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Cease & Desist
What happens when a reality show becomes all too real, and contestants are allowed to harm each other and have sex for all the world to see? Welcome to the brave new world of "reality-drama," the next generation of live, interactive entertainment. Cease de Menich, a sixteen-year-old actress from New York City is overjoyed to be cast in the show, only to find the producers will be using the dark secrets of her personal life to share with the world. But she's inherited a gift that helps her survive and share a secret with the world about what it takes to be a young person today. Cease & Desist is a dark, contemporary, psychological YA thriller with a supernatural twist--Just think The Hunger Games meets The Bachelor.
Stephen David Hurley has crafted a suspenseful thriller that also contains a vital message about fame, the sexualization of teens, violence as entertainment, and mental illness. His experience as a professional actor and teacher were vital in helping create a story about the pressure young people face, and has gotten the attention of adults who need help in raising their kids in a date-rape culture. Casey Childs, the founder of Primary Stages in NYC and director of The Young and the Restless was one of the first to recognize Hurley's gift for creating realistic characters in a dramatic setting. "What I liked about Cease de Menich as a character was how she broke the mold of most preachy YA books. She's hardly the innocent ingénue. She's done some really bad things, and is the most seductively unreliable narrator I've ever encountered since Gone Girl."
Hurley teaches and coaches at independent schools in San Francisco and blogs about fiction, faith, and young people. His recent articles about teen suicide, date rape, and how fiction can help parents and their kids bond, have been "staff-picked" and currently appear in Niume, Trmer, and Abernathy.
Stephen David Hurley has crafted a suspenseful thriller that also contains a vital message about fame, the sexualization of teens, violence as entertainment, and mental illness. His experience as a professional actor and teacher were vital in helping create a story about the pressure young people face, and has gotten the attention of adults who need help in raising their kids in a date-rape culture. Casey Childs, the founder of Primary Stages in NYC and director of The Young and the Restless was one of the first to recognize Hurley's gift for creating realistic characters in a dramatic setting. "What I liked about Cease de Menich as a character was how she broke the mold of most preachy YA books. She's hardly the innocent ingénue. She's done some really bad things, and is the most seductively unreliable narrator I've ever encountered since Gone Girl."
Hurley teaches and coaches at independent schools in San Francisco and blogs about fiction, faith, and young people. His recent articles about teen suicide, date rape, and how fiction can help parents and their kids bond, have been "staff-picked" and currently appear in Niume, Trmer, and Abernathy.
- GenresYoung Adult
364 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2016
5 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 6, 2016
Cease de Menich, is a teen actress who has been cast to play Jeanne de Arc in a "reality-drama." The show cast teen girls as historical figures that have to fight to be the last one standing. There are also teen boys in the show, but they just play themselves and fight and hook up with girls. The girls are suppose to find love. That is the first layer of the story.
Before Cease was cast in this role her Mother tried to kill her, her brother committed suicide, and she lives with her aunt that has some secret genealogy. Cease also talks to Jeanne de Arc and believes her power is her virginity.
Okay, if my description of this book was confusing, it is because that is how I felt through the whole book. I gave it two stars, because I did finish the book, but it wasn't because I was enjoying it. I wanted to see how much more it tried to become. This book was not just a cross genre. This book was floundering in an identity crises of genres. It was desperately trying to be something, it just couldn't make up its mind what that was. Dystopian? Paranormal? Christian? Literary fiction? Coming-of-age? Metaphorical? Action? I have no clue. It kept changing. One minute it was graphic violence and almost sex scenes, and the next was very preachy. I never quite figured out Cease's backstory.
I cannot recommend this book to anyone. I still don't know what I read. I tried to explain it to my husband and he said just stop reading it now. It doesn't deserve to be read. That is a little harsh, but not entirely wrong.
* I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review *
Before Cease was cast in this role her Mother tried to kill her, her brother committed suicide, and she lives with her aunt that has some secret genealogy. Cease also talks to Jeanne de Arc and believes her power is her virginity.
Okay, if my description of this book was confusing, it is because that is how I felt through the whole book. I gave it two stars, because I did finish the book, but it wasn't because I was enjoying it. I wanted to see how much more it tried to become. This book was not just a cross genre. This book was floundering in an identity crises of genres. It was desperately trying to be something, it just couldn't make up its mind what that was. Dystopian? Paranormal? Christian? Literary fiction? Coming-of-age? Metaphorical? Action? I have no clue. It kept changing. One minute it was graphic violence and almost sex scenes, and the next was very preachy. I never quite figured out Cease's backstory.
I cannot recommend this book to anyone. I still don't know what I read. I tried to explain it to my husband and he said just stop reading it now. It doesn't deserve to be read. That is a little harsh, but not entirely wrong.
* I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review *
August 15, 2016
I began this book with lots of expectations, and loved how it was irreverently narrated by our main character, Cease. But then it began to get muddled between her "life" as joanne d'arc and her present self and the past that gets meddled in-between, and all the obnoxious way of describing past and present. Also, her actress role and the show get weird in a confusing way as you don't know what is going on and it is not explained to you coherently.... I had to call it quits. Sorry.
August 6, 2016
I received an e-book ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
While this is my first review of a novel that is yet to be released, it will certainly not be my last.
When I discovered that NetGalley existed I felt supremely lucky to be able to read and review books that haven’t yet hit the shelves.
I decided to stick with some comfortable territory and check out a Young Adult title that looked promising.
Cease de Menich is a rising star, whose fame has arisen due to a gene that has been passed on to her from generations of ancestors. She discovers this truth as she is cast in a ‘reality-drama’ in which she plays Jeanne D’Arc. As events in the show begin to reflect those hidden in her family history, Cease must decide what to do with her budding fame.
Claiming to be a ‘dark contemporary thriller with a supernatural twist’, I was excited to read something with a potentially unreliable narrator.
Unfortunately, this book didn’t live up to its description.
While the concept of this novel was really interesting, there were a lot of things that just didn’t work while I was reading it.
This book was written in first person, present tense. However, the person that Cease is narrating to seems to swap randomly between the audience of her show, and Jeanne D’Arc. Her internal monologue isn’t so much unreliable as it is simply muddled.
The first five chapters were confusing. Not in a ‘this is making me curious’ kind of way, but in an ‘I don’t know what’s happening and if this continues for much longer I won’t keep reading to find out’ kind of way. As these first chapters usually let the reader get to know more of the setting and the characters, I was let down at this wasted opportunity to build up a great story.
Cease at times seems like an interesting protagonist – her family with all its drama, her fledgling acting career, and her thoughts on her fellow competitors are all things I wanted to know more about.
Unfortunately it was difficult to focus on her story due to some bizarre plot and word choices. Cease’s legal guardian is her Aunt Nina, but Cease always refers to her as ‘my Nina’ when speaking of her. She’s a strange guardian considering most of what she does is indulge in Cease’s bad decision-making and refuse to discipline her even when she’s being cruel. She even lets Cease make choices that could kill her.
Some other strange word choices were adults always being referred to as ‘grown-ups’, the show’s young fans always being referred to as ‘boys and girls’, and the numerous times that Cease’s internal monologue brings up Nina’s ‘spongy breasts’ (four, by my count).
Cease herself seems to yo-yo between confidence and self-doubt with alarming frequency. She would make a decision and then almost immediately change her mind. She would be in love with someone and then suddenly not be. She would compare herself to another actress only to then think they were mortal enemies. I think her character needed more fleshing out to be more consistent. It was very hard to root for her when she was so all over the place.
When it comes to the ‘reality-drama’. Well, it was certainly a unique concept. It seems this novel is meant to be a social commentary on the state of the media and its fascination with gore and sex – and how far someone will go to achieve that fame even if it contains them. I think that’s certainly an admirable subject to delve into, as were the themes of faith, love, and family abuse.
The chapters containing the show were very evocative of The Hunger Games. In fact, ‘May the odds be ever in your favour’ is said several times by different characters deliberately, so I’m assuming this similarity was purposeful. Some chapters are simply script pages of the show, which was jarring as it started occurring more than halfway through the book. I wasn’t certain at first if they were actually happening or not.
My largest issue with this novel was repetitiveness. Passages are repeated almost verbatim several times. Some scenes between Cease and Nina, and Cease and her mystery correspondent play out in similar fashions more than twice in each case. It was tiring to read through basically the same thing multiple times without any advancement to the plot or additional insight into the characters.
This book could easily have been half the size it is and be better for it. This story idea has such great potential, all it really needs is a deep cut and edit. All of the problems that I had with this book could be fixed with a very thorough read-through by an honest editor.
As it is though, I wouldn’t read it over nor would I recommend it.
While this is my first review of a novel that is yet to be released, it will certainly not be my last.
When I discovered that NetGalley existed I felt supremely lucky to be able to read and review books that haven’t yet hit the shelves.
I decided to stick with some comfortable territory and check out a Young Adult title that looked promising.
Cease de Menich is a rising star, whose fame has arisen due to a gene that has been passed on to her from generations of ancestors. She discovers this truth as she is cast in a ‘reality-drama’ in which she plays Jeanne D’Arc. As events in the show begin to reflect those hidden in her family history, Cease must decide what to do with her budding fame.
Claiming to be a ‘dark contemporary thriller with a supernatural twist’, I was excited to read something with a potentially unreliable narrator.
Unfortunately, this book didn’t live up to its description.
While the concept of this novel was really interesting, there were a lot of things that just didn’t work while I was reading it.
This book was written in first person, present tense. However, the person that Cease is narrating to seems to swap randomly between the audience of her show, and Jeanne D’Arc. Her internal monologue isn’t so much unreliable as it is simply muddled.
The first five chapters were confusing. Not in a ‘this is making me curious’ kind of way, but in an ‘I don’t know what’s happening and if this continues for much longer I won’t keep reading to find out’ kind of way. As these first chapters usually let the reader get to know more of the setting and the characters, I was let down at this wasted opportunity to build up a great story.
Cease at times seems like an interesting protagonist – her family with all its drama, her fledgling acting career, and her thoughts on her fellow competitors are all things I wanted to know more about.
Unfortunately it was difficult to focus on her story due to some bizarre plot and word choices. Cease’s legal guardian is her Aunt Nina, but Cease always refers to her as ‘my Nina’ when speaking of her. She’s a strange guardian considering most of what she does is indulge in Cease’s bad decision-making and refuse to discipline her even when she’s being cruel. She even lets Cease make choices that could kill her.
Some other strange word choices were adults always being referred to as ‘grown-ups’, the show’s young fans always being referred to as ‘boys and girls’, and the numerous times that Cease’s internal monologue brings up Nina’s ‘spongy breasts’ (four, by my count).
Cease herself seems to yo-yo between confidence and self-doubt with alarming frequency. She would make a decision and then almost immediately change her mind. She would be in love with someone and then suddenly not be. She would compare herself to another actress only to then think they were mortal enemies. I think her character needed more fleshing out to be more consistent. It was very hard to root for her when she was so all over the place.
When it comes to the ‘reality-drama’. Well, it was certainly a unique concept. It seems this novel is meant to be a social commentary on the state of the media and its fascination with gore and sex – and how far someone will go to achieve that fame even if it contains them. I think that’s certainly an admirable subject to delve into, as were the themes of faith, love, and family abuse.
The chapters containing the show were very evocative of The Hunger Games. In fact, ‘May the odds be ever in your favour’ is said several times by different characters deliberately, so I’m assuming this similarity was purposeful. Some chapters are simply script pages of the show, which was jarring as it started occurring more than halfway through the book. I wasn’t certain at first if they were actually happening or not.
My largest issue with this novel was repetitiveness. Passages are repeated almost verbatim several times. Some scenes between Cease and Nina, and Cease and her mystery correspondent play out in similar fashions more than twice in each case. It was tiring to read through basically the same thing multiple times without any advancement to the plot or additional insight into the characters.
This book could easily have been half the size it is and be better for it. This story idea has such great potential, all it really needs is a deep cut and edit. All of the problems that I had with this book could be fixed with a very thorough read-through by an honest editor.
As it is though, I wouldn’t read it over nor would I recommend it.
September 12, 2016
The publisher of Cease and Desist, Strong Girls Press (a division of Riverbrook Books) made a good choice when they decided to release author Stephen David Hurley’s book. The tale is certainly one of the strength that girls possess and what that strength can lead to. The “Cease” of Cease and Desist is Cease de Menich, a sixteen year old actress. She has been cast as Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc) in a “reality-drama,” scenes of which are being broadcast regularly on WebTV. Having never watched reality shows like Survival and its ilk, I was confused as to what this “reality-drama” actually consisted of, for it magically brings, through time travel, Jeanne d’Arc, Catherine the Great, and Susan B. Anthony to the present to battle it out over young men, apparently. I finished the novel not totally understanding this TV form, but since it was created by a character, director Francis McDonald, who is utterly demented, and his show is supposed to be new, cutting-edge TV, I simply accepted the premise. As Cease battles the other historical figures and a giant and some bad boys along the way, she also battles with her inner-demons, all the while trying to retain her sanity and her virginity—and, indeed, her life. Nothing more shall be told of the plot, for perhaps I’ve revealed too much already. That being said, Cease is an interesting character. She struggles with the nature of faith, love, and sex. She also battles within to deal with her dead mother—a demon in her own right—and the suicide of her brother. Guiding her is a supernatural force that we wonder about. Is this person acting? Is she a real teen? Is she really someone from several centuries ago? And what is she trying to tell Cease? We figure that out, and just in case we don’t, we also are told, as well. So this is a novel for teenage girls and anyone else who needs to understand them and what they face in this world. This is a novel that will hold the interest of any reader who wants a steady stream of action, violence, sex, and doubt. And this is a novel that will, hopefully, not only inspire girls to show their strength, but inspire all readers to be their authentic selves. A final note: Katherine Hepburn is mentioned several times, and I, as a movie buff, find that intriguing. The book’s targeted readers will likely not know Miss Hepburn, but it is my hope they will question enough that they will do a tiny bit of research and realize why this remarkable woman is a role model in Cease and Desist.
November 6, 2016
My Rating: 3 ½ Stars
*I received a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
To be 100% honest with you, I am not quite sure what I just read, but I do know that I enjoyed it.
As the story starts we are introduced to Cease, short for Cecile, the narrator of our story, an actress in a new scripted time-traveling “reality” show/competition featuring strong historical female figures. She plays Jeanne (do not let her hear you call her Joan) of Arc on the show where the rules and script are constantly changing. I am not even sure Cease knows what is going on with the show, herself, half of the time. The show has become more violent and sex-driven than what Cease originally signed up for and she is not sure she can cross those lines just to win.
The story gets off to a bit of a confusing start with bits and pieces of information being revealed by Cease about both the show and her own life and history so you are never quite sure what is going on or if you can even trust Cease’s view on things. There are secrets in Cease’s family and life that are slowly revealed and you can sense Cease slowly unraveling as the story progresses. The inside of Cease’s mind is definitely a complicated and odd place to be.
Cease & Desist was definitely a strange and complicated story, but I couldn’t put it down. I may not have been sure of what was going on, but I needed to know what was going to happen next…where was this crazy journey Cease was leading us on going to take us. Overall, this was an intriguing and unique story with fascinating characters and a plot that challenges sex and violence in the media aimed at teens.
*I received a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
To be 100% honest with you, I am not quite sure what I just read, but I do know that I enjoyed it.
As the story starts we are introduced to Cease, short for Cecile, the narrator of our story, an actress in a new scripted time-traveling “reality” show/competition featuring strong historical female figures. She plays Jeanne (do not let her hear you call her Joan) of Arc on the show where the rules and script are constantly changing. I am not even sure Cease knows what is going on with the show, herself, half of the time. The show has become more violent and sex-driven than what Cease originally signed up for and she is not sure she can cross those lines just to win.
The story gets off to a bit of a confusing start with bits and pieces of information being revealed by Cease about both the show and her own life and history so you are never quite sure what is going on or if you can even trust Cease’s view on things. There are secrets in Cease’s family and life that are slowly revealed and you can sense Cease slowly unraveling as the story progresses. The inside of Cease’s mind is definitely a complicated and odd place to be.
Cease & Desist was definitely a strange and complicated story, but I couldn’t put it down. I may not have been sure of what was going on, but I needed to know what was going to happen next…where was this crazy journey Cease was leading us on going to take us. Overall, this was an intriguing and unique story with fascinating characters and a plot that challenges sex and violence in the media aimed at teens.
November 12, 2016
This book was nothing like I expected – it was insightful, and had quite a dark twist to it. The only reason that I haven’t rated it higher is because I’m unlikely to read it again – it was a page turner, but the character was so different to myself that I found her a little harder to connect to. Having said that, this is a great book that investigates ideas of teenage sexuality, peer pressure and suicide. Hard hitting issues that have a universal importance.
The tone of this story is incredibly unique, it is very sassy and slightly jumpy throughout. At times, it took me a little while to figure out whether it was a flashback, part of the TV show or part of Cease’s daily life. However, it worked incredibly well within this storyline – jumping from memory to memory, moment to moment swept me along in the ride of Cease and Desist’s story. The disjointed moments highlighted her disjointed thoughts and memories, and the pain that accompanies such serious moments in an abused child’s life.
I loved the use of symbolism throughout this tale. Cease constantly refers to the Greek tragedies and Shakespearean tales. From the first mention, it brilliantly foreshadowed the tragedy of Joan d’Arc’s journey and Cease’s reality, both past and present. This emphasis of pain and suffering made my heart ache for the protagonist as she not only struggled to make peace with her past, but also find her place in the future.
The tone of this story is incredibly unique, it is very sassy and slightly jumpy throughout. At times, it took me a little while to figure out whether it was a flashback, part of the TV show or part of Cease’s daily life. However, it worked incredibly well within this storyline – jumping from memory to memory, moment to moment swept me along in the ride of Cease and Desist’s story. The disjointed moments highlighted her disjointed thoughts and memories, and the pain that accompanies such serious moments in an abused child’s life.
I loved the use of symbolism throughout this tale. Cease constantly refers to the Greek tragedies and Shakespearean tales. From the first mention, it brilliantly foreshadowed the tragedy of Joan d’Arc’s journey and Cease’s reality, both past and present. This emphasis of pain and suffering made my heart ache for the protagonist as she not only struggled to make peace with her past, but also find her place in the future.
October 27, 2016
What if your past could determine exactly who you would be in the future? What if it could make you into something successful? Would you jump at the chance or would you look at your family and see what it has cost them and try and avoid fate? For Cease De Menich who has been cast as the modern-day equivalent of Joan of Arc, she has always been a natural on the stage. Cease is about to learn that it is genetics and that has passed through her bloodlines. Cease also believes she can hear Joan Of Arc speaking to her which reminded me of that TV show Joan of Arcadia. Now I was attracted to this book because of the cover; it looked intriguing and like it could be a bit of mystery/thriller as the cover gives off dark vibes. Unfortunately, this book to me was one of those odd reads which jump from scene to scene and leave you thinking - what have I just read as I turned to the final page, I still was a tad confused on what I had read and the storyline. Cease and Desist does, however, have something for everyone from Edgy content with the hints of Mental Illnesses and Suicide to Drama - with the Reality TV shows and the acting to Romance with the falling in love to Family saga with Cease living with her Aunty. Overall Cease and Desist will be one of those books where you as the reader will have to make up your mind to see if you enjoy it as for myself, I found the plot to be too busy and all over the place - hard for me to stay focused on the storyline.
September 22, 2016
pooled ink Reviews:
3.5 Stars
This book explores the costs of fame, the vampirism of producers and the entertainment industry, and the growing twisted obsession for sex and violence in entertainment today. No blood, no glory. No sex, no intrigue. No money, no show. No show, no fame. This book is gritty to the core as it flips over humanity to reveal its dark and fetid underbelly that adores the bright lights of New York City and its compatriot, Hollywood.
The plot had action, drama, gritty realness, and very human characters to play its game. Overall it was a fame intoxicated thriller that blended the lines between drama and reality.
Cease & Desist is a gritty look in the hyper-sexualized entertainment industry that feeds off sex and violence like a sick, twisted, vampire who only sees dollar signs instead of people. Intriguing, wild, scandalous, and debatable, this book is sure to turn heads, raise questions, and tickle your own moral compass.
Read my FULL review here: https://pooledink.com/2016/09/22/ceas...
3.5 Stars
This book explores the costs of fame, the vampirism of producers and the entertainment industry, and the growing twisted obsession for sex and violence in entertainment today. No blood, no glory. No sex, no intrigue. No money, no show. No show, no fame. This book is gritty to the core as it flips over humanity to reveal its dark and fetid underbelly that adores the bright lights of New York City and its compatriot, Hollywood.
The plot had action, drama, gritty realness, and very human characters to play its game. Overall it was a fame intoxicated thriller that blended the lines between drama and reality.
Cease & Desist is a gritty look in the hyper-sexualized entertainment industry that feeds off sex and violence like a sick, twisted, vampire who only sees dollar signs instead of people. Intriguing, wild, scandalous, and debatable, this book is sure to turn heads, raise questions, and tickle your own moral compass.
Read my FULL review here: https://pooledink.com/2016/09/22/ceas...
December 18, 2016
Cease is a 16-year-old actress who is cast as Joan of Arc in a modern day reality TV show. She has to compete against Betsy Ross and Catherine the Great to be the last one standing in a reality show. Although the characters are historical figures, the reality TV show takes place in modern times and includes “hunky guys” in the drama who have no historical reference. Cease isn’t rich or beautiful like some of the other girls she’s competing against, but she sees herself as a strong woman who can beat them.
Cease comes from a troubled past so she has a lot to overcome during this process. Her mother tried to kill her and her brother committed suicide and the Aunt she is currently staying with doesn’t make the best choices. Like most 16-year-olds, Cease’s emotions are all over the place. In the reality show drama, the lines/actions of the players are only revealed in small pieces rather than all at once. As the story progresses, Cease struggles to deal with her past and make peace with who and what she is.
If you enjoy young adult thrillers with a twist, I think this one is definitely worth a read.
Cease comes from a troubled past so she has a lot to overcome during this process. Her mother tried to kill her and her brother committed suicide and the Aunt she is currently staying with doesn’t make the best choices. Like most 16-year-olds, Cease’s emotions are all over the place. In the reality show drama, the lines/actions of the players are only revealed in small pieces rather than all at once. As the story progresses, Cease struggles to deal with her past and make peace with who and what she is.
If you enjoy young adult thrillers with a twist, I think this one is definitely worth a read.
August 20, 2016
What I loved about this book is that, though it is set in the present, in this world - it is a heightened present, an amped-up version of this world, where incredible things can, and do, happen. The author's deft touch makes it all so real that this reader easily got lost in a world I knew little about, a reality show. But this is a show set in the author's unique, fascinating reality, based so much on what we know that, even as the amazing happens, we are willing, and happy, to be allowed to go along for the ride. By the end, the author had set so many facets in motion that I was truly unable to put it down. This guy can write!
October 11, 2016
Cease is a actress and she's doing a real reality show about Jeanne d’Arc. Cease's mom and brother something horrible happened to them and she's truly not over it. The reality show is real you fight for love and the boys do too yes you kill and actually fight. This book is mostly about Cease explaining about how sex really should be and she's in "character" the whole time. You never really see her be a typical 16yr old its a totally different time of book. Took me awhile to get into cause I had to keep telling myself that Cease is really acting but being real it's kinda of confusing. 4/5 stars for the entertainment I received this book for a unbiased review
September 18, 2016
This is an interesting and unique YA story with good pacing in which modern day meets the past. Sixteen-year-old actress, Cease plays a historical character, Joan of Arc, who she identifies with. She is in a reality show/competition with other teens. There are secrets and tragedy in her immediate family involving her brother and and mother, who are also actors. Throughout the competition there's the threat of violence and sex.
August 11, 2016
As expected stephen david hurley has given us the best book!!!! The blending of action and background information was very nice. The depth of intrigue and story line really keeps you turning pages. I liked the character development better overall than the initial book where he introduced the whole concept. Somehow it seemed more believable. I highly recommend it.
October 25, 2016
This book was really strange! The elements didn't quite come together, and things were confusing, but I enjoyed this book! Great message about love and becoming an woman, or a man!
Want to read
July 28, 2016* e-Arc provided by Netgalley *
October 25, 2016
This was an intriguing book, one that kept my attention from the first page to the last. Something I'd place kind of in the psychological thriller genre, a dash of teen angst, a good amount of dystopian world, and plenty of identifiable real life issues. The book is narrated in a broken way, in keeping with the life and state of Cease, the star of the show.
The main character deals with family loss, coming of age, and more trials than anyone her age should have to deal with. Her personality draws you in, and you don't even realize there is an author behind the words. You're simply along for the ride, peering over the shoulder of Cease as she navigates her mind, her life, and the role she has taken on for a "reality" show - one that's supposed to showcase her and her acting chops.
The Catholic faith of Cease's grandmother provides something of a frame that the story is welded into. Her actions are somewhat guided by her grandmother, or what she believes her grandmother will think. Nina's belief in the saints, and what they can do, provides the impetus for Cease's own leap of faith. Just like the back of the book says, you're kept guessing as to whether this is - real - or - not real.
I enjoyed reading this book. It does have some sexual situations, and some language sprinkled throughout. I did think it was somewhat true to reality, and provided an interesting perspective on today's society. I'd recommend the book, but with caution to the reader as to subject matter and content.
I was sent a copy of this book for an honest review.
The main character deals with family loss, coming of age, and more trials than anyone her age should have to deal with. Her personality draws you in, and you don't even realize there is an author behind the words. You're simply along for the ride, peering over the shoulder of Cease as she navigates her mind, her life, and the role she has taken on for a "reality" show - one that's supposed to showcase her and her acting chops.
The Catholic faith of Cease's grandmother provides something of a frame that the story is welded into. Her actions are somewhat guided by her grandmother, or what she believes her grandmother will think. Nina's belief in the saints, and what they can do, provides the impetus for Cease's own leap of faith. Just like the back of the book says, you're kept guessing as to whether this is - real - or - not real.
I enjoyed reading this book. It does have some sexual situations, and some language sprinkled throughout. I did think it was somewhat true to reality, and provided an interesting perspective on today's society. I'd recommend the book, but with caution to the reader as to subject matter and content.
I was sent a copy of this book for an honest review.
October 13, 2016
Cease is sixteen and an actress. She has alot of sadness in her background as she had her mother kill herself and trying to kill Cease and Cease had been in the hospital and had almost died because of it and her beloved brother committed suicide when his heart got broken by another guy but he had also been abused by their mother. Cease was not your typical beautiful actress but she had the it factor and the potental tp be a very sucessful and famous actress. She was a reality show playing Jeanne D’ Arc [ Joan Of Arc with a little different spin ] She is in the final three to actually win a permanent role on the reality show. In the show Jeanne can jump back and forth in time a more modern concept as one point in time was todays time. The director Francis MacDonald was famous. Cease really wanted the part.
I couldn’t really get into the story I understand Cease to a large degree and why she was the way she is and the importance of her part to Cease but the story just didn’t seem to click for me. It was okay just not one I Loved but I didn’t hate it either.
I couldn’t really get into the story I understand Cease to a large degree and why she was the way she is and the importance of her part to Cease but the story just didn’t seem to click for me. It was okay just not one I Loved but I didn’t hate it either.
December 23, 2016
Without giving anything away, I loved the way the protagonist of this novel, Cease de Menich transforms from an abused and fame hungry girl into a strong woman. Cease & Desist may never be called a "Christian" book because of the sexual content and violence depicted in the story, but reading how Cease goes from hating God "that fucking bastard" to believing in the power of a Roman Catholic Saint, was more real to me than a stack of Christian fiction novels with their cardboard characters and predictable plots.
February 1, 2017
I really tried with this book. I really did. I just can't. It's not my cup of tea. I found the writing to be confusing and it lost me and it was just bad.
April 4, 2017
Cease and Desist by Stephen David Hurley, 327 pages, September 23rd, 2016, Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal and Urban. Available in Kindle, Print, and Audible. Warning: May Contain Spoilers.
The author of Cease and Desist, Stephen David Hurley, knows that while my reading tastes are eclectic and varied, I absolutely adore a good dystopian novel. Dystopian literature holds up a mirror to our society. It reveals to us who we are in danger of becoming if we go too far. Above all, it makes us examine our values and choices, so we can make better choices both as individuals and as members of our communities. Although this novel has paranormal elements, it is equally dystopian in nature.
All too often today, we see news stories about teenagers publishing their crimes to social media for the world to see. We live in an over-connected world, where to be heard, to be seen, is a shouting match. That which shocks, humiliates, and disturbs is the quickest way to win the match, to stand out, to get noticed and gain fame. Ironically, we often feel less human connection as a result. Adults ask how these teenagers could do such things. Cease and Desist shows us how and why they would do such things.
We are immersed through first person narration in the life and struggles of Cecilia “Cease” de Menich, a teenage girl with an interesting pedigree, a troubled past, and the charisma of Sarah Bernhardt. Cease is playing the role in a live reality-drama television series of Jeanne d’Arc, the patron saint of France. However, this is no ordinary role and no ordinary show. Other teen actors play the roles of strong females from history, such as Catherine the Great and Susan B. Anthony, in a contest to win first place at the podium, fall in love with one of the hunks on the show, and fulfill the destiny of saving the world. The show is driven by the audience’s ever increasing demand for more nudity, more sex, and even more violence for their entertainment. The actresses are highly competitive, willing to go to ever furthering lengths to win the ultimate prize: Fame. As the sex and violence becomes all too real, Cease must confront her family’s past, and make an all too adult decision about how far she is willing to go for fame.
In school, we were given an assignment to pick a historical figure and give the class a presentation. Drawn to Jeanne d’Arc, she was the subject of my presentation. She was a strong teenager, chosen by God to fulfill a destiny that surely must have overwhelmed her. How did she deal with the trials and eventual horrors she would face? What wisdom could I glean from her life and example? In Jeanne, I saw my 16-year-old self, standing at the precipice of adulthood, struggling with the meaning of life, of love, of identity, of destiny. I immediately found Cease relatable. Cease, an actress, tries to become Jeanne for the screen. She begins receiving emails from a fan who claims to be the Maid herself. Cease begins engaging in conversations with the saint, first in emails, then in her own mind. Cease feels as though Jeanne is with her, throughout her struggles on the show and in her real-life quest to resolve her past and understand what kind of love can save the world.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Cease and Desist. The characters and plot line were original and well developed, and the writing was excellent. It transported me back to a time when I was a girl on the verge of becoming a woman, identifying with Cease’s internal conflicts and difficult choices; and remembering that teenage boys, going through their own struggle to transform into men, may mistake sexual conquest for manhood. Its message was relevant; the mirror it held up showing us a phenomenon in danger of becoming all too real today.
The author of Cease and Desist, Stephen David Hurley, knows that while my reading tastes are eclectic and varied, I absolutely adore a good dystopian novel. Dystopian literature holds up a mirror to our society. It reveals to us who we are in danger of becoming if we go too far. Above all, it makes us examine our values and choices, so we can make better choices both as individuals and as members of our communities. Although this novel has paranormal elements, it is equally dystopian in nature.
All too often today, we see news stories about teenagers publishing their crimes to social media for the world to see. We live in an over-connected world, where to be heard, to be seen, is a shouting match. That which shocks, humiliates, and disturbs is the quickest way to win the match, to stand out, to get noticed and gain fame. Ironically, we often feel less human connection as a result. Adults ask how these teenagers could do such things. Cease and Desist shows us how and why they would do such things.
We are immersed through first person narration in the life and struggles of Cecilia “Cease” de Menich, a teenage girl with an interesting pedigree, a troubled past, and the charisma of Sarah Bernhardt. Cease is playing the role in a live reality-drama television series of Jeanne d’Arc, the patron saint of France. However, this is no ordinary role and no ordinary show. Other teen actors play the roles of strong females from history, such as Catherine the Great and Susan B. Anthony, in a contest to win first place at the podium, fall in love with one of the hunks on the show, and fulfill the destiny of saving the world. The show is driven by the audience’s ever increasing demand for more nudity, more sex, and even more violence for their entertainment. The actresses are highly competitive, willing to go to ever furthering lengths to win the ultimate prize: Fame. As the sex and violence becomes all too real, Cease must confront her family’s past, and make an all too adult decision about how far she is willing to go for fame.
In school, we were given an assignment to pick a historical figure and give the class a presentation. Drawn to Jeanne d’Arc, she was the subject of my presentation. She was a strong teenager, chosen by God to fulfill a destiny that surely must have overwhelmed her. How did she deal with the trials and eventual horrors she would face? What wisdom could I glean from her life and example? In Jeanne, I saw my 16-year-old self, standing at the precipice of adulthood, struggling with the meaning of life, of love, of identity, of destiny. I immediately found Cease relatable. Cease, an actress, tries to become Jeanne for the screen. She begins receiving emails from a fan who claims to be the Maid herself. Cease begins engaging in conversations with the saint, first in emails, then in her own mind. Cease feels as though Jeanne is with her, throughout her struggles on the show and in her real-life quest to resolve her past and understand what kind of love can save the world.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Cease and Desist. The characters and plot line were original and well developed, and the writing was excellent. It transported me back to a time when I was a girl on the verge of becoming a woman, identifying with Cease’s internal conflicts and difficult choices; and remembering that teenage boys, going through their own struggle to transform into men, may mistake sexual conquest for manhood. Its message was relevant; the mirror it held up showing us a phenomenon in danger of becoming all too real today.
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