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Prairie Winds Golf Course #2
Finish Line
Cancer! A Life and Death AdventureIt Doesn't Have to Be A Nail In Your CoffinAfter committing a petty act of vandalism two teenage boys land summer jobs on a local golf course to pay off their debt. They quickly find that their troubles are minor compared to that of their boss who is battling cancer.
Life is full of lessons - big and small. You're never too young to benefit. Curt Schroeder, proprietor, stresses the positive energy needed to fight the battle. That outlook is contagious as the two teens realize that their troubles pale in comparison to those of a young man afflicted with a terrible disease. Feel the friendship that is offered from the regulars at the golf course. Be a part of the camaraderie.
Experience how the teenagers learn valuable life lessons during a summer they will not forget.
˃˃˃ A Positive Attitude Goes A Long WayThere is no easy way to take the news that the doctor delivers. "You've got cancer." Today it is not a ticket to the grave.
Lifestyle, a positive attitude, state of the art treatment, and amazing drugs can be part of the remedy. Read how Curt Schroeder, proprietor of Prairie Winds Golf Course, tackles the dilemma head on. His actions serve as a real example for two teenage boys who soon realize that their troubles with the law are nothing compared to a man battling a life-threatening disease.
Click on this today!
Life is full of lessons - big and small. You're never too young to benefit. Curt Schroeder, proprietor, stresses the positive energy needed to fight the battle. That outlook is contagious as the two teens realize that their troubles pale in comparison to those of a young man afflicted with a terrible disease. Feel the friendship that is offered from the regulars at the golf course. Be a part of the camaraderie.
Experience how the teenagers learn valuable life lessons during a summer they will not forget.
˃˃˃ A Positive Attitude Goes A Long WayThere is no easy way to take the news that the doctor delivers. "You've got cancer." Today it is not a ticket to the grave.
Lifestyle, a positive attitude, state of the art treatment, and amazing drugs can be part of the remedy. Read how Curt Schroeder, proprietor of Prairie Winds Golf Course, tackles the dilemma head on. His actions serve as a real example for two teenage boys who soon realize that their troubles with the law are nothing compared to a man battling a life-threatening disease.
Click on this today!
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 29, 2008
About the author
James Ross
160 books119 followersI'm a cancer survivor who had something to say. One story has become several novels from fictitious Prairie Winds Golf Course high atop the Mississippi river bluffs just east of St. Louis.
My stories are character-based with the genre being realistic fiction. My writing style utilizes the use of dialogue from an eclectic cast of characters. Aside from the recurring regulars roughly 20 new personalities are introduced per story.
There will be a Midwestern flavor, solid themes, social issues, and a few lessons in life learned from the golf course which reflect my roots.
My stories are character-based with the genre being realistic fiction. My writing style utilizes the use of dialogue from an eclectic cast of characters. Aside from the recurring regulars roughly 20 new personalities are introduced per story.
There will be a Midwestern flavor, solid themes, social issues, and a few lessons in life learned from the golf course which reflect my roots.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 16, 2010
This is a coming-of-age experience as two teenage boys befriend a cancer victim during a summer vacation.
September 19, 2017
I read this book via an Amazon-US KINDLE Unlimited download.
As young, urban boys who sometimes have nothing do except occasionally commit some mischief, Justin Ventimiglia and Keith Puccio got involved with and got picked up performing an act of property destruction. Naturally, these two juveniles had to be taught that they need to pay for what they’ve done, and the St. Louis authorities felt the best way would be to give them summer jobs at the Prairie Winds Golf Course on the east side of town.
The story this book contains is a coming of age one as these two protagonists experience a life outside of the dysfunctional one they’ve become used to living in. The shenanigans of the eccentric adults with their drinking, gambling and smoking they witness causes them to have some interesting reactions. This creates a somewhat special bond between all involved.
When you throw in a young man fighting the dreaded disease of cancer into the mix, you get an emotionally touching story of life and death, as Justin and Keith begin to have an understanding of the tests life can throw in front of you along with the love for the game of golf itself with the challenges it gives to those who play it.
While this book seems geared to those who are golfers, it’s a story which can be enjoyed by anyone. Although this book reads like a stand-alone, it’s the second part of the six-book series [Prairie Winds Golf Course] written by the author, James Ross.
For having given his readers, this poignant coming of age story, I’ve given Mr. Ross 5 STARS for his endeavor here.
As young, urban boys who sometimes have nothing do except occasionally commit some mischief, Justin Ventimiglia and Keith Puccio got involved with and got picked up performing an act of property destruction. Naturally, these two juveniles had to be taught that they need to pay for what they’ve done, and the St. Louis authorities felt the best way would be to give them summer jobs at the Prairie Winds Golf Course on the east side of town.
The story this book contains is a coming of age one as these two protagonists experience a life outside of the dysfunctional one they’ve become used to living in. The shenanigans of the eccentric adults with their drinking, gambling and smoking they witness causes them to have some interesting reactions. This creates a somewhat special bond between all involved.
When you throw in a young man fighting the dreaded disease of cancer into the mix, you get an emotionally touching story of life and death, as Justin and Keith begin to have an understanding of the tests life can throw in front of you along with the love for the game of golf itself with the challenges it gives to those who play it.
While this book seems geared to those who are golfers, it’s a story which can be enjoyed by anyone. Although this book reads like a stand-alone, it’s the second part of the six-book series [Prairie Winds Golf Course] written by the author, James Ross.
For having given his readers, this poignant coming of age story, I’ve given Mr. Ross 5 STARS for his endeavor here.
July 28, 2010
Finish Line is the second of a series of three novels by author, James Ross. It is set against the backdrop of Prairie Winds Golf Course on the east side of St. Louis. Don’t let that fool you into thinking this is a novel about golf. It is much more than that!
Finish Line is a story about two teenage boys that get into some trouble and what they learn while paying for the damage they caused. This story is as alive today as it was during any generation before us. The author brings you into the lives of these two boys in a way that makes you feel like you are part of their family.
The lessons they learn while working off their debt at Prairie Winds flow effortlessly with the credo of those that play the game of golf…at least, for most that play the game! The characters that are newly introduced and others brought back to life from Ross’s first book, Lifetime Loser, add varying points of view and learning for each of the boys…and the reader. The beauty is that the characters are real and flawed, each in their own way.
As in his first novel, Ross takes you through a number of different twists and turns and subplots that keep the pages turning while you eagerly anticipate the next event and life lesson. The author masterfully blends all the characters and subplots to keep things interesting from start to finish.
Speaking of finish..the end is a real tease and cliff hanger. By this time you are so involved that you simply sit stunned and looking for the third novel to find out what happens to one of the main characters.
Excellent read for all golfers and non-golfers alike. Ross has an insight and style that provides for easy reading while at the same time providing substance.
Finish Line is a story about two teenage boys that get into some trouble and what they learn while paying for the damage they caused. This story is as alive today as it was during any generation before us. The author brings you into the lives of these two boys in a way that makes you feel like you are part of their family.
The lessons they learn while working off their debt at Prairie Winds flow effortlessly with the credo of those that play the game of golf…at least, for most that play the game! The characters that are newly introduced and others brought back to life from Ross’s first book, Lifetime Loser, add varying points of view and learning for each of the boys…and the reader. The beauty is that the characters are real and flawed, each in their own way.
As in his first novel, Ross takes you through a number of different twists and turns and subplots that keep the pages turning while you eagerly anticipate the next event and life lesson. The author masterfully blends all the characters and subplots to keep things interesting from start to finish.
Speaking of finish..the end is a real tease and cliff hanger. By this time you are so involved that you simply sit stunned and looking for the third novel to find out what happens to one of the main characters.
Excellent read for all golfers and non-golfers alike. Ross has an insight and style that provides for easy reading while at the same time providing substance.
August 27, 2015
Reviewer: Sammyig
2.0 on the Masq Scale
Unfortunately, this book just didn't do it for me. The story really sounded interesting. I liked the idea of someone who was very ill being the ringleader of neighborhood mischief. However, the execution bogged down the story. I felt like the story was being told the entire time. The reader wasn't shown events. To be honest, it read like a textbook instead of a work of fiction, which, of course, are two completely different styles. I do feel for the author as he has put so much time into this story, but he really needed an honest editor who could have helped him shape this story into something really nicely done. Instead, I think his editor only concentrated on making the story grammatically correct when the author needed guidance on content, dialogue, and flow.
2.0 on the Masq Scale
Unfortunately, this book just didn't do it for me. The story really sounded interesting. I liked the idea of someone who was very ill being the ringleader of neighborhood mischief. However, the execution bogged down the story. I felt like the story was being told the entire time. The reader wasn't shown events. To be honest, it read like a textbook instead of a work of fiction, which, of course, are two completely different styles. I do feel for the author as he has put so much time into this story, but he really needed an honest editor who could have helped him shape this story into something really nicely done. Instead, I think his editor only concentrated on making the story grammatically correct when the author needed guidance on content, dialogue, and flow.
March 18, 2012
Finish Line by James Ross is the sequel to Lifetime Loser. Justin and Keith are caught in the act of paint balling a neighbor's house. As punishment they are sent to Prairie Winds for a summer job.
The story of Justin and Keith is a by the numbers coming of age story. The men take them under their wings. The boys are worked hard but also given time to play hard. Along the way they become friends with the regulars and maybe grow a little as individuals.
Along with this coming of age tale, there's a secondary plot involving one of the regulars having cancer. While this piece is just as well written as the A plot, it disrupts the flow of the book. The cancer story would have been better if it had been taken out of Finish Line and expanded into its own novel.
The story of Justin and Keith is a by the numbers coming of age story. The men take them under their wings. The boys are worked hard but also given time to play hard. Along the way they become friends with the regulars and maybe grow a little as individuals.
Along with this coming of age tale, there's a secondary plot involving one of the regulars having cancer. While this piece is just as well written as the A plot, it disrupts the flow of the book. The cancer story would have been better if it had been taken out of Finish Line and expanded into its own novel.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews