Horns and Halos: A Saint Gone Bad (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781977257123)

FOLLOW THE COMICAL EXPLOITS OF AN ALTAR BOY FROM THE BYGONE DAYS OF THE 1950s AND 1960s IN FASTLANE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. BUCKLE UP FOR A WILD RIDE!

Watch the hilarious battle between our hero's good and bad angels as they compete for power and influence. Try and keep up with the exhaustive tug-of-war within the quaint Roman Catholic parish of Santa Clara. Church and School become the stage where our young performer hones his skills. Humor rules the day as you will find yourself lost in the uncontrolled laughter created by the practical jokes, maniacal mayhem, and malicious mischief from what appears to be a very devout and innocent boy. Our Christian chameleon will sneak in and out of the labyrinth of rules and regulations to put all authority to the test.

A big Southern California family serves as the backdrop for our eye-opening adventure. A marine corps and football coach dad joins forces with his beautiful and free-spirited wife in raising six boys and a girl in the oceanside town of Oxnard. Life is safe and simple, and families sit around the dinner table each early evening to share a meal and the day's stories. Cowboy shows dominate the airways on TV, and Superman is all the superhero we need.

John and Midge Machado realize immediately that their second son George will be a rollercoaster zooming to incredible highs and lows within their family. It seems some form of misbehavior tarnishes every academic and athletic accomplishment. Touchdowns and game-winning home runs are overshadowed by a cloakroom Chippendale striptease and an exciting Twinkie heist.

A menagerie of color characters provides a supporting cast to rival any traveling carnival or circus. Sister Irene Theresa, the original singing nun, and Sister Mary Helen, the intimidating principal with whiskers, exert their influence and discipline on our wayward student. The Clergy supplies the perfect balance of piety and fear. Monsignor Jacobs, the parish leader, becomes a boogeyman and hero both on and off the altar at Santa Clara. Father O'Sullivan and Father Nagle nurture young George's dreams of becoming a priest and graciously acquiesce when he chooses a life in education and coaching.

Anything and everything seem to occur within the walls of the church and school. Hair catches on fire, and pigtails are cut off. A mental institution is conquered, and our altar boy narrowly escapes a variety of misadventures. A classroom is flooded, and California's most enormous spit wad is launched.

This combination of Dennis the Menace and Eddie Haskell wreaks havoc page after page. The trio of comedy and chaos form an alliance much like the Three Musketeers. But trust me, you wouldn't want these characters wielding swords in your neighborhood.