Amazon Sci-fi-lite Category:  Science Fiction Publisher: All Things That Matter Press ISBN-10:  0988542765 Type: Fiction Pages: 226 Copyright: Jan. 1, 2012 ISBN-13: 9780988542761 A young adult adventure, following the rebellious Danielle. She matures quickly through trials and with the help of a new empathetic pet, Monk.     Talk about over reacting. Danielle knew when she got in trouble that her parents would ground her. What she didn’t expect was that they would take her away from everyone and everything she knows. She and her family have left Earth and now she’s living on planet Logos as part a settlement team. Danielle misses her best friend—and French fries. She just wants to go home. A discontent Danielle once again breaks the rules, but the consequences this time are both terrifyingly dangerous and surprisingly wonderful. The early surveys did nothing to prepare them for this adventure. To Danielle it’s like the planet is on steroids. Everything is super-sized; from the poison of the smallest insect to a hurricane sized storm. When tempers flare and personalities change it seems as if the viciousness of planet itself is infiltrating the team members. Then Logos reveals its most intriguing discovery of all.         Excerpt Chapter One Dear Lizzie, It seems strange to be writing this to you, especially since I’ll never see you, Jack or any of my friends again, but if I don’t talk to someone I’ll bust. I’ll be so glad to get off this ship. I can’t believe my parents practically kidnapped me and dragged me away from everyone. One little bust and they freak out. Talk about over reacting. Now here I am, years away from home. At least some good things happened while I was “sleeping” for two years. My bust got bigger and I lost about ten pounds. Must be all those nutrients they were pumping in us. No fries or pizza. Not that there’s anyone here to impress. Just think, we could be having our sixteenth birthday party. What a blast we would have had. It seems like just yesterday we left. Dad said that this planet should be a lot like Earth, at least according to the surveys the unmanned drones did. Tomorrow we’re supposed to land. It’s really crowded with everyone awake now, and on top of that one of the lunatic couples brought their baby. I guess he must have just been about six months when we left, but now he’s loud and annoying. Have fun for me, but stay away from Jack. He’s mine. Ha ha. Your long lost friend, Danny “Get out of my way, brat.” Danielle pushed her younger brother out of the way. Ignoring her, Zain jumped over the railing and landed with a thump on the ground. “Hey, Dad, this is great. Wow, this place is huge.” Zain stretched his arms out and took a deep breath. Danielle frowned as followed her parents down the steps. “Oh yeah, this is just wonderful,” she muttered under her breath. “Did you say something,” Lisa asked as she looked back at her daughter. Brandon had hurried ahead to see the view. Danielle shook her head and looked behind her to see the rest of the team jostling to be the next out the door. It had been weeks since they had awakened from their long journey and they were ready to stretch out and breathe fresh air. Zain took off at a run, only to be jerked back so hard he landed with a thump. He stood up and glared at his dad. “I distinctly remember telling you a hundred times or so that you’re not to leave the immediate area until it’s been checked out.” His father tried to glare back, but Danielle thought she saw a hint of an understanding smile slip past. “I was just gonna stretch my legs,” Zain muttered, but stood still while he looked around. “So this is Logos.” With his hands on his hips, Chief Smith stood next to Brandon and scanned the landscape. Danielle watched as his usually placid face was lit with a smile that made him look like a happy go lucky leprechaun. His eyes followed the plain that sloped from the hilltop upon which they’d landed. It ended at a forest of tall trees, beyond which a gray haze hovered over a gigantic chain of mountains. He rubbed his hands together in anticipation of what he must have thought was a nice easy life ahead of him. “No toxic gases, no dust storms. This is going to be great.” Danielle rolled her eyes. Maybe great for him, she thought. He didn’t leave his best friend behind. Chief was a veteran with the Space Exploratory League and had told them stories of his travel to many desolate and dangerous planets. This time, if the planet lived up to its expectations, he wanted to settle permanently. He felt it was time to give his teenage son Chris a stable environment for once, rather than tagging along from planet to planet. Danielle wasn’t sure even a planet filled with vicious three-eyed monsters would rattle Chris Smith. He was so quiet that half the time she forgot he was even there. He worked on his computer and fiddled with his model structures and basically ignored everything else. “How’d you get assigned to such a great planet,” he asked her father. “I’m not as adventurous as you. I wanted a planet more similar to Earth. It sure looks like we’ve been handed a plum.” Brandon, the assigned leader for the settlement team, looked around with satisfaction. “Yeah, well, just watch out for worms in that plum,” grunted Steve Bennington as he joined the group. Danielle hadn’t heard him come up behind them or she would have moved to stand with one of the other groups of people discussing the new planet. He was a big man with an attitude to match. She saw her father and Chief exchange a glance as the other man scanned the land in front of them. Shaking his head, he continued, “If we don’t set up camp, we might end up sharing our bedrolls with whatever creepy crawlies this planet breeds.” He turned his back on them and the planet and strode back to the ship. “He’s probably right, the pictures we got from the surveys can’t show every potential danger,” Brandon said. “Although I would love to sleep under the stars tonight, it’s back inside until we can get the habitat up.” Danielle followed him back to the ship. Since it wasn’t her own bed on Earth she didn’t care where they slept, but the others cast wistful looks over their shoulders.

Imaginative Adventure!
This science fiction fantasy adventure written for older children or young adults is engaging from the outset. The immature, disrespectful little drama queen, Danielle, reacts to her move to another planet as any rebellious young girl would react to a move away from her familiar territory. She resents being wrenched from her friends, and feels it is a punishment for her recent unsavory activities - an attempt by her parents to control her. Although I was immediately engrossed in the story, I didn't particularly like this girl at first, or her mother who didn't seem to be parenting very assertively when Danielle bullied her siblings or was blatantly disrespectful. As the adventure progressed, however, I was truly sucked in and invested in all the characters. Lives are changed as the little band of explorers experiences life on the intriguing, and sometimes frightening, new planet. There are plenty of mysteries, major conflicts, and twists and turns in the plot. I found myself cheering for the good guys. Also, thanks to the particularly vivid imagery, the pictures continue to play over in my head.

Golden Hope is clearly a worthwhile read. It's such a page-turner, it won't take you long! . . . AND the surprising ending leaves you hopeful for a sequel!

Golden !
The story moves along fluidly with the characters easy to relate to. I found it difficult to stop reading and was immersed in the world created. Though aimed at a younger audience this story will open the imagination of all ages. You really feel as one of the group when this small bunch go through unexpected trials and see breathtaking wonders. The story takes you on an emotional roller coaster that I did not want to get off. I look forward to what this author may have in store for the future! Golden Hope

Hard to put down
When I started Golden Hope I expected a lot of science fiction, of which I am not a fan. I was really surprised to find that although this book took place on another planet,it wasn't filled with tons of science-y stuff. I really liked the way the author had a variety of personalities in the story. It certainly was a page turner and a surprise at the end too.