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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
A long and drawn-out mess, October 19, 2011
This review is from: Lori (The Circle of Friends, Book 1) (Paperback)
This book needs an editor. Following young lovers all the way through high school and university, it is an overlong tale of the mundane daily life as Jason and Lori grow from idealistic teens into young married adults. It's all tell and no show, and mostly consists of lists of their activities: Lori and Jack and Jill and Jane went to a party on Saturday. On Sunday Jack and Jill couldn't make it to the movies so Lori and Jason went on their own. The next week Lori and Jason and Jane went to a football game. Then it was Christmas and Lori spent it with her parents. Then the next Saturday Jack and Jane went shopping and then there was a party for everyone.
The entire book reads like that. It's a list of activities that takes place over a long time period - a far too long time period. There was no focus for the book - what was this? A teen romance, or a story about a strained marriage, or a book about aspiring athletes, or a long and drawn-out biography? This book needed an editor, and the author needs some help with how to bring her characters to life. Everyone was perfect and therefore incredibly boring. There was no conflict and, basically, no point to the book.
Not recommended.
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Go After Your Dreams!, February 17, 2010
This review is from: Lori (The Circle of Friends, Book 1) (Paperback)
This first book in the Circle of Friends series, "Lori" not only focuses on Lori and her Olympic dreams, but introduces us to a wonderfully diverse and close circle of friends.
Refreshing and realistic, you're drawn into the story of a young woman who has trained and prepared for the Olympics since she was a small child. Romance and friendships intertwine creating a story of determination, prioritizing, and facing challenges head-on.
Not just for the YA reader, this book is an inspiration that dreams can be realized and the sacrifices we face in life are, in the end, worth everything we go through to achieve our goals.
Don't give up on your dreams! Go after them!
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Courtesy of Teens Read Too, September 13, 2009
For anyone that says there are few young adult books out there with a positive message with little sexual content or foul language, then they haven't discovered THE CIRCLE OF FRIENDS series by Ms. Wolfe yet. LORI is the first in the series.
Lori Anders is pretty, but she's always been shy and lonely. Neither of her parents are around all that often, so she has been given pretty much anything she's ever asked for. The house she lives in comes with an indoor pool that she uses every day for her training. She has dreams of an Olympic gold medal in swimming.
It isn't until Lori defends her friend, Maria, from bullies at school that the course of her life totally changes. The bullies retaliate against Lori and she is rescued by none other than the quarterback of the school's football team. Unbeknownst to Jason, Lori has had a crush on him. Jason is amazed that he's never noticed Lori before, because he finds her truly stunning. And she is totally different from any other girl he has ever met.
After he rescues her, Jason invites Lori to have lunch at his table. She is immediately welcomed into the group. It's not long after that that she and Jason begin to date. They quickly become an item, and a couple that everyone admires. But Lori tells Jason that she will not have sex with him. She explains that she believes in saving herself until marriage. Although Jason isn't happy with the news, he realizes that Lori is special and is willing to wait.
From that point on, the rest of LORI shares the trials and tribulations of the couple as they go from senior year of high school through their college years. The two struggle together to remain a couple and are determined to make their relationship work. Lori is at one university on a swimming scholarship and Jason is at another school, reaching for his separate dream of an NFL contract at the end of his college football career.
Life isn't perfect for Lori and Jason, but through love and understanding, they do the best that they can.
Lori Anders is such a positive influence for anyone. She shows complete devotion to those she loves, and an unwavering determination to reach her dreams. There may be hints at sexual situations, but they are done within the limits of marriage - and abstinence is the message until marriage.
Overall, anyone that picks up LORI will come away with a warm feeling by the end of her journey.
Reviewed by: Jaglvr
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