Posted in Anna Bloom, Notes

Ten reasons to LOVE ‘The Art Of Letting Go’ – Anna Bloom (+ Excerpt)

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Ten reasons to love The Art Of Letting Go

Anna Bloom’s debut novel – The Art Of Letting Go (the Uni Files, Year One) is released TODAY! YAAAY! I had the pleasure of reading this awesome book a few weeks ago…and it’s definitely 5 STAR material.

So I have put together ten reasons why you should buy The Art of Letting Go and why you should love it.

1) Ben Chambers. No further comment, jut Ben *sigh*

2) Lilah – Although you will want to kill her at times, she’s pretty damn cool!

3) Lilah and her drinking- you WILL buy wine in the bucket loads.

4) Ben’s cuteness – You will most definitely find that out!!

5) Tristan the arse – hes an arse but a nice arse 😉

6) How Lilah lives by Taylor Swift songs

7) Ben singing a Taylor Swift song.

8) Ben and Lilah together

9) BEN’S IN A BAND!!!

10) Ben singing this…..

And now here is the excerpt from Ben and Lilah’s first date: there may be a song involved….

6th October

12.45 a.m.

I have just managed to say a chaste goodbye to Ben at my door. By chaste I mean there was definitely kissing and fumbling but clothes remained intact and fastened. That’s chaste, right?

What a date!

Seriously, if that was a first date, then what would a second date be like, or a third? Or, I don’t know, what would forever be like, if I got to wake up with him every day?

I can’t think now. Need to sleep. Sleep good. Think tomorrow.

The Date

A date done Ben-style is unlike any I have ever known. It blows any other first date completely out of the water.

It’s a good thing I said yes. He made it sound spontaneous, but I think he must have gone to a lot of effort. Well, a lot of organising effort.

Ben navigates us through the public transport system, the whole time not telling me where we are going. We end up outside a pub that looks a little on the dodgy side, right in the heart of Borough Market. He walks calmly up to the door and pushes through, exuding an air of confidence that I could only ever dream of, while pulling me through the door after him, holding me close to his side.

The first thing I am surprised by is the sight of Meredith and Tristan, more so by Tristan, but it seems these two are a double act these days, so I choose to ignore it.

The second thing I am surprised by is the sight of the rest of his band mates all standing over in the corner with their instruments behind them. I have seen them in passing at Fez Club, but we never talk. I swing back around to Ben and find him watching me closely, gauging my reaction.

Wow!

“I told you, I am going to make you mine. Figure I can help you make up your mind,” he explains.

He is grinning like a Cheshire Cat, completely in his element and looking so incredibly hot it is taking every ounce of willpower not to jump him right now.

This is amazingly perfect. I love live music and now the sexy boy from next door is going to sing live—to me! It does not get any better than that. All thoughts of John, and where I should be, completely run from my mind. They do not just run, they leg it on a 100-meter sprint.

I jump up and plant my lips on his. He smiles and kisses me back. My hands are in his hair and I can feel my body start to melt inch by inch towards him when there is a sarcastic cough behind us. Tristan.

Wanker.

Ben makes a show of dragging over a stool into the centre of the room and placing me on it before walking over to the rest of the band who all greet him with bro-hugs, you know the kind that proclaim, “Yeah, we are guys, but we hug. So what?”

Ben slides out of his jacket and heads towards the microphone. My knees are practically jack-hammering up and down with anticipation as I stare at him. His blue check shirt is catching against the lights, and his hair is almost jet black in contrast.

“So anyway, this is a date of sorts,” he speaks into the microphone.

His voice sounds so outrageously sexy that it’s a sheer miracle my knickers don’t just explode right there and then.

Ping.

He gives me a nod, which I return, beaming like a bloody idiot.

“This is for Delilah,” he announces and laughs into the microphone as he starts to pick out the notes to “Hey There, Delilah.”

No, he really is going to play it. Funny-funny!

I can feel Meredith and Tristan pull up chairs alongside me but I don’t take my eyes off Ben as the band start to play.

Forty-five minutes later, after playing a completely off-the-cuff acoustic set, Ben tells the bemused crowd at the pub that he needs to have a break to snog the sexy brunette sitting in the middle. I duck my head down to avoid the stares as the whole place breaks out into cheers and clapping. He strides towards me and I jump out of my seat like a thirteen-year-old at her first concert. I wrap my arms around his neck and place my lips against his. He is hot and sweaty, but if anything, that makes him even sexier.

Damn that man!

The rest of the pub all start to cheer or maybe jeer, but I just keep my eyes closed and ignore the jibes and calls.

This may possibly be the single best date ever.

Taylor is singing “Fearless” in my head. I am feeling pretty fearless.

Nothing can ruin this. Well, nothing apart from a girl dressed only in a scarf.

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Letting-Uni-Files-ebook/dp/B00FEX0OB8/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380092920&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=the+art+of+letting+go+annabloom

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Letting-Files-ebook/dp/B00FEX0OB8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380092946&sr=8-1&keywords=the+art+of+letting+go+anna+bloom

Posted in Cover Reveal

COVER REVEAL: One To Hold – Tia Louise

Don’t miss this sizzling debut, coming Oct. 9!

Add it on Goodreads Today!
Cover Design by Regina Wamba of MaeIDesign.com

“A sexy read with just the right amount of drama. Louise’s characters pulled me in and didn’t let go.” –Kate Roth, author of The Low Notes

One to Hold
by Tia Louise

***WARNING: Mature themes, strong language and sexual content. Recommended for adult readers (18+) only!***

Derek Alexander is an ex-Marine, ex-cop, and the top investigator in his field. Melissa Jones is a small-town girl trying to escape her troubled past.

When the two intersect in a bar in Arizona, their sexual chemistry is off the charts. But what is revealed during their “one week stand” only complicates matters.

Because she’ll do everything in her power to get away from the past, but he’ll do everything he can to hold her.

Note: Standalone, M/F, HEA.

* * *

Exclusive excerpt:

He was lying back on the cushions in only his grey slacks. The button-down he wore was open, and I could see every line on his sculpted torso. That little smile was on his lips as he watched me approach. 

I ran my fingers along his stomach, gazing into his eyes that darkened as I touched him. His kiss, the same one he gave me beside the fire pit, was gentle but hungry. 

Our pace grew faster as we kissed each other again and again, tongues entwining, heat growing between my legs, until he pulled me under him. 

My breathing was fast, my whole body tense with anticipation, so wet, so ready for his awesome fullness. I felt his tip pressing against my folds as a thought drifted through my mind. We’d never done it in a bed…

* * *

Tia Louise is a former journalist now writing sexy novels for sexy adults. All of her stories are inspired by real heroes. Have a truffle, darling. Say yes~

Follow Louise on Facebook (link) or Twitter (link) for teasers and exclusive excerpts.

Posted in Cover Reveal

COVER REVEAL: Playing With Her Heart – Lauren Blakely

PWHH iBooksTITLE: Playing With Her Heart
AUTHOR: Lauren Blakely
GENRE: New Adult
RELEASE DATE: August 20, 2013

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Synopsis

When you’re acting the role of a lifetime, how can you know if love is real—or all just a part of the show?

Twenty-three year old rising theatre star Jill McCormick has built a life out of pretending. Pretending she’s happy, pretending her long-distance crushes add up to something real, pretending she’s not haunted by the dark secret that shattered her world six years ago. Cast in her first Broadway show, she desperately needs to keep her façade intact, but that’s before she comes face to face with her devastating new boss…

Hot-shot director Davis Milo knows the first rule of directing: never fall for your leading lady. Captivated by Jill’s raw talent, he fights his feelings, but watching Jill on-stage with another man is more than his jealous streak can take. Keeping things professional isn’t an option. He wants all of her.

Soon the ingénue and her director are staying late in the empty theatre, their private rehearsals spiraling into new, forbidden territory. Caught up between fiction and reality, Jill struggles to find the truth in all their staged kisses. But how can she be sure that what she feels is real, and not a part of the play? And when two people spend their lives pretending, what happens after the final curtain falls?

EXCERPT:

He glances down at the black pumps. “Nice shoes.”
As I follow his eyes, I realize my hand is on his shirt, my fingers fisted around the cloth, clutching it. I should let go. But I don’t.
Because I can’t help but notice he has that clean and freshly showered smell that makes any woman want to lean in and lick a guy’s neck. Close her eyes. Inhale, and trail a tongue all the way to his earlobe, enjoying the sound of a low groan.

“Nice shirt,” I say softly, running my index finger across one smooth button. Then I look up to find him staring down at me. His dark blue eyes aren’t cold anymore. They’re not keeping me at bay. Instead, they’re heated, searching mine.

It’s hypnotic the way he looks at me. Completely hypnotic, as the room goes quiet, the air between us charged. I press my teeth against my lips, and I think, but I’m not entirely sure, because thought has vanished, that I nod briefly, almost as if I’m giving him permission. Then he bends towards me, and my breath catches. Before I even process rationally what’s happening, his lips are on mine, and my pulse is racing.

It’s a barely there kiss, just him brushing his soft lips against mine, but I want more. So I pull him closer and deepen the kiss. He groans, and then suddenly his hands are in my hair, and he’s twining his fingers through my long, blond strands, and tugging me close. I thought I was leading this kiss, but I’m not anymore, because he’s claiming me, tracing his tongue across my top lip, then nipping at the bottom lip, then kissing me so deeply and with so much heat that I shudder. That only makes him kiss me harder, and everything else falls away because this is a kiss I can feel in every single cell in my body.

Deep, and fevered and possessive.
It makes me feel things I’m not supposed to want.

My heart pounds wildly as he presses closer, so dangerously near to me that I want him to slam me against him. Let him touch me all over. His lips own me, his hands want to know me, and I swear I might combust from this kind of electric contact. He breaks the kiss and I’m not honestly sure where I am anymore. Or who I am. I look at him, at Davis, but everything is so hazy right now, that I don’t know what to say. I don’t think he does either, because he doesn’t speak for a moment. He shakes his head, and swallows, collecting himself. As if he doesn’t know how that happened either.

“I’m sorry,” he says, then steps back, pushing his hand roughly through his hair. He looks away from me, staring at some distant point on the wall. “That was a mistake,” he says quietly.

RAFFLECOPTER CODE:

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ABOUT LAUREN BLAKELY:

Lauren Blakely is an unabashed fan of clever jokes, toast, and good guys in novels. Like the heroine in CAUGHT UP IN US, she thinks life should be filled with movie kisses and coffee drinks. Lauren lives in California with her husband and children, and spends her days writing both true stories and make-believe ones.

Links:

Website: http://www.laurenblakely.com/

Blog: http://laurenblakelybooks.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenBlakelyBooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaurenBlakely3

PLAYING WITH HER HEART Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17452343-playing-with-her-heart

Lauren Blakely Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6860216.Lauren_Blakely

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Posted in Book Tours, Karli Perrin

BOOK TOUR: April Showers – Karli Perrin (AUTHOR + CHARACTER INTERVIEW)

Blog Tour Banner2YAAAAY! April Showers book tour begins today. SUPER EXCITED to share my review, author interview and my interview with my boyfriend, Isaac. I’ll also share what he looks like with you 😉

Before we get to the review, here are the links for April Showers:

Amazon UK
Amazon US

So without further ado, let’s start this partaaaaay.

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???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Synopsis

What happens when your head and your heart pull you in completely opposite directions?

April Adams is about to find out the hard way.

When April enrols at Manchester University, it feels like a whole new life. New city, new house, new friends…new crush.

Isaac Sharpe is the hottest guy on campus – with an even hotter reputation. After a chance meeting, April quickly finds herself wrapped up in all that he is. But what if all that he is isn’t what it seems?

Caught up in a battle between what she wants and what she thinks she needs, April meets Lukas Roberts. Lukas is the security blanket that she craves so desperately and she finds solace in their friendship. But what happens when she finds more than she bargained for?

April has always been a big believer of fate, but will she learn that she’s in control of her own destiny before it’s too late?

Join April as she embarks on a life changing journey of love and loss, which will have you laughing and crying until the very end.

5 / 5 stars

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My Review

Before I start my review, I want to say a few things regarding my rating of April Showers. Firstly I want to say that I was completely impartial when reading this book. I read it without being bias and I am reviewing it like I would with any books that I read/given an ARC too. With honesty.

Just because Karli is my twinnie doesn’t mean that she has been given special treatment and I haven’t based my stars on her, it is on her book, her writing, and the emotions that I experienced throughout the book. So before I have people telling me I am bias, I let go of the fact that I know Karli and read it like any other book.

Secondly, I have dibs on Isaac from the start / when I first ‘met’ Karli and she shared him with me, so back off girlies, he is mine! Hahah.

And lastly, I love my twinnie. I am so proud of her and the acknowledgment made me cry. It was the sweetest thing ever.

Now that is all out of the way, let’s get on with the review of April Showers.

When April Adams enrolled in Manchester University, never in a million years did she think her life would end up the way it did. On the first day, she quite literally runs into the hottest guy on campus – Isaac Sharpe. That chance meeting is now all she can think about. But what happens when she finds out exactly who Isaac is? Her heart just broke.

Lukas Roberts is the first friend April meets on her course. He quickly becomes her best friend, her security blanket, the one she can rely on. But what happens when all is not what it seems?

April is caught up in a battle between her head and her heart. What she wants and what she doesn’t want, or more importantly, to her, can’t have.

But what is April going to do? A big believer in fate, will everything fall into place at the right time for her or will it be too late?

For a debut novel, Karli Perrin has included everything in her book. Humor, swooning, frustration, tears, sarcasm, heartbreak, love, pain, laughter and an amazingly awesome best friend that everyone will fall in love with as well as two hot guys you will love too…but remember, Isaac is mine. Don’t worry; I’ll keep reminding you throughout this review.

It is simply the perfect first novel to share with the world. Karli has obviously put a lot of time and effort into making it the book she is proud of and a book which we can all become engrossed with. I know I sure did. I became crazy public transport lady with all my crazy ass smiling and giggling at my phone (I used the kindle app to read it).

There is something in the book for everyone. Ms. Perrin’s writing style is one that I simply loved. The writing flowed, the plot flowed, she makes you care about the characters and before you know it, you have devoured the book and are at the final page, with tears in your eyes, shouting at your kindle/Phone and begging it not to end there. Begging Karli to write book two as soon as possible so we can find out what happens.

As I’ve mentioned, April Adams is starting her first year at Manchester University. Already running late on her first day, she literally runs into something hard. That something turns out to be Isaac Sharpe. The hottest guy around. It’s basically love at first sight, but what comes after that is a series of events and heartbreak that she just can’t deal with at the moment. Her head and heart are both saying to different things but Isaac will never give up on her.

That very same day she meets Lukas Roberts. He’s in the class she is late for and they strike up a friendship. He’s her security blanket for all the anguish and dilemmas she is going through even if she doesn’t share them. But all is not what it seems with him either and when April is told his secrets, can she forgive him or is that the end for their friendship?

April has a decision to make. A ‘can’t or won’t’ will not suffice this time around.

I’m going to start with my boyfriend. YES, my boyfriend Isaac. (Told you I’d remind you). He is the epitome of a hunkalicious man. A man that I think everyone would love to run into and have him pick you up! He’s adorable, sexy, and sarcastic and I would give anything to banter with him….and I have done! Wait for the interview!!

He’s passionate and outspoken and loveable and sexy (yes, twice sexy) and fiery and will fight for April despite the…..No, that’s a spoiler, I can’t reveal that. You’ll have to read it to find out exactly who he is…and I suppose most of you wouldn’t care either 😉 It would be so HOT. But anyway, my heart broke for him when we find out about him…vague, I know. But I love him. I.LOVE.HIMMMMM.

You see his sensitive side too; a side of pain as well as we find out about his past. And dear god, it will make you cry and want to comfort him and be so proud of him at the same time. He’s done a great job in preserving a memory of his younger years.

He says things like this too, which would make your panties drop in an instant:-

“Your lipstick is driving me fucking crazy”
“If you were mine, you would never have to share”
“Embarrassing? I’m not embarrassed. I’m scared. Scared that you don’t want anything to do with me”
“I love hearing you say my name”
‘He took my hand and held it against his chest, “Feel that? It beats for you.”’
“You’re keeping those heels on”

Okay, I need to stop or this review will just turn into quotes from Isaac. But you get why I love him?!
Isaac also has tattoos, and you alllllll know that I am partial to some tattoos 😉

Now onto the girl of the book, April Adams. I really liked April. Shes also sarcastic and the comebacks and banter she has with both Lukas and Isaac had me in stitches. Shes a girl after my own heart and she can definitely hold her own. She’s honest, probably not with her heart though, and at times she broke my heart over the pain of what was going on. I wanted to shake her and tell her to just go for it (Soooo can’t say what for though, complete spoiler for the book) but I wanted her to say ‘Fuck it’.

I could understand her reservations about it, why she couldn’t because in some ways I would be thinking the same, but then the chemistry between her and Isaac is amazing. It sizzles and pops. You can truly see how much they should be together. Every time they look at one another it’s like BOOM!

Here are just a few of my favs that she says:-

“I want you to take me home…but I’ll be okay”
“I was never going to be able to look at a tree in the same way again.”
“If you come a little closer, I’ll be able to see right up your kilt.”

Despite everything that happens to April, she does get a happy ending….even if you will cry your eyes out at what happens next. We shall have to see if it lasts in book two.

Now Lukas Roberts. Lukas, Lukas Lukas. Scottish Lukas. Hes a difficult one. He was an absolute gem to April, always there for her, their banter was hilarious, and they just gelled from the first moment they met and it was great to see such a strong friendship between them. He truly was the one she turned to and her security blanket when everything goes tits up. But then I’m conflicted over him. I don’t know whether I should like him or dislike him after he confesses something to April.

He had me with tears in my eyes on the train (thank god for sunglasses), gasping at my phone and I got really angry and started ranting to Karli about him. Okay, so in some ways you can see why he didn’t tell April that secret, he wanted people to see him for him, but then wouldn’t you tell April if you’re her best friend? I still don’t know whether to like him or not. We’ll have to see in the next book. See if he really does redeem himself….

Because of my dirty mind, this one quote from him sticks out to me:

“You know…whips, chains, handcuffs. Like I said, the essentials.”

EEEEEE now onto the best friend eveeeer. Katie. Oh smokes, she is freaking amazeballs. I can see parts of myself in her, and I was sat there going “oh hell yes I would say this.” She is hilarious. She comes out with some great lines that will have you spitting your drink out but she always has the best advice. She’s just obviously based on me hahahah.

She’s an amazing friend to April, always there when she needs someone to talk to. She makes her see sense, even if April doesn’t take it on board straight away or shrugs it off and she helps her along with the thing or lack of, that is happening with Isaac.

She’s also a bantersaurous rex and can definitely hold her own. Shes fiery and can bite your head off in an instant as well as dropping you down a peg or too. Someone you definitely need in your life. Her and April really are two peas in a pod. I can’t wait to see more of her in book two.

Now onto Katie’s quotes:-

“At least sleep with him before you get rid.”
All I want is to be a MILF, is that too much to ask for?”
“It’s like I’m the guy in the relationship.”
“Well if you’re not going to sleep with him, can I have him?”
“There’s nothing better than watching a dick get turned down…Literally”
“You said he was hot. You didn’t tell me he was smoking hot, I bet you could cook food on his abs.”

I’ll stop there, as with Isaac, I could just write a review full of quotes.

Now this is the point where I normally tell you my favourite scene, but I really can’t because it would spoil it for you. I know, I know, bad times but let’s say it involves the rain and a certain licking of a certain area on a certain someone’s body. This was so written for me…no Joking, it really was. Enjoy my scene when you get to it. I demanded Karli write it in hahah.

Right, so this is now 4 pages long. I think I should probably stop here. You probably have given up reading this too because I tend to babble on but thank you if you haven’t and have gotten to this stage. I’ll give you some chocolate. But not Isaac. He’s here with me now, so sorry people.

I will reiterate how much I loved April Showers. It’s a bloody awesome read and ya’ll should get your copies TODAY! YES, it’s out TODAY! So what the frigg are you still doing here? Go click on the link and get your copy right now, and begin it right now and see exactly why Isaac is my boyfriend and Katie is my best friend and I love April and why book two needs to be written now. Go Go GOOOOOO!

Throughout the day, I will be posting my Author Interview and Isaac’s interview. They are quite long so it’s only fair to post them separately 😉 Keep you coming back for more.

Posted in New Adult, Promotional Events

***1000 FOLLOWERS GIVEAWAY***

So those of you who follow me on Twitter will see that I said when I reached 1000 followers, I would do a giveaway.

And guess what? I hit 1000 followers last week.

Thanks so much for your support. I never in a million years thought I would have such loyal followers and make awesome friends, so this is your thanks, from me to you 🙂

The lovely Emma Hart has given me ONE ecopy of The Love Game (If you haven’t read this, where in the hell have you been!!) and my twinnie Karli  Perrin has given me ONE ecopy of April Showers. (I know how excited you all are for the release of this book)

It’s open internationally.

Just click on the Rafflecopter link if you want to be entered to win a copy of these books 🙂

 

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Posted in Romance, YA

NEW RELEASE: Suddenly Royal – Nichole Chase

So Suddenly Royal has been released early! If you don’t know what it is about then look know further…

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Samantha Rousseau is used to getting her hands dirty. Working toward a master’s degree in wildlife biology while helping take care of her sick father, she has no time for celebrity gossip, designer clothes, or lazy vacations. So when a duchess from the small country of Lilaria invites her to dinner, Samantha assumes it’s to discuss a donation for the program. The truth will change the course of her life in ways she never dreamed.

Alex D’Lynsal is trying to keep his name clean. As crown prince of Lilaria, he’s had his share of scandalous headlines, but the latest pictures have sent him packing to America and forced him to swear off women—especially women in the public eye. That is, until he meets Samantha Rousseau. She’s stubborn, feisty, and incredibly sexy. Not to mention heiress to an estate in his country, which makes her everyone’s front-page news.

While Sam tries to navigate the new world of politics and wealth, she will also have to dodge her growing feelings for Alex. Giving in to them means more than just falling in love; it would mean accepting the weight of an entire country on her shoulders.

Author Bio:

Nichole Chase is a daydreamer. No, really, just ask any of the math teachers that had the misfortune of seeing her name appear on their class schedule.
For years she has had story lines and characters begging for attention, but she resolutely pushed them aside to focus on more normal (read, boring) jobs.
Well, no longer! She is currently heeding the voices in her head and frantically writing their stories. Ms. Chase is the author of the Dark Betrayal Trilogy, Flukes, and Suddenly Royal (including several short stories).
Nichole resides in South Georgia with her husband, energetic daughter, dog, tortoise, and two cats. When not devouring novels by the dozens, you may find her writing, painting, crafting, or chasing her daughter around the house while making monster noises.

Links:

Website: www.nicholechase.com
Blog: http://www.nicholechase.BlogSpot.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/NicholeChase
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/author.nicholechase
Suddenly Royal Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16143323-suddenly-royal
Goodreads Author: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5074162.Nichole_Chase
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/nicholechase/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Suddenly-Royal-ebook/dp/B00CG5WYZ6/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366514038&sr=1-5
BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/suddenly-royal-nichole-chase/1114988788?ean=9781483953298
Books a Million:
http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Suddenly-Royal/Nichole-Chase/9781483953298?id=5656484998337
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/306775

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