Saudi Arabian Airlines picked up their first two Boeing 777-300ERs on Monday, only to order eight more of the widebody jets before leaving Seattle.
Saudi Arabian Airlineson Monday signed an agreement to join SkyTeam in 2012. The airline will be SkyTeam's first member from the Middle East, adding 35 new destinations to the alliance network.


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August 19, 2013 by Caroline Barker
Boreal and John Grey (Complete Season One) by Chrystalla Thoma
Chrystalla Thoma's Boreal and John Grey (Complete Season 1) book blurb:
Centuries ago, they nearly conquered humankind. But their Gate to our world closed, leaving them out. Now the elves have found a way back.
Ella Benson, agent of the Paranormal Bureau, fights the Shades when they cross into our world, keeping everyone safe.
But increasingly dangerous creatures are slipping into her city, her work partner has just gone missing, and a mysterious – and, quite frankly, hot — guy saves her life. His name is Finn and, as it turns out, he's a natural when it comes to fighting the Shades.
When the Gates between the worlds start opening and the elves make a comeback, Ella needs a new, temporary partner. Enlisting the mysterious Finn is a no-brainer, until she realizes he is guarding dangerous secrets of his own.
Together with Finn, and the fate of the world on her shoulders, what's Ella to do but grab her weapons and figure it all out, one way or another.
Chrystalla Thoma's Boreal and John Grey has become one of my new favourite urban fantasy/paranormal book series. Absolutely hooked from the cover and first pages alone, I could not bear to put this book down (and I had to being the summer hols, spending time with my kids and all)!! There is definitely something for everyone (say 15yrs+) with this magical story of the human world having Gates appear from another world, where it brings Shades, snakes, dragons, dwarves and goblins, not to mention sexy elves! The story itself is complete with action and adventure, mystery and romance.
Ella Benson is an agent for the Paranormal Bureau and we begin the story with Ella investigating a report of an attack by a Shade. She is supposed to be meeting up with her partner, Simon, but when there is no sign of him she is left to tackle the Shades alone. The reader is made aware of the trouble that the Shades have begun to cause within the first few pages, how easily they can attack and the mystery of where Simon is.
The reader is also introduced to the hero of the series, Finn (although the series centres mostly on Ella being the heroine). Whilst having fought the Shades, Simon not showing – Ella is a little confused when she thinks she sees a man fighting off the Shades. Did she bang her head during the fight? Is she hallucinating?
Without Simon, and the Shades appearing more and more, causing trouble all over the city, Ella needs a partner. Who else is there to consider but Finn! He is aware of the situation and he seems to handle himself well in fighting them off, not to mention a little protective of Ella!!! As Finn becomes injured a little later, and with no place to go, Ella takes him in until he can stand on his feet and move into his own place.
The romantic magic is written beautifully as these two characters learn more about the other (Ella more than Finn)! However, doubts and caution come into play when Ella begins to believe that Finn may not be quite who she thought he was. Finn doesn't help the situation as he remains a little grumpy on/off with one word answers but it is Ella's suspicious mind that begins to see a little more into who Finn really is!
Throughout the whole season I did not doubt that Ella was a strong heroine and felt that she could survive anything. And yet I love how Ella still reads as a feminine character with not too much machoism and she has a caring personality where her friends and colleagues are concerned, and Finn!!! There are times, however, when the reader real feels Finn's vulnerable side but even in some grave situations he remains protective to Ella. There are moments when the reader will question Finn's actions, however!
I couldn't help but view Finn's character like that of Eric from 'True Blood' (especially the time when Eric cannot remember who he is – he is emotionally vulnerable and yet protective of Sookie). With his pale skin, blue eyes, beautifully set cheek bones plus the fact that he is able to look after himself there are also moments when Finn becomes injured and needs to be nursed by Ella. But even in times of being injured he will defend and protect Ella.
Boreal and John Grey (Complete Season One) consists of five books: The Encounter, The Gate, The Dragon, The Dream and The Truth. One of my favourite aspects of these books is the way in which they are written as 'episodes' of a series. I find books written in this manner pack as much action/adventure and story into each book, keeping it very much alive and at the same time the reader gets to know the characters gradually over the whole series. I also find that each subsequent 'episode'/book will subtley recap the reader or introduce the new reader to the events of the story, allowing the reader to keep informed with the full plot! Chrystalla Thoma's Boreal and John Grey (The Complete Season One) is no exception to this.
This series offers a great deal of realism from the characters having believable characteristics, including their flaws (i.e. vulnerabilities, confusion of events, mood swings, etc), and the focus on various myths and legends from historical era's worldwide. After reading this series, along with Chrystalla Thoma's bio, the reader can see how imaginative Chrystalla has been in taking modern life, realistic settings with Ella being an investigative agent and then opening up the story that dates back centuries with elves trying to conquer our world after Gates begin to open between their world and ours.
I would like to thank Chrystalla Thoma for inviting us to review her fantastic season of Boreal and John Grey for the purpose of an honest and fair review. Without the review request I may not have come across this 5 star work of fiction. I hope there is another series to come with these brilliant characters, their relationship and how they can save the world.
Reviewed by Caroline Barker
Chrystalla Thoma's Bio:
Greek Cypriot with a penchant for dark myths, good food, and a tendency to settle down anywhere but at home, Chrystalla likes to write about fantastical creatures, crazy adventures, and family bonds. After having lived in France, England, Germany and Costa Rica, she now lives in Cyprus with her husband and enjoys wandering the countryside sampling local food and wine. She writes mainly fantasy and science fiction, primarily for a young adult and new adult public, and her stories have appeared in many magazines and anthologies.
Author links/contact info:
Blog: http://chrystallathoma.wordpress.com/
Amazon page:
http://www.amazon.com/Chrystalla-Thoma/e/B001JOWZCC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Chrystalla-Thoma/117863861560579
Twitter: @chrystallathoma
You can find the complete season 1 of Boreal and John Grey at Amazon.co.uk currently for £1.99 or on Amazon.com currently for $3.08.
If you would like to try Book One, The Encounter, of the Boreal and John Grey Series you can find it for FREE on both Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com (please note that all prices are correct at the time of publishing this post).
This entry was posted in Fantasy, Paranormal, REVIEWS (ALL) - Reverse Chronological Order, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult and tagged Boreal and John Grey, Chrystalla Thoma, elves, fantasy, goblins, paranormal, romance, strong-heroine, urban fantasy.
About Caroline Barker
I am a happily engaged mother of three and I absolutely love to read and write. Therefore, I am setting up a book blog in the hope to influence some readers out there!
View all posts by Caroline Barker →

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Demons, a schoolteacher, a sherriff and a #giveaway
Her search for safety lands her in a totally new kind of danger.
Enjoy this intro to Allison Merritt, a blurb and an excerpt for Wystan, a deliciously spooky-sounding book.
Five Things You Didn't Know About Allison Merritt
It's a pen name. You might find me on the web under my real name, but when I decided to get serious about writing, I chose a nom de plume. I was writing as A.R. Cummings for a while, but I wanted something that would sound romance author-y. My great-grandmother's Christian name was Alice, my great-grandfather's last name was Merritt. You know how Thomson is the son of Tom? I decided to be Allison.
I thought I'd never deviate from historical romance. The first romance novel I ever read was a historical. I've always been interested in history, particularly the Old West. And I started writing them when I was around sixteen. The first novel I successfully finished was a historical romance. In 2009, I started writing steampunk romance and it took me way away from western base camp. That's what led to The Heckmasters series and made me feel like it was okay to throw monsters into a part of history that I adore. I'm so glad I did.
I intended to self-publish The Heckmasters series. I got my start in self-publishing in 2011 when the publisher I'd signed with closed its doors. So I took a crash course in self-publishing and my first short story hit the internet in December 2011. It's free, btw, if you want to download it from Amazon. It's called Return. I put out three full-length novels on my own, but in 2013, I signed a contract with Lyrical Press to publish my historical romance. I thought the Heckmasters might be a little too weird, so I didn't submit it to my editor there. Instead, I entered it in the 2013 Weta Nichols Writing Contest and to my surprise, it not only won the paranormal/sci-fi category, the judging editor wanted to see the whole thing. She offered the contract in December 2013.
When I get telemarketers on the phone, I tell them about our Dark Lord Cthulu. Even though I was raised in the Bible Belt. I might have a good Christian upbringing--and a degree from a Christain college--but I love to research the darker side of life. Mythology, demonology. Oh yeah, I'm a Supernatural fan all the way. There's something irresistible about the unknown.
I once ran over a unicorn. Okay, maybe it wasn't a real unicorn, but it was really late at night and I was driving home in fog. My headlights shined on something that definitely looked like a unicorn but was probably a figment of my overactive imagination. I'm pretty sure even unicorns would leave dents if you hit one and since the car was dent-free when I arrived home, I think I'm good. Also, I once saw a Native American boy in buckskins in the road. I accidentally ran him over too. I have to stop driving late at night because my brain clearly likes to confuse me. I can't explain the unicorn, but I'm chalking the native boy up to ghosts.
Certain that an ad for a job in a small New Mexico Territory town is the answer to her prayers, Nebraska schoolteacher Rhia Duke packs her sister into a rickety wagon and heads west.
Except when they reach the near-deserted town, she learns the truth. There is no job, no future, and no welcome in the bleak blue eyes of the handsome sheriff.
The minute Rhia's runaway team thunders into town, Wystan Heckmaster feels the change in the air. One of three sons of a demon who dared love a human, he keeps watch over a Pit guarded by seven seals, and slays any Hellbound demon that attempts to free the master imprisoned within.
With a gut full of regret and a forgotten town filled with reformed demons, Wystan is certain of one thing: he can't be the man Rhia needs. But when the truth behind Rhia's flight from Nebraska comes to light, Wystan must open his soul—and pray there's enough love between them to overcome the darkness rising from the Pit.
Warning: Contains a take-no-prisoners sheriff, a woman who can't outrun her supernatural secrets, and a dusty town where hope is as thin as dust in the wind. Author recommends keeping a glass of cool spring water at your elbow while reading.
Something changed in the air the moment the wagon crossed the town's border. Too
early to be a supply train, and there was no way in hell it was visitors. Berner didn't host
town fairs, theatre troupes, peddlers, or bible thumpers.
Wystan Heckmaster slapped his battered Stetson on his head, collected the keys to the
jail, then stepped out the door. The first thing he saw was a pretty woman with hair the color
of maple sugar—a rich brownish-blonde. The frown on her face spoke volumes, and the air
around her pronounced trouble. She made a straight path for him.
"Mr. Heckmaster. Or should I call you Sheriff? Or Mayor? I need to discuss the ad in
the Lancaster County Republican with you. Someone placed an ad, but your brother tells me
there is no school here. I'm sure there has to be a mistake. There's only one Berner in New
Mexico Territory. I'm very capable at reading maps. If I wasn't, I would be ashamed to call
myself a teacher."
He doubted she had taken more than two or three breaths during the speech. If she
made talking in rambling paragraphs a habit, no wonder she looked so peaked.
"Teacher?" He glanced along the street, but it was deserted as usual. "Lady, we don't
have a school here. Certainly no need of a teacher."
Her hands balled into fists that settled on her hips. The dress she wore was patched--
the egg yolk yellow faded into something even more disgusting. It had little flowers dotting
the material, but they looked as worn as her scuffed black boots.
"Then what was the purpose of placing an ad in the Lancaster County Republican?"
She spoke with the fierceness of a mama bear warning predators away from her cubs.
Wystan reached into his shirt pocket and drew out a toothpick.
"I didn't place any ad in any Lancaster County anything." He looked past her, expecting
Eban to saunter up the street. Eban had to be the brother she'd referred to since Tell was still
on the trail.
"Someone did," she insisted. She fished a crumpled and much-folded piece of newsprint
out of the pocket hidden by the folds of her skirt. "See? Right here it says, 'School teacher
wanted for spring term at Berner Schoolhouse. Wages paid based on experience. Room and
board provided. Apply in person at City Hall, Berner, New Mexico Territory.' I'm sure my
eyes don't deceive me."
Wystan stared at the clipping, then back at the woman. A galaxy of freckles spattered
across her nose and cheekbones, making her look younger than her eyes said she was. Full
figured and sure as shittin' a grown woman. The wariness and worry darkening her hazel
eyes gave her away as one with a lot of trouble on her plate.
"I can read."
She pulled the ad away from his face, folded it, and returned it to her pocket. "Where
would you suggest I look for an explanation, Mr. Heckmaster?"
Fussy little thing. "I assure you that no one in this town did. There's been a mistake.
Sorry to inconvenience you, Miss Schoolteacher. Now turn around and head home."
A flush colored her cheeks. "I can't head home! I have no home to return to. My little
sister and my friend are waiting at the doctor's office for me to straighten this mess out. The
ad says that room and board will be provided. I'd expected to move into a room, sir."
"You left them with Eban?" That explained his absence.
"Beryl is ill, Sheriff. This is the first town we've seen in days and it was past time for her
to get some attention." Despair crept into her voice.
Wystan shifted his weight and transferred the toothpick to the other side of his mouth.
"Eban's not exactly trained in human medicine."
The woman's mouth opened into an O. She shook her head and seemed to regain her
senses. "He's a veterinarian? He seemed certain he could help Beryl."
Wystan cleared his throat. "Sure, animal doctor. I'm sorry for your misfortune, lady,
but as you can see, Berner's about run into the ground. There's nothing here for you or your
friend. Might be best to move along."
She seemed to deflate. "Move along." Her lips moved, softly forming the words, but it
was as though she didn't comprehend them. "We'll move along, right down the trail into the
next town where there won't be any teaching jobs either. Sylvie, Beryl, and I will starve to
death on the side of the road with no one in the world to care."
Title: Wystan (The Heckmasters)
Pubisher: Samhain Publishing
Samhain - http://store.samhainpublishing.com/wystan-p-73651.html
Amazon - http://amzn.com/B00L501TJK
B&N -
Google Books - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wystan-allison-merritt/1119847207?ean=9781619222892
A love of reading inspired Allison Merritt to pursue her dream of becoming an author who writes historical, paranormal and fantasy romances, often combining the sub-genres. She lives in a small town in the Ozark Mountains with her husband and dogs. When she's not writing or reading, she hikes in national parks and conservation areas.
Allison graduated from College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri with a B.A. in mass communications that's gathering dust after it was determined that she's better at writing fluff than hard news.
Blog – http://havenovelwilledit.blogspot.com
Facebook – http://facebook.com/allisonmwrites
Twitter – http://twitter.com/allison_merritt
G+ - http://gplus.to/allisonmerritt
Goodreads – http://goodreads.com/AllisonMWrites
Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/allisonmwrites/
When a date goes terribly wrong
For my short story One Hot Cat, I explored the subject of revenge porn. Revenge porn is when pictures are posted on Internet sites without the person in the picture giving consent. This usually happens to women and is mostly nude and/or sexually explicit pictures and is done to get even with an ex and sometimes for money. I read an article about this in Cosmopolitan and was shocked at the number of incidents that occur and at the lack of help women can receive when it happens to them.
Hard to believe, but if the woman is over eighteen, it's not illegal. The photos belong to whoever took them. The article in Cosmo describes what several women went through trying to get their pictures removed. Warning: it will give you chills but also remind you why it's a good idea not to let anyone take photos of you naked. If you absolutely must send sexty pictures to your honey, don't have your face in them.
To promote this story, I'm at The Romance Studio talking about recording devices. In my short story One Hot Cat, Nathan uses a recorder to help catch the scumbag who threatens Paige with revenge porn. http://bit.ly/1roqyIB
Enjoy this blurb and excerpt and find buy links below for Love, Meow, two short, delightfully hot stories involving cats. TESTING
A victim of revenge porn, Paige seeks help from a wickedly hot man with dangerous secrets.
When Paige opens her mail to discover naked photos she did not willingly pose for and a blackmail letter, she turns to her hot new neighbor, a detective, for help. If he finds her missing brother, she can pay back the scumbag who's threatening her. Nathan agrees, only because Paige is connected to the man he's trying to locate and he needs her information. As they track down her brother and a missing man with a gambling problem, passion flares between Paige and Nathan. Neither of them are ready for a relationship, but their bodies disagree and the two enjoy a lustful encounter. Though Nathan does not want to reveal his shape shifter identity, his temper gets the best of him and Paige discovers his true self. Can they work past the obstacles in their path and find their way to love?
"Will you please get your cat off my leg?"
At the sound of the deep voice, Paige dropped the envelopes she'd been holding and whirled around to face the man who stood next to her at the row of mailboxes. Sure enough, her cat, Fido was clinging to his jeans, his incredibly tight jeans, circling his leg and rubbing her body all over him. Loud purrs of pure ecstasy rumbled from the feline's throat.
Rubbing up against this man was something Paige herself had daydreamed about doing a time or two. Her new neighbor was hot, hot, hot! She'd only caught a few glimpses of him as he moved in but that was enough to show her he had a fine body. Long legs, broad shoulders and a tight ass. Mostly she saw him from the back, coming and going, but when she was able to see his face, he usually sported a five o'clock shadow that only enhanced his dark features.
On a good day, she might have baked a cake and delivered it to him, as a 'welcome to the building I'd like to get to know you' gift. Lately, however, her days hadn't been so good. Concern over her missing brother, Sam, ate at her thoughts.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to leave my door open. She must have snuck out when I came down to get my mail."
The man shook his leg slightly but Fido wasn't deterred. If anything, she purred louder.
"Stop! You're hurting her."
Hot or not, no one messed with her cat.
"I'm not hurting her, she's fine."
Paige glared at the man and knelt to pick up Fido. She leaned over and the remaining envelopes spilled from her hands. From one of them, several photos slid out. As she scooped up a protesting cat and juggled the papers, the photos fell further out, onto the floor.
Frowning, Paige picked one up to look at it closer. It appeared to be a nude woman, laying on a bed, sprawled in a provocative manner.
"Shit!"
Mail and cat forgotten, Paige clamped her hand over her mouth. The woman was her. In all the photos. Her body was displayed in various positions, like the women in the girly magazines. It was her face, her form, spread out like butter on toast.
Her heart pounded. She'd never posed for these. She would never, ever allow anyone to capture this intimate view of her. What in the hell was going on?
Suddenly aware of Fido meowing and her neighbor staring, she shuffled the pictures together and gathered them, along with the other papers and her cat, close to her body.
"Are you all right?" her neighbor asked.
"Fine, yes, I'm fine."
She clutched the pile closer to her chest. Had he seen the pictures?
In a daze, she turned and climbed the stairs, pushed open her door, deposited Fido on the couch, then plopped her mail on the table. Digging through, she found the brown envelope and looked at it closely.
There was no return sender shown and her name and address were hand-printed in sloppy, black letters. Inside was a sheet of paper that she pulled out with shaking fingers.
Pay me back what you owe me by Friday or these pictures will be up on all these websites, along with a video.
Signed Vinnie Vandenhoff, the owner of the restaurant where she worked. Her stomach churning, Paige turned on her laptop, then looked at the pictures more closely. They didn't appear to be digitally manipulated and she recognized her bed sheets, but how in the world...then she remembered.
Vinnie's nephew, Antonio, had been in town several weeks before. He'd come into the restaurant and they'd flirted with each other all night as he ate his meal. He must have inherited the Italian genes from Vinnie's mother. With classical good looks - dark hair, dark skin, and eyes that undressed her slowly and sweetly all throughout their date, the two had drunk margaritas and eaten Mexican food. It had been a long time since she'd had a man look at her that way, her own fault since she seldom got out. Between getting her pet-sitting business up and going and working at V's on the Avenue Restaurant, she had little time to glance at men.
Anyway, after one crappy marriage and another long-term relationship that ended with a vintage set of china being destroyed by her fierce temper and killer softball pitch, she had no desire to invite a man back into her life on a permanent basis.
When Antonio had asked her out she'd said yes. Why not? She deserved a fun evening. He took her to a nice restaurant, plied her with strong drinks and when he'd asked to come up to her place, she couldn't think of a good reason to say no. Her legs were shaved, the apartment was reasonably clean. He would be leaving the next day anyway, so no messy entanglements.
The meal was great, he was entertaining and the sex? The sex had been...well, she couldn't quite remember. All she knew was when she'd woken up the next day, her head felt like a piano had been dropped on it and she had a raging thirst. All her systems functioned well otherwise. No vomit or any signs she'd behaved badly.
Antonio had apparently left late in the night. Thank the lord! He'd left her a nice note, telling her he'd had fun. No promises were made and aside from feeling like an idiot for drinking too much, she'd forgotten the incident.
Now, forcing herself to inspect the photos with a magnifier, she had a feeling she'd ingested more than just tequila that night. She was out cold. Even in her most drunken state, she couldn't imagine someone arranging her in those positions without her knowledge.
Thank you for reading! Grab your copy of Love, Meow at your favorite eBook seller.
Love, Meow buy links:
Jupiter Gardens Press
Provocative tales of love, lust, passion and magic
http://www.naomibellina.com/
http://www.facebook.com/NaomiBellinaAuthor
https://twitter.com/TheGoddessNaomi
Hometown Heroes, Pets for Vets, oooo, and a prize!
HOMETOWN HEROES--HOTTER EVER AFTER
Check out this contemporary romance bundle of 16 novels with happily-ever-after endings. They're all hometown heroes, guys from small towns who've made a name for themselves, big or small, who've withstood the odds and risen to the challenge, who are heroes in their own right.
Now, these sixteen stories are available in a single bundle for a limited time at the discounted price of $1.99. All proceeds for this charity bundle go to Pets for Vets—saving unwanted pets and providing support to our troops. Scroll down to enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win a tiara and more.
Preorder: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N06ORVE
Heartbreak on a Stick by Sabrina York
When A-List movie star Jason Sherwood returns to the hometown that once rejected him, he has one goal in mind: Getting revenge on the woman who broke his heart so many years ago. But when he discovers his assumptions about her were wrong, he only wants to win her back. Hopefully, it's not too late.
Gina Fox has always pined for her high school lover…and now he has returned, turning her world upside down. But life isn't as simple now as it was then. And she can't get over the fact that Jason walked away from her without a word. When he launches a sultry seduction, she tries, with everything in her, to resist…because at his core, Jason is nothing but heartbreak on a stick.
"Gina."
Hell. Even now, she heard his voice, dancing on the breeze.
Louder now. More substantive.
Her heart lurched. Her head swung around. She stared.
This was not a fantasy or her imagination or even a wish. He was here.
She scrambled to her feet and brushed off her butt, forcing her knees to lock, even though they wobbled. "Jace— Um, Jason."
He was tall. Much taller than he'd been. And broad. His shoulders were breathtaking. And his muscles—muscles the boy had not had, honed through years of working out for parts, no doubt—filled his tight black T-shirt.
She ripped her gaze away from the tantalizing bulges to the lines of his face. Gawd. Tantalizing there too. His lips—which she remembered, tasted still—full and lush. His dark eyes were fringed with sinful lashes. The scar on his right eyebrow, the dimples, the curve of his cheek.
It was difficult to breathe.
"I-I didn't expect to see you here."
He smiled and something in her gut quivered. "I didn't expect to see you." He took a step closer. And another. "You… look good." His throat worked.
"You, ah, you too." Good was not the word.
She'd drooled over the TV screen Sunday nights when Blood Curse came on—the few times she'd dared to watch. Jason as a tormented vampire was irresistible. But his screen persona was nothing to his presence here now. He was like a beautiful spider's web, luring her closer for one more glance when she knew, if she came too close, she would be trapped, consumed.
Her instincts told her to run.
She resolved not to. She resolved to face him. And be…civil.
To that end, she smiled. It was a light, flippant smile. It cost her. "Aren't you supposed to be having a parade or something?"
A shadow passed over his features, as though he didn't care for her blasé air. "Or something." He shoved his hands in his pockets.
"You really shouldn't miss it."
"Shouldn't I?" He got that tone, the one he used to get when he was feeling rebellious and truculent. He'd never used it on her before.
"Eden will be devastated."
"Oh, well, God forbid I disappoint Eden Ames." He strolled around her, taking her in, though she turned with him because it seemed the prudent thing to do. One did not turn one's back on a petulant panther.
"She dislikes being disappointed."
This seemed to annoy him. The muscle in his cheek tightened and bunched. He leaned in and hissed, "Fuck Eden Ames. Fuck all of them."
She didn't know why she lurched back. His vehemence, perhaps, the heat of his breath, or the vitriol. But she lurched back and kept going, as he followed, until she backed into a tree.
He loomed over her, far too close. And Lord, yes. He was much taller. He smelled the same though, like musk and man and Jason. She'd missed his scent. She'd missed it so much she was tempted to close her eyes and just breathe it in, fill her lungs with him until she could hold no more.
But she couldn't close her eyes. Her gaze was riveted to his.
Tension crackled and spit between them.
When he edged closer, she set a hand on his chest. To hold him back. Probably. His heart thudded beneath her palm.
He was harder than he used to be. Oh, physically, certainly, but in other ways as well. There was a coldness in his eyes she'd never seen before.
It frightened her. And thrilled her.
She flinched when he lifted a hand and cupped her cheek. His touch was warm, gentle. He didn't say anything, just stared at her, which was unnerving. But when he spoke, his words were more unnerving still, though whispered as they were. "Dear God, Gina, how are you even prettier?"
He didn't let her answer. His mouth closed over hers in a heated rush. A dizzying hunger snarled through her as she tasted him on her tongue. Yes, her soul cried, yes! Yes!
He moved closer, pressing her against the tree, sealing their bodies and their mouths and ravishing her with an unleashed passion.
She'd forgotten. Well, maybe not forgotten, but certainly released her hold on the memory. It was far too painful to live without him. To wake up every day knowing her life was devoid of the brilliance he brought.
Now it all came rushing back in a scorching tide, swamping her, spinning her about and sweeping her quickly toward the oblivion of the fall.
His kiss was a tumult. It was passion and need and wild frenzy. It was lips and teeth and tongues. It was murmured whispers and muffled moans.
He shoved his fingers through her hair to hold her still, then tipped her head and ate his way down to her neck, to nuzzle her there as he once had done. To make her wild and mad. To make her succumb when she really knew better.
She knew better now. She knew where this could lead, what catastrophe they taunted.
And the true tragedy?
She didn't care.
She didn't care that this could ruin her, devastate her, burn her up from the inside out.
Kiss me. Take me. Destroy me.
This collection includes previously published readers' favorites and brand-new material from USA Today Bestselling Authors: Melissa Schroeder, Lucy Monroe, and Nancy Warren, NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Sabrina York along with bestselling and award-winning authors: Allie K. Adams, Destiny Blaine, Cathryn Cade, Jami Davenport, Kate Davies, Taryn Elliott/Cari Quinn, Rachel Grant, Sandy James, Adrianne Lee, Hildie McQueen, Katy Regnery and Sandy Sullivan
A LITTLE HARMLESS SEX by USA Today author Melissa Schroeder--When Anna falls for her best friend Max, it might be true love, or the biggest mistake of her life.
CHANGE THE GAME by USA Today author Lucy Monroe--Alex is looking for revenge. Isabel is looking for a relationship without those pesky things called emotions. Neither will get what they're looking for, but a whole lot more!
WILD RIDE (Changing Gears, Book 1) by USA Today author Nancy Warren--Trouble is piling up in the small town of Swiftcurrent, Oregon with hints of a treasure missing since WWII, a motorcycle riding bad boy history prof, a sexy librarian and a murder. It all adds up to a very Wild Ride.
HEARTBREAK ON A STICK by USA Today and New York Times author Sabrina York--When the man
who broke her heart ten years ago suddenly returns to town—a hot shot movie star—Gina Fox is determined to avoid him. But for some reason, Jason Sherwood is pursuing her again.
MADRONA SUNSET by bestselling author Jami Davenport--Meet a wounded warrior suffering from paralyzing guilt and woman pining for her dead husband--both damaged souls craving comfort for a moment or a lifetime.
BRACE FOR IMPACT by bestselling author Allie K. Adams--Bush pilot Reid Cavanaugh's life is turned upside down when he takes a fare that ends up driving his plane into the ground and him into the danger surrounding her.
HONORABLE SACRIFICE by bestselling author Destiny Blaine--Hired to protect an affluent family with embarrassing secrets, Audra McAllister doesn't believe in love until she reconnects with a small-town hero willing to risk everything to win Audra's heart.
SHE'S WORTH IT ALL by bestselling author Cathryn Cade--Mase Barnett is a hometown hero with a secret. Natalie Cusco has a broken heart only a strong man can heal. Will this wounded hero risk everything to show her she's worth it all?
DECEIVING DANTE by award-winning author Kate Davies—A stolen car on her front lawn. A sexy cop - looking to arrest her favorite student. A principal ready to fire her. Could Ellie's Monday get any worse?
ROCK, RATTLE AND ROLL by USA Today bestselling author Cari Quinn and bestselling author Taryn Elliott--A beachfront cottage, hours of alone time, and plenty of skin-on-skin action is just what the rock star and his new wife ordered—until the future comes much quicker than they expected.
GRAVE DANGER by Golden Heart finalist Rachel Grant--An archaeologist digs up a murder victim in a Northwest archaeological site and must help the hunky local police chief solve the crime before she becomes the next victim.
TURNING THIRTY-TWELVE by award-winning author Sandy James--Jackie Delgado didn't want a new man in her life until a dreaded blind date with police detective Mark Brennan turns out to be more exciting
than she'd ever imagined.
HIS ONLY DESIRE by Adrianne Lee--Nick Rossetti married the wrong twin sister. Will the right one ever forgive him? Not if her stalker has his way.
EVEN HEROES CRY by Hildie McQueen--War widow Tesha Washington slowly draws Adam Ford out of the shell that used to be a man, and learns there really is such a thing as starting over.
THE VIXEN & THE VET by bestselling author Katy Regnery--In a Beauty & the Beast reboot, an ambitious reporter tracks down a wounded war vet for a scoop and ends up falling in love with him instead.
TROUBLE WITH A COWBOY by Sandy Sullivan--Can some slashed tires and an ornery bull bring two hard-headed people together for some fun in the sun...and a little more?
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About Sabrina York
Her Royal Hotness, Sabrina York, is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of hot, humorous stories for smart and sexy readers. Her titles range from sweet & sexy to scorching erotic romance. Connect with her on twitter @sabrina_york, on Facebook or on Pintrest. Check out Sabrina's books and read an excerpt on Amazon or wherever e-books are sold. Visit her webpage at www.sabrinayork.com to check out her books, excerpts and contests. Free Teaser Book: http://sabrinayork.com/home-2/sabrina-yorks-teaser-book/ And don't forget to enter to win the royal tiara!
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LEARN ABOUT PETS FOR VETS
The Pets for Vets program is dedicated to providing a second chance for shelter pets by rescuing, training and pairing them with America's veterans who can benefit from a companion animal.
3 to 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year. These dogs can make excellent companion animals but never have that chance. Pets for Vets believes that companion animals can be a life-saving therapy that many U.S servicemen and women need.
Famous kitties and one romantic matchmaker
Thank you so much to my co-author in Love, Meow, Naomi, for hosting me today!
I love cats. I love cats almost more than anything. I am a Cat Lady and proud (except I have no cats because I am allergic to fur, it's the saddest story I have ever heard, and told!).
I love cats so much, that when a neighbouring cat took an interest in me and started visiting (oddly, around meal times), I put up with the sniffles and itches. And this neighbouring moggy inspired me to write a short story for my publisher, Jupiter Gardens. The story is called Purrsuasion, about two neighbours who realise they just might be purrfect for each other thanks to an underwear stealing cat!
More about that later. Now, I'm unsure if Jeffrey, the cat in my short story, shall ever be famous, but just in case that ever happens, here's a list of famous cats he might well be competing with:
(image credit: www.dailymail.co.uk)
This street cat is credited with saving street musician James Bowen's life in his book A Street Cat Named Bob and the sequel, The World According to Bob.
The book is an adorable read, and shows how caring for Bob helped James get through a horrible time in his life, and eventually led to him making a name for himself as a novelist. James is a great narrator, but of course Bob is the star of the show.
I couldn't leave out the famous Grumpy Cat (real name Tardar Sauce). All you have to do is open an internet browser these days to see either the GC himself or a plushie or cartoon of him. I'm sure in real life, he's not too grumpy at all, although his face certainly seems to say otherwise! (image credit: www.wsj.com)
Oscar, the Hospice Cat
Oscar has the rather dubious honour of being famous for being able to predict when someone will die in his home, a nursing centre on Rhode Island. According to Wikipedia, Oscar has been correct 25 times when visiting someone directly before their death. (image credit: www.agirlnamedbeebo.com)
Creme Puff
Creme Puff was the world's oldest cat (to date) who lived in 38 years and 3 days! Wow. She must have done a lot of purring in her life, I hope. She was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records.
Colonel Meow This rescue cat became something of an internet sensation on Facebook and Instagram thanks to his long hair and scowling face! He does look a little like something you'd see on Star Trek, I have to admit. Colonel Meow went to kitty heaven earlier this year. (image: www.dailymail.co.uk)
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed your brief meeting with five famous cats. Here's the cat which inspired my short story, and who's famous, in my house anyway, Jeffrey. He died in May this year. Rest in Peace, my furry friend.
To find out more about Jeffrey and his underwear-stealing ways, read on for an excerpt from Purrsuasion, my short story in Love, Meow, a feline-themed anthology from Jupiter Gardens Press.
Excerpt from Purrsuasion:
Aaron rapped on the back door of Constance's house. A wonderful smell emanated from inside. In the strip of soil by the big back patio windows, she'd grown petunias and dahlias. The cheerful flowers swayed lightly in the gentle breeze, as if saying hello. The flowers suited her, he thought.
He heard her call "it's open!" and turned the handle. He didn't know what he had expected to see, but the scene that greeted him wasn't it.
Cleaned cake tins and loaf tins were stacked on the wooden drying rack. Cookbooks were open all along the kitchen counter. Something rotated slowly in the microwave, the same something that had wafted from the window while he'd been outside.
And Constance, her hair all a-tumble over her face, sat cross legged on the floor, a cook book in her hands, and Jeffrey curled up in her lap, purring loudly.
"Hi," she said, her eyes caught somewhere between hope and despair.
Aaron looked pointedly at the cat. "Well, that answers one of my questions. What's the matter? I found your note."
Constance set the book down and tried to move the cat off her lap. Jeffrey clung as she stood, dragging on her cloth apron and highlighting the way her generous breasts pressed snugly against her shirt. Aaron knew they'd fill his hands, and he itched to touch her, his mind flitting back to his brief fantasy of licking chocolate off the petals of her sex. Would she whisper his name in breathy moans or cry out loudly as she came?
"Aaron?"
Constance looked at him with narrowed eyes and Aaron knew he had totally missed whatever she'd said. "I answered your question."
"Sorry." He drew his mind out of the gutter and into reality. "I was somewhere else. What happened?"
"My oven's broken. It's electric," she explained, struggling to hold the squirming, meowing cat, who seemed to want to climb into her hair. "Something just… went, and I wasn't sure what to do. You were the first person I thought of."
Aaron's chest swelled with pride. "No problem." He set his toolbox down. "What are you making? It smells fantastic."
"My niece's birthday cake. And I have a dozen other cakes to make – no weddings thankfully, but still, I can't afford for my oven to be out of commission," she panicked.
Taking in her tumbled hair, wide sad eyes, and the bundle of feline in her arms, there was no way in hell Aaron could resist being the hero. "Use my kitchen." He dug in his pocket and held out the keys.
Finally getting the hint, Jeffrey leapt down from his precarious position half on Constance's shoulder and half in her apron, and meowed very loudly to convey his unhappiness.
"Really?" She took the keys, her eyes lighting with relief. "And I'll pay you to fix my oven, if you can, of course."
His gaze levelled on hers. "Nah. I only want payment in cake. If that's all right with you."
"That's perfect. Thank you, Aaron." She leaned up to kiss his cheek as a thank you, but at that moment, Jeffrey wound between her legs, stripping her, and she fell into Aaron, her angle off now, and her lips met his, rather than his cheek.
She tasted of chocolate, sending his fantasies into overdrive.
If you'd like to read more, you can buy Love, Meow from the following vendors:
Amazon.com: http://tinyurl.com/krmundj
Are: http://tinyurl.com/mkwlx6l
Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/love-meow
Jasmine has been making up stories as long as she can remember! She's now delighted that people would like to read about the men, women, and magical creatures running amok in her head.
You can contact Jasmine at www.jasmineaherne.com or on Twitter on @jasmine_aherne
Love, Meow (That's One Hot Cat)
Love me, love my cat has always been my motto. When I was single, the first question I always asked a potential date was, 'Do you like cats?' If not, we quickly parted ways.
Cats are incredibly fun creatures and contrary to what some folks think, not all of them are aloof. The little critter that's currently taken over my home and heart is uber cuddly and loves to have her head scratched. She'll roll on her back and shamelessly beg my honey for belly rubs. Definitely not a stand-offish animal
Love, Meow from Jupiter Gardens Press features two delightfully short, sexy stories by Jasmine Aherne and me. Here is the blurb from Jasmine's story, Purrsuasion and below that is a blurb and excerpt from One Hot Cat, my shapeshifter romance.
New neighbours Constance and Aaron haven't had reason to meet each other over the fences yet. But when a broken oven, a baking deadline, and a feline thief with a penchant for stealing underwear intervene, it's clear that these two neighbours will be purrfect for each other. Will Constance break through the hurt in her past and find space in her heart for a new man - and a cuddly cat?
He made them keep their lights off until they were in the cave, insisting he could see fine in the dark. Sure enough, he picked his way from a hidden spot where they had parked to the path that led to the entrance. Paige followed as best she could, knowing she slowed him down. It was uncanny how well he navigated in the darkness.
When she stumbled slightly, Nathan took her hand and led her the rest of the way. Though she tried to concentrate on their task, the feel of Nathan's skin on hers sent her mind to another place. His hand was slightly rough and his grip firm. She'd done her best not to pay attention to him in any kind of sexual way, but it was no use. The man oozed sex appeal like cream from an éclair.
No way. No way would she act on this desire. He was just like all the other men she'd ever met, out for a good time, not wanting to make a commitment. Hell, the last man she'd allowed into her life just a tiny bit ended up raking her over the coals. Remembering the horrible photos sent a shudder through her body.
"Are you cold?" Nathan asked.
Not only could he see in the dark, his other senses seemed extraordinarily acute.
"No, I'm fine. Hey, I think we're here."
They easily climbed over the chain at the cave entrance and stepped inside. The smell of sulfur hit her immediately. She'd read about the healing properties of the water in this area and though vacationing at the spas was out of her budget now, she hoped to one day be able to enjoy the benefits of French Lick.
She flicked on the flashlight and looked around. The beam was strong enough to reveal a good portion of the cavern but she couldn't see very far ahead. Far enough to know she was surrounded by rock walls.
"Let's get out of here as soon as possible, okay?" she asked.
"Claustrophobic?"
"Yeah, I am."
"Shine your light here. I'll be done in a minute."
She directed the flashlight beam on Nathan and watched as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the vial and tool Sam had given him. He scraped the wall of the cave until the container was full.
"That's good. Let's go," he said.
They were almost at the entrance when he stopped moving and put out his arm.
"There's something out there."
He shoved her against the wall and stood in front of her, covering her body with his.
"What are you doing? Get off of me!"
Like her anxiety level needed to be cranked up a notch further. It was stifling enough in the enclosed cavern, she didn't need a large man crushed up against her.
"It's probably just an animal. I don't want it to pick up your scent," he said and moved even closer.
She squirmed, trying to get free.
"What about your scent?" she asked, her voice muffled by his chest.
His hard chest that smelled really, really good.
"My scent will scare it away."
"Oh, you're so badass, animals run when they get a whiff of you? Back off, you're squashing me."
"Could you please be quiet for a few minutes?"
He eased away slightly but was still close enough she could feel his heart beat, and something else. Oh great. Just what this night needed.
Really? Was that really a hard-on pressed against her stomach? She was pretty sure they had the flashlights in their hands and no one had brought bananas along on this trip.
Should she say something, try to ease the tension? No, he'd just told her to pipe down. Wow, that was one hard cock. Would it get bigger?
Bad idea. Don't. Leave it alone.
Paige couldn't resist. Moving slowly back and forth and raising slightly, she rubbed against his pelvis.
Yep, it got bigger. Nathan sucked in his breath and moaned, low and deep in his throat. She wasn't thinking about the walls closing in any more. The only thought in her mind was how good it would feel to have him inside her. Rising up higher on her tiptoes, she aligned her pelvis with his. Now when she rubbed, his erection hit her right on her clit and sent sparks of pleasure along her spine.
"What are you doing?" he growled in her ear.
There was no other word for it, he growled.
"You started it," she said.
"I did no such thing."
"Oh yes you did, pushing that hard cock on me." Her breath came faster now as she continued to rub against him.
"It was an accident," he said, but his hands were on her ass as he pulled her towards him.
So little light came in, her vision was nearly useless. All she was aware of was Nathan's touch and his ragged breathing. That, and his scent, one she couldn't identify but filled her nostrils and made her pussy clench. Was it possible to come like this?
Then his mouth was on her, lips hard and searching. Her arms went around his neck, fingers twining in his hair.
Holy shit, this man could kiss. Not awkward and painful, crushing her mouth, but demanding, coaxing a response from her. She gladly gave it, meeting his tongue with her own, eagerly exploring his mouth.
Suddenly, he stepped away.
"No." Unlike the earlier throaty growls, this came out as an angry snarl. "We are not going to do this."
WTF? Dazed with lust, Paige barely registered what he said but she knew that intensely delicious feeling of hot, hard man pressed against her had stopped.
"What's wrong?" she asked, reaching for him.
He stepped away from her and flicked on his flashlight, shining it towards the floor of the cave.
"We have to go. Now."
Buy One Hot Cat at your favorite Ebook retailer now
Autumn can't get here soon enough
Fall is coming? You could have fooled me. It's still hotter than a wiener roast in hell here in Florida. To crank up the thermostat even higher, The Romance Reviews is having a party with lots of great prizes and a game or two. My day to ask a question is today, September 3rd, so head over there and look for "In Out of the Ordinary, what does Adam claim he is?" In fact, visit them every day this month for a chance to win and maybe discover a new author or two.
http://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php
My publisher, Heart's Desire Press, came up with this cool 'quote card' thing, so I'm having a blast pulling out hot quotes from my upcoming book, Don't Say No. To see more and check out some tantalizing sneak peak excerpts, visit my recent posts at The Romance Studio.


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Posted inPiccolo/Spoleto 2022
Sunset Serenade will bring back some musical magic
by Michael Smallwood May 18, 2022 May 17, 2022
Led by conductor Yuriy Bekker, the Charleston Symphony returns to present the Sunset Serenade, an opening night tradition since 1989 | Photos provided
For Yuriy Bekker, the Charleston Symphony's opening night performance during Piccolo Spoleto is going to be a touching celebration for the Holy City.
"When Hurricane Hugo came through Charleston [in 1989], the Symphony, a few days later, performed a free concert for the community at the Custom House," said Bekker, the critically-acclaimed conductor and violinist who will lead the May 30 free performance. "So people haven't showered [then] because nothing was working and there's no water, but for one moment, it brought so much peace to folks."
He is betting the same magic works this year.
"I hope that this concert, after pandemic pains, brings peace and brings our community together and we'll celebrate. Celebrate each other. Pay tribute to our heroes. Pay tribute to people in need in Ukraine. With music we have a lot to say and contribute."
This year, the free concert will feature the Charleston Symphony performing a collection of incredible musical pieces. Audiences will delight in hearing from such acclaimed composers as Georges Bizet, George Gershwin, Antonín Dvorák and John Williams.
"It's truly a staple in our community," Bekker said. "It brings [the] community together and it's kind of a big foundation of Piccolo Spoleto. It highlights local talent. It will be very much fun to bring everyone together."
The show will begin with the National Anthem before going into John Williams' Summon the Heroes. Anyone who watches any Olympics coverage will recognize the big, brassy, epic anthem.
"I want to dedicate this work to our frontline workers," said Bekker. "I wanted to dedicate it to the heroes."
Concert is a Piccolo tradition
Sunset Serenade is a Piccolo Spoleto tradition as old as the festival itself. The history of the annual curtain raiser for the city's arts celebration dates back to the early 80s. That history came to a halt in 2020, when the festival itself was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sunset Serenade did not return with the festival in 2021 either. Lack of vaccinations and the ongoing pandemic discouraged artists from returning safely. In its place was a small string quartet performance during the Art Walk.
But now, after a two-year hiatus, Piccolo Spoleto will mount its popular musical opener from the steps of the historic U.S. Custom House. Bekker said he is very excited to see the full Serenade brought back to the festival.
"For some people, it's the only time they have a chance to see the Symphony," said Bekker. The idea for the original Serenade concert is attributed to former Charleston Mayor Joe Riley. The first editions of the Serenade were late concerts which started at 9 p.m. These early versions were more block parties than the current, more subdued affair. The concert now starts at 8 p.m., and people are encouraged to bring their own chairs for an easy night out.
The Serenade typically draws in hundreds of people, some already subscribers to the Symphony's seasons, but many of whom will be getting an introduction to the work of Charleston's premiere classical music company. It drives local Charlestonians and tourists alike to check out the Charleston Symphony throughout the rest of the year.
Audiences will be able to enjoy the Serenade from the steps of the U.S. Customs House, a Charleston landmark
The symphony is made up of a collection of some of the best musicians in the country. Micah Gangwer, Asako Kremer, Alexander Boissonnault, Jan-Marie Christy Joyce, Alexander Agrest, Norbert Lewandowski and Damian Kremer make up the strings section, playing a collection of violin, violas, and cellos. The woodwind section is Jessica Hull-Dambaugh, Regina Helcher-Yost, Zachary Hammond, Kari Kistler, Charles Messersmith, Gretchen Roper and Katherine St. John. On brass are Brandon Nichols, Anne Holmi, Christopher Lindgren, Thomas Joyce, and Antonio Martí. Beth Albert and Ryan Laveille round out the sound as the percussion section.
Audiences will thrill to works from Ukraine to New Orleans
The Charleston Symphony will be returning later this year to perform music by John Williams to celebrate his 90th birthday with a big October showcase. In addition to its opener, the symphony will give a nod to world events by performing a piece by Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk, a renowned composer who had performed in Charleston with the Charleston Symphony before his death in 2020.
"It's a really beautiful and solemn piece, and I wanted to dedicate it to the people of Ukraine," Bekker said.
Anthonín Dvorák's New World Symphony will be performed during the Serenade. Dvorák's work helped legitimize the American, or "New World," sound in the late 1800s. There will also be pieces from George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, a show which is no stranger to Charleston audiences. Porgy and Bess was performed during Spoleto Festival USA in 2016. Jason S. McKinney, an acclaimed bass-baritone singer, will join the CSO for these arias, as well as a number of other selections.
The Serenade will also include a medley of New Orleans jazz and will end with Stars and Stripes. Bottom line: It's a jam-packed fun evening of music for Charleston audiences that's not to be missed.
Michael Smallwood is contributing arts editor for Charleston City Paper.


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Deaf City music student Eloise Garland (above, left) has performed at the House of Lords with her ensemble 4ORTE.
The classical pianist, singer and violinist was invited to play at the Year of Sound concert arranged by the disability charity Decibels, which was hosted by the composer, broadcaster and Decibels honorary president Lord Michael Berkeley.
Eloise, who is a third-year Music BMus student and a deaf awareness campaigner, said the concert was an opportunity to highlight the skills of deaf musicians.
"The aim of 4ORTE is to raise the standards of music across the board for deaf and hard of hearing people by holding workshops, talks, and concerts in different venues across the UK," she said. "By holding concerts, we are also showing the world what deaf people are capable of.
The 4ORTE ensemble, from the charity Music and the Deaf, is made up of Eloise and three other professional deaf musicians – flautist Ruth Montgomery, pianist Danny Lane and trumpeter Sean Chandler.
Their next performance will be on Sunday 10th July, at Kings Place in London, where they will also be running a free music workshop for deaf and hard of hearing children and young people.
Eloise says her time at City has helped her to develop as a musician, while its location in central London has given her the chance to get involved in many new projects and experiences.
"City's music department has a wide range of projects and opportunities including ensembles such as choir, gamelan, orchestra, jazz ensemble and more," she said. "And several ensembles and projects at the university have widened my musical knowledge and experience.
"Studying in the heart of London has also opened up a whole host of musical opportunities to me. I opted to study performance at City, which has been integral in building up my confidence as a soloist. My three years at City have been fantastic."
Eloise is originally from North Wales and attended Chetham's School of Music in Manchester before starting her degree at City.


These pre-built Solar Kits from KidWind are designed to simplify solar so that anyone can understand its fundamentals. From solar powered cars and boats to battery charging and sun angle experiments, KidWind has covered all the fundamentals of solar. These kits are perfect for science fairs, classrooms, or just for discovering solar for yourself!


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India's growth path can withstand any challenges post elections: Franklin Templeton
Updated : March 19, 2019 06:55 AM IST
Sukumar Rajah, senior managing director and director of portfolio management, Franklin Templeton, believes that even if there is a surprise election result, the impact from uncertainty would be felt only in the short-term.
According to the brokerage, if Narendra Modi is re-elected, India's economic path will not see any material changes.
Pranati Deva
As India gears up for the general election in April-May 2019, some risk-off sentiment seen towards Indian equities might have spooked some investors. But for Franklin Templeton, the country's solid fundamentals continue to present a positive story for investors.
Sukumar Rajah, senior managing director and director of portfolio management, Franklin Templeton, believes that even if there is a surprise election result, the impact from uncertainty would be felt only in the short-term because fundamentals remain intact and it's unlikely that investors will see any major changes made to legislation irrespective of whoever forms the new government.
"In the longer run, the case for investing in India remains strong as fundamentals appear solid and long-term growth drivers give us reason to look at India in a positive light," Rajah said, in a report dated March 17, 2019.
According to the brokerage, if Narendra Modi is re-elected, India's economic path will not see any material changes and even if Modi doesn't win outright, it's likely that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will still form the new government, possibly as part of a coalition.
"Whatever the outcome of the election, there is little scope for any new government to implement radical, populist policies, due to the set up between the government and its dependency on the Reserve Bank of India to balance its budget deficit," the report said.
With elections just a month away, the political parties have made a number of manifesto promises including farm loan waivers, subsidies, minimum income guarantee among others. A number of these measures could have significant fiscal implications for India's economy and have raised eyebrows among many investors.
But according to Rajah, India's growth path, underpinned by policies put in place since 2014 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is well-enough established to withstand any challenges.
"These policies, including the introduction of the GST, a revamped bankruptcy code, bank recapitalisation and increasing foreign direct investment limits across sectors, as well as the Make in India initiative, have helped India become the fastest-growing major emerging-market economy in 2018, at 7.3% GDP growth," he said in the report.
"Projected gross domestic product growth for 2019 remains relatively robust at 7.5 percent and is estimated at 7.7 percent in 2020. By comparison, China's economy is forecast to grow at a slower rate of 6.2 percent this year and in 2020," forecasts the report.
The investment management company maintains that India is at a turning point for earnings growth. "The last few years for earnings growth have been challenging, due to the effects of demonetisation, implementation of GST and the impact of negative headlines from non-performing loans. We think it's likely we'll see a gradual improvement in earnings growth, which would be supportive for equities," it added.
Tags 2019 elections 2019 Lok Sabha elections 2019 Lok Sabha polls bankruptcy BJP china GDP election results Franklin Templeton GDP GST india gdp growth indian equities Markets naremdra modi pre-election concerns RBI
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UP cabinet approves an increase licence fee for country-made & foreign liquor, for beer
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Media Mention November 6, 2012
David Weslow Comments on Potential Cybersquatting Risks Related to Top-Level Domain Bids
David Weslow, a partner in Wiley Rein's Intellectual Property Practice, was interviewed by Bloomberg News for a report on allegations that Donuts Inc.'s $56 million bid for 307 top-level domains (TLDs) could fuel cybersquatting schemes. According to the November 5 article, an attorney representing TLD holders is asking the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to investigate Donuts' alleged links to other companies that have been involved in a large number of cybersquatting cases involving the unlawful use of domain names.
"The allegations have been made fairly publicly by a wide range of organizations," Mr. Weslow told Bloomberg. "If the allegations are true, the concern would be the prior actions of those other companies would be indicative of how the Donuts group may operate." While Mr. Weslow represents businesses bidding for top-level domains (TLDs), he said none are in direct contention with Donuts.
Web operators that use Donuts' domain names will be taken down if they engage in cybersquatting or phishing scams, Jonathon Nevett, one of Donuts' four founders, told Bloomberg. Nevett said it's unfair to criticize Donuts when the company has done nothing wrong, and Donuts has argued that the allegations concerning its purported connections to cybersquatters are unfounded.
ICANN, which authorizes domain-name suffixes, is reviewing 1,930 applications for 1,400 new TLDs such as .book, .app and .law, according to the report. Brad White, an ICANN spokesman, told Bloomberg the organization can't comment on individual TLD applications but has a rigorous screening process.
David E. Weslow
dweslow@wiley.law
Patricia O'Connell
poconnell@wiley.law


text:
package org.apache.spark.ml.feature

import org.apache.spark.SparkException
import org.apache.spark.ml.Pipeline
import org.apache.spark.ml.param.ParamsSuite
import org.apache.spark.ml.util.{DefaultReadWriteTest, MLTest}
import org.apache.spark.mllib.util.TestingUtils._
import org.apache.spark.sql.{DataFrame, Row}
import org.apache.spark.sql.functions._
import org.apache.spark.sql.types._

class ImputerSuite extends MLTest with DefaultReadWriteTest {

  test("Imputer for Double with default missing Value NaN") {
    val df = spark.createDataFrame(Seq(
      (0, 1.0, 4.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 4.0, 4.0, 4.0),
      (1, 11.0, 12.0, 11.0, 11.0, 11.0, 12.0, 12.0, 12.0),
      (2, 3.0, Double.NaN, 3.0, 3.0, 3.0, 10.0, 12.0, 4.0),
      (3, Double.NaN, 14.0, 5.0, 3.0, 1.0, 14.0, 14.0, 14.0)
    )).toDF("id", "value1", "value2",
      "expected_mean_value1", "expected_median_value1", "expected_mode_value1",
      "expected_mean_value2", "expected_median_value2", "expected_mode_value2")
    val imputer = new Imputer()
      .setInputCols(Array("value1", "value2"))
      .setOutputCols(Array("out1", "out2"))
    ImputerSuite.iterateStrategyTest(true, imputer, df)
  }

  test("Single Column: Imputer for Double with default missing Value NaN") {
    val df1 = spark.createDataFrame(Seq(
      (0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0),
      (1, 11.0, 11.0, 11.0, 11.0),
      (2, 3.0, 3.0, 3.0, 3.0),
      (3, Double.NaN, 5.0, 3.0, 1.0)
    )).toDF("id", "value",
      "expected_mean_value", "expected_median_value", "expected_mode_value")
    val imputer1 = new Imputer()
      .setInputCol("value")
      .setOutputCol("out")
    ImputerSuite.iterateStrategyTest(false, imputer1, df1)

    val df2 = spark.createDataFrame(Seq(
      (0, 4.0, 4.0, 4.0, 4.0),
      (1, 12.0, 12.0, 12.0, 12.0),
      (2, Double.NaN, 10.0, 12.0, 4.0),
      (3, 14.0, 14.0, 14.0, 14.0)
    )).toDF("id", "value",
      "expected_mean_value", "expected_median_value", "expected_mode_value")
    val imputer2 = new Imputer()
      .setInputCol("value")
      .setOutputCol("out")
    ImputerSuite.iterateStrategyTest(false, imputer2, df2)
  }

  test("Imputer should handle NaNs when computing surrogate value, if missingValue is not NaN") {
    val df = spark.createDataFrame(Seq(
      (0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0),
      (1, 3.0, 3.0, 3.0, 3.0),
      (2, Double.NaN, Double.NaN, Double.NaN, Double.NaN),
      (3, -1.0, 2.0, 1.0, 1.0)
    )).toDF("id", "value",
      "expected_mean_value", "expected_median_value", "expected_mode_value")
    val imputer = new Imputer().setInputCols(Array("value")).setOutputCols(Array("out"))
      .setMissingValue(-1.0)
    ImputerSuite.iterateStrategyTest(true, imputer, df)
  }

  test("Single Column: Imputer should handle NaNs when computing surrogate value," +
    " if missingValue is not NaN") {
    val df = spark.createDataFrame(Seq(
      (0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0),
      (1, 3.0, 3.0, 3.0, 3.0),
      (2, Double.NaN, Double.NaN, Double.NaN, Double.NaN),
      (3, -1.0, 2.0, 1.0, 1.0)
    )).toDF("id", "value",
      "expected_mean_value", "expected_median_value", "expected_mode_value")
    val imputer = new Imputer().setInputCol("value").setOutputCol("out")
      .setMissingValue(-1.0)
    ImputerSuite.iterateStrategyTest(false, imputer, df)
  }

  test("Imputer for Float with missing Value -1.0") {
    val df = spark.createDataFrame(Seq(
      (0, 1.0F, 1.0F, 1.0F, 1.0F),
      (1, 3.0F, 3.0F, 3.0F, 3.0F),
      (2, 10.0F, 10.0F, 10.0F, 10.0F),
      (3, 10.0F, 10.0F, 10.0F, 10.0F),
      (4, -1.0F, 6.0F, 3.0F, 10.0F)
    )).toDF("id", "value",
      "expected_mean_value", "expected_median_value", "expected_mode_value")
    val imputer = new Imputer().setInputCols(Array("value")).setOutputCols(Array("out"))
      .setMissingValue(-1)
    ImputerSuite.iterateStrategyTest(true, imputer, df)
  }

  test("Single Column: Imputer for Float with missing Value -1.0") {
    val df = spark.createDataFrame(Seq(
      (0, 1.0F, 1.0F, 1.0F, 1.0F),
      (1, 3.0F, 3.0F, 3.0F, 3.0F),
      (2, 10.0F, 10.0F, 10.0F, 10.0F),
      (3, 10.0F, 10.0F, 10.0F, 10.0F),
      (4, -1.0F, 6.0F, 3.0F, 10.0F)
    )).toDF("id", "value",
      "expected_mean_value", "expected_median_value", "expected_mode_value")
    val imputer = new Imputer().setInputCol("value").setOutputCol("out")
      .setMissingValue(-1)
    ImputerSuite.iterateStrategyTest(false, imputer, df)
  }

  test("Imputer should impute null as well as 'missingValue'") {
    val rawDf = spark.createDataFrame(Seq(
      (0, 4.0, 4.0, 4.0, 4.0),
      (1, 10.0, 10.0, 10.0, 10.0),
      (2, 10.0, 10.0, 10.0, 10.0),
      (3, Double.NaN, 8.0, 10.0, 10.0),
      (4, -1.0, 8.0, 10.0, 10.0)
    )).toDF("id", "rawValue",
      "expected_mean_value", "expected_median_value", "expected_mode_value")
    val df = rawDf.selectExpr("*", "IF(rawValue=-1.0, null, rawValue) as value")
    val imputer = new Imputer().setInputCols(Array("value")).setOutputCols(Array("out"))
    ImputerSuite.iterateStrategyTest(true, imputer, df)
  }

  test("Single Column: Imputer should impute null as well as 'missingValue'") {
    val rawDf = spark.createDataFrame(Seq(
      (0, 4.0, 4.0, 4.0, 4.0),
      (1, 10.0, 10.0, 10.0, 10.0),
      (2, 10.0, 10.0, 10.0, 10.0),
      (3, Double.NaN, 8.0, 10.0, 10.0),
      (4, -1.0, 8.0, 10.0, 10.0)
    )).toDF("id", "rawValue",
      "expected_mean_value", "expected_median_value", "expected_mode_value")
    val df = rawDf.selectExpr("*", "IF(rawValue=-1.0, null, rawValue) as value")
    val imputer = new Imputer().setInputCol("value").setOutputCol("out")
    ImputerSuite.iterateStrategyTest(false, imputer, df)
  }

  test("Imputer should work with Structured Streaming") {
    val localSpark = spark
    import localSpark.implicits._
    val df = Seq[(java.lang.Double, Double)](
      (4.0, 4.0),
      (10.0, 10.0),
      (10.0, 10.0),
      (Double.NaN, 8.0),
      (null, 8.0)
    ).toDF("value", "expected_mean_value")
    val imputer = new Imputer()
      .setInputCols(Array("value"))
      .setOutputCols(Array("out"))
      .setStrategy("mean")
    val model = imputer.fit(df)
    testTransformer[(java.lang.Double, Double)](df, model, "expected_mean_value", "out") {
      case Row(exp: java.lang.Double, out: Double) =>
        assert((exp.isNaN && out.isNaN) || (exp == out),
          s"Imputed values differ. Expected: $exp, actual: $out")
    }
  }

  test("Single Column: Imputer should work with Structured Streaming") {
    val localSpark = spark
    import localSpark.implicits._
    val df = Seq[(java.lang.Double, Double)](
      (4.0, 4.0),
      (10.0, 10.0),
      (10.0, 10.0),
      (Double.NaN, 8.0),
      (null, 8.0)
    ).toDF("value", "expected_mean_value")
    val imputer = new Imputer()
      .setInputCol("value")
      .setOutputCol("out")
      .setStrategy("mean")
    val model = imputer.fit(df)
    testTransformer[(java.lang.Double, Double)](df, model, "expected_mean_value", "out") {
      case Row(exp: java.lang.Double, out: Double) =>
        assert((exp.isNaN && out.isNaN) || (exp == out),
          s"Imputed values differ. Expected: $exp, actual: $out")
    }
  }

  test("Imputer throws exception when surrogate cannot be computed") {
    val df = spark.createDataFrame(Seq(
      (0, Double.NaN, 1.0, 1.0),
      (1, Double.NaN, 3.0, 3.0),
      (2, Double.NaN, Double.NaN, Double.NaN)
    )).toDF("id", "value", "expected_mean_value", "expected_median_value")
    Seq("mean", "median").foreach { strategy =>
      val imputer = new Imputer().setInputCols(Array("value")).setOutputCols(Array("out"))
        .setStrategy(strategy)
      withClue("Imputer should fail all the values are invalid") {
        val e: SparkException = intercept[SparkException] {
          val model = imputer.fit(df)
        }
        assert(e.getMessage.contains("surrogate cannot be computed"))
      }
    }
  }

  test("Single Column: Imputer throws exception when surrogate cannot be computed") {
    val df = spark.createDataFrame(Seq(
      (0, Double.NaN, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0),
      (1, Double.NaN, 3.0, 3.0, 3.0),
      (2, Double.NaN, Double.NaN, Double.NaN, Double.NaN)
    )).toDF("id", "value",
      "expected_mean_value", "expected_median_value", "expected_mode_value")
    Seq("mean", "median", "mode").foreach { strategy =>
      val imputer = new Imputer().setInputCol("value").setOutputCol("out")
        .setStrategy(strategy)
      withClue("Imputer should fail all the values are invalid") {
        val e: SparkException = intercept[SparkException] {
          val model = imputer.fit(df)
        }
        assert(e.getMessage.contains("surrogate cannot be computed"))
      }
    }
  }

  test("Imputer input & output column validation") {
    val df = spark.createDataFrame(Seq(
      (0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0),
      (1, Double.NaN, 3.0, 3.0),
      (2, Double.NaN, Double.NaN, Double.NaN)
    )).toDF("id", "value1", "value2", "value3")
    Seq("mean", "median", "mode").foreach { strategy =>
      withClue("Imputer should fail if inputCols and outputCols are different length") {
        val e: IllegalArgumentException = intercept[IllegalArgumentException] {
          val imputer = new Imputer().setStrategy(strategy)
            .setInputCols(Array("value1", "value2"))
            .setOutputCols(Array("out1"))
          val model = imputer.fit(df)
        }
        assert(e.getMessage.contains("should have the same length"))
      }

      withClue("Imputer should fail if inputCols contains duplicates") {
        val e: IllegalArgumentException = intercept[IllegalArgumentException] {
          val imputer = new Imputer().setStrategy(strategy)
            .setInputCols(Array("value1", "value1"))
            .setOutputCols(Array("out1", "out2"))
          val model = imputer.fit(df)
        }
        assert(e.getMessage.contains("inputCols contains duplicates"))
      }

      withClue("Imputer should fail if outputCols contains duplicates") {
        val e: IllegalArgumentException = intercept[IllegalArgumentException] {
          val imputer = new Imputer().setStrategy(strategy)
            .setInputCols(Array("value1", "value2"))
            .setOutputCols(Array("out1", "out1"))
          val model = imputer.fit(df)
        }
        assert(e.getMessage.contains("outputCols contains duplicates"))
      }
    }
  }

  test("Imputer read/write") {
    val t = new Imputer()
      .setInputCols(Array("myInputCol"))
      .setOutputCols(Array("myOutputCol"))
      .setMissingValue(-1.0)
    testDefaultReadWrite(t)
  }

  test("Single Column: Imputer read/write") {
    val t = new Imputer()
      .setInputCol("myInputCol")
      .setOutputCol("myOutputCol")
      .setMissingValue(-1.0)
    testDefaultReadWrite(t)
  }

  test("ImputerModel read/write") {
    val spark = this.spark
    import spark.implicits._
    val surrogateDF = Seq(1.234).toDF("myInputCol")

    val instance = new ImputerModel(
      "myImputer", surrogateDF)
      .setInputCols(Array("myInputCol"))
      .setOutputCols(Array("myOutputCol"))
    val newInstance = testDefaultReadWrite(instance)
    assert(newInstance.surrogateDF.columns === instance.surrogateDF.columns)
    assert(newInstance.surrogateDF.collect() === instance.surrogateDF.collect())
  }

  test("Single Column: ImputerModel read/write") {
    val spark = this.spark
    import spark.implicits._
    val surrogateDF = Seq(1.234).toDF("myInputCol")

    val instance = new ImputerModel(
      "myImputer", surrogateDF)
      .setInputCol("myInputCol")
      .setOutputCol("myOutputCol")
    val newInstance = testDefaultReadWrite(instance)
    assert(newInstance.surrogateDF.columns === instance.surrogateDF.columns)
    assert(newInstance.surrogateDF.collect() === instance.surrogateDF.collect())
  }

  test("Imputer for IntegerType with default missing value null") {
    val df = spark.createDataFrame(Seq[(Integer, Integer, Integer, Integer)](
      (1, 1, 1, 1),
      (11, 11, 11, 11),
      (3, 3, 3, 3),
      (null, 5, 3, 1)
    )).toDF("value1",
      "expected_mean_value1", "expected_median_value1", "expected_mode_value1")

    val imputer = new Imputer()
      .setInputCols(Array("value1"))
      .setOutputCols(Array("out1"))

    val types = Seq(IntegerType, LongType)
    for (mType <- types) {
      // cast all columns to desired data type for testing
      val df2 = df.select(df.columns.map(c => col(c).cast(mType)): _*)
      ImputerSuite.iterateStrategyTest(true, imputer, df2)
    }
  }

  test("Single Column Imputer for IntegerType with default missing value null") {
    val df = spark.createDataFrame(Seq[(Integer, Integer, Integer, Integer)](
      (1, 1, 1, 1),
      (11, 11, 11, 11),
      (3, 3, 3, 3),
      (null, 5, 3, 1)
    )).toDF("value",
      "expected_mean_value", "expected_median_value", "expected_mode_value")

    val imputer = new Imputer()
      .setInputCol("value")
      .setOutputCol("out")

    val types = Seq(IntegerType, LongType)
    for (mType <- types) {
      // cast all columns to desired data type for testing
      val df2 = df.select(df.columns.map(c => col(c).cast(mType)): _*)
      ImputerSuite.iterateStrategyTest(false, imputer, df2)
    }
  }

  test("Imputer for IntegerType with missing value -1") {
    val df = spark.createDataFrame(Seq[(Integer, Integer, Integer, Integer)](
      (1, 1, 1, 1),
      (11, 11, 11, 11),
      (3, 3, 3, 3),
      (-1, 5, 3, 1)
    )).toDF("value1",
      "expected_mean_value1", "expected_median_value1", "expected_mode_value1")

    val imputer = new Imputer()
      .setInputCols(Array("value1"))
      .setOutputCols(Array("out1"))
      .setMissingValue(-1.0)

    val types = Seq(IntegerType, LongType)
    for (mType <- types) {
      // cast all columns to desired data type for testing
      val df2 = df.select(df.columns.map(c => col(c).cast(mType)): _*)
      ImputerSuite.iterateStrategyTest(true, imputer, df2)
    }
  }

  test("Single Column: Imputer for IntegerType with missing value -1") {
    val df = spark.createDataFrame(Seq[(Integer, Integer, Integer, Integer)](
      (1, 1, 1, 1),
      (11, 11, 11, 11),
      (3, 3, 3, 3),
      (-1, 5, 3, 1)
    )).toDF("value",
      "expected_mean_value", "expected_median_value", "expected_mode_value")

    val imputer = new Imputer()
      .setInputCol("value")
      .setOutputCol("out")
      .setMissingValue(-1.0)

    val types = Seq(IntegerType, LongType)
    for (mType <- types) {
      // cast all columns to desired data type for testing
      val df2 = df.select(df.columns.map(c => col(c).cast(mType)): _*)
      ImputerSuite.iterateStrategyTest(false, imputer, df2)
    }
  }

  test("assert exception is thrown if both multi-column and single-column params are set") {
    import testImplicits._
    val df = Seq((0.5, 0.3), (0.5, -0.4)).toDF("feature1", "feature2")
    ParamsSuite.testExclusiveParams(new Imputer, df, ("inputCol", "feature1"),
      ("inputCols", Array("feature1", "feature2")))
    ParamsSuite.testExclusiveParams(new Imputer, df, ("inputCol", "feature1"),
      ("outputCol", "result1"), ("outputCols", Array("result1", "result2")))

    // this should fail because at least one of inputCol and inputCols must be set
    ParamsSuite.testExclusiveParams(new Imputer, df, ("outputCol", "feature1"))
  }

  test("Compare single/multiple column(s) Imputer in pipeline") {
    val df = spark.createDataFrame(Seq(
      (0, 1.0, 4.0),
      (1, 11.0, 12.0),
      (2, 3.0, Double.NaN),
      (3, Double.NaN, 14.0)
    )).toDF("id", "value1", "value2")
    Seq("mean", "median", "mode").foreach { strategy =>
      val multiColsImputer = new Imputer()
        .setInputCols(Array("value1", "value2"))
        .setOutputCols(Array("result1", "result2"))
        .setStrategy(strategy)

      val plForMultiCols = new Pipeline()
        .setStages(Array(multiColsImputer))
        .fit(df)

      val imputerForCol1 = new Imputer()
        .setInputCol("value1")
        .setOutputCol("result1")
        .setStrategy(strategy)
      val imputerForCol2 = new Imputer()
        .setInputCol("value2")
        .setOutputCol("result2")
        .setStrategy(strategy)

      val plForSingleCol = new Pipeline()
        .setStages(Array(imputerForCol1, imputerForCol2))
        .fit(df)

      val resultForSingleCol = plForSingleCol.transform(df)
        .select("result1", "result2")
        .collect()
      val resultForMultiCols = plForMultiCols.transform(df)
        .select("result1", "result2")
        .collect()

      resultForSingleCol.zip(resultForMultiCols).foreach {
        case (rowForSingle, rowForMultiCols) =>
          assert(rowForSingle.getDouble(0) == rowForMultiCols.getDouble(0) &&
            rowForSingle.getDouble(1) == rowForMultiCols.getDouble(1))
      }
    }
  }
}

object ImputerSuite {

  /**
   * Imputation strategy. Available options are ["mean", "median", "mode"].
   * @param df DataFrame with columns "id", "value", "expected_mean", "expected_median",
   *           "expected_mode".
   */
  def iterateStrategyTest(isMultiCol: Boolean, imputer: Imputer, df: DataFrame): Unit = {
    Seq("mean", "median", "mode").foreach { strategy =>
      imputer.setStrategy(strategy)
      val model = imputer.fit(df)
      val resultDF = model.transform(df)
      if (isMultiCol) {
        imputer.getInputCols.zip(imputer.getOutputCols).foreach { case (inputCol, outputCol) =>
          verifyTransformResult(strategy, inputCol, outputCol, resultDF)
        }
      } else {
          verifyTransformResult(strategy, imputer.getInputCol, imputer.getOutputCol, resultDF)
      }
    }
  }

  def verifyTransformResult(
      strategy: String,
      inputCol: String,
      outputCol: String,
      resultDF: DataFrame): Unit = {
    // check dataType is consistent between input and output
    val inputType = resultDF.schema(inputCol).dataType
    val outputType = resultDF.schema(outputCol).dataType
    assert(inputType == outputType, "Output type is not the same as input type.")

    // check value
    resultDF.select(s"expected_${strategy}_$inputCol", outputCol).collect().foreach {
      case Row(exp: Float, out: Float) =>
        assert((exp.isNaN && out.isNaN) || (exp == out),
          s"Imputed values differ. Expected: $exp, actual: $out")
      case Row(exp: Double, out: Double) =>
        assert((exp.isNaN && out.isNaN) || (exp ~== out absTol 1e-5),
          s"Imputed values differ. Expected: $exp, actual: $out")
      case Row(exp: Integer, out: Integer) =>
        assert(exp == out,
          s"Imputed values differ. Expected: $exp, actual: $out")
      case Row(exp: Long, out: Long) =>
        assert(exp == out,
          s"Imputed values differ. Expected: $exp, actual: $out")
    }
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Sir John Cooper, 1st Baronet, 24 October 1597 to 23 March 1631, was a member of the landed gentry and MP for Poole from 1625 to 1629. He died of tuberculosis, leaving debts of over £40,000 and is best remembered for being the father of Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury.

Life
Cooper was the son of Sir John Cooper (1552–1610) and Margaret, a daughter of Anthony Skutt, of Stanton Drew in Somerset. Cooper's paternal grandfather, a paymaster in Henry VIII of England's service, bought Pawlett manor in about 1530. He had four sisters, Bridget, Margaret, Martha and Jane.

The family prospered, and Cooper's father, a soldier, served as a member of parliament for White church in Hampshire 1584 and 1586. He died in 1610 owning nearly 7,000 acres in Somerset and Hampshire, including the Rockbourne estate which he had only recently purchased. Cooper was then still a minor, but his ward-ship was acquired by an uncle for £324, after a sweetener of £600 was paid to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, who was at the time the Lord High Treasurer.

Cooper's connection with Dorset dated from his marriage to Sir Anthony Ashley's only child, but initially he played little part in local affairs. In 1623, he was living with his father-in-law in St Giles in the Fields. He had four sisters, Bridget, Margaret, Martha and Jane.

On 4 July 1622, Cooper was created a Baronet by letters patent which described him as of Rockbourne in the county of Southampton. In 1628 Cooper was elected Member of Parliament for Poole. The parliament was dissolved on 10 March 1629.

Cooper married firstly Anne Ashley, the daughter and sole heir of Sir Anthony Ashley, 1st Baronet, of Wimborne St Giles in Dorset. His first wife died soon after her father on 20 July 1628, leaving a daughter, Philippa (who married Sir Adam Brown and died in 1701) and two sons, Anthony-Ashley and George.

Cooper married secondly Mary, Lady Morrison, the widow of Sir Charles Morrison, 1st Baronet and a daughter and coheir of Baptist Hicks, Viscount Campden (1551–1629). There were no children of the marriage.

Cooper was probably recommended to the electors of Poole in 1625 by his wife's uncle, Sir Francis Ashley. He is not known to have contributed to debate during the first Caroline Parliament, and was appointed only to legislative committees concerned with larceny, benefit of clergy, and concealed Crown lands (25 June). Later that year, he was assessed at £50 for a Privy Seal loan. Cooper again sat for Poole in 1628, this time failing to attract a single appointment. However, on 9 February 1629, he confirmed the allegations of Catholic sympathies leveled by his friend Sir Daniel Norton at Bishop Neile of Winchester.

Despite his hostility to the doctrines, practices, and ceremonies associated with the Pope or the papal system,  Cooper displayed no obvious puritan leanings, being 'of an easy and an affable nature' and a compulsive gambler.

His first wife died of smallpox in 1628, shortly after succeeding to the Ashley estate, and Cooper, who was reputedly "very lovely and graceful both in face and person". He married again to another wealthy widow. According to family tradition he kept three houses fully furnished and staffed, and exercised great hospitality at each of them. He died of tuberculosis in 1631 at Cassiobury, his wife's jointure estate, and was buried at Wimborne St. Giles, leaving debts computed at £40,000 or more.

His widow Mary, Lady Morrison, took as her third husband the younger son of Edward Alford,  Sir Daniel Norton acted as guardian to his Stepson and heir, Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, who sat for Tewkesbury in the Short Parliament, and who, as 1st earl of Shaftesbury, became one of the leading politicians of the Restoration era.

Notes

1631 deaths
1597 births
17th-century English nobility
17th-century deaths from tuberculosis
Baronets in the Baronetage of England
English MPs 1625
English landowners
John
English MPs 1628–1629

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


We do appreciate that, on occasion, you may need to cancel a reservation and as long as you provide at least 24 hours' notice, cancellations are free of charge. Please ensure that you cancel through the website and not via email or telephone, as email and telephone cancellation will not be accepted and you will still be liable for the cost.
Unfortunately, we do have to charge for short notice cancellations, i.e. if less than 24 hours' notice is provided. Giving as much notice as possible helps everyone, as this give someone on the wait list opportunity to attend in your place.
World Jumping UK Class card, packages, offers, gift cards and programs are non-refundable, non-transferable or don't extend expiry dates.
You should arrive at the venue at least 15 min before class starts.
Bring your sports to wear and running trainers, a bottle of water.
We don't have my changing and shower facility.
You must let World Jumping instructors know about your health issues including past injuries, it's your responsibility.
World Jumping trampoline is only for one person.
Note: We are not responsible for your belongings. Your belongings are your priority.
Word Jumping class is book online in advance. When you have a valid class package or buy a drop-in class online. You must still check in with our World Jumping instructor when you enter the class, they will know you are in the studio.
Please make sure that you come with your child and stay during the workout. We are not responsible for your child.
By entering and using the Website you are deemed to have read and accepted these Terms and Conditions. If you do not accept these Terms and Conditions or any part of them, you should not use the Website.
World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd. may modify these Terms and Conditions from time to time. Your continued use of this website (or any of London Jumping Fitness Ltd. Or World Jumping UK Ltd other websites) following such change demonstrates your agreement to be bound by the modified Terms and Conditions.
We will highlight any changes we make to the Terms and Conditions but we advise you to check the Terms and Conditions often. If you do not agree to any change to the Terms and Conditions, then you must immediately stop using the London Jumping Fitness Ltd. websites.
World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd. makes every effort to ensure that the content of the Website is accurate and up-to-date, but World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd. does not offer any warranties (whether express implied or otherwise) as to the reliability, accuracy or completeness of the information appearing on the Website. World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd. may remove material from the Website at its own discretion and without giving any notice.
You acknowledge and agree that all copyright, trademarks and other intellectual property rights in the Website content, software and all HTML and other code contained in this Website, shall remain at all times vested in World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd. and/or its licensors and is protected by copyright and other laws and international treaty provisions. Any other trademark remains the property of its respective owner(s).
Users may not modify, copy, distribute, transmit, display, redistribute, reproduce, publish, license, commercially exploit, create derivative works from, transfer, or sell any material which may be displayed on the Website from time to time without first obtaining permission to do so from World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd. in writing.
The Website and its contents are copyright material and the copyright is owned by World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd. unless stated otherwise. Without limiting the foregoing, copying the above-listed materials to any other server or location for publication, reproduction or distribution is expressly prohibited.
Generally speaking, trademarks appearing on the Website are either owned by World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd. has obtained limited use permission from the trademark owner to use the trademark on the Website. Any other third party trademarks remain the property of their respective owners.
If you wish to obtain permission to make use of any of the trademarks or other material that may be displayed on the Website from time to time please contact us: uk@worldjumping.com World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd. shall not be responsible for seeking any additional authorization required for third party use of any trademark not owned by or licensed to World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd. for such use.
You are permitted to use the material that is displayed on the Website from time to time only as expressly authorised by World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd. or its licensors. This Website is intended to provide information relating to World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd. concerns and the Website is designed for personal, non-commercial use only. Users may not use this Website, or any of the material appearing on the Website from time to time to further any commercial purpose, including (but not limited to) advertising or to promote or generate activity on any other website.
If you wish to create a hyperlink to this Website or to any other website operated or maintained by World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd. please contact us: World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd. generally welcome links to its websites. However, by so linking, you agree that World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd. may require the link to be removed if, in World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd. sole opinion, any aspect of the linking website, its content or any other matter relating to the link is objectionable to World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd.
The Internet is by its nature an unreliable medium. Consequently, you accept that this Website is offered on an "as is" and "as available" basis. World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd. takes all reasonable steps to ensure that the Website is properly functioning at all times but World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd. does not warrant that this Website will be uninterrupted, timely, secure or error-free, that defects will be corrected, or that this Website or the server that makes it available are free of software viruses or bugs or other defects.
By accepting these Terms and Conditions, you accept that World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd. cannot be liable to you for any loss or damage you suffer as a result of visiting this Website or making use of the information available on the Website. You must take your own precautions (including but not limited to installing adequate protective measures to guard against software viruses and ensuring that you retain up-to-date copies of all data) to protect yourself against loss or damage.
World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd. is an association of member companies. However, World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd. is not liable for the actions of any individual member company, nor is any individual member company liable for the actions of World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd.
To let you know about information and services from World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd. in which you may be interested. For internal review.
We will not pass any of your personal information to any third party, other than members of World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd., without your consent.
No promotional offers or advertising will appear on the World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd. website, nor will your personal contact information ever be given, sold, or otherwise shared by World Jumping UK Ltd. and London Jumping Fitness Ltd. with third parties for advertising or marketing purposes.


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