Customer Reviews

Notes from a Spinning Planet--Mexico

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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Maddie is going on yet another trip with her Aunt Sid. Except this time its for fun and relaxation in beautiful Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Maddie is prepared for beaches, sun, and tropical drinks and is even more excited when Ryan is due to show up. However, the vacation is not all that's cracked up to be. First the timeshare location is rundown and not managed well. Then Ryan's ex girlfriend shows up making Maddie feel like a plain Jane third wheel. But Shelby has a secret that puts the pretty face facade to shame. Maddie has to fight feelings of jealousy in order to help her do the right thing.

I think that this was my favorite book out of the series. With this story, Maddie was able to enjoy herself and seek out social justice at the same time. The whole situation with Francesca's sisters and the orphanage sounded really sketchy. I wonder how many similar situations take place and it makes me worry that people will not use money correctly. I was really glad that the subject of binge drinking was brought up. In previous books, drinking one or two beers was not seen as a problem. However with this book, Shelby has become an alcoholic and refuses to admit it until Sid threatens her with drastic measures. Even an allergic reaction that almost kills her doesn't stop her. Sadly this is how many teens view their own lives. They don't care if something harms them as long as it makes them feel like it's giving a good time. But I really love how I can relate to these books. The feelings that Maddie had whenever Shelby was around her and Ryan, I think almost every girl has felt that way. And no matter how Christian a guy will be, just like Ryan they will always seem to give more attention to the prettier girl that seems to flaunt herself. It's a typical guy thing that will sadly never change, lol. I found the timeshare bit quite funny. I don't think I could get out of one of those as well as Sid could have. I really hope there will be another book in this series. There's so many other places that Maddie and Sid should travel to. I would highly recommend this book for older teens.

I have read books by this author before and this one was just as good as the rest! The book came when it said it would come and I enjoyed it a lot. The wear on the book was just as they said it would be, which was not a big deal to me. Great purchase =)

It was an awesome book! I'm sad there are no more books in this series!

Review by Jill Williamson

This time Maddie and Aunt Sid are on vacation. The timeshare Aunt Sid's friend bought isn't much of a vacation, though. Still, the ladies vow to enjoy themselves in beautiful Cabo San Lucas. In a surprise visit, Ian and Ryan show up. The guys have a great hotel, and Maddie is enjoying the visit when beautiful blonde Shelby--a girl from Ryan's past--saunters into the picture. Maddie is jealous, but she and Ryan really aren't a couple. So she preoccupies herself by helping her new friend Francesca find a better job.

This was a frustrating story! Shelby is annoying and she steals Ryan away from Maddie early on in the vacation. Maddie deals with it very well. She doesn't go crazy with jealous anger, fits, or revenge. She simply goes on with her own life, trying to do what's right and have fun. It isn't easy for her, but any guy who has his priorities straight wouldn't be blind-sighted by Shelby's act for long. Ryan is no exception.

What I loved about this story was the fact that Maddie behaves so lovingly toward Shelby. It's not only the right thing to do, but it's attractive to Ryan because guys want a girl who is about something. Girls, if you want to catch a great guy, don't chase him and put on an act. Be yourself. Maddie comes to the conclusion that if Ryan is really into Shelby and her wild ways, he really isn't the guy for her. Too true. You've got to read this one to see how it all works out. Highly recommended.

Madison Chase is getting bored during her holiday break when she receives a welcome call from Aunt Sid, who offers her an escape vacation to Mexico. She jumps at the chance to spend some time with her favorite aunt and travel companion. Before she realizes it, Maddie is onboard a plane and then subsequently learning firsthand how slow the pace in Mexico is when they encounter one delay after another upon arrival.

Even once the duo arrives at their hotel, cultural differences abound. Both Maddie and Sid keep their eyes and ears open, alert to dangers from locals who have had enough of rude Americans. While the sun and water are enticing enough, an unexpected phone call from Ireland sets both women's hearts racing when they find out that Sid's Irish boyfriend, Ian, is coming for a visit and bringing Maddie's good friend, Ryan, along for the New Year's holiday.

Before the guys arrive at Cabo San Lucas, the girls find themselves sympathizing with their hotel clerk's difficulties and try to help her find better employment and housing. Little do they know how Francesca Tarrago has been influenced and controlled by the couple who ran the girls' home where she lived. Again, cultural differences make another appearance. Maddie does the best she can to help rescue Francesca from a dire future, and God orchestrates a rescue mission of His own that has the women responding in grateful awe.

Once Ian and Ryan arrive, the entire mood lifts from the serious to the seriously fun and romantic --- until an old girlfriend of Ryan's settles in front and center, and a sad and disappointed Maddie is temporarily pushed aside. The plot takes another turn, as the women end up sharing space with Ryan's ex-girlfriend and are placed into a situation where they play rescuer of another sort to the troubled young woman.

Readers will enjoy Melody Carlson's third installment in the Notes from a Spinning Planet series as she continues to offer a deepening complexity, both in terms of plot and character development. As always, her fictional characters are utterly relatable, winsome and full of human foibles, which makes for a gratifying, lighthearted read.

--- Reviewed by Michele Howe

Madison Chase's Christmas break from college in gray Washington is barely beginning, but already Maddie feels penned in--and in her parent's way. When Aunt Sid offers Maddie the opportunity to join her at a vacation condo in warm Mexico, Maddie jumps at the chance. Maddie and Sid are pleasantly surprised when Sid's boyfriend, Ian, and Maddie's friend, Ryan, decide to join them in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

The condo Sid and Maddie are staying in has lots of problems and isn't near as nice as the one Ian and Ryan stay at. Sid and Maddie try to handle all the problems as best they can, but it seems like things keep piling up. Then Ryan runs into a high school sweetheart and Maddie has to fight jealousy as well.

Maddie befriends the desk clerk, Francesca, at their poorly run condo, and as she tries to help her new friend, she discovers that Shelby (Ryan's ex-girlfriend) has a horrible secret. Will Maddie be able to help both Francesca and Shelby?

Notes from a Spinning Planet Mexico is the second book in the Spinning Planet series that I've had opportunity to read. The story line is good, but at times reads more like a travel log than a fiction novel. There is some telling in places which makes it easy to start skimming instead of actually reading.

I enjoyed learning more about Mexico and look forward to reading other books in this series as they come available. Melody Carlson is a prolific author who writes successfully in many different genres. Readers will not be disappointed in Notes from a Spinning Planet Mexico, whether they like women's fiction, romance, chick lit, or youth fiction.

If you are interested in what Mexico is like as a country you might want to consider a mini vacation by picking up this book.

Armchair Interviews says: Pack your bags for a good story.

Aunt Sid decides that Washington is to0 cold in the winter so she and her teenage niece Maddie Chase leave for fun in the sun of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. However, both women are a bit disappointed with timeshare lodging, but agree not to let that spoil their vacation.

The two females turn euphoric when Sid's friend Ian and Maddie's unrequited love Ryan McIntire arrive from Ireland to join them. However also in town is Ryan's high school girlfriend Shelby Wagner, who may be an alcoholic, but he seems attracted to her; disappointing Maddie.

This is a different emotional spin from the previous two tales (see Papua New Guinea and Ireland), but still emphasizes a world filled with crisis. This time around the traveling female relatives run into the ugly side of excess middle class teen drinking that compares unfavorably against an impoverished soul trying to make it to what others take for granted. Although Melody Carlson hammers her message re the sins of drinking, young adult readers will appreciate the efforts of Maddie's new Mexican friend Francesca Tarrago struggling to leave poverty behind.

Harriet Klausner