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Streamline
Seems like Leo Scott has it all: looks, brains, and athletic talent. He's captain of his high school swim team with a bright future in college and beyond. But Leo has secrets. His mother's crippling car accident has devastated his family and left Leo to deal with his father's abuse, battered and alone.
Leo's girlfriend Audrey Rose is poised for her own share of success. As one of Florida's top high school swimmers, Audrey dreams of college swimming stardom. But there's an obstacle to her glorious rise to the top. Her number-one supporter -- her father -- is in prison for murder.
Part murder mystery, part tale of young love in a military family, this gripping story takes readers on a journey from Pensacola to Annapolis. Leo and Audrey must band together to rise above the adversity they encounter and find their true selves in the process. When everything's on the line... streamline.
Leo's girlfriend Audrey Rose is poised for her own share of success. As one of Florida's top high school swimmers, Audrey dreams of college swimming stardom. But there's an obstacle to her glorious rise to the top. Her number-one supporter -- her father -- is in prison for murder.
Part murder mystery, part tale of young love in a military family, this gripping story takes readers on a journey from Pensacola to Annapolis. Leo and Audrey must band together to rise above the adversity they encounter and find their true selves in the process. When everything's on the line... streamline.
460 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2012
4 people are currently reading
1895 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Lane
16 books1,432 followersPsychologist/author (psycho author) Jennifer Lane invites you to her world of sports romance and suspense with a psychological twist!
Jen fell in love with sports at a young age and competed in swimming and volleyball in college. She went on to become the Honda Award Winner for Division III Athlete of the Year. She still gets high from the smell of chlorine and the satisfaction of smashing a beautiful volleyball set.
In Jen’s upcoming tenth novel, Low Water, a swim coach and his psychologist team up to heal from trauma. Rivals features a romance between coaches from rival universities, Ohio State and Michigan. Her Blocked trilogy also explores the transformation from hate to love. One of Jen’s favorite themes is finding common ground.
A romantic suspense trilogy (The Conduct Series) and a psychological thriller (Twin Sacrifice) complete Jen’s collection of novels. For shorter reads, check out sports romance short stories Swim Recruit and Behind the Catcher’s Mask.
She calls South Carolina home and shares writing space with her two trusted feline collaborators: Tuxedo and Tessa. Whether writing or reading, Jen loves stories that make her laugh and cry.
Jen fell in love with sports at a young age and competed in swimming and volleyball in college. She went on to become the Honda Award Winner for Division III Athlete of the Year. She still gets high from the smell of chlorine and the satisfaction of smashing a beautiful volleyball set.
In Jen’s upcoming tenth novel, Low Water, a swim coach and his psychologist team up to heal from trauma. Rivals features a romance between coaches from rival universities, Ohio State and Michigan. Her Blocked trilogy also explores the transformation from hate to love. One of Jen’s favorite themes is finding common ground.
A romantic suspense trilogy (The Conduct Series) and a psychological thriller (Twin Sacrifice) complete Jen’s collection of novels. For shorter reads, check out sports romance short stories Swim Recruit and Behind the Catcher’s Mask.
She calls South Carolina home and shares writing space with her two trusted feline collaborators: Tuxedo and Tessa. Whether writing or reading, Jen loves stories that make her laugh and cry.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
May 15, 2012
The effortless prose from this author is a pure treat for true readers. Anything by Jennifer Lane is an investment in quality entertainment. Streamline is no exception. The timing of this book is perfect as well, throw it in the beach bag and and fall in love all over again.
April 30, 2012
Though Streamline is a book with multiple narrators, at its core, this story is Leo’s. Leo is one of those characters that tugged on my heartstrings – grabbing a hold of my sympathies to the point where I just wanted to give the poor kid a hug. A victim of both his father’s physical and emotional abuse, Leo is exhausted from his father’s constant mandate of being nothing less than the best, from hiding his family’s home life, from the stress of living under his father’s violent, controlling fist. Commander Scott, Leo’s father, sees his youngest son as his only chance to leave a successful legacy behind. This desire has reached the point where he drives his son relentlessly to achieve his own idea of “perfection,” punishing Leo severely when he fails. Leo, having endured years of this treatment, views himself as somewhat “less than,” he’s been taught to think that failure deserves such treatment. It goes without saying that Leo’s view of human interaction and interpersonal relationships have understandably skewed by years of mental conditioning caused by abuse. He fears his dad, and though he may find relief at the momentary absence of his father at school and swim practice, Leo also desperately craves his approval. Leo is talented, intelligent, sweet, loving, loyal to a fault, and yet he’s also a very broken young man. It’s completely heartbreaking to see the dichotomy between the strong, gifted, funny young man he’s able to be around others, and the scared boy who lives in fear of his father’s wrath. And it’s alternately fascinating and saddening as Leo struggles with whether his future has been irrevocably tainted by his father – if he can become the man he wishes to be or whether history is doomed to repeat itself.
I thought the way Lane explores all the facets of abuse handled well. All four members of the Scott household get a turn at narration – even the Commander – giving the reader a comprehensive look at a family that’s being destroyed from within, in all its emotional complexity. From why a spouse can’t just walk away, to all of the excuses and justifications one can make for their loved ones, to the twisted view of love that an abuser uses to rationalize their behavior toward their spouse and children, Lane takes a look at it all through the eyes of the Scotts. It’s complicated, it’s heartbreaking, it’s enlightening, and Lane handles the difficult subject matter skillfully.
Abuse is not the only tough subject that Streamline brings to the table. Substance abuse, depression, suicidal thoughts, traumatic disorders, teen pregnancy, infidelity, murder and abortion also make appearances. I’m not typically a fan of what one might call “issue contemps,” and these are most certainly not easy subjects to read about. Yet Lane, while conveying the seriousness, gravity, and consequences the various situations can have upon the individual or a group, does so with hope. It’s a book that has moments that might break your heart, but it’s also full of little victories, small moments of happiness that balance out the darkness. A book like this is weighty and can be emotionally taxing, but I in no way found it to be a depressing book.
Also at the heart of this story is the romance of Leo & Audrey. At the point where the story picks up, Audrey and Leo have been together for several years. While Audrey thinks Leo’s dad is about as strict as they come, she’s never guessed at the level of abuse that goes on in the Scott household. Where Leo is a bit more restrained and burdened with keeping his home life a secret from everyone, Audrey is fiery, passionate, fun-loving, a bit of a risk-taker, and her own person. Her independence and individuality, the freedom she represents, is probably one of the big reasons Leo has fallen for her, given that he feels trapped by his father and is right on track for a future he’s not sure he wants. But Leo’s not the only one to have daddy issues. Audrey’s father has been accused, wrongfully they suspect, of murdering a fellow Navy officer over a promotion. Leo & Audrey have bonded over their mutual family problems, supporting each other through some really trying times – even if Audrey wasn’t fully aware of the whole situation – and their love has matured into something really sweet and very true. The way they love each other is just adorable and heartwarming.
The research that went into this book must have been time consuming. There are so many detail-oriented, important bits of establishing background information required to build Leo’s world – competitive swimming, the ins-and-outs of the US Navy and, as I already touched on, all of the psychological issues that are touched on in Streamline. It’s a book that could easily fly or fail based on the quality of the author’s research, and it’s obvious Lane has done her homework. She writes authoritatively about each subject, and the seemingly inconsequential details about Navy life and swimming, when added together, lend so much realness and richness to this story.
Overall, Streamline is a wonderfully, emotionally complex story about the ones we love, the ones we hurt, the mistakes that break the human heart, and the unconditional love that puts the pieces back together.
* Definitely a book for the upper YA crowd due to mature themes and violence.
I thought the way Lane explores all the facets of abuse handled well. All four members of the Scott household get a turn at narration – even the Commander – giving the reader a comprehensive look at a family that’s being destroyed from within, in all its emotional complexity. From why a spouse can’t just walk away, to all of the excuses and justifications one can make for their loved ones, to the twisted view of love that an abuser uses to rationalize their behavior toward their spouse and children, Lane takes a look at it all through the eyes of the Scotts. It’s complicated, it’s heartbreaking, it’s enlightening, and Lane handles the difficult subject matter skillfully.
Abuse is not the only tough subject that Streamline brings to the table. Substance abuse, depression, suicidal thoughts, traumatic disorders, teen pregnancy, infidelity, murder and abortion also make appearances. I’m not typically a fan of what one might call “issue contemps,” and these are most certainly not easy subjects to read about. Yet Lane, while conveying the seriousness, gravity, and consequences the various situations can have upon the individual or a group, does so with hope. It’s a book that has moments that might break your heart, but it’s also full of little victories, small moments of happiness that balance out the darkness. A book like this is weighty and can be emotionally taxing, but I in no way found it to be a depressing book.
Also at the heart of this story is the romance of Leo & Audrey. At the point where the story picks up, Audrey and Leo have been together for several years. While Audrey thinks Leo’s dad is about as strict as they come, she’s never guessed at the level of abuse that goes on in the Scott household. Where Leo is a bit more restrained and burdened with keeping his home life a secret from everyone, Audrey is fiery, passionate, fun-loving, a bit of a risk-taker, and her own person. Her independence and individuality, the freedom she represents, is probably one of the big reasons Leo has fallen for her, given that he feels trapped by his father and is right on track for a future he’s not sure he wants. But Leo’s not the only one to have daddy issues. Audrey’s father has been accused, wrongfully they suspect, of murdering a fellow Navy officer over a promotion. Leo & Audrey have bonded over their mutual family problems, supporting each other through some really trying times – even if Audrey wasn’t fully aware of the whole situation – and their love has matured into something really sweet and very true. The way they love each other is just adorable and heartwarming.
The research that went into this book must have been time consuming. There are so many detail-oriented, important bits of establishing background information required to build Leo’s world – competitive swimming, the ins-and-outs of the US Navy and, as I already touched on, all of the psychological issues that are touched on in Streamline. It’s a book that could easily fly or fail based on the quality of the author’s research, and it’s obvious Lane has done her homework. She writes authoritatively about each subject, and the seemingly inconsequential details about Navy life and swimming, when added together, lend so much realness and richness to this story.
Overall, Streamline is a wonderfully, emotionally complex story about the ones we love, the ones we hurt, the mistakes that break the human heart, and the unconditional love that puts the pieces back together.
* Definitely a book for the upper YA crowd due to mature themes and violence.
May 12, 2012
MICHELLE'S REVIEW:
RATING : 5 HEART BREAKING STARS!!
WOW! What a read! There was not a vampire or paranormal creature in sight, just two boys that were born into a family that caused them so much pain.
This is a tale of so much physical and mental pain, abuse, love, betrayal, fear, regret, addiction, secrets and tissue worthy moments.
I had to sit for a bit after reading this book. Jennifer has managed to really bring the broken, damaged characters to life before your eyes.
Leo Scott and Jason Scott are brothers. They have been beaten many times by their father a Commander in the Navy. This is their story. It is mostly told from Leo’s POV, but Jason has his moments to share with us, his heartache, and what drove him to his addiction.
We work out pretty early Jason’s very broken. It takes the reader longer to see how broken and damaged Leo is. He hides his pain and punishment very well and mentally it gets buried deep. It is heart breaking reading about a father who is so violent he puts Leo in the hospital .
He loses his spleen.
He is a tortured soul who is crying out for help and making a lot of mistakes along the way.
Leo does not realise it’s ok not to be perfect. It’s ok to muck up. A mistake does not warrant a fist, a split lip, black eye, repeated kicks to the stomach......hospitalisation. Leo has no choice. He knows when he will get a beating and there is nothing, he can do about it, but take it until his body gives out, he goes unconscious . Then the pain is gone....... for a little while.
We follow Leo and his journey from the swim team to the Naval Academy. This is where his story really unfolds. Jennifer writes life in a naval academy very real, to me. I have not ever stepped foot in one, but I got the feel of the discipline and strength these kids must have, to last. This is a tough, tough academy, I wouldn’t last five minutes.
Audrey is Leo’s girlfriend. They are both on the swim team, this is how they met. Swimming is Leo’s outlet. He feels good when he is swimming. Audrey and Leo have a deep love. Their love shines through this story. They also have a secret that nearly gets Leo killed.
I love the sub characters who are in Leo’s life and who are rooting for him, Matt the swim coach, Marcus the councelor, Dr Ina who wants to understand Leo and Jason who wants to now be there for his little brother. Jason is older, and made enough mistakes of his own. He has a life to get back on track and his girlfriend Cameron is there for him.
The people who care, no matter how much you don’t care about your own life, are the angels of these types of stories.
It’s easy to judge why their mother didn’t put a stop to the beatings, I am trying to understand. The Commander is a very strong, fierce character, and one to be feared. I think mentally she was just beaten. I just have trouble with Leo lying in a pool of blood, it took near death for her to step up and do what she should have done years earlier.
Jennifer pulls on the emotional strings hard, in this book. It’s impossible not to feel your heart break for the unnecessary pain a father repeatedly, put his sons through.
This is a story of damaged lives that find each other, and they come together to reveal a deathly secret.
FAVE QUOTE:
“I miss my father too,” Leo rasped, then forged ahead. The words tumbled out as his voice hitched with tears. “I wanted you to do the right thing for once. You always told me to do the right thing, but you never did — you never thought about anyone but yourself. You beat me when I needed a hug. You criticized me when I needed praise. I just wanted you to be proud of me. It was stupid…a stupid little-boy wish that will never come true.”
RATING : 5 HEART BREAKING STARS!!
WOW! What a read! There was not a vampire or paranormal creature in sight, just two boys that were born into a family that caused them so much pain.
This is a tale of so much physical and mental pain, abuse, love, betrayal, fear, regret, addiction, secrets and tissue worthy moments.
I had to sit for a bit after reading this book. Jennifer has managed to really bring the broken, damaged characters to life before your eyes.
Leo Scott and Jason Scott are brothers. They have been beaten many times by their father a Commander in the Navy. This is their story. It is mostly told from Leo’s POV, but Jason has his moments to share with us, his heartache, and what drove him to his addiction.
We work out pretty early Jason’s very broken. It takes the reader longer to see how broken and damaged Leo is. He hides his pain and punishment very well and mentally it gets buried deep. It is heart breaking reading about a father who is so violent he puts Leo in the hospital .
He loses his spleen.
He is a tortured soul who is crying out for help and making a lot of mistakes along the way.
Leo does not realise it’s ok not to be perfect. It’s ok to muck up. A mistake does not warrant a fist, a split lip, black eye, repeated kicks to the stomach......hospitalisation. Leo has no choice. He knows when he will get a beating and there is nothing, he can do about it, but take it until his body gives out, he goes unconscious . Then the pain is gone....... for a little while.
We follow Leo and his journey from the swim team to the Naval Academy. This is where his story really unfolds. Jennifer writes life in a naval academy very real, to me. I have not ever stepped foot in one, but I got the feel of the discipline and strength these kids must have, to last. This is a tough, tough academy, I wouldn’t last five minutes.
Audrey is Leo’s girlfriend. They are both on the swim team, this is how they met. Swimming is Leo’s outlet. He feels good when he is swimming. Audrey and Leo have a deep love. Their love shines through this story. They also have a secret that nearly gets Leo killed.
I love the sub characters who are in Leo’s life and who are rooting for him, Matt the swim coach, Marcus the councelor, Dr Ina who wants to understand Leo and Jason who wants to now be there for his little brother. Jason is older, and made enough mistakes of his own. He has a life to get back on track and his girlfriend Cameron is there for him.
The people who care, no matter how much you don’t care about your own life, are the angels of these types of stories.
It’s easy to judge why their mother didn’t put a stop to the beatings, I am trying to understand. The Commander is a very strong, fierce character, and one to be feared. I think mentally she was just beaten. I just have trouble with Leo lying in a pool of blood, it took near death for her to step up and do what she should have done years earlier.
Jennifer pulls on the emotional strings hard, in this book. It’s impossible not to feel your heart break for the unnecessary pain a father repeatedly, put his sons through.
This is a story of damaged lives that find each other, and they come together to reveal a deathly secret.
FAVE QUOTE:
“I miss my father too,” Leo rasped, then forged ahead. The words tumbled out as his voice hitched with tears. “I wanted you to do the right thing for once. You always told me to do the right thing, but you never did — you never thought about anyone but yourself. You beat me when I needed a hug. You criticized me when I needed praise. I just wanted you to be proud of me. It was stupid…a stupid little-boy wish that will never come true.”
May 7, 2012
My Summary:
Leo Scott and Audrey Rose have been dating for two years. They met in school and are both accomplished swimmers on the swim team. They are both trying for college scholarships. The problem is that their family lives seem to keep getting in the way and creating massive stress. Both Leo and Audrey come from military families. Leo's father is physically abusive and Leo has always managed to keep that a secret. Then there's Audrey, who's father is in prison for a murder he doesn't remember. Leo and Audrey learn to rely on each other and their relationship becomes much stronger in the process. So many things happen to pose challenges for these two, but can they make it through to the finish in one piece?
My Take:
When I saw the cover of the book and the title, I'm not sure I even read the description before signing on. As a former swimmer and current swim coach, I knew I would have a connection to this book in some way. Boy was I right! I'm so glad that I signed on for this tour. Not only did I find a fantastic story, but it's always fun for me to chat with other people who have a passion for swimming. Grab your box of tissues though. This is an intense story.
There are so many things that I liked about this story, but I'm going to start with the swimming. I LOVED all of the swimming parts of the story. I felt the rush that they felt while racing, could picture exactly what they were doing, and of course am familiar with all the terminology. Even if you aren't a swimmer, you will still appreciate and follow along with that aspect of the story. Swimmers are very disciplined in their sport. Training can be intense, and YES, we do shave our whole bodies for big races. I loved the little details and that made me feel a part of their lives.
Now, moving on to the characters. I'm going to start with Audrey. I like her. She's a sweet girl with an air of naivety about her that I find endearing. She's very focused on school and swimming. I found a connection with her there. I love that she never gave up hope for her father and trusted her instincts. Audrey could have easily walked away from Leo on many different occasions, but she didn't. I admire the fact that a girl that young could find the tenacity to stand by him despite what was happening in her own life. That truly proved to me that she loved him deeply.
Leo...Leo...Leo. I really fell for Leo. To me, Streamline is Leo's story more than anything else. He is such a sweet guy and has a tremendous amount of determination to succeed. The problem was, he did it for his father instead of for himself. Until he finally started to break through that mold, he was stuck. URGH... his father, CS, is terrible. His nick names were well deserved. Yes, Leo was a good student; yes, he was a fantastic swimmer; yes, he had a great girlfriend. I'm just not sure he could really enjoy those things in his life though, while he was under his dad's thumb. I really don't want to reveal anything from the story, but man oh man this kid has been through a ton in his life. The amount of pressure his father put on his shoulders, was literally unbearable for Leo. He turned to outside resources to cope and to manage his literal pain. What I admire though, is that in every difficult situation, he found a way out; whether it was through his own resources or through the help of others. Lastly, I adore they way he loves Audrey. Their relationship was so sweet.
Clearly you can see that I developed quite a connection to this story and these characters. Here's what I will tell you though. This book was extremely difficult for me to read. I had to put it down and walk away from it on more than one occasion. The reason being, there are very serious issues and situations that are discussed. From addiction to abuse, the whole track has been run. It's a long story too, so breaks were needed to get through it and keep myself from turning into a slobbery mess. Am I glad I read it? Absolutely. Would I recommend this book to others? Absolutely. Would I re-read it? I don't think my heart could handle it. I did enjoy the writing style and the flow was smooth. There were a few parts to the story that I wasn't sure needed to be in place, but that's just my opinion.
My overall/final thoughts are that this is a truly touching story. It's more than I expected it to be. Even though there is a romantic relationship in the story, I didn't feel that that was what the story was about. So, I would say pick this book if you are looking for an amazing story of self discovery, personal triumph, justice, a little mystery, and a touch of romance. Really...truly...a remarkable read.
http://www.autumnreview.com/2012/05/s...
Leo Scott and Audrey Rose have been dating for two years. They met in school and are both accomplished swimmers on the swim team. They are both trying for college scholarships. The problem is that their family lives seem to keep getting in the way and creating massive stress. Both Leo and Audrey come from military families. Leo's father is physically abusive and Leo has always managed to keep that a secret. Then there's Audrey, who's father is in prison for a murder he doesn't remember. Leo and Audrey learn to rely on each other and their relationship becomes much stronger in the process. So many things happen to pose challenges for these two, but can they make it through to the finish in one piece?
My Take:
When I saw the cover of the book and the title, I'm not sure I even read the description before signing on. As a former swimmer and current swim coach, I knew I would have a connection to this book in some way. Boy was I right! I'm so glad that I signed on for this tour. Not only did I find a fantastic story, but it's always fun for me to chat with other people who have a passion for swimming. Grab your box of tissues though. This is an intense story.
There are so many things that I liked about this story, but I'm going to start with the swimming. I LOVED all of the swimming parts of the story. I felt the rush that they felt while racing, could picture exactly what they were doing, and of course am familiar with all the terminology. Even if you aren't a swimmer, you will still appreciate and follow along with that aspect of the story. Swimmers are very disciplined in their sport. Training can be intense, and YES, we do shave our whole bodies for big races. I loved the little details and that made me feel a part of their lives.
Now, moving on to the characters. I'm going to start with Audrey. I like her. She's a sweet girl with an air of naivety about her that I find endearing. She's very focused on school and swimming. I found a connection with her there. I love that she never gave up hope for her father and trusted her instincts. Audrey could have easily walked away from Leo on many different occasions, but she didn't. I admire the fact that a girl that young could find the tenacity to stand by him despite what was happening in her own life. That truly proved to me that she loved him deeply.
Leo...Leo...Leo. I really fell for Leo. To me, Streamline is Leo's story more than anything else. He is such a sweet guy and has a tremendous amount of determination to succeed. The problem was, he did it for his father instead of for himself. Until he finally started to break through that mold, he was stuck. URGH... his father, CS, is terrible. His nick names were well deserved. Yes, Leo was a good student; yes, he was a fantastic swimmer; yes, he had a great girlfriend. I'm just not sure he could really enjoy those things in his life though, while he was under his dad's thumb. I really don't want to reveal anything from the story, but man oh man this kid has been through a ton in his life. The amount of pressure his father put on his shoulders, was literally unbearable for Leo. He turned to outside resources to cope and to manage his literal pain. What I admire though, is that in every difficult situation, he found a way out; whether it was through his own resources or through the help of others. Lastly, I adore they way he loves Audrey. Their relationship was so sweet.
Clearly you can see that I developed quite a connection to this story and these characters. Here's what I will tell you though. This book was extremely difficult for me to read. I had to put it down and walk away from it on more than one occasion. The reason being, there are very serious issues and situations that are discussed. From addiction to abuse, the whole track has been run. It's a long story too, so breaks were needed to get through it and keep myself from turning into a slobbery mess. Am I glad I read it? Absolutely. Would I recommend this book to others? Absolutely. Would I re-read it? I don't think my heart could handle it. I did enjoy the writing style and the flow was smooth. There were a few parts to the story that I wasn't sure needed to be in place, but that's just my opinion.
My overall/final thoughts are that this is a truly touching story. It's more than I expected it to be. Even though there is a romantic relationship in the story, I didn't feel that that was what the story was about. So, I would say pick this book if you are looking for an amazing story of self discovery, personal triumph, justice, a little mystery, and a touch of romance. Really...truly...a remarkable read.
http://www.autumnreview.com/2012/05/s...
October 11, 2012
I was asked by the author to read and review this book. This does not bias my review.
Streamline by Jennifer Lane is not my typical YA read. I don't usually pick up contemporaries, but am totally not adverse to them especially when they are done well. Streamline focuses on Leon Scott, a high school guy who seems to have it all: he has the perfect girlfriend, he's a top swimmer and captain of his team, he is in great physical shape and effortlessly does well at school. However, his life has a dark side--his father is a military man and because of some life events and bad choices, has turned to abusing his family emotionally and physically. For the first half, we live through Leon's eyes, becoming a swimmer and going to his meets, but also following him home, and watching the horrible abuse at his home. The next half shows Leon overcoming some difficulties at home and going to military school. All throughout this story winds a mystery-- his girlfriend's father is imprisoned for a murder-- but did he really murder anyone?
This book is a long one, and you have to be dedicated for the ride to come. But it's worth it. The first half may have seemed a little too long in the build up, but I did enjoy learning about being on a swimming team, what the practices are like, and so forth. I can see how people immersed in this world would really delight in this part. I wasn't sure how the story of Leon and his dad's conflicted relationship would go-- at some times, I wondered if it would end up being too trite. But the second half really made this book worth going the distance (no pun intended). Lane is a psychologist and it shows-- the moments between Leon and his psychologist were amazing. I felt like I was in the room getting therapy with Leon, seeing into his inner mind and watching him discover aspects to his own personality that he never understood. At the same time, I enjoyed watching the mystery finally unfolding and coming to a pounding climax. While I thought the characters were well thought out and three dimensional, even Leon's father, I sometimes thought there were too many of them. Also, the ending seemed almost too easy, where everything fit exactly in the right place and they lived happily ever after. Life is messy, and doesn't always work out the way we want it-- and that's okay, we learn and grow. I felt that this book wanted to say that, but in the end, may have taken the easy way out.
That said, I enjoyed the journey with these characters, loved learning about swimming, and particularly loved the scenes between Leon and the psychologist. I know this is Lane's first YA book, but she has great promise in this genre.
Streamline by Jennifer Lane is not my typical YA read. I don't usually pick up contemporaries, but am totally not adverse to them especially when they are done well. Streamline focuses on Leon Scott, a high school guy who seems to have it all: he has the perfect girlfriend, he's a top swimmer and captain of his team, he is in great physical shape and effortlessly does well at school. However, his life has a dark side--his father is a military man and because of some life events and bad choices, has turned to abusing his family emotionally and physically. For the first half, we live through Leon's eyes, becoming a swimmer and going to his meets, but also following him home, and watching the horrible abuse at his home. The next half shows Leon overcoming some difficulties at home and going to military school. All throughout this story winds a mystery-- his girlfriend's father is imprisoned for a murder-- but did he really murder anyone?
This book is a long one, and you have to be dedicated for the ride to come. But it's worth it. The first half may have seemed a little too long in the build up, but I did enjoy learning about being on a swimming team, what the practices are like, and so forth. I can see how people immersed in this world would really delight in this part. I wasn't sure how the story of Leon and his dad's conflicted relationship would go-- at some times, I wondered if it would end up being too trite. But the second half really made this book worth going the distance (no pun intended). Lane is a psychologist and it shows-- the moments between Leon and his psychologist were amazing. I felt like I was in the room getting therapy with Leon, seeing into his inner mind and watching him discover aspects to his own personality that he never understood. At the same time, I enjoyed watching the mystery finally unfolding and coming to a pounding climax. While I thought the characters were well thought out and three dimensional, even Leon's father, I sometimes thought there were too many of them. Also, the ending seemed almost too easy, where everything fit exactly in the right place and they lived happily ever after. Life is messy, and doesn't always work out the way we want it-- and that's okay, we learn and grow. I felt that this book wanted to say that, but in the end, may have taken the easy way out.
That said, I enjoyed the journey with these characters, loved learning about swimming, and particularly loved the scenes between Leon and the psychologist. I know this is Lane's first YA book, but she has great promise in this genre.
March 27, 2012
I would like to thank Jen for sending me an ARC copy of Streamline. I loved the cover the minute I saw it. I am a huge fan of the men and women that serve our country through the Navy or the Army. So when I heard it was about two families from the Navy I just had to read it. I am also a very HUGE water baby! I love to spend time in the pool and on the beach in the summer. Those two elements had me jumping for joy!
As I opened the book and started reading I was BLOWN AWAY by what was going on. Streamline is about love, loss, betrayal, abuse and coming full circle to learn to love again. I really don't know where to begin without saying anything to spoilerish. So here goes my best attempts to try and not spoil it. I will say I am SO Team Leo! He is the man!
Leo and Audrey both come from a military family. Leo's father is a Commander and Audrey's father is a LT who is in the Brig (Military Prison) for murder. Together both Leo and Audrey will go on a roller coaster of a ride. Leo will endure heartache and loss andmust work through his feelings towards his abuser. Audrey will have to fight to keep her family and she will have to help Leo through his tough times.
Leo and Audrey are both looking to find the true murderer in order to set things right. Audrey knows deep down her father is not a murderer and Leo will do everything in his power to prove she is right. In the process of finding the murderer Leo will have to make the gut wrentching decision to lose the one thing he has loved and wanted all his life to prove that Audrey's father is no murderer.
Will Leo be able to catch the murderer and bring them to justice or will the murderer take Leo down? What will Audrey do when her relationship with her father is threatened? Through it all they will have to hold on to each other to get through it and once the dust settles where will they be?
Come along for a ride of the lifetime. With murder and abuse at the forefront of this story it will pull at your heart and your heart will go out to Leo. Abuse is any form is never okay but for a parent to abuse a child is unspeakable! See how Leo digs deep within himself to rid himself of the monster who is abusing him.
I had the plaesure of interviewing Leo and Audrey on my blog and man oh man are those two a lot of fun! Click on the link to read the interview http://adiaryofabookaddict.blogspot.c...
As I opened the book and started reading I was BLOWN AWAY by what was going on. Streamline is about love, loss, betrayal, abuse and coming full circle to learn to love again. I really don't know where to begin without saying anything to spoilerish. So here goes my best attempts to try and not spoil it. I will say I am SO Team Leo! He is the man!
Leo and Audrey both come from a military family. Leo's father is a Commander and Audrey's father is a LT who is in the Brig (Military Prison) for murder. Together both Leo and Audrey will go on a roller coaster of a ride. Leo will endure heartache and loss andmust work through his feelings towards his abuser. Audrey will have to fight to keep her family and she will have to help Leo through his tough times.
Leo and Audrey are both looking to find the true murderer in order to set things right. Audrey knows deep down her father is not a murderer and Leo will do everything in his power to prove she is right. In the process of finding the murderer Leo will have to make the gut wrentching decision to lose the one thing he has loved and wanted all his life to prove that Audrey's father is no murderer.
Will Leo be able to catch the murderer and bring them to justice or will the murderer take Leo down? What will Audrey do when her relationship with her father is threatened? Through it all they will have to hold on to each other to get through it and once the dust settles where will they be?
Come along for a ride of the lifetime. With murder and abuse at the forefront of this story it will pull at your heart and your heart will go out to Leo. Abuse is any form is never okay but for a parent to abuse a child is unspeakable! See how Leo digs deep within himself to rid himself of the monster who is abusing him.
I had the plaesure of interviewing Leo and Audrey on my blog and man oh man are those two a lot of fun! Click on the link to read the interview http://adiaryofabookaddict.blogspot.c...
April 16, 2012
Another fabulous story from Ms. Lane! If you're a fan of both YA and suspense, then I think you'll love Streamline. Ms. Lane is extremely talented in her ability to weave stories in such a way that keeps you guessing who the bad guy is until the very end. I'm fairly good at figuring out who the bad guy/killer is in a lot of stories, but this one surprised me. I was sure the villain was someone else, altogether.
The characters were engaging, and the story flew by at a wonderful pace. Didn't want to put it down. This one is a must read!
The characters were engaging, and the story flew by at a wonderful pace. Didn't want to put it down. This one is a must read!
May 8, 2012
Rating: 3.5/5
Streamline is a dark and powerful story, one that weighs heavily on our minds and hearts as we find ourselves both fascinated and disgusted by the painful lives of the Scott family and those closest to them. While reading, we find ourselves with conflicting urges–the desire to cast the book aside and retreat back into the safety our reality at odds with our need to keep reading as though our knowledge of Leo and Audrey’s battles will provide them some form of comfort. From the first chapter, the excruciating secrets Leo keeps from everyone regarding his home life sit like lead in our guts, and every time his military commander father doles out his idea of “discipline”, that tangible weight seems to double until even the tiniest movement of our fingers to flip the pages is met with resistance and leaves us utterly exhausted.
Leo is a study in extremes: unbelievably strong mentally and physically not only as an athlete but as a survivor of repeated violent abuse, yet at the same time he is emotionally vulnerable to a staggering degree as years of beatings and verbal lashings have taught him to believe he is deserving of such cruelty. His story is not one of steady growth and improvement until we reach the end and have a happy, healthy young man where a damaged one stood before, instead he realistically struggles all the way through, making several small steps forward only to fall back several a few chapters later. Through every hard-fought battle however we cling to the hope that Ms. Lane would not be so unkind as to tear him down without building him back up, and we meet each page with a heady sense of anticipation that maybe it’s the one that finally grants us his happiness.
Ms. Lane pulls no punches in her depiction of the Scott family, eschewing the paranormal in favor of a very human monster, and it’s nothing short of heartbreaking to watch the violent and blustering cyclone that is Commander Scott suck his family into a rotating vortex of pain, lies, and betrayal. Commander Scott operates at the far reaches of the emotional spectrum, his anger never expressed quietly or approached logically, instead his own dark past and his rigid military training create a composed, put together man hiding a hair trigger under his perfectly pressed uniform. He seems vile and loathsome–a larger than life evil capable of inflicting infinite damage on his loved ones–but his power is constructed of flimsy cards precariously stacked, the merest of breaths capable of sending his whole world crashing down, and we therefore find him to be worthy of both our hatred as well as our pity.
While the characters are stunningly depicted–the pain of their lives visceral and unforgettable–the story itself is a bit long and at times tedious. The abuse (a colorful variety including physical, emotional, and substance) is so intense in the beginning that when Leo and Audrey’s stories veer off into more mundane day to day activities including swim meets, random dinners, and eventually naval academy training for Leo, our attention starts to drift and we long for a return of what drew us initially. There are several smaller side elements that could have easily been culled in favor of, ironically, streamlining the abuse/murder mystery plotline to keep our attention glued to the pages, but overall, Ms. Lane impresses with her dark contemporary tale and I will certainly be looking for more of her in the future.
Streamline is a dark and powerful story, one that weighs heavily on our minds and hearts as we find ourselves both fascinated and disgusted by the painful lives of the Scott family and those closest to them. While reading, we find ourselves with conflicting urges–the desire to cast the book aside and retreat back into the safety our reality at odds with our need to keep reading as though our knowledge of Leo and Audrey’s battles will provide them some form of comfort. From the first chapter, the excruciating secrets Leo keeps from everyone regarding his home life sit like lead in our guts, and every time his military commander father doles out his idea of “discipline”, that tangible weight seems to double until even the tiniest movement of our fingers to flip the pages is met with resistance and leaves us utterly exhausted.
Leo is a study in extremes: unbelievably strong mentally and physically not only as an athlete but as a survivor of repeated violent abuse, yet at the same time he is emotionally vulnerable to a staggering degree as years of beatings and verbal lashings have taught him to believe he is deserving of such cruelty. His story is not one of steady growth and improvement until we reach the end and have a happy, healthy young man where a damaged one stood before, instead he realistically struggles all the way through, making several small steps forward only to fall back several a few chapters later. Through every hard-fought battle however we cling to the hope that Ms. Lane would not be so unkind as to tear him down without building him back up, and we meet each page with a heady sense of anticipation that maybe it’s the one that finally grants us his happiness.
Ms. Lane pulls no punches in her depiction of the Scott family, eschewing the paranormal in favor of a very human monster, and it’s nothing short of heartbreaking to watch the violent and blustering cyclone that is Commander Scott suck his family into a rotating vortex of pain, lies, and betrayal. Commander Scott operates at the far reaches of the emotional spectrum, his anger never expressed quietly or approached logically, instead his own dark past and his rigid military training create a composed, put together man hiding a hair trigger under his perfectly pressed uniform. He seems vile and loathsome–a larger than life evil capable of inflicting infinite damage on his loved ones–but his power is constructed of flimsy cards precariously stacked, the merest of breaths capable of sending his whole world crashing down, and we therefore find him to be worthy of both our hatred as well as our pity.
While the characters are stunningly depicted–the pain of their lives visceral and unforgettable–the story itself is a bit long and at times tedious. The abuse (a colorful variety including physical, emotional, and substance) is so intense in the beginning that when Leo and Audrey’s stories veer off into more mundane day to day activities including swim meets, random dinners, and eventually naval academy training for Leo, our attention starts to drift and we long for a return of what drew us initially. There are several smaller side elements that could have easily been culled in favor of, ironically, streamlining the abuse/murder mystery plotline to keep our attention glued to the pages, but overall, Ms. Lane impresses with her dark contemporary tale and I will certainly be looking for more of her in the future.
December 10, 2013
There was soooo much that went on in this book, I don't even know where to begin...while it is a story of young love, it is also a story of survival and rising above.
Leo Scott seems to have the perfect life - captain of the swim team, perfect grades, perfect girlfriend, and a father who is a high-ranking, well-respected military officer. But at home, his life is anything but…Leo strives to be so perfect because if he isn't, his well-respected father punishes him - by beating him. No one suspects it, not even his girlfriend, and Leo doesn't want anyone to find out because he thinks he deserves it. It has always been that way - if you failed, you needed to be disciplined.
Audrey Rose is Leo's long-time girlfriend who is his saving grace. Audrey also seems to have it all at times, but her father is in jail for a murder he can't remember committing. Audrey doesn't believe him capable of such a crime and she stands by him, but he can't confirm or deny what happened, all he remembers is waking up in the woods the day after and he wonders if it actually could've been him. Will the truth ever come out or will her father spend the rest of his life in prison?
I really admire the way the author addressed some extremely sensitive issues in this story, particularly addiction and abuse (both physical and emotional). She did a really good job letting you get into all of the characters heads and helping you to understand their feelings. As horrible as Commander Scott was to his sons, she tries to help you understand why he felt like he needed to be as "strict" on them as he was, and you ALMOST feel sorry for him. She helps you understand why Leo feels he deserves the treatment he gets, and how he expects it (and sometimes welcomes it) from others. The story is told in alternating POVs, but not just between the main characters, she gives everyone a turn. At times it could almost get confusing, but in the end, I enjoyed the way everyone's story was brought back together.
The only problem I had with this story was it's length - there was just so much that went on, I felt like it could've been divided up, especially with the weight of some of the topics. It did take me a little longer to read this book partly because of the length, and partly because I just had to step away for a little bit. It seemed every time there was a small victory, another BIG problem was right around the corner. All in all, I did enjoy the book and look forward to more from Jennifer Lane!
Leo Scott seems to have the perfect life - captain of the swim team, perfect grades, perfect girlfriend, and a father who is a high-ranking, well-respected military officer. But at home, his life is anything but…Leo strives to be so perfect because if he isn't, his well-respected father punishes him - by beating him. No one suspects it, not even his girlfriend, and Leo doesn't want anyone to find out because he thinks he deserves it. It has always been that way - if you failed, you needed to be disciplined.
Audrey Rose is Leo's long-time girlfriend who is his saving grace. Audrey also seems to have it all at times, but her father is in jail for a murder he can't remember committing. Audrey doesn't believe him capable of such a crime and she stands by him, but he can't confirm or deny what happened, all he remembers is waking up in the woods the day after and he wonders if it actually could've been him. Will the truth ever come out or will her father spend the rest of his life in prison?
I really admire the way the author addressed some extremely sensitive issues in this story, particularly addiction and abuse (both physical and emotional). She did a really good job letting you get into all of the characters heads and helping you to understand their feelings. As horrible as Commander Scott was to his sons, she tries to help you understand why he felt like he needed to be as "strict" on them as he was, and you ALMOST feel sorry for him. She helps you understand why Leo feels he deserves the treatment he gets, and how he expects it (and sometimes welcomes it) from others. The story is told in alternating POVs, but not just between the main characters, she gives everyone a turn. At times it could almost get confusing, but in the end, I enjoyed the way everyone's story was brought back together.
The only problem I had with this story was it's length - there was just so much that went on, I felt like it could've been divided up, especially with the weight of some of the topics. It did take me a little longer to read this book partly because of the length, and partly because I just had to step away for a little bit. It seemed every time there was a small victory, another BIG problem was right around the corner. All in all, I did enjoy the book and look forward to more from Jennifer Lane!
April 5, 2016
An Electronic Advanced Reader Copy was provided by the publisher for review. Quotes have been pulled from an ARC and may be subject to change.
If I had one word to describe Streamline, it would be dramatic. Everything that could go wrong does, and the consequences are problematic to say the least. We have Leo Scott, who is captain of the swimming team, boyfriend to Audrey, brother to Jason and son to Ina and James Scott. He’s the golden boy of school, well-liked, handsome and intelligent as well as athletic. In comes his father James who is a CO (Commanding Officer) of the US Navy, proud, violent and out of control, he keeps his son Leo on a tight leash. The violence starts and I finally heaved a sigh of relief when it ended. I must warn you some scenes are so detailed that I couldn’t help but skip it due to the brutality.
With the dark, there’s always the light and that comes in the form of Audrey. Smart, kind and completely devoted to Leo, she stands by him through the good and the bad. I felt they were practically married even if they were only high school seniors. Their love was definite and sweet. You could feel their love for each other leap across the pages. I loved it! Kudos to the ever intense story line that FINALLY picked up in the end. I saw it coming and you could just feel it unravel when all hell broke loose.
Jennifer Lane writes well and considering there are multiple characters it included multiple viewpoints which is unique in a YA novel. I did get confused as to which character was talking, who was thinking what, etc. Maybe if it was kept between two viewpoints it would have been simpler to read. I couldn’t remember all the characters names so that gave me a reason to flip back and find out who it was. That wasn’t so easy reading on my iPad, but I managed in the end. I also thought the book was rather long. Most chapters could have been shortened down because I believe it didn’t add significance to the story. A story full of teenage pregnancies, abortion, violence, mild rape, adultery, and you have yourselves a soap opera worth reading about. Streamline isn’t all about the trials of swimming, it’s much more deeper than that.
If I had one word to describe Streamline, it would be dramatic. Everything that could go wrong does, and the consequences are problematic to say the least. We have Leo Scott, who is captain of the swimming team, boyfriend to Audrey, brother to Jason and son to Ina and James Scott. He’s the golden boy of school, well-liked, handsome and intelligent as well as athletic. In comes his father James who is a CO (Commanding Officer) of the US Navy, proud, violent and out of control, he keeps his son Leo on a tight leash. The violence starts and I finally heaved a sigh of relief when it ended. I must warn you some scenes are so detailed that I couldn’t help but skip it due to the brutality.
With the dark, there’s always the light and that comes in the form of Audrey. Smart, kind and completely devoted to Leo, she stands by him through the good and the bad. I felt they were practically married even if they were only high school seniors. Their love was definite and sweet. You could feel their love for each other leap across the pages. I loved it! Kudos to the ever intense story line that FINALLY picked up in the end. I saw it coming and you could just feel it unravel when all hell broke loose.
Jennifer Lane writes well and considering there are multiple characters it included multiple viewpoints which is unique in a YA novel. I did get confused as to which character was talking, who was thinking what, etc. Maybe if it was kept between two viewpoints it would have been simpler to read. I couldn’t remember all the characters names so that gave me a reason to flip back and find out who it was. That wasn’t so easy reading on my iPad, but I managed in the end. I also thought the book was rather long. Most chapters could have been shortened down because I believe it didn’t add significance to the story. A story full of teenage pregnancies, abortion, violence, mild rape, adultery, and you have yourselves a soap opera worth reading about. Streamline isn’t all about the trials of swimming, it’s much more deeper than that.
October 20, 2014
This is in no way an easy read. To be honest, it may have been too depressing for me. I think I held my breath through the whole thing. There are so many problems introduced right at the start. I felt suffocated. Fortunately, it's an up and down process. It's not all bad. And the process of resolving difficult issues begins sooner rather than later. I was so worried the whole book would be the same cycles of abuse and drugs and violence. I pushed on though, waiting for the hook. And boy, does Ms. Lane know how to build up a story. She takes her time and really, it's a worthwhile journey.
I think one of the saddest things for me was how Leo would mainly address his parents as “sir” and “ma'am”. He's crazy about pleasing his authorities and his self-esteem is so low. I just wanted to scoop him up and go all maternal on him. Throughout the book he constantly believes that he deserves getting the crap beaten out of him. I was really relieved when the author brought in Leo's quirky humour. It was like I could finally take a breath.
Coach Matt - “Why are my two team captains skipping valuable practice time to get it on?”
Leo - “We’re just doing what you told us, sir.”
Matt squinted in confusion.
“You told us to get a room.”
I really loved the strong male characters who knows a thing a two about respect and justice. And I lived for those sweet moments between Leo and Audrey.
Leo's older brother is also a featured character in the story and while most of the time I wished he didn't get a POV (the book is really really long!), I had to laugh at how he proposes to his girlfriend.
Sexual Content: Fade to black.
I think one of the saddest things for me was how Leo would mainly address his parents as “sir” and “ma'am”. He's crazy about pleasing his authorities and his self-esteem is so low. I just wanted to scoop him up and go all maternal on him. Throughout the book he constantly believes that he deserves getting the crap beaten out of him. I was really relieved when the author brought in Leo's quirky humour. It was like I could finally take a breath.
Coach Matt - “Why are my two team captains skipping valuable practice time to get it on?”
Leo - “We’re just doing what you told us, sir.”
Matt squinted in confusion.
“You told us to get a room.”
I really loved the strong male characters who knows a thing a two about respect and justice. And I lived for those sweet moments between Leo and Audrey.
Leo's older brother is also a featured character in the story and while most of the time I wished he didn't get a POV (the book is really really long!), I had to laugh at how he proposes to his girlfriend.
Sexual Content: Fade to black.
January 3, 2013
I. Love. This. Book!! This is the story of a boy who has endured unthinkable pain in his life. But when his brother comes back into town, things finally start to change for him. Leo is the captain of his high school swim team. His life looks pretty perfect from the outside. He's in the running for class valedictorian, he dating the female captain of the swim team, he's set to break state swimming records, and he's the son of a charming and respected Commander in the Navy. But things aren't what they seem, and perfect Leo's life is a mess. Did I mention his girlfriend's father is in prison for murder? And his brother is in love with the daughter of his alleged victim? There is a great mystery to unravel through the story, as you read about Leo trying to finally get his life together. The story is told from multiple POV's, and I think it's done brilliantly. So while I would say that this is Leo's story, you see how the actions of one person really effect so many people, and you get a chance to get a full picture of everything going on. I had a hard time putting this book down. I only have one small complaint, and that's with the ending. I want MORE! There really could almost be a second book, in my opinion. Don't let that deter you from reading this though, it's not a cliffhanger. It's a conclusion, just a kinda soft one for me. And when you loved the characters as much as I did, it leaves you wanting more. Like I said, it is a really small issue, considering how truly great I felt the book is.
April 1, 2012
Working with children and teens has made me painfully aware of the frequency and octopus-like-consequences of abuse, and that unfortunately, not every case that’s detected has an easy, fast and happy solution. Everybody knows abuse exists, but not everybody does something about it. Sometimes out of apathy, sometimes out of fear, and sometimes out of ignorance.
Streamline is an effective contribution against this widely spread, yet often hushed problem. This alone makes it a relevant book.
Jennifer Lane deals with this subject in a beautiful, heartfelt and captivating way that let us peek into the minds of the abuser and his victims. It also broaches other hush-hush problems like abuse of power, drug addiction, infidelity and abortion.
I love that Jen has a way to tell us what she feels is right without sounding preachy or condescending. Her messages of friendship, love, integrity and honesty are crystal clear and as easy to accept as if you were talking with a dear friend.
.
.
.
Felicidades, Jen.
Un abrazo, amiga.
PD. I really hope there is a Spanish version soon so I can share it with my students and personnel here ;)
Streamline is an effective contribution against this widely spread, yet often hushed problem. This alone makes it a relevant book.
Jennifer Lane deals with this subject in a beautiful, heartfelt and captivating way that let us peek into the minds of the abuser and his victims. It also broaches other hush-hush problems like abuse of power, drug addiction, infidelity and abortion.
I love that Jen has a way to tell us what she feels is right without sounding preachy or condescending. Her messages of friendship, love, integrity and honesty are crystal clear and as easy to accept as if you were talking with a dear friend.
.
.
.
Felicidades, Jen.
Un abrazo, amiga.
PD. I really hope there is a Spanish version soon so I can share it with my students and personnel here ;)
May 7, 2012
This book is PACKED! So much happens! This is not your average teen-angst story. There is NEVER a dull moment. While the numerous topics covered in this book, from abuse to addition to murder and more, are incredibly heavy and intense, the author has done a beautiful job exploring the effects of each with grace and detail. I genuinely empathized with Leo and Audrey and their families, and I really disliked (which is too kind a word) Leo's father. The emotion sucked me in and I felt a deep connection with the characters, which I think is SO important in a story. I really enjoyed the swimming and military elements too. I could tell the author was knowledgeable about the intricacies of swimming and the Navy.
Overall, this book was much better than I expected, and I don't mean that I didn't expect it to be good. I was really looking forward to reading it; however, I never in a million years could have expected Streamline to blow my mind like it did. It is a fantastic read full of emotion and turmoil. I definitely recommend it to fans of YA contemporary and murder mysteries. Get ready to dive in!
*Thank you to Omnific Publishing for the review copy
Overall, this book was much better than I expected, and I don't mean that I didn't expect it to be good. I was really looking forward to reading it; however, I never in a million years could have expected Streamline to blow my mind like it did. It is a fantastic read full of emotion and turmoil. I definitely recommend it to fans of YA contemporary and murder mysteries. Get ready to dive in!
*Thank you to Omnific Publishing for the review copy
July 29, 2015
This was a great story. A story about how a family struggled with an abusive father. Another family suffering the loss of their father & another family with their father in prison for murder. This is a powerful story of how these families no matter the circumstances held strong & helped each other. I loved every second of this book.
May 17, 2012
RATING : 5 HEART BREAKING STARS!!
WOW! What a read! There was not a vampire or paranormal creature in sight, just two boys that were born into a family that caused them so much pain.
This is a tale of so much physical and mental pain, abuse, love, betrayal, fear, regret, addiction, secrets and tissue worthy moments.
I had to sit for a bit after reading this book. Jennifer has managed to really bring the broken, damaged characters to life before your eyes.
Leo Scott and Jason Scott are brothers. They have been beaten many times by their father a Commander in the Navy. This is their story. It is mostly told from Leo’s POV, but Jason has his moments to share with us, his heartache, and what drove him to his addiction.
We work out pretty early Jason’s very broken. It takes the reader longer to see how broken and damaged Leo is. He hides his pain and punishment very well and mentally it gets buried deep. It is heart breaking reading about a father who is so violent he puts Leo in the hospital .
He loses his spleen.
He is a tortured soul who is crying out for help and making a lot of mistakes along the way.
Leo does not realise it’s ok not to be perfect. It’s ok to muck up. A mistake does not warrant a fist, a split lip, black eye, repeated kicks to the stomach......hospitalisation. Leo has no choice. He knows when he will get a beating and there is nothing, he can do about it, but take it until his body gives out, he goes unconscious . Then the pain is gone....... for a little while.
We follow Leo and his journey from the swim team to the Naval Academy. This is where his story really unfolds. Jennifer writes life in a naval academy very real, to me. I have not ever stepped foot in one, but I got the feel of the discipline and strength these kids must have, to last. This is a tough, tough academy, I wouldn’t last five minutes.
Audrey is Leo’s girlfriend. They are both on the swim team, this is how they met. Swimming is Leo’s outlet. He feels good when he is swimming. Audrey and Leo have a deep love. Their love shines through this story. They also have a secret that nearly gets Leo killed.
I love the sub characters who are in Leo’s life and who are rooting for him, Matt the swim coach, Marcus the councelor, Dr Ina who wants to understand Leo and Jason who wants to now be there for his little brother. Jason is older, and made enough mistakes of his own. He has a life to get back on track and his girlfriend Cameron is there for him.
The people who care, no matter how much you don’t care about your own life, are the angels of these types of stories.
It’s easy to judge why their mother didn’t put a stop to the beatings, I am trying to understand. The Commander is a very strong, fierce character, and one to be feared. I think mentally she was just beaten. I just have trouble with Leo lying in a pool of blood, it took near death for her to step up and do what she should have done years earlier.
Jennifer pulls on the emotional strings hard, in this book. It’s impossible not to feel your heart break for the unnecessary pain a father repeatedly, put his sons through.
This is a story of damaged lives that find each other, and they come together to reveal a deathly secret.
FAVE QUOTE:
“I miss my father too,” Leo rasped, then forged ahead. The words tumbled out as his voice hitched with tears. “I wanted you to do the right thing for once. You always told me to do the right thing, but you never did — you never thought about anyone but yourself. You beat me when I needed a hug. You criticized me when I needed praise. I just wanted you to be proud of me. It was stupid…a stupid little-boy wish that will never come true.”
WOW! What a read! There was not a vampire or paranormal creature in sight, just two boys that were born into a family that caused them so much pain.
This is a tale of so much physical and mental pain, abuse, love, betrayal, fear, regret, addiction, secrets and tissue worthy moments.
I had to sit for a bit after reading this book. Jennifer has managed to really bring the broken, damaged characters to life before your eyes.
Leo Scott and Jason Scott are brothers. They have been beaten many times by their father a Commander in the Navy. This is their story. It is mostly told from Leo’s POV, but Jason has his moments to share with us, his heartache, and what drove him to his addiction.
We work out pretty early Jason’s very broken. It takes the reader longer to see how broken and damaged Leo is. He hides his pain and punishment very well and mentally it gets buried deep. It is heart breaking reading about a father who is so violent he puts Leo in the hospital .
He loses his spleen.
He is a tortured soul who is crying out for help and making a lot of mistakes along the way.
Leo does not realise it’s ok not to be perfect. It’s ok to muck up. A mistake does not warrant a fist, a split lip, black eye, repeated kicks to the stomach......hospitalisation. Leo has no choice. He knows when he will get a beating and there is nothing, he can do about it, but take it until his body gives out, he goes unconscious . Then the pain is gone....... for a little while.
We follow Leo and his journey from the swim team to the Naval Academy. This is where his story really unfolds. Jennifer writes life in a naval academy very real, to me. I have not ever stepped foot in one, but I got the feel of the discipline and strength these kids must have, to last. This is a tough, tough academy, I wouldn’t last five minutes.
Audrey is Leo’s girlfriend. They are both on the swim team, this is how they met. Swimming is Leo’s outlet. He feels good when he is swimming. Audrey and Leo have a deep love. Their love shines through this story. They also have a secret that nearly gets Leo killed.
I love the sub characters who are in Leo’s life and who are rooting for him, Matt the swim coach, Marcus the councelor, Dr Ina who wants to understand Leo and Jason who wants to now be there for his little brother. Jason is older, and made enough mistakes of his own. He has a life to get back on track and his girlfriend Cameron is there for him.
The people who care, no matter how much you don’t care about your own life, are the angels of these types of stories.
It’s easy to judge why their mother didn’t put a stop to the beatings, I am trying to understand. The Commander is a very strong, fierce character, and one to be feared. I think mentally she was just beaten. I just have trouble with Leo lying in a pool of blood, it took near death for her to step up and do what she should have done years earlier.
Jennifer pulls on the emotional strings hard, in this book. It’s impossible not to feel your heart break for the unnecessary pain a father repeatedly, put his sons through.
This is a story of damaged lives that find each other, and they come together to reveal a deathly secret.
FAVE QUOTE:
“I miss my father too,” Leo rasped, then forged ahead. The words tumbled out as his voice hitched with tears. “I wanted you to do the right thing for once. You always told me to do the right thing, but you never did — you never thought about anyone but yourself. You beat me when I needed a hug. You criticized me when I needed praise. I just wanted you to be proud of me. It was stupid…a stupid little-boy wish that will never come true.”
September 5, 2012
When I just started this book, I couldn't help but notice this entourage between being perfect and being abused... Whoops! That just slipt. But anyway the story is about a boy called Leo Scott, like the blurb, Leo is perfect and has it all, he's a kid who is a complete perfectionist. As well as having the perfect girlfriend, Leo does have it all. As long as you don't do a background check...Between the perfectness of his outside life, his inside life is totally rotten. Adding to the equation, Leo's father, Commander James Scott -man of the household- has been abusing Leo since he was eleven. Wow, right? You can't imagine what it was like!
Leo's father is part of the Navy -lost his parents, the usual- James has been teetering off the edge for the longest time. The world revolves around a few people plus his girlfriend, Audrey who loves Leo completely, she doesn't know about the bruises and cuts. During this dilemma, Leo is constantly fighting a drug abuse which he stole from his mother and next thing you knew, he's battling it, close to suiciding himself. This teen's got issues! Big ones! I particularly loved Audrey from the start. She was my favourite character in the book as well as Leo. Both of them were entirely compelling and richly compromised, these two were the ones with the burdens. Audrey...for her heart and Leo...for his ferocity, I loved these two.
Well, at first you'll be thinking typical popular, good-looking, smart kid but instead he's got a trouble double life. He's got the worst. It was very sad but Audrey definitely kept him together and himself from falling apart. I didn't cry at this but I guarantee, it might make you! After his perfect life fell apart and almost suiciding himself, he goes to Audrey. The two of them slept with each other, not knowing abou anything but their love. In the next few days, you'll be screaming, alright?
AUDREY BECAME PREGNANT.
Yup, that sums it up. I was entirely shocked yet not. Well, we find out James, Leo's father finds out and beats him to-close to death- until he went unconscious. But during this James's gets arrested. He sprained his wrist and ankle and broke his spleen because they had to REMOVE it. Then Audrey lost the baby! It was so horrible!
As the story moves on, Leo's frustrated because of the pain and the loss of not being able to swim. It soon falls when Leo suddenly decides to join the Navy after it all happens. He finds his father, complete with a beard and trashed house, Leo asks James to help him. Everything changes and soon the date's getting closer and closer. Yet I have to stop my rambling and just finish up, I loved this book so much!
'"We'll be the cleanest college freshmen around,"Audrey said.
"Except I'm not a college freshman anymore." Leo sighed. "I have to figure out my life."
Audrey wove her fingers into his.
"It's simple. You're getting an ROTC scholarship to Florida State. To swim with me."
"I am?"
"Of course, Mr Scott."
A look of marvel bled into his wondrous smile as he squeezed her hand. "Yes, ma'am."'
Well, I definitely recommend this book! It's absolutely great and I think it helps you understand what life really is about. How you can help someone in abuse-ment, how they actually feel.
And most importantly: Who they really are.
Brief Review: 'Loved it to the max, I was definitely pulled into Streamline and it's plot. Streamline was more than a book, it was a learning experience of what real life actually is and being who you are, it was an inspiring story.'
You can find more on my blog
Leo's father is part of the Navy -lost his parents, the usual- James has been teetering off the edge for the longest time. The world revolves around a few people plus his girlfriend, Audrey who loves Leo completely, she doesn't know about the bruises and cuts. During this dilemma, Leo is constantly fighting a drug abuse which he stole from his mother and next thing you knew, he's battling it, close to suiciding himself. This teen's got issues! Big ones! I particularly loved Audrey from the start. She was my favourite character in the book as well as Leo. Both of them were entirely compelling and richly compromised, these two were the ones with the burdens. Audrey...for her heart and Leo...for his ferocity, I loved these two.
Well, at first you'll be thinking typical popular, good-looking, smart kid but instead he's got a trouble double life. He's got the worst. It was very sad but Audrey definitely kept him together and himself from falling apart. I didn't cry at this but I guarantee, it might make you! After his perfect life fell apart and almost suiciding himself, he goes to Audrey. The two of them slept with each other, not knowing abou anything but their love. In the next few days, you'll be screaming, alright?
AUDREY BECAME PREGNANT.
Yup, that sums it up. I was entirely shocked yet not. Well, we find out James, Leo's father finds out and beats him to-close to death- until he went unconscious. But during this James's gets arrested. He sprained his wrist and ankle and broke his spleen because they had to REMOVE it. Then Audrey lost the baby! It was so horrible!
As the story moves on, Leo's frustrated because of the pain and the loss of not being able to swim. It soon falls when Leo suddenly decides to join the Navy after it all happens. He finds his father, complete with a beard and trashed house, Leo asks James to help him. Everything changes and soon the date's getting closer and closer. Yet I have to stop my rambling and just finish up, I loved this book so much!
'"We'll be the cleanest college freshmen around,"Audrey said.
"Except I'm not a college freshman anymore." Leo sighed. "I have to figure out my life."
Audrey wove her fingers into his.
"It's simple. You're getting an ROTC scholarship to Florida State. To swim with me."
"I am?"
"Of course, Mr Scott."
A look of marvel bled into his wondrous smile as he squeezed her hand. "Yes, ma'am."'
Well, I definitely recommend this book! It's absolutely great and I think it helps you understand what life really is about. How you can help someone in abuse-ment, how they actually feel.
And most importantly: Who they really are.
Brief Review: 'Loved it to the max, I was definitely pulled into Streamline and it's plot. Streamline was more than a book, it was a learning experience of what real life actually is and being who you are, it was an inspiring story.'
You can find more on my blog
June 4, 2012
My summary: Leo is the captain of the swim team in his senior year of high school. He has a gorgeous girlfriend, Aubrey, who loves him as much as he loves her. State swim titles are within their reach. College is just a few months off and they can't wait. Leo can't wait to get away from the secret that threatens him daily. But the secret refuses to stay hidden...hidden from Aubrey...hidden from his coach....hidden from the military. As his life falls out of control, Leo must figure out how to live with the consequences of choices he didn't make but which have molded him into who he is. At the same time, Aubrey must figure out how to live her life without her father who is convicted of murder and serving a life sentence in a military prison. She is totally devoted to Leo but is shocked by the truths that trickle out. Will their love be enough to hold their lives together as things spiral out of control?
My thoughts:
4 stars - Emotionally charged & incredibly compelling
So lets be honest here. I cried a lot through this book. Totally taken with Leo, I was emotionally torn to pieces at the abuse this young man endured. I wondered if it was wrong to want his abuser to die off in the story. I cringed. I screamed. I DMed someone else who had just finished the book to talk about it with. I couldn't put it down but, at times, I was afraid to read another word.
I saw this happening around me. Though I knew it was fiction, I'm afraid it's all too real for some young people. As a teacher, I have seen students who are abused. I am trained to notice how they act. I saw this happening around me. It became very real to me.
I love Leo. All my mother instincts were on high alert and I wanted to pull him out of the pages and protect him. I saw the flaws in the system that failed to protect Leo and fail so many children for real.
Jennifer does an amazing job of creating an atmosphere that's completely true. From the swim team slang to the military atmosphere, this book rang true. The struggles that Leo had dealing with his abuser were right on. He loved this man but he was terrified of him. He wanted to make him proud and he wanted to be perfect to avoid the consequences of even small mistakes. Never giving himself even one little break, Leo was an incredible young man just trying to survive and do the right thing. He is a fabulous character.
I loved the TWO skinny dipping scenes, the CS names, the devotion between Leo and Aubrey, and the mystery of the story that slowly unfolded.
I struggled with a couple of little detail and I really think that this book should have been two. It's almost 500 pages and the story shifts quite obviously at about the mid-point. I wish it had been two books.
This is truly an incredible read but make sure you know what you are getting into. Leo's story is not to missed.
My thoughts:
4 stars - Emotionally charged & incredibly compelling
So lets be honest here. I cried a lot through this book. Totally taken with Leo, I was emotionally torn to pieces at the abuse this young man endured. I wondered if it was wrong to want his abuser to die off in the story. I cringed. I screamed. I DMed someone else who had just finished the book to talk about it with. I couldn't put it down but, at times, I was afraid to read another word.
I saw this happening around me. Though I knew it was fiction, I'm afraid it's all too real for some young people. As a teacher, I have seen students who are abused. I am trained to notice how they act. I saw this happening around me. It became very real to me.
I love Leo. All my mother instincts were on high alert and I wanted to pull him out of the pages and protect him. I saw the flaws in the system that failed to protect Leo and fail so many children for real.
Jennifer does an amazing job of creating an atmosphere that's completely true. From the swim team slang to the military atmosphere, this book rang true. The struggles that Leo had dealing with his abuser were right on. He loved this man but he was terrified of him. He wanted to make him proud and he wanted to be perfect to avoid the consequences of even small mistakes. Never giving himself even one little break, Leo was an incredible young man just trying to survive and do the right thing. He is a fabulous character.
I loved the TWO skinny dipping scenes, the CS names, the devotion between Leo and Aubrey, and the mystery of the story that slowly unfolded.
I struggled with a couple of little detail and I really think that this book should have been two. It's almost 500 pages and the story shifts quite obviously at about the mid-point. I wish it had been two books.
This is truly an incredible read but make sure you know what you are getting into. Leo's story is not to missed.
January 24, 2015
Review by Nina ( http://splashofourworlds.blogspot.com... )
This book was a request by the author to be read and reviewed. Needless to say that until the book reached my hands, or my inbox since it was in electronic form, I had totally forgotten what I've read on the synopsis. At first, I thought it was a teenage book from those that talk about proms and first kisses. But I was so happy when I proved wrong.
First thing I noticed were the chapters. I mean they are not like those you see mostly where they are just numbered. These chapters had titles. Titles that had a meaning, other times they were ironic, other there were just phrases from the chapter. But always they were giving you a hint and they were intriguing you to read further.
Secondly, I would like to mention how misleading is the cover of the book. I really like it, but there is a major problem. Leo is black. Well, his father is black and his mother is white, and he's supposed to be half black, I don't remember how the author describes it and I don't want to attempt and describe it myself. But the boy in the cover is white and I was so stuck into the idea of a white Leo, that after that I couldn't imagine him as black. And that sucked a little.
Thirdly, there are the characters. They are all so great. Yes, they are all troubled and each of them have their own problems. Yes, sometimes their reactions are not the ones you expect and there might be some times when you are going to hate them for their decisions, but you cannot but sympathize them all during the end. Or almost all.
The book itself is awesome. I was not expecting half of the things that happened. The author has the ability to keep your attention all the time. There were descriptions that I was not believing in my eyes as I was reading. She makes you travel in a cascade of feelings that make your experience of reading unique. For instance, when Leo was happy, I was happy. When he was sad, I was sad. And when he was in the Academy, I could feel in the air around me the authority and the strictness. The end was awesome, I was not expecting it. Well, I had the first part figured out, but there was more to it. I don't know if by being a psychologist helped the author write as it is, or the things she heard or read, but the whole story seemed somehow real and familiar.
Bottom line, I loved it. I totally recommend it. I think it was unique and lovely. I don't know if it appeals to all of you, but it was totally different from what I've read so far and far more adult-like. So, basically, what I'm trying to say is that if you want to read it then you should be sure you want to, because it's not some novel you can read lightly.
This book was a request by the author to be read and reviewed. Needless to say that until the book reached my hands, or my inbox since it was in electronic form, I had totally forgotten what I've read on the synopsis. At first, I thought it was a teenage book from those that talk about proms and first kisses. But I was so happy when I proved wrong.
First thing I noticed were the chapters. I mean they are not like those you see mostly where they are just numbered. These chapters had titles. Titles that had a meaning, other times they were ironic, other there were just phrases from the chapter. But always they were giving you a hint and they were intriguing you to read further.
Secondly, I would like to mention how misleading is the cover of the book. I really like it, but there is a major problem. Leo is black. Well, his father is black and his mother is white, and he's supposed to be half black, I don't remember how the author describes it and I don't want to attempt and describe it myself. But the boy in the cover is white and I was so stuck into the idea of a white Leo, that after that I couldn't imagine him as black. And that sucked a little.
Thirdly, there are the characters. They are all so great. Yes, they are all troubled and each of them have their own problems. Yes, sometimes their reactions are not the ones you expect and there might be some times when you are going to hate them for their decisions, but you cannot but sympathize them all during the end. Or almost all.
The book itself is awesome. I was not expecting half of the things that happened. The author has the ability to keep your attention all the time. There were descriptions that I was not believing in my eyes as I was reading. She makes you travel in a cascade of feelings that make your experience of reading unique. For instance, when Leo was happy, I was happy. When he was sad, I was sad. And when he was in the Academy, I could feel in the air around me the authority and the strictness. The end was awesome, I was not expecting it. Well, I had the first part figured out, but there was more to it. I don't know if by being a psychologist helped the author write as it is, or the things she heard or read, but the whole story seemed somehow real and familiar.
Bottom line, I loved it. I totally recommend it. I think it was unique and lovely. I don't know if it appeals to all of you, but it was totally different from what I've read so far and far more adult-like. So, basically, what I'm trying to say is that if you want to read it then you should be sure you want to, because it's not some novel you can read lightly.
May 26, 2012
This book was one disappointment after another. I’m not talking about the writing or the story, I’m talking about the situations that happen in this book, Streamline. Just when I thought that something else couldn’t possibly go wrong, a turn of the page brought on another horrible incident.
The main character, Leo Scott, just can’t seem to catch a break. Suffering from extreme child abuse at home, Leo (as well as the rest of his family) must find strength from within to overcome the difficult and multiple obstacles that keep happening to him. I can only imagine just how deep he has to search within himself to keep his head above ground. I found myself continuously shaking my head and wondering how much more Leo can possibly handle.
Although I found this book to be very long, Streamline is such an emotional and gripping read that will leave readers breathless. Author, Jennifer Lane, has created such a captivating story that I don’t think that anyone who reads Streamline will walk away without holding on to a little piece of this story. I couldn’t help but be caught up in the lives of all the characters, and read as they live through the pain and burdens they hold deep within.
I loved reading about how the different characters in the book were some sort of anchor for another character. That without the other, they would drown in their misery. I loved watching the love between Leo and Audrey grow and expand into something beautiful. It was so interesting to watch how the child abuse not only affected the immediate family, but also how it touched the lives of everyone else associated with the Scott family.
I thought that I was going to have a hard time understand the lingo used by swimmers when describing the technical actions used by these athletes, or the jargon used by the Navy, but the way Lane incorporated them into the story made it easier to follow along and keep up with what was going on. I’ve always been aware of how members in the army and navy consider each other as family, but Streamline solidified that fact for me. It was very touching to see just how far people would go to keep Leo safe.
I also found it very humorous and clever to see the different ways in which Lane can come up with a variety of different meanings of the acronym “CS”, (which initially stands for Commander Scott) such as Cast Iron-Skillet or Constipated Stool-sample. It provided a lot of much needed humour in darker situations.
If you’re looking for a book that will make you open your eyes wider to those around you, or a read that might possibly change your life, I would recommend you pick up a copy of Streamline today.
The main character, Leo Scott, just can’t seem to catch a break. Suffering from extreme child abuse at home, Leo (as well as the rest of his family) must find strength from within to overcome the difficult and multiple obstacles that keep happening to him. I can only imagine just how deep he has to search within himself to keep his head above ground. I found myself continuously shaking my head and wondering how much more Leo can possibly handle.
Although I found this book to be very long, Streamline is such an emotional and gripping read that will leave readers breathless. Author, Jennifer Lane, has created such a captivating story that I don’t think that anyone who reads Streamline will walk away without holding on to a little piece of this story. I couldn’t help but be caught up in the lives of all the characters, and read as they live through the pain and burdens they hold deep within.
I loved reading about how the different characters in the book were some sort of anchor for another character. That without the other, they would drown in their misery. I loved watching the love between Leo and Audrey grow and expand into something beautiful. It was so interesting to watch how the child abuse not only affected the immediate family, but also how it touched the lives of everyone else associated with the Scott family.
I thought that I was going to have a hard time understand the lingo used by swimmers when describing the technical actions used by these athletes, or the jargon used by the Navy, but the way Lane incorporated them into the story made it easier to follow along and keep up with what was going on. I’ve always been aware of how members in the army and navy consider each other as family, but Streamline solidified that fact for me. It was very touching to see just how far people would go to keep Leo safe.
I also found it very humorous and clever to see the different ways in which Lane can come up with a variety of different meanings of the acronym “CS”, (which initially stands for Commander Scott) such as Cast Iron-Skillet or Constipated Stool-sample. It provided a lot of much needed humour in darker situations.
If you’re looking for a book that will make you open your eyes wider to those around you, or a read that might possibly change your life, I would recommend you pick up a copy of Streamline today.
November 20, 2015
Review also posted on My Book Snack
Raw, heart-tugging, hopeful!
When I first read the summary for Streamline I knew it was going to be an emotional read. Jennifer Lane tackles various types of abuse in this story, such as child and drug abuse, and she presents them in a realistic and raw way.
Leo Scott and his girlfriend Audrey Rose are high school seniors and both come from military families. Leo and Audrey both love competitive swimming and are on the swim team. They may seem like ordinary, eager high school seniors on the outside, but inside they’re individually battling some tough issues. Audrey is adjusting to her father’s incarceration and loss of family dynamics. Leo has so much pressure to be perfect or he has to endure his father’s abuse.
What I loved about this story is that Ms. Lane does not sugar coat. At times things aren’t pretty, and this is where Ms. Lane excels in making things seem real. Leo and Audrey aren’t perfect and make questionable choices that lead down dark paths. The murder mystery portion is tied well to the plot that keeps moving despite certain parts being so intense that I had to put the story down for a minute to absorb all that happened.
Streamline is also part sports romance, and I like that Ms. Lane puts the characters through the motions of the sport. There is plenty of pool time and all the feels of competition are present. I can tell that the swimming is it’s own special entity in the story. It’s Leo and Audrey’s happy place and provides the lighter moments to contrast the tougher, hard-edged side as the story moves along.
In the end I don’t know what took me so long to read Streamline. This story was published in Spring 2012, and it has been sitting in my e-reader since then. I recently read Jennifer Lane’s novella Swim Recruit. While that story is unrelated to Streamline, it also involves swimming, so I guess I wasn’t ready to leave the swim world just yet. I am glad I took the time to read Streamline and get to know Leo Scott. Life has not been easy for him. When I reached the end of this story, I felt like I wanted to give him a hug.
If you’re in the mood for a new adult sport romance that tackles dark issues and involves a murder mystery, give Streamline a chance. It’s definitely heart-tugging, hopeful, and inspiring!
Raw, heart-tugging, hopeful!
When I first read the summary for Streamline I knew it was going to be an emotional read. Jennifer Lane tackles various types of abuse in this story, such as child and drug abuse, and she presents them in a realistic and raw way.
Leo Scott and his girlfriend Audrey Rose are high school seniors and both come from military families. Leo and Audrey both love competitive swimming and are on the swim team. They may seem like ordinary, eager high school seniors on the outside, but inside they’re individually battling some tough issues. Audrey is adjusting to her father’s incarceration and loss of family dynamics. Leo has so much pressure to be perfect or he has to endure his father’s abuse.
What I loved about this story is that Ms. Lane does not sugar coat. At times things aren’t pretty, and this is where Ms. Lane excels in making things seem real. Leo and Audrey aren’t perfect and make questionable choices that lead down dark paths. The murder mystery portion is tied well to the plot that keeps moving despite certain parts being so intense that I had to put the story down for a minute to absorb all that happened.
Streamline is also part sports romance, and I like that Ms. Lane puts the characters through the motions of the sport. There is plenty of pool time and all the feels of competition are present. I can tell that the swimming is it’s own special entity in the story. It’s Leo and Audrey’s happy place and provides the lighter moments to contrast the tougher, hard-edged side as the story moves along.
In the end I don’t know what took me so long to read Streamline. This story was published in Spring 2012, and it has been sitting in my e-reader since then. I recently read Jennifer Lane’s novella Swim Recruit. While that story is unrelated to Streamline, it also involves swimming, so I guess I wasn’t ready to leave the swim world just yet. I am glad I took the time to read Streamline and get to know Leo Scott. Life has not been easy for him. When I reached the end of this story, I felt like I wanted to give him a hug.
If you’re in the mood for a new adult sport romance that tackles dark issues and involves a murder mystery, give Streamline a chance. It’s definitely heart-tugging, hopeful, and inspiring!
November 3, 2012
4.5 out of 5 stars.
I won this book in the First Reads giveaway here on GoodReads. Thank you Jennifer Lane for sending me this wonderful novel.
This novel is about a boy, Leo, and his girlfriend, Audrey and the traumatic experience in their lives. I was worried when beginning this novel because I'm not a fan of romance novels, but this wasn't too mushy or unrealistic so I enjoyed it.
The general plot line is that Leo's father beats him and Audrey's father is in prison for killing another man. They both belong to Navy families, and they both are in love with swimming.
I don't want to give too much away, so I will just say that this book never has a dull moment. Some pretty "heavy" topics were discussed in this novel. I would classify this novel as a mature YA book. I was shocked how quickly I read this book. I really could not put this book down. The story moved along very quickly and really made the reader feel every emotion.
I experienced so many feelings, while reading this, it was an emotional roller coaster. One minute I was happy, the next I was sad, then scared, and then annoyed. I was happy that I got so into the book since it made my reading experience that much better.
Mrs. Lane did an amazing job portraying CS and how he justified the way he treated his sons. I felt pure hatred for the man.
The author also wonderfully illustrated the psychological effects of an abusive childhood.
There were only a few minor issues that I had with the novel.
1. There were a few times, where I felt there could have been less detail, since it didn't add anything to novel or my reading experience.
2. I know Leo and Audrey were swimmers, and it was their life. And also I know Mrs. Lane is a swimmer herself. However, some of the swimming terms were a bit confusing and maybe a tad bit overused.
3. I felt this Roland Drake character was unnecessarily put into the plot. The reader never uncovers his secret and left the reader hanging.
4. The ending just didn't do it for me. After such a... intense and action-packed (I can't think of a better word at the moment) plot, the ending was just so... calm. I feel like the novel should have gone out with a bang.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and can't believe it only took 4 days to read. Jennifer Lane did a great job with Streamline and I can't wait to read more from her. The tale of Leo and Audrey's was definitely intense and not like any other YA novel.
I won this book in the First Reads giveaway here on GoodReads. Thank you Jennifer Lane for sending me this wonderful novel.
This novel is about a boy, Leo, and his girlfriend, Audrey and the traumatic experience in their lives. I was worried when beginning this novel because I'm not a fan of romance novels, but this wasn't too mushy or unrealistic so I enjoyed it.
The general plot line is that Leo's father beats him and Audrey's father is in prison for killing another man. They both belong to Navy families, and they both are in love with swimming.
I don't want to give too much away, so I will just say that this book never has a dull moment. Some pretty "heavy" topics were discussed in this novel. I would classify this novel as a mature YA book. I was shocked how quickly I read this book. I really could not put this book down. The story moved along very quickly and really made the reader feel every emotion.
I experienced so many feelings, while reading this, it was an emotional roller coaster. One minute I was happy, the next I was sad, then scared, and then annoyed. I was happy that I got so into the book since it made my reading experience that much better.
Mrs. Lane did an amazing job portraying CS and how he justified the way he treated his sons. I felt pure hatred for the man.
The author also wonderfully illustrated the psychological effects of an abusive childhood.
There were only a few minor issues that I had with the novel.
1. There were a few times, where I felt there could have been less detail, since it didn't add anything to novel or my reading experience.
2. I know Leo and Audrey were swimmers, and it was their life. And also I know Mrs. Lane is a swimmer herself. However, some of the swimming terms were a bit confusing and maybe a tad bit overused.
3. I felt this Roland Drake character was unnecessarily put into the plot. The reader never uncovers his secret and left the reader hanging.
4. The ending just didn't do it for me. After such a... intense and action-packed (I can't think of a better word at the moment) plot, the ending was just so... calm. I feel like the novel should have gone out with a bang.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and can't believe it only took 4 days to read. Jennifer Lane did a great job with Streamline and I can't wait to read more from her. The tale of Leo and Audrey's was definitely intense and not like any other YA novel.
June 5, 2012
Original Reviews Posted @Insightful Minds Reviews
Two reasons why I love this book:
1. The multiple points of view that it was written in.
2. The fact that this was Leo's story through and through.
Now, with that said, let me tell you just why else it is that I love this book.
Leo. Plain and simple. He wrapped himself around my heart from the very beginning and never let go. Being from a Military family myself, I understood just about every aspect of this story, so I can relate... but this boy... He goes through so much that only his family knows about, yet puts on this amazing front so others will never know just how much pain is really behind those eyes of his. The amount of abuse he deals with from his father is on a whole new level of messed up. Trying to be the perfect son so he doesn't have to deal with the wrath that is his father has got to be tiring!
Audrey. Here is a girl with problems of her own. Keeping up with her swim team, the very same team her boyfriend Leo is on, along with maintaining her relationship, school grades and trying to figure out just who committed this murder her father is currently in Military Prison for, is enough to wear anyone out! Having been dating Leo for two years, Audrey has had no clue just what goes on behind close does at his home.
These two were made for each other. Seriously. The two of them together embark on the journey of finding the real murderer and proving her fathers innocence so she can have her family back together. Can they handle it? Will Audrey be able to hold her family together when all is said and done? Will Leo be able to prove himself after all, or will everything come falling around him?
I felt that all issues dealt with in this story were handled and portrayed amazingly. Be it mental and physical abuse, alcohol addictions, pill addictions, or whatever else, it was expressed in an understanding way. Lane delivers an emotional story that has these characters jumping off the pages, grabbing your heart and leading you through page after page by those pretty little heart strings. Well played
Two reasons why I love this book:
1. The multiple points of view that it was written in.
2. The fact that this was Leo's story through and through.
Now, with that said, let me tell you just why else it is that I love this book.
Leo. Plain and simple. He wrapped himself around my heart from the very beginning and never let go. Being from a Military family myself, I understood just about every aspect of this story, so I can relate... but this boy... He goes through so much that only his family knows about, yet puts on this amazing front so others will never know just how much pain is really behind those eyes of his. The amount of abuse he deals with from his father is on a whole new level of messed up. Trying to be the perfect son so he doesn't have to deal with the wrath that is his father has got to be tiring!
Audrey. Here is a girl with problems of her own. Keeping up with her swim team, the very same team her boyfriend Leo is on, along with maintaining her relationship, school grades and trying to figure out just who committed this murder her father is currently in Military Prison for, is enough to wear anyone out! Having been dating Leo for two years, Audrey has had no clue just what goes on behind close does at his home.
These two were made for each other. Seriously. The two of them together embark on the journey of finding the real murderer and proving her fathers innocence so she can have her family back together. Can they handle it? Will Audrey be able to hold her family together when all is said and done? Will Leo be able to prove himself after all, or will everything come falling around him?
I felt that all issues dealt with in this story were handled and portrayed amazingly. Be it mental and physical abuse, alcohol addictions, pill addictions, or whatever else, it was expressed in an understanding way. Lane delivers an emotional story that has these characters jumping off the pages, grabbing your heart and leading you through page after page by those pretty little heart strings. Well played
January 23, 2013
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This review and more at Readers In Wonderland
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Full formatting of this review shows on the blog. ^
Leo and Audrey both have their fair share of problems. Leo is verbally and physically abused by his father, who thinks that is the only way he can help his son become a good man-better than his own father. Audrey's father is in prison for murder, and she can't shake the feeling he is innocent. Together, these two broken individuals make themselves whole again, showing everyone who the true fighters are.
Both raised in a military family, high expectations and a clean reputation have been placed on their shoulders. Some of my friends (back in ye old'n days) grew up in similar situations and it was nice to see the correlation between fiction and reality did not have a big gap.
The best way I can describe STEAMLINE is: a contemporary romance murder mystery with swimming. Emphasis on the contemporary romance. I felt like the book would have been strong enough without the main characters having to go through this puzzle. There was almost too much going on.
Drawn first to the novel by its cover, when I found out it was about swimming, I had to read it. I love the water and everything about it. STREAMLINE goes into detail about the sport and competitive swimming and I throughly enjoyed that. I also liked how the dialogue between characters was smooth and realistic, unforced and natural.
One thing that might bother some readers, however, is the change of POV. You are taken into the heads of almost every main character in the novel, and this is a really hard feat to pull off. It's hard enough to master one character-their flaws, dreams, and fears-but five? Definitely have to applaud Lane on that.
If you are a huge fan of contemporary, I wouldn't pass this one up! Swimmers, I also recommend getting your hands on this one!
This review and more at Readers In Wonderland
_________________________________
Full formatting of this review shows on the blog. ^
Leo and Audrey both have their fair share of problems. Leo is verbally and physically abused by his father, who thinks that is the only way he can help his son become a good man-better than his own father. Audrey's father is in prison for murder, and she can't shake the feeling he is innocent. Together, these two broken individuals make themselves whole again, showing everyone who the true fighters are.
Both raised in a military family, high expectations and a clean reputation have been placed on their shoulders. Some of my friends (back in ye old'n days) grew up in similar situations and it was nice to see the correlation between fiction and reality did not have a big gap.
The best way I can describe STEAMLINE is: a contemporary romance murder mystery with swimming. Emphasis on the contemporary romance. I felt like the book would have been strong enough without the main characters having to go through this puzzle. There was almost too much going on.
Drawn first to the novel by its cover, when I found out it was about swimming, I had to read it. I love the water and everything about it. STREAMLINE goes into detail about the sport and competitive swimming and I throughly enjoyed that. I also liked how the dialogue between characters was smooth and realistic, unforced and natural.
One thing that might bother some readers, however, is the change of POV. You are taken into the heads of almost every main character in the novel, and this is a really hard feat to pull off. It's hard enough to master one character-their flaws, dreams, and fears-but five? Definitely have to applaud Lane on that.
If you are a huge fan of contemporary, I wouldn't pass this one up! Swimmers, I also recommend getting your hands on this one!
November 19, 2012
My Thoughts:
I received this book from the author in exchange for review.
Ok, so let me say first of all I really loved this book! I don't even know where to start with this review because it was so packed, so much happened throughout this story and it was such a powerful read. I was so excited to read this one because swimming is a important aspect of this book and I have been a swimmer since I was in elementary school. It played to my love of swimming and it made me enjoy this book even more. Jennifer Lane took me on a journey through Leo's life from love, loss, addiction, and abuse I felt so immersed in his life that I was right there with him and I enjoyed it all. Plus, I was absolutely in love with the cover which made me so much more excited to read this one.
One of the most interesting aspects of this book in my opinion was the narration, you go to see the point of view of so many of the characters throughout this story from Leo, to his mother, father, brother, his girlfriend, and her family. It sounds like a lot of people for one story I know but, it really worked well for this book. At the heart of everything is our main character Leo, he is a perfectionist and all he wants to do is make is Navy commander father proud. He is an amazing swimmer who has a great future ahead of him. He is adorably in love with his girlfriend Audrey, they had a great relationship and they were so cute to read about.
Something that I enjoyed that I felt is not a big enough presence in YA books was family. In many of the books that I have read in this genre. Parents are nonexistent, it was nice to read something different for a change and see a book about a whole family functional or not.
Overall, Jennifer Lane has created a an amazing YA book, it was full of heartbreak, triumph, healing, and pain. It was one of those books that after
I received this book from the author in exchange for review.
Ok, so let me say first of all I really loved this book! I don't even know where to start with this review because it was so packed, so much happened throughout this story and it was such a powerful read. I was so excited to read this one because swimming is a important aspect of this book and I have been a swimmer since I was in elementary school. It played to my love of swimming and it made me enjoy this book even more. Jennifer Lane took me on a journey through Leo's life from love, loss, addiction, and abuse I felt so immersed in his life that I was right there with him and I enjoyed it all. Plus, I was absolutely in love with the cover which made me so much more excited to read this one.
One of the most interesting aspects of this book in my opinion was the narration, you go to see the point of view of so many of the characters throughout this story from Leo, to his mother, father, brother, his girlfriend, and her family. It sounds like a lot of people for one story I know but, it really worked well for this book. At the heart of everything is our main character Leo, he is a perfectionist and all he wants to do is make is Navy commander father proud. He is an amazing swimmer who has a great future ahead of him. He is adorably in love with his girlfriend Audrey, they had a great relationship and they were so cute to read about.
Something that I enjoyed that I felt is not a big enough presence in YA books was family. In many of the books that I have read in this genre. Parents are nonexistent, it was nice to read something different for a change and see a book about a whole family functional or not.
Overall, Jennifer Lane has created a an amazing YA book, it was full of heartbreak, triumph, healing, and pain. It was one of those books that after
November 25, 2012
Since this book was published in March, I wanted to read. For their beautiful cover and its synopsis more than tempting, but it was not until now that I had a chance to read it. I really loved the story.
Leo's father is a despicable man. His two sons, Jason and Leo, have suffered greatly. The strong discipline of the Commander, is too cruel. Jason ended up running away from home, but Leo was trapped with the monster.
From the first chapters we can see and feel what Leo suffers. He is very intelligent, with excellent grades, who lives concerned about pleasing his father, not just for the fun of it, but by fear. Despite having a girlfriend who loves him and supports him in everything, Leo can not say all suffering abuse at home, and the truth behind his absence from school because of his punishment. Because Leo is embarrassed, do not want anyone to know anything, but kept all that pain led him directly to drugs and put him to think about suicide. Worst of all is to see that he feels he deserves those punches.
As we follow to Leo in their transition from high school to the Naval Academy and we know him, makes you want to hug him, to protect him from his horrible father. The characters in this book are all well written that they feel reals.
Streamline is a story of pain, growth, love... an life-changing journey with a good mystery that keeps you on the edge. Simply unforgettable.
* The kindle was sent by the author in exchange for an honest review. Our comments are based solely on our reading, we do not perceive any remuneration for them.
Leo's father is a despicable man. His two sons, Jason and Leo, have suffered greatly. The strong discipline of the Commander, is too cruel. Jason ended up running away from home, but Leo was trapped with the monster.
From the first chapters we can see and feel what Leo suffers. He is very intelligent, with excellent grades, who lives concerned about pleasing his father, not just for the fun of it, but by fear. Despite having a girlfriend who loves him and supports him in everything, Leo can not say all suffering abuse at home, and the truth behind his absence from school because of his punishment. Because Leo is embarrassed, do not want anyone to know anything, but kept all that pain led him directly to drugs and put him to think about suicide. Worst of all is to see that he feels he deserves those punches.
As we follow to Leo in their transition from high school to the Naval Academy and we know him, makes you want to hug him, to protect him from his horrible father. The characters in this book are all well written that they feel reals.
Streamline is a story of pain, growth, love... an life-changing journey with a good mystery that keeps you on the edge. Simply unforgettable.
* The kindle was sent by the author in exchange for an honest review. Our comments are based solely on our reading, we do not perceive any remuneration for them.
October 11, 2012
Was it just me or was this book way too long? Not that I was complaining but I just felt like it took me long enough to finish this book.
Anyways, I loved this book. I loved how the characters fit in well together. They were flawed. Every single one of them. I didn't need them to be perfect. I already felt bad for Leo for thinking he needed to be perfect in order to.please his dickhead of a father.
For instance, Leo, our hero, was just too honorable, I wanted to smack some sense into him even though he'd done those things for the right reasons.
And then there's his father, Commander Scott. I could hate him forever for abusing Leo but when he explained why he did it, I could understand him and his past. Just when I was ready to let CS's actions go, I discovered something that made me loathe him even more. The only tolerable thing about him was how his name was shorten by his sons (CS) and even made inside jokes about it, abbreviation meanings really depended on the situation, e.g. Cruel SOB..
There's also Audrey, Leo's loyal and very supportive girlfriend. Did I mention how I loved that name? If I were a guy, Audrey would definitely be the kind of girlfriend I wanted. If it wasn't for her, Leo wouldn't survive his abusive life.
I couldn't really write all I wanted to express about this book. If I could, I'd consume too much space and disclose too much spoilers.
I recommend this book to everyone. I promise it's worth your time. It certainly was worthy of mine. ;)
Anyways, I loved this book. I loved how the characters fit in well together. They were flawed. Every single one of them. I didn't need them to be perfect. I already felt bad for Leo for thinking he needed to be perfect in order to.please his dickhead of a father.
For instance, Leo, our hero, was just too honorable, I wanted to smack some sense into him even though he'd done those things for the right reasons.
And then there's his father, Commander Scott. I could hate him forever for abusing Leo but when he explained why he did it, I could understand him and his past. Just when I was ready to let CS's actions go, I discovered something that made me loathe him even more. The only tolerable thing about him was how his name was shorten by his sons (CS) and even made inside jokes about it, abbreviation meanings really depended on the situation, e.g. Cruel SOB..
There's also Audrey, Leo's loyal and very supportive girlfriend. Did I mention how I loved that name? If I were a guy, Audrey would definitely be the kind of girlfriend I wanted. If it wasn't for her, Leo wouldn't survive his abusive life.
I couldn't really write all I wanted to express about this book. If I could, I'd consume too much space and disclose too much spoilers.
I recommend this book to everyone. I promise it's worth your time. It certainly was worthy of mine. ;)
May 21, 2012
I know I've been saying this a lot lately,
But I love this book.
I won it on a goodreads-first reads giveaway thing,
And I'm so glad I did!
What an awesome book. (:
So thanks for that, Jennifer Lane.
Another signed book for my collection.
Leo's dad is an abusive person.
He was in the navy, and in the long run, he had a rough life.
Not that it makes it alright, but it explains a lot.
He grew up differently, and it stressed him out.
Audrey's dad is in prison for murdering Cameron's dad.
He's a sweet guy, and no one ever thought that he could kill someone.
Even though he's an recovering alcoholic, and he's hit people before.
Leo and Audrey are swimmers, and they're perfectly in-sync.
They're the cutest couple ever.
I love them!
They might've made some bad choices, but I could totally relate.
We all do things we regret.
Overall, this was an awesome book!
I would say more about it,
But I'd probably ruin it.
I really think more people should know about this book.
It's an awesome break from paranormal.
So. That's all I'm going to say about that.
Kaythanks.
Check out my blog!
http://readers-not-writers.blogspot.ca/
Also, Check out my group!
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/6...
But I love this book.
I won it on a goodreads-first reads giveaway thing,
And I'm so glad I did!
What an awesome book. (:
So thanks for that, Jennifer Lane.
Another signed book for my collection.
Leo's dad is an abusive person.
He was in the navy, and in the long run, he had a rough life.
Not that it makes it alright, but it explains a lot.
He grew up differently, and it stressed him out.
Audrey's dad is in prison for murdering Cameron's dad.
He's a sweet guy, and no one ever thought that he could kill someone.
Even though he's an recovering alcoholic, and he's hit people before.
Leo and Audrey are swimmers, and they're perfectly in-sync.
They're the cutest couple ever.
I love them!
They might've made some bad choices, but I could totally relate.
We all do things we regret.
Overall, this was an awesome book!
I would say more about it,
But I'd probably ruin it.
I really think more people should know about this book.
It's an awesome break from paranormal.
So. That's all I'm going to say about that.
Kaythanks.
Check out my blog!
http://readers-not-writers.blogspot.ca/
Also, Check out my group!
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/6...
June 18, 2013
Wow! I actually finished this several days ago but I needed to let it sit before reviewing.
This book is heartfelt and heart wrenching. It's a powerful piece of writing, filled with the complex and diverse characters I have come to expect from Jennifer Lane. At times, I honestly felt like shouting and other times I cried, real fat tears, complete with red face and running make-up.
The book centers on three families and how abuse, both physical and mental, carries through and affects each of them. Then in turn, spreads out like a stain to touch anyone who comes in contact with the abuser either directly or indirectly. There were times where the story highlights how there isn't always a hero to come rushing in and sweeping the bad guy away, sometimes people need to battle through and create their own happy ending of some kind.
A love story with a basis in harsh reality. I highly recommend this book for older teens and adults.
This book is heartfelt and heart wrenching. It's a powerful piece of writing, filled with the complex and diverse characters I have come to expect from Jennifer Lane. At times, I honestly felt like shouting and other times I cried, real fat tears, complete with red face and running make-up.
The book centers on three families and how abuse, both physical and mental, carries through and affects each of them. Then in turn, spreads out like a stain to touch anyone who comes in contact with the abuser either directly or indirectly. There were times where the story highlights how there isn't always a hero to come rushing in and sweeping the bad guy away, sometimes people need to battle through and create their own happy ending of some kind.
A love story with a basis in harsh reality. I highly recommend this book for older teens and adults.
November 5, 2012
I have just finished Streamline - a roller-coaster of emotions; a journey that made me impatient, angry, tearful, excited, dreamlike! You got to feel for Leo -- "Swimmer Wonder" but he's more like Super boy. Actually every character was strong in his/her own way. They were survivors. Love made that happen no matter how each one understood this sentiment.
Every time the despicable twisted CS showed that he cared(cough)something in me melt and just couldn't hate him anymore... But the incredible part is how ALL characters - thanks to the author's narrating style from everyone's point of view - emerged from their own scared selves into stronger characters.It's the feeling you have after a Summer rain in the country: the smell of green and warm sun rays is overpowering, but not distasteful; the rain washed away stains of dry soil.
Yeah...someday soon I'll want to take this journey again!
Every time the despicable twisted CS showed that he cared(cough)something in me melt and just couldn't hate him anymore... But the incredible part is how ALL characters - thanks to the author's narrating style from everyone's point of view - emerged from their own scared selves into stronger characters.It's the feeling you have after a Summer rain in the country: the smell of green and warm sun rays is overpowering, but not distasteful; the rain washed away stains of dry soil.
Yeah...someday soon I'll want to take this journey again!
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