(W)hole (2nd Edition) Review

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Chie Alemán

Title: (W)hole (2nd Edition)

Author: Ruth Madison

Available in eBook?: Yes

Genre: Contemporary YA Romance

Final Verdict: Buy

My Take: Ruth Madison has returned to her debut novel, making some tweaks and filling out the story so that we now get alternate chapters between the two main characters. Although the pacing is off at times, it makes for a stronger, more cohesive piece than the original. The subject matter: a young woman dealing with her attraction to disability, gives a different perspective, and the characters are intriguing and sympathetic. This unique coming-of-age story is a worthwhile read, especially for anyone curious about the “devotee” label. Continue reading →

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Drug Shows Potential for Treating Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Chie Alemán

An experimental drug called eteplirsen has shown potential as a treatment for Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. announced today. The drug, which so far has shown no serious side effects, enabled boys to walk longer than those who received placebo. Most significantly, eteplirsen was shown not only to help in maintaining current muscle mass, but also in repairing damaged muscle. Continue reading →

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What I Didn’t Say Review

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Chie Alemán

Title: What I Didn’t Say

Author: Keary Taylor

Available in eBook?: Yes

Genre: Contemporary YA Romance

Final Verdict: Buy (with reservations)

My Take: Muteness is not seen often in literature, even less so than many other disabilities, and What I Didn’t Say is a unique romance since it’s told exclusively from the male protagonist’s perspective. Although it gets off to a slow start, it is a sweet story, albeit marred by a lack of research on the author’s part and a distasteful view toward ASL. Continue reading →

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His Eyes Review

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Chie Alemán

Title: His Eyes

Author: Reneé Carter

Available in eBook?: Yes

Genre: Contemporary YA Romance

Final Verdict: Buy (with reservations)

My Take: His Eyes is a sweet, simple YA book marred by genre tropes, leaps of faith, and a lack of development.

Continue reading →

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UnConventional Is “Finished”

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Chie Alemán

Whew! It’s been a crazy but productive summer! I polished up what I call the “3.5” draft of UnConventional last week and sent it off to my beta readers, so it’s this much closer to publication. I’m excited to be able to finish this project so I can focus on the sequel and Outsider full time. Continue reading →

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Precious Things Review

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Chie Alemán

Title: Precious Things

Author: Gail R. Delaney

Available in eBook?: Yes

Genre: Contemporary (Clean) Romance

Final Verdict: Buy

My Take: It’s rare to find a well written romance novel featuring a deaf hero; Ms. Delaney has created a deep, interesting character and her knowledge of ASL shows through in the text.

Continue reading →

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Introductions

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Chie Alemán

Hello. I’m Chie Alemán, and this is my author portal. I call it that because it’s a place for me to keep you up-to-date on my latest writing, but it’s more than that. I hope to post reviews and writing tips as well, and anything else I feel you might find enlightening or entertaining. Continue reading →

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