REVIEW: Tales of the Traveler: Hemlock by N. J. Layouni

Tales of the Traveler: Hemlock
by N. J. Layouni

Publisher: Createspace (self published?)
Page Count: 400
Release Date: May 21, 2014
Format: Trade Paperback

How got: free giveaway on GoodReads

First attention getter: genre of time-travel romance

Synopsis:

From GoodReads:

When a modern-day woman finds herself stranded in a medieval world, an attractive outlaw offers her protection in the role of his 'wife', and promises to help her find a way back home. Until then, Martha must attempt to fit into medieval society, avoid the Evil Earl and his minions, and learn how to trust her heart again.

My Thoughts:

Star Rating - 3

This book started out strong. Yet, as it got closer and closer to the end, it fell into a melodramatic soup that it never really escaped from. So a bit mixed on this one.

I liked our main heroine, Martha, for the most part. She’s feisty and thinks on her feet. Where another girl could get caught up in the whole “transported to another world” thing and have a melt-down, she keeps her head and comes up with plans and strategies to survive and make a life for herself. Sometimes her actions are not as well thought out as they could be, but she does stuff! Not your normal damsel in distress here.

I liked that the world felt real enough. We didn’t get to explore more than a medieval village or Edgeway but what we got was very detailed and nice to go through. I got enough of a vibe of medieval to make the setting believable. The people that inhabited those settlements also added depth to both the setting and story.

I also enjoyed the romance. It wasn’t immediate love; it developed over a space of weeks and months. There was an immediate attraction, but the relationship took time to get on the level of romance. That gave it an air of believability which I enjoyed.

Where this story started to lose itself was when melodrama reared its ugly head. At one point, Vadim seems to think that Martha is a traitor, agent of the Evil Earl, out of nowhere. The only thing this may have come from was that she was coming from the direction that the Earl was in. I mean, really?!?! That’s all it took to trip Vadim’s “untrust” meter?? Better not be traveling from the direction the Earl is in, folks! Means you’re in cahoots with him!

It only went downhill from there. Alternately, Martha or Vadim would assume that one party was thinking one thing and so act in illogical or stupid ways. Many times, this led to life threatening situations or the Earl getting onto them. These two could do with a serious case of “communication”, pronto! And don’t get me started on the whole “Evil” Earl thing…. I mean, did it need to be capitalized EVERY time?? You know what, I think this is our bad guy!! *eye roll*

So starting out well but finishing with a whimper, this book had its ups and downs. I enjoyed certain elements but found the overall air of melodrama tiring. I’m interested enough in maybe reading the second book someday, but I’m not heading out right away to buy it. Still, not a bad effort for a first time author. I hope she grows more and produces more works.

Note: Book received for free from author via GoodReads FirstReads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Spirit Legacy by E E Holmes

Spirit Legacy
by E. E. Holmes

Publisher: Smashwords
Page Count: 297
Release Date: July 2, 2013
Format: Kindle

How got: free copy from author for review

First attention getter: that author's email and that gorgeous cover

Synopsis:

From GoodReads:

“The Gateway is open...”

These cryptic words wake college student Jess Ballard from a terrifying dream into an even more terrifying reality.

Jess' life has never been what anyone would call easy; doing damage control in the wake of your nomadic, alcoholic mother doesn't exactly make for a storybook childhood. But now her world has fallen apart just when it should be coming together: her mother gone—dead under mysterious circumstances; her life uprooted to stay with estranged relatives she’s never met; and there’s something odd about some of the people she’s been meeting at school:

They’re dead.

Aided by Tia, her neurotic roommate, and Dr. David Pierce, a ghost-hunting professor, Jess must unravel the mystery behind her hauntings. But the closer she gets to the truth, the more danger shadows her every move. An ancient secret, long-buried, is about to claw its way to the surface, and nothing can prepare Jess for one terrifying truth …

… her encounters with the world of the dead are only just beginning.

Spirit Legacy is the first of three thrilling novels in The Gateway Trilogy by E.E. Holmes.

My Thoughts:

Star Rating - 5

This book pleasantly surprised me. I got a great story with characters I like, not something that happens all the time with indie works. I’ve had some bad experiences in the past with them so it’s always a joy to find an excellent work among them. I enjoyed it so much, I already have book 2 on my Kindle ready to go.

First off, the main character is just a peach! She’s practical and no frills, handling life as it throws the many obstacles and danger at her. I liked how she approached these events with calm and rational thought, not letting the danger or excitement get to her. Her occasional vulnerable streak just added depth to her overall emotional state. I loved Jess and can’t wait to explore more of her and her world.

Her immediate supporting staffs are also great. I loved Tia! The obsessive-compulsive, research-obsessed roommate was a nice foil for Jess as she deals with all the supernatural crap coming her way. She seems to connect with Jess on a deep level and makes for a fantastic ally. I also found enjoyment in David, Evan, and others. I did find some fell into stereotypical college roles, like Gabby and her blonde, slutty, popular girl type. But those were only occasional and not glaring.

I adored the story and how the author pulled in the supernatural elements. The story unfolds in a very organic and flowing way, not being weighted down with too busy action sequences or over-wordy supposition portions. She has a great mix of coming of age, mystery, eerie ghost sightings, with a side of college life for levity. I loved her blend and how she was able to balance everything.

And then there are the supernatural elements, the cream of the book in my opinion. They’re unique and engaging, aspects not always present in a supernatural thriller. I loved the idea of Jess’ role with her family member and how that played into all that was happening with Jess and her mother’s death. It sets some great groundwork for future works in the series that I look forward to seeing. The ghosts are spine-tingling and yet sad at the same time. Your emotions are pulled into their fates and their release, or not as the case may be, with great strength.

A great balance of storytelling, supernatural, and characters, this is a great start to a promising series. I think this author has a great future and I look forward to following her in future.

Note: Book received for free from author in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Even in Darkness by Barbara Stark-Nemon

Even in Darkness
by Barbara Stark-Nemon

Publisher: She Writes Press
Page Count: 317
Release Date: April 2015
Format: Trade Paperback

How got: personal library; via BookMooch

First attention getter: a personal story of the Holocaust

Synopsis:

From GoodReads:
Spanning one century and three continents, Even in Darkness tells the story of Kläre Kohler, whose early years as beloved daughter of a prosperous German-Jewish family hardly anticipate the often harrowing life she faces as an adult—a long saga of family, lovers, two world wars, concentration camps, and sacrifice. As the world changes around her, Kläre is forced to make a number of seemingly impossible choices in order to protect the people she loves—and to save herself.

Based on a true story, Even in Darkness highlights the intimate experience of Kläre’s reinvention as she faces the destruction of life as she knew it, and traces her path beyond survival to wisdom, meaning, and—most unexpectedly—love.

My Thoughts:

Star Rating - 4

I liked how intimate this book was. I don’t know if it was the writing style or just the circumstances of seeing the developing horror of the Holocaust and Nazi Germany through one family and individual. Yet, I felt immediately drawn to Klare and her survival story. I wanted to know how she fared almost from page one. I think some of it can be attributed to how the author presents the story and its emotions; it’s very immediate and engrossing.

Having the story cover decades, from the 1910’s all the way through to the latter half of the 20th century, gives the reader a real picture of the story of Nazism and how it reverberated for years. Seeing the beginning in WWI all the way through to the devastation of Europe post-WWII made this history buff happy. Seeing how all those events impacted one family was very interesting.

All the characters being based off the author’s real family was an interesting idea. It made everyone more real to me, knowing that most of the events portrayed actually happened. Once Klare and family got into the camp system, this became even more immediate and jarring, especially Klare’s experiences.

I loved the relationships in the book and the exploration of love in all its many forms. Husband/wife, between lovers, friendships, mother/daughter, siblings, and random people coming together to create a family. So many different links kept things fresh and interesting. I especially enjoyed Klare’s and Ansel’s relationship. They only had the barest connections but had such a soul deep relationship. Such a deep love that developed between two people sucked me in. It can’t really be defined by any descriptor that exists; it’s just Klare and Ansel.

My only hitch with the book was Klare’s overall characterization. There were times where she came off as far too perfect. She’s the perfect angel: taking care of everyone before herself, completely understanding, loyal to a fault, having a wellspring of strength so deep that nothing can shake it. I really wanted her to have more warts and faults than she did.

This book is a great examination of the start and rise of Nazi Germany, it’s powerful rule, and the backlash after it fell. It examined all of this through the intimate window of Klare and her family. The author does a great job in making everything come to life, both in the story and emotionally through the relationships. While sometimes characters come across as too perfect, that still doesn’t decrease my enjoyment. I’d recommend this book to lovers of the WWII genre; it will be one to savor.

REVIEW: With Song by Dorothy Garlock

With Song
by Dorothy Garlock

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Page Count: 480
Release Date: May 1, 1999
Format: Mass Market Paperback

How got: personal library; via BookMooch

First attention getter: time period and description

Synopsis:

From GoodReads:

Molly barely noticed the sedan that pulled up in front of her family's store. Minutes later, a hail of bullets rained down on her parents. Hod Dolan, the federal agent knows she can identify the gunmen, and soon proposes a trap that uses Molly as bait.

My Thoughts:

Star Rating - 3

I’m a bit mixed on this book. I liked certain aspects, the aspects that are most important to a historical romance, so guess that’s good. But other areas of this story seemed very overblown and unrealistic. I know one is supposed to suspend reality a bit when reading this genre. However, there’s only so much suspending that can go on before a book becomes un-enjoyable.

I liked the leads and the romance. Molly and Hod were immediately likable and seemed to click quickly. Molly was a strong personality that wasn’t afraid to face danger to get justice for her parents. She’s able to slap down unwanted advances easily, yet she has a very vulnerable side as well. I liked that mix. Hod was a fantastic, protective hero that balanced out Molly’s vulnerabilities. I liked that as protective as he was, he also gave her the room she needed to grow as an individual and come to the relationship on equal terms.

The timeframe the author chose to set her romance in was also a nice change of pace. I’ve not come across a romance set during the Depression era often (I can only think of one right off the top of my head). The hard economic times and the escalation of organized crime activities added a nice spice.

However, I found the overall plot to be misleading and just too overblown. The book’s premise, start point, is Molly acting as bait to catch the mobsters who murdered her parents. The book starts out strong with this. However, very soon, the plot swerves into a completely different direction and the whole mobster thing peters out to nothing really. The big bad actually has nothing to do with the criminals at all.

And that big bad?? I hated him. I thought he was far too theatrical and over-the-top to be enjoyable. He was very Sniddely Whiplash-like in his approach to his crimes and obsessions. I couldn’t see him getting away with what he did, for as long as he did. Only close family members could see him for what he was; the rest of the town thought he hung the moon. I rolled my eyes at his antics far too often to enjoy his portion of the book.

The romance, Molly, and Hod were great. I was invested in their characterizations and relationship. The setting was also an added bonus. However, the actual plot and antagonist really brought my enjoyment levels down. I’ll probably still read this author’s other books, but I’m not actively hunting them down.

REVIEW: Whispers in the Reading Room by Shelley Bray

Whispers in the Reading Room
by Shelley Bray

Publisher: Zondervan
Page Count: 352
Release Date: November 10, 2015
Format: Kindle

How got: ARC copy from NetGalley

First attention getter: description

Synopsis:

From GoodReads:

Lydia’s job at the library is her world—until a mysterious patron catches her eye . . . and perhaps her heart.

Just months after the closure of the Chicago World’s Fair, librarian Lydia Bancroft finds herself fascinated by a mysterious dark-haired and dark-eyed patron. He has never given her his name; he actually never speaks to a single person. All she knows about him is that he loves books as much as she does.

Only when he rescues her in the lobby of the Hartman Hotel does she discover that his name is Sebastian Marks. She also discovers that he lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.

Lydia and Sebastian form a fragile friendship, but when she discovers that Mr. Marks isn’t merely a very wealthy gentleman, but also the proprietor of an infamous saloon and gambling club, she is shocked.

Lydia insists on visiting the club one fateful night and suddenly is a suspect to a murder. She must determine who she can trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian Marks—the man so many people fear—is actually everything her heart believes him to be.

My Thoughts:

Star Rating - 2

This book held promise for me with the premise and how the characters started. However, that promise quickly turned into ashy disappointment as characters fell into two-dimensional stereotypes and the story/plot petered into a steady march into mediocrity and boredom.

I initially really liked Sebastian and Lydia. I liked that Sebastian was a self-made man who pulled himself out of the slums to become a successful businessman, ala Mafia-style. His protective streak towards Lydia and his devotion to his staff was admirable, in the beginning.

Lydia could have been me in a different life. Shy, awkward with strangers, book-lover working in a library (my dream job!!), and completely inept when it comes to relationships, she was channeling me, I swear. So of course, that made her immediately relatable to me.

Yet, things went downhill real fast. Lydia lost any depth she had when she let her shy, retiring side keep control. She was a passive vessel for others to channel their emotions through and for the story to push around. And Sebastian’s protective side quickly became controlling, obsessive, and scary. I’d almost say “stalker” but not quite that far (no doorway lurking happened). It seemed like whenever Lydia was in the picture, the rest of the world was valued at nothing as the story got rolling, which is not healthy in any relationship.

The secondary characters also suffered a bit here. Hunt was just as bad as Sebastian in the over-protective, controlling aspect. His insistence on focusing on Bridget to the exclusion of most everything else was scary, to say the least. He was a Sebastian junior. Bridget I actually liked. She was such a strong and practical character. She took life as it fell on her head and came up with concrete plans with which to meet those challenges.

Unfortunately, the plot/story didn’t do much to save the book overall. It waited way too long before kicking in. It wasn’t until 51% through the story before the murder happened or anything for that matter, story-wise. Before that point, it was endless conversations, movement from place to place, or melodramatic confrontations (i.e. more conversations!!).

An intriguing premise and initially good characters weren’t enough to save this puppy. Characterizations went sour (though Bridget rocked!!) and the actual plot waited too long before making an appearance. If I hadn’t been reading this book for NetGalley, would I have finished it? Meh… Who knows… Either way, I’d pass on this title.

Note: Book received for free from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review (and boy was I honest!).

REVIEW: General Houston's Little Spy by Cara Skinner

General Houston's Little Spy
by Cara Skinner

Publisher: Tate Publishing
Page Count: 178
Release Date: 2015
Format: Paperback

How got: free copy from author

First attention getter: little known state history

Synopsis:

From back of the book:

Young Samantha Russell wants only to marry her fiancée, Danny Autry, and move to Texas, the vast Mexican territory newly opened to American settlers. Texas, with its seemingly unlimited natural resources and land, proves irresistible to this young couple seeking a place to begin a new life. But once there, they soon find themselves caught up in the Texan settler's struggle against the Mexican dictator, Santa Anna, and his tyrannical rule.

After tragedy strikes at the fall of the Alamo, Samantha vows to seek revenge. General Houston's Little Spy follows Samantha as she embarks on a dangerous mission to assist General Sam Houston and his small fledgling army in their fight against Santa Anna's superior military force. Little does Samantha know that the outcome of this fight will not only decide the fate of Texas, but will ultimately alter the futures of two powerful nations.

My Thoughts:

Star Rating - 2.5

The book started out with promise, exploring a part of American history I wasn’t all that familiar with. The author does a good job in setting her scene and her research. However, other areas of this book need work. I think I’m in the minority with this one as most others have awarded five stars. I just don’t feel myself being able to do so, though.

I liked exploring the build up to the Alamo, the massacre itself, and some of the events that followed it up. The author evidently knows her stuff as she presents many of the personalities that were involved and lesser known events with deft skill. She also does a good job in creating vivid scenes. She spends time in making her readers experience the scenes, not just read them.

Yet, that strength also contributes to one of the weaknesses of this novel. The author falls into the trap of many first time authors (at least some of the ones I’ve come across) in telling her audience too much rather than revealing through action or dialogue. The entire book isn’t like this, but it happens more often than not.

The book’s other main flaw is the main character. I swear to all that’s holy, I wanted to shoot Samantha more than I wanted to cheer her on. She started out OK; I especially liked her during the Alamo action itself. She doesn’t let herself be shuffled off with the other women. Nope, she sticks her ground and fights alongside her family for her freedom and survival. She also has the courage to go into a new land with her new husband to start a different life, far from home and support. I liked that spunk and courage.

There are a few times in this beginning part of the book where she comes off as childish and foolish. The drunken confrontation scene at the Alamo comes to mind. Yet, it’s when she gets it into her head to start spying, that she really starts to lose brain cells and gets even more stupid. She goes off halfcocked after the Mexican army with hardly any planning at all, winging it as she goes. I’m amazed she survived. Either the Mexican army is very unobservant and stupid or Samantha has got enough luck to win the lottery every year. Either way, the more I read this latter half of the book, the more I hated her character.

It’s when other characters praised her as being so intelligent and amazing in her spying that I threw my hands up in frustration. These were the same people who were questioning her spying before. Then suddenly they’re all in awe of her?!?! I’ll admit the last few pages I skimmed more than I actually read. I had just reached my boil point and couldn’t read every word.

So the book started out good with great scene setting, research, and a main character I liked overall. However, that character turned into Ms. Stupid, and I lost all sympathy or respect for her. The whole spy thing, which is what I was interested in in the first place, turned into a SNAFU of pure blind luck and shoddy planning/action combinations. I’m not sure if I’d recommend this book to anyone; I can safely say I won’t be hunting it out to read again. I’m sorry I can’t agree with the multitude of 5 star ratings this title has received; it’s only a 2.5 for me.

Note: Book received for free from author via GoodReads FirstReads program in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Against A Brightening Sky by Jaime Lee Moyer

Against A Brightening Sky
by Jaime Lee Moyer

Publisher: Tor Books
Page Count: 336
Release Date: October 6, 2015
Format: Hardcover

How got: personal library; bought from Amazon

First attention getter: adore the series already

Synopsis:

From GoodReads:

A ghost princess and a woman with nothing but a name to her fortune might change the course of history.

By 1919 the Great War has ended, peace talks are under way in Paris, and the world has been forever changed. Delia Martin, apprentice practitioner of magical arts, and her husband, Police Captain Gabriel Ryan, face the greatest challenge of their lives when fragments from the war descend on San Francisco.

As Delia prepares to meet friends at a St. Patrick's Day parade, the strange ghost of a European princess appears in her mirror. Her pleasant outing becomes a nightmare as the ghost reappears moments after a riot starts, warning her as a rooftop gunman begins shooting into the crowd. Delia rushes to get her friends to safety, and Gabe struggles to stop the killing—and to save himself.

Delia and Gabe realize all the chaos and bloodshed had one purpose—to flush Alina from hiding, a young woman with no memory of anything but her name.

As Delia works to discover how the princess ghost's secrets connect to this mysterious young woman, and Gabe tracks a ruthless killer around his city, they find all the answers hinge on two questions: Who is Alina...and why can't she remember?

Against a Brightening Sky is the thrilling conclusion to Moyer's glittering historical fantasy series.

My Thoughts:

Star Rating - 4

As another chapter in the saga of Delia Martin Ryan and family, this book excels. It’s a gripping story that doesn’t let you go. However, as a conclusion to the series? Dismal failure.

As usual, Moyer knows how to tell a gripping story. I loved all the new bits she included from the supernatural: how the ability to see ghosts manifested in a child, how the powers of a necromancer interacted with Delia’s and Dora’s abilities, and the strengthening of Delia overall in her abilities and confidence using them. Seeing her grow as a supernatural user and face off with a truly terrifying entity kept me enthralled.

I loved the historical background to the story as well as the crime fighting parts (though those were in lesser evidence than previous volumes). Using the Russian Revolution and the assassination of the tsar’s family tied in very well with the overall aura of the time period with the bubbling fervent feelings of revolution, anarchy, and change. The author also incorporates fantastic period details to make her setting come to life like the eerie San Francisco fog, period speedster cars, and the era’s fascination with Spiritualism.

Her characters also continue to shine. Delia’s growing confidence and courage in facing ghosts and supernatural entities, both enemies and allies, is always a treat. I love her with Gabe. His strengths in observance of details and putting all the pieces together continue to be a joy to read. His growing awareness of his own supernatural inclinations was also a nice change.

I also enjoyed the secondary characters, especially the ones that were introduced in this volume. Jordan was a special favorite. I loved seeing how he didn’t let prejudice influence his sense of dignity and justice; he did what the job required so that the victims of crime could have justice. I loved the window that his character provided into the world of police and how people of color were treated back then.

The only problem I have with this book was it being touted as a “conclusion”. It in no way reads as such. This is just another chapter in the life of Delia and allies as they battle the evil supernatural influences that seem to gravitate to early 20th century San Francisco. There is no wrapping up of overall story threads; the author even introduces some such threads in this volume, the last book in the series.

So there is no real closure as we say goodbye to these characters. I’m going to be very sad to see Delia and company go. I enjoyed her adventures every October; it was one of the things I looked forward to for the past few years. I can only hope that maybe the author is going to pursue a series about Dora?? If that’s the case, sign me up for that waitlist!!! I’d love a series about her.

A great addition to the series, this volume will keep you engaged with a gripping story, great characters, and wonderful supernatural additions. While this doesn’t read as a conclusion, it still stands as a great book under its own merits. I’ll be sad to see this series go, but here’s hoping the author intends to write one about Dora, ‘cause I’ll be there with bells on. Still a recommends volume for those who love historical supernatural mysteries.

REVIEW: The Far Side of the Sky by Daniel Kalla

The Far Side of the Sky
by Daniel Kalla

Publisher: Forge Books
Page Count: 528
Release Date: July 30, 2013
Format: Mass Market Paperback

How got: bought @ local BX

First attention getter: description on back

Synopsis:

From GoodReads:

Weaving together intrigue, medical drama, and romance, The Far Side of the Sky by Daniel Kalla,brings to life an extraordinary and little-known chapter of the Second World War. Stirring and fast-paced, the novel is a sweeping account of a world in tumult and a moving saga about courage in the darkest of times.

November 9, 1938-Kristallnacht. The Nazis unleash a night of terror upon German and Austrian Jews. Franz Adler, a widowed Jewish surgeon, experiences firsthand the wave of violence sweeping Vienna when his beloved younger brother is lynched. Desperate to find sanctuary for his young daughter, Franz hears whispers of Jews fleeing to distant Shanghai in the Far East.

After a harrowing escape from Europe, the Adlers land in Shanghai to find it besieged by the rampaging Japanese army. But the cosmopolitan city-the "Paris of the East"-still represents the last haven for thousands of Jews fleeing the Third Reich.

Franz meets Soon Yi "Sunny" Mah at the refugee hospital where they both volunteer. Half-Chinese and half-American, the compassionate and headstrong young nurse is an outcast in her own culture. Recognizing her ability, Franz agrees to mentor Sunny in surgery.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, tensions soar. With Japanese soldiers lurking on every corner, the threat of starvation, disease, and internment hangs over the Adlers. So does the menace from the Nazis who refuse to let go of the Jewish "escapees." Franz is torn between ensuring his family's security and following his heart.

My Thoughts:

Star Rating - 4

This book was a very pleasant surprise. I loved the careful attention to detail the author had, the great research, and the engrossing story. It’s a very promising start to this trilogy.

The story of the Shanghai ghetto is not a commonly explored area of historical fiction. The author explored its early years and formation through the story of Franz Adler and his family as they escaped Nazi controlled Austria and a local Euroasian (half Chinese-half American) woman caught in the fires of war. The book has great atmospheric details; I could feel the heat of a muggy, Chinese summer and hear the calls of street vendors in the many languages of Shanghai. I liked how the author paid attention to his setting as much as his story.

And what a story! From the very beginning with the author opening up with Kristallnacht and Adler family tragedy, the reader is kept engaged throughout the entire work with alternate scenes of harrowing escape, learning to live in a new place, dealing with the many tragedies of war, and growing connections as families are formed. There wasn’t one moment when I was bored or felt like skipping a paragraph.

I loved the characters, for the most part. There were moments where Franz and Sunny read as too perfect or lucky. Yet, for the most part, they were very human and engaging. I enjoyed their journeys and coming together in a relationship.

Yet, for me, the real characterization stars were the secondary ones. I loved Kubota and Tanaka. They humanized the Japanese in fantastic ways. They showed that while they were brutal, there were shines of empathy and mercy there. They also were their own people when it came to giving up the Jews of Shanghai to the Germans or not. They wouldn’t be dictated to by anyone, even allies.

This was a worthy opening to the trilogy. It set the stage of war-torn Shanghai and the various parties that play a part in its story very well. I’m engaged enough in the characters that when I get around to finding and reading book two, it’ll be done eagerly. Highly recommended for historical fiction lovers of the WWII genre.