Roxy

by P.J. Reece

Roxy is a tale of secrets and lies, sex and death. The story unfolds in Greece—an ancient land where myth and fact have coexisted for centuries. Sent there on a mission of mercy to meet her estranged grandfather, Roxy uncovers the truth about her family and must unravel the longtime consequences of a tragic love story. At the same time she has a secret of her own, and she has to deal with her strong feelings for the far-too-good-looking Giorgio. This is a riveting mystery with a tough yet vulnerable narrator whom teens will take to heart.

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2009

About the author

Once a hydrologist, then a filmmaker, before becoming a writer, thank God, finally a writer. Grateful for spending years writing for film and television and newspapers before settling into fiction. I live in Gibsons, BC, on the west coast of Canada.

Reviews

[Sheila Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am always amazed by the ability of a male author to write from a female point of view (disclaimer--I know PJ is male because I know him!) so I found Roxy extra interesting because the protagonist is a young 17-year old girl. Somehow I missed the fact that this is a book intended for a teen audience until I got to the end of the book--but I'm glad it worked out that way for me. As an adult reader (long past the age of 17), I allowed myself to get caught up in the fictional whirlwind that Roxy was living in while remembering my own tumultuous feelings as a teen. For this reason, I found Roxy to be a very believable and well-developed character. Her language and insights were funny and sad, naive and wise, and realistic for a young girl in her situation.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story of an average girl plunked down in the middle of an exotic backdrop and I was swept away by the romantic notion of Shangri-La and the apricot trees and all they represented. I empathized with the characters and cried a good many tears near the end--always the sign of a good book to me! I'd recommend to teens long before I'd recommend a vampire book, and I'd recommend to adults willing to lose themselves in a good story.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Kira M for TeensReadToo.com

When Roxy gets word that her grandfather is on his deathbed, she rushes off to Greece to see the man she has never met.

When she gets there, however, she discovers that her grandfather has bounced back, but has a lot of skeletons in the closet. Torn by guilt and remorse over his estrangement from his daughter, the sight of Roxy brings back some bad - as well as good - memories for him.

Will Roxy be able to help her grandfather heal and forgive himself for leaving his daughter? Will she be able to build that relationship with her grandparent that she's always longed for?

ROXY is a touching, at times humorous book. The characters are well-developed, and although the plot is slower-moving, it holds the reader's interest well. The story is unique and heartwarming. Readers who like realistic fiction and books with settings in other countries will enjoy reading ROXY.

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was short and I read it in one sitting. The story was interesting but the mechanics needed some work. Some of the transitions between thoughts or parts of the story were unclear and it was hard to follow at times...especially when the passages jumped between flashbacks and the present day. There are also sentences that begin without capital letters. I think a good editor could clean up some of the imperfections in the writing.

As an aside, the book contains some bad language and taking of the Lord's name in vain.

[Mark Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roxy is a great book -- a Young Adult novel for all ages. The characters are well-developed -- especially Roxy -- and the setting is sublime.

This story demands a slower read than one might expect from such a small book. There is a great deal of detail to take in, and I had to read a few passages more than once to fully understand the nuances of both the plot and characters involved. It was densely packed but eminently readable.

Roxy was a fun ride that left me both satisfied and wanting more. That, to me, is the sign of a good story!

[Arlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a few chapters to really get into the book, but once I did, it was a swift and easy read as PJ Reece brings us to another world where Roxy not only meets her grandfather for the first time, but a host of interesting characters. She gets to know and learn about her family, their past and helps to bring them together. Most importantly, she gets to know herself!

[Marie Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read. I like how PJ Reece kept the plot going and kept the secret remain hidden till the last few chapters. I would have given it a 5 but I felt that the Roxy-Geogrio relationship left me hanging.

[Jennifer Walsh · Rating 1 out of 5]

ugh. not even plausible.

[Amy Mathers · Rating 2 out of 5]

http://amysmarathonofbooks.ca/roxy/