Everlasting

By Stacy-Deanne

Everlasting is the chronicle of two equally fascinating Latino teenagers, seventeen-year-old Juan Alonso and sixteen-year-old Nina Sagastume, who fall in love despite unrelenting odds. Juan is a political, outspoken romantic who believes education and determination is the key to a better life. His brother Rico is the leader of the notorious Bronx street gang, The New York Assassins. Juan can't seem to escape the hold of his community until he meets Nina. Nina is a striking, straight-laced dreamer who's never even been kissed. She quickly becomes Juan's salvation. In return, Juan allures her with his charm and inspiring intelligence. Nina finds herself doing something that she's never done...falling in love. It isn't until Juan rules her heart that Nina finds out he's affiliated with the New York Assassins, the rival gang of the Bronx Gangstas, an equally powerful street gang led by her cousin Tajo. Tajo and Rico refuse to let Nina and Juan run off into the sunset. Tajo and Rico will do anything to keep the war between the gangs solid and anything within their power to keep Juan and Nina apart. Things become even more complicated for Juan and Nina when Chino, a jealous Bronx Gangsta admirer determined to be with Nina, enters the picture. Despite the intervention of their families, friends and utter violence of the gangs' retribution, Juan and Nina learn the hard way that true love is definitely worth fighting for.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1593091877
• ISBN13: 9781593091873
• Release Date: October 2007
• Publisher: Strebor Books
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Products of our environments

Just because you're from the ghetto, doesn't mean you are the ghetto. Everlasting is a brilliantly written love stories of two latino teenagers facing and caught up in life in the inner city having to deal with all that the life offers, namely gang activity. True love and loyalty are challenged and the drama, fast pace, terror and fully developed characters in this inspiring street plot make Everlasting by Stacy-Deanne a very enjoyable read. The characters are strong that I would love to read about them in future installments that will chronicle their lives.

Watch out!

When Nina's mother becomes very ill and must move to a hospice, sixteen year old Nina moves in with her cousin, Tajo. Moving involves a new school and closeness with street gangs because her cousin is the leader of the Bronx Gangstas. Nina meets a young man, seventeen year old Juan, who is very intriguing, handsome and just like her: he loves to study and learn, plus he also has big plans for his life. What she doesn't know is that his older brother is the leader of the Bronx Gangstas' major rivals, the New York Assassins. While neither Nina nor Juan are interested in street life, they are somewhat bound because of their relatives lives. Nina falls hard for Juan and he is equally interested in her. Both attempt to keep the secret of their relative's lives away from each other. As is expected, the secret does come out and the horror begins. Tajo is violently opposed to Nina seeing Juan, just as Rico is ready to kill his brother for even considering dating a relative of the Bronx Gangstas. The tension begins as both gangsters are determined to have their own way. They threaten the deaths of the two teens if they continue to see each other. Will they be able to stand against two rival gangs? EVERLASTING is a stressful novel of terror, fear and street life that keeps the pages turning. Stacy-Deanne's characters are well developed and it is easy to see why and how they do what they do. Juan is the first man in Nina's life and she is not willing to give up true love very easily. Juan has also fallen in love for the first time and sees real possibilities in a life with Nina. Sometimes the stress was so high, I wanted to lay it aside, but just couldn't bear to. It is a cleverly written novel that keeps interest high from the very first page. It is well worth reading. Reviewed by Alice Holman of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Gang-crossed Lovers

Reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story, Juan and Nina are star-crossed, or in this case gang-crossed, lovers. Because of her mother's failing health, Nina Sagastume is sent to live with her cousin, Tajo. Tajo is the leader of the Bronx Gangstas. Though Nina doesn't agree with her cousin's lifestyle, she really doesn't have a choice in the matter, as he is the only family in the states. On the other side of town is Juan Alonso. Juan's brother, Rico, is the leader of the New York Assassins, the Bronx Gangstas' rivals. Nina and Juan meet in school and the attraction is immediate. The rest as they say is history...or at least that's how Nina and Juan hoped. Instead, they find themselves caught up with family on opposing sides vehemently against their relationship. Will Nina and Juan allow outside forces to destroy their love for one another? EVERLASTING tells the story of the plight of these young lovers and allows readers to gaze through a window into another culture; a gang culture dominated by violence, misplaced loyalty and tattoos as badges. Stacy-Deanne also captures the difficulties of young love. Though this theme, "star-crossed lovers," has intrigued many writers and has been done over and over again, Stacy-Deanne's story holds its own weight. I found it enjoyable, easy to read and entertaining. I hope she revisits these characters again in the future. Reviewed by: Toni