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The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis

(The Last Timekeepers #1)

Sharon Ledwith (Goodreads Author)

4.22 · Rating details · 94 ratings · 41 reviews

When Amanda Sault and her four classmates are caught in a major food fight at school, they are given the choice of suspension or yard duty. It was a no-brainer. A two-week crash course in landscaping leads the kids to discover a weathered stone arch buried in an overgrown backyard. Instead of a forgotten lawn ornament, it turns out to be an ancient time portal from the ...more

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ebook, First Edition, 180 pages

Published June 17th 2015 by Mirror World Publishing (first published May 18th 2012)

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· 94 ratings · 41 reviews

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Aug 09, 2012 S.W. rated it really liked it

Shelves: owned, time-travel, middle-grade, adventure, young-adult

This is a cool book that leads readers through a medieval adventure with an unlikely group of teens.

In a nutshell, The Arch of Atlantis is a story of a group of opposing teens thrown together into a thrilling time-travel adventure. The group are involved in a food fight at school which ends in them all receiving detention together (you could say the situation is reminiscent of The Breakfast Club). Quite simply, this cast of characters don't get on, and I think that is why the author has chosen This is a cool book that leads readers through a medieval adventure with an unlikely group of teens.

In a nutshell, The Arch of Atlantis is a story of a group of opposing teens thrown together into a thrilling time-travel adventure. The group are involved in a food fight at school which ends in them all receiving detention together (you could say the situation is reminiscent of The Breakfast Club). Quite simply, this cast of characters don't get on, and I think that is why the author has chosen to put them together. In between a volley of one liners (I hope my kids grow up with more respect for others than these teens show), we see their attitudes to each other evolve as the story progresses.

Whilst on detention, they discover the Arch of Atlantis hidden in the overgrown garden of a volunteer from their school. It's a mysterious gateway to time-travel and adventure. Amanda unlocks the key to the arch and they find themselves transported to Atlantis, where they are told of the legend of the arch, and bestowed the roles of The Last Timekeepers. I'm guessing, that it looks like there will be more time-travel missions ahead for these guys.

Their first mission sends them way back to 1214 in Sherwood Forest, where they meet up with a band of merry teens, a young guy called Robyn, and feisty lass known as Miriam (do they sound familiar?). My favourite parts of the book were the adventures in Sherwood Forest and Nottingham. I could almost smell the stench from the mud and hear the sounds of the locals. The dialogue used was also reminiscent of the time - thou didth enjoyeth it - (clearly I'm no expert here). There are many trials and obstacles that they must overcome along the way, until it all culminates with ..... (I'm not telling you). As with all my reviews, I try not to inject them with too many spoilers. If you want to know more about the medieval adventures. then you'll need to read it for yourself.

The target audience for the book is 9 to 16.

My Bottom Line: This is a cool book that leads readers through a medieval adventure with an unlikely group of teens.

Note: I don't claim to be a pro-reviewer, I am a reader. My reviews are based on my personal thoughts around the story that the book is trying to tell. I try to focus on the story (which is the reason I read) rather than dissect the book and pass comment on typos, writing style or structure.
...more

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May 23, 2012 Dusty Crabtree rated it it was amazing

The Last Timekeepers and Arch of Atlantis was very well-written with fun, likeable characters that made me laugh every step of the way. One of my favorite things about the book was the hilarious, middle-school banter between all of the kids, including some of the most creative insults I've ever heard (one of my favorites - "nut bar"). Aside from making me laugh, this book also had an interesting, well-crafted plot that delivered excitement as well as educational history. Since it takes place in ...more

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Nov 01, 2012 Athena Nagel rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

I read this book on the heels of some powerful mysteries and thrillers. I loved this book and the fun break it gave me from the more thought provoking books. This is exactly why I read YA books in the midst of all the other books I read. This book is exciting and fun. It also involves the feature of time travel. It felt like a journey to the center of the earth book but with the twist of time travel. And this book had just enough history and factual events to keep me interested and entertained. ...more

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Nov 01, 2016 Christine Hayton rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: YA readers

Shelves: rated-reviewed

Disclosure: I purchased a signed copy of the book “The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis” by Sharon Ledwith at a book signing hosted by its publisher. I have met the author and have had encounters with her on various occasions. We reside in the same area, and are both active in many book related events and activities. I had no communication with Ms. Ledwith at any time about providing a review. The comments that follow are my own personal opinion. I received NO compensation of any kind, ...more

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Apr 22, 2012 Amaleen Ison rated it it was amazing

I don’t often read middle-grade books, but The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis appealed for two reasons. First, the sumptuous teal cover with an ancient arch and hieroglyphics drew me in—piqued my interest. Secondly, I’ve always adored stories about Robin Hood, and I simply loved the idea of meeting him and his merry men in their younger years via a time travel device (The Arch of Atlantis)—a new spin on an age old story.

The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis didn’t disappoint. ...more

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May 03, 2012 Margaret Lesh rated it it was amazing

I've been reading this book whilst home recuperating, and it's been just the perfect thing -- entertaining and fun. In The Last Timekeepers and The Arch of Atlantis, an unlikely group of kids is thrown together by choosing a working punishment rather than school suspension after an epic food fight. The kids get to know one another while cleaning up an overgrown garden as their punishment, in the process uncovering an ancient arch which sets the wheels in motion for their adventurous quest.

...more

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Jun 05, 2012 June Kramin rated it it was amazing

I really enjoyed this book. I love stories re-told & was excited to see how the author would get this group of spirited kids back to Robin Hood & help keep history on the right track. I find myself dipping into more young adult reads these days. It's books like this that make it enjoyable. There are things in there for adults as well. You'll be happy you read it. I look forward to future releases.

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Jul 29, 2012 Sarah rated it really liked it

Young adult urban fantasy (or in this case time travel) is one of my favorite genres to read and I wasn’t disappointed with the first book in Sharon’s (supposedly) super long series. The Last Timekeepers was published by the YA imprint of my publisher so we’ve chatted a bit and she has a rather ambitious plan for the series (5 books for each of the 5 main characters). Twenty books is a lot of work but I’d stick around for it. She’s made history accessible and I would definitely recommend this Young adult urban fantasy (or in this case time travel) is one of my favorite genres to read and I wasn’t disappointed with the first book in Sharon’s (supposedly) super long series. The Last Timekeepers was published by the YA imprint of my publisher so we’ve chatted a bit and she has a rather ambitious plan for the series (5 books for each of the 5 main characters). Twenty books is a lot of work but I’d stick around for it. She’s made history accessible and I would definitely recommend this for young readers in upper middle school and high school.

The Last Timekeepers introduces us to Amanda, Ravi, Jordan, Drake and Treena, Jordan’s Uncle John and their mysterious teacher Melody who become the Last Timekeepers. A food fight at school draws the gang of unlikely teammates together and as punishment they must help Melody clean up the backyard of the newly inherited house in town. Early on, they discover the 7th Arch of Atlantis, a time portal which snaps them up and whisks them away on the first of many journeys. They’re sent back to stop evil from changing history and their first mission takes them to the early 13th century to save none other than Robin Hood. The narrative for the first book is from Amanda’s point of view which is interesting since she is deemed the Scribe and is in charge of interpreting where they’ve gone and what they need to do to keep the timeline intact. Amanda is a pretty quick thinker which helps get her and her newfound friends out of some pretty tight spots. I enjoyed the fact that Sharon wasn’t afraid to get a little dark with the story line. The new Sheriff of Nottingham (their time traveling nemesis) isn’t afraid to bring teenage kids to make his point. Luckily, Amanda swoops in to save the day.

Overall, it was a really fun read and kept a good pace. I would have liked to see the gang find the arch and learn about their destinies as the Last Timekeepers a wee bit sooner but I know with any first novel, especially one in a series with fantasy elements, there has to be some build up for world building. I was a little uncomfortable with the kids calling their teacher by her first name but that was probably just me.. All of the characters had distinct personalities and character quirks that I’m excited to see explored in more depth.

I liked how Sharon used pieces of the Robin Hood legend to build the characters in the past and how throughout by the team spreading the heroics and good deeds of the myth they knew actually evolved into the names of legend known today and reported throughout history. She did her research well. I’m also a big fan of Robin Hood (I loved the BBC series) and was very happy to see characters I’d become acquainted with in the series show up in the book. The only real complaint I had was at times I felt the “ye olde” dialogue took me out of the story. For me, it stilted the flow of the reading experience. I understand why she did it (to keep the time period accurate) but I think she could have eased up on it just a tad.

Despite the few tiny quibbles, I thought it was an extremely strong first foray into her world. I eagerly await the prequel and book 2 to see where Amanda and company end up next.
...more

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Nov 13, 2012 Books rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ellen-s-reviews, reviewed

What a delightful, fun read! Who could imagine that a punishment could turn into high adventure for five adolescents and two adults - one an unemployed professor and the other said to be a witch - or in the words of the locals: "a bona fide, true-blue hex-machine from England"? From a garden in America they are drawn through the Arch of Atlantis, into an Atlantean temple to be told what they are and what their purpose is. Then they are propelled into medieval England on the eve of the May Day ...more

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Sep 19, 2012 Heather Boustead rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, ebook, historical-fiction, action-adventure

The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis
By Sharon Ledwith

When five eighth grade students get into a food fight at school none of them thought it would lead on an adventure through time, the five students are sentenced to yard duty as punishment for their crimes shortly after they arrive at Melody’s home the stumble upon an arch that was buried in her back yard. Once they excavate the mysterious arch they are whisked away to Atlantis where they meet up Lilith who is in charge of keeping ...more

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Jun 10, 2015 Christian Laforet rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The Last Timekeepers is a fun romp through time!

13 year old Amanda Sault and a handful of her classmates find themselves doing yard work as punishment for a food fight at their school. Weeding and pruning soon reveals a buried arch way that leads them to Atlantis. There, they meet a woman named Lilith who tasks them with the job of being TimeKeepers.

And so the Last TimeKeepers begins.

The first thing I noticed about this book is that author Sharon Ledwith has a great knack for giving her ...more

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Dec 08, 2013 Greta Burroughs rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: children-s-and-ya-books

Everyone is fascinated with the mystery of Atlantis and the people who lived there. The Last Timekeepers is an interesting take on what happened to the Atlantians.
I enjoy reading YA books. They are not so complicated plotwise, and the stories are very entertaining. The author of this book writes in a style where the reader can visualize the action. The characters who are transported to the past are ordinary kids who wind up doing the job assigned to them even though they had no idea what to do ...more

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Sep 23, 2013 Shyam Mohan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Awesome imagination skills with good research on history. I really liked the book. But what i did not like in the book is the use of the language of medieval times of England even if they had the babel with them by which they can understand every languages.
I really liked the way Sharon Ledwith narrates the story and the effort she took in making the book true has really paid off. Very nice book. I recommend the book to all my friends.

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May 31, 2012 Deb Kuhns rated it it was amazing

This is a very well written book...loved it! Took me back to the days when I couldn't get enough of the Half Magic books by Edward Eager! Loved the kids and the grownups in the story! Nice to see a good, strong heroine, who also learned several lessons along the way. I cannot wait for next adventure...just wish I had some grandkids to share this book with...hmmm, let's see whose kids I could borrow!! PS...I think this would also be a great read-aloud book!!

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Oct 30, 2012 Beth Bowland rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This was a fun read. The names were a little confusing at first but it didn't take long before they felt like 'my kids' :) I could see each of them clearly in my mind and their antics. Clever history tidbits in the story and the author stayed true to teen talk and the language used during that time frame. Enjoyable read!

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Oct 25, 2012 Valerie rated it liked it · review of another edition

This one didn't really reach beyond the YA age group, but was still fun to read.

See my full review here.

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Aug 19, 2012 Wensday rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed the history twist on this book. The overall story line sets up fast and the plot does not drag. I am looking forward to future Timekeepers adventures!

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Feb 07, 2019 Mark Buxton rated it really liked it · review of another edition

My name is Amanda, and a few "friends" and I have discovered an arch allowing us to travel through time. We've been told that we're the new Timekeepers for this arch, but the fifth arch is being controlled by a corrupt man. Robin Hood's legend is in jeopardy, so our quest is to return to his time and set things right. The big problem is that we have no idea what we're supposed to do, and the cryptic riddle I've uncovered isn't much help. Robyn isn't entirely what I expected, and his weapon is a ...more

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Mar 21, 2018 Lauren Sapala rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I was more than pleasantly surprised by how much I ended up loving this book. I don’t often read Middle Grade fantasy (or much Middle Grade at all, to be honest) so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. But I can confidently say that The Last Timekeepers is a series that will probably appeal to you no matter how old you are. It’s that perfect mix of real world humor and pure escapism into an alternate reality, plus there’s a good bit of historical fiction thrown in (which I always love).

The Last ...more

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Feb 08, 2013 V.K. Finnish rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya

I give three stars to books I enjoyed while reading but think I got everything from them in the first read. A 3-1/2 star rating would be more accurate for me on this book.

The Arch of Atlantis is targeted at 12–14 year old readers and follows eighth-grader Amanda Sault and her schoolmates from a disastrous school food fight (and fighting with each other) to an abrupt time-travel mission where they have to learn to work together and stop an evil being from changing history.

On the warning side, I I give three stars to books I enjoyed while reading but think I got everything from them in the first read. A 3-1/2 star rating would be more accurate for me on this book.

The Arch of Atlantis is targeted at 12–14 year old readers and follows eighth-grader Amanda Sault and her schoolmates from a disastrous school food fight (and fighting with each other) to an abrupt time-travel mission where they have to learn to work together and stop an evil being from changing history.

On the warning side, I was a little bored with how wordy some parts of the book were — some over-the-top similes and hard-to-follow paragraphs. The main characters were very stereotypical and felt dated to the 1990s, but that’s neither good nor bad. It does, however, make for a LOT of crass insults and threats flying across every page, so be aware of that. There’re also two or three slightly gory scenes (reasons why I put this book in the young YA category rather than middle grade).

Another thing to think about: Sometimes authors use their books to open new perspectives for readers, teaching us new things about other cultures or lifestyles. Other authors use their books simply to preach their beliefs at you. I felt like The Arch did a little of both, mainly in the beginning of the book. If the latter doesn’t bother you, or if you can make yourself get past that short hurdle, then you’ll be in for a fun remainder of the story.

On to the things I really enjoyed! First of all, the concept is brilliant. Obviously, I love a great modern-day tale crossing over into legend and lore! Sharon Ledwith gave the time-travel aspect an outstanding touch by using “old English” speech to liven up the reader’s connection with the past. It worked really well. I also had some good chuckles at the confusion the medieval characters often experienced at the modern-day characters’ idioms and lingo (take “Tweet”, for instance). The descriptions, language, and characters of “the past” were extremely well carried out and made for my favorite part of the book.

All in all, The Arch of Atlantis was a fun adventure. A little slow and stereotypical at the beginning, but definitely worth reading through. If you’ve wondered what Robin Hood might’ve been like as a kid; if you like younger YA reading; if you like time travel, crystal powers, mysterious missions, or anything to do with Atlantis … you’ll want to check out The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis. ...more

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May 16, 2013 Renee rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: middle-grade-scifi-time-travel

My daughter (11) and I (the Mom) read and reviewed this book for Mother Daughter Book Reviews. Here are excerpts from our reviews. For the full reviews please visit Mother Daughter Book Reviews.

Daughter Says:

This book is about kids who go back in time to make sure that Robin Hood becomes a famous archer because somebody is trying to change that. For the cover, I think that the arch is cool but the author should have put some of the characters on the cover so I can see what they look like. I My daughter (11) and I (the Mom) read and reviewed this book for Mother Daughter Book Reviews. Here are excerpts from our reviews. For the full reviews please visit Mother Daughter Book Reviews.

Daughter Says:

This book is about kids who go back in time to make sure that Robin Hood becomes a famous archer because somebody is trying to change that. For the cover, I think that the arch is cool but the author should have put some of the characters on the cover so I can see what they look like. I really liked how Ravi’s hand kept detaching itself from his wrist and doing crazy things. I did not like how the author refers to the characters by their first name but the kids refer to each other by their last name. That was confusing at the start. Overall, I thought this book was really cool and fun to read. I would read the second book if they made a second one. I think boys and girls 9 years old and older would like this book.

Mom Says:

...
The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis is an exciting beginning to a new middle grade series merging science fiction, magical realism, and historical fiction genres to create an entertaining and educational story. Sharon Ledwith has assembled a stellar cast of main characters in the Last Timekeepers. The story centers around Amanda Sault, a Native American girl in the eighth grade; her friend Treena Mui, the rich Asian drama club queen; Drake Bailey, the younger, short of stature school genius; Jordan Jensen, the school jock; and, Ravi Sharma, the amputee who is a master of disguise. Kudos to the author for bringing together a brilliant cast of characters representing diversity in culture, ethnicity, social status, ability, gender, and age. Brilliant!!
...

My Bottom Line: The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis is a very entertaining story merging science fiction and magical realism and featuring a diverse cast of main characters as well as stellar writing from Sharon Ledwith. I highly recommend this book to tweens and teens looking for a great adventure and I eagerly await the next installment in the series. Ages 8+.

* This book was provided to us by the author free-of-charge in exchange for our honest reviews. All opinions expressed are our own. * ...more

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Nov 20, 2014 Tim Verhoeven rated it liked it

Recommends it for: Fans of young adult novels

Today I finished The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis.
This book has a good story build up. It starts with the introduction of all the major characters in their normal routine. Although this is not really a large book, the events are adequately described and the length is just right.
If I compare the plot with the second book in the series: Legend of the Timekeepers (the prequel to this book) it tends to be more straightforward and does not incorporate any unsuspected plot twists. This ...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Cordelia Dinsmore rated it it was amazing

I read this book because it sounded quite interesting, and the author had agreed to an interview for my blog. She is extremely supportive of her fellow authors, and I like her attitude about paying it forward.

I was intrigued with the premise for the book. Combining the story of Robin Hood with the mysterious Atlantis was an idea I just couldn't clear out of my mind. The author has done a magnificent job of combining the two, and preparing a path for future adventures along the way.

I liked the ...more

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Dec 07, 2014 TheGirlWithTheHeartShapedGlasses rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantastic

It started like The Breakfast Club and went to a fantastic fantasy novel.I never got bored of reading it and loved each character in the book which is usually rare.Its a novel which consists of an entertaining language and less long descriptive passages.I think it would be a perfect Disney movie! I've had a blast with the past!

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Jun 22, 2014 Rhonda Paglia rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I enjoyed this book and the concept very much. I had a little trouble with the language used by the kids during their time with Robin Hood, but it could be just a generational thing. I am enjoying reading "The Legend of the Timekeepers" by Sharon Ledwith much more.

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Feb 19, 2013 Eleni Konstantine rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, wenches-of-words, own-a-copy

4.5 stars!

Great MG book!

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Apr 12, 2019 Karen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wow, this was one of those reads that you pick up and can't stop reading til you it the last page! Ledwiths characters are a group of teens on detention who have to clean up someones yard as punishment. While on duty, they make a startling discovery and are swept into the adventure of their young lives. This book brought history to life as they travel back to the time of Robin Hood to preserve his place in history. Well written and the dialogue is snappy. The last time keepers and the Arch of ...more

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Oct 03, 2017 Celeste rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: alternative-universe, liked-it, magic, y-a-book, adventure, cute, decent-enough, teenagers, ya

This was a short, cute read. Good for younger readers but I did feel there was a bit too much of an info dump in certain places. That and the fact that our main characters seem to have plenty of time to change costumes and discuss strategies in front of the villains were my only problems.

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Jul 31, 2017 N.N. Light rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: reviews-by-mrs-n, young-adult, children-s-books, fantasy, middle-grade

I really enjoyed this adventure! I'm attracted to anything dealing with Atlantis and this book didn't disappoint. A cool spin on a fairy tale and I found myself wanting more when it ended. Highly recommend!

My Rating: 5 stars

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Sep 04, 2019 Kendall Miller rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book was good I liked the chai tees good character building if you like books about Atlantis you’ll like this book I recommend this book

I was given this book for free in exchange for an honest review

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About Sharon Ledwith

Sharon Ledwith

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Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/young adult time travel adventure series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, and the teen psychic mystery series, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM FAIRY FALLS. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, exercising, anything arcane, and an occasional dram of scotch. Sharon lives a serene, yet busy life in a southern tourist region of Ontario, Canada, ...more