Jessie has left the close friendships she’s had since her childhood and isn’t having an easy time fitting into her new Grade Nine class. An older girl, Kim, takes a disliking to her, pushing her around and setting her up to be attacked by a group of really rough kids who land her in jail. It looks like life is going to be downhill from now on. Then, because she used to play ringette, Jessie is invited to try out for the girls hockey team. She doesn’t expect to like it, but as her skills grow, she makes new friends – girls who respect each other and rely on each other’s strength and hard work. Some even help her resist the bullies, until she can stand up for herself – stand up to Kim, who’s a pretty good hockey player herself, although not as good as she thinks she is. A fast-paced story about hockey, peer pressure and finding yourself.
Coercive diplomacy - the use of threats and assurances to alter another state's behavior - is indispensable to international relations. Most scholarship has focused on whether and when states are able to use coercive methods to achieve their desired results. However, employing game-theoretic tools, statistical modeling, and detailed case study analysis, Power Plays builds and tests a theory that explains how states develop strategies of coercive diplomacy, how their targets shield themselves from these efforts, and the implications for interstate relations. Focusing on the World Trade Organization, Power Plays argues that coercive diplomacy often precludes cooperation due to fears of exploitation, but that international institutions can solve these problems by convincing states to eschew certain tools for coercive purposes.
Bust the Kingdom's scariest crime boss? There has to be an easier way for a Fool to win love! A year after the events of Fool's Proof, Malfred Murd is no longer a Fool, royal or otherwise. He’s a newly minted nobleman— who can’t help plunging back into his own special brew of trouble. This time he’s taken on a task that’s outrageous even for him: becoming an undercover officer, out to bust the biggest crime boss in a vast and decadent city. Will it win him the attention of a certain maddeningly inaccessible Lady... or get him packed at the bottom of a barrel? Follow Fred, Corvinalias, the other characters we met in “Fool’s Proof”— and a dazzling collection of new ones— on a journey through a world blending equal parts comedy, crime novel and adventure: heroic, horrific and hilarious. "★★★★★" "The ending is surprisingly deep and leaves the reader wanting even more." -Reedsy Discovery A character-driven romp through a world of magic, fantastic creatures, and subterfuge....Sandor's prose shines brightest when portraying story and character through dialogue, and crafting a beautiful, rich world while effortlessly switching between tense conversations rife with undertone and subtlety and more lighthearted, comical scenes that build character and entertain. - The BookLife Prize Offers many surprises to delight literary fantasy readers looking for far more than an adventure tale....There's simply not enough literary humor in the fantasy genre; but Eva Sandor fills this gap with another adventure story that should be read closely, so as not to miss any of the tongue-in-cheek humor (both overt and subtle) that graces its characters and lines.-Diane Donovan, Bookwatch Read the book and loved it. Though much darker than the first novel, I actually enjoyed it more...There is still the wit and charm in bucket loads, with added emotion, mystery and intrigue. -John Derek, Netgalley It does point firmly into the next book... which I'm now looking forward to :-) -Jim Webster, author of the Tallis Steelyard series The writing is intelligent, but not out of reach. - Advance reader Mike Z. A wonderful collection of characters and the use of language is brilliant. -Advance reader Namoi L. Love, action, drama and best of all...you get lost in Eva's world! This is number 2 in the series and it lives up to all the reviews so far. I loved it so much I couldn't put it down! -Advance reader Rikki M. Comical, magical, witty, and even dark...a fast paced journey leaving you yearning for more each chapter and then the next in the series. Great development of characters with an intense strong female protagonist. -Advance reader Robert A. You don't realize how four different stories turn into one entwined story until you do notice it! The transitions are seamless. -Advance reader Gabriella B.
Not everything you see on the internet is true. Including my relationship with Canada’s golden boy, Jack Harrison. It’s very public. Very steamy. And very, very fake. Jack and I both needed something. Me, to earn out my contract and start earning royalties on my music. Jack, to keep his hardship-claimed spot on the Calgary Blizzard NHL team. It turns out my publicist was right: love sells tickets. Now all we have to do to make our dreams come true is put on a good show for the general public until our agreed-upon breakup date. The only problem? Jack isn’t the arrogant jock I assumed he was, and my walls are slipping like an ice cube through my fingers. Especially when he stays the night after unsavoury content leaks online. And cooks me breakfast. Now those public kisses? They send my heart racing. His hands on my waist? Yeah, I’m struggling to breathe. But Jack and I can’t be a thing. I live on the other side of the country, and our careers are headed in opposite directions. Thankfully, our breakup is only a month away. I can hold out until then, can’t I? Start the story now!
The fully revised and updated version of this classic text examines the link between three key obsessions of the 21st century: the media, sport and popular culture. Gathering new material from around the 2007 Rugby World Cup, the Beijing Olympics and the rise of new sports stars such as boxing's Amir Khan and cycling's Victoria Pendleton, the authors explore a wide range of sports, as well as issues including nationalism, gender, race, political economy and the changing patterns of media sport consumption.For those interested in media and sport the second edition combines new and original material with an overview of the developing field of media sport, and examines the way in which the media has increasingly come to dominate how sport is played, organized and thought about in society. It traces the historical evolution of the relationship between sport and the media and examines the complex business relationships that have grown up around television, sponsors and sport.Covers the following topics: the history of media in sport; television, sport and sponsorship; why sport matters to television; sports stars; sports journalism; fans and the audience; sport in the digital media economy.
Politics is a mean spirited business. Power Play allows the reader to be in the room where this character driven novel is graphically experienced. History repeats itself. Questionable Police tactics didn't begin in 2014. The awareness and threats caused by aggressive police actions have recently changed but they’re not without precedent. A City Manager has the inside story. Read Power Play, a story set in the 1970’s when blind trust was too often the case. Deceit, revenge, militaristic police, affected legal system and gay tragedy. The end of the Hoover era, amidst the death throes of the Nixon debacle. The author has captured an era, depicting a battle for the soul of the Republic, at the local level. Young, handsome, charming Collier Winthrop is enticed by a crusty old Political Boss, Al Caso, to seek Public Office. Collie soon faces an unscrupulous adversary practiced in deceit; manipulated state investigative agencies and a contaminated police department. Events unfold that uncover a sordid police mentality, unveil the civil rights of the Flower Children violated, ruin reputations and threaten the very lives of Collie's confederates. How can Collie unravel plots unseen and unimaginable, to survive even the earliest months of his political enterprise. The work portrays the depth and conflict of personalities. Politics is a business of expediency. Otherwise decent people justify immoral behavior in defense of careers.
In this exciting fifth episode of a manga adventure, the Timeflyz encounter a most appropriate enemy---a Venus flytrap! After outsmarting the evil plant and the other diversions created by Darchon, the flyz meet scientist Michael Faraday. Mr. Faraday helps them learn to see their problems creatively while Laurel learns to control her own special powers. Will they be able to stop Darchon before he kidnaps yet another important scientist? What is the choice Laurel must make that affects the future of the Timeflyz? This book explores the important themes of love and sacrifice.
In Sophia Henry’s blistering follow-up to Delayed Penalty, hailed as “sexy, fun, and full of angst” by L. P. Dover, a good girl and a hockey hunk face off against expectations—and this match is guaranteed to see plenty of action. Beneath her innocent facade, Gabriella Bertucci has her reasons to be standoffish with guys. Especially guys like Landon Taylor, a star defenseman on the minor-league Detroit Pilots and the object of a serious crush since he first walked into her family’s market. But when Landon comes through for her in a moment of crisis, Gaby starts to wonder if there might be more to Landon than hard muscles and fast skates. Landon isn’t afraid of telling Gaby that he’s got it for her bad. The problem is, she seems unwilling to believe it. And though Landon enjoys his reputation as a cool-headed athlete, he hates losing—both on the rink and off. It’s his competitiveness that makes him so damn good at what he does . . . but it also makes him just a little bit complicated. One minute Gaby’s tempted to give in; the next, she’s getting cold feet. How can she trust a guy who’s destined for bigger and better things to stick around? Then again, when Landon pulls her close with those powerful arms, the only thing that matters is right now. Praise for Power Play “Sophia Henry’s hockey novels are fun and flirty, warm and sweet, with relatable heroines and swoon-worthy hockey heroes. They’ll bring a smile to your face and warmth to your heart.”—Kelly Jamieson, author of the Aces Hockey series “With a strong heroine, a sexy hero, and a refreshing plot, Sophia Henry has scored a hat trick!”—Ashley Suzanne, author of the Fight or Flight series “Another emotional and engaging novel in the Pilots Hockey series . . . a fresh and original plot in the sports romance arena.”—Smut Book Junkie “NAtastic romance.”—Fresh Fiction “A cute . . . friends-to-lovers story . . . [Gaby and Landon’s] relationship was fun, unique, and proved to be really positive for both of them. . . . This book is true to reality, written very well, and was an enjoyable fast read. I absolutely recommend the Pilots Hockey series.”—Carlene Inspired “Sophia Henry scores another win with Power Play.”—Diane’s Book Blog Praise for Sophia Henry’s Delayed Penalty “Delayed Penalty is such a rush! Everything I love about the New Adult genre is right here: a captivating premise, a fresh new setting, and a scorching hot hero who constantly keeps you guessing. The romance is off the charts and Sophia Henry tackles real issues that tug at your heartstrings.”—New York Times bestselling author Rachel Harris “Hot Russian hockey player meets feisty tutor? Yes, please! I loved watching Aleksandr and Auden work through their broken pasts together. Delayed Penalty is a unique New Adult romance that packs an emotional punch.”—Cindi Madsen, USA Today bestselling author of Getting Lucky Number Seven
Large digital platforms have been in the doghouse of antitrust decision-makers worldwide in recent years. Antitrust regulators agree, urgent intervention is needed. Interestingly, it is the plight of victimized suppliers--of merchants, app developers, publishers, platform labourers, and the like, who are upstream in the value chain--that has topped the policy agenda, prompting scrutiny of an almost unprecedented intensity. Amid such anxieties, Antitrust and Upstream Platform Power Plays asks a somewhat provocative question: Are upstream platform power plays really 'competition problems', and ones for antitrust, at that? The apparently obvious answer--'yes'--is deceptively simple for a number of reasons. Firstly, it contradicts contemporary antitrust's single-minded focus on consumers, which has all but erased supplier exploitation in the brick-and-mortar economy from the policy's radar. Secondly, the wider antitrust community remains bitterly divided when it comes to judging platform practices. In addition, if any consensus could be had, it would almost certainly confirm the longstanding tenet that antitrust cannot be about supplier welfare, as such. These paradoxes call for a policy introspection-precisely what this book provides. The analysis offered in Antitrust and Upstream Platform Power Plays is altogether normative, theoretical, and practical. Normative because it engages in a supplier-mindful soul-searching exercise, which advances our understanding of antitrust's foundations; theoretical as it sheds multidisciplinary insights on upstream effects in the platform economy and develops new frameworks for rationalizing them; and practical since it takes a deep dive into the complex antitrust machinery whilst staying attuned to other available levers of public action. Answering a compelling question with an equally compelling answer, this work will appeal to scholars and policymakers worldwide with a particular interest in platform regulation, antitrust, and powerful digital platforms.
Ninth-grade hockey player Kyla Woodson is hoping to win a spot on the varsity team mid-season--but she has at least one serious rival for the coveted position, and her supressed anger over her parents recent divorce seems to keep getting in the way.