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You may find that what really makes Matt magnificent is not his cape, goggles or his lightening speed ......

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Reading Level: Contemporary Romance/New Adult Format: Ebook Publisher: Gallery 1/8/13 Rating: 5

EFFORTLESS takes place about three months after the end of THOUGHTLESS. Kier a and Kellan are a couple and Denny has moved back to Australia. Although still suffering through the complications of their affair, both Kiera and Kellan are trying to make their love work.

Unfortunately, The D-Bags are discovered and a famous rock group wants them to tour with them and that would mean Kellan leaving Kiera for several months while the band tours. Because of what happened the last time her boyfriend left, Kellan does everything he can to make the separation a lot easier.

As Kellan's star rises, Kiera feels left out and wonders if he'll go back to his man-whore ways. Even thought everyone tells her that he is madly in love with her. He did tattoo her name over his heart. Kiera tries to stay away from the tabloids, but finds it difficult when she sees a video of Kellan hugging a woman.

Anna, Kiera's sister, is still having a relationship with Griffin, much to Kiera's dismay. She's not a fan of Griff's abrasiveness and lowly opinion of women. However, Anna comes up with a plan to get them to see the band in Idaho. The D-Bags have become so popular on the tour that they are bumped up to opening band and the other band on the tour is put out, so when Kellan takes Kiera back to the bus, one of the sore band members, makes it seem like this will be his second conquest of the night. Luckily, Kellan (after being smartly slapped across the face) is able to explain to Kiera what the jerk meant. She's not happy, but she has to trust him.

However, Kiera is also keeping secrets herself. Denny is back from Australia and has become a friend to lean on. Although he tells her constantly to tell Kellan he's back in the picture, she doesn't. Yep, by now, you're like, why Kiera? She's trying to trust Kellan, but keeping secrets herself. It sort of backfires, when at Christmas time, Kellan receives phone calls that he's not answering and lies to her about it. The both of them are keeping things close to the vest.

Probably the most shocking revelation is Anna gets pregnant and good lord it's Griffin's! Kellan comes home, sees Denny at Kiera's and of course thinks the worst. But it's Kiera who tells him what is what. They make love, she showers, he finds the pregnancy sticks (Anna was freaking out), and storms out, leaving Kiera to wonder what the hell just happened.

This time she's not leaving it alone. She goes to Kellan's and demands to know what is going on. He accuses her of cheating on him because he found the positive pregnancy tests. She informs him loudly that they are Anna's. He forgives her, she forgives him. He tells her about the phone calls. They're from his biological father and he wants nothing to do with him. Kiera tries to ease his mind that it would be a good idea to meet his other family. Kellan will have nothing to do with him (them).

Kiera finally graduates college, Kellan comes home from tour. Griffin finds out he's about to be a dad. Everyone meets Denny's Australian girlfriend. Kiera and Kellan get married at Pete's bar (well metaphorically, they meld their hearts together and vow to be together forever.)

If my review seems like whiplash, it's because the book gave me heart palpitations and whiplash! I loved the first book, loved the second book. Kellan really proved to be a true romantic by leaving little notes for Kiera to find on a daily basis while he was gone. She's even find notes weeks later. How can you not love that. Kellan struggles to remain true, but he's so in love with Kiera it makes it easier. The secret-keeping could get a bit annoying at time, but as a plot device it works, because you don't know what is going on, like Kiera and you really wonder if he's doing something detrimental. Anna's pregnancy is probably one of the brightest spots in the book. Yeah, she's freaked out (she works for Hooters!), but she calms down enough to enjoy the ride. However, she's not ready to tell Griffin yet. And of course everyone wonders how that will play out.

Kellan is a definitely book boyfriend. He's gorgeous, sexy, romantic and troubled. His life has not been an easy one and he struggles with his self-esteem. Although on stage he is a rock God. In his real life he is anything but. With Kiera by his side, his self-worth grows leaps and bounds. Kellan meeting Kiera's parents the first time is just as difficult and painful as if you were really there. And Kiera really does have the squeakiest bed ever.

SC's books have become a phenomenon since they were self-published a few years back. She is defintely one of those authors that I will search high and low for something new by her. She is definitely an author to watch. The last book in the trilogy will be out March 5, 2013 and it's titled, RECKLESS.

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By Michelle Rafferty

127 years ago today the Oxford English Dictionary published its first volume (A to ANT), so I thought I’d pay tribute with the story of how I recently learned the word “shibboleth”:

While rubbing elbows with fancy people at the recent OED re-launch party, I had the chance to meet contributors Matt Kohl and Katherine Connor Martin. Naturally the topic of conversation came to words, and I brought up one I had been using a lot lately: frak (the fictional version of “fuck” on Battlestar Galactica). I explained that I just started watching the show (better late than never, no?) and had been testing “frak” out in conversation to pick up other fans. Matt said, oh that’s a “shibboleth.”

A whateth? According to the OED:

The Hebrew word used by Jephthah as a test-word by which to distinguish the fleeing Ephraimites (who could not pronounce the sh) from his own men the Gileadites (Judges xii. 4–6).

Matt told me that he had first heard the word on The West Wing. Martin Sheen sums it up nicely: a password. A more recent sense in the OED defines shibboleth as:

A catchword or formula adopted by a party or sect, by which their adherents or followers may be discerned, or those not their followers may be excluded.

The sect, in my case, is  Battlestar enthusiasts. I e-mailed Katherine later for more examples. She said:

I think politics affords some good examples. The pro-life movement is distinguishable by its use of certain buzz-words (abortionist, abortion-doctor, etc.), and the pro-choice movement by terms like “anti-choice”. Republicans use the word “democrat” as an adjective, while Democrats use the adjective “democratic”. If you ever hear someone talk about the “Democrat Party” on cable TV, you can be sure s/he is a conservative.

Shibboleth, it’s frakking everywhere!

(Thank you to Matt and Katherine for your countless hours spent keeping the OED alive, and for helping me realize the educational value of my addiction.)

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You might remember back in January we featured Matt Hendon’s Facebook page. Well, Matt has some of his illustrations for sale over at redbubble.

Matt graduated from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. His work has been published in American Illustration 28. He is currently an editorial illustrator living and working in the Los Angeles area.

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