do but that AJ be married in a catholic church, but Danny is not sure about being married in a catholic church. once they decide to get married in a greek orthodox church, they also have the problem of convincing nonna. (!)

7) her mother. need i say more?

in the end, all of AJ's problems resolve themselves, and the happy ending is complete. however, the way these confilicts are resolved is VERY amusing! Renee Riva does a masterful job of adding humor into the scenes; much of this humor will make you laugh out loud!

anther point in this books favor is that it is a clean book. no cussing, no racy romance, and no booze(except for at the wedding, and there it is only briefly mentioned).

all-in-all, this book is a great read! appropiate for all ages, it will provide a wonderful rainy-afternoon's read. because it is told from AJ's view-point, it may appeal more to teen girls. i give it 6-out-of-5 stars!

Review by Jill Williamson

After eight years in Italy, A.J. is coming back to Indian Island, Idaho. She can't wait to see her dog Sailor and her old friend Danny. Sailor acts as if nothing has changed, but Danny--oooh. He's grown up into a six-foot-tall real-life cowboy. He seems interested in A.J., but she has a promise to keep that doesn't include Danny. What's a girl to do if she wants both?

Okay. So I loved Saving Sailor, and I LOVED Taking Tuscany. So when I saw that Heading Home was available, I had to buy it. It did not disappoint. I'm a closure-happy ending kind of girl, and though A.J. sure does have a tendency to make a mess of things, Renée Riva has a great way of putting it all back together. A.J.'s Italian/Greek family is hysterical. This book was funny, heartwarming, and delightful. These three books were a fabulous coming-of-age story that takes place in the 1960's and 1970's. I highly recommend them.

Heading Home by Renee Riva, is the third and last book in the story of "A. J." Degulio (The Indian Island Trilogy).

I haven't read the first two books, but this one was a delight. An easy, fast-paced read, Heading Home had me hooked from the first page as I discovered the impulsive, quick-witted Angelina Juliana Degulio. I totally "got" her sense of humor and loved her character. I could have easily read this in one sitting, the story was so entertaining. By the end of the book, I was laughing out loud at the "Big Fat Italian-Greek-Southern Wedding" that was being planned by A.J.'s mother. It was very easy for me to visualize in my mind, the loud chaotic family members that were part of A. J. and Danny's wedding. I thought the romance between A. J. and Danny was very sweet and the way their families bonded (more like collided) made for a happy ending.

A sweet tale of true love, quirky characters, and a girl named A.J. you can't help but adore. Renee Riva is a gem of an author in Christian fiction. Everyone should have the chance to enjoy her wonderful stories, and Heading Home is no exception. A wonderful finish to a delightful trilogy. Be sure to read the others, Saving Sailor and Taking Tuscany, too. Viva la familia!

"Eight years is a long time - from saying good-bye as kids to saying hello as adults."

Heading Home is the third book in the Indian Island trilogy. Now that A.J. is 18 years old, the day she has been waiting for has finally come. She's headed back to the island she knows best as home. She will soon start college to study veterinary science and she'll also be reunited with her dog, Sailor, and best friend, Danny. A lot has changed over the past eight years. Danny begins realizing the true feelings he has for A.J. and hopes to be more than just her best friend, but she has a promise to keep which unfortunately doesn't include him. Both A.J. and Danny have a lot to think about regarding their plans for their future, and whether or not it means they'll be together along the way.

This is such a sweet story and I absolutely love the ending! It's a fast read and I literally felt like I was stuck to this book. Once again, Renée wrote another great novel that's full of family, humor, love and lessons learned. A.J. is the same quirky girl with a great sense of humor and her family is just as crazy as they were in the two previous books(Saving Sailor and Taking Tuscany). It's just so easy to fall in love with the characters and the story. I was laughing out loud most of the time and I felt like I was losing a friend when it was over. This was a wonderful finish to a very enjoyable and entertaining trilogy. If you haven't read any of these books, you definitely need to grab a copy of them because you are missing out!

This book was provided for review by David C. Cook. I was not required to write a positive review.

This was the third in a series about a young girl starting when she was 10 years old. She returns home after spending 8 years in Italy with her family and is reunited with her childhood sweetheart and her dog. I liked the first two books a lot and this one did complete the story, but I didn't enjoy it quite as much.

There are few things in life better than reading a book that draws you in and draws you back as quickly as life allows you in order to keep reading. `Heading Home' by Renée Riva is just such a book.

Here is the synopsis of this book:

Eight year is a long time - from saying good-bye as kids to saying hello as adults.
She's back! For eight long years, A.J. Degulio has been itching to get back to Indian Island, her beloved dog, Sailor, and her childhood friend, Danny Morgan. It's home. But a lot has changed. Sailor moves slower, Danny has grown into a six-foot-something good-lookin' cowboy... and A.J. has a promise to keep... which doesn't include Danny. When Danny hears of her plans, he's shocked and hurt. But he cares too much to stand in the way of what she really wants.
What's a girl to do? A.J. isn't sure how to fulfill her promise without losing Danny. She works every angle possible to keep her promise and her cowboy. But Danny has plans of his own. Will they be able to work it out? It will take compromise, laughter, and a lot of love before Danny and A.J. figure out that home is more than a place on the map. It's a place in the heart.

Here is the biography of this author:

Renée Riva ([...]) has been writing humorous stories ever since she won her first writing contest in second grade. A former greeting card verse writer and popular speaker, Renée is the author of Saving Sailor, Taking Tuscany, and two children's books. She and her husband reside in Washington State with their three daughters and a menagerie of pets.

I loved the story in the `After Words' section of the book in which Renée shares the story of her meeting of Bear and their subsequent marriage. I would love to read the whole story someday!

This book, set in 1976, is set on Indian Island, Washington. A.J. is just returning home after being in Tuscany, Italy, living with her family in an old castle. This is A.J. reaction to seeing Danny again:

Wiping away my tears, my eyes come to focus on the face I've so longed to see - besides Sailor's. Oh ... my ... gosh. This is not the Danny I remember. Before me stands a towering six-foot-somethin' sandy-blond, sun-bronzed cowboy - a perfect cross between the Duke and Little Joe Cartwright. When we're within arms' reach of each other, we both just stop. Eight years is a long time - from saying good-bye as kids to saying hello as adults. (p. 17)

Renée's writing style - and therefore A.J.'s speaking style - is so fun and light-hearted! Danny is testing out the idea of running a Christian summer camp on Indian Island (with a cowboys and Indians theme). After A.J. dropped the bombshell that she is thinking about becoming a nun, to fulfill a promise to God in the only way she knew how, Danny went ahead and hired an assistant. Here A.J. explains that Danny and his summer camp assistant will definitely need a chaperone:

When [the tug's] close enough to make out who's who, I notice the Indian squaw is in my chair. At least they have a boatload of kids with them this time. Danny should not be left alone with someone like her. He's too naïve to know the games women like her can play. It's the same old "let me be your Indian princess camp helper" game. I'm on to you, Indian squaw. Someone needs to look out for him! (p. 39)

Here's another choice piece of comedy. A.J.'s grandma allows her drive her 1960 Studebaker. Here A.J. describes how people must interpret her comings-and-goings, and how much she misses her family (comedy and tragedy are perfect partners):

Puttering down Main Street in this red and white jalopy draws some interesting stares from the town folk. Hi, y'all. I'm A.J., just rolling through town inside a peppermint twist. It reminds me of the looks I got with Daddy when practice-driving the old Fiat in the hills of Tuscany. Of course that drew looks of panic rather than curiosity - people fearing for their lives. A sudden pang of loneliness comes over me and I find myself missing my family and relatives. Going to being surrounded by lots of family to being alone is quite a change. I used to wish I were an only child - now I'm starting to appreciate belonging to a big family. Especially when they're gone. (p. 57)

A.J. gets a kick out of speaking in a Southern accent; hence, the "hi, y'all" part of her explanation. Funny for me, this Michigander, who also loves to speak in a Southern accent on occasion (I think I'm a Southerner at heart!)!
A.J.'s grandma doesn't agree with her decision to pursue the life of a nun, particularly in light of Danny's interest in her:

`Mamma mia, Angelina." She looks me right in the eye. "Let me put it to you like this. I know Danny Morgan better than you think I do. I'mma old, but I'mma pretty smart for an old gal. If you have a man like Danny Morgan, who loves God, loves you, and is interested in serving God with you, then all I can say is: Angelina Degulio, what'sa matter you?"

I love that!

A.J. decides she needs to investigate the option of becoming a nun or a sister, so she decides to attend a retreat given by the Sisters of Our Lady of the Lake. She visits Saddlemyer's Dime Store to pick up some items to take with her for the weekend. Wonder of wonders, Danny shows up:

"Are you ... looking for something?"
"You."
"Me?"
"Yeah, you." His eyes melt right into mine. "May I ... have this dance?" he asks, softly.
I look around. "Here?"
"Yeah."
"Uh ... okay." I lift my arms, still clutching the toothpaste.
Danny gently removes the toothpaste from my hands, set it on the shelf, and takes my hands in his. He never once takes his eyes off mine. We're dancing through the aisles of the dime store to the words Darlin', save the last dance for me, but the last thing I can hear is everything my grandma said to me a half hour ago. (pp. 72-73)

Is that sweet or what?!

Back to the comical side of the book, A.J. reflects on her childhood - and provides a glimpse for where she may have gotten her sense of humor:

Sailor and I are spending a quiet Saturday morning in front of old Western movies. A much-missed tradition from long ago. Indian Islands and Westerns have always gone together. Shirley Temple Theatre was always a favorite I rarely missed. I had to keep the volume down on Shirley when Mama was in the cabin. I can still hear her yelling from the kitchen, "If I have to listen to that kid sing `Animal Crackers in My Soup' one more time, I'm going to flip that channel and bring her little tap shoes to a screeching halt! For the love of Pete, who puts animal crackers in soup anyway?"
I've never heard anyone but Mama call Shirley on that one. (p. 118)

Nor had I! When I read that, I burst out in laughter!

A.J. figured out that the nunnery is not the place where God would have her. The ending is adorable; Italian, Greek, and Southern families are lots of fun! And the very last page will warm anyone's heart!

I absolutely loved this book; this is a terrific summer read! A.J. Degulio is adorable; this character has a lot of life!! Although this is Book Three in the `Indian Island Trilogy,' I hope that Renée's intention is to keep writing books about A.J. and Danny for years to come, following their loving adventures! I loved this one, and hope to go back and read the first two!

This book was published by David C. Cook and provided by B&B Media Group for review purposes.

Reviewed by Andrea Schultz - Ponderings by Andrea - [...]

Heading Home is the last book of the Indian Island trilogy, the first two being Saving Sailor and Taking Tuscany. Angelina Digulio's family had relocated to Tuscany, Italy, in 1968, when she was 10. In Heading Home, Angelina (aka A.J.) is returning to Indian Island in July, 1976, to study to be a veterinarian. Her friend from Indian Island, Danny Morgan, had been taking care of her dog, Sailor, and corresponding with A.J. throughout the eight years she was gone. This book is about A.J.'s return `home.'

This being my first introduction to Renee Riva's writing, I was enthralled with the simplicity of her very romantic love story. Her writing isn't simplistic, as the storyline hooks you- hook, line and sinker with such delight. It was a light, airy read but filled with romance, excitement, surprises, and fun. It is so reminiscent of the early 1970s era. A time of sweet love and innocence.

The book swept me off my feet because of its innocent delight. I'd highly recommend Heading Home for a delicious, romantic read. It has the air of the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

This book was supplied by Audra of The B & B Media Group for my honest review. And it was a fantastic read!

In the conclusion of the Indian Island trilogy, A.J. is reunited with Danny when she returns to the island to go to college. As the two friends fall back into old routines, it's impossible to miss the fact that 8 years has passed ... and they're not the kids they were back then. While A.J. has some big decisions to make, Danny recognizes his true feelings for A.J. Together, they work through big decisions about careers, religion, family, and what they mean to each other.

This is a really sweet story. I had not read the first two books in the trilogy but felt I could easily catch up (although I certainly would enjoy the other books!). The book is funny and a great coming-of-age story. A great young adult novel or a quick read for those of us who wish we still were young adults!

I received a FREE copy of this book from The B&B Media Group in exchange for my fair and honest review.