Latest news with #Lyra
Cosmopolitan
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Read Jennifer Lynn Barnes' ‘Glorious Rivals' Excerpt
Jennifer Lynn Barnes is back with another game that will certainly keep us at the edge of our seat as we find out what happens after The Grandest Game. In this sequel, which also continues the Inheritance Games series, the game has begun, but how far are each of the seven contestants willing to go for the special prize? Of course, we're going to immediately going to pick up a copy to see what Jennifer has come up with next! Cosmopolitan has an exclusive look at Glorious Rivals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, which is set to be released on July 29, 2025. With the grand prize up for grabs and everything on the line, how far are these seven strangers willing to go to win it all? Here's some more info from our friends at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers: Don't worry, we gained access to the Hawthorne vault to get a special look at what we can expect next and, trust us, you won't believe how this new book kicks off. Check out a special excerpt below! Just make sure to pre-order Glorious Rivals and check out Jennifer Lynn Barnes's other reads as well! An Excerpt From Glorious RivalsBy Jennifer Lynn Barnes Kissing Grayson Hawthorne felt like stepping out of time. Nothing else existed. Not the ground beneath Lyra's feet. Not the ruins or the cliffs. Just this. Every place their bodies touched. His lips and hers. A jagged breath— this. The right kind of disaster just waiting to happen, Odette's voice whispered in Lyra's memory. A Hawthorne and a girl who has every reason to stay away from Hawthornes. As if he'd heard Lyra's thoughts, Grayson pulled his lips slowly back from hers. 'I usually have more control than this,' he said, his voice achingly low. 'I usually have better sense,' Lyra replied, keenly aware of just how close her lips still were to his— and how close the two of them were to a repeat performance. That kiss, their first, their only, had been earth-shattering. It had also almost certainly been a mistake. The wind off the ocean picked up behind Lyra, sending her ponytail flying into her face— and his. Grayson tamed her long hair, pushing it back, and as he did, the wind calmed, too, so suddenly and completely that Lyra couldn't shake the illogical thought that he had calmed it through sheer force of will. An alarm went off in the back of Lyra's mind. This wasGrayson Hawthorne. And even if he wasn't the cold, above‑it‑all, asshole rich boy she'd thought him to be twenty-four hours earlier, he was still a Hawthorne. His blood wasn't just blue; it was practically cerulean. And soon enough, the Grandest Game would be over, and promises or not, Lyra and Grayson Hawthorne would go back to being what they'd always been: little more than strangers . . . with every reason to stay away from each other. Neither one of you knows what you think you know. Another of Odette's warnings echoed through Lyra's memory, but even that couldn't distract her from the fact that she was still so close to Grayson that she could feel his every breath on her skin. 'We should try to get some sleep before phase two,' Lyra said. The words came out throaty and low. She'd been aiming for practical. They'd been given twelve hours to recover from the first phase of the game. So far, Lyra hadn't managed anything resembling respite. 'We should,' Grayson agreed, but instead of putting even a modicum of space between them, he brushed the knuckles of his right hand lightly over her cheek, stealing her next breath like a born thief. 'I meant what I said, Lyra. We'll figure this out— the game and all the rest.' The rest. That was the understatement of the century, and even just thinking the words had others ringing through Lyra's mind. A Hawthorne did this. A Hawthorne. Omega. There are always three. Lyra took a step back. Maybe with a little more distance, she'd be able to breathe, to think, to focus on what came next. The two of them were standing on what had once been the cliffside patio of a glorious mansion that was nothing but ruins now, a charred and visible reminder of the way even the grandest things could be reduced to ashes. 'Someone sent me here.' Lyra focused on that. 'Someone put me in this game, and whoever that person is— they know about my father. I'm someone's pawn.' Lyra looked away from Grayson's pale and piercing eyes. 'Or a weapon. Or a bomb.' That was the logical conclusion, wasn't it? That the person who'd sent her that ticket had put Lyra in the Grandest Game because of her history with the Hawthorne family? Because of her father's death. Because of Alice Hawthorne's role in it. 'You are no one's weapon, Lyra,' Grayson said, his tone making it perfectly clear just how rarely he lost arguments of any kind, 'bomb or otherwise, and you are certainly not a pawn.' 'Then what am I?' Lyra retorted, her gaze returning to his like a homing missile. 'You are lethal,' Grayson said quietly, 'in the best possible way.' Where did he get off saying something like that and sounding, for all the world, like he meant it? Lyra went to take another step back, but Grayson reached for her shoulder, and the next thing she knew, he'd reversed their positions. Now Grayson was the one standing with his back to the cliff's edge, and Lyra had the magnificent ocean view. He'd just put himself between her and the drop-off. 'I don't need your protection, Hawthorne.' Grayson arched a brow. 'Agree to disagree.' The wind off the ocean picked up again. A front rolling in. A slight shiver passed through Lyra's body. Eyeing her, Grayson undid the top button on the jacket of his fits-like‑a‑glove suit. The middle button was next. 'What are you doing?' Lyra asked. She wasn't just talking about his suit jacket, and he was perceptive enough to know that. What are we doing? 'I would think the answer apparent.' Grayson undid the final button on his jacket, and then . . . The jacket came off, and Lyra's body remembered: My lips and yours. A jagged breath. 'You'd better not be planning on offering me that jacket.' Lyra steeled her voice. 'You're cold.' Grayson's lips curved. 'And I believe that I have already acquainted you with the fact that when I encounter a problem, I solve it.' This was about so much more than the damn jacket. It was about his family and hers and an unknown threat. It was about the fact that Odette Morales, the one person who might have known some fraction of the big picture here, had given up her spot in the Grandest Game— and her chance at millions— because of the danger that Lyra and Grayson somehow represented. The right kind of disaster just waiting to happen. 'I don't need your jacket,' Lyra told Grayson. 'Perhaps I need to give it to you,' Grayson suggested. 'Chivalry. It's a coping mechanism.' 'I'm warning you, Hawthorne: If you try to put that jacket around my shoulders, I'm taking mine off and giving it to you.' To make her point, Lyra lifted a hand to the zipper on her own athletic jacket— which, to be fair, was more of an outer shirt. Grayson took a moment to assess whether or not she was bluffing. Lyra was not bluffing. 'Consider me warned,' Grayson replied archly. He slipped his suit jacket back on. Lyra narrowed her eyes. 'Why do I feel like I lost this argument?' she said. 'Because,' Grayson replied, 'I'm still standing between you and the edge of the cliff.' Copyright © 2025 by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. From GLORIOUS RIVALS, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Reprinted by permission of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, a Division of Hachette Book Group. Glorious Rivals, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes will be released on July 29, 2025. To preorder the book, click on the retailer of your choice: AMAZON AUDIBLE BARNES & NOBLE BOOKS-A-MILLION BOOKSHOP APPLE BOOKS KOBO TARGET WALMART POWELL'S BOOKS HUDSON BOOKSELLERS GOOGLE PLAY
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ed Sheeran reveals he'll need security until 'I pass away' after his family faced kidnap threats
Ed Sheeran has revealed how crazed fans have threatened to kidnap his young children, even breaking into his home. The singer, 34, who shares daughters Lyra, four, and Jupiter, three, with wife Cherry Seaborn, told Australia's 60 Minutes on Sunday that he employs extensive security measures due to the threats. He said: 'It's things that people don't really even take into account. Like kidnap threats and s*** like that. We've had attempted break-ins, things left on my car. It's way more sinister than just fans turning up and wanting selfies.' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Ed said that he had to accept that his family will always need protection, adding: 'We have a level of security that probably won't change until I pass away. That's just our life now.' Ed went on to explain that he is fiercely protective of his daughters' privacy and does not allow fans to take photos of them - even facing off with those who try. He said: 'I've had some real arguments before. I'm fine with taking pictures, but I just think it's weird with a four-year-old and a three-year-old.' Ed wishes life was more 'normal' for his family but has accepted that fame has its downsides: 'To be within the public sphere, you have to take it all, the good and the bad. But I think I would definitely want a more normal life for my kids.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ed Sheeran will need bodyguards until he dies
Ed Sheeran is convinced his family will need round-the-clock security protection until he dies. The pop star - who lives on a sprawling estate in Suffolk with his wife Cherry and their two children - has round-the-clock security protection in place and he's convinced they will need bodyguards "until I pass away" because of the "sinister" incidents that have taken place. During an appearance on Australia's 60 Minutes show, Ed explained: "It's things that people don't really even take into account. "Like kidnap threats and s*** like that. We've had attempted break-ins, things left on my car. It's way more sinister than just fans turning up and wanting selfies. "We have a level of security that probably won't change until I pass away. That's just our life now." Ed went on to confess he's also had some ugly rows with fans who have tried to take pictures while he's with his kids, Lyra, four, and Jupiter, three. He added: "I've had some real arguments before. I'm fine with taking pictures, but I just think it's weird with a four-year-old and a three-year-old ... "To be within the public sphere, you have to take it all, the good and the bad. But I think I would definitely want a more normal life for my kids ... "I want to still tour and have people come to the gigs and yes, I still want to make records and write songs every day. "But there's just a new set of challenges that I want to explore now, and that is having a family and being a dad." Ed previously revealed he stepped up security measures to protect his family after a "couple of weird things" have happened including an attempted break-in. During an appearance on The Louis Theroux Podcast, Ed explained: "I do think that there is a different kind of normal that is our business. I have like 24-hour security on my house. I have security with my kids. "I have security with me. I have security with my wife, just because there have been a couple of weird things over the years that have happened.' Just so you know there's lots of dangerous people out there. We've had like you know a break-in attempt. "In my industry, that's normal. That's kind of like an underlying thing that no one really talks about, but that is kind of a part of being in the public eye." Ed also revealed he rarely takes his children on outings in public because he's so concerned about them being photographed. He added: "I'm very, very private about my children's image ... I can't take them to zoos or parks or anything really without someone trying to film them. "There are times where the normal parts of life I kind of mourn for and wish I could push my kid on a swing in a public park and it not be weird, you know? ... "People go, well that's the trade-off. But my kids have not signed up to that."
Gulf Insider
2 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Amriya Group's Khalid Al Rumaihi: Building Experiences
Khalid Al Rumaihi is the Executive Chairman of Amriya Group, a Bahrain-based hospitality operator that introduced iconic F&B names such as Masso, The Orangery, and Lyra to the island. In this interview, Al Rumaihi talks to us about mastering the art of building original dining concepts that rival global names, navigating challenges and how entertainment, data, and talent are shaping the future of hospitality. Now in its third edition, Business Leaders in the Middle East brings together sharp insights from across the region. These aren't mere interviews; they're windows into how leadership is evolving in a world shaped by rapid digital transformation. Technology touches nearly every industry now, and these leaders show us how to navigate change with purpose. Right from the outset, our aim at Amriya Group was to create unique hospitality and dining experiences that rival those we encounter in Europe when travelling. Generic brands dominated hotels in the country, and restaurants lacked the ambience, chefs, and service levels found abroad. We saw a gap that could be filled – and that was the inspiration behind the Palmyard Hotel. Building on that same vision, we set out to create F&B concepts that reflected the same commitment to quality, originality, and atmosphere. This led to the birth of Masso, the Orangery, Circa, and more recently, Lyra. Our F&B brands have exceptional food at their core – nothing short of what you'd find in London or elsewhere – and we aim to hire the best chefs and managers to deliver first-class experiences to our guests. Our vision is to take these independent, home-grown Bahraini brands abroad and prove that Bahrain can be a creator and exporter of world-class concepts, not just a consumer of them. We've had an amazing journey since COVID. We were very proud to see Masso recognised as one of the top 50 restaurants by 50 Best in MENA in 2023 – one of only three restaurants in Bahrain to make the list that year. We opened our third branch of Orangery in Liwan in 2023, and in 2024, we launched our newest Greek-Mediterranean brand, Lyra, at Vida Hotel in Marassi. With Lyra, we hand-picked Chef Ilias (a European-trained Greek chef) to lead the kitchen team, and collaborated with a London-based designer to create a stunning venue. We believe Lyra has global potential – much like Masso and Orangery – and it truly has to be experienced to understand how proud we are of this latest addition to our portfolio of brands. We take great pride in building these home-grown concepts, which we believe can compete with the best global F&B brands entering the country. COVID was a shock to the hospitality industry globally. For nearly 12 months, hotels and restaurants had hardly any customers. Although Bahrain remained open and typically relies on visitors from Saudi Arabia, the absence of international travellers deeply affected the sector. It was a critical period for hospitality, and many restaurants didn't were very fortunate in Bahrain to have the support of the government for businesses, as well as the decision not to impose a full lockdown like many other countries. At Amriya, we recognised the situation was only temporary – and that taking care of our team was essential if we were to return stronger when the world reopened. Rather than sending staff back home, we ensured they had food and accommodation, even during periods when they weren't working. Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and we knew they'd be instrumental in our recovery once guests started coming back. This downtime also became an opportunity to reinvent. Menus at Masso and the Orangery were thoughtfully reimagined – with weeks spent developing and testing new dishes to delight returning customers. By staying true to our principles and supporting our people, we emerged from COVID stronger than ever. Communication is key. You have to explain to your team why you're making changes and what purpose they need to share the vision of where you're going and how those changes will help you get there. Organisational change is often difficult, and people don't always respond well, especially to new reporting lines. But I've found that in these moments, two things matter most: first, you need to over-communicate so people clearly understand what you're trying to achieve; and second, you need to hire great people who genuinely make a difference to how you operate. I believe it's the second part that's critical. Organisational change tends to be problematic when you hire the wrong people. But when you hire the right ones, you gain far more acceptance and belief in both the changes and the direction you're heading. That's why I take recruitment very seriously. I consider it one of my main responsibilities as a leader to find and recruit the best people for the organisation. That's a difficult question to answer, especially because there are many truly world-class F&B operators in the region. I'd rephrase it by saying what we do exceptionally well – and what we share with some of the operators I admire most – it's our ability to create independent brands from scratch that genuinely rival global industry leaders. We approach the creative process with deep intention, spending at least 18 to 24 months before opening avenue. Every detail is considered – from the menu development in close collaboration with the chef, to the design and layout, branding, uniforms, and overall guest experience. We collaborate with top-tier designers and consultants to ensure each concept stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the world's best. Very few operators take that time, or have the capability to build something original repeatedly. We started with Masso and asked ourselves: can we do this again? And Orangery was the result. Today, we believe Lyra is our third creation that will be just as successful as the first two. There are operators in the region I deeply admire for sharing our values – particularly those with a family-business mindset and an independent spirit. It would certainly be easier to franchise a global concept. But we take pride in building something from the ground up, and proving that Bahraini-born brands can be just as successful as franchise models. And to us, this is just the beginning. We hire employees who are as passionate as we are about refining each brand and realising the dream of seeing them thrive in some of the world's largest cities. I'm still exploring how AI could be relevant to our industry. But we're starting by ensuring we digitise as much of the data we collect as possible, so we can make smarter decisions. I believe AI will help F&B brands become significantly more efficient in areas like menu engineering, table bookings and seating management, targeted marketing, food cost control, and more. We've now almost fully digitised all the key information needed to mine data effectively and use it to enhance our guest experience while managing the business more efficiently. Finding the right tools and resources to analyse that data and generate meaningful recommendations is something I'm actively exploring. If we can't find off-the-shelf AI solutions that suit our needs, we may consider developing our tools. But I do not doubt that AI will positively impact our business. Probably the most glaring trend I've noticed is the shift away from formal dining experiences, like the Michelin-starred, 12-course tasting menus, and the growing desire for a more casual, sensory-driven experience. Nightclubs are seemingly fading away. Today, people want to eat and be entertained. They're looking for great food, good music (often live), and a space where they can socialise. That's why we're seeing the rise of private clubs where guests can dine and then stay on for live music or entertainment without leaving the venue. The growing number of small speakeasy-style spaces within restaurants also reflects this trend. In many ways, restaurants have become the new nightclubs. So, it's now essential to deliver not just great food, but a full entertainment experience. That's why DJs are increasingly present in restaurants. But it would be a mistake to think entertainment alone is enough. No matter how much a guest enjoys the ambience, what truly keeps them coming back is an exceptional dish or two that they crave to experience again. While trends may shift, one thing remains constant: successful restaurants must consistently deliver an outstanding food and service experience. Without that, no amount of entertainment will keep guests returning. More Insights
Business Insider
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
See the 8-slide pitch deck AI video calling platform Lyra used to raise a $6 million seed round from Y Combinator and 468 Capital
Lyra has raised $6 million to expand its AI-native video meeting platform. The San Francisco and New York-based startup lets customers turn sales calls into real-time whiteboards and keep all their conversations about a project in one place. The product was born when its 23-year-old founder, a marketing consultant, said he realized that go-to-market strategies are repetitive and manual. He thought they could be optimized with AI. "We basically just took a huge bet that everyone is wrong, all the AI note takers are wrong," said Courtne Marland, Lyra's cofounder and CEO. "Instead, you actually need to rebuild the conferencing platform itself because then you can control the entire screen." Once a meeting is scheduled in a virtual calendar, a link for a Lyra meeting is created, just like it is for existing meeting platforms. A team then has a call in which participants can collaborate on a screen share. Lyra's AI generates notes that can be shared after the meeting. The startup, which is now valued at $40 million, was part of Y Combinator's spring 2025 batch. From its November launch, the company's revenue climbed from $20,000 to $700,000 in six weeks. Marland said Lyra is now powering over 200 hours of calls per week and competes with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. The $6 million seed round was led by 468 Capital, with participation from Rebel Fund, Y Combinator, and executives from companies like Ramp, Gusto, and Zapier. The round is Lyra's second, following a small pre-seed round in November with contributions from three angel investors. Lyra's product is priced on a pay-per-minute basis. Packages start at $6,000, which gets users about 200,000 minutes. Pricing is customized after this amount, but gets cheaper with more minutes. With the cash injection, Maland wants to invest in the startup's infrastructure, which is under stress because of quick growth. "It's a mission-critical software, which means people don't ever rip it out of their business," he said. "So it needs to work 100%, all the time." Marland said that the company also wants to expand its go-to-market team by hiring engineers, product designers, and a head of growth. The company has a total of 5 employees, including the two cofounders. Check out the pitch deck Lyra used to secure the fresh funding.
