Thursday, September 15, 2016

Blog Tour/Spotlight: The Perilous Journey of the Much-Too-Spontaneous Girl by Leigh Statham


On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

The Perilous Journey of the Much-Too-Spontaneous GirlThe Perilous Journey of the Much-Too-Spontaneous Girl
(The Perilous Journey of the Not-So-Innocuous Girl #2)

by Leigh Statham
YA Steampunk
Paperback & ebook, 297 pages
September 20th 2016 by Month9Books

Lady Marguerite Vadnay and her trusty automaton, Outil, have settled into life in New France rather well. Marguerite is top of the class at flight school and her future as an aerpilot is nearly secure. She has everything she wants— except a commission on the pirate hunting dirigible The Renegade. Using every card in her aristocratic arsenal, Marguerite wiggles her way onto the finest warship France has to offer. But as usual, Marguerite’s plans endanger the lives of those she holds dear— only this time no one else is going to save them. As Marguerite and Outil set off on a rescue mission they may not return from, she finally realizes it’s time to reorder her cogs.

This steampunk adventure is littered with facts from The Golden Age of Piracy and follows (not too closely) some of the lives and adventures of the brave men and women who sailed the seas as privateers, pirates and soldiers.

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Guest Post: Crushing on Jacques

Jacques Laviolette is a man of many talents. Marguerite frequently takes for granted the tiger she has by the tail in this series. He comes from money, but he’s seen the rough side of life as well. He’s handsome, has a secure future as an aership captain, and certainly doesn’t need the headaches she brings to his life, and yet, he loves her anyway. He sees her faults and short comings and forgives her for them, sometimes a little too quickly. Of course, he’s not perfect and his ego is bigger than his ship, The Renegade, but as far as aership captains go, he’s worth having on your team. Oh, and one more thing, he has gorgeous teeth.



Other Books in the Series

The Perilous Journey of the Not So Innocuous Girl (The Perilous Journey of the Not So Innocuous Girl #1)The Perilous Journey of the Not-So-Innocuous Girl
(The Perilous Journey of the Not-So-Innocuous Girl #1)

by Leigh Statham
YA Steampunk
Paperback & ebook, 297 pages
March 17th 2015 by Month9Books

Lady Marguerite lives a life most 17th-century French girls can only dream of: money, designer dresses, suitors, and a secure future. Except she can’t quite commit to a life of dull luxury and she suspects she may be falling for her best friend Claude, a common smithy in the family's steam forge. When Claude leaves for New France in search of a better life, Marguerite decides to follow him and test her suspicions of love—only the trip proves to be more harrowing than she anticipated. Love, adventure, and restitution await her if she can survive the voyage.

Based on the true story of The Daughters of the King, Louis the XIV’s social program to settle the wilds of Canada with women of noble birth, Marguerite’s steampunk adventure follows in the footsteps of nearly one thousand brave women and girls who were rewarded handsomely for trekking across the pirate infested Atlantic to a strange land.

"The writing is solid and the world-building – that clever combination of historical detail and Ms. Statham’s imagination – is excellent."~ The Australia Times Books


Leigh Statham was raised in the wilds of rural Idaho, but found her heart in New York City. She worked as a waitress, maid, artist, math teacher, nurse, web designer, art director, thirty-foot inflatable pig and mule wrangler before she settled down in the semi-quiet role of wife, mother and writer. She resides in North Carolina with her husband, four children, five chickens and two suspected serial killer cats.

Leigh is also a founder of QuantumFairyTales.com and is currently serving a life sentence there as senior editor and gnome driver. She loves all things sparkly and strange that go bump in the night.

Tour Schedule

September 11th: Launch
September 12th:
September 13th:
September 14th:
September 15th:
September 16th:
September 18th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway


• 1 winner will win signed copies of The Perilous Journey of the Not-So-Innocuous Girl and The Perilous Journey of the Much-Too-Spontaneous Girl plus some awesome Steampunk goggles (US only)
• 3 winners will win ebook sets of The Perilous Journey of the Not-So-Innocuous Girl and The Perilous Journey of the Much-Too-Spontaneous Girl (open internationally)

• Ends September 23rd
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Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Blog Tour/Review: Southern Charmed by Melanie Jacobson



Southern Charmed, by Melanie Jacobson
2016, 232p, LDS Contemporary Romance
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: Received a copy from the publisher for an honest review



Lila Mae Guidry is a Southern girl through and through. As a fourth-generation Latter-day Saint in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she’s proud of her heritage as both a Southerner and a Saint—and she doesn’t take kindly to people who disparage either. Ten years ago, Max Archer was just that kind of jerk. As the mission president’s son, Max spent his entire three years mocking the South . . . and teenage Lila. After Max’s family moved away, Lila forgot about her sworn enemy. Almost.

When a new job brings a grown-up Max back to Baton Rouge, Lila is less than thrilled with his reappearance, especially since everyone seems intent on throwing her together with this old adversary. Yet fight as she may, Lila soon realizes resistance is futile—their connection is undeniable. Max embodies everything she wants in a man—except perhaps the most important thing—her life is rooted in the city she loves, but his dreams are bigger than Baton Rouge. With such mismatched visions of the future, Max and Lila are faced with a life-altering decision: jeopardize their aspirations or risk losing love.


Once I started reading this book, I didn't stop until I was finished. It was such a fun read! Lila Mae has lived in Louisiana her entire life and has no plans to leave. She's a high school history teacher who is dedicated to her students and she feels the need to live close to her mother. Max lived in Louisiana for a few years when he was a teenager and made it clear that he wanted out of there. Well, Max is back and the sparks fly between them, but is he ready to settle down or is he is just passing through?

I loved Max and Lila's story! They worked well together and balanced each other out. Their relationship and romance was fun to read and I laughed quite a bit. There were obstacles for them to overcome which made things more interesting.

There were some great side characters in this book as well, like Lila's mother and Kiana, one of Lila's students. It was fun to read an LDS romance set in Louisiana and it was definitely full of southern charm. This is a great book for anyone that enjoys clean, contemporary romance!


Melanie Bennett Jacobson is an avid reader, amateur cook, and champion shopper. She consumes astonishing amounts of chocolate, chick flicks, and romance novels. After meeting her husband online, she is now living happily married in Southern California with her growing family and a series of doomed houseplants. Melanie is a former English teacher and a popular speaker who loves to laugh and make others laugh. In her down time (ha!), she writes romantic comedies for Covenant and maintains her humorous slice-of-life blog.


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Tour Schedule: 

Blog Tour/Spotlight: Web of Deceit by Catherine Lanigan


On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Web of Deceit
by Catherine Lanigan
Adult Historical Romance
ebook, 462 pages
June 4th 2016 by Cat Nolan Publishing

A Passion she could not deny—A lie she could never escape—

From the depths of a London slum, Amanda Granger created an illusion of wealth and breeding that became her passport into New York society. With her dazzling beauty and the ease with which she lived her lie, Amanda captivated an adoring public and drove men to bold and dangerous passions.

But for all her fierce ambition, all her daring dreams, Amanda Granger knew that her heart’s desires were held together by the fragile threads of deception and secrets. Triumph would always be elusive until she escaped from her web of deceit.

Excerpt:

CHAPTER ONE, PART IV

“I’ve had a dreadful night. Now I’m to have a dreadful day.”

“What are you talking about?” Amanda asked as she opened the thick lace draperies and let the morning sun wash the room in a pink-gold glow. “You should be happy. It’s your debut, all your friends will be there, you’ll get to wear your beautiful new gown. What could be better?”

Eloise picked up the mirror and again did not comment on the box Amanda had brought.

“I’m supposed to be in my prime. How will I find a husband, a proper husband, if it hasn’t happened yet?”

“It?” Amanda asked coming over to look into the mirror with Eloise.

“Beauty, womanhood, whatever it is. I don’t understand. I’ve waited all this time. I have my father’s blond hair and blue eyes, my mother’s alabaster skin, and my grandmother’s aristocratic nose. Somehow, it’s not put together correctly.”

“What a terrible thing to say of yourself. Why, you’re everything a real English lady should be!”

“You think so?”

Amanda nodded firmly. “You just need more confidence.” She handed her the box. Eloise pulled out the ribbons.

“They’re supposed to be pink! Pink, Amanda!” Eloise tossed the covers aside, nearly knocking the teapot over. Where once she’d been friendly and intimate with Amanda, now she turned on her. It was a scene that had been occurring more and more frequently over the past year.

Amanda quickly grabbed the hairbrush from the vanity table, took Eloise’s arm, and pushed her—gently-----to the stool. Amanda brushed Eloise’s long, thick, wavy hair to one side. She laced a piece of ribbon around a hank of hair, wove and twisted it until she’d created a masterpiece.

“Blue, Eloise. Never pink,” was all she said.

Eloise stared at her reflection. The two tiny blue plates that looked back at her, out of a face seemingly devoid of bone structure, brightened and gleamed.

Amanda took the gloves and pushed them onto Eloise’s hands.

“Every time you lift your hand to your face—the color of your eyes intensifies.”

Eloise tried it. It was true. Her colorless skin blushed pink as the blue shadow of the glove passed over her cheek, played with a tendril of hair, patted her lip.



Catherine Lanigan is the international bestselling and award-winning author of forty published titles in both fiction and non-fiction, including the novelizations of Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile, as well as over half a dozen anthologies, including “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living your Dream”, “Chicken Soup for the Writer’s Soul”, and more. Ms. Lanigan’s novels have been translated into dozens of languages including German, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Chinese, and Japanese. Ms. Lanigan’s novels are also available in E-books on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com, Apple Store, Mobi and Kobo. Several of her titles have been chosen for The Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Clubs. Her Vietnam war-based novel, The Christmas Star, won the Gold Medal Award Top Pick from Romantic Times Magazine and has also won Book of the Year Romance Gold Award from ForeWord Magazine as well as Book of the Year Romance from Reader’s Preference.

Lanigan is the author of a trilogy of non- fiction books regarding angelic intervention in human life: Angel Watch, Divine Nudges and Angel Tales published by HCI and Cedar Fort.

Skyhorse published Lanigan’s “how-to” book on writing: Writing the Great American Romance Novel.

Lanigan was tasked by the NotMYkid Foundation to write a non-fiction book addressing teen addictions. Ms. Lanigan’s first Young Adult adventure novel, The Adventures of Lillie and Zane: The Golden Flute, was published by Cedar Fort.

Currently, she has published six novels in the Shores of Indian Lake series for Harlequin Heartwarming: Love Shadows, Heart’s Desire, A Fine Year for Love, Katia’s Promise and Fear of Falling. Sophie’s Path pubs July, 2016. She has recently contracted for three more in the series: Danger Zone, Wedding for Isabelle and A Bride for Mica.

As a cancer survivor, Ms. Lanigan is a frequent speaker at literary functions and book conventions as well as inspiring audiences with her real stories of angelic intervention from her Angel Tales series of books. She is an outspoken advocate for domestic violence and abuse and was honored by The National Domestic Violence Hotline in Washington, D.C. (THE EVOLVING WOMAN). She has been a guest on numerous radio programs including “Coast to Coast” and on television interview and talk show programs as well as blogs, podcasts and online radio interview programs.


Tour Schedule

September 6th: Launch
September 7th: Falling Leaves
September 8th: Bloomfield of thoughts
September 9th: underneath the covers
September 11th: Rockin' Book Reviews
September 12th: Nicole's Book Musings
September 14th: Mel's Shelves
September 15th: Wishful Endings
September 16th: Becky on Books
September 18th: Colorimetry
September 20th: Thoughts of a Blonde
September 19th: My Devotional Thoughts
September 21th: EskieMama Reads
September 22nd: Book Lover in Florida
September 25th: Harlie's Books
September 26th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

$50 Amazon eGift Card

Open internationally

Ends October 1st

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Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Book Review: The Lost and the Found by Cat Clarke


The Lost and the Found, by Cat Clarke
2016, 368p, Contemporary Suspense
My Rating=3 Stars
Source: Received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review



THE LOST
When six-year-old Laurel Logan was abducted, the only witness was her younger sister, Faith. Since then, Faith’s childhood has revolved around her sister’s disappearance—from her parents’ broken marriage and the constant media attention, to dealing with so-called friends who only ever want to talk about her missing sister.

THE FOUND
Now, thirteen years later, a young woman is found in the front yard of the Logans’ old house, disoriented and clutching the teddy bear Laurel was last seen with. Can her sister finally be back? Faith always dreamed of her sister coming home; she just never believed it would happen. But soon a disturbing series of events leaves Faith increasingly isolated from her family and paranoid about her sister’s motives. Before long, Faith begins to wonder if it’s the abduction that’s changed her sister, or if it’s something else. . . .


When Laurel Logan was six, she was abducted in front of her younger sister, Faith. Thirteen years later, she has returned home. This book is told from Faith's POV so we get a look at how she feels about everything that's happened. Her family dynamics have drastically changed, she's not sure about her feelings for her boyfriend, and now she needs to adjust to having her sister back after she was gone for 13 years.

This book started a little slow to me but once I got to a certain point, I had a hard time putting it down. It was suspenseful as certain things weren't adding up, but it wasn't too hard to figure out the plot twist. I was interested in the characters and how they each adjusted to Laurel's return. Child abduction is such a horrible crime which leaves lasting effects on more than just the victim.

I haven't read this type of book in a while and, because of the subject matter, it wasn't too surprising that there was some content. There's quite a bit of swearing, including multiple uses of the "f" word. There's also underage sex which is mostly referenced but there is a short, non-graphic scene as well. It was pretty long and I probably would have enjoyed it a little more if it had been shorter. Overall, it's an emotional read with an ending that will stick with you long after you turn the final page!


About the Author

Cat was born in Zambia and brought up in Edinburgh and Yorkshire, which has given her an accent that tends to confuse people.

Cat has written non-fiction books about exciting things like cowboys, sharks and pirates, and now writes YA novels. She lives in Edinburgh with a couple of cats, Jem and Scout, who spend their days plotting to spit up furballs at the most inconvenient times. She likes cheese A LOT, especially baked camembert.


Book Blast: The Emerald Key by Mark Frederickson and Melora Pineda


EMERALD KEY BOOK COVER

The Emerald Key by Mark Frederickson & Melora Pineda

Penny and Laci are headed for a mundane summer vacation until a mysterious journal unlocks a portal to another world and they find themselves face to face with a baby dragon. In an attempt to send their new acquisition back to its home, the girls, along with two neighborhood friends, get sucked through to a mythical world. In this land, they must battle foes seen and unseen, pushing them to both their physical and mental limits. If they fail to stop the powers they’ve unleashed, it could not only destroy this strange world, but also annihilate their own.

amazon

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Praise for The Emerald Key

“In The Emerald Key, authors Mark Frederickson and Melora Pineda take readers on a fast-paced journey sure to enthrall not only middle-grade readers but their parents, as well. Laci and Penny will appeal to anyone looking for strong, resourceful female characters and the side characters are well-developed and hilarious, too (my favorite might be Buzz!).”
- Author Julie Gardner

“If you like fantasy and want adventure, this book is for you! It is entertaining for adults as well as middle-grade students…Just when you think there's nothing new anyone could offer in a fantasy, these two authors prove you wrong. They have created a very believable new world fraught with danger and excitement at every turn. I couldn't put it down.”
- Dani B

“I love the vivid characters and the way you can picture all the action…I would recommend this book for any age and it is a book that grandparents can buy for their grand kids and know that it is an exciting story and a safe read.”
- Amazon Customer

“A real page turner, loved it. This book is funny and an adventure story for both young and old readers. I'm looking forward to the next book!”
- MJP

amazonbarnes and noble

Excerpt:

THE PIRATES

Hallvard was gallantly dueling the taller pirate, while Ethan and Buzz were hitting the short smelly one with a stick and throwing dirt into his face. Ethan hauled off with all his might and swatted the pirate in the head, knocking him down. The rotund pirate tried to get back up and grab his sword, but stumbled and fell just as Buzz hit him in the face with a giant dirt clod. Buzz grabbed the sword, but the weight of it caused him to fall over. Ethan took it away before Buzz hurt himself.

“It’s clear; let’s go,” Penny said to Verge and Laci. As they exited the woodshed, running for the top of the knoll, Penny motioned for Ethan and Buzz to follow. They sprinted up the hill, with the smelly pirate in pursuit.

Join the Blog Tour Coming October 10th!

Mark Frederickson

Mark was born and raised in Southern California. He graduated UC Santa Barbara with a degree in film and has worked in the film industry for years. He has written several screenplays and had a show optioned by MTV. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Rebecca and his daughter Sara. This is his first novel, and hopefully not his last.


Melora Pineda

After Melora graduated from the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, she worked in the television industry for several years before becoming a library volunteer at her daughters’ school. Her passion for both reading and entertainment inspired her to write. This is her first novel. She currently lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband, daughter, and a pet bunny and a fish. Oh…never mind, the fish died.




Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 10/3/16

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Monday, September 12, 2016

Book Review: King of the Friend Zone by Sheralyn Pratt


King of the Friend Zone, by Sheralyn Pratt
2016, 351p, Clean Contemporary Romance
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: Received a copy for an honest review



From the Power of the Matchmaker series:

Esme Taylor has an amazing fiancé, a lifelong best friend, and a problem.

The problem stems from the fact that her best friend is named Hunter and, well. . .he’s kind of (totally) hot. It’s hate at first sight when her fiancé, Jon, and Hunter meet. Jon’s convinced that Hunter is in love with Esme, and that Hunter must be out of the picture if their upcoming marriage is to succeed.

Esme thinks Jon is paranoid.

The truth is, Jon’s not that far off. Hunter is in love with his best friend and always has been. What Jon has wrong, however, is that Hunter never had any plans of ruining Esme’s happily ever after. Hunter wants what’s best for Esme, even if that’s not him.

When Jon pushes hard to end Esme and Hunter’s friendship, opposition comes from the most unlikely of places. It’s an eccentric lady with a cookie cart who suggests a different solution to Esme’s problem: Hunter and Esme should give each other a chance.

They’ve both thought of the possibility over the years—of course they have. But with a ring already on Esme’s finger and a heap of hurt feelings and broken trust in the mix, there hasn’t been a worse time to explore the depths of their feelings for each other.

Both Esme and Hunter think it’s time to move on and leave childhood crushes in the past. The question is: Can one woman and the taste of one cookie change their minds?


Since I've read other books by this author, I knew once I started, I would have a hard time putting it down. I loved everything about this book! Esme is newly engaged but her fiance, Jon, hasn't met her best friend, Hunter, yet. And when they do meet, it isn't pretty.

Jon seemed great until I got to know Hunter. Hunter is easy to fall in love with. He's charming, funny, and not afraid to cause some drama. Esme is also easy to like. She's caught in a difficult spot and did her best to be fair to everyone involved. As I got to know them better, it was easy to see how they were in the friend zone, but I was cheering for them to see the light before it was too late. I absolutely loved the matchmaker, Miss Pearl, and her cookie cart was fantastic! There are lots of other fun characters as well, and we get to see Grace and Ash from "The Kiss that Launched 1,000 Gifs."

This is definitely one of my favorites in the matchmaker series! Again, these can be read on their own, but they are all great stories that are worth reading. If you love clean, contemporary romance and are looking for a book that you can't put down, this one fits the bill!


SheralynAuthor Sheralyn Pratt

Some describe Sheralyn as a girl who's been around the block and worked at every shop. This isn't far from the truth. Writing is what she loves most, however. There's a magical power in stepping into new perspectives time and again, and seeing the world through different eyes. Few things increase empathy more than walking in another's shoes for 100,000 words or so. At least that seems to be the trend so far.

Some random things to know about Sheralyn:

* She's a wanderer (geographically)
* She can write a novel, but doesn't have the attention span for one page in a journal
* She vehemently disagrees with Stephen King's stance that authors should not watch TV
* She is pretty much incapable of sleeping before midnight


Friday, September 9, 2016

Blog Tour/Spotlight: Always You by Ruth Roberts



Always You by Ruth Roberts

After tragedy strikes, Diana Mathison finds herself back in her home town of Magnolia Falls, sharing custody of her baby sister with her step sister. Reeling from the death of their parents, the three sisters have to learn how to lean on each other and live life without their two pillars of strength. Diana is full of doubts in her ability to raise a little girl and run her father’s law firm. The last thing she needs is to have Zack Connelly back in her life. The last time she let him in she ended up hurt and broken hearted.

Zack has given up on true love. It’s not for him and it’s certainly not with Diana Mathison. He came back to Magnolia Falls to heal after losing his sweet wife and their unborn child at the hands of a drunk driver. Hannah never had a chance at the love and happiness she deserved, therefore neither should he. His life plan is to take care of his sister and niece for as long as they need him, and to be the best veterinarian the town has ever had. That’s enough for him…or is it?

amazon

Excerpt:

She leaned against the counter and began filling them out. “How much do I owe you?” She asked.

“Dinner,” he replied.

She looked up at him with a raised brow. “Excuse me?”

“You owe me the dinner you promised me ten years ago, with interest I’d say you owe me somewhere around one hundred dinners.” He put his elbows on the counter between them and leaned towards her, bringing their faces close together. “I’m free Friday if you want to start chipping away at that debt.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

She stood up straight and pushed the completed forms toward him. “That should do it.” She gathered up her purse and keys she had set on the counter. “I’ll thank you now for the puppy because at two in the morning when it has me up with its whining and howling, I will be anything but thankful. In fact, I will probably be cursing you.”

She smiled, but it didn’t quite have the same flash as before, and he felt a web of disappointment she hadn’t responded the way he wanted her to. But he wasn’t planning on giving up that easily. “You’re welcome. And if you need any help at two in the morning or just want the satisfaction of knowing I’m not getting any sleep either, call me.”

“I just might do that. See you around, Zack.”

“Sure thing,” he said as she walked through the door.

She stopped, turned around, and leaned against the door jam. A smile touched the corners of her lips. “Dinner’s at seven. Don’t be late.”

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Always You


Ruth RobertsAuthor Ruth Roberts

Romance novelist Ruth Roberts lives in the Big D, where city life abounds but the wide open spaces Texas is famous for are within easy reach. Her books transport readers to the glittering life of high-society, while making the characters normal, fun people we would all like to have as friends. She loves reading, writing and Gilmore Girls. She and her teenage daughter call themselves the real life Gilmore Girls. Her very own romantic hero of twenty years is her greatest inspiration and support.



$25 Blog Tour giveaway

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 9/30/16

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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