Friday 5 July 2013

Review: Dare you to by Kate Mcgarry

I have recently discovered Netgalley where you can get galleys of new and forthcoming titles to feed your e-reader. The only ask is that you review the titles. As a voracious reader I am always keen to keep my e-reader topped up!
My first review is for a teen novel by a Kate Mcgarry, an American author I am not familiar with.

Dare You To is about Beth, a girl with a troubled and traumatic past and Ryan, the golden boy who seems to have it all. Beth and Ryan are brought together by a dare, Ryan's failure to get her phone number only whets his appetite when Beth turns up on his home turf. What starts as a dare turns into something more serious as the secrets they are both hiding are gradually revealed. Beth's past continues to impact on her life and her loyalty to those left behind threatens to destroy her future.
I had not read any Kate Mcgarry before and this book is part of a series but each story is independent. The characters are believable and you care that they will find a solution to their problems without doubting that they will.
A good read for those who don't like their romances all sweetness and light with believable characters and a wellplotted storyline.

Networks

Thing 7: Real-life networks

I have been a chartered member of CILIP for more years than I care to to remember and for the last few years I have been asking myself the same questions - am I going to renew my susbscription this year? Is it actually worth the money? What do I get out out of it?
I have renewed and that has been due to the raised profile of CILIP in the media.
The network I do use use most is the SLN forum where school librarians share good practice, news and experiences via Yahoo groups. This network is a lifeline for us school librarians where we are often single-staffed without a wider professional network. In Leicestershire we are lucky to have a vibrant and effective SLS but this is not the case for many areas. The SLS arrange termly meetings to share good practice, developments and news. Previously they have arranged CPD but in recent years this has been reduced and we are looking at new ways of providing CPD. Libteachmeets seem to be becoming increasingly popular and we are looking at utilising this approach -is this informal system the way forward for networks?