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Lone Star Legend
An aspiring young journalist stuck blogging for a gossip site stumbles across a story that gives new meaning to the word legendary from "master wordsmith" award-winning author, Gwendolyn Zepeda (Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, New York Times bestselling author of The Dirty Girls Social Club ) .
If she can find the time, Sandy Saavedra will stop to breathe. New management has turned work upside down and her father's upcoming marriage-something he forgot to mention to Sandy-means there's no peace at home, either. But it's okay. No matter what's thrown her way, Sandy can deal. Because Sandy has a secret, and his name is Tío Jaime.
A short drive out of Austin delivers Sandy into the wide-open spaces of the Hill Country, to the front porch of grandfatherly hermit Tío Jaime. There, in the company of pepper plants, a shaggy dog, and fresh squeezed lemonade, the old man imparts down-to-earth advice. Overbearing boss? Work smarter; she'll leave you alone. Disrespectful boyfriend? Pack your bags; a real woman tolerates only a real man. His simple perspective reminds Sandy she can make her own choices-something she's been forgetting lately.
Feeling inspired, Sandy posts their chats online. But as she introduces the world to her personal Eden, her own life heads straight to hell . . .
If she can find the time, Sandy Saavedra will stop to breathe. New management has turned work upside down and her father's upcoming marriage-something he forgot to mention to Sandy-means there's no peace at home, either. But it's okay. No matter what's thrown her way, Sandy can deal. Because Sandy has a secret, and his name is Tío Jaime.
A short drive out of Austin delivers Sandy into the wide-open spaces of the Hill Country, to the front porch of grandfatherly hermit Tío Jaime. There, in the company of pepper plants, a shaggy dog, and fresh squeezed lemonade, the old man imparts down-to-earth advice. Overbearing boss? Work smarter; she'll leave you alone. Disrespectful boyfriend? Pack your bags; a real woman tolerates only a real man. His simple perspective reminds Sandy she can make her own choices-something she's been forgetting lately.
Feeling inspired, Sandy posts their chats online. But as she introduces the world to her personal Eden, her own life heads straight to hell . . .
350 pages, Paperback
First published January 7, 2010
2 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Gwendolyn Zepeda
12 books48 followersGwendolyn Zepeda was born in Houston, Texas in 1971 and attended the University of Texas at Austin. She began her writing career on the Web in 1997, with her long-running site gwendolynzepeda.com and as one of the founding writers of entertainment site Television Without Pity. Her first book was a short-story collection called To the Last Man I Slept with and All the Jerks Just Like Him (Arte Público Press, 2004).
Zepeda’s first children’s book, Growing Up with Tamales (Piñata Books) is a 2009 Charlotte Zolotow Award Highly Commended Title. Her first novel, Houston, We Have a Problema (Grand Central Publishing, 2009) won praise from Publisher’s Weekly and Booklist for its wit and upbeat story. Novelist Alisa Valdez Rodriguez calls Zepeda “a master wordsmith.”
A two-time Houston Arts Alliance literary fellowship winner and award-winning poet, Zepeda regularly lectures at universities throughout Texas. Her upcoming books include another children’s book – Sunflowers (Piñata Books, 2009) – and a new novel from Grand Central Publishing called Lone Star Legend.
Praise for Growing Up with Tamales / Los tamales de Ana:
"[This] charming story celebrates the satisfaction found in accomplishing a goal - no matter how big or small - and the trust new responsibility engenders. Young readers will delight in Zepeda's use of repetition and will giggle over the story's jocular ending."
- Kirkus Reviews "
Zepeda’s first children’s book, Growing Up with Tamales (Piñata Books) is a 2009 Charlotte Zolotow Award Highly Commended Title. Her first novel, Houston, We Have a Problema (Grand Central Publishing, 2009) won praise from Publisher’s Weekly and Booklist for its wit and upbeat story. Novelist Alisa Valdez Rodriguez calls Zepeda “a master wordsmith.”
A two-time Houston Arts Alliance literary fellowship winner and award-winning poet, Zepeda regularly lectures at universities throughout Texas. Her upcoming books include another children’s book – Sunflowers (Piñata Books, 2009) – and a new novel from Grand Central Publishing called Lone Star Legend.
Praise for Growing Up with Tamales / Los tamales de Ana:
"[This] charming story celebrates the satisfaction found in accomplishing a goal - no matter how big or small - and the trust new responsibility engenders. Young readers will delight in Zepeda's use of repetition and will giggle over the story's jocular ending."
- Kirkus Reviews "
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 24, 2010
Fun and heartwarming, very timely with the blogging and such. I plan to read it again sometime!!
March 6, 2024
This is a fun contemporary fiction novel with a kind of Texican flavor and a fairly satisfying character arc.
Mini-review at Lone Star on a Lark
Mini-review at Lone Star on a Lark
January 28, 2010
This book was fantastic, really. And yet sitting here, trying to write this review, I find myself at a loss of words. It's one of those days, perhaps. I'll do my best.
All of the characters were amazing, well-thought out, likable characters, with the exception of the one you weren't supposed to like, and he was just perfect in his lack of likability. The plot was touching and exciting and lacking nothing. The language and writing style were fluid and catchy.
The book starts off when Domingua Rodriguez, aka Sandy, discovers that the online publication for which she writes has been sold. . .and will become Nacho Papi, which she basically considers trash. Sandy has to decide whether or not to sacrifice her ideals (and morals) to keep her job. Lone Star Legend is the story of Sandy dealing with this huge change in her life (and deal with the fact that her personal blog has now become food for the masses) while at the same time trying to hold onto herself. In essence, this is a coming of age story.
And what we get as Sandy "comes of age" is a delightful, witty, dramatic story that will sometimes have you hoping, sometimes have you cringing, and almost always have you laughing. Zepeda's subtle way of twisting humour with important life lessons is refreshing, uplifting, and best of all, completely realistic. It's not so in your face that you feel like you're being preached at, but there are times when this book will make you sit back and question some of the sacrifices you may have made in your life.
The biggest problem that I had with this book was Sandy's relationship with her boyfriend, which seemed extra contrived. At times, it almost felt as if she had gone back and added him in as an afterthought, just to add drama. While he did occasionally had a hilarious blog entry to the book, for the most part all of the scenes involving him just felt too forced. He didn't fit Sandy, and he didn't fit the book.
My absolute favorite part of this book was the relationship between Sandy and Tio Jaime, aka the Chupacabra, a friend of her late aunt's that she decides to use to do an advice column in Nacho Pap Tio Jaime is so good and pure, and his advice columns, while utterly hilarious, seem to go against the nature of Nacho Papi itself, just as Nacho Papi seems to go against what Tio Jaime stands for. It is only through Tio Jaime, I found, that Sandra can truly see herself, and her weekly visits with him seem to be the only thing keeping her sane as her life is thrown to shambles. To me, these scenes were a setting for everything important in the book, and, luckily, every single one of them was perfect. Each word was cleverly and lovingly picked and place so that the reader will be learning something, living something important while at the same time laughing their pants off.
So, conclusion? Read this book! It's more than just your everyday chicklit. It was really just delightful, and I would absolutely highly recommend it to anyone!
All of the characters were amazing, well-thought out, likable characters, with the exception of the one you weren't supposed to like, and he was just perfect in his lack of likability. The plot was touching and exciting and lacking nothing. The language and writing style were fluid and catchy.
The book starts off when Domingua Rodriguez, aka Sandy, discovers that the online publication for which she writes has been sold. . .and will become Nacho Papi, which she basically considers trash. Sandy has to decide whether or not to sacrifice her ideals (and morals) to keep her job. Lone Star Legend is the story of Sandy dealing with this huge change in her life (and deal with the fact that her personal blog has now become food for the masses) while at the same time trying to hold onto herself. In essence, this is a coming of age story.
And what we get as Sandy "comes of age" is a delightful, witty, dramatic story that will sometimes have you hoping, sometimes have you cringing, and almost always have you laughing. Zepeda's subtle way of twisting humour with important life lessons is refreshing, uplifting, and best of all, completely realistic. It's not so in your face that you feel like you're being preached at, but there are times when this book will make you sit back and question some of the sacrifices you may have made in your life.
The biggest problem that I had with this book was Sandy's relationship with her boyfriend, which seemed extra contrived. At times, it almost felt as if she had gone back and added him in as an afterthought, just to add drama. While he did occasionally had a hilarious blog entry to the book, for the most part all of the scenes involving him just felt too forced. He didn't fit Sandy, and he didn't fit the book.
My absolute favorite part of this book was the relationship between Sandy and Tio Jaime, aka the Chupacabra, a friend of her late aunt's that she decides to use to do an advice column in Nacho Pap Tio Jaime is so good and pure, and his advice columns, while utterly hilarious, seem to go against the nature of Nacho Papi itself, just as Nacho Papi seems to go against what Tio Jaime stands for. It is only through Tio Jaime, I found, that Sandra can truly see herself, and her weekly visits with him seem to be the only thing keeping her sane as her life is thrown to shambles. To me, these scenes were a setting for everything important in the book, and, luckily, every single one of them was perfect. Each word was cleverly and lovingly picked and place so that the reader will be learning something, living something important while at the same time laughing their pants off.
So, conclusion? Read this book! It's more than just your everyday chicklit. It was really just delightful, and I would absolutely highly recommend it to anyone!
January 30, 2010
I have always enjoyed books that give me a taste of other cultures and Lone Star Legend not only touched on the hispanic culture, but legends as well. Before reading this book I had no idea what a Chupacabra was, and for your information here is the definition: a purported creature resembling a gargoyle, said to exist in parts of Mexico and on Puerto Rico.
The main character in this novel is Sandy, an aspiring writer who happens to live in an apartment above her mother's garage. Life doesn't seem too difficult for Sandy, as the rent is very low so she doesn't have many expenses. She also has a decent job as a writer on a website and a boyfriend who happens to be a writing professor at a nearby college. If only her boyfriend could look past his own aspirations and find some respect for the work she does, she would be much happier with that relationship.
After Sandy's aunt passes away, the opportunity arises for Sandy and her mother to take a little roadtrip to Aunt Linda's home to take care of some housekeeping items. They arrive to find that basically everything has been taken care of by Linda's neighbor Jaime. This becomes the first of many visits that Sandy will make to Jaime as they develop a lasting friendship.
When Sandy returns to her job she finds that she has a new boss and the company has decided to change the way they operate. They are basically turning their website into an outlet for gossip and trashing the latino celebrities. Although Sandy finds this type of assignment a struggle, she does find a way to persevere and deliver the type of articles that her boss is looking for.
Trouble starts to brew for Sandy as she becomes one of the more popular authors on the website. Up until she became a celebrity of some sort, she maintained a blog in which she was able to retain complete anonymity. After a couple of hints about her blog were dropped by a close friend her identity was revealed and her personal information that she shared on her blog was available for the whole public to see. Some things that she wrote about on her blog she wouldn't have otherwise shared with anyone knowing that she would remain anonymous. This was obviously a humbling experience for Sandy that changed her outlook on how she was living her life.
I found myself enjoying this story that had themes of forgiveness, starting over, and making the right choices in life. I think that those of us that have a blog can easily understand how things could get so quickly out of control if you don't monitor your posts. This was a fun book to read that besides the story itself, also included posts and comments from both the website Sandy worked for and her personal blog. A reading group guide is provided at the end of the book and I think it would make an entertaining group discussion.
The main character in this novel is Sandy, an aspiring writer who happens to live in an apartment above her mother's garage. Life doesn't seem too difficult for Sandy, as the rent is very low so she doesn't have many expenses. She also has a decent job as a writer on a website and a boyfriend who happens to be a writing professor at a nearby college. If only her boyfriend could look past his own aspirations and find some respect for the work she does, she would be much happier with that relationship.
After Sandy's aunt passes away, the opportunity arises for Sandy and her mother to take a little roadtrip to Aunt Linda's home to take care of some housekeeping items. They arrive to find that basically everything has been taken care of by Linda's neighbor Jaime. This becomes the first of many visits that Sandy will make to Jaime as they develop a lasting friendship.
When Sandy returns to her job she finds that she has a new boss and the company has decided to change the way they operate. They are basically turning their website into an outlet for gossip and trashing the latino celebrities. Although Sandy finds this type of assignment a struggle, she does find a way to persevere and deliver the type of articles that her boss is looking for.
Trouble starts to brew for Sandy as she becomes one of the more popular authors on the website. Up until she became a celebrity of some sort, she maintained a blog in which she was able to retain complete anonymity. After a couple of hints about her blog were dropped by a close friend her identity was revealed and her personal information that she shared on her blog was available for the whole public to see. Some things that she wrote about on her blog she wouldn't have otherwise shared with anyone knowing that she would remain anonymous. This was obviously a humbling experience for Sandy that changed her outlook on how she was living her life.
I found myself enjoying this story that had themes of forgiveness, starting over, and making the right choices in life. I think that those of us that have a blog can easily understand how things could get so quickly out of control if you don't monitor your posts. This was a fun book to read that besides the story itself, also included posts and comments from both the website Sandy worked for and her personal blog. A reading group guide is provided at the end of the book and I think it would make an entertaining group discussion.
February 1, 2010
As a blogger, Lone Star Legend appealed to me from the get go. What blogger wouldn’t want to read about a fictional blogger who made it to the “big time” of working as a reporter on an internet gossip site? This storyline alone would have been enough, in my opinion , to make the book an enjoyable read. Lone Star Legend, however, surpassed my expectations and I found it hard to put the book down.
Heroine Sandy Saavedra, otherwise known as “Sandy S.” to her internet audience is witty, ambitious and, deep down, cursed with a conscience that conflicts with her job at Nacho Papi. She is also a secret blogger, writing about her personal life, using her screen name as a pseudonym. While Sandy yearns for success as a writer, hoping that her internet job will lead her to greener pastures, she doesn’t expect the overnight celebrity that comes with it - - exposing her and her academic boyfriend to the spotlight.
Sandy has a strained relationship with her mother and a disjointed one with her father. Such flaws make Sandy more human, as does her relationship with Tio Jaime - - her late great aunt’s neighbor and the kind old man who brings clarity to Sandy’s life.
As likable and down to earth as Sandy was, Tio Jaime was my favorite character in the book. His warm grandfatherly figure was as comforting as a bowl of chiciken noodle soup and his no nonsense advice made me wish I could drive out to Texas to spend a pleasant afternoon with him and his dog over a glass of lemonade.
Ms. Zepeda’s writing style was light, breezy and humorous. I particularly enjoyed how every other chapter began with an entry to Sandy’s personal blog, along with the sometimes comical reader responses. Changes in Sandy’s professional and personal life are reflected in not only her blog entries but in the number and content of reader responses.
Lone Star Legend gives an interesting spotlight to Texas and the Latino community, not only through Sandy’s voice but also through Tio Jaime’s, her great aunt Linda’s through a journal and even the Nacho Papi website, where the focus is on Latino celebrities.
While the ending may have been a bit predictable or even pat, it was justly satisfying, sprinkled with a bit of romance and leaving me content with Sandy’s fate.
Overall, I would recommend Lone Star Legend to anyone looking for a fun, entertaining read. Lone Star Legend may not change your life but it is a pleasant diversion.
Heroine Sandy Saavedra, otherwise known as “Sandy S.” to her internet audience is witty, ambitious and, deep down, cursed with a conscience that conflicts with her job at Nacho Papi. She is also a secret blogger, writing about her personal life, using her screen name as a pseudonym. While Sandy yearns for success as a writer, hoping that her internet job will lead her to greener pastures, she doesn’t expect the overnight celebrity that comes with it - - exposing her and her academic boyfriend to the spotlight.
Sandy has a strained relationship with her mother and a disjointed one with her father. Such flaws make Sandy more human, as does her relationship with Tio Jaime - - her late great aunt’s neighbor and the kind old man who brings clarity to Sandy’s life.
As likable and down to earth as Sandy was, Tio Jaime was my favorite character in the book. His warm grandfatherly figure was as comforting as a bowl of chiciken noodle soup and his no nonsense advice made me wish I could drive out to Texas to spend a pleasant afternoon with him and his dog over a glass of lemonade.
Ms. Zepeda’s writing style was light, breezy and humorous. I particularly enjoyed how every other chapter began with an entry to Sandy’s personal blog, along with the sometimes comical reader responses. Changes in Sandy’s professional and personal life are reflected in not only her blog entries but in the number and content of reader responses.
Lone Star Legend gives an interesting spotlight to Texas and the Latino community, not only through Sandy’s voice but also through Tio Jaime’s, her great aunt Linda’s through a journal and even the Nacho Papi website, where the focus is on Latino celebrities.
While the ending may have been a bit predictable or even pat, it was justly satisfying, sprinkled with a bit of romance and leaving me content with Sandy’s fate.
Overall, I would recommend Lone Star Legend to anyone looking for a fun, entertaining read. Lone Star Legend may not change your life but it is a pleasant diversion.
June 7, 2010
Lone Star Legend is fun, light read with a predictable plot and satisfying moral to impart.
Sandy is an Austin writer in her late twenties, working for a Latino-focused online news organization that is bought by a Gawker-style gossip and political commentary site aimed at Latinos, Nacho Papi. Professionally, it’s the chance of a lifetime to raise her profile professionally, although it quickly becomes apparent that Sandy will have to make some hard choices about her professional integrity in order to cash-in on the perks of the job.
Questions emerge about what she’s ready to give up – an inattentive boyfriend – and what she gives up without realizing the consequences – time with her friends and mother, a sense of privacy, writing about things that are important to her. Her Aunt Linda’s death offers her the opportunity to get to know Aunt Linda’s lifelong friend, Tio Jaime, and utilize his wisdom and humor in order to make professional headway by featuring him on Nacho Papi as “La Chupacabra”, an on-line advice columnist.
The behind-the-scenes look at a snark site like Nacho Papi is a lot of fun, especially the pressure to create pithy commentary about everything from the careers and fake breasts of Latino actresses to biting gossip about Latino authors and politicians. Readers will appreciate the schizophrenic nature of comments left on those type of sites and laugh and clutch their heads when Sandy's online and "real" persona collide. I wonder why the publisher didn't push the online element of the story in their advertising and the back of the book, as it is the most unique and timely aspect of Lone Star Legend.
After several predictable twists and turns, Sandy is forced to reckon with the people and principles she neglected while getting swept up in the glamour of her new job. The book ends on an upbeat note as Sandy rights her wrongs and learns some typical “twenty-something” lessons about focusing on the things in life that are truly important.
Lone Star Legend is a book I’ll be recommending to readers looking for something to read on the plane or the beach. The writing is accessible and Zapeda has created a fun, light story about the transition from college life to adulthood.
Sandy is an Austin writer in her late twenties, working for a Latino-focused online news organization that is bought by a Gawker-style gossip and political commentary site aimed at Latinos, Nacho Papi. Professionally, it’s the chance of a lifetime to raise her profile professionally, although it quickly becomes apparent that Sandy will have to make some hard choices about her professional integrity in order to cash-in on the perks of the job.
Questions emerge about what she’s ready to give up – an inattentive boyfriend – and what she gives up without realizing the consequences – time with her friends and mother, a sense of privacy, writing about things that are important to her. Her Aunt Linda’s death offers her the opportunity to get to know Aunt Linda’s lifelong friend, Tio Jaime, and utilize his wisdom and humor in order to make professional headway by featuring him on Nacho Papi as “La Chupacabra”, an on-line advice columnist.
The behind-the-scenes look at a snark site like Nacho Papi is a lot of fun, especially the pressure to create pithy commentary about everything from the careers and fake breasts of Latino actresses to biting gossip about Latino authors and politicians. Readers will appreciate the schizophrenic nature of comments left on those type of sites and laugh and clutch their heads when Sandy's online and "real" persona collide. I wonder why the publisher didn't push the online element of the story in their advertising and the back of the book, as it is the most unique and timely aspect of Lone Star Legend.
After several predictable twists and turns, Sandy is forced to reckon with the people and principles she neglected while getting swept up in the glamour of her new job. The book ends on an upbeat note as Sandy rights her wrongs and learns some typical “twenty-something” lessons about focusing on the things in life that are truly important.
Lone Star Legend is a book I’ll be recommending to readers looking for something to read on the plane or the beach. The writing is accessible and Zapeda has created a fun, light story about the transition from college life to adulthood.
February 13, 2010
Lone Star Legend by Gwendolyn Zepeda
Genre: YA Fiction
Rating: 2.5, DNF
Sandy S. has a second identity online—she blogs at a personal blog as Miss TragiComic Texas, and works for a website called Nacho Papi. Sandy is good at living her dual-identities and keeping them separate. But when people start connecting the the personal blog and the new website, and then recognizing her on the streets from the videos…
(From back of the book:) No matter how many passwords and aliases we use, there really is no such thing as privacy when you live your life online. Celebrities expect this, but what about the average person? Gwendolyn Zepeda’s novel plays with this idea of public vs. private and what happens when those lines get crossed.
I found Lone Star Legend to be very slow. It was hard to get into, and even halfway through the book I wasn’t sure what the actual plot line was.
There is a lot of drama. She breaks up with her boyfriend. Her boyfriend’s students find her personal blog and her rants about him and it embarrasses him. People recognize her in the coffee shop from TV. The man she interviews on a whim becomes the new biggest internet phenomenon, but he doesn’t want his photo on the t-shirts that she has already started to sell. These are just a few things that happen in the story, and none of it really leads anywhere.
And if a story doesn’t lead anywhere, and I have no desire to finish it, I’m not going to. Because I could be reading other things.
With that in mind, my positive comments include these: Zepeda is a pretty good writer. The writing and the dialogue is witty and fresh and alive and pretty funny at times. There were some great lines, great scenarios, and great laugh-out-loud sections… there just weren’t enough to keep me reading. The characters are well developed and defined and likeable, and it’s a pretty enjoyable read… little bits at a time.
But Lone Star Legend just wasn’t my thing, I guess. It kind of stinks, too, because I love the idea. As a blogger, people I know personally always tell me about stuff they read on my blog… but however much I wanted to enjoy it, I just couldn’t get into it.
Genre: YA Fiction
Rating: 2.5, DNF
Sandy S. has a second identity online—she blogs at a personal blog as Miss TragiComic Texas, and works for a website called Nacho Papi. Sandy is good at living her dual-identities and keeping them separate. But when people start connecting the the personal blog and the new website, and then recognizing her on the streets from the videos…
(From back of the book:) No matter how many passwords and aliases we use, there really is no such thing as privacy when you live your life online. Celebrities expect this, but what about the average person? Gwendolyn Zepeda’s novel plays with this idea of public vs. private and what happens when those lines get crossed.
I found Lone Star Legend to be very slow. It was hard to get into, and even halfway through the book I wasn’t sure what the actual plot line was.
There is a lot of drama. She breaks up with her boyfriend. Her boyfriend’s students find her personal blog and her rants about him and it embarrasses him. People recognize her in the coffee shop from TV. The man she interviews on a whim becomes the new biggest internet phenomenon, but he doesn’t want his photo on the t-shirts that she has already started to sell. These are just a few things that happen in the story, and none of it really leads anywhere.
And if a story doesn’t lead anywhere, and I have no desire to finish it, I’m not going to. Because I could be reading other things.
With that in mind, my positive comments include these: Zepeda is a pretty good writer. The writing and the dialogue is witty and fresh and alive and pretty funny at times. There were some great lines, great scenarios, and great laugh-out-loud sections… there just weren’t enough to keep me reading. The characters are well developed and defined and likeable, and it’s a pretty enjoyable read… little bits at a time.
But Lone Star Legend just wasn’t my thing, I guess. It kind of stinks, too, because I love the idea. As a blogger, people I know personally always tell me about stuff they read on my blog… but however much I wanted to enjoy it, I just couldn’t get into it.
January 26, 2010
Dominga Saavedra goes by Sandy. Sandy is the name that her mother had picked out based on her favorite musical, Grease. Sandy's boyfriend Daniel never goes by Danny, but that's never stopped Sandy's mother from giving him that moniker.
As Sandy feels that she has to accommodate the people she loves, from her graduate student boyfriend Daniel to her prying (a.k.a. "concerned") mother to her employers. The one place that Sandy doesn't have to suppress her feelings or sugarcoat her reactions is on her new blog, My Modern TragiComedy. As MissTragiComic Texas, Sandy can say whatever she wants without fear. So she does!
But when her old newspaper gets taken over by an online news and entertainment entity, Sandy has to learn to write for the Nacho Papi's Website. Serious journalism goes out the window as Sandy is asked to come up with short, exciting posts that generate hits. Nothing is off-limits, the more personal the better! Her new boss Angelica Villanueva O'Sullivan is trim, glamorous, and takes no prisoners. As Sandy revises her style, her look, and her life, she gradually realizes that the new Sandy isn't much of an improvement.
Lone Star Legend and Sandy's story is made richer by Tio Jaime, an unexpected friend who teaches Sandy and her readers about generosity and keeping things real. Tio Jaime is incorporated into Sandy's site and writings as Chupacabre, the Wise Goat Man. Though Tio Jaime's refusal to sign the legal waiver foreshadows problems in the future. (Lawsuit waiting to happen, anyone?)
A light, witty and heartwarming read, Lone Star Legend is sure to make you chuckle, wince (in sympathy), and cry. I recommend it highly!
ISBN-10: 0446539600 - Paperback $13.00
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; Original edition (January 25, 2010) 354 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.
As Sandy feels that she has to accommodate the people she loves, from her graduate student boyfriend Daniel to her prying (a.k.a. "concerned") mother to her employers. The one place that Sandy doesn't have to suppress her feelings or sugarcoat her reactions is on her new blog, My Modern TragiComedy. As MissTragiComic Texas, Sandy can say whatever she wants without fear. So she does!
But when her old newspaper gets taken over by an online news and entertainment entity, Sandy has to learn to write for the Nacho Papi's Website. Serious journalism goes out the window as Sandy is asked to come up with short, exciting posts that generate hits. Nothing is off-limits, the more personal the better! Her new boss Angelica Villanueva O'Sullivan is trim, glamorous, and takes no prisoners. As Sandy revises her style, her look, and her life, she gradually realizes that the new Sandy isn't much of an improvement.
Lone Star Legend and Sandy's story is made richer by Tio Jaime, an unexpected friend who teaches Sandy and her readers about generosity and keeping things real. Tio Jaime is incorporated into Sandy's site and writings as Chupacabre, the Wise Goat Man. Though Tio Jaime's refusal to sign the legal waiver foreshadows problems in the future. (Lawsuit waiting to happen, anyone?)
A light, witty and heartwarming read, Lone Star Legend is sure to make you chuckle, wince (in sympathy), and cry. I recommend it highly!
ISBN-10: 0446539600 - Paperback $13.00
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; Original edition (January 25, 2010) 354 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.
November 15, 2010
This was a really fun read. However, it was a bit slow in the beginning and it took me a few days to WANT to read this book. The characters were very well developed and I loved how Zepeda made it a "coming-of-age" story for the main character, Sandy S.
*Beware of a Spoiler*
I wasn't thrilled with Sandy's boyfriend, Daniel. I suppose Zepeda wanted us to hate him, and well, I did. But I would liked to have read a little more about him after the whole break-up between the two. I expected to find out more about the anonymous "friends of D.T." who snubbed Sandy on her blog and on the Nacho Papi website. I would have liked to have read a few chapters from Daniel's point of view, who exactly showed him Sandy's personal blog, and maybe a little more dialogue between the two when they ran into each other at the coffee house.
Another thing I was looking forward to was a possible romance for Sandy at the end of the novel. I was totally surprised by the whole thing with Richard. I thought she would end up with that good-looking Marketing guy that she met at the Toro Vodka party in Atlanta. You know, as a surprise. I also wanted him to be the one that was always complimenting her on the Nacho Papi website. But, there was no mention of the guy ever again. There did seem to be some chemistry between Richard and Sandy on their date, but at that point I didn't like Richard because of the way he treated Sandy and forbid her to see Tio Jaime. If Zepeda writes a follow up novel to this one, I definitely want to read and find out what happens between Sandy and Richard. I was also glad that no one died at the end (it certainly seemed as though she could have gone that direction with Tio Jaime). I like happy endings better. =)
I'm glad I got the opportunity to read this book and now I plan to check out Houston, We Have a Problema. Thank you!
*Beware of a Spoiler*
I wasn't thrilled with Sandy's boyfriend, Daniel. I suppose Zepeda wanted us to hate him, and well, I did. But I would liked to have read a little more about him after the whole break-up between the two. I expected to find out more about the anonymous "friends of D.T." who snubbed Sandy on her blog and on the Nacho Papi website. I would have liked to have read a few chapters from Daniel's point of view, who exactly showed him Sandy's personal blog, and maybe a little more dialogue between the two when they ran into each other at the coffee house.
Another thing I was looking forward to was a possible romance for Sandy at the end of the novel. I was totally surprised by the whole thing with Richard. I thought she would end up with that good-looking Marketing guy that she met at the Toro Vodka party in Atlanta. You know, as a surprise. I also wanted him to be the one that was always complimenting her on the Nacho Papi website. But, there was no mention of the guy ever again. There did seem to be some chemistry between Richard and Sandy on their date, but at that point I didn't like Richard because of the way he treated Sandy and forbid her to see Tio Jaime. If Zepeda writes a follow up novel to this one, I definitely want to read and find out what happens between Sandy and Richard. I was also glad that no one died at the end (it certainly seemed as though she could have gone that direction with Tio Jaime). I like happy endings better. =)
I'm glad I got the opportunity to read this book and now I plan to check out Houston, We Have a Problema. Thank you!
January 27, 2010
I really enjoyed this book. It is a good look at how a character changes and grows due to what is going on in their lives. Sandy starts out idealistic and I think this is very realistic of someone not far out of college in any field, not just in writing/journalism. She wants to make a difference and do serious writing. But then life throws her a curveball in that her work gets taken over and essentially becomes a gossip blog. No longer is Sandy writing her idea of meaningful journalism, now she is reporting about celebrities and drinking and pretty much doing whatever her boss and the sponsors tell her to do. And not only has her professional life gone wrong, but she still lives in an apartment she rents from her mother. She is still dealing with her parents' divorce and her father's emotional distance from her and she also has boyfriend troubles. So Sandy's life is going down the tubes and fast.
However the book is really about how she deals with all of this. How her ideas change due to circumstances and how she turns her life into something she likes again at least for a brief time and then it's time to learn again. This isn't a beat you over the head with ideas book. The values and lessons are subtle to Sandy and to the reader. The writing is beautiful and although the beginning starts a little slow setting up the book, once the book gets going you really start to enjoy it all.
Strong characterization and a well-thought-out plot make Lone Star Legend a delight to read and a book whose lessons will stick with you long after the book is finished.
However the book is really about how she deals with all of this. How her ideas change due to circumstances and how she turns her life into something she likes again at least for a brief time and then it's time to learn again. This isn't a beat you over the head with ideas book. The values and lessons are subtle to Sandy and to the reader. The writing is beautiful and although the beginning starts a little slow setting up the book, once the book gets going you really start to enjoy it all.
Strong characterization and a well-thought-out plot make Lone Star Legend a delight to read and a book whose lessons will stick with you long after the book is finished.
January 5, 2015
As a writer for the Latino gossip site Nacho Papi, Sandy is expected to make her news stories sensational, and be seen all over at big events, blurring the lines between journalism and entertainment. Then there is her personal blog, which she considers private and has told no one about. Somehow a reader of Nacho Papi and local Austin papers who is probably one of Sandy's three blog readers (yes, three) figures out Sandy S is also Miss TragiComic Texas and all hell breaks loose. Now her rantings about family, friends and boyfriends is being read by what seems like the whole world, and her loved ones are all getting their feelings hurt.As bloggers we all know the fine line we walk when sharing family stories on our blogs, but Sandy has taken it one step further and shared secrets and complaints, thinking only three strangers would read it. I often wondered at some of the foolish mistakes Sandy made, as she seemed such an intelligent, educated person. But she let herself be pulled along on the tide of the new management at work. By not being true to the honest journalist she is and becoming a writer of scandalous stories, Sandy gets lost in the mess of meetings, parties, interviews, and trips. Like most of these situations, it's only when everything blows up that Sandy learns who her friends are and how strong she really can be.
January 29, 2010
I really enjoyed this story. Sandy was such a great character - and she had such growth throughout her story. As Sandy's dreams of writing on important topics goes down the drain and she begins to write pieces a-la-TMZ, it seems like not only has her job gone to hell, but so has her love life, her living situation and just about everything else. She strives to make changes in her life (including a makeover), but she slowly begins to realize that these changes are superficial, she must make real changes that will bring her to a place where she will be happy not only with life, but with herself.
I loved being brought into the world of online magazines, blogs and gossip columns. The characters were one of a kind (my favorite being Tio Jaime) and the scenarios were definitely laugh out loud funny. Ms. Cepeda has a fantastic sense of humor - I found myself literally cracking up at times.
This was a light read with some witty dialogue, heart-warming moments and a one of a kind ensemble that I can definitely recommend.
I loved being brought into the world of online magazines, blogs and gossip columns. The characters were one of a kind (my favorite being Tio Jaime) and the scenarios were definitely laugh out loud funny. Ms. Cepeda has a fantastic sense of humor - I found myself literally cracking up at times.
This was a light read with some witty dialogue, heart-warming moments and a one of a kind ensemble that I can definitely recommend.
September 17, 2012
I enjoyed reading this summer read. I enjoyed that the book was set in Austin, Texas. I could relate to the coming of age story line post college. Figuring out what we are doing and even when we are doing something for a living we ask ourselves why we are doing it.
We all wonder what it is like to be famous or even mildly famous. I think the taste she received of fame was just enough to teach her a good lesson of how to handle it. She acts as though she would like to stay under the radar. I think in the end she still enjoyed the fame.
I think she eventually appreciated the people around her and what she could learn from them. As well she learned that it should not always be about her and the agenda she has set out for. The book reminded me to keep an open mind to learn from others in the most unexpected places. As well double check your agenda to remind yourself why are you working so hard for something.
We all wonder what it is like to be famous or even mildly famous. I think the taste she received of fame was just enough to teach her a good lesson of how to handle it. She acts as though she would like to stay under the radar. I think in the end she still enjoyed the fame.
I think she eventually appreciated the people around her and what she could learn from them. As well she learned that it should not always be about her and the agenda she has set out for. The book reminded me to keep an open mind to learn from others in the most unexpected places. As well double check your agenda to remind yourself why are you working so hard for something.
January 8, 2010
As usual, reading Gwendolyn Zepeda's writing is a cathartic experience. This second novel tells the story of Sandy Saavedra, a writer who's struggling to find her way after the publication she works for is bought by a TMZ-like conglomerate. Just when Sandy gets into a groove at work, her personal life starts to fall apart. With the help of her great-aunt's journal and her friend, Tío Jaime, Sandy finds her way again. Written with humor and a warm, intelligent style that will leave the reader longing for her own Tío Jaime,
Lone Star Legend
succeeds where other chick lit novels fall short.
May 23, 2010
I loved Gwendolyn Zepeda's Houston, We Have a Problema, and was looking forward to Lone Star Legend. Of course, you know how things have been going for me so far this year. It got so crazy that I lost track of my TBR pile, and didn't get around to reading Lone Star Legend till recently.
Which is a shame. Sandy's story pulled me in, slowly but surely... And not because of the blogger angle, either, but because of the characters. Sandy could be somebody I know in real life. She follows her heart, and gets into trouble, but still tries to do good. Tio Jaime is awesome! I wish he was in my family!
Add this to your summer pile. You won't regret it.
Which is a shame. Sandy's story pulled me in, slowly but surely... And not because of the blogger angle, either, but because of the characters. Sandy could be somebody I know in real life. She follows her heart, and gets into trouble, but still tries to do good. Tio Jaime is awesome! I wish he was in my family!
Add this to your summer pile. You won't regret it.
June 22, 2017
Lone Star Legend surprised me. I'm not sure exactly what I expected but, whatever, it isn't what I got. Perhaps it has a more serious undertone: not quite the chick-lit I thought it would be. Lone Star Legend chronicles a coming-of-age year in the life of the main character Sandy. The author Zepeda keeps a light touch while exploring Sandy's transition from college student to full time employee, along with the underlying message that actions have consequences (consequences both good and bad). I like the characters, who manage to climb out of their pigeonholes.
This is a book club discussion book for me. It will be interesting to see how others like it.
This is a book club discussion book for me. It will be interesting to see how others like it.
January 28, 2015
A light read, about a young woman writer growing through her work and life experiences. Takes place in Austin TX, and focuses a lot on the new media of writing for the internet- blogs, gossip sites, web video clips. I found a few parts a little unbelieveable, like the relationship Sandy has with her Sage that seems to develop almost overnight, and when her unfinished legal paperwork seems to go undetected for a long time. However the ending of a relationship was very well written, and came across as very authentic while still showing both people as decent.
September 12, 2012
Zepeda's story, through her main character, Sandy S., searches for the answer to the question:
Which would you rather have? A job that pays the bills or a job where you are being true to yourself.
In answering that question, we are given an intimate and in-depth look into Sandy's life (she is a blogger). The pros and cons.
I enjoyed the extreme characterization of the people around Sandy -- though at times, felt a bit wary of her overly simplistic decisions.
December 6, 2015
I had read her other book, Houston, We Have A Problem a few years ago so I knew I would most enjoy this one as well, and I did. Lone Star Legend is set in Austin, and it’s always interesting to read a book set in the city in which you live. It was a good read, great for a plane or vacation. Not really fluffy, but still lit lite. Is that a thing? It should be.
August 14, 2013
An absolute gem of a book. It was one of those I loved so much I went out and bought extra copies for my friends. It is amazing when you stumble on a book by accident, by an author you've never heard of, and it becomes one of your favorites. Everyone in South Texas should read this book!
January 10, 2010
Took a while to get into. Blog, gossip writer turned TV personality. Was okay but not one where you were on the edge of your seat :O)
February 8, 2010
Great book!
March 15, 2010
It was slow at first, but things eventually picked up. It was an entertaining read.
March 27, 2010
A fun read! I loved Sandy's journey!
May 5, 2010
I have followed Gwen's blog through its various incarnations since I got online in 1999! She's really growing as a writer. Sandy rang true and I would love to have my own Tio Jaime.
Read
July 19, 2011Okay. Not my favorite.
December 15, 2013
This book was really slow at the beginning. Then the pace picked up. I can relate a little to Sandy.
It was a cute and easy read.
It was a cute and easy read.
June 12, 2014
Lovely book!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews