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DNF Reviews: Illusive, Raven Boys, Stormdancer
by Emily Lloyd-Jones
Genre: YA Science Fiction Hardback: 416 Pages
Publication: July 15, 2014 by Little Brown BFYR
When the MK virus swept across the planet, a vaccine was created to stop the epidemic, but it came with some unexpected side effects. A small percentage of the population developed superhero-like powers. Seventeen-year-old Ciere Giba has the handy ability to change her appearance at will. She's what's known as an illusionist...She's also a thief.
After a robbery goes awry, Ciere must team up with a group of fellow super-powered criminals on another job that most would consider too reckless. The formula for the vaccine that gave them their abilities was supposedly destroyed years ago. But what if it wasn't?
The lines between good and bad, us and them, and freedom and entrapment are blurred as Ciere and the rest of her crew become embroiled in a deadly race against the government that could cost them their lives.
The premise to Illusive is interesting. I'm always up for a superpower book. (My brother introduced me to the web serial Worm and I had to stop cold turkey because I was so addicted to it and wasn't getting any blogwork done - definitely plan to get back to it sometime though!) And I like how there are limitations to the powers. For example, Ciere has difficulty spreading her illusions to her surroundings, and technology will see through her illusions.
What didn't work for me is that I could never really connect with the characters and their plight, specifically Ciere and Daniel, the two narrators. Ciere was an especial problem because she's the primary narrator. She's overly naïve for someone who's supposedly been in the criminal life since a young age, and I don't feel like she has sufficient motivation for hiding some things from her fellow criminals. The more interesting characters are Kit and Magnus, but they don't have much star time and mostly hover at the background as the older members who have a shady past and aren't telling what they know.
The writing is also not very cohesive. The story takes a while to get the plot moving and doesn't spend much time going through the details. And as my brother noticed when he followed me along for several pages, there is an excessive overuse of dialogue tags. These are more minor complaints though and would normally be what separates a book that I liked from one that I loved. This time, it's what kept me reading as long as I did, waiting to see what happens.
When it comes to YA superpower books with a youthful voice, I enjoyed Transparent by Natalie Whipple much more (read my review here).
DNF 54% into the novel
Content: drinking, partying, violence
A copy was provided by Little Brown for review
The Raven Boys
The Raven Cycle #1, by Maggie Stiefvater
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance Hardback: 409 Pages
Publication: September 18, 2012 by Scholastic Press
Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.
His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.
But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can't entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he's looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.
For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore.
The writing is filled with beautiful descriptions that bring the emotions and story to life. There is a mystic quality to it that you don't often find in YA books. I like how the story alternates perspectives among different characters in order to round the plot; however, this ended up working against the story for me. I never felt like I really got to know any of the characters. Really get into their minds. Also, it wasn't until about halfway into the story that it felt like the action was picking up, and by then I wasn't interested in pursuing the story further.
I've seen fantastic reviews for The Raven Boys though. I might pick this up some other time. I just don't know what the chances are since I've read and dnfed Shiver and The Scorpio Races as well. As beautiful Stiefvater's writing, and as interesting as her characters have been, for me in the past, the pacing of her stories just isn't working for me.
DNF 51% into the novel - slow pacing, still didn't feel like anything was happening.
Content: N/A
A copy was provided by Scholastic for review
Stormdancer
by Jay Kristoff
Genre: YA Fantasy Hardback: 313 Pages
Publication: September 18, 2012 by Thomas Dunne Books
A DYING LAND
The Shima Imperium verges on the brink of environmental collapse; an island nation once rich in tradition and myth, now decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshipers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, the land is choked with toxic pollution, and the great spirit animals that once roamed its wilds have departed forever.
AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST
The hunters of Shima's imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger – a legendary creature, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows the beasts have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.
A HIDDEN GIFT
Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a talent that if discovered, would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun's hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima's last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he'd rather see her dead than help her.
But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.
Interesting world with beautiful descriptions, but it's hard to get into the language and culture of the world. The writing / voice is also hard to follow. I've heard great things about this book, and I'm still interested in how the action goes down later though. I might pick this up at a later time.
Content: violence
A copy was provided by Macmillan for review
Labels: fantasy , paranormal romance , science fiction , young adult
Review: Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
Killing Mr. Griffin
Lois Duncan
Genre: YA Suspense, Thriller
Publication: April 1978
by Laurel Leaf Books
Mr. Griffin is the strictest teacher at Del Norte High, with a penchant for endless projects and humiliating his students. Even straight-A student Susan can't believe how mean he is to the charismatic Mark Kinney. So when her crush asks Susan to help a group of students teach a lesson of their own, she goes along. After all, it's a harmless prank, right?
But things don't go according to plan. When one "accident" leads to another, people begin to die. Susan and her friends must face the awful truth: one of them is a killer.
Killing Mr. Griffin is a suspenseful novel with very human characters. The premise for this novel, teenagers plotting to kidnap and scare their strict English teacher, is pretty cool but creepy. When I first read this as a kid in third grade, I really, really liked it. It could be because I was reading a story about teenagers, but it could also be because the tension is gradually built up. The fear isn't so much about the horror of what the characters do, but more about how cool and collected one of the characters is throughout the majority of the novel. Seriously, if I were to run into this guy, I'd turn the other way and run away screaming because he is so terrifying.
The story features alternating storylines. They're pretty interwoven from the get-go and don't necessarily focus on one character at a time. There are brief stints with the main characters' parents, but other than developing some of the characters' traits, they don't do much else. These random tangents aside, the secondary plots with Mr. Griffin's wife and David's grandmother work pretty okay, one more strongly than the other. They serve as other perspectives to the main plot and merge with it well later on.
Susan can readily be pointed out as the protagonist since she goes through the most growth and we follow her more than the other four main characters. Of the other characters, Jeff and Betsy fit more or less into the typical jock and cheerleader molds. David and Mark are slightly unusual in that they are only children from broken families. David is really kind and the most sympathetic of the main characters. He is probably my favorite character of the bunch. Mark is harder to figure out since he doesn't fit into any stereotypical high school role but is still somewhat popular.
What about the title character? Well, we do get one scene of him with his students and another of him with his wife. The main characters talk about how mean he is, but that's about all there is. For me, it would've been more effective to have those scenes play in flashbacks, especially the scene with Mark since he is the most bitter towards Mr. Griffin. Having had a few tough teachers in high school and college, I think this would've served as better justification as to why the characters want to do something to Mr. Griffin.
Something I enjoyed spotting that I don't think I fully appreciated as a kid was the seventies mannerisms. Some of the names, the clothes, and the expressions are pretty dated and work within the context of this edition (on a side note, a lot of these references survived in the updated edition, which kind of takes away from the "updating").
One thing that left me unsatisfied was the uncertainty of the ending. While the antagonist's fate is pretty obvious even though we don't see it, the outcomes for the other four aren't as clear. The big question for me is with Susan. She is presented with two options at the end, and I want to know what she will pick given the implications of her decision. Another problem I had with the ending was how rushed it felt. One moment we're left with an incredibly tense cliffhanger, then we fast-forward to almost two weeks later with Susan and her mother talking about what happened. There's not enough material for a sequel in my mind, but I think there is definitely enough for a few more chapters and a more satisfying ending.
While the kids never planned his death, the ways they go about trying to cover their roles in it are pretty clever at certain points. It seems like they could get away with it, but ultimately we don't know for sure. I still think Duncan could've written a few more chapters on that, but I can sort of see her reasoning in stopping where she did. On one hand, I like the characters and the thrills of the plot, but the uncertainty of the ending left me hanging. Check it out for yourself and see what you think.
The Drowning of Stephan Jones by Bette Greene
The Snowman by R. L. Stine
Some language
Brief violence
Labels: thriller , young adult
Review: Jersey Angel by Beth Ann Bauman
Jersey Angel
Beth Ann Bauman
Publication: May 8, 2012
by Mary Lamb Books
It's the summer before senior year and the alluring Angel is ready to have fun. She's not like her best friend, Inggy, who has a steady boyfriend, good grades, and college plans. Angel isn't sure what she wants to do yet, but she has confidence and experience beyond her years. Still, her summer doesn't start out as planned. Her good friend Joey doesn't want to fool around anymore, he wants to be her boyfriend, while Angel doesn't want to be tied down. As Joey pulls away, and Inggy tours colleges, Angel finds herself spending more time with Inggy's boyfriend, Cork. With its cast of vivid and memorable characters, this tale from the Jersey shore is sure to make some waves.
◆ A copy was provided by Random House for review ◆
Jersey Angel is an interesting read. One that I can entirely see people either loving or loathing. The writing is different from what I'm used to in contemporary books. It kind of reminds of The Elementals by Francesca Lia Block in that the writing is somber and gloomy. They're not afraid to delve into the dark side and show how crappy life can be. And both portray explicit sex scenes.
Angel is far from an angelic character. She is a free-spirited character who just wants to have fun—which entails a lot of sex and not being tied down to any one partner. She does a lot of questionable things. She's strung along nice-boy Joey for years, breaking up to sleep with other boys only to keep coming back. She sleeps with her best friend's boyfriend. And she sleeps with skinny, awkward, but sweet Kipper because she feels sorry for him being a virgin. She embraces her sexuality and seems to have charge of her life, but she's so much more than that.
She's also someone who doesn't want to grow up because she doesn't know what she wants to do with her life. She can't find it within herself to apply herself to her studies or think about her future after high school. And within, she's a girl who yearns to know what love is but has a hard time understanding it. Angel is such an extreme character that I can see readers' reactions to the book hinging entirely on whether or not they can connect with her. While she may not be entirely likable at the beginning, I recommend giving her a try. She doesn't make any big revelations over the course of her story, but the glimmers of change can be seen.
There are flaws to the story. Time skips forward a lot in the narration, making it hard to keep track of the seasons, and Angel spends much of the first third of the novel mooning over Joey before other plot threads are introduced. The story also doesn't spend much time glossing over character motivation. I'm still not sure how things got started between Angel and Cork. Angel doesn't give Cork a chance to explain himself at the end of the story, so I'm not sure if there's more to him than what we get to see. Many other things happen during the story without explanation. While it's a part of natural life, I do wish that we got to spend more time getting to know the characters because there's so much underlying complexity that isn't fully explored.
I also want to give special note to the use of family in the novel. While Angel's family isn't the greatest—she has a slutty mother and an absent father, as well as a somewhat estranged step-family through her father—they still play a role in the story, and I love how they aren't mentioned in the beginning only to fall off the map later on. I especially like the role that her little half-sister plays in the story. Mimi idolizes Angel and keeps talking about how she wants to be just like her. It made me think about how important it is for us to set a good example for the younger generation.
Overall, Jersey Angel is a unique read that I recommend giving a chance. While there are holes in the writing, there is a lot here to be learned. Just take note that there is a lot of explicit scenes in the story and that Angel may not be the most likable character.
The Elementals by Francesca Lia Block
Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
Making out, touching, sex
Drinking, smoking, drugs
Labels: book review , contemporary , romance , young adult
Review: Wildflower by Alecia Whitaker
Alecia Whitaker
Publication: July 1, 2014
The best songs come from broken hearts.
Sixteen-year-old Bird Barrett has grown up on the road, singing backup in her family's bluegrass band, and playing everywhere from Nashville, Tennesee to Nowhere, Oklahoma. One fateful night, Bird fills in for her dad by singing lead, and a scout in the audience offers her a spotlight all her own.
Soon Bird is caught up in a whirlwind of songwriting meetings, recording sessions, and music video shoots. Her first single hits the top twenty, and suddenly fans and paparazzi are around every corner. She's even caught the eye of her longtime crush, fellow roving musician Adam Dean. With Bird's star on the rise, though, tradition and ambition collide. Can Bird break out while staying true to her roots?
In a world of glamour and gold records, a young country music star finds her voice.
◆ A copy was provided by Little Brown for review ◆
Another fantastic book from Alecia Whitaker! I read and loved The Queen of Kentucky back when it came out in 2012. What I remember (and love best) about Whitaker's writing is that she writes about teen girls in the midst of forging their identities and struggling to come to terms with who they are, and she's done it again in Wildflower. And, once again, she had me feeling the feels. So much I don't want to write this review because I was so busy enjoying the novel I forgot to take notes on what I'm supposed to be writing about.
Bird's voice is light and youthful. From the first pages, it had me hooked. So bad that I noticed during on the of couple times I came out of my reading reverie that I hadn't heard my family members talking in the same room—loudly. Her youthfulness means that she has big dreams, which sets her up for the crash when she realizes they aren't as easy to obtain as she hoped. Like Ricki Jo from The Queen of Kentucky, she plunges forward without much thoughts to the consequences, choosing instead to live on the thread of hope that everything will come true only to despair when they don't. She's also prone to thinking that she doesn't know the best for her, which made me sad since she relies on other people so much, and not all of them want the best for her as a person. Sometimes, I just wanted to slap some sense into her, but most of all I wanted to hug her and tell her to take the time to slow down a little and think about what she really wants instead of what she thinks she wants.
Two things really brightened this novel for me (other than Bird herself): family and the country vibes. Frequent blog visitors know that I'm big on family and always appreciate a good novel that has a present family (that sticks around and doesn't fade into the background). Having lived on the road with her family for most of her life, Bird is very close to her family, and they're so strong and supportive. I'm half in love with them. (The other half is with Adam and yearning for him alongside Bird. I have to know what happens between them!!! And no, I'm not speaking up about this anymore because spoilers!) I also love a good Western setting, which is the number one reason I picked up this book!
If I have any complaints, it's that time tends to skip a little in this book. The story doesn't really spend much time exploring any one events or time in Bird's life; rather, the big picture comes together through all these snippets. But this is a minor complaint. I don't know much about a singer's life, being far removed from this scene, but I probably don't need to or want to know about all the in-betweens in Bird's life. That said, it is a little jarring, especially when combined with Bird's tendency to rush into things and think later.
After this book, I'll probably give most anything Alecia Whitaker publishes a try. I'll definitely be on the lookout for Wildflower book two! I'm both happy and sad for Bird's success, and I look forwarding to seeing where she goes and how she matures from here on out!
... for the feels
The Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker
Imagine Weekly: Stacking the Shelves 6/15
Imagine Weekly is a weekly feature where we share a summary of what has taken place on the blog the previous week and show off books that we got.
I received for review:
Dissonance by Erica O'Rourke (Goodreads | Amazon)
Falls the Shadow by Stefanie Gaither (Goodreads | Amazon)
Some Boys by Patty Blount (Goodreads | Amazon)
The House of the Four Winds by Mercedes Lackey & James Mallory (Goodreads | Amazon)
Thanks to Simon & Schuster, Sourcebooks, and Macmillan Tor / Forge
* Check out more book hauls through Stacking the Shelves at Tynga's Reviews *
What did you get this week? Leave a link in the comments section, and we'll check out your week's haul!
Labels: Imagine Weekly
Review: Lies My Girlfriend Told Me by Julie Anne Peters
Lies My Girlfriend
Told Me
Julie Anne Peters
Publication: June 10, 2014
by Little Brown BFYR
When Alix's charismatic girlfriend, Swanee, dies from sudden cardiac arrest, Alix is overcome with despair. As she searches Swanee's room for mementos of their relationship, she finds Swanee's cell phone, pinging with dozens of texts sent from a mysterious contact, L.T. The most recent text reads: "Please tell me what I did. Please, Swan. Te amo. I love you."
Shocked and betrayed, Alix learns that Swanee has been leading a double life—secretly dating a girl named Liana the entire time she's been with Alix. Alix texts Liana from Swanee's phone, pretending to be Swanee in order to gather information before finally meeting face-to-face to break the news.
Brought together by Swanee's lies, Alix and Liana become closer than they'd thought possible. But Alix is still hiding the truth from Liana. Alix knows what it feels like to be lied to—but will coming clean to Liana mean losing her, too?
Lies My Girlfriend Told Me is a likable story with likable characters.
Following the death of their girlfriend Swanee, Alix and Liana discover each other and the double life that Swanee has been living. Both have been emotionally abused by Swanee and have a lot of pent up sadness and anger. As the only ones who understand what the other is going through, they find themselves drawn to each other. Initially, it's hard to connect with them as they alternately withdrawing and lashing out at the world in their grief. Alix especially because she doesn't provide an adequate explanation for why she was so depressed and in denial about Swanee's death.
I also don't see how Alix and Liana could be so drawn to each other in such a short period of time. Okay, I can kind of understand considering my own relationship experiences, but both of them were so very strongly drawn to Swanee—as in they thought they were holding forever. I'd expected more of a mourning period even after finding out that Swanee had been duping them. There isn't a strong development of the whole Swanee angle, which I expected considering how large of a role she played in the girls' lives, but it's okay since the story is mostly one of recovering, forgiveness, and finding new love.
It also feels like the stealing Swanee's phone and texting Liana angle was made out to be a greater deal than it is. Alix doesn't seem to have a reasong for withholding this bit of information from Liana, and Liana seems overly angry about the "prank texts" she received. It also doesn't come up all that often in the story—to the point that I wonder why it's there at all. It's not the only plot thread that's loosely woven in the story. All in all, there's a lot of potential for complexity in this novel, but it just didn't live up to them and ended up being a quick read. (Which isn't entirely bad.)
One of the greatest things about this novel is how it could be about anyone. As other reviewers have pointed out, you could replace any of the girls with someone else, boy or girl, and the story would be the same. While there is mention of the girls' sexuality, it isn't made out to be a huge deal or factor largely into the plot, which I liked. It's important to have books addressing the issues that come with sexuality, but it's also important to have books that accept it as a part of life.
Overall, Lies My Girlfriend Told Me is an interesting, captivating read once I got past the first pages and was able to form a connection with Alix and Liana. I recommend this as a quick contemporary read that addresses some serious topics.
Ask The Passengers by A.S. King
The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle
Kissing, making out, touching
Labels: book review , contemporary , LGBTQ , romance , young adult
Review: The Taking by Kimberly Derting
The Taking
Kimberly Derting
Series: The Taking #1
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Publication: April 29, 2014
by Harper Teen
A flash of white light . . . and then . . . nothing.
When sixteen-year-old Kyra Agnew wakes up behind a Dumpster at the Gas 'n' Sip, she has no memory of how she got there. With a terrible headache and a major case of déjà vu, she heads home only to discover that five years have passed . . . yet she hasn't aged a day.
Everything else about Kyra's old life is different. Her parents are divorced, her boyfriend, Austin, is in college and dating her best friend, and her dad has changed from an uptight neat-freak to a drunken conspiracy theorist who blames her five-year disappearance on little green men.
Confused and lost, Kyra isn't sure how to move forward unless she uncovers the truth. With Austin gone, she turns to Tyler, Austin's annoying kid brother, who is now seventeen and who she has a sudden undeniable attraction to. As Tyler and Kyra retrace her steps from the fateful night of her disappearance, they discover strange phenomena that no one can explain, and they begin to wonder if Kyra's father is not as crazy as he seems. There are others like her who have been taken . . . and returned. Kyra races to find an explanation and reclaim the life she once had, but what if the life she wants back is not her own?
◆ A copy was provided by Harper Collins for review ◆
Sixteen-year-old Kyra Agnew jumps from a car while arguing with her father and disappears in a burst of light. When she wakes up behind a Dumpster at the Gas 'n' Sip, she has no memory of how she gets there. At home, she finds out that five years have passed, and she hasn't aged a day. Her mother is remarried, her boyfriend Austin is in college and dating her best friend, and her father has become a drunken conspiracy theorist who believes that she was abducted by aliens. The only comfort and support she has is in Austin's little brother, Tyler, who has grown up into a very cute 17-year-old boy.
I like Kyra. She handles a difficult situation really well. Upon returning to her family, she discovers that she is younger than all of her friends, who are now in college. It is an especially awkward situation with her and her former boyfriend Austin because she's now younger than him, and he's dating her best friend. On top of it all, she is developing feelings for Austin's kid brother Tyler, who was only twelve years old the last time she saw him. Kyra is confused and lost, and she doesn't know how to move forward unless she uncovers the truth. Overall, she's a likable character, and I could connect with her easily.
Tyler is a sweet addition to the cast of character. The developing friendship between them is so adorable and heartwarming; the romance is very sweet, especially since Tyler finally has a chance to be with the girl he has crushed on for so long. He is completely loyal to Kyra and shows steadfast dedication in staying by her side. He's willing to do anything for her. She is so lucky to have someone like him in her life! He's someone a girl wants to bring back to her family.
The plot is fast paced. There are a lot of thrills and secrets that had me on the edge of my seat. I really like the idea of aliens taking people and altering them as some kind of experiment. That said, I would like to see more explanation on why they are doing what they do to the disappeared. I hope that the second book will provide a more satisfactory answer and further build the world that Kyra finds herself tangled up in.
The Taking is a suspenseful, mysterious, thrilling ride. Derting has provided a promising start for the next book by ending on a high note with conspiracies, underground rebel networks, and spooky government agencies.
Labels: book review , mystery , thriller , young adult
Review: Speechless by Hannah Harrington
Hannah Harrington
Publication: August 28, 2012
by Harlequin Teen
Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret.
Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.
Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.
But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.
◆ A copy was provided by Harlequin for review ◆
Chelsea reminds me of Sam from Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall in that both are characters that are hard to like at first. While she has somewhat of a sense of right and wrong, she's also pretty clueless about the implications of her actions. All she wants is a little fun. But then her idea of fun sets in motion events that send a boy to the hospital, and she takes a vow of silence, believing that no good can come out of her words. Her story that follows is one of self-discovery, love, and forgiveness.
Though Chelsea can be pretty insensitive, she's well-meaning at heart and a likable character. As much as she cares about some shallow things, she's willing to make sacrifices to do what her heart tells her is the right thing to do, and she proves capable of learning from her mistakes. That isn't to say that she has strong conviction. The whole reason that she takes the vow of silence is because she doesn't trust herself to say the right things. This made her all the more endearing and realistic. As much as I love a strong, independent female character, I also love the ones that need encouragement and support to move forward.
The side characters were equally quirky and endearing. I love the cast the work at the diner. They're a bunch of fun characters that I would love to be friends with. They're down to earth and not afraid to call people out on their b***s***. (Yeah, there's some language flying around here, but not THAT much.) I don't want to start naming all the individual characters because that would be another review on its own; just know they're awesome, and I wish they had more screen time. If I have (and am) to give a special callout to someone though, it has to be Sam. I love me a dorky, imperfectly cute boy, and the scenes between him and Chelsea are so, so cute and giggle worthy. They had me smiling, in my happy place. They are beautiful and precious.
I especially love how, while the book tackles some deep issues, it does so with fun and humor. It fits in with Chelsea's personality and make the book a quick, easy read. I also love how Chelsea is close with her parents. While she does sneak around a little, her parents are a constant presence, and it is obvious that her family is close-knit despite the problems they encounter. The only complaint I really have about the story is that the narration jumps around a little and doesn't really explain how some things come to be or does so later in the story, such as Sam deciding to befriend Chelsea. Something or someone would be mentioned here, and then it will pop up again later. Plot threads and characters weren't developed all that much, though not to the point that it's unbearable.
Overall, Speechless is another powerful contemporary story from Hannah Harrington. While there are some problems with the writing, the message comes across, and I very much enjoyed the light style of writing. This is certainly a book that I will be recommending.
Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe by Shelley Coriel
Kissing, making out
Drinking, weed
Boy in room overnight
Labels: book review , contemporary , young adult
Review: Circle of Desire by Keri Arthur
Circle of Desire
by Keri Arthur
Series: Damask Circle #3
Publication: April 1, 2014
by Dell
A TEMPTING FATE
Two children have been found dead, their souls torn from their bodies. Two more are missing, and Ethan Morgan's niece is one of them. A dedicated cop, Ethan has every intention not only of bringing her back alive but of catching the monster behind these kidnappings. And he will use anyone and everyone to achieve those aims—even a crazy woman who claims to be a witch. But time is ticking. The victims rarely stay alive for more than seven days. Four of those days have already passed.
In ten years of working for the Damask Circle, shapeshifter Katherine Tanner has never come across anything that goes after kids the way this monster does. The last thing Kat needs is interference from a cop who has no idea what he's up against. But the greatest threat to Kat may come not from the forces of darkness, but from the man she is beginning to love. Because Ethan is a werewolf... and the full moon is rising.
Circle of Desire is a quick easy read. I picked this up while I was at the airport on a stopover and in need of some light reading. While the beginning wasn't as enthralling as the previous books in the series, the book gradually captivated me and magically glued my eyes to my Kindle.
The romance dominated the foreground in Circle of Desire, more so than I remember from the earlier books. In fact, Kat and Ethan's meetings often lead into steamy scenes narrated in excrutiating details that cross into erotica. While the romance focus caused the last book to fall flat for me, somehow it worked in this book. Maybe it's because I had more accurate expectations for the book or maybe the chemistry between Kat and Ethan really worked for me. Or maybe this book didn't try to compromise the action and the romance and instead focused on the budding relationship between the two shifters.
At the same time, the details do fall flat in other areas. Though Kat and Ethan are shown to feel each other's emotions, the story doesn't really get around to explaining the empathy shifters feel in their relationships, and information on the Damask Circle and its greater operations has also been withheld from us. Furthermore, the crime portions of the novel were lacking. While the crime scenes are described in gruesome detail, I never did feel afraid for the kidnapped children or their would-be saviors. The big bad guy just never felt as dangerous as everyone keeps saying she is. As nice as the romance is in the book, it would have been nice to see more action.
This is a great read for those looking for a steamy paranormal romance with some crime and action mixed in. If you're looking for a larger crime focus, then I'd recommend something like Hannah Jayne's Underworld Detection Agency series.
Circle of Fire
Under Wraps by Hannah Jayne
Makeout scenes
Explicit sex scenes
Labels: book review , romance , urban fantasy
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text:
Ali Akacha, né le , est un handballeur international algérien.

Biographie

Palmarès de joueur

Clubs
 Vainqueur du championnat d'Algérie (4) : 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980
 Vainqueur de la Coupe d'Algérie (4) : 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981

 Finaliste de la Ligue des champions d'Afrique : 1980

Sélection nationale
Jeux olympiques
  aux Jeux olympiques de 1980 à Moscou
Championnats du monde
  au championnat du monde 1974
Championnats d'Afrique
 Finaliste du Championnat d'Afrique 1976
 Troisième du Championnat d'Afrique 1979
Jeux africains
 Médaille d'or aux Jeux africains de 1978
Jeux méditerranéens
 Troisième aux Jeux méditerranéens de 1975
  aux Jeux méditerranéens de 1979

Notes et références

Liens externes

Handballeur international algérien
Handballeur aux Jeux olympiques d'été de 1980
Naissance en janvier 1954
Naissance en Algérie

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


We'll see you at Flames!
The NEW Flames Seafood Stacks!
The Amazing Flames Cobb Salad!
Ahi Tuna, or Mahi Mahi & Tuna Ceviche.
Choose from Grilled Shrimp, Grilled Shrimp and Lobster, or Grilled Chicken!
Flames Seafood StacksChoose from Lobster, Shrimp, Shrimp & Lobster, Lump Crab, or Mahi Mahi & Tuna Ceviche.
Flames Cobb SaladChoose from Grilled Shrimp, Grilled Shrimp & Lobster, or Grilled Chicken.
Flames CalamariHand breaded and fried to perfection, with zesty marinara.
AlligatorFresh Louisiana fried alligator served with house remoulade.
Flames Crab CakesMade-from-scratch and full of delicious Lump Crab, with an irresistible house-made lemon caper sauce.
Mexican Shrimp Cocktail(6)Large chilled shrimp served with chunky cocktail sauce filled with tomatoes, onions, cilantro & avocado.
Flames Coconut ShrimpCustomer favorite! Tossed in sweet shredded coconut & fried to a crisp, sweet tangy dipping sauce.
Scallops Ala PestoFresh seared scallops served with house-made creamy pesto sauce and seasoned rice.
Flames Cajun Wings(8) Wings served with your choice of Ranch or Blue cheese and Celery.
Seafood SamplerHand breaded fried shrimp, made-from-scratch crab cake topped with house Chipotle Remoulade sauce, hand breaded calamari & zesty marinara.
Fried PicklesHand breaded and delicious, served with ranch.
Fried JalapenosMade fresh in house. Served with ranch.
Onion RingsHand breaded and fried to a golden crisp.
Oysters RockefellerA customer favorite, fresh Gulf oysters baked with bacon, spinach and parmesan cheese.
Gulf Coast OystersCold, delicious Gulf Oysters served with a horseradish cocktail sauce.
Blue Point Oysters(When available) From the cold waters of the Northeast.
Caesar SaladChilled crisp Romaine lettuce tossed with delicious Caesar Dressing, shaved parmesan cheese and croutons.
Flames SaladSpring mix of fresh greens, black olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, dried cranberries, crumbled feta, croutons and your choice of dressing.
Greek SaladFresh greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, Kalamata Olives, feta cheese.
House SaladChilled crisp greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, croutons.
Seafood GumboFlames version of this classic, full of yummy seafood served with fresh baked rolls.
Seafood ChowderCreamy soup full of delicious seafood served with fresh baked rolls.
Lobster BisqueOh my goodness, you don't want to miss this velvety lobster bisque served with fresh baked rolls.
All entrees served with your choice of two sides & fresh baked rolls.
Shrimp & GritsChargrilled Wild Caught Texas Gulf Shrimp and Andouille Sausage on Jalapeno Cheese Grits with a Basil Garlic Scampi sauce.
Flames Seafood Jumble4oz Lobster tail, 1 lb of Snow Crab Legs, 1 lb of peel and eat shrimp, Andouille Sausage, potatoes and corn. Served with a side salad.
Grilled or Blackened SalmonDelicious Atlantic Salmon grilled to perfection with (2) grilled shrimp.
Cajun Salmon & Shrimp New OrleansDelicious Atlantic Salmon and large plump shrimp grilled and served with a house made Crawfish cream sauce.
Crab Stuffed SalmonBlackened then stuffed with delicious crab meat, & topped with a creamy white wine sauce.
Tilapia LafayetteTilapia served "Lafayette Style" with crab meat, finely chopped shrimp, tomatoes, capers, and fresh basil in a delicious garlic white wine sauce. A customer favorite!
Mahi Mahi A La PestoPanko crusted Mahi Mahi topped with a house made creamy Pesto sauce.
Crab Stuffed FlounderA customer favorite, blackened flounder stuffed with crab meat, & topped with our own Smoked Jalapeno Cream sauce.
Blackened Rainbow TroutFresh Rainbow Trout topped with a delicious garlic lemon sauce.
Jalapeno CatfishFilet of fresh catfish topped with our own "Flames" smoked Jalapeno sauce.
Blackened Cod & Shrimp ScarparaDelicious fresh cod blackened and served alongside grilled shrimp, and topped with a delicious sauce of garlic, tomatoes, fresh basil.
Flames Crawfish & Shrimp EtoufeeA customer favorite, you'll love the Flames version of this classic so much you'll say, "Aiiiieeeee!" Served with dirty rice, as well as two sides.
Bacon Wrapped Shrimp(7)Large juicy shrimp wrapped in bacon and fried to a crisp, served with your choice of ranch or barbecue sauce.
Stuffed Redfish & Shrimp AlexanderOne of our most popular dishes, fresh redfish topped with crab meat, complimented by an exquisite Alexander white wine cream sauce with chopped shrimp and a dash of spices. This sauce is delicately sweet with just a dash of sass!
Crab Stuffed Shrimp(6)Large shrimp with a generous amount of crab stuffing.
Shrimp KabobsLarge shrimp are skewered with chunks of vegetables and served with rice.
Shrimp TrioThree bacon wrapped shrimp, three crab stuffed butterflied shrimp, and three fried shrimp.
Cold Water Lobster Tail(7)Served with your choice of two sides.
Snow Crab LegsSteamed to perfection, served with drawn butter and lemon and your choice of two sides.
A nice big filet of Louisiana Catfish, Fried Alligator, large juicy shrimp, Andouille sausage, hush puppies and cole slaw.
Catfish PlatterThe most delicious hand breaded catfish this side of the bayou! Served with hand cut French fries and Cole slaw.
Fish & ChipsGenerous pieces of cod filet hand dipped and fried to a golden crisp, served with tartar sauce and hand cut French fries.
Fried Shrimp & Chicken TendersMade from scratch with large shrimp and chicken breasts. Served with cocktail sauce, hand cut fries and hush puppies.
Chicken TendersHand battered and fried golden and crispy, served with hush puppies and hand cut fries.
Cajun Chicken Fried SteakMade from scratch, fried to a golden brown, served with homemade mashed potatoes, gravy and corn.
Cajun Chicken Fried ChickenHand battered & fried to a golden brown, served with homemade mashed potatoes, gravy and corn.
Fried Shrimp Platter(7) Large plump shrimp fried golden brown, a side of cocktail sauce and hand cut fries.
Fried Oyster PlatterJuicy oysters fried to a crisp, served with house made Cole slaw and hand cut French fries.
Ultimate Seafood PlatterFried catfish, shrimp and oysters, served with hand cut fries, Cole slaw and hush puppies.
Taco TrioBang Bang Shrimp Tacos - Plump grilled shrimp tossed in a house made spicy sweet chili sauce. Slow Smoked Brisket Tacos - Mouthwatering slow smoked brisket. Quite possibly the best brisket in Texas. Fish Tacos - Grilled tilapia, homemade pico de gallo and avocados. Served with seasoned dirty rice.
Served with house salad and fresh baked rolls.
Lobster Mac and CheeseRich 3 cheese Macaroni with generous chunks of lobster claw meat.
Lobster RavioliServed with Flames own delicately sweet and slightly sassy Alexander Cream Sauce.
Shrimp & Scallop A la RusticaLarge shrimp, scallops, sundried tomatoes and mushrooms in a fresh Basil garlic broth served over Linguini pasta.
Our steaks are Certified Angus Beef®. Served with your choice of two sides and fresh baked rolls.
Angus Ribeye16 oz. Angus ribeye grilled to your specifications with choice of two sides.
Filet Mignon8oz filet grilled to your specifications.
Filet Mignon Oscar Style8 oz. filet grilled to your specifications topped with lump crab meat and house made Béarnaise Sauce.
Sirloin Steak10 oz. sirloin grilled to your specifications.
Crab Stuffed ChickenJuicy chicken stuffed with crab meat and topped with our famous Flames Jalapeno Cream Sauce.
Grilled ChickenPlump juicy chicken breast grilled to perfection.
Chicken KabobsTwo skewers of juicy marinated grilled chicken and vegetables, served on seasoned rice.
The Flames ClassicListen. We're not going to waste your time with a wimpy burger, we serve only the best 1/2 lb 100% Angus beef patties. Grilled then topped with cheddar cheese, crispy lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and onions, with a side of hand-cut French fries.
The Flames Cowboy BurgerAs always, 1/2 lb. 100% Angus beef, grilled then topped with cheddar cheese, Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce, a couple slices of bacon, onion straws, lettuce, pickles and tomato on a toasted bun. Served with hand-cut French fries.
The Flames Mushroom Swiss BurgerA customer favorite, 1/2 lb. Angus beef topped with Swiss, sautéed mushrooms on a toasted bun.
The Flames Sweet Fire BurgerIf you crave something different this burger's for you. Grilled 1/2 lb. juicy 100% Angus beef burger, topped with warm bubbling Gouda cheese, candied Jalapeno slices, and blackberry preserves on a toasted jalapeno bun. You might think you've died and gone to heaven. Served with hand-cut French fries.
Santa Fe Chicken SandwichGrilled chicken breast, bacon, grilled bell peppers and onions, topped with Pepper Jack Cheese and a house made Chipotle Mayo on a toasted bun. Served with hand cut French fries.
Flames Famous Po'Boys Shrimp, Oysters or Alligator(add $2)Hand breaded Fried Shrimp, plump Fried Oysters or Alligator, one of our customer favorites. Served with our own house made tartar sauce and hand-cut French fries.
Ages 12 & under. All of our kid's entrees are made from scratch! Nothing comes pre-breaded or pre-frozen. Served with hand-cut French fries.
TeaYour choice of sweet or unsweet tea.
Soft DrinksChoices include Coke, Sprite, Dr. Pepper, Root Beer and Lemonade.
Flames Crawfish EtoufeeA customer favorite, you'll love the Flames version of this classic so much you'll say, "Aiiiieeeee!" Served (of course!) with dirty rice.
Grilled or Blackened SalmonDelicious Atlantic Salmon grilled to perfection, served with fresh steamed broccoli.
Bacon Wrapped ShrimpLarge juicy shrimp wrapped in bacon and served with your choice of ranch or barbecue sauce. Served with our famous Jalapeno Cheese Grits.
Tilapia LafayetteTilapia served "Lafayette Style" with crab meat, chopped shrimp, tomatoes, capers, and fresh basil in a delicious garlic white wine sauce. Served with dirty rice.
Crab Stuffed ShrimpLarge Shrimp with a generous amount of crab stuffing. Served with Flames Jalapeno Cheese Grits.
Salmon New OrleansPerfectly grilled salmon topped with our famous Crawfish Cream Sauce. Delicious! Served with dirty rice.
Catfish BasketWell, it's not really a basket, it's a plate - filled with the most delicious hand breaded catfish this side of the bayou! Served with hand cut French fries.
Shrimp & ChipsLarge hand breaded shrimp fried to a golden brown, served with our hand cut seasoned French fries.
Fish & ChipsHand battered filets of cod fried to a golden crisp, served with homemade tartar sauce and hand cut French fries.
Fried Shrimp & ChickenThe best of both worlds! Hand breaded and fried, served with a side of hand cut French fries.
Crab Stuffed ChickenJuicy chicken stuffed with crab meat and topped with our famous Flames Jalapeno Cream Sauce. Served with your choice of homemade creamy mashed potatoes or our delicious Jalapeno Cheese Grits.
Rosemary Grilled ChickenMarinated chicken served with steamed fresh broccoli.
Chicken KabobsTwo skewers of juice marinated grilled chicken and vegetables, served on seasoned rice.
Port Wine Mushroom SirloinWe grill an 8 oz Sirloin, then top with mushrooms sautéed in a delicious port wine sauce. Served with our made-from-scratch mashed potatoes--or substitute our famous Flames Jalapeno Cheese Grits, we promise the cook won't mind!
Steak & ShrimpGrilled 8 oz Sirloin, served with your choice of fried or grilled shrimp. Don't forget a generous helping of our made-from-scratch mashed potatoes or you can substitute our Flames Jalapeno Cheese Grits.
Taco TrioChoose 3, any combination: Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos - Plump grilled shrimp tossed in a house made sweet chili sauce. Slow Smoked Brisket Tacos - Mouthwatering slow smoked brisket, a little dash of homemade red sauce with a kick, and awesome crumbled white Cotija cheese. So good, you just might shed a tear. Fish Tacos - Grilled tilapia, homemade pico de gallo and avocados. Corn tortillas, served with rice.
Crab Cake SandwichA made-from-scratch jumbo crab cake topped with delicious Remoulade Sauce, crisp lettuce, on a toasted bun. Served with hand cut French fries.
Shrimp, Oysters or Alligator(add $2)Hand breaded Fried Shrimp, plump Fried Oysters or Alligator, one of our customer favorites! Served with our own house made tartar sauce and hand-cut French fries.
Flames Fish SandwichHand battered cod filets fried to a golden crisp, served with homemade tartar sauce, crisp lettuce on a toasted bun and a side of hand-cut French fries.
The Flames Mushroom Swiss BurgerA customer favorite, 1/2 lb Angus beef topped with Swiss, sautéed mushrooms on a toasted bun.


text:
Kockott commits to Castres
Castres - South African kicker Rory Kockott has committed his future to Castres, with the French champions announcing that he had signed a new three-year deal.
The 27-year-old had signed a pre-contract agreement with Toulon but indicated earlier this month that he had changed his mind and wished to stay at Castres.
"It is taken a while to finalise but we needed to be sure all the conditions were met before we came to an agreement that was acceptable for all parties," said Castres manager Matthias Rolland.
Kockott, who joined Castres in June 2011, is now tied to the club until the summer of 2017.
The move means Castres will be obliged to pay Toulon between a reported 300-400,000 euros ($410,000 -- 540,000) in compensation.
Klein Piet - 2014-02-22 15:22
Die Blou Bulle het Rory dringend nodig

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Finance, favors and FISA
by TRNN July 9, 2008 September 23, 2020
by David Hutchins
VOICEOVER: This week, the Senate decided whether corporate telecom firms like AT&T and Verizon should receive retroactive immunity for cooperating with US intelligence agencies to spy on Americans. Forty lawsuits are pending against the telecoms for spying. Retroactive immunity would render most of the suits moot. The plaintiffs allege the Bush administration and telecoms spied on millions of ordinary Americans without a warrant—a violation of the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA. One AT&T whistleblower described in detail how AT&T vacuumed up billions of domestic, Internet, and telephone communications and sent them to the National Security Agency. On the House side, the bill granting retroactive immunity easily passed by a ratio of two to one. Ninety-four House Democrats who reversed their earlier position and in the end voted in favor of immunity got an average of $8,359 from telecom PACs since 2005. Which brings us to the Senate. Barack Obama, who has been under a lot of criticism for doing a 180 and supporting some form of immunity, has received nearly $206,000 in political contributions from the telecom industry so far this year. His rival, John McCain, who also supports immunity, has received $356,000. In total, the telecom industry has given $63 million in political contributions to Republican congressmen and senators since 1990 [and] nearly $49 million to Democrats. Now the final vote is tallied. So keep in mind the money behind the political maneuvering.
SEN. JAY ROCKEFELLER (D-WV), SUPPORTS BLANKET IMMUNITY FOR TELECOM COMPANIES: I would like to say now, with respect to the amendments, I oppose each of them. And I urge that the Senate pass a HR6304 without amendment so that the delicate compromise which serves as best it can to protect national security and privacy and civil liberties.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) received $51,500 from telecom in 2008 so far. Received $102,200 from telecom since 2002.
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), SUPPORTS BLANKET IMMUNITY FOR TELECOM COMPANIES: Just yesterday the White House reiterated its intention to veto any FISA bill that's amended to strip or weaken liability protection for the telecommunications companies. This means that the adoption of any one of these amendments will take down the entire bill. And any law that makes it less likely that these companies will cooperate with us in the future is a law that makes it harder to protect Americans from terrorist attack.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) received $20,050 from telecom in 2008 so far. Received $91,451 from telecom since 2002.
Top 20 senators receiving telecom donations in 2008 and their FISA vote
John McCain (R) $365,955 ABSENT
Hillary Clinton (D-NY) $246,747 Voted AGAINST immunity
Barack Obama (D) $220,789 Voted FOR immunity
Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) $51,500 Voted FOR immunity
Ted Stevens (R-AK) $41,400 Voted FOR immunity
Susan Collins (R-ME) $35,850 Voted FOR immunity
Mark Pryor (D-AR) $32,350 Voted FOR immunity
Max Baucus (D-MT) $28,000 Voted FOR immunity
Gordon H Smith (R-OR) $27,750 Voted FOR immunity
Lindsey Graham (R-SC) $26,700 Voted FOR immunity
Roger Wicker (R-MS) $26,600 Voted FOR immunity
John Sununu (R-NH) $24,600 Voted FOR immunity
Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) $21,800 Voted AGAINST immunity
Dick Durbin (D-IL) $20,850 Voted AGAINST immunity
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) $20,250 Voted FOR immunity
Byron Dorgan L (D-ND) $20,250 Voted AGAINST immunity
Mary Landrieu (D-LA) $15,750 Voted FOR immunity
John Cornyn (R-TX) $15,250 Voted FOR immunity
Pat Roberts (R-KS) $14,250 Voted FOR immunity
Sam Brownback, Sam (R-KS) $14,200 Voted FOR immunity
Source: MapLight.org, U.S. Congress
Congress grants immunity to telecoms for illegally eavesdropping on Americans


RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell announced today the launch of the Commonwealth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Measurement System (IEMS), a web-based portal that uses key metrics and outcomes to track the performance of Virginia's innovation economy.
· Talent Pipeline – the degree to which the educational system is developing the skills needed to support entrepreneurism and innovation in the Commonwealth.
· Research and Development – the level of targeted innovation taking place through research and development activity occurring in the Commonwealth.
· Access to Capital – the amount of public and private funding deployed to support company formation and taking new ideas to the marketplace.
· Commercialization – the level of university-based technology licensing and company formation in Virginia.
· Business Dynamics – tracking outcomes and other elements of an innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
A final category, Outputs, measures the economic impact of innovation and entrepreneurship in Virginia's economy, especially as they affect employment and wages in key industries.
Data feeding the IEMS come from federal, state and private sources, with economic performance indicators identified by CIT, the Council on Virginia's Future, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce's Blueprint Virginia and other sources.
Governor McDonnell thanked Senator Bryce Reeves and Delegate Charles Poindexter for sponsoring legislation in the 2013 session that led to the creation of the IEMS.
The IEMS portal can be found HERE.
Governor McDonnell to Host Statewide Transportation Conference "Road to the Future"