Days of Little Texas by R.A. Nelson

Almost sixteen years old, and it seems Ronald Earl’s life is laid out before him. For nearly as long as he can remember, he’s been the boy wonder preacher, better known as Little Texas. People drive hours to see him and shout his name in reverence; all they see is a vessel of holiness. And for the most part, that’s how Ronald Earl feels too, because the sensation of the Holy Spirit filling him is like no other. But when he heals a blonde girl in a blue dress, something happens that isn’t quite right and with that, Ronald Earl starts to doubt his abilities to communicate the word of God. He continues to travel on his revival circuit, but the spirit doesn’t seem to come as effortlessly as it used to, especially when Ronald Earl keeps catching glimpses of the blonde girl he healed wherever he goes. Ronald Earl is inexplicably drawn to this girl, but being with her and finding out who she really is will test his sanity, his beliefs, and his very faith.

I generally don’t go for books that center around religion and faith as much as Days of Little Texas does. This novel is supposed to be a meeting of die-hard faith and ghost stories, and the effect is bizarre and confusing to say the least. Nonetheless, I did enjoy the story. Ronald Earl/Little Texas was characterized rather well as a religious teen on the verge of a major change. I’ll admit it was a little disconcerting how rooted his thinking was in his faith, so I greatly appreciated his mental growth throughout the novel. The ending and the story as a whole were certainly strange, and I don’t know how well Nelson mixed ghosts with religion. As much as I loved reading about Ronald Earl, the plot didn’t always flow as smoothly as I’d like it. This may be because although the juxtaposition of two different types of supernatural is unique and interesting, they just don’t go well together in a story. Either way, Days of Little Texas is an entertaining story that will challenge the way anyone thinks and will open readers’ minds to a whole new realm of possibilities.

Days of Little Texas may be enjoyed by fans of Swoon by Nina Malkin, The Hollow by Jessica Verday, Sisters of Misery by Megan Kelley Hall, and Sea Change by Aimee Friedman.

Rating: 3.75

Review copies from publisher Random House and author R.A. Nelson

Girl on the Other Side by Deborah Kerbel

Tabby Freeman and Lora Froggett would never suspect they had anything in common outside of the school they attend. Tabby comes from the wealthiest family in town and consequently, is on the most popular girls in school. But popularity and a comfortable lifestyle mean nothing to Tabby; those things can’t save her from the choking lack of real friends and people who truly care about her. Lora is intelligent, extremely shy, and constantly bullied. Getting through every day is a chore since it’s not only school she has to deal with but taking care of her younger siblings when she gets home. Both Tabby and Lora are stuck in their own little secrets worlds of despair and private pain. Bu what will happen when these secrets are forced out into the open? Will these girls continue down their dark paths, or will they be saved?

Girl on the Other Side is supposed to be the story of two not-so-different girls from opposite ends of the social spectrum. Though the theme of equality holds true for the end of the story, it wasn’t quite to smoothly placed in the beginning and middle. To be honest, most of the first parts of this book left a lot to be desired. Initially presented, Tabby is smug and self assured in her supreme popularity while Lora thinks she is the only student of intelligent thought in the school; they only thing they share in common at this point is how annoying they are. Sadly, their attitudes don’t improve much until the very end of the story when they realize tragedy affects everyone. This was problematic for me because with characters that jaded and fixated on how horrid their troubles are, growth isn’t just expected, it’s demanded. At the same time, though, this growth has to make sense. Lora’s growth, if she underwent any at all, was hardly discernable, and I couldn’t quite reconcile Tabby’s new kindness towards Lora with her past uncalled for cruelty. Perhaps I’m being a little too harsh, but I was a little disappointed that it felt Kerbel was trying too hard to be deep and profound that the story never quite reached there.

Though a little disappointing for me, fans of Kerbel’s earlier writing in Mackenzie, Lost and Found may still enjoy Girl on the Other Side.

Rating: 3.0

Review copy from publisher Dundurn

Breakfast at Bloomingdale’s by Kristen Kemp

Cat’s a girl with a dream and a plan to achieve it. She’s going to New York City to be a famous fashion designer; particularly, she wants her own label to be sold at Bloomingdale’s. For all of Cat’s life, that’s been her dream, but now she’s perfectly poised to accomplish it by entering CosmoGIRL! and Bloomingdale’s The Finished Line fashion design contest. Armed with access to her late grandmother Nina’s bank account, killer design and sewing skills, and a one-way ticket to New York City, Cat is all ready for her new life. But once she arrives, it’s a little different and harder that she expected, and adjustments will have to be made accordingly, because giving up is not an option. The competition better look out. New and improved Cat Zappe, famous designed to be, is taking New York City by fashion storm.

By no surprise, Breakfast at Bloomingdale’s is all about fashion, but it’s also about hard work, dreams, and relationships. Most fashion novels I’ve read deal with the tail end of the fashion industry, the already crafted clothes and modeling. This story gives me new respect for the designing end; I had no idea that much education, experimentation, and design went into making the finished fashion product. I also didn’t know that designer hopefuls could be just as catty, for lack of a better word, as competitive models; Cat’s ability to keep a cool head most of the time in these situations earned even more of my respect. I absolutely loved reading about Cat’s character. She has impressive commitment and determination in reaching her goals and, more often than not, is rather smart in navigating through her relationships. I greatly admired her maturity and self control as well, and all this just made me hope she’d accomplish her dreams. Breakfast at Bloomingdale’s is a thoroughly enjoyable story to read because it shows that everything, for better or worse, is interconnected, that things have a way of working themselves out in the end, and that lack of success doesn’t necessarily translate into failure.

I recommend Breakfast and Bloomingdale’s for fans of Violet on the Runway by Melissa Walker, Airhead by Meg Cabot, and the America’s Next Top Model series by Taryn Bell as well as to any teen girl, because Cat is a characters after ever reader’s heart. I look forward to reading more of Kemp’s writing, particularly a possible fashion savvy sequel to this sweet book.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from publisher Scholastic

The Charmed Life: So Not Happening by Jenny B. Jones

This can’t be happening. Bella Kirkwood cannot believe she has to trade her A-list friends, her famous daddy’s credit card, and every other perk of NYC for Oklahoma of all places, just because her mother got dumped and apparently fell in love with a factory worker she met on the internet. So it’s goodbye to everything trendy chic and hello to two alternatively dorky and bratty brothers. Difficulty adjusting would be putting Bella’s frame of mind lightly. It doesn’t help that all the students at her new school think she’s a nasty snob, especially Luke Sullivan, the annoying editor of the school newspaper Bella has to work under now that she’s the newest member of the staff. Despite feeling hurt that she’s been forsaken by the cultured world, Bella knows she can’t wallow in her misery, especially when she catches wind of something fishy going on. There’s something not quite right in Bella’s new home, and you can bet Bella will be there to expose the truth.

I wasn’t too sure about this book when I first started reading it. Big city girl forced into rural setting has been done many times before with not quite spectacular results, and I didn’t know how that combination with some kind of investigative journalism and religious beliefs would work out. Addressing the last topic first, I usually stay away from most religious fiction as a rule because I find it becomes overbearing. Jones nearly gets there several times in So Not Happening, but as a whole, it isn’t too bad, even if I found it strange protagonist Bella, a self proclaimed Christian, was so into shopping and material things. The urban to rural transition isn’t crafted particularly well or originally either; Bella exhibits many of the same characteristics as other girls in the same position in other stories, and her frequent complaining earned more of my annoyance than sympathy, even if she was quite clever at times. Where Jones’ writing really shone was in the mystery angle of the novel. The mystery succeeded in being intriguing, surprising, and just a bit dangerous, and it fit well into the story. Mostly for Bella’s budding reporter instincts, I enjoyed this interesting novel.

So Not Happening may be enjoyed by fans of the It’s All About Us series by Shelley Adina, The Year My Sister Got Lucky by Aimee Friedman, and Pure by Terra Egan McVoy. I look forward to the sequel to this funny book in I’m So Sure.

Rating: 4.0

Review copy from Amazon Vine

Moon Rise by Marilee Brothers

Things aren’t looking so great for Allie Emerson. Her boyfriend hasn’t come back from Mexico. Her mom is dating a new loser who Allie kindly refers to as “Brain Dead Roy.” School is just as trying as well with new bullies and the extremely annoying and nosy school counselor. And to top that off, Allie is the Star Seeker prophesized pretty much to save the world. That would be all good and well except for the fact that Allie has seemed to have lost her powers, the powers she needs to defend herself against and ultimately defeat the evil Trimarks. Talk about some baggage! But Allie has little time to dwell on the overall suckiness of her situation because the stakes have risen. Not only are Allie’s and her friends’ lives in danger, but the precious moonstone is in risk of being stolen and, if Allie’s not careful, her own heart.

Moon Rise was a satisfying sequel to the exciting fantasy Moonstone, but while I definitely enjoyed the story, it also could’ve been much improved. Like its prequel, the plot of Moon Rise is filled to the brim with conflict after conflict, each larger or more convoluted than the previous. Though this ensures no shortage of action, it felt a little repetitive. Allie’s problems presented in the first novel were carried over into the second, and all the new ones were very reminiscent of the old ones. I feel Brothers could’ve been a little more creative in the plot execution since the story didn’t progress as much as I hoped it would. Like the plot, the characters aren’t perfectly written, but they are sufficient; I particularly enjoyed Allie’s spunk and determination and new kid Beck’s overall hunkiness. Their predictable romance was one of the highlights of the story. Although Moon Rise could’ve been much better, I still liked it and have hope for future installments in the Unbidden Magic series.

Fans of the A Great and Terrible Beauty trilogy by Libba Bray, the Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz, and The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series by Michael Scott may enjoy this interesting fantasy series.

Rating: 3.75

Review copy from publisher Belle Books

The Seven Rays by Jessica Bendinger is Munch-Worthy

You are more than you think you are.

That is the anonymous message that Beth Michaels receives right before she starts seeing things. Not just a slept-through my-alarm-clock, late-for-homeroom, haven't had-my-caffeine-fix kind of seeing things. It all starts with some dots, annoying pink dots that pop up on and over her mom and her best friend's face. But then things get out of control and Beth is seeing people's pasts, their fears, their secrets, their desires. The images are coming at Beth in hi-def streaming video and she can't stop it. Everyone thinks she's crazy and she's pretty sure she agrees with them. But crazy doesn't explain the gold envelopes that have started arriving, containing seeing keys and mysterious tarot cards. To Beth, it all seems too weird to be true. You are more than you think you are? But here's the thing: What if she is?

Well, for a girl as much into the paranormal as I am, it shouldn't be too surprising that this novel is on my wishlist. I, for one, am very good at suspending my disbelief, so while others might think that floating pink polka dots turning into visions might be the work of hallucinogenic drugs or some type of schizophrenia, I am sure this must not be the case. Otherwise, there wouldn't be much of a story. Well, there would be, but it would be totally different.

The cover art isn't too thrilling for me. I actually think it's a little weird, but whatever. It could've been worse.

Releases November 24, 2009 from Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

The Ex Games by Jennifer Echols

Since their very public breakup four years ago, Hayden and Nick have been just friends, at best. So what if Hayden’s best friends are now with Nick’s best friends? So what if Nick has seemed to be flirting with Hayden lately? Hayden will not give in to Nick’s hunkiness, no matter how much she enjoys the flirting. When Hayden wins the girls’ division of a local snowboarding competition, Nick derides her victoray by declaring she couldn’t hold her own against a guy. Oh, it’s on now. How Hayden and Nick aren’t just exchanging light insults and gibes but heavier taunts and angry exclamations they might not be able to take back. As each prepares for this new snowboarding battle of the sexes, they’ll have to break past their own fears and decide what’s more important: winning the competition or the relationship neither thought would work out.

I just love the Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies because I can always count on them to make me laugh and smile with a funny, sweet, and heartwarming story. In addition, Echols is one of my favorite RoCom authors, especially after The Ex Games. This novel is all about the chase, four years of chase to be exact, the give and take in complicated relationships, and how the smallest past betrayals can become something larger over time. Hayden and Nick are completely realistic with their stubbornness and difficulty in dealing with all the issues in their lives. I think it was their painful reluctance to apologize that I could relate to most, though, and because of that, I rooted even more for them to work out their problems and get together. Yes, the whole romance of the story is pretty predictable, but that doesn’t makes its culmination any less sweet; it anything it’s even more so. And for that, I really just thank Echols for this cute and fun-filled story that will brighten up any reader’s days.

Fans of any of the other RoComs, particularly The Boys Next Door also be Jennifer Echols, will also enjoy The Ex Games, in addition to fans of Picture Perfect by Catherine Clark.

Rating: 4.25

Review copy from author Jennifer Echols

When the Whistle Blows by Fran Cannon Slayton

The railroads run in the Cannon family’s veins. That’s why Jimmy is so sure that’s where he’s be working when he grows up, no matter how much his father demands otherwise. Jimmy feels his future is all set, especially since his father is the foreman of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and both his older brothers have quit school to work there too. All there’s left to do is wait while he grows up. But as much as Jimmy would like to think everything will stay the way it is, change is indeed coming, just as his father promised it would. Now, Jimmy just has to keep up with it or fall behind.

When the Whistle Blows is a historical novel centering on the power of the father-son relationship. Though I don’t have any firsthand experience with this, being a girl, I felt this story portrayed Jimmy and his father’s evolving bond beautifully. Slayton’s writing encompasses all the frustration, respect, protectiveness, and love the strongest father-son bonds create in seven yearly episodes. Slayton also does a fantastic job of making the story realistic; the characters were very believable and the setting and diction made the historical context authentic. Despite the story being set over fifty years ago, its message is still meaningful: change comes no matter how much resistance. And this can be change in any form, whether it is technology or familial situations. This message is only reinforced by the evolving train technology from steam to diesel and Jimmy and his father’s developing relationship. When the Whistle Blows is a solid debut novel full of hope for the future.

Fans of historical fiction, especially Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher, will enjoy When the Whistle Blows. I look forward to Slayton’s writing as well.

Rating: 4.0

Review copy from author Fran Cannon Slayton

Green Books Campaign: H.I.V.E.: Dreadnought by Mark Walden

This review is part of the Green Books campaign. Today 100 bloggers are reviewing 100 great books printed in an environmentally friendly way. Our goal is to encourage publishers to get greener and readers to take the environment into consideration when purchasing books. This campaign is organized by Eco-Libris, a green company working to green up the book industry by promoting the adoption of green practices, balancing out books by planting trees, and supporting green books. A full list of participating blogs and links to their reviews is available on Eco-Libris website.

This book has been printed on FSC-certified paper.

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Things are looking shaky for the prime villains of the world now that one of the leaders of G.L.O.V.E. (Global League of Villainous Enterprises) has gone rogue with the intent of destroying G.L.O.V.E. and showing the world the face of true evil. Meanwhile, Otto and his friends from H.I.V.E. (Higher Institute of Villainous Education) make a pit stop en route to an Arctic survival course from which only 93% of students survive—a stop that ensure a complete change of course. Instead of shivering in subzero temperatures, Otto and his friends find themselves on the run, all the while being unknowingly tracked by the villain they need to defeat. These young villains-in-training will have to utilize all their skills and find out who they can truly trust if they’re going to prevent the end of the world as they—and everyone else—knows it.

I don’t believe I can say there is a single moment in this fourth installment in the H.I.V.E. series that is without action or danger. Though I have not read the earlier three books in the series, from what I gather, Otto and the other H.I.V.E. students’ previous adventures were similarly packed to the brim with nonstop action. I usually criticize books this action-filled for their lack of depth, but I actually found the plot in this novel so engaging that I didn’t feel the need for more complex characters. Also, the plot is well written and creative in addition to being just plain exciting. I can honestly say I had difficulty guessing the outcome of many situations, and all the high-tech gadgets pushed the boundaries of my brain; in a sense, I was learning as I satisfied my appetite for danger. I know I’ve been pretty much nonstop praising the plot, but Walden does deserve credit for his characters as well. They are for the most part believable, and I like how there are strong women as well as strong men. What I found most interesting about this novel was how trust and loyalty played such large roles among the villains, I’d thought no honor among thieves was the rule, but I guess that just goes to show that even the most evil people still have humanity. Either that or I just haven’t been clued in on correct villain protocol.

Having now read Dreadnought, I certainly am eager to catch the first three books in the H.I.V.E. series and any more installments to come. Fans of spy/secret agent/just plain action flicks will enjoy this series as well as readers who enjoyed the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz.

Rating: 4.0

Review copy from publisher Bloomsbury through Eco-Libris

Everlost by Neal Shusterman

Nick and Allie don’t survive the car crash. Of course, they don’t know this at first. Despite the obvious change in season and strange dullness of the world around them, they figure the only thing that’s wrong was the car crash in the first place. But soon it becomes apparent they’re no longer among the living since no other people can see or hear them and they have a tendency to go straight through things. The only exceptions to this rule pertain to other residents and objects in Nick and Allie’s current realm of existence, Everlost. But Nick and Allie aren’t satisfied with the few dead spots they can safely stay on without risk of falling to the center of the earth and the strangeness of their situation. They want to get on with their lives, unencumbered by the unfamiliar rules of Everlost. But how can they escape?

Everlost is an exciting and fascinating version of what happens after death. Shusterman takes into account many myths and theories about the afterlife, such as haunting and possession of a body by a spirit, as well as incorporating several unique ones of his own, like how Afterlights, what Nick and Allie have become, are in danger of sinking to the center of the earth. I have to say I quite enjoyed the entire setting of Everlost and thought it made for a fantastic backdrop to the story, which was just filled with all sorts of adventures as well as challenges specific to Everlost. But even more important than the engaging plot were the characters. In general, the characters were easy to understand and to relate to; they might’ve been a little boring at times, but they were always realistic. Overall, Everlost was an entertaining read that explores the possibilities of existence after death and the different trends of human nature.

Everlost will be enjoyed by fans of Ruined by Paula Morris, Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin, and Jo-Jo and the Fiendish Lot by Andrew Auseon. Those who enjoyed Unwind, also by Shusterman, may like this more lighthearted tale. I look forward to this sequel to this story in Everwild.

Rating: 4.0

Review copy from publisher Simon & Schuster UK

Riot by Walter Dean Myers

It’s the summer of 1863 in New York City. The Civil War is well underway, dividing not only the nation but its people. A federally instituted draft only incites the brewing conflict faster. Angry Irish immigrants flood the streets, looting stories and attacking blacks whom they blame for many of their problems. The army has been brought in to put the riots down, but violence still abounds. Caught in the midst of this, fifteen-year-old Claire is confronted with the difficulty of having both Irish and African American heritage. In a situation with very little middle ground, which side will Claire choose?

Riot is a novel with an interesting topic but a less than thrilling execution. This novel is written in the style of a screenplay, which is unique but a little odd considering I don’t believe it’s supposed to be one. Because of this strict format which only allows for scene descriptions, character actions, different “camera” angles, and dialogue, I found it very difficult to get into the story. Another negative side effect of this structure is that there is little if any direct characterization, and readers must glean what they can about characters based on mainly events, actions, and dialogue. I personally found it hard to fully understand many of the characters because I didn’t know that they were thinking, which the rare soliloquy did little to remedy. If it weren’t for this story, I think I might’ve been more into the story since the Civil War and race relations are fascinating and important parts of American history. For what it’s worth, the historical events discussed, particularly the New York City draft riots, were portrayed relatively accurately, but unfortunately, the story was just boring as a whole. Perhaps it’s only the screenplay style, but Riot was just not a book for me.

Fans of historical novels just as Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher and A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly may still enjoy this stylistically untraditional novel.

Rating: 2.75

Review copy from publisher Egmont USA

How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford

Bea is not a stranger to moving, and consequently, she’s given up on lasting friendships. Since her latest move to Baltimore, Bea has figured she’ll probably end up buddies with some random but overly friendly girl at her new school. Instead, Bea finds herself sitting next to Jonah, a withdrawn and sullen boy who hasn’t made a friend since the third grade, and somehow their less than cordial introduction morphs into something in the realm of friendship. And they certainly make an interesting duo, connected by a love of late-night radio and secrets in their pasts and possibly appropriately nicknamed Ghost Boy and Robot Girl. But as with all friendships this deep, there comes the hard times, the pushing away and the pulling back. Will each ever know how much this bond means to the other? And could one ever recover from a separation, because as much as they’d like to think they’re ghosts and robots, they’re really just people.

How to Say Goodbye in Robot is a novel all about the depth and complexities of the truest form of friendship, as well as the quirks of other relationships people share. It is a story heavily reliant on its characters, which are thankfully realistic, and its writing, which was thoughtful and descriptive. I truly enjoyed the characters in this story, particularly Bea and Jonah. Even with all their peculiarities, their personalities are believable and easy to relate to. Standiford so wonderfully develops their selves that they become people the reader genuinely cares about and wants to understand. Another thing I loved about this story is how it shows that the seemingly random connections people make among each other sometimes end up being the most perfect combinations ever. It’s more than just “it’s a small world;” it’s about all the wonder the world creates, how fate worlds in mysterious ways, the magic in bringing people together, and all the possibilities in life. How to Say Goodbye in Robot is a sweet, touching, and even a little heartbreaking story that shows that no matter how much we want to think we’re okay on our own, we really do need other people.

This novel will be enjoyed by fans of The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson and Paper Towns by John Green.

Rating: 4.25

Review copy from publisher Scholastic

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain is Munch-Worthy

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared—the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in blood. But she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night really held. And when Daniel returns three years later, Grace can no longer deny her attraction to him, despite promising Jude she’ll stay away.

As Grace gets closer to Daniel, her actions stir the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind Jude and Daniel's dark secret . . . and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it—her soul.

What is it with me and these types of books? We seem to attract each other (or at least the books attract me) with their mysteries, some kind of dark and/or evil magic, and some kind of dark, twisted romance.

I seem to like the dark. At least in books.

In all honestly, I don't have a very good reason for why I want to read this book. The summary is okay. The cover art has too much purple for my taste (that gauzy material and the toenails) and the paleness of the girl's skin is quite creepy. I might've heard someone that this novel was getting good early reviews, but come to think of it, I think that someone worked for EgmontUSA. And he/she just might be a bit biased.

Releases December 22, 2009 from EgmontUSA.

Dark Visions: The Strange Power, The Possessed, The Passion by L.J. Smith

Kaitlyn Fairchild has never felt like she belongs. In her hometown, people keep away from her unusually eyes and drawings of horrible scenes that always come true. So when she’s offered the opportunity to leave home and study at the Zetes Institute in California for psychics, she accepts. At least there, she’ll have the chance to meet other people like her and not always be the outcast. And she isn’t disappointed. Studying and living with four fellow teen psychics opens Kait’s world to all new possibilities like friendship and even love. But just as she discovers these joys, she also learns of the true nature of the Institute and what’s been planned for her and her new friends. Kait must figure out who she can trust if she’s to save herself and her friends from ultimate destruction.

Dark Visions contains three juicy paranormal reads bound in one book, and I have to say, I quite enjoyed them. Strange as it is, I have never read anything by Smith prior to this, but Dark Visions has won me over. Smith proves herself a master storyteller, adept at manipulating plot and inter-character connections to create a satisfying and thrilling story. In all three books, there is no shortage of action, deceit, and romantic tension. The numerous twists and turns kept me interested in the story, but the friendship and romance really brought it to life for me because it showed the main characters’ capacities to love. For the most part, the characters were realistic although Gabriel’s deeply conflicted nature was difficult to believe at times. As a whole, the entire supernatural angle of this story was thoroughly exciting and very original, and I loved reading about Kait and her friends’ lives and backgrounds just as much as I did about their psychic adventures. Dark Visions holds a thrilling trio of paranormal action and romance stories sure to enthrall readers.

This novel will be enjoyed by fans of The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong, the Midnighters trilogy by Scott Westerfeld, and Dead Is the New Black by Marlene Perez.

Rating: 4.25

Review copy from publisher Simon & Schuster UK

How much do I love The Hunger Games? Let me count the ways...

Finally! Another video of me.

Please forgive me when I accidentally say "The Hunger Games" instead of "Catching Fire." I do a lot of talking in here.