Betty Jo Schuler Reviews

Added June 1, 2006

Camp Cheer - A Pick-Your-Path-Mystery

Author: Betty Jo Schuler
Publisher: Hard Shell Word Factory
Available At: www.hardshell.com
Publishing Date: December 2002
Genre: Young Adult: Mystery/Suspense
Format: Ebook download in PDF/HTML/LIT
Price: $4.50
ISBN: 1-892745-05-4
Author Email/Website: http://bettyjoschuler.net/bettyjo.html
Reviewer: Tina Shelnut
Rating: 7.9 Gargoyles

Stacy Knight is looking forward to her first year at Cheer Camp. The brochures show the place to be somewhere she can learn all the cheers she will need for school, make great friends, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

What she gets is very different from what she expected. The brochure had surely been printed a decade or three before, and it was obvious that no improvements had been done to the camp or the surrounding area. Her cabin mates are all from the same town and know each other, and she is the odd man out. Additionally, her camp counselor seems to have it in for her.

Stacy could handle that, though, as long as she was able to learn the cheers she needed for school. The problems came at night, after lights out, and strange things start happening.

This is the first "Pick Your Path" book I have read in 20 years, and I have to admit it was kind of fun. Not being a young adult myself, I had two young women read this and give me their opinion. Their consensus was that it was well written, and interesting. One commented that she was able to read it more than once, as the "villain" of the piece was not always the same. So the helper in one path ended up being the bad guy in another. They both felt that, as at least one of the paths dealt with drugs, and another with murder, that perhaps this was a bit old for preteens, but for 13-15 years olds, it would be appropriate. Any older and the reader might run into the problems I had with it; mostly the fact the stories were simple as was much of the dialogue. Based on my overall impression, and the recommendations of my young assistants, I can recommend this book easily for young teenagers.

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Added December 2, 2003

Gracie's Holiday Hero

Author: Betty Jo Schuler
Publisher: Writer's Exchange E-Publishing
Available At: www.writers-exchange.com
Publishing Date: Available Now (Reissue)
Genre: Romance: Contemporary/Holiday
Format: Print, Ebook CD or download PDF/HTML/RTF/Microsoft Reader
Price: $14.95 Print, $9.95 CD, $4.95 download
ISBN: 1-58785-033-8
Author Email/Website: http://bettyjoschuler.net/bettyjo.html
Reviewer: Ayden Delacroix

Full of the warmth and spirit of Christmas, Gracie's Holiday Hero is a must read for all those who believe not only in the magic of Christmas but also in the power of happy-ever-after.

Growing up poor, Gracie Singleton and her sisters were used to going without, but somehow her parents always had enough to make Christmas special. That is until the year Gracie was fifteen. No money, no tree and no food, their Christmas looked pretty bleak. On Christmas Eve, their family received the best gift of all. Every Christmas the Bradmoore family brought a tree, food and gifts to needy families and when Merett Bradmoore knocked on their door Gracie fell in love.

Fifteen years later, Gracie has returned to her hometown of Ferndale. In the past few years, she's made a life for herself, divorced her no-good husband, and started her own business. Now she's bought a house rumored to be haunted and is planning to celebrate Christmas like never before. While out shopping for a tree, she bumps (literally) into her own Prince Charming, Merett Bradmoore. Fifteen years ago he had given her more than just an unforgettable Christmas, he'd also given her the courage to follow her dreams. After watching him interact with his seven-year-old daughter Kirsten, she realizes he's lost the Christmas spirit and she vows to do everything within her power to help him regain it.

Losing his wife was hard, but facing the fact he was a failure in his career was just as bad. Now he's returned home with his daughter to run the local newspaper when all he really wants is to return to New York and try once again to prove himself. He's so desperate he loses his patience too easily and shuts everyone out. Running into Gracie was the best thing to happen to him in a while; he'd known for years that he was half-in-love with her. But she's back where she wants to be and he is determined to return to the big city.

Will the spirit of Christmas and "her" ghost, bring Gracie and Merett together and give them a second chance at love and life?

Buy this book immediately and don't even think about sitting it in your To-Be-Read pile. Gracie's Holiday Hero is the most magical and emotional holiday tale I've read in a long time. Gracie is always so optimistic and always doing her best to help everyone, never thinking of herself. Merett brings out the best in her and easily coaxes her to share her problems. Not a perfect hero, by any means, he is nonetheless someone you love because he is decidedly human. Throw in the wonderful secondary characters: Kirsten, a kitten named Spook and a puppy named Dumbbell, and you've got a book that will capture your heart.

Having never read any of Ms. Schuler's work, I was blown was blown away by the depth of emotions I experienced while reading Gracie's Holiday Hero. I laughed, I wept, I read quickly, needing to know that everything turned out right. Much more accustomed to spicier romances, I was reminded how wonderful and special lighter romances can be. I highly recommend you don't miss Gracie's Holiday Hero and that it be placed on your keeper shelf where it belongs.

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