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Urban Fantasy
The House of Teeth by Dan Jolley
If you're looking for a powerful new urban fantasy, you'll want to sink your teeth into this new book by Dan Jolley. There is magic in the Louisiana Bayou and Henry Lemarchand is about to find out that his family is right in the middle of it—waging a centuries-old struggle between good and evil. This book has it all—a great back story, a cool magic system (actually two cool magic systems), and a great plot as Henry and his cousin seek to find out how his father really died. In doing so, they may just have to save the world from an ancient evil.
I had a lot fun with this novel. It's targeted at young adults and centered around two teenagers. They make a lot of mistakes—technically dumb mistakes but we're talking about teenagers and so acting on emotion without a lot of thinking through the situation felt very right. My only real problem with the story was the supervillain moment in which the big bad guy revealed his nefarious plan. As one would expect at this moment, the villain thought he was impossible to stop, but, fortunately for the good guys, he wasn't.
The Hammer Commission by Jan Van Stry
This was one of Van Stry's more convincing novels. Set in a world very much like our own, this is the story of an agent of The Hammer Commission—a centuries old department of the Catholic Church dedicated to protecting the world from demons, devils and other evil creatures. Unfortunately, someone (or something) is taking out the field agents of the Commission and that means our hero is a marked man. It doesn't help that he and his boss don't get along and that the distrust between them gets him shut out of the investigation.
There's a lot to like about this story. I enjoyed the worldbuilding and would like to see more about how the supernatural elements of this world work. A few of the characters (such as the King of Las Vegas) were particularly intriguing. In addition there are a few nicely sprung surprises which kept the story very interesting. On the other hand, I knew who the big bad guy was the first time I met him and I don't think Stryvant intended me to identify him quite that quickly.
The single best part of the novel is the ending. This was well set up and I found it extremely satisfying. I'm looking forward to reading more books in this series.
The Black House by Blodwedd Mallory
Haunted houses are so much more interesting when magic and ghosts are real. In The Black House, Mallory and a fellow student at the Innsmouth Academy are dared to explore a haunted house and Mallory finds a lot more than she expected.
This short story is a treat for two different reasons. First, there is a good mystery surrounding why the house is haunted and it, alone, was enough to keep me turning pages to find out what was going to happen. But it's also an excellent prequel story to Mallory's already published adventures. Prequels are hard to pull off—the characters have to be true to the people they will become over the course of the series, but they are less capable and less experienced. In this case Mallory handles both aspects extremely well. If you're interested in trying this series, The Black House is a great place to start.
I received this story for free in exchange for an honest review.
Chasing Shadows by Jamel Cato
Chasing Shadows may well be the most vibrant paranormal mysteries I've ever read. There are no vampires or werewolves in this well drawn urban fantasy, but there are plenty of ghosts, spirits and extra dimensional beings. This novel caught me from chapter one and just didn't let go again until I'd reached the end.
In addition to a rich backdrop of ghosts, etc., there is a fascinating mystery (or three) that powers this novel as our hero tries to track down why a home is being haunted by an extremely large number of other worldly beings. The answer to that quickly becomes even more complicated involving an environmental tech company trying to save the world from carbon fuels, a failing marriage, and a possible otherworldly invasion.
As you can see from the above paragraph, this book is hard to pin down. Every time I thought I knew what was going on the author threw me for another fascinating loop. If you're looking for a new type of urban fantasy and love ghosts, you should take a look at Chasing Shadows.
I received this story for free from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
Immortal Creatures by J.N. Moon
I decided to read this book because I find the wendigo—the mythical Canadian monster created when a person eats human flesh—to be a fascinating and rarely used supernatural creature and I wanted to see what Moon would do with it. I also thought the idea of an EMT brought into the knowledge that supernatural creatures exist had great potential as a vehicle for propelling a story forward. So when the novel opens with the heroin Eloise killing a banshee, I thought things were off to a very good start.
Eloise was bitten while making a call. (I was never clear about what bit her.) Somehow this bite activates within her the ability to see the supernatural and kindles within her a fierce need to destroy the predators among the supernatural community—sort of. She quickly makes an exception for her one supernatural friend (a vampire) and convinces her to help her friend destroy the wendigo because it is preying primarily on vampires. Frankly, this never made a lot of sense to me, as vampires prey on humans and stopping that seems to be a major motivating force for Eloise, but to be fair to her, events quickly get complicated as they try to stop the wendigo and the force behind it.
As the springboard for a series, Immortal Creatures has a lot to offer—vampires, witches, demons, and tons of supernatural creatures. It will be interesting to see where J.N. Moon goes with it.
I received this book free from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
The HighFire Crown by J.T. Lawrence and M.J. Kraus
There's a lot to like about this new series by Lawrence and Kraus. Jacqueline Knight is a hard driving wizard detective whose magic is driven by her emotions. This simple statement really helps the credibility of the story, because in most adventures, even though our heroes are exhausted, they somehow manage to find the strength to keep going. Strong emotions like anger, hate and fear often grow worse as the hero is run down and this made Knight suddenly finding the strength to keep fighting really believable.
There is also a nice mixture of modern world and hidden magical world. The idea is not original, but the world building worked for me here and kept up my interest in learning about Knight's realm.
The mystery was also a good one. Lots of things happening. Many of them end up being related—no surprise there—but how they become related kept my interest building throughout the story.
I do have a couple of very minor complaints. One is that we keep getting told that Knight is the best wizard detective around. She clearly has a superb reputation. And yet she's two months behind on her rent and I found those two things didn't quite go together. Maybe if only poor people thought she was good, but everyone knows who she is and wants her to work on cases for them. In addition, and this is a bit unfair of me, there is a big unresolved problem at the end which is clearly intended to drive the next book in the series. When I read a book that acts like a detective story, I expect the mystery resolved even if the bigger problems continue into the next novel. Obviously the authors disagreed with me here. Which is their right. It's their story and despite these small complaints it's a good one.
I received this book from Audiobook Boom in exchange for an honest review.
Detroit Christmas by Larry Correia
I enjoyed Correia's Grimnoir Chronicles quite a bit. It's the sort of trilogy I plan to reread someday. So it was a pleasant surprise to discover this short story set in the same universe and the fact that it was fully dramatized just added to the treat. Unfortunately, unlike the original trilogy, this short story felt almost like a satire of the noir atmosphere of the first three books. The dialogue was often corny, and there are no real surprises in the tale. If you've read a few hardboiled detective novels that you won't be the slightest bit surprised about who the ultimate villain really is.
The saving grace of the story was the dramatization. I really like it when an audiobook is brought to life more fully than a narrator simply reading the tale. This was good enough that I may listen to it again next Christmas.
Accidental Witch by Gemma Perfect
This short novel is the first book in a new series. It has a lot of potential—a feisty cast of teenagers and a highly dangerous political situation which promises to make future books even more interesting. There is a lot of action and once Elsie becomes the head witch, the plot moves very rapidly. The greatest strength of the novel is the interactions of the teens—they're rarely nice to each other which was unpleasant but credible. Their parents were not particularly impressive—a mess of prejudices in addition to amazing shortsightedness—but again that was quite believable. My biggest complaint with the story was that we do not actually see much of the other races in action—i.e. using their powers. Hopefully this will be addressed in future books in the series.
I received this book from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
The Man from Rome by Dylan James Quarles
This is a novel about deep and abiding hate. The kind of hate that only grows over time and finds no price too great if it holds the promise of vengeance. It is perhaps ironic that the triggering incident of this raging animosity was a very small act of rejection.
In the ancient past, before the humble beginnings of the city of Rome, two immortals met. The first (the goddess, Diana) attempted to seduce the other (he who will become the Man from Rome) who drove her away with the warning that she and her kind (i.e. the other gods) should stay away from what will become Rome. Instead of listening, Diana decides to destroy the man who threatened her instead. Some three thousand or more years later, she is still trying. But this time she has a particularly insidious plan…
This whole book felt like a spy-thriller to me, but one with supernatural characters at least two of whom are close to immortal. The cast is wonderful. The Man from Rome himself is properly enigmatic and occasionally extraordinarily frightening. His enemies are intriguing as well, and the weapon they have chosen to use on him—taken out of the pages of mythology—was absolutely fascinating. The humans drawn into the conflict are both extremely sympathetic as they seek to be something more than sacrificial pawns. The plot was extremely well thought out, the action pulse-pounding, and the mystery intriguing. And while I knew very little about the geography of the city of Rome before I started reading, the author succeeded in making me feel transported to that ancient city. If you're looking for a fast-paced adventure with a lot of twists and turns, I think you'll enjoy The Man from Rome.
I received this book from Audiobook Boom in exchange for an honest review.
District Witch 1976 by Mel Enderby
I enjoy a good urban fantasy and am especially attracted to excellent world building. This novel caught me early on when it was revealed that Winston Churchill, as a matter of national security for the British Empire, made a secret treaty with the witches of England to protect their human neighbors from supernatural dangers. Thus was born the office of district witch—individuals called in by those few members of law enforcement who are in the know—to protect England by quietly neutralizing supernatural problems.
District Witch 1976 follows two young district witch apprentices who are in competition to become a district witch one day. Both of them have problems. One lost her sister to fell magic and remains very bitter about it, making her somewhat difficult to like even if she is in many ways a sympathetic character. The other was hidden among the humans for reasons that begin to become apparent as the novel progresses. He finds out during the course of the novel that he is a witch and begins to develop his powers very rapidly.
Many (if not most) magic powers appear to come from arrangements with beings from the other side and the boy, Tom's, magical companion is so powerful it worries everyone—except Tom who really doesn't know enough to know if he should be worried. The leaders of the witches want Tom watched as they attempt to determine if he will prove to be a danger to them and England.
The novel offers a couple of interesting cases that the two apprentices and their district witch investigate together and lays the groundwork for a sequel. There are moments that are quite exciting, but there were also moments that I wished the pacing of the story would pick up considerably. Overall, I enjoyed the book and am glad I read it. If you like magical systems and the idea of supernatural beings secretly moving about in our world, you're likely to enjoy this novel.
I received this book free from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
Poseidon's Children by Michael West
This excellent novel by Michael West strikes me as a reinterpretation of Lovecraft's classic Dunwich Horror with a little legacy of Atlantis thrown in for good measure. The first portion of the book is a half-mystery as West introduces a cast loosely connected by their ties to organized-crime boss, Roger Hays. As the remains of Atlantis are discovered in the Atlantic Ocean, half-man/half-fish creatures begin to haunt the waters off the small east coast tourist trap of Colonial Bay. The reader knows there are monsters, but the characters in the novel do not. That's why I refer to the plot as a "half-mystery"—the reader knows a lot of what is going on and watches as the various protagonists start to uncover the horrifying truth. By the end of the first part of the novel, the whole cast is converging on Colonial Bay for a variety of reasons. They are about to discover a more literal definition of the term "tourist trap" than the one we generally mean.
The second and third parts of Poseidon's Children watches the various protagonists from Part I arrive at Colonial Bay and learn there are a nightmare's worth of mythical creatures hidden under the surface. The tension just keeps ratcheting higher with each successive chapter. There's a lot of good action here, but I found the politics within the community of "monsters" even more fascinating. On the one hand, we find the fanatics who are ready to announce their presence to the world by eating a lot of people. On the other hand, you have more pragmatic creatures who recognize that the humans who defeated them millennia ago are now far more numerous and have much deadlier weapons. Yet recognizing that this nest of creatures probably doesn't spell the end of humanity all by itself doesn't make the danger to the humans in the area any less severe. People die in this series and West keeps you guessing as to who will die next.
I enjoyed two of the organized crime-types (Horror Show and Roger Hays) more than the technical good guys in the story. I think that's because when you're dealing with human-eating monsters, people who are tough enough to fight back look good no matter what their other drawbacks. I enjoyed the fight scenes and the conclusion of the story quite a bit, but it's the epilogue that truly got me excited for the sequel. I'm definitely planning to read West's next book.
Dead in the Water by Blodwedd Mallory
In the third novel of the series, Mallory returns to Solomon Island to try and resolve the zombie situation which has lingered from the first book. She's a full Templar now and acts with a bit more confidence than she did in the previous two stories as she and a growing cast of secret-society types investigate the cause of the zombie infestation and discover connections to a much larger problem.
Like the other books in the series, this one is fast moving and fun, but there were a couple of minor points that didn't make a lot of sense to me. For example, the Templars sent Mallory into action without any type of briefing on the monster they already knew to be there—the zombies. While it's been made quite clear that the resources of the Templars are overstretched, is it really plausible that Mallory's superiors would not provide her with such basic information as zombies are attracted to loud noises? I think the problem comes from the game roots of the series. Some of the dialogue comes across as an NPC giving a mission to a player. The lack of training has the same feel to it.
These small problems aside, this is a worthy sequel to the first two novels
and it builds to an intensely exciting, action-packed conclusion. I look
forward to reading the next one.
London Underground by Blodwedd Mallory
Mallory comes out swinging in this second volume of her Legend of the Secret World series. Our heroine, Bloodwedd, has graduated high school and is finally going to get her chance to join the Templars. Unfortunately, every senior Templar she meets seems to have a serious stick stuck up their rectum and they do not appreciate her willingness to jump in and tackle any problem she sees. They also don't appear to properly appreciate her intuitive grasp of the many sticky situations she finds herself in which leads her to solutions that have evaded her more experienced superiors. In short, most of the Templars come off as being married to their bureaucracy in a way designed to stifle innovation and irritate the reader. The cold shoulder Blodwedd receives from so many in authority probably explains why she doesn't tell them about the most interesting thing happening to her—a series of much too life-like dreams.
These dreams are by far the best part of a very enjoyable novel. In the dreams, Blodwedd finds herself in Japan in the body of another woman fighting a supernatural threat known as the Filth. In her waking life, it quickly becomes clear that Japan is involved in some sort of mega crisis. The only disappointing thing about this novel was that we don't have resolution on this storyline yet. Bad things are happening and it feels like it could easily spiral into a zombie-apocalypse level disaster (not that the Filth is composed of zombies).
I'm eagerly awaiting the next book in this series. Despite my comments
above, some of the rank and file Templars are turning into great supporting
cast characters and I'm eager to see what Mallory plans to do with all of them.
To Sir, with Love by Blodwedd Mallory
This novel is a lot of fun. It's an urban fantasy setting told from the perspective of a young woman who was about to graduate from her magical high school when the apocalypse happened. That makes it sound like the secret of magic is now out in the world, but frankly, I'm not certain that's the case. There is a lot of talk of secret societies such as the Templars and the Illuminati and I doubt that they would need to be secret if everyone knew about the supernatural.
That confusion aside, this is a fast-moving book about a young woman and her best friend who have to stop a wraith from killing the headmaster of their school. Complicating that significant problem are several hundred familiars that have been raised from their graves in the basement by the onset of the apocalypse and want nothing more than to kill everyone remaining in the school. It's a tough situation for two teenagers to be in and Mallory handles it with a lot of skill.
As the efforts to stop the wraith become increasingly sophisticated, we learn a lot about how magic works in this world. I found the chaos-aspected magic the most interesting, especially the ability to step out of time and look at different outcomes that can flow from the caster's magic—none of which seem to work out exactly as hoped.
I enjoyed this book enough that halfway through I bought the sequel
novel, London Underground. In the afterward at the end of the book, I learned
the story was based on a game system. That makes sense after the fact, but the
book stood on its own and you don't have to know anything about the game to
enjoy it.
Monster Hunter Memoirs: Saints by John Ringo and Larry CorreiaAfter looking forward to this novel for a year, I almost didn't read it because it quickly became apparent that this great subseries of Correia's Monster Hunter books was the last about Chad Gardenier. You can't help but love Chad and the thought that this was his last adventure was heartbreaking (not surprising, but it's set in the past and we all knew when Chad is going to die from the beginning, but heartbreaking none the less). So I read it with a heavy heart and loved every page. I loved it so much I had to resist the urge to put it down and pick up the first two books in the trilogy to reread them and make certain I was totally up on what was happening. Not one page was disappointing. It's a fabulous combination of hard action and genuine world building that (thanks to Correia) fits seamlessly with the main series. And then, as a reward for my loyal reading, the novel ends with a ray of hope—not for Chad—that I'm praying means Ringo will be teaming up with Correia to give us a new little sub series like this one. I hope they are both reading this and remember that it's okay to tease as long as they come through with the new stories.
Monster Hunter Siege by Larry Correia
I am somewhat surprised to learn that this is the first novel I've reviewed by Larry Correia. I've read and thoroughly enjoyed all the books in the Monster Hunter Series plus his Grimnoir Chronicle and I'd be happy to try anything else he's written. Aside from interesting characters and hard-biting action, Correia has that gift of presenting something you think you know all about in a different, fascinating, and often hilarious way. So he has nasty old-world trolls who love the internet and surf it better than anyone. He's got a geek cyclops. His gnomes are all gangsta and well you get the picture. Correia's books are just fun!
The Monster Hunter Series is a refreshing take on the rather well-worn idea that creatures of myth and legend really do exist in our world. The Monster Hunters are private contractors who risk their lives (for a good payday) to eliminate the monsters when they appear. The governments of the world often seem more interested in covering up the existence of the monsters than in actually winning the war against them.
This latest volume chronicles the effort to take
the fight to a near-godly-powered entity instead of waiting for him to make his
next bid to bring about the apocalypse. While it's the weakest of the Monster
Hunter books so far, most of the time I was reading it I greatly resented any
interruption that made me put it down. The stakes are huge and getting even
larger, and the cliff-hanger at the end which sets up the next novel is
terribly painful. This is a series you really ought to give a try.
Cat Tales by Faith Hunter
Cat Tales by Faith Hunter is a collection of short stories from the Jane Yellowrock universe. The Yellowrock novels compose one of the best urban fantasy vampire series on the market today. As anyone who reads this genre knows, most of these series focus on the supernatural rivalries between various groups of preternatural beings (vampires, weres, etc.) and are often seen from the POV of a protagonist drawn into their world from the outside. That's true in the Yellowrock novels as well. But what puts this series above the pack is the dual-souled nature of our heroine, Jane Yellowrock, a Cherokee skinwalker who has the spirit of a mountain lion (called Beast) sharing her body. Jane is a solid character with well-thought out powers, but it is Beast and her simple predator instincts and wisdom which makes Jane super cool. This series should be read by everyone who enjoys an action filled book about the supernatural.
The first story, "The Early Years," isn't really a short story. It's the unfinished lead in to what probably should have been a novella. It's still a must read for any fan of the series as it offers a glimpse at Jane's time in the orphanage and shows her rediscovery of her powers. But be forewarned, it will definitely leave you wondering what happened to the rest of the tale.
"Cat Tats" is a complete story, fleshing out the background of Rick LaFleur, one of the awesome support cast in Jane's world. Rick has some elaborate cat-themed tattoos on his body and this story shows how and why he got them. Without spoiling the story, I think I can safely say that no one would want to get their tattoos this way.
"Kits" explores how Jane became best friends with earth witch Molly Everhart. It's the best story in the batch and certainly isn't hurt by providing a vital role for my favorite character, Beast. There are a lot of threads seamlessly woven together in this story and if you've never read any of the Jane Yellowrock books, this little story will draw you in and whet your appetite for more.
"Blood, Fangs and Going Fury," is a treat for fans of the series who would like a gap between two of the novels filled in for them. In Mercy Blade things go badly wrong for Rick LaFleur with the promise of more pain and torment for him after the novel ends. This story shows just how terrible his life has become. Even better, it is simply beautifully written. Faith Hunter's poetic descriptions bring the reality of Rick's newly heightened senses to life. They are a true pleasure to read.
Ms. Hunter is at her best writing full length novels but this collection of stories is well worth the money.
Have Stakes Will Travel by Faith Hunter
In Have Stakes Will Travel, Faith Hunter fills in more of the background of Jane Yellowrock and her strange group of friends. I've already praised the series at some length in my review of Cat Tales so instead of repeating myself here, I'm going to jump right into my reactions to the four short stories in this collection.
WeSa and the Lumber King: As I noted in an earlier review, I am a big fan of the character Beast. This spirit of a mountain lion trapped with Jane in her body is a lot of what gives this series it's unique tone, bringing me eagerly back to each successive novel. So I was thrilled to find that this entire story is told from Beast's perspective. For an indeterminate number of years (running in the decades) before Jane wandered out of the woods back into human society as a feral child, Beast was in control of their body prowling the Appalachian Mountains in big cat form. Their range is slowly being destroyed by the encroaching white man. Game is fleeing, trees are being cut down, rivers clogged and fouled. Beast decides to strike back at the white man in peculiarly Beast fashion. The story didn't quite work for me, but I enjoyed Hunter's attempt.
Haints: Haints is a short story that captures the excitement and mystery of the Jane Yellowrock novels. It's a simply wonderful tale told from the POV of Molly Everhart Trueblood, an earth witch who is also Jane's best friend. The reader gets to try and solve the mystery alongside Jane and Molly and watch as our heroines deal with an intriguing problem and finally it's tragic resolution. The story also introduces a great new supporting character, a local police detective named Brax.
Signatures of the Dead: This story is in my view the most important of the short stories in the two collections (Cat Tales and Have Stakes Will Travel). This is the event alluded to from the beginning of the series in which Jane makes her reputation as a Vampire Hunter. It's a gritty frightening tale of insane rogue vampires praying on a community and it strikes close to home when Molly's pregnant sister is captured by the creatures. Like Haints, this story reads with all the depth and color of Hunter's novels. It's exceedingly well done.
Cajun with Fangs: This story also reads like one of Ms. Hunter's novels. Jane's motorcycle breaks down in a small bayou town and Jane gets pulled into a centuries old feud between witches and vampires. It's intense with satisfying twists and turns. Jane is required to be both tough and very intelligent. The only problem with the story is that one of the locals speaks in dialect and it gets very trying. The "dialect" issue is often an unwinnable problem for authors. People do speak differently. If you pretend that they don't your stories lack an important element of authenticity. If you show the dialect, it can distract from the tale. On reflection, Ms. Hunter walks the line between these problems very well.
Have Stakes Will
Travel is a much stronger collection of stories than is
found in Cat Tales. Both are worth
your money.
Lucius Fogg 1 Deadly Creatures by Dan Wickline
Dan Wickline's urban fantasy series is built upon the Nero Wolfe model established by Rex Stout. Lucius Fogg is a master sorcerer—perhaps the greatest alive in post World War II New York City—but he has one significant restraint on his power. If he takes even one step outside of his home, he will die. To get around this difficulty, he employs private detective Jimmy Doyle to do his legwork for him as he investigates supernatural phenomenon that catch his interest.
Jimmy Doyle is a World War II vet who took a bullet to the head and spent three months in a coma. He only woke up because Fogg sent a magical pendant to him which a nurse hung around his neck. Now he has a metal plate in his head (more on this later) together with a strong sense of justice. He's also got a lot of attitude that makes you wonder why he doesn't get slugged more by the men he provokes.
The final piece of background that is critical to understanding this series is that most Americans do not believe in the supernatural even though quite a few of those creatures live among them.
The novel opens with a peculiar instance of a man following Doyle, wanting Lucius Fogg's help, but panicking and running before Doyle can find out what he wants. He darts into the street and gets hit by a van seemingly closing the strange encounter. A few days later, women start to die in a peculiar fashion and a police detective who has reluctantly come to know that the supernatural is real, asks Fogg for his help. That mystery takes up half the novel and is thoroughly enjoyable, pulling all the early threads together. In resolving the case we get introduced to the supernatural world. But in closing the case, questions Fogg does not want to pursue get opened and Doyle's sense of justice leads him to quit Fogg's employ so he can pursue justice on his own.
This is where things get very interesting. We learn that the relative peace that New York City enjoys was built upon a compact by Fogg, the chief vampire and werewolf of New York, and a famous hunter who had been trying to kill off all the supernatural creatures in the city. This compact kept NYC from breaking out into total war at the price of Old Town (about thirty blocks of the city) being turned over to the supernaturals. New Yorkers believe this is an area of such tremendous crime that not even the police go there, but those in the know understand the truth. Now, the compact appears to be in violation as werewolves are being seen killing people outside of Old Town.
The resolution of this mystery is very exciting, but there are some problems with it which I'm going to discuss next. So be forewarned, SPOILERS are ahead.
The compact was made necessary by the tremendous immigration of supernaturals to New York City from elsewhere—especially Europe. All werewolves and vampires in the city came to Old Town when Fogg cast the spell that formed the compact—basically limiting those creatures (and their progeny) to Old Town. This ignores the fact that it is immigration which was helping to cause the problem and presumably would continue after the compact was made. New immigrants would not be bound by the compact but apparently this never occurs to anyone. It's especially troubling that no one even considers this possibility when they start finding new werewolves operating in the city. This is a serious flaw in the plot.
It also appears that new vampires and werewolves have been creates since the compact but this would seem to be impossible under the terms of the compact. Maybe I'm incorrect about this, but it struck me as a significant inconsistency.
The next complaint may be unfair, but the reader is constantly reminded that Jimmy Doyle has a metal plate in his head. Unfortunately, the plate is forgotten when Jimmy gets infected with lycanthropy and transforms. I don't know that this would cause problems, but it would seem that the plate would have to be moved around by transforming in and out of wolf form and this is never addressed.
These are small complaints but they bothered me as I first read and
thought about the book. That didn't stop me from rereading the novel, however.
If you like a good mystery with some supernatural elements, you'll enjoy this
Lucius Fogg 2 Malicious Intent by Dan Wickline
The second book in this series has a lot to do with the mysterious past of the sorcerer, Lucius Fogg. It opens with the ghost of an angry sorceress who has been secretly living in Fogg's house taking possession of Jimmy Doyle's girlfriend and matters quickly go from bad to worse. Fogg's old nemesis—Kieran Drake—the man who killed him 65 years before resulting in Fogg being trapped in his house—has returned to get his vengeance and in so doing expose the supernatural world to the mundane citizens of New York City. Old Town is exposed and Drake announces he's running for mayor and suddenly (through magic?) is the most popular man in the city. Yet none of this makes sense to Fogg, who can't believe that Drake would care about mundane power.
There's a lot of pain in this book for Jimmy Doyle who learns that the stakes of being a sorcerer's leg man (actually he discovers—much to his personal discomfort—that he's Fogg's apprentice) are even more serious than he ever dreamed. This suffering further humanizes Doyle and really adds power to the book. Doyle functions in a world where supernatural threats are common place and while his friends insist on helping him, they are not equipped to survive these perils, and the strain of putting them in danger is getting to Doyle.
Drake's plot is probably the best part of the novel. When you finally
figure out what he's working toward, and how becoming mayor of NYC can help his
decidedly supernatural plan succeed you'll be shivering with horror and
excitement. There's an awful lot that's great about this novel and if you like
good mysteries in an urban fantasy setting, you'll want to read it.
Lucius Fogg 3 Educated Corpses by Dan Wickline
Jimmy Doyle gets a call from his original mentor, a private investigator named Elias Chandler, asking for his help. Chandler and Doyle had a falling out years ago, but that doesn't stop Doyle from running to meet him at the zoo. Unfortunately, when he gets there, Chandler is already dead and a gorilla—also supposedly dead—is on the rampage. And matters only get more bizarre from there.
In this third book in the series, Wickline pulls together many of the threads left dangling from the first two novels to produce an exciting and satisfying story, wrapped around an interesting mystery. The Compact between the vampires, werewolves, sorcerers and humans is fracturing after the events of the first and second novel. Doyle finds himself using magic he doesn't remember learning. And now the dead are coming back to life—not as vampires—but through a disturbing mixture of magic and science. Doyle and Fogg have their hands full this time and I thoroughly enjoyed their adventure.
As a final note, I'd like to observe that it's been three years since
Educated Corpses was published. Mr. Wickline, when are we going to get book
Blood Prism by E.E. King
This is a beautifully written book with an unusual, heavily descriptive, almost poetic style. There's not a lot of dialogue and that troubled me a little at first, but the short chapters quickly pulled me in to the parallel lives of Neal and Aidan from their extreme youth to the end of the novel. Neal brings hope and happiness into people's lives while Aidan brings only misery, fear and despair—although not usually through any overt acts of his own. It amazes me that King somehow succeeded in making a character whom no one likes and whom everyone is uncomfortable around charming in his own sad way.
This book is inundated in what I would call the
"casual supernatural". It's all about atmosphere instead of plot. The Fates of
Greek mythology overtly manipulate every aspect of the book. In addition,
supernatural creatures—vampires, werewolves, minor gods, ghosts—flitter through
most of the pages, as does small, potent, but generally unconscious magic. I'd
say these supernatural elements drive the plot, but I'm not sure this book has
a plot. It certainly doesn't need one. It's like a gorgeous intricate painting
of a series of lives—endlessly fascinating, telling small stories, but only
creating a larger picture in retrospect once the reader has finished. Blood
Prism is definitely worth your time.
Bill the Vampire by Rick Gualtieri
Bill Rider is a geek who thinks he's finally got a shot at scoring with a beautiful woman. Unfortunately, she's a vampire and he's the lonesome loser—big time. Now Bill is undead too and trying to figure out how to survive. Much to his disappointment, becoming undead didn't make him graceful, or handsome or ready for a role on True Blood. It also didn't dispose of his pesky conscience. All of which make him the very opposite of apex predator and pretty funny to follow.
Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep
The opening book in the Elemental Assassin series is a fast-paced, enjoyable romp through the southern city of Ashland run by a mix of wealthy humans, elemental wizards, giants, vampires, dwarfs and what have you. Gin, the main character, a top-notch assassin known as The Spider, has a lot of sparky attitude and generally makes a fun heroine. The opening scene is perfect for capturing the assassin at her work and makes her an instantly lovable character.
The plot of the novel is that Gin is set up to take the fall for an assassination. In covering up the crime, the people behind the setup also torture and kill her mentor. Gin wants revenge and the rest of the novel chronicles her efforts to find out who is behind the betrayal and making them pay.
To complicate matters, Ashland's one honest cop, Donovan Caine, is smack in the middle of Gin's problems. He knows—contrary to the city's corrupt account of events—that Gin didn't murder the victim. He also knows she's on the wrong side of the law. The question is, can he work with Gin to find out what really happened or will he turn on her and arrest her as his superiors want? Of course, as has become an expectation of the genre, there is tremendous sexual tension between cop and assassin, although it's overplayed early on throwing into question just how professional Gin really is.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but I do have two major problems with it in addition to the aforementioned overplaying of the sexual tension. First, in working with Donovan Caine Gin loses any pretense at being a professional. She brings him to her apartment. She introduces him to her best friend. She talks about critical details that could let him identify her in front of him. She exposes critical contacts to him all while apparently not intending to kill him when the need to work with him was done. And all of this while he is insisting he will turn on her as soon as he doesn't need her anymore. Needless to say, this was crazy.
In addition, Gin is a stone elemental. Among her powers is her ability to harden her skin so that she is immune to little things like gunfire. Yet Gin doesn't want to use her magic because she fears it will make her overdependent on it and weak. This might make sense when she decides to stab someone instead of collapsing a building on top of him. (She also argues that such overt use of magic would attract too much attention.) But when a fellow assassin gets the drop on her with a pistol and she refuses to make her skin hard enough to be immune to his bullets (taking a wound for her stubbornness) this makes her look stupid and insane—not the consummate professional she keeps insisting she is. To make matters worse, when she finally does use her magic to harden her skin, one of the bad guys punches rattle her when bullets don't. This is a major problem that appears to have derived from Estep's inability to think of a better way to threaten Gin than pointing a gun at her.
That being said, it's still a fun story and the series shows a lot of
Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep
The second book of the Elemental Assassin series has more of the strengths and weaknesses of the first. It's got a fun main character with the right kind of bad attitude and a weakness for helping people in distress. There are good action scenes that keep you flipping pages as we watch our heroine take on the bad guys. There are a couple of different mysteries unfolding--some central to the current plot and some setting up later adventures. And the supporting cast also works pretty well.
On the downside, our assassin just can't stop telling people what she does for a living despite being at least nominally "retired". This is especially dumb since it is becoming apparent that the big bad fire elemental who runs Ashland is becoming interested in her. It also defies sense--there is no way that a person with Gin's lack of a filter on her mouth could have remained an anonymous assassin for all of these years.
That being said, Gin's new problem--helping an old friend of her dead mentor to keep from being driven off his land by a mining firm--is a good challenge for our friendly neighborhood killer of bad guys and it gives her many good opportunities to show off her talents. We also get introduced to a new potential love interest which is good because the old one (honest cop Donovan Caine) was never going to work out in the long run.
In fact, Donovan Caine is the best drawn character in the novel. He likes Gin. Frankly, he's obsessed with her. He wants to be with her. But he is never going to be able to accept her world view. He is, at heart, an honest cop who is being forced by Gin to confront the fact that his town is too corrupt for influential villains to ever be brought to justice. Yet, that doesn't mean that he can live with the concept that killing those villains is the only alternative. That internal conflict causes a lot of pain for both Donovan and Gin. It's ultimately a situation that can't go on forever and I was glad that Estep realized that and came up with a believable solution to the problem. I'd like to see more of this supporting character in the future.
Winter's Web by Jennifer Estep
Winter's Web is a quick short story about Jenifer Estep's Elemental Assassin, Gin. I have only read the first few books of the series but it was easy to pick up what was going on. Gin is still full of self-confidence and attitude and the boyfriend she picked up after cop, Donovan Caine, left town is still with her. They are going to a Renaissance Festival called Winter's Web to try and forget their problems for a while. But, something about the way people keep staring at Gin has her somewhat paranoid sense of danger screaming that there is trouble at the Festival. When three giants try to follow her about, her feelings are confirmed, so she ambushes them and things quickly go to hell. It's a diverting short story—perfect for both old fans and for anyone thinking about giving the series a try.


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CLEO TV's signature series CLEO SPEAKS continues with psychologist and former Editor-in-Chief of Heart and Soul Magazine Anita Kopacz, and dancer/choreographer to the stars Denee Baptiste. A child sexual abuse survivor, Kopacz helps victims deal with trauma and is the author of "Finding Your Way." She opens up about her path to healing and work as a psychologist. Known for her stage work with Beyoncé, Denee Baptiste shares her journey as a mother, performer, dancer, motivational speaker and passion for inspiring young dancers to follow their dreams.
CLEO SPEAKS is a candid series that gives dynamic women a platform to share their truths with the world. Selected for their impact on the world, true modern leaders, from CEOs and activists to entrepreneurs, share their candor.

subset: commoncrawl


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High Voltage at Nurotag
High Voltage Vaporz had an awesome time at Nurotag this past weekend! There were 500+ cars, music, and tons of people! Hope everyone had as great of a time as we did! Here's a shot of @leyleyvapes posted up next to @boostedforever's High Voltage'd out car! Thanks again to @tefotography for the great shots taken!
Recent Posts


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$44.99 $26.99 $18.00
Our best-selling hoodie, now available in kids and youth sizes! These hoodies feature two prints - "Michigan Awesome" on the front left chest and the Michigan state outline on the lower right back.
Printed on super comfy 50/50 poly/cotton American Apparel fleece hoodies. Our kids' zip hoodies tend to fit small. When in doubt, we recommend ordering a size "up."


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NCAA 9-2d
The pitcher may go to his mouth anywhere on the mound if he is not in contact with the rubber and distinctly wipes it off before pitching.
PENALTY: A ball is called each time a pitcher violates.
[OBR 6.02c1: The pitcher may not touch his hand to his mouth without wiping it off while in the 18-foot circle surrounding the pitcher's plate. PENALTY: Ball]


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From RationalWiki
Countries are independent nation states at the time of writing.
Sometimes they fight each other; at other times they compete in sports.
This category has the following 13 subcategories, out of 13 total.
Pages in category "Countries"
The following 5 pages are in this category, out of 5 total.


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Viva la Vida
by Richard Baird on 03/04/2013 | 1 Minute Read
Acclaimed Albariño wine makers Lagar de Costa embark on the adventure of giving to birth their very first red wine. The name is a spanish exclamation for "life is great". The em dash breaking the last word "vida (life)" serves also as a words play, being "vid" the spanish word for "vine". The tagline at the bottom of the label stands for "celebrating the birth of a red one among white ones."
Designed by Bruto for Lagar de Costa.


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One of the best things about link exchange is that it's cheap—you get maximum promotion without spending a single cent. You can simply sign up for a free link exchange service or talk directly to other site owners, and sit back and watch your traffic shoot up. In fact, link exchange is considered one of the most effective ways to promote an online business, whether big or small. If you're looking for inexpensive ways to boost your site traffic, link exchange is certainly worth a try. Read on to learn more about link exchange and how it can help your business.
What is it?
Free link exchange is a form of search engine optimization (SEO), a process that aims to improve a site's search engine ranking and thus increase traffic. Its main purpose is to build link popularity, which makes up around 70% of a site's rank. The idea is that the more links there are to your site, the more "popular" you are as far as search engines are concerned. When someone searches for a relevant term, your site has greater chances of appearing on the first page.
Types of link exchange
There are three main ways to exchange links with other sites:
Reciprocal link exchange: This is the most basic form of free link exchange, in which two site owners simply agree to post links to each other's sites. Each party is called a link partner. Webmasters usually find partners from forums, networks, and link exchange directories.
Non-reciprocal link exchange: This is a one-way system in which one site posts a link to another without getting an inbound link in return. Instead, the links are paid for by the recipient site. The site providing the links is usually one with excellent traffic and search engine rankings.
Indirect non-reciprocal link exchange: This form requires at least three sites, two of which belong to the same person. Site 1 posts a link to Site 2, who in turn posts a link to Site 3, which is owned by the same person as Site 1. This makes all the links non-reciprocal, which makes them more valuable for search engines.
Link relevance
The sites involved in a link exchange should have a similar theme or subject. This is because search engines can tell whether a link is natural or simply set up for SEO purposes. Some can even ban your site if they find your links and content irrelevant. To avoid such situations, choose your link partners carefully and make sure they are selling the same product or service. Free link exchange services such as Free Relevant Links (www.freerelevantlinks.com) offer an organized network of sites to help you find the right link partners.


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9140 H Academy Road
Philadelphia, PA 19114
Dr. Stephan Inker at his Philadelphia area dental implants practice offers extensive experience restoring your dental implant crown.
Our dedicated team uses state-of-the-art materials and techniques for stability and longevity. You'll enjoy the comfort and confidence of natural-looking teeth.
If you suffer from dental anxiety in the Philadelphia area, Dr. Inker can help. We offer several options that can make your dental treatments pleasant and stress-free. Our team at Stephan A. Inker, D.D.S is trained to help you feel comfortable. You'll be able to feel relaxed while receiving the friendly, professional oral care you deserve.
If you're looking for denture repair in the Philadelphia area, our team at Stephan A. Inker, D.D.S offers friendly service. Dr. Inker understands the importance of reliable dentures that fit properly.
We'll get your repairs done professionally and quickly. You'll be able to eat and smile again with confidence as soon as possible.
If you're looking for dentures that look great and last, look no further than Stephan A. Inker, D.D.S located in the Philadelphia, PA area. Stephan Inker, D.D.S. will assess your needs and fit you with durable, comfortable, natural-looking dentures - at a price you can afford.
Philadelphia area Invisalign® dentist Stephan Inker, D.D.S. is happy to provide your new clear braces. At Stephan A. Inker, D.D.S, we want you to have the straight teeth and beautiful smile you desire.
We're happy to assess your needs create your individual treatment plan for braces. You may be able to have your new Invisalign® aligners sooner than you think!
1646 West Chester Pike Suite 1
West Chester, PA 19382
Dr. David Stall is a trusted West Chester area veneers dentist. Our professional team is dedicated to providing you with quality results in a comfortable and pleasant atmosphere.
You won't have to feel embarrassed any longer by crooked, chipped or discolored teeth. With your new dental veneers, you'll be thrilled to show off your healthy teeth and beautiful smile.
If you're looking for dentures that look great and last, look no further than David Stall Dental located in the West Chester, PA area. David Stall, D.M.D. will assess your needs and fit you with durable, comfortable, natural-looking dentures - at a price you can afford.
David Stall, D.M.D. is proud to be a trusted West Chester area Zoom!® teeth whitening dentist. Our patients love the short amount of time the tooth whitening treatment takes as much as they love the results.
You'll be able to relax in our comfortable surroundings. In just about an hour, you'll have a sparkling white smile!
Dr. David Stall is a popular West Chester area children's dentist known for his easy going and friendly approach. Our caring team is dedicated to your child's dental health.
We're happy to answer all of your questions. We want you and your children to feel comfortable, whether we're treating your toddler's baby teeth or your teenager's permanent teeth.
There are a variety of payment options available to our valued patients. David Stall Dental accepts debit cards, credit cards, checks and cash, and even offers convenient monthly payment plans for those who qualify. Call our West Chester area dental office today to discuss the right financial options for you.
1411 W Street Rd
Warminster, PA 18974
Dr. David Valen at his Warminster area dental implants practice offers extensive experience restoring your dental implant crown.
Our dedicated team uses state-of-the-art materials and techniques for stability and longevity. You'll enjoy the comfort and confidence of natural-looking teeth.
Signature Dental of Bucks County is a trusted Warminster area dental implants practice providing natural-looking, comfortable tooth replacement. We make it our mission to use a gentle touch during the process.
We hold ourselves to the highest standards to replace missing teeth and provide you with natural-looking results. Our goal is to restore your confidence and your bright, healthy smile.
David Valen, D.M.D. is proud to be a trusted Warminster area Zoom!® teeth whitening dentist. Our patients love the short amount of time the tooth whitening treatment takes as much as they love the results.
You'll be able to relax in our comfortable surroundings. In just about an hour, you'll have a sparkling white smile!
Dr. David Valen at his Warminster dentistry practice is pleased to offer you a free smile analysis if you are 18 years old or older. Our friendly and professional team will make you feel comfortable and welcome.
We'll answer your questions and assess your dental needs to achieve long term oral health. Our goal is to make your visit enjoyable, and to give you the smile you deserve.
If you're looking for dentures that look great and last, look no further than Signature Dental of Bucks County located in the Warminster, PA area. David Valen, D.M.D. will assess your needs and fit you with durable, comfortable, natural-looking dentures - at a price you can afford.
Joseph Frankina Pc
7801 Frankford Ave
Philadelphia, PA, 19136-3110
Zitaner, Morris D.D.S.
7244 Frankford Ave
Philadelphia, PA, 19135-1016
Abrams, Edward S D.D.S.
2137 Welsh Rd # 3a
Philadelphia, PA, 19115-4963
Oviedo, Marlene I D.D.S.
255 S 17th St # 1806
Philadelphia, PA, 19103-6218
What did your parents tell you about going to the dentist? Did they talk about how your dentists could help you take care of your teeth, gums and even your smile? Instead, they probably emphasized the negative: "It won't hurt much," or "Your toothache will be gone."
For most of us, the stories we heard about visiting dentists described how the person in the white jacket helped relieve tooth pain. We didn't hear about the dentists creating opportunities for good dental health and an attractive bright smile.
Comparing the dentistry your parents knew with the new dentistry that has emerged over the past ten to fifteen years is like comparing the computers of the 1950's with today's powerful desktop machines. The differences are vast. Yet, as dental care consumers, most of us have not updated our old stories. You haven't added new chapters about the great possibilities for dental care and dental well-being that the new dentistry offers.
You can experience these new possibilities for oral and dental health by creating partnerships with your dentists and their dental teams. You can take advantage of innovations and advances in:
Today's dental care teams have the knowledge, skills and information to help create a positive dental health future. A partnership is based on communication and mutual responsibility, and you can actively foster that first communication.
You can begin to partner with your dentists and their dental care teams by:
Your parents didn't have the choices or the opportunities that you have today for optimal dental health. The new dentistry can create more than a warm bright smile; it can improve your overall health.
The future of your dental health is in your hands just as the future of your bodily health is. Taking steps to increase your knowledge about the new dentistry will provide great benefits for you today and tomorrow.
By Brian DesRoches, PhD
The most commonly employed technique used in conscious sedation dentistry is inhalation sedation with nitrous oxide and oxygen (N20-02) or "laughing gas". It is estimated that approximately 35% of U.S. dentists use this technique to relieve dental anxiety.
The goal sought when laughing gas is used is to eliminate dental anxiety, making the patient more comfortable while the sedation dentist is able to more effectively complete the planned dental care procedure while the patient is sedated. Consult with your dentist to find out if this procedure right for you.
A small rubber inhaler will be placed over the patient's nose and adjusted so that the patient is comfortable. At this time, the patient will be breathing 100% oxygen.
Some patients at their first laughing gas visit will feel that they are not getting enough "air." The patient should tell the sedation dentist and he or she will provide them with even more oxygen to breathe.
Once the patient is comfortable breathing oxygen, the dentist gradually will introduce nitrous oxide. Over the next three to five minutes, the patient will be asked, "What are you feeling?" as the amount of nitrous oxide is slowly increased.
The signs and symptoms that most patients experience when receiving laughing gas include an initial feeling of lightheadedness, which gradually leads to an all-over feeling of warmth. Many persons mention a comfortable "vibrating" or "humming" sensation. It is common to feel one's fingertips and hands become "numb."
This same sensation may develop in the mouth - a benefit to the sedation dentist (and patient) during the dental care treatment. Some patients will mention that their arms and legs feel "very light." Interestingly, other patients will say that their arms and legs feel "so heavy I can't even move them."
If either of these occurs to the patient, it is perfectly normal. The individual might notice that they are perspiring a little, too. This is a normal effect of nitrous oxide and oxygen dentistry.
The sedation dentist will talk with the patient throughout the dental care procedure and the individual will be able to respond without any problem. This is a major advantage, and a safety feature, of conscious sedation using laughing gas.
If, at any time during the procedure, the patient feels that they are getting too much nitrous oxide or if they begin to feel uncomfortable, they should tell the dentist immediately and within seconds the dentist can adjust the flow of gases, and the patient will feel more comfortable again.
At the conclusion of the sedation dentistry treatment, the patient will once again receive 100% oxygen (for a minimum of three to five minutes). At the end of this time, the person should feel absolutely back to normal. If they still feel even a little bit sedated, the dentist should give the patient oxygen for a few more minutes.
Most dentists permit the fully-recovered laughing gas patient to leave the dental office unescorted and to resume their normal activities. In some situations where a patient recovers more slowly, they might be required to have an escort (friend or relative) drive them home.
Laughing gas inhalation sedation is highly effective in the management of mild to moderate levels of dental anxiety. It also is an excellent technique in persons who are extreme gaggers; laughing gas usually eliminates or minimizes gagging in most patients.
Finally, laughing gas is highly recommended for apprehensive patients who have medical problems such as angina pectoris, persons who have had a heart attack, or persons with high blood pressure, asthma or epilepsy.
Inhalation sedation dentistry should not be used with persons who are claustrophobic or with persons who are unable to breathe through their nose. Please discuss these with your dentist before treatment using laughing gas begins.
By Stanley F. Malamed, DDS


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New Report Says US Cannabis Market Could Hit $22.7B By 2023 - Cannabis News
A new report projects the cannabis market in the United States will reach $22.7 billion in sales by 2023. The estimates in the Brightfield Group report imply a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20 percent over the next four years.
The recreational market is expected to lead the charge, at least in 2019, delivering 33 percent growth, driven by a variety of factors including the stabilization of the market in California and new adult-use markets coming online.
The Brightfield Group, a predictive market intelligence services provider for the CBD and cannabis industry, last year predicted the hemp-derived CBD market would hit sales of $22 billion by 2022.
Click here to read the complete article
Javier Hasse ~ Benzinga.com ~
- Details
- Category: Finance


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ER Doctor Needed in Beautiful North Carolina
This Emergency Medicine opportunity gives the ultimate work/life balance to the physician who enjoys nature, stability, and the benefits of working for a stable group. This beautiful, brand new facility is situated on 17 acres and includes a free-standing ED.
- 20,000 annual patient volume.
- 8 Exam rooms and 7 urgent care rooms.
- 12-hour shifts.
- Advanced imaging equipment.
As a physician employed by this group of Emergency Medicine professionals, you will have access to a countless number of benefits. Equal equity partnership, merit based bonuses and competitive wages are only a few of the benefits offered to their physicians.
Nature lovers can enjoy the mountains in the area which offer hiking, camping, mountain biking, skiing, white-water rafting and gorgeous autumn colors. Water and sun enthusiasts can enjoy the beaches and lakes in the area. Sports lovers have access to many major sporting events.
Residential options range from established suburban communities to modern urban neighborhoods with a fine choice of public and private schools. Combine all of this with the regions temperate climate and southern hospitality and you would be hard pressed to find a better place to live and work.
Our physician recruiters have the experience and knowledge of the physician job search process. Let KPS Physician Staffing's highly skilled physician recruiters save you time and make this transition easier by utilizing the forty years of experience and market knowledge our team possesses. Contact a physician recruiter today at 1-877-909-9930 or by email at email@example.com.
Job Detail
Take advantage of our market knowledge by having a confidential, no-commitment, exploratory conversation to discuss your interests and the options available to you.
|North Carolina
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Other affiliations
Hannah is currently a research student at the Centre for Health, Law, and Emerging Technologies (HeLEX) and is supervised by Professor Jane Kaye and Dr. Bettina Lange.
Her work, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, is titled 'The Use and Governance of Data in Research' and will consider how the law can protect and advance the privacy and other expectations of individuals while also promoting the public good. During her research, Hannah will seek to identify citizens' expectations as to the use of their data and compare how far these are reflected in the current law to inform future policy development. She is also interested in the role of trust in this area of law and how this could be used to also inform future policy and guidance.
Prior to her research, Hannah completed the BCL at Merton College, University of Oxford, in 2016 and obtained a First Class degree in Jurisprudence from the same institution in 2014.


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First Friday online training
Sage 200 First Friday online training - Business Intelligence
Friday 5th April 2019: 12:00pm - 1:30pm
These training sessions are held every first Friday of the month. Just sign up, log in and watch the training from the comfort of your office.
This month's course: BI
This session will include:
- What is Business Intelligence?
- Standard Reports
- Sorting, Filtering and BI basics
- User Defined Reports
- Report Layout
- Drilling into report data
- Creating a New Report
- Linking reports
Please note that the training schedule may be subject to change.
Please email our events team to register for this event.


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Clinical Trials in Central and Eastern Europe
Opera Consortium will attend the conference Clinical Trials in Central and Eastern Europe from 25 – 26 April 2017, at Novotel Budapest Centrum.
Last year's Clinical Trials in CEE Forum hosted more than 130 delegates from following countries:
Belgium • Poland • Slovakia • Slovenia • Croatia • Czech Republic • Germany
Italy • Romania • Ukraine • United Kingdom • Armenia • Bulgaria • Finland
Hungary • Latvia • Lithuania • Netherlands • Russian Federation • Spain
Switzerland • United States
This conference will provide up-to-date information about Clinical Trials in the region, the industry best practice and will create platform for information to be exchanged between Government official, CROs, Investigations & Biotechnological companies and Clinical trials professionals. As well as a carefully researched and in-depth programme, the conferences will bring you the opportunity to network with a diverse mix of participants, through our structured and less-formal networking sessions.
Some of the Speakers 2017:
- Csilla Pozsgay- Director General National Institute of Pharmacy and Nutrition (Hungary)
- Francis Crawley- Executive Director Good Clinical Practice Alliance, Europe & EAP, Belgium
- Divya Chadha- Head of Business Development, CRN
- Alexander Fetkovsky- Managing Partner, Slovak Republic
- Marco Salami- Sr Clinical Outsourcing Manager, Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA (Italy)
- Vladimir Misik- Founder & Managing Partner, LongTaal
- Rahul Chaudhary- Director Business Development- Histopathology, Synevo Division
- Jaroslav Rejnek- Clinical Research Director, PENTA Hospitals
- Michaela Vancova- Clinical Operations Director, Co-Founder, Slovak Research Center
- Tomasz Miszalski Jamka- MD, PhD, Medical Director, Clinical Trial Center of Innovation
- Gjon Mirdita- Vice President, Site Management Regional Head, Key Markets R&D Solutions NEMEA & CESE, QuintilesIMS
The Forum's key questions and takeaways
- What is the regulatory outlook across the region?
- What would facilitate and empower an Investigator?
- How to maximise the Sponsor/CRO/Investigator relationship and cooperation?
- How to stimulate patient recruitment and ensure patient retention? What are the patient-centric approaches in CT?
- What are the innovative approaches to trial design?


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10 Best Places To Visit With Kids In Barcelona, Spain
The beautiful city with the extravagant scenic glamour that is sure to pierce the onlooker's belief of heaven on earth, Barcelona is worth paying a visit. Known as the capital city of Catalonia, Barcelona is globally identified for owning one of the best playing football clubs in the world.
The city of Barcelona teaches its visitors the art of preserving the rich heritage of its ancestors. Its artistic Roman relics and jaw-dropping architectural display by the ageless artists like Lluís Doménech I Montaner and Antoni Gaudí, whose contributions have been renowned as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, have always been everyone's favorite.
Touring along the antique alleys of the historic Roman city acknowledges the individuals with several concerts and exhibitions that reveal volumes about the heritage which is submergedby modernization. This is the sole reason why it is considered the best for visiting with the younger generations.
Besides the stories of the laid-back era, Barcelona has topped the charts for having the best kid-friendly attractions to bring a storming mark of happiness on their pretty little faces.
Hence, let us look out for the best places to visit with kids in Barcelona, Spain.
Parc d'Atraccions Tibidabo, Barcelona
Known as the oldest fairground established on the top of an old cliff, famous for ravishing sceneries, Parc d'Atraccions Tibidabo has been winning hearts since the year 1889. Maintaining a steady pace with the progression in technology, the park has come up with some extravagant set of rides, necessarily divided into all age groups.
Besides the Pendulum, rides mimicking hot air balloons,bumper cars, and haunted house are known to tempt the children most, whereas the courageous bunch is known to have umpteenth fun in the popular roller coasters scaling the tracks at 80kmph.
Avió or the well-known flight simulator has been very popular after its inauguration in 1928 and is considered to be one of the prime attractions. With the electronic puppets at Museu d'Autòmats and a series of puppet shows at Marionetàrium, keeping a track of time has always been difficult here. An explicit display of fireworks known as correfocs is a show-stealing event that decorates the place every weekend.
Zoo de Barcelona, Barcelona
Zoo de Barcelona happens to be the most beloved tourist spot of the city which is a storehouse of extreme happiness and fun for the children as well the ones accompanying them. It is praised for having a diverse range of species preserved and well-maintained in comfortably spacious cubicles, kept at a decent distance from the reach of tourist. Even the most attractive visits to the cabins of hippos, sea lions, elephants, giraffes, lions, rhinos and tigers, seems to fail in front of the overwhelming display of heartwarming dolphin shows. Children belonging to all ages are known to enjoy the 'zoo train' most, which involves a revolution of the entire area. Besides the two green playgrounds, children can also enjoy pony rides, play badminton and cricket in the picnic areas, admire the farmyard zoo.
Barcelona Bosc Urbà (Urban Jungle), Barcelona
Praised for inexplicable fun and a ravishing experience, the Bosc Urbà is the best experience one can have within the city premises. The scenic beauty is complemented with unimaginably engaging activities and adventure that call for the courageous adrenaline junkie inside!
From trying a hand at the rope swings to slipping fearless along the zip lines, from fall offs to bungee jumps and log rolls and innumerable other things to engage an entire day, the place summoning the adventurers, gives major vacationing goals.
Keeping in mind the precautions, the place has beautifully maintained the safety measures for every activity. Besides, every activity zone is facilitated with trained and certified supervisors for helping the participants.
L'Aquarium, Barcelona
The famous destination in the city of Barcelona offers the most jaw-dropping experiences to the children. Whether the kiddo is interested in the marine life or not, the serene joy of traversing through a transparentglass tunnel helps to see through the massive shark tank and spot on the ravishing beauty of the underwater.
Children belonging to all ages take immense joy in playing 'Hunt Nemo' and enjoying the view of panoramic fishes shuttling around. The place is also divided into two zones. Where the younger ones can spend happy times in 'Explora!' by admiring the movements of different creatures as well as crawling inside a mimicking submarine, the older selves can get comfortable in the 'Planet Aqua!' and spend some overwhelming time with Humboldt Penguins.
Torre de les Aigües, Barcelona
More than a tourist attraction, Torre de les Aigües is the sweetest escape of the locals as well as foreigners belonging to all age groups. Built in 1870, to hydrate houses in the district of 'Eixample', it has recently been converted into a swimming pool. Since the month of August, the place is always teeming with people in search of the most refreshing day.
Port Aventura Park, Barcelona
Known as the biggest tourist attraction in the European territory, a visit to the place is considered mandatory if one has to live up to the essence of Spain. Owning a large divided into three beautiful zones the place engages two to three complete days and would still be left to tread by. The three zones namely Port Aventura Park, Port Aventura Caribe Aquatic Park, and Ferrari Land offer the best rides meant to be enjoyed with the entire family along with children belonging to every age.
Each and every corner of this ecstatically huge fairground calls for severe adrenaline rush and is just not meant for the weaker hearts. Just grab an entry ticket to the adventure world and hop from accelerator rides to roller coasters and scale throughout the 'Sesame Street' in the very first Port Aventura Park. Following which fasten the seatbelts in inexplicably overwhelming water rides like jets and slides in the Port Aventura Caribe Aquatic Park. Admire the beauty of the Ferrari Land coming next and never get bored in the fun city of Costa Dorada in Barcelona, Spain.
Costa Batlló, Barcelona
Standing tall as the most magnificent architecture of all times, the masterpiece happens to be a remodeled version of an ordinary building by the incomparable Gaudí and Joseph Maria Jujol, for the most eminent textile magnate Joseph Batlló for four complete years between1902-1906. Where many theories and belief surround the representation, the most popular one believes it to depict Sant Jordi and the dragonthereby indicating the top-cross to be the Knight's Lance and the roof being the back of the dragon. The explicit decor and skeletal balconies hanging beneath signify the ruthless turmoil of the unfortunate victims.
A visit up to the terrace along the antique stairs acknowledges the children with its archaic past and the eeriness of the white-washed interior is always appreciated by them.
Bubbleparc, Barcelona
Situated at the Plaça de l'Odissea, the famous Barcelona Bubbleparc is the best getaway for tourists willing to escape the heat during summer days. The park is loaded with jaw-dropping rides like Bungydome, Bubblepods, Acuaboats, Triketrack circuit, and many other hefty rides. Besides, the naughty little feet can play their own favorite games while relaxing on the beautiful artificial beach.
Olympic Stadium, Barcelona
Visiting the Olympic Stadium at Estadi Olimpic in Barcelona is a chance one should never miss out when in the city. Established in the year 1992 prior to the Olympic Games, the Stadium offers the best opportunity to admire the glory free of cost. The Stadium encloses the majestic Olympic Esplanade and the Palau Sant Jordi, included in the Olympic Ring, which is a beauty worthy of admiration.
Museum of Sports and the Olympics, Barcelona
Lying adjacent to the prestigious Olympic Stadium, the hilltop Museum situated at Montjuïc is praised on a global scale for upholding and honoring the tokens of the glorious game. Children having due interest in the field are sure to be grateful for a visit here. Besides admiring the rich history, the kids can undertake engaging and interactive sessions while acknowledging the educational tokens about the Olympics.
Museum of Illusions, Barcelona
With a variety of unimaginably funny backdrops, the Museum of Illusions happens to steal the show with the mixture of hilarious and jaw-dropping artistic displays. The illusions created at the facade of the walls offer ecstatic templates for the best family pictures one can ever imagine which makes the fantasy world a day worth cherishing forever.
Magic Mountains, Barcelona
When the day tires with fun rides and the night call for a peaceful retreat, the Font Màgica undoubtedly offers a treat to the visitors. The regular fountain show dancing with music enhances the glamour of the stretch amidst Plaza Espanya and Palau Nacional, where it is situated at. The pristine beauty hosting 30minutes regular show was established in 1929 to cater to the World Exhibition. If reached early, children can also play in the adjacent Joan Miró Park.
Poble Espanyol, Barcelona
Hailing all the art lovers from across the world, Poble Espanyol, with 40 workshops and21 diverse range of craftsmanship, is the best place to enlighten the kids with the importance of art and architecture.
Early booking in the dining restaurants and reaching within an hour of scheduled time, bags the visitors with a free entry to the beautiful village, which is also famous for organizing beautiful exhibitions every Sunday.
Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
Renowned as the prestigious and the most brilliant work of Gaudí, the Sagrada Familia is being constructed since 1882. Being built with theinterpretation of the architect's plan, the working craftsmen have estimated a decade more for completion. However, tourists are allowed to visit the museums and admire the beauty of The Catholic Basilica blessed in 2010, the intricate detailing of which is known to touch the soft corner of the children.
Museu De La Xocolata, Barcelona
By just going with the name one can imagine what fun it is going to be once visited. Organizing solo as well as group tours, the museum of cholocates has emerged to be a delicious treat to the eye. Not just admiring the beautiful sculptures and artistic architecture with chocolate, the place has specific outlets for the children to gorge into lip-smacking flavors of the most beloved delicacy.
Castle de Montjuïc, Barcelona
Famous for extravagantly scenic landscape and panoramic beauty, the 'Mountain of The Jews' is bound to instill a feeling of peace within the visitors. Once a military base, the castle is appreciated for offering heavenly views and also for conducting open-air-movie sessions in the astonishingly maintained lawn.
Mercat De La Boqueria, Barcelona
After hopping from one spot to other when the tiny stomachs crave for a little delicacy, the Boqueria market in Barcelona happens to top every wish list. From fresh native fruits of the city to ham cuisine and Spanish Tapas, the place is loaded with everything to satisfy hunger cravings of every order and is considered as a must visit.
Montserrat, Barcelona
A drive for an hour to the outskirts of proper Barcelona takes a trip to the base of Black Virgin Mary. The place is a beautiful conjecture of culture and adventure where the children can trek along the trails in acave, admire the serenity of the monastery as well as dance with the tunes of midday choir.
Museum of Ideas and Inventions, Barcelona
Preserving a variety of inventions, and models for the visitors to acknowledge the museum is the newest addition to the list of popular attractions in Barcelona. Beautifully carved into five different zones that preserve separate sections of innovation, the place is a mixture of fun and creativity that brightens the day of the visitors belonging to every age.
Park Zoològic, Barcelona
Situated at the very beautiful Parc de la Ciutadella, the zoo is one of a kind in its own way. The area encloses a total of 7000 animals, all of which are kept away from the visitors by a moat and not with the help of cages. The zoo is also famous for midday shows of dolphins and whales which gives the little feet an overwhelmingly happy experience.


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Sitting here chuckling to myself after I just sucked down a delicious, nutritious smoothie!
Back in the day {in 1981} when we first were introduced to Shaklee products, the idea of drinking a protein shake for breakfast, followed by a handful of food supplements, simply was not that popular or widespread like it is today!
Back then, the protein powder was called Instant Protein {soy} and came in only two flavors – plain and cocoa. We blended the powder with cow's milk and endured the taste and gritty texture for one reason only … health results it produced were worth the 60 seconds it took to drink. A little sprinkle of cinnamon helped the liquid goodness go down the hatch!
Funny thing is? After a week or so of forcing the shakes down for health reasons, we acquired a taste and grew to love them … actually looked forward to breakfast each day.
But boy oh boy, we've come a long way baby! Smoothies have arrived! Today, smoothies are the IN thing! Everyone's drinking them, buying them, and many companies are selling the protein powder to add to them {soy, whey, rice, pea, potato – you name it!} And I don't mean the plain Jane or cocoa variety … we're talking about smoothie heaven!
If you have a blender, protein powder, some fruit or veggies, flavorings and your choice of milk {almond and coconut milk were unheard of back when} you can pretty much concoct any recipe … and turn it into a quick fast-food meal! How fun is THAT? And so much healthier than fast food, or a run to your local designer coffee shop… and cheaper too!
*Download these delicious seven smoothies!*
Chunky Monkey, Mad Scientist, Cherry Cobbler, Salted Apple Caramel, Cafe Mocha Frappe and more!
Smoothies are taking on a LIFE of their own!
But make sure you choose a smoothie with LIFE IN IT!
YES! I said one that has LIFE IN IT! Life Shake that is! Remember that not all smoothie's are created equal. Big differentiating factor is the actual protein powder you add into the smoothie that makes it a complete meal, providing adequate protein, carbs, fiber, healthy fat and the full spectrum of vitamins and minerals and NO artificial anything!! You may smile about that, but it's not that easy to find one that lives up to all those standards with non-GMO ingredients, and NO artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners or preservatives.
Shaklee Life Shake exceeds the standards in every way.
Shaklee Life Energizing Shake
New delicious meal shake contains nutrients clinically proven to help create the foundation for a longer, healthier life. It is designed to increase your energy, help you achieve a healthier weight, and provide incredible digestive and immune support from fiber and probiotics. It's available in soy and non-soy formulas
The Shaklee Life Energizing Shake Mix comes packed with:
- 24 grams* of protein, including 16 grams of plant-based, non-GMO protein
- Added leucine to help preserve lean muscle and achieve a healthier weight
- A powerful combination of prebiotics and one billion CFU of patented probiotics
- Omega-3 (ALA) to support heart and brain health
- Gluten free, lactose free, low glycemic, and Kosher
- Contains no added artificial flavors, sweeteners or preservatives
* When prepared as directed with 1 cup of nonfat milk.
Shaklee also offers a NON-soy version! The non-soy Life Shake contains all of the above but the protein source is NOT soy … it's an exclusive blend of non-GMO protein from sacha inchi, potato, rice and pea.
Contact us with more information about our Smoothie Freezer Meal Workshops! They're ALL the rage!


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Thomas Tapsell & Alice Lee were one of my 10th generation ancestors.
Key Dates:
- c1620: Thomas Tapsell born
- 1642: Thomas Tapsell married Alice Lee
- 1643: First child born
- 1657: Last child born
- 1658: Alice Tapsell (Lee) died
Thomas Tapsell birth details are not known but he was possibly born around 1620, possibly in Horley. He married Alice Lee on 8th June 1642 in Horley, Surrey.
Alice Lee birth details are unknown. She was buried on 1st June 1658 in Horley, Surrey ('wife of Thomas').
Thomas & Alice had 6 known children.


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Ši prekė bus pristatyta per 14-30 d.d.
Dėmesio: Paskutinė prekė atsargose!
This product is H.264 HD photographing/video recording Mini Camcorder. It supports high-
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Bio Korea 2019, Stand K31, April 17th - 19th 2019 at COEX, Seoul, South Korea
We are excited to be co-exhibiting at Bio Korea next week with our Korean distributor, iCell.
Bio Korea is celebrating its 14th anniversary and is Korea's leading exhibition for the Korean bio-industry. With our continued growth and increased presence across South East Asia, our aim is to meet new and existing end-users of fine chemicals and analytical reagents.
For more information on the exhibition click here.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Upcoming Exhibition: Bio Korea 2019 in South Korea
(Posted: 10th Apr 2019 at 11:12)