The Loop

  Books about time traveling are very popular. It is very interesting to see how different authors approach the concept of time. The Loop by Shandy Lawson is very much like the movie, Groundhogs Day, where the characters relive the same day over and over until they find a way to break their loop of time. Thank you to Disney Hyperion and Netgalley for an advanced reader's copy of the book!

Description from the Publisher: Ben and Maggie have met, fallen in love, and died together countless times. Over the course of two pivotal day--both the best and worst of their lives--they struggle again and again to resist the pull of fate and the force of time itself. With each failure, they return to the beginning of their end, a wild road trip that brings them to the scene of their own murders and into the hands of the man who is destined to kill them.
  As time circles back on itself, events become more deeply ingrained, more inescapable for the two kids trapped inside the loop. The closer they come to breaking out, the tighter fate's clutches seem to grip them. They devise a desperate plan to break free and survive the days ahead, but what if Ben and Maggie's only shot at not dying is surviving apart?

Review: The Loop is a perfect example of a really clever premise marred by flawed execution. Ben and Maggie are two teenagers who relive their violent deaths over and over when they find themselves stuck in a time loop. Ben and Maggie have met several times, but they just don't quite remember. Both experience a very strong sense of deja vu when they accidentally bump into one another at a mall in New Orleans. Their innocent and awkwardly cute encounter leads to attempted murder, 24 hours on being on the run from authorities, an envelope full of racetrack winnings and a final showdown in a dirty storeroom, where they are shot in cold blood by the same criminal over and over for their misbegotten cash. Like many novels involving the themes of fatalism and time traveling, each time Ben and Maggie attempt to change the circumstances that lead to their demise, they are thwarted by fate, which keeps placing them in the bullets' paths. Is escape possible, or are Ben and Maggie doomed to repeat the worst day of their lives forever?
   The Loop does not lack in action. The pace is relatively quick with short chapters, however, the author doesn't seem to take time to fully develop it. We are given rash explanations of what stated the time loop. For example Ben finds out about being in a time loop by a weird psychic on the street named Steve and quickly seems to accept it. Steve, like Ben, is also part of a time loop of his own but we are never told what happens to him before and after he meets Ben. Ben and Maggie supposedly meet at the racetrack and receiver their large sum of money, however, we never see this happening. Their loop is only regulated to meeting one another and are quickly confronted by a man who basically tells them to give him the money (which seems to magically appear) or die. Big questions surrounding Ben and Maggie's time loop are either lightly touched upon or never addressed. The unimaginative answer to Ben and Maggie's time loop trouble is completely unsatisfying and frustrating.
  While I was somewhat okay with a weak plot as I didn't have any great expectations of it, I was completely disappointed with the lack of character development of our two protagonists. Since the book starts in medias res, I kept hoping for more background to flesh out Ben and Maggie. While we do get a little bit more about Maggie, I would have liked a lot more. I was never convinced that these two characters were romantically linked but they rather had been stuck together at the wrong place and wrong time. I really think that focusing on the characters a bit more would answer a lot of the questions I had the plot. For example, why are two teens at a racetrack to begin with? How did they meet and decide to place their bets together? Why was there only one person who is after them? Unfortunately by the time I finished the book, I didn't really know Ben and Maggie much better than I did at the beginning of the book. As a result, I didn't really care a whole lot about them and the book. If you're looking for a good book about time traveling, I suggest looking somewhere else.

Rating: 2 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language. Recommended for Grades 7 and up.

If you like this book try: Tempest by Julie Cross, The Obsidian Mirror by Catherine Fisher

Boy Nobody + Giveaway!

  I'm not a fan of action flicks. My idea of a great movie isn't watching things blow up or seeing two guys beat each other to a pulp. I need depth, a story, and characters that are three dimensional that I can root for in my action movies such as the Bourne series, which sucks me in regardless of how many times I've watched the series. Boy Nobody, a new edge-of-your-seat thriller series by Allen Zadoff reminded me of good, quality action films. I had a really hard time putting Boy Nobody down and I think a lot of readers will have the same problem. Many thanks to Little, Brown for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of the book. If you're interested, you can enter the giveaway for the ARC at the end of my review.

Description:  They needed the perfect assassin.

Boy Nobody is the perennial new kid in school, the one few notice and nobody thinks much about. He shows up in a new high school in a new town under a new name, makes a few friends, and doesn't stay long. Just long enough for someone in his new friend's family to die-of "natural causes." Mission accomplished, Boy Nobody disappears, moving on to the next target.

But when he's assigned to the mayor of New York City, things change. The daughter is unlike anyone he has encountered before; the mayor reminds him of his father. And when memories and questions surface, his handlers at The Program are watching. Because somewhere deep inside, Boy Nobody is somebody: the kid he once was; the teen who wants normal things, like a real home and parents; a young man who wants out. And who just might want those things badly enough to sabotage The Program's mission.

Review: An unnamed teen assassin saw the life of his father ripped away by a close friend when he was 12. Since then, he's been under the employ of "Mother" and "Father," the heads of an organization called "The Program" that uses children as hired killers. Boy Nobody is one of the best assassins "The Program" has ever seen. He is distant from his marks, only building relationships with them so can manipulate the situation to his benefit. He is also professional and always finishes the job smoothly and cleanly without a mess. The killings all have low levels of blood and gore and usually look like accidents so he can escape the scene without any suspicion. He completes his missions with no questions asked and then waits for his next job.
  "Mother" and "Father" have tapped him with a new job: killing the mayor of New York City. A simple job quickly gets complicated when he develops feelings for the mayor's daughter. Instead of relying on the cliched romance, Zadoff emphasizes Boy Nobody's lack of a real life, particularly the void of human interaction and affection. When the mayor and the mayor's daughter actually feel like people to him, Boy Nobody begins to ask questions about his origins and how he has lead to The Program.
   Zadoff's chapters are short, to-the-point, and almost always ends of the height of action, mirroring the narrative voice of his protagonist. I had a very hard time finding a spot to put down the book. His nameless, tough-as-nails lead character has just the right balance of cunning, heart and conscience to win my respect and admiration. The plot speeds along seamlessly with plenty of action and drama. I was delighted to find some twist and turns that surprised me, especially how the book ends. I can't wait to share this book with my male teens who are always on the lookout for a great read that isn't derailed by an overwhelming romance plot thread. I would even recommend this one to reluctant readers as the neck-breaking action will surely keep them turning pages. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series, which I hope comes out soon.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language, sexual innuendo, underage drinking, and PG-13 violence. Recommended for Grades 8 and up.

If you like this book try: I Am the Cheese by Robert Cormier, Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz, Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum

GIVEAWAY

Thanks to Little, Brown I have an ARC of Boy Nobody to giveaway.  To enter, simply leave your name and email address so I can contact you if you win. This giveaway is open to U.S. mailing addresses only. The winner will be selected by Random.org and the giveaway will run until FRIDAY, 7/12/13 at 11 PM EST. The winner will be announced on my blog on SATURDAY, 7/13/13. Good luck!

Manga Mondays: Afterschool Charisma Vol. 7

  I haven't participated in Manga Mondays for quite some time due to time constraints. Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers.

Description: The exclusive St. Kleio Academy is in jeopardy. Kai and his following have become terrorists who vow to protect those who remain at the academy. Rockwell, the head of the Academy, calls for Shiro to end his time at the school and move on to his next step: being the ultimate protector of St. Kelo Academy like his his original. What does being protector entail?

Review: Unlike other mangas that I've read, I read a volume of Afterschool Charisma at least twice. that's not to say that I put the volume down or that I become disinterested in it but rather the plot becomes more complicated with each volume. In this volume, we learn that Shiro is a clone of the person who created the St. Kelo Academy. He is caught in the middle of helping his friends by working with the Academy and joining the extreme terrorist group created by Kai.
  When he unexpectedly graduates from the Academy, he is given the huge responsibility to take care of the Academy. The Academy is still very much a mystery. From what Shiro is told, it was the vision that the clones of great and infamous historical figures is to lead society in the right direction. One wonders if that is the real reason or if it's the reason that sounds the best.
  Shiro is now educated by clone Leonardo De Vinci, where he is to learn how to become a leader. Once he arrived, he discovers some surprises such as an older clone Freud and even Marie Curie, who Shiro (and myself) believed to be dead. As Shiro tries to wrap his head around his new surroundings, Kai and the terrorists appear on public television to expose St. Kleio in hopes of getting the public sympathies how the clones are treated.
   Just like other volumes of this series, more questions are raised than answered. How does exposing the St. Kleio Academy help either side? What will become of St. Kleio in the meantime? I guess I have to wait until October to know.


Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some sexual innuendo and mature themes. Recommended for older teens and up.

If you like this book try: Afterschool Charisma Vol. 8 by Kumiko Suekane, Unwind by Neal Shusterman, Hetalia: Axis Powers by Hidekaz Himaruya, Code Geass by Majiko

Magicalamity

  I listed Magicalamity on my reading recommendations for Spring Break this year. Magicalamity reads like a Pixar movie that is full of adventure, mystery, humor, and as the title suggests, magic.

Description: Tom is in shock. He's just discovered that his dad is an escaped fairy on the run. And that he must trust his life to three dangerous fairy godmothers he's never met. Two of them are hardened criminals, and one falls out of the window when she tries to fly . . . Will their mad magic be enough to help Tom rescue his dad from the clutches of some killer fairies?

Review: Magicalamity is a fun filled fantasy that has spies, secret organizations, fairy godmothers, flying carpets, and of course magic. Tom Harding is under the mistaken impression that he is a normal young boy until his parents disappear and he finds a bumbling fairy in his kitchen, making eggs for breakfast. It turns out that she is one of his three fairy godmothers, who answered his father's call for help. His father is a fairy who is arrested for attempted murder and is in mortal danger, his mother has been hidden in a jar of sun-dried tomatoes, and Tom is actually a demisprite, a half fairy who is an abomination in the fairy kingdom. Despite all this confusing introduction to the news, it is clear to Tom that he will have to save his parents from the fury of the ruling Falconer family. With the help of his fairy godmothers and Pindar, a renegade Falconer, he uses his determination, courage, and clear-sightedness to bring the story to a satisfying resolution. The characters are lively and the plot quickly moves in short chapters. I couldn't help but chuck at the sly humor and clever asides the author uses such as the Realm Wide Web with the Abracadabra browser. Your readers, both boys and girls, looking for a fun book to read over the summer should definitely pick this one up.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some adult humor and themes that children may not understand. Recommended for Grades 4 and up.

If you like this book try: Ordinary Magic by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway

Crash (Visions #1)

    When asked for a recommendation on a good romantic supernatural suspense series, one of my go-to authors is Lisa McMann. I absolutely adored her Wake trilogy, which grabbed my attention right away from the first book. The captivating and quickly moving plot and extremely likable characters are the main reasons I think McMann's books are hit with reluctant readers. You simply don't have a chance to be bored, especially when the author started a brand new, four book series called Visions. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series which is available now.

Description: Jules lives with her family above their restaurant, which means she smells like pizza most of the time and drives their double-meatball-shaped food truck to school. It’s not a recipe for popularity, but she can handle that. What she can’t handle is the recurring vision that haunts her. Over and over, Jules sees a careening truck hit a building and explode...and nine body bags in the snow.
   The vision is everywhere—on billboards, television screens, windows—and she’s the only one who sees it. And the more she sees it, the more she sees. The vision is giving her clues, and soon Jules knows what she has to do. Because now she can see the face in one of the body bags, and it’s someone she knows. Someone she has been in love with for as long as she can remember.

Review:  Crash is a mash-up between Romeo and Juliet and the horror movie series Final Destination. Julie Demarco keeps seeing on vision of an out-of-control snowplow crash into a restaurant, causing an explosion and killing several people inside on nearly every flat surface--billboards, televisions and road signs. With a depressed grandfather who committed suicide and a moody, hoarder father, she's almost certain that her visions is a sign of some mental illness. She keeps the terrifying images to herself, certain her Italian family will commit her if they find out about her visions. In addition to the puzzling and horrific images, the restaurant in jeopardy belongs to no one other than their rival pizza parlor, and one of the dead is Sawyer Angotti, Julie's one time good friend and her secret, lifelong crush and son of the adversarial restaurateur.
  McMann succeeds in creating another unput-downable supernatural thriller. With quick pacing, realistic dialogue, and the right amount of romance (which thankfully isn't insta-love), the story takes flight and I kept turning the pages to find out what would happen next. Julie is a strong female protagonist, who is aware of her shortcomings but her determination to thwart a disaster regardless of who is involved is admirable. Instead of impulsively plunging head first like most of the heroines we encounter, Julie uses clues from her ever more frequent visions to try to figure out the exact time of the crash in an attempt to prevent it from happening, risking her already shaky standing with Sawyer, her parents and her classmates. Her relationship with Sawyer and her siblings are natural. McMann fleshes out Sawyer's character as he becomes his own person as he and Julie discover some dark family secrets. My only complaint about Crash is the lack of explanation of how the vision works and I'm hoping this will become clearer as the four book series continues. While the book doesn't end in a cliffhanger per se, there are many questions left unanswered and I'm eagerly awaiting the release of the second book told from Sawyer's point of view called Bang, which is set to release later this fall.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language in the book and some disturbing images. Recommended for Grades 7 and up.

If you like this book try: Wake trilogy by Lisa McMann, The Bodyfinder series by Kimberly Derting, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Will and Whit

  I absolutely loved Laura Lee Gulledges debut and Eisner Award nominee graphic novel Page by Paige and was so excited to see that she had a new graphic novel being released this year. Many thanks to Amulet Books, an imprint of Abrams, for giving me an advanced copy of the graphic novel to read.

Description (from the Publisher): Wilhelmina “Will" Huxstep is a creative soul struggling to come to terms with a family tragedy. She crafts whimsical lamps, in part to deal with her fear of the dark. As she wraps up another summer in her mountain town, she longs for unplugged adventures with her fellow creative friends, Autumn, Noel, and Reese. Little does she know that she will get her wish in the form of an arts carnival and a blackout, courtesy of a hurricane named Whitney, which forces Will to face her fear of darkness.


Review: Willhemena, Will to her friends and family, is planning on spending a perfectly quiet summer working at her aunt's antiques shop, making lamps and spending time with her friends. She openly admits that she is afraid of the dark though we don't know the reason behind her fear. Is it a phobia or has some big event triggered her panic? Readers don't know for sure until Will slowly starts to break down her walls which is catalyzed by two fateful events quickly steer her plans off course: a chance meeting with a group of teens who are putting together an eclectic carnival and a savage summer storm named Whitney that will plunge her town into a prolonged blackout in its wake.
  Forced to confront her fears of the dark, both literal and figurative, Will finds herself stronger and happier than she could have imagined. Peppered with pop-culture references from Doctor Who to The Hunger Games and supported by Gulledge's stylish and life-like black-and-white illustrations, this sophomore graphic novel is upbeat despite Will's tragedy. The chapters are short and pack a lot of visual metaphors and foreshadowing of the tragedy that haunts Will. Will is an intensely likable character, as are her funky group of friends. I love how this book focuses on trauma and creativity, strength in community, and insightful truths that don't come off sounding too preachy. Quirky, intelligent, and fresh, Will and Whit is another winner from Laura Lee Gulledge and I can't wait to see what she has lined up next.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some PG-13 language. Recommended for Grades 7 and up.

If you like this book try: Page by Paige by Gulledge, Laura Lee, Drama by Raina Telgeimer

Paper Talk - 05 June 2013

• Jose Mourinho has made Edin Dzeko his number one transfer target at Chelsea.


• Roberto Martinez has been given the green light to sign James McCarthy and Callum McManaman when he finally joins Everton - but only if the price is right.


• Hull's Steve Bruce may well make Wigan's Maynor Figueroa his first summer signing.


• Jose Mourinho hopes to tie up a £20m deal to make Andre Schurrle his first signing since returning to Chelsea.


• Jesus Navas snubbed a move to Real Madrid to join Manchester City.


• Robin van Persie says Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement will not stop Manchester United from winning.


• West Ham have been told they won't get Celtic striker Gary Hooper on the cheap.


• Fabio Capello has refused to rule out a move to PSG.


• Bacary Sagna has opened the door for an Arsenal exit after contract talks stalled.


• Atletico Madrid are prepared to offer £24m to win the race for Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke.


• Aiden McGeady has put Premier League clubs on alert after he admitted he fancied a chance to play in England.


• David Moyes will make £10m PSV midfielder Kevin Strootman his first signing as Manchester United boss.

• Tottenham have offered Jermain Defoe in a cash-plus player exchange deal for Christian Benteke.


• Patrice Evra is the latest player to join the Monaco revolution.


• Andy Carroll is demanding £100,000 per week to complete his £15.5m move to West Ham.


• Wayne Rooney wants to play up front if he is to stay at Manchester United.


• Real Madrid have put a £20m price on tag on defender Pepe.


• Marouane Fellaini and Javier Mascherano are on a shortlist of targets for Rafa Benitez at Napoli.


• Fabio Capello has not ruled out a move to PSG.


• Steve Bruce will make Maynor Figueroa his first signing this summer at Hull.


• Jesus Navas has revealed he rejected Real Madrid to join Manchester City.

• Jose Mourinho's first significant act since returning to Chelsea could be to hijack Arsenal's attempts to sign Montenegro striker Stevan Jovetic.


• Andy Carroll is seeking an increase in his weekly wage to £100,000 to make his move to West Ham from Liverpool permanent.


• Wayne Rooney has warned Manchester United he wants to play as the main striker next season if he is to stay at Old Trafford.


• Manchester City are likely to intensify their efforts to sign Brazil midfielder Fernandinho from Shakhtar Donetsk.

• Manchester United are ready to step up their interest in Everton's Leighton Baines.


• Tottenham are prepared to break their transfer record for Valencia striker Roberto Soldado.


• Aston Villa are interested in striker Ivelin Popov from Kuban Krasnodar in Russia.


• West Brom are weighing up a cut-price move for PSV Eindhoven striker Ola Toivonen.


• Besiktas are keen on Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.

• Manchester United have stepped up their efforts to make Cristiano Ronaldo the signing of the summer.


• Bayern Munich want Luis Suarez and are ready to offer Liverpool Arjen Robben as part of a deal.


• Bacary Sagna could quit Arsenal as contract talks have stalled.


• Jose Mourinho has told his Chelsea stars: You have not been good enough.


• Tottenham are ready to launch a £9m bid for former Birmingham striker Christian Benitez.


• Monaco are ready to bid £15m for Liverpool defender Daniel Agger.


• Paolo Di Canio is lining up Argentina winger Ignacio Scocco for Sunderland.


• Cardiff and Crystal Palace are set to battle it out for £2.5m Bristol City winger Albert Adomah.


• Real Zaragoza plan to swoop for supsended Brighton boss Gus Poyet.


• Aston Villa are locked in a battle for £12.5m Montpellier midfielder Younes Belhanda.


• Steve Bruce is being targeted for a shock return to Wigan.


• Cesc Fabregas says he does not want to quit Barcelona, despite reported interest from Manchester United and former club Arsenal.

• Manchester United are ready to step up their interest in Leighton Baines by making a £10m offer to Everton.


• Cristiano Ronaldo has fuelled speculation he could leave Real Madrid this summer by putting his villa up for sale.


• Chelsea target Wesley Sneijder has hinted at a reunion with Jose Mourinho.


• West Ham have signed Spanish keeper Adrian from Real Betis.

• Monaco will offer John Terry a tax-free £150,000 per week in an effort to persuade him to leave Chelsea.


• Tottenham are considering a bid for Valencia striker Roberto Soldado.


• Manchester City will complete the signing of Brazilian midfielder Fernandino.


• Dave Whelan has made an audacious approach for former manager Steve Bruce as he looks for a successor to Roberto Martinez.


• West Ham have failed with a club-record £14.5m bid for Spain forward Alvaro Negredo.


• Lauen Koscielny has heaped further pressure on Arsene Wenger to make some major summer signings at Arsenal by saying he will "take a look eslewhere" if they do not have a squad to challenge for trophies.

• Monaco are also keen on Daniel Agger, but Liverpool are hoping to keep him at Anfield.

Cesc Fabregas wants to stay at Barcelona

Cesc Fabregas has refused to talk about the rumours of a transfer to Manchester United and says he only wants to stay at Barcelona.



The former Arsenal star has been linked with a big-money switch to both Manchester clubs and Arsenal this summer, with the intriguing prospect of him rekindling his great understanding with Robin van Persie on tthe cards if he were to choose Old Trafford.



But the Spaniard, who has hit 14 goals this season, has made it clear he has no intention of leaving the Nou Camp.



When quizzed on his future, Fabregas told a Catalonian radio station: "There is nothing to say.

"I'm very happy at Barca, and I want to stay for many more years to come.



" Fabregas has been played out of position as he cannot displace any of the three regular starters in Barca's much-vaunted midfield.

And the signing of Brazilian whizkid Neymar means it is even less likely that he will squeeze into the side as a forward next season.



Fabregas left Arsenal for Barcelona in 2011 and still has three years left on his contract.

Aston Villa launches bid for Belhanda

Montpellier president Louis Nicollin says Aston Villa are one of five clubs to have made a bid for creative midfielder Younes Belhanda.



The highly-rated Moroccan international has admitted he would like to move to England, and had been strongly linked with Arsenal and Tottenham in the past.



But Nicollin has now revealed that Villa are currently the only bidders from the English top flight for Belhanda, who is set to leave the Ligue 1 outfit a year after helping them lift the title. "He is leaving," Nicollin told LeSport10.



"There are four or five clubs that have come in. It is now down to the player to choose now because we are almost in agreement with the clubs. He will leave for 14-15 million euros." Asked if the offers were concrete, he replied: "Yes.



From AC Milan, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Galatasaray and Aston Villa. "We have no problem now, he [Belhanda] has the authority to agree with whoever he wants now.



"Villa already have Belhanda's Moroccan international teammate Karim Al Ahmadi on their books and Paul Lambert is looking to add a creative spark to his side to play behind the striker.

Djukic to be confirmed as Valencia boss

Miroslav Djukic is set to be confirmed as the new Valencia coach after meeting with club officials.



The Serbian, who announced last week he was stepping down as Real Valladolid boss, will replace Ernesto Valverde who left Valencia after it narrowly missed out on UEFA Champions League football on the final day of the Spanish season.



The 47-year-old will be formally presented on Wednesday, but told Marca he was looking forward to returning to the club where he played from 1997 to 2003.

"There is a good squad here who can achieve great things," he said. "To me, it's a dream to come to Valencia. This is home to me, and I have always regarded it as so."

Djukic had been at Valladolid since 2011, guiding it to promotion and then securing its top-flight status with a 14th-place finish this season.

Agent confirms Granero exit

Esteban Granero's agent has confirmed the midfielder will quit relegated QPR this summer.



The former Spain Under-21 international joined from Real Madrid last August, penning a four-year deal at Loftus Road.



He was one of a number of big-money signings to sign for Rangers last season but they failed to revive the team's fortunes, with the club eventually finishing bottom of the Premier League.



In order to adjust to life back in the Championship a number of the team's high earners will need to be sold to balance the books.



Granero's agent, Teo Lazaro, has revealed the 25-year-old is among those who will need to seek a new club during the close season.



"QPR will have to part ways with a number of highly paid players following their relegation from the Premier League," he told Izvestia.



"Among those players listed is the name of my client. Basically, we have to find a new club."

Townsend suspended by FA

Andros Townsend has been banned from football for four months, three of them suspended, for breaching betting rules.



The Tottenham winger admitted the charge last month and voluntarily withdrew from the England squad for the forthcoming European U21 Championship.



Three quarters of his ban is suspended until July 1, 2016 and will be immediately invoked if there is a further betting offence.



The remaining month is backdated to May 23, meaning Townsend must refrain from all football activity until June 23.



The 21-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan at QPR, has also been fined £18,000.

Negredo wanted by Hammers

West Ham made an offer of £17m for Alvaro Negredo back in January as the striker prepares for a summer move away from Spain.



Everton were strongly linked with Negredo back in the New Year but £20m proved to be too much - now Sevilla president Jose Del Nido has revealed that the Hammers made an offer of £17m which was turned down by the Spanish club.



Sevilla have a release clause of £20m on the 27-year-old who scored 25 goals last season and they are looking to get full value for the striker.



His agent, Juanma Lopez, has confirmed there is interest from the Premier League for the player but hinted that Rafael Benitez's Napoli may be his preferred option.

"Alavaro has played a very important season and many clubs are coming forward for him," Lopez told tuttomercatoweb. "I think he can go either to England or Italy.



"Napoli is a possibility given that [Rafa] Benitez likes the player and the team will play in next season's Champions League, a competition that Negredo would like to take part in.



"The final decision is up to Seville, whoever wants Negredo has to find an agreement with them."

Running into the Darkness Blog Tour: Guest Post by D.A. Bale + Giveaway!

  Even though I'm on a blogging break, I wanted to take some time and introduce to you a suspenseful read by D.A. Bale. Before I let D.A. talk about her expectations of what makes a good suspense/mystery book, check out the cover and synopsis for her book, Running into the Darkness, and be sure to check out the cool giveaway at the end of the post.

Death follows Dr. Samantha Bartlett throughout her life until it claims everyone close to her. There's one powerful man responsible on whom Samantha sets her sights for revenge. The price is her soul. For centuries, sex has been the weapon of men...now it's her turn.
“I never intended to kill the President. As a doctor, I swore an oath to protect life – not take it. But that was before...”
Second year resident, Dr. Samantha Bartlett, is swept from the frigid New York winter to once again confront the sting of death back home – and face those she left behind. But she’s not alone. A strange man she dubs Shades haunts her every step as she seeks answers to the inferno which claimed her grandmother, an eerie reminder of her parents’ deaths. The secrets Samantha uncovers forever changes her image of those she only thought she knew.
Confronted by Shades, Samantha joins a secret underworld known only as the Elite, where a web of power and control is woven deep within governments worldwide. Their sights are set on the power structure of the United States, and Samantha becomes the unlikely key to infiltrating the White House at its most intimate levels.  The quest for blood threatens to destroy Samantha. From the darkness there is no escape.

D.A. on what makes a good suspense/mystery read

  Have you ever picked up a novel and got what you expected?  Now let me ask another question.

Was this a good thing? Call me weird – and yes, I’m okay with that designation – but I’m not necessarily happy with the expected when I read.  Don’t get me wrong here; there are certain anticipations with every genre. When you read romance, you know the guy will eventually get the girl.  With mystery, you’re trying to figure out who did it.  Horror, you expect to pee your pants when the boogeyman jumps out from under the bed.  Readers are typically perusing the shelves for something familiar from their genre of choice.

 But what if you were surprised?  Pleasantly surprised? Thrillers and suspense are some of my favorites:  action, adventure, and the bad guys getting their butts kicked by the good guy/girl.  However, when I figure out pretty much the entire plot in the first few pages, it turns what could have been an interesting read into a real letdown. So in my opinion, what makes a good thriller?  I’m glad you asked.

   Thrillers are usually known for action, action, and lots of action, but I also like moments woven into the story that allow me to get to know the primary characters.  What is it in their backgrounds that play into motivation for why they make the choices they do throughout the novel?  How have their choices led them to where they are?  These tidbits give them purpose, help me determine whether their actions have merit and make them feel three-dimensional – like real people.  I need to feel connected to them in some way.

 Layers to the storyline add depth and dimension, keeping me guessing as to what potential direction(s) the novel could take.  It’s a good book when I am not sure what happens next or how a character or event ties into the main arc.  Many stories are very linear:  point A leads to point B, to point C, and so on until we get to point Z.  That works for a lot of people.  But I love the novels that take me from point A to point M, back to D and so on.  That’s rather the way I write too!  But the important thing is that all of these little loose ends eventually tie together somehow.  If secondary or tertiary characters and situations are tossed in willy-nilly and never meet the main arc somewhere, it just seems more like unnecessary filler.

 What about the bad guys?  They need to be REALLY bad!  Not caricatures, mind you, but nasty, sick, twisted, and messed up characters who don’t give a rats-rear-end about anyone but themselves and the power they crave.  If you have any knowledge of history, it’s full of super nasty individuals (Hitler anyone?).  You many have experienced a few bad guys of your own in real life – I have too.  When there’s a really good bad guy, it makes their comeuppance that much sweeter.

Believe it or not, a dose of humor makes for a good thriller read too.  Humor gives another element of depth to people, as long as it is still true to the character and isn’t too disruptive to the story flow.  It also allows for a bit of a breather in the midst of non-stop action and when the stakes ramp up and threaten to spin out of control.

So give me a good thriller to read any day, as long as it keeps me on my toes, on the edge of my seat, and still guessing about what’s coming when I turn the page.  This, in my opinion, is what takes the expected into the realm of pleasantly surprised.  Happy reading!

 Thanks for the enlightening post, D.A.! If you would like to purchase a copy of the book, it is available at Kindle, Nook, and Smashwords.

To learn more about D.A., please visit her website, on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.

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Palermo chief confirms Coach Gattuso

Palermo chief Maurizio Zamparini has announced the appointment of Gennaro Gattuso as the club’s new tactician.



“Gattuso is our Coach for next season,” the President told Ita Sport Press. “I can confirm that officially. A club statement will soon be released on the matter.



“We are happy to have such an important personality as Gattuso on our bench, someone who has written important chapters in the history of Italian football.



“I’m sure that with his great experience he will take us immediately back into Serie A.”



Gattuso, who joined Sion from Milan last summer, has limited coaching experience seeing as he took charge of 10 games this term while acting as a player-Coach in Switzerland.



The 35-year-old replaces Giuseppe Sannino after the former Siena boss asked to leave the outfit following relegation to Serie B.

Paulo Dybala on Manchester City radar

Manchester City are preparing a £2.5million swoop for Palermo's young Argentine striker Paulo Dybala - dubbed the 'new Sergio Aguero'.



Reports in Italy claim City have made their interest known to Palermo and are aware that the 19-year-old is available for just 3m euros now the that Sicilians have suffered relegation to Serie B.



Palermo paid a London company fronted by agent Gustavo Mascardi roughly £3million for the teenage prodigy, who had scored 17 goals for Instituto in the Argentine second division, last summer.



But Dybala has struggled in his first year in Italy, playing regularly but only hitting the net three times.



It has been claimed that he has failed to integrate into the dressing room and spends most of his time away from the club in his hotel room watching Argentine TV on the internet.



City, with their mini-Argentinean enclave of Pablo Zabaleta, Carlos Tevez and Aguero himself, could help Dybala settle into life away from Argentina - where the youngster lost his father aged only 15.



Dybala's family has Italian origins, so a work permit would be no issue should City decide to sign the player.

Heynckes taking a break for now

Bayern Munich's triple-winning boss Jupp Heynckes today confirmed he will not coach a team next season, despite receiving offers to take charge of "rich clubs where money does not matter".



Heynckes has been heavily linked with the vacancy at his former club Real Madrid after the departure of Jose Mourinho to Chelsea, but has opted to take a break to spend more time with his family.



The 68-year-old, who led Bayern to the Bundesliga, Champions League and DFB-Pokal titles this season, said at a press conference: "I will not seek a new job after July 1, either at home or abroad.

"I told my wife last summer I will fulfil my contract at Bayern and then not continue.



"Other clubs were interested in signing me after this season - rich clubs where money does not matter.



"Such clubs have never interested me."

He admitted age was a factor in his decision, adding: "I've noticed, especially in the last few weeks, that I have reached an age at which regeneration takes longer.

"I felt that I went to the limit, it was incredibly stressful."

Bayern executive chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who helped install former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola as Heynckes' successor for next season, suggested the door will always be open for a man who has coached, among others, Real Madrid, Benfica and Schalke, in a long career.



Rummenigge said: "If sometime, after his holiday has passed and his spirit has returned, he can call myself and (supervisory board chairman) Uli (Hoeness).

"The doors at Bayern are still wide open."

Sagna in talks on new Arsenal deal

Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has confirmed he is in talks to extend his contract, but he has not ruled out a return to France.



Sagna, 30, is entering into the final season of his current deal at the Emirates Stadium, and so could become a free agent this time next year and agree a lucrative Bosman transfer.



Big-spending pair Paris St Germain and Monaco are said to be monitoring the situation, but former Auxerre defender Sagna, who has twice recovered from broken leg, hinted he would be happy to stay on at Arsenal if an agreement can be brokered.



Speaking to L'Equipe, Sagna said: "There are [talks], but I still haven't extended my contract. "I am talking, and I am not at a bad club either." When asked whether he could return to play in France, Sagna, who is currently on international duty, added: "It is possible. "We would have to see in which conditions and, in sporting terms, what they propose. I won't go just anywhere. "If I stay at Arsenal, I will try to have a good season, there's the World Cup at the end of it. "If I am to leave, it will be a new challenge."

Jesus Navas excited by change

Jesus Navas insists he never had any second thoughts about choosing to join Manchester City - a decision he says he made some time ago.



Sevilla confirmed last night they had accepted an offer from City for the 27-year-old Spain winger, with reports suggesting the deal could be worth up to £24million.



There had been speculation Real Madrid were keen on his services, but Navas, who has spent his entire career to date with local club Sevilla, said he had made up his mind on a switch to City long ago.



Speaking today, Navas was quoted as saying by the Spanish media: "We've been talking with Manchester City for four months. The decision is taken.



"There had been rumours (about Real Madrid), but Manchester City were in from the start and I had decided some time ago. It's a good project and it was the moment to make the step.



"The Premier League is a competition where the football is very fast. I'm really looking forward to it. Manchester City are making a great team.



"I'm going from Sevilla, which is a very nice place, and I'm going to a great club in England."



He added on Sevilla's official website: "It was my choice. I'm very happy with the decision. I wanted to continue growing there and they've put a lot of faith in me and I want to continue doing well there.



"It's difficult because I've spent many years enjoying playing in front of these fans but I've made my decision, I wanted to go there. It's a good step for me and I never had any hesitation.



"I want to thank the (Sevilla) fans and the club for all that they've given me."



Navas is widely expected to be joined at City by Manuel Pellegrini, with the Chilean favourite to take over the vacant managerial post at the Etihad Stadium.



Navas, who is on Spain duty ahead of the upcoming Confederations Cup in Brazil, said: "I don't know Pellegrini personally, but I've heard good things about him. He's a great coach."

Reina denies Barcelona return

Pepe Reina has denied speculation he will return to Barcelona and has confirmed he would be open to extending his Liverpool contract.



Widespread reports have claimed that Reina is a target for Barcelona, if current No.1 Victor Valdes leaves the Spanish champions next summer.



However, Reina has stressed that he is happy at Anfield and has dismissed talk of a return to his first club as 'only rumours'.



"I have my own contract with Liverpool for three more years," said Reina. "Nothing has changed.





"If so, we want to make it bigger and my future is with Liverpool.



"Right now, about Barca, there are only rumours and only people talking about possibilities. There are no facts. I cannot talk further on that."



Valdes is currently expected to leave Barcelona in 2014 when his contract expires and Reina respects his fellow Spain international's position.



Reina added: "Victor has said he will not move from Barcelona and wants to fulfil his contract, and that must be respected."

Courtois keen on Benteke move

Thibaut Courtois thinks fellow countryman Christian Benteke could be just the man Atletico Madrid need to fill the gap left by Radamel Falcao.



Atletico snapped up young Rayo Vallecano striker Leo Baptistao on Monday as they seek to replace the prolific Falcao and have also been linked with a number of other forwards.



One of these is Benteke, who won himself a long list of admirers with his performances for Aston Villa last season, and goalkeeper Courtois believes Atletico would get themselves a "great signing" if they lure the 22-year-old to the Vicente Calderon.



"He's a very strong centre-forward, tall, but with very good technique and skilful with the ball at his feet," said Courtois, who has spent the last two seasons on loan at Atletico from Chelsea.



"I think that he could be a great signing for Atletico. During these days with the national team I'm going to ask him about his future."



Courtois added of the former Genk forward in quotes reported by the Spanish press: "I know him well, we played together when we were young. Benteke is a player who has worked hard, he left Genk and had several loans spells that has helped him grow.



"He had a sensational 2011/12 season with Genk and that led to the attention from the Premier League."

Monaco target Daniel Agger

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger has emerged as the latest name on Monaco’s summer shopping list with the offer of a four-year deal being put on the table, according to French daily Equipe.



Agger has already courted interest from Italy this summer with his former manager Rafael Benitez having announced his own wish list for Napoli that also includes Lucas Leiva and Martin Skrtel.



The Denmark international very nearly departed for Manchester City last summer, but a financial disagreement meant Agger stayed on at Anfield to become a regular in the starting eleven once again.



And his performances have attracted the attention of Monaco, who have already made a string of signings this summer, most notably snapping up Radamel Falcao from Atletico Madrid.



With 35 league appearances under his belt, Agger helped Liverpool fight hard for a European berth in the table, but it proved in vain as the Reds finished seventh.

Liverpool keen on Sevilla hotshot

Estadio Deportivo is reporting that Liverpool are hoping to sign Sevilla forward Luis Alberto in the summer transfer window.



The 20-year-old footballer was loaned to Barcelona last summer and he largely impressed playing for Barcelona B.



However, despite scoring 11 goals in 37 league matches and racking up the most assists in the team, Barcelona officials opted against making the loan deal permanent.



The player is, therefore, set to return to Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, but there is every chance he will be leaving Sevilla again.



According to Estadio Deportivo, Liverpool and Swansea are showing interest in the 20-year-old with a view of luring him to English Premier League at the end of the current campaign.



The Reds are prepared to offer around £5 million for Luis Alberto, but Sevilla is holding out for £8 million.



With Jesus Navas set to join Manchester City and Alvaro Negredo also likely to leave, los Rojiblancos are under no pressure to sell.

Fiorentina calm over Jovetic

Fiorentina sports director Daniele Prade has stated that the club have not made Stevan Jovetic available for transfer.



However, he has reiterated the club's position that he could leave if their asking price of €30million (£25.7m), cash only, is met.



Juventus were quick to make contact over Jovetic and are believed to have offered players plush cash for the Montenegrin, who has also been linked with Arsenal and Manchester United.



Prade, though, is adamant that Fiorentina are happy for Jovetic to remain at the club.



"Stevan is not on the market. There is a promise made by the president [Andrea Della Valle] to him, that he can leave him if we get an offer of €30million cash," he told Corriere dello Sport



"If not we'd gladly keep him. Jovetic has not said he wants to go away, it's a subject that will have to do with him and the president.



"There have not been offers, we only met the player's agent Ramadani. The president has not authorised me to speak with Juventus, it is up to the president to decide."



As well as Jovetic, his team-mate Adem Ljajic was linked with a move to his former club United.



But Prade says they are in talks with the young Serb over a new contract, and he added: "The Ljajic contract, we'll discuss with the agent in the coming days."



The Fiorentina chief did confirm that they are hoping to conclude a deal for Malaga winger Joaquin.



"There is a negotiation with Malaga, we'll talk this week with them to try to close the deal," he said.

Paper Talk - 04 June 2013

• Jose Mourinho last night promised Chelsea a successful marriage as he was officially reunited with his true love.


• Roberto Martinez is to become the new manager of Everton.


• Arsene Wenger insists it would be impossible to turn down the chance to sign Wayne Rooney.


• Wesley Sneijder was last night linked with a shock summer reunion with Jose Mourinho.


• Johan Cruyff has predicted Jose Mourinho will flop on his Chelsea return.


• Arsene Wenger faces a fight to keep £15million Bayern Munich target Laurent Koscielny.


• Manchester United hope to push through the £15million capture of Benfica centre-back Ezequiel Garay.


• Liverpool are ready to push the boat out to sign crack Armenian Henrikh Mkhitaryan - whether Luis Suarez quits or not.


• Teenage left back Luke Shaw will snub Chelsea and Manchester United to sign a five-year deal at Southampton.


• Arsene Wenger has finally confessed he made a "huge mistake" by not signing Gareth Bale.


• Wonderkid Luke Shaw will snub Chelsea and Manchester United to sign a new five-year deal at Southampton.


• Real Madrid President Florentino Perez has publicly admitted for the first time the Spanish giants are interested in Gareth Bale and hinted they will make a bid in the next few weeks. “Bale is one of Europe’s great players and Real Madrid always likes great players," he said.

• Jose Mourinho insisted he had come home after finally being confirmed as Chelsea's new boss last night.


• Roberto Martinez is set to become the new manager of Everton after chairman Bill Kenwright chose the Spaniard to lead the club forward.


• Arsene Wenger last night admitted: "I could not turn down the chance to sign Wayne Rooney."


• Tottenham last night digged their heels in over Gareth Bale by snubbing a meeting with Real Madrid's sporting director Zinedine Zidane.


• Manchester City have agreed a £21m deal for Seville star Jesus Navas.


• Asmir Begovic can leave Stoke - if the price is right.


• Fulham are closing in on the £3m capture of Roma's Maarten Stekelenburg, with Mark Schwarzer admitting his time may be up.


• Kenny Jackett does not fear the chop after being named the fifth Wolves manager in 16 months.

• An emotional Jose Mourinho last night told Chelsea fans "I am one of you" as he finally returned as manager and immediately set his sights on winning the Premier League for a third time.


• Roberto Martinez is set to become the new manager of Everton after chairman Bill Kenwright chose the Spaniard to lead the club forward.


• Monaco could provide an escape route for unsettled Manchester United winger Nani.

• Jose Mourinho claimed his love for Chelsea meant he had to return to take the Blues back to the top.


• Liverpool are ready to splash £20million on their main transfer target - whether Luis Suarez leaves or not. The Anfield club are closing in on a deal for Armenia international Henrikh Mkhitaryan, despite the asking price from his Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk.


• Roberto Martinez will today be unveiled as the new boss of Everton.

• Jose Mourinho returned to Chelsea yesterday and immediately proclaimed: 'I'm here to stay.'


• Roberto Martinez will become Everton's new manager after the Goodison Park cub agreed a compensation package with Wigan.


• Manuel Pellegrini has been handed his first Manchester City signing after the club finally settled on a fee with Sevilla for winger Jesus Navas.


• Sunderland want Celtic striker Gary Hooper.


• Liverpool are rekindling their interest in Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan.


• West Ham are closing on a deal for Stockport County midfielder Danny Whitehead, 19.


• Swansea star Michu has emerged as a surprise target for Arsenal.

• Jose Mourinho said last night that the time is right for him to "remarry" at Chelsea after signing a £50million contract to return to the club.


• Manchester City are on the verge of signing Jesus Navas, the highly regarded Spain winger, from Seville in a projected £21.6 million transfer.


• Roberto Martinez is in pole position to be named the new manager of Everton this week, although the club had still to agree formally a compensation fee with Wigan Athletic for the Spaniard as of last night.

Forbidden Mind Blog Tour

  While I'm taking a blog break, I wanted to let you know about a really interesting YA paranormal romance series called The Forbidden Trilogy by Kimberly Kinrade. As my part in the I.O. Blog Tour for the Forbidden Trilogy, I'm here to share with you the cover and synopsis of Forbidden Mind, the first book in the Trilogy. 

She reads minds.
He controls minds.
Together, they might get out alive.

49% of Americans believe their government officials are honest.

I don't know these officials, or their supporters, but I know their secrets, and 49% of Americans are wrong.

My employers pay me well to be right, to know things others can't. But I don't know why they brought that boy in, strapped to a stretcher, barely conscious. He asked me for help when I could give none.

I'm a wealthy spy, a talented artist, a martial arts black belt, and a prisoner. They tell me that on my eighteenth birthday, I will be released, free to go to the college of my dreams. It's my eighteenth birthday, and a man in black is at my door. I know he's not here to free me. I know, because I can read minds. My name is Sam, and this is my story. 

 Want to learn more and buy a copy of the book? It's available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks.

You can find author Kimberly Kinrade at her website, on Twitter, and on Facebook.  

Picture of Alexis Sanchez car crash

Alexis Sánchez's agent, Fernando Felicevich, confirmed the news to MARCA and had to reassure the Chilean's fans. Footage of the Barcelona player's car showed signs of the forward's violent crash on the C-32 road.



The player walked away unscathed after his car crashed into the road's protective barrier and skidded along it for over 100 metres. He then left the vehicle on the roadside before one of his teammates picked him up and drove him to Gavá, where he lives. They did not report the accident to the authorities.



The footballer told the officers who visited him afterwards at his house that he was unsure what had caused his car to leave the road, although everything points to him exceeding the permitted speed limit.

Paper Talk - 03 June 2013

• Jose Mourinho last night broke his silence to confirm for the first time he is the new Chelsea boss.


• Blackpool boss Paul Ince is determined to keep hold of the club's hottest property - his own son, Thomas.


• David De Gea pledged his future to Manchester United - and begged Wayne Rooney to do the same.


• Jesus Navas has edged closer to joining Manchester City, with his club Sevilla accepting he will move this summer.

• Jose Mourinho is set to be confirmed as the new Chelsea boss today.


• Manuel Pellegrini is set to begin talks with Manchester City today about taking over as their new boss.


• Edwin van der Sar insists Wayne Rooney should stay at Manchester United.


• Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City will have to stump up £25m if they are to land Fiorentina ace Stevan Jovetic.

• Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas is eyeing a deal for Benfica's Spanish Under-21 striker Rodrigo.


• West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is ready to take Real Betis goalkeeper Adrian San Miguel on a free transfer.


• Newcastle are ready to let versatile James Perch go to make way for new foreign recruits.

• Jose Mourinho has told Roman Abramovich the only needs one big signing to make Chelsea great again.

• Jose Mourinho is expected to be confirmed as Chelsea's new manager within the next 24 hours.


• Graham Arnold, who won the A-League in Australia with Central Coast Mariners, has claimed that he turned down an offer to manage Sheffield United, calling the League One club's approach "pre-historic".

• Jose Mourinho was back in London last night, one step closer to a return to Chelsea.


• Manuel Pellegrini will today start talks with Manchester City after bidding a sad farewell to Spanish football.


• Liverpool will consider bidding for Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke should Luis Suarez force through his move to Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid.


• Sevilla winger Jesus Navas has confirmed he wants to join Manchester City.


• Victor Wanyama footballing mentor has revealed that the Celtic midfielder has set his heart on joining Arsenal this summer.


• Borussia Dortmund are considering a swoop for Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski.

• Jose Mourinho is expected to be confirmed as Chelsea's new manager by Wednesday.

• Jose Mourinho has arrived in London at the start of a week that should see the Premier League's wealthiest clubs, Chelsea and Manchester City, appoint the managers they hope can wrest the title back from Manchester United next season.