review ~ fated dreams (the affinity #1) by christina smith

Title: Fated Dreams (The Affinity #1)
Author: Christina Smith
Pages 339
Published: March 1, 2012
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal
My Copy: Kindle edition for review
Average Rating: 4.03 / 5.00
My Rating: 4.00 / 5.00

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Goodreads Synopsis

Do you believe in true love? Sarah Samson didn’t until she met hers. But for Sarah, meeting the guy of her dreams came with a price. On the outside Sarah looks like she has it all, friends, a loving family, and a hobby she's really good at. But if you look closer, Sarah's keeping secrets, from everyone in her life, even... Lucas. A boy she hardly knows, but still feels a connection with.

Life would be perfect, if it wasn't for the constant feeling that someone is following her. She feels a presence everywhere she goes, work, home, even...in her dreams.

She suddenly finds herself wrapped up in a dangerous mystery that started eighty years ago involving two tragic deaths. After several attempts on her life, she and Lucas realize they must solve it before history repeats itself.

My Thoughts

I signed up to review this book through the group We Love YA Books at Goodreads.

I really loved this story of Sarah and Lucas. At first they're adversaries with Lucas being anti-social and a jerk for no apparent reason to Sarah. Sarah on the other hand has two close friends and is a friendly person. Lucas soon thaws out, and they begin dating immediately.

I did think their relationship happened too quickly--there wasn't a slow build up but rather they instantly fell in love. It must have been due to the dreams they had about each other. I was surprised how much time they began spending together, which was just about every single day. I wondered why their parents weren't worried about them becoming so serious so quickly.

I really loved Sarah's parents. Her dad was nervous when she began seeing Lucas as most dads are when their daughters begin to date, and he reminded me a lot of how my dad reacted when I first began dating in high school. There were so many parts that had me laughing--not all of the book was serious. I liked how generally relaxed her parents were and how much interest they have in their kids' lives, although Sarah's brother wasn't usually around much. I was just really endeared to Sarah's mom and dad.

The fact that Sarah and Lucas were having the same dreams was so eerie and mysterious. I hated having to ever put this book down! I looked forward to when I'd have time to start reading it again--the mystery growing around Sarah and Lucas kept me turning the pages. Immersing myself into the story was so easy and so interesting. I read every time I had a chance.

Whenever I thought I knew what was going to happen next, the story would take off in a new direction, leaving me guessing right up until the very end. This book is more than just a simple mystery--the story will appeal to readers of many different genres. I definitely enjoyed this book and will recommend it to others!

Buy the book:  Amazon   Smashwords   Barnes & Noble


About the Author (from Goodreads)

I grew up in Kingston Ontario, Canada, and after getting married, moved to a small rural town in the country. I live here with my husband Brad, two kids Josh and Megan, and our dog Bailey. Even though our house is peaceful, surrounded by nature and the occasional deer, I'm still a city girl at heart. I miss civilization, and visits with my mother and two sisters.

My Young Adult Fantasy books include:

Fated Dreams # 1 in the Affinity series
Delusions # 2 in the Affinity series

Riley's Curse, A Moon's Glow, Prequel, Novella
Riley's Secret, A Moon's Glow Novel #1

My adult contemporary Romance Books include:

Finding Abigail

Find the Author:  Goodreads   Website   Twitter

Come back tomorrow when I'll be reviewing Delusions (The Affinity #2)! :D

Dissolution Blast + $10 Amazon Gift Card

Hey everyone! I was recently invited by fellow blogger Thinks Books  to help support Indi Martin's upcoming graphic novel, Dissolution. Think is organizing her first Blast for the Dissolution Kickstarter Launch on February 20, 2013. Let's help out Think and Indi Martin!! :D

Head on over to Thinks Books here and sign up. Everyone who signs up is entered to win a $10 Amazon gift card. You must enter your information into the Linky provided in the post. Invite your friends! Everyone you know! The more the merrier!

You don't have to review anything. Think will supply all information and materials needed. If you have any questions, you can contact her through her email provided on her blog or through Goodreads.

So do you wanna help out?? I am!! See you there! :D

review ~ black valentines: a love story by barrymore tebbs

Title: Black Valentines: A Love Story
Author: Barrymore Tebbs
# of Pages: 66
Published: March 5, 2012
Genre: Gothic, Romance, Horror
My Copy: Kindle edition purchased by me
Average Rating: 4.00 / 5.00
My Rating: 5.00 / 5.00

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Synopsis from Goodreads

A chance meeting with an old friend brings wounded war veteran Clive Dahl face to face with the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. Laura Balfour is kind and she is gentle, and most of all she judges him by his character, not his appearance. Laura is blind.

She also has a sister, and once he meets Lydia, nothing in Dahl’s life will ever be the same.

From a posh London drawing room to a dockside opium den to a fog enshrouded country estate, this shocking tale of obsessive love and depraved desires takes the reader on a mesmerizing journey into the very heart of darkness.

Black Valentines, a 20,000 word novella, is recommended for adults only. It is not for the faint of heart.

My Thoughts

This novella was written so well in the style from the 1800s that I felt like I was reading the work of an author who lived during that time period. I loved the heavy gothic atmosphere in which the story takes place. I didn't know what was going to happen with the characters, what they were going to do, where the story was going--and I couldn't stop until I found out. You'll never guess how this story ends--I'm still in shock. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by this author!

Purchase the novella:  Amazon 

About the Author (from Goodreads)

I am a writer of Gothic fiction, combining elements of horror, romance, and the psychological thriller.

My style draws as much from the films of Hammer Studios, Roger Corman's Poe Cycle, and the classic Universal Monster movies, as it does from modern Gothic writers from Shirley Jackson to the late, great Michael McDowell.

I am also a photographer and PhotoShop artist - I make my own book covers.

If you like stories set in old dark houses , with plenty of inclement weather and peopled with characters with deeply fractured psyches, you might enjoy one of my Gothic thrillers!

Find the Author:  Website  Facebook

review ~ fire in the blood by dale ibitz

Title: Fire in the Blood (Last Moon Rising #1)
Author: Dale Ibitz
# of Pages: 256
Published May 1, 2011
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
My Copy: PDF provided by the author for review
Average Rating: 3.95 / 5.00
My Rating: 3.50 / 5.00

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Goodreads Synopsis

Global warming is playing havoc on Earth, and when 17 year-old Haley tumbles to a parallel world, she discovers that Earth’s issues stem from a war between the Eyids, the gods of nature. Because her necklace is a stone that holds the power of the Air Eyid, Haley is called upon to stop the war

But Haley has a problem. Actually, two problems. One named Tuggin, and one named Ian.

Both lie to her. Both have secrets. And neither are who they say they are. With her stone of power, Haley’s forced to make a choice that will decide the fate of all the worlds. But who should she trust, who should she fight, and who is the one with fire in his blood bent on betraying them all?

My Thoughts

Haley is a typical junior in high school who finds out on her seventeenth birthday that she actually isn't so typical after all--there's more to who she is than she could have ever imagined. Falling through a portal, she ends up in another world.

I thought the idea behind the story was really creative--gods of the elements begin fighting, and this is what begins the global climate change on Earth, while the people on Earth are making it worse. This idea was what drew me to read this book in the first place, and I thought it was an original and interesting idea. The synopsis definitely made me want to find out more.

In the first half of the book, not a lot happens--mostly there's set up of the story, introduction of the characters, many mentions of events in the past before the book begins, but it was a slow buildup for me. From halfway through the book to the end, however, I was riveted. There was plenty of action and suspense to keep me hooked. If the first half of the book had been as exciting as the second half and not been so slow, I would have rated it higher.

Haley is spunky and tough, and I really liked her. She was the only character I felt I really got to know. There weren't many characters that I connected with--there isn't much background given for any of them, and I would have liked to know more about each of them, especially Tuggin, the other main character. I want to know more about him and what makes him tick.  I did like how I was kept in suspense along with Haley--who should she trust? Who is lying to her? Who is telling the truth? This could be why the characters weren't more fleshed out--if they had been, it might have killed the suspense.

So much information was introduced in this book that it was difficult for me to keep up with all of the names for the different places and characters and had to keep looking back for reference. There are a few things I'm still confused about, for instance, why the gods began fighting and what happened to the stones. I'm hoping for some answers in the next book. I was happy with the way this book ends and suprised by the way it ends. It sets up perfectly for the next book in the series.

Buy the Book:  Amazon   Smashwords   Barnes & Noble  

About the Author:

Dale Ibitz was born in Oxford, Connecticut, grew up in the state of Washington, and then re-located back to Connecticut as an adult. Always a lover of books, she spent much of her childhood reading, visiting the library (her best friend’s mother was a librarian…how convenient), and writing. She majored in English at Central Connecticut State University, and while Dale holds a full-time day job where she’s immersed in the dry life of writing contracts, she’s been writing young adult fantasy and mid-grade contemporary for seventeen years (on the side, of course).

Dale’s a fan of hiking and the outdoors, seriously good writing, and she never, ever starts the day without chocolate and coffee (preferably together). Music inspires her, and she likes to listen to alternative metal. When she listens to lyrics, she finds herself imagining stories behind the words…it’s a great writing exercise.

Dale is, by nature, a klutz and has years of funny tidbits of real-life comical events which she (ahem) constantly seems to stumble in to. These tidbits have a habit of finding their way on to the pages of the books she writes, injecting a little humor to her writing.

If you were to visit Dale’s house, you'd meet her husband, 2 kids, their dog Lea (most people simply refer to her as The Beast...and for good reason), their kitten Luna (affectionately known as Loony Luna), a gaggle of ducks, and a flock of hens ruled by a tyrannical rooster they call The Stump, or Stumpy. How he got his name is a long story...maybe she’ll tell you sometime.

Find the Author:  Goodreads   Website  

review ~ breed of innocence by lanie jordan

Title: Breed of Innocence (The Breed Chronicles #1)
Author: Lanie Jordan
# of Pages: 286
Published: July 4, 2012
Genre: Young Adult, Demons, Fantasy, Paranormal
My Copy: Kindle edition from the author for review
Average Rating: 4.32 / 5.00
My Rating: 5.00 / 5.00

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Goodreads Synopsis

Six hours ago, men in dark suits and sunglasses came looking for me.
Four hours ago, they offered me training to hunt the things that killed my family: demons.
Two hours ago, I joined their secret organization—the CGE.
Now… All I have to do is survive demon-hunting school.

The classes won’t kill me, but the finals might.

My Thoughts

At the age of sixteen, Jade Hall is offered an education along with a job as a demon slayer by a mysterious organization called the CGE (Consortium of Genetic Engineering). She's had a rough life being shipped from foster home to foster home after losing her family to tragedy, and so without any real stability in her life it's difficult for her to trust anyone.  It was refreshing to see a character in a YA novel who has been in the foster care system--young adults reading this book who live in foster homes or group homes can relate to Jade's background.

I found myself drawn to Jade right away--there are so many positive qualities about her such as her sense of humor, courage, and strength. Jade is determined to hunt down and kill the demon who killed her family, but she isn't reckless about it either. She knows it's important to learn how to hunt and kill before she starts her search for revenge. I'm all about demons--they scare the hell out of me, and there were plenty of tense, scary moments!

I loved the relationship between Jade and Linc and the way it developed over time. The dynamic between them was different and unique. Their banter was so clever, made me laugh, and just fit situations so perfectly! I found myself chuckling loudly more than once. They're easygoing together, and best of all, they're equals; Jade isn't a girl who needs a guy to save her--she's tough all on her own.

Felecia is the kind of character I love to hate. Felecia acts like she's tough and is a bully, but when it really comes down to it, she's a coward. Like a lot of other girls Jade has encountered in the various foster homes she lived in, Felecia does her best to provoke and bully Jade out of jealousy. There really was no other reason for Felecia to have such a vendetta against her, and this actually is a realistic situation among teenage girls unfortunately.

The young adults chosen by the CGE all have a rare genetic anomaly that the CGE wants to study, but can the organization be trusted? Are their intentions pure, or is there something more sinister going on? I went back and forth with this--I couldn't decide if they want to help Jade and the others, or if they just want to use them to further their own agenda, whatever that may be. I tend to distrust large organizations that make a high profit, and it just seemed to me something insidious going on. Isn't there usually some sort of underlying evil in every organization in fiction? This could turn out to be the exception or maybe not.

I absolutely loved this book! It was so awesome in every way! There isn't anything about this book that I didn't like. I was captivated, enthralled, and I want more of this story and the characters.

Purchase the Book: Amazon     Barnes & Noble    Smashwords  

About the Author (From Goodreads) :

Lanie Jordan writes stories. Sometimes her characters drive her crazy, but then she gets her revenge by making their lives more difficult. Fictional payback is fun.

She loves reading, writing, watching TV, and listening to the same songs for months on end. The WWE is a not-so-secret secret obsession of hers, and she vows to one day write a story about wrestlers, just so she can claim watching it is for research.

Dean Winchester from Supernatural is one of her all-time favorite characters. Her friends would probably tell you she’s obsessed with all things Dean/Supernatural; she’s not, really. She just loves them a little. Okay, so it might be a tad more than a little, but if anyone ever finds out she’ll claim it was a blatant lie and that aliens wrote her bio.

And while she’s on the subject, she does believe in aliens and ghosts and things that go bump and boo in the night. You won’t find her admitting that she’s seen any of those things, of course, cause let’s face it, who would believe her? But she writes about them. And demons and angels and weirdo people who do weirdo things.

Find the Author:

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4673842.Lanie_Jordan
Website http://www.laniejordan.com/
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Lanie_Jordan
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/lanie.jordan.94?fref=ts

The next book in the series is coming out soon!! I can't wait!!
Breed of Envy (The Breed Chronicles #2)
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IWSG #6 ~ February 2013

I think I missed last month's IWSG post, eep! Don't kick me out guys, lol. This group is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. I'm so happy to have been referred to this group by my friend and author, Michael Pierce. Thanks to both of you! I've met and made friends with many cool writers and have been able to share my feelings and worries about the process without fear of judgement.

I must admit that I haven't touched my NaNoWriMo novel since the end of November, but after watching the movie Young Adult starring Charlize Theron (which, by the way, is completely mislabeled as a comedy, lol) I've got the motivation to tackle Violet again. My two main concerns with this work are that by the time it's ready to be edited and published, zombie novels will have gone by the wayside, and I don't feel like I have direction--I'm kind of aimlessly wandering around.

There were days when my characters would show me a new side of themselves, or my plot took a completely different route than I had anticipated. Those days were awesome. Those days were when I felt like this whole writing thing is so easy and awesome and so right for me. Then I'd have those times where I barely could crank out 500 words, let alone my goal of 2,000 or 2,500 for the day. I know this happens to a lot of writers, and I empathize--it sucks!

I'm just going to forge ahead, and if it ends up being a novel that can't be published, then oh well. I had a blast writing it. :D

review ~ indomitable by j. meyers

  

 

Title: Indomitable (Intangible 0.75)
Author: J. Meyers
# of Pages: 50
Published: December 22, 2012
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal
My Copy: Kindle edition from the author
Average Rating: 4.34 / 5.00
My Rating: 5.00 / 5.00

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Goodreads Synopsis

Perhaps the most dangerous person to gain unimaginable power is the one who feels oppressed.

And full of wrath. For very good reason.

My Thoughts

I received a copy of this story from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This was a hard hitting, emotional punch in the gut kind of read. I've always been curious about Jonas's backstory and by taking a look into his past, I was given a lot of insight into his present actions and motivations. What he went through in his human life before becoming a vampire was shocking and knowing similar events happened in real life during that period of time in this country is difficult to read about let alone imagine. I couldn't help but shudder.

I can completely see how Jonas becomes the way he is now, and he's become even more likable to me. I've always had a soft spot for him. The action alternates between the past and present, and you can see how his past has affected him. There isn't much diversity in the YA genre, in my opinion, and so it's refreshing to have a major character such as Jonas of a race other than white--he's African American. He's intriguing, conflicted, and complex, and I just really love trying to figure him out. He's an enigma--there are so many layers to him just waiting to be peeled back...I love it!

This is an action-packed, fast paced story that gives us a look from Jonas's perspective and tides us readers over until the next novel comes out. I'm counting down the days in the meantime!! :)

Other books in the series:


"Intuition" (Intangible 0.5)
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Check out my review here

 Intangible (Intangible #1)
Add to Goodreads
Check out my review here






 Purchase Indomitable: Amazon    Barnes & Noble    Smashwords

About the Author

j. meyers grew up in Vermont, spent three years in Germany when she was a kid, and now lives in Central New York. When she's not reading or writing, she's chasing after her four kids, exploring the outdoors with her family, baking sweet treats, and forgetting to make dinner. Intangible is her first novel.

Find the Author:
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3224031.J_Meyers
Website http://www.jmeyersbooks.com/
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/jmeyersbooks

review ~ phoenix feather by angela wallace

Title: Phoenix Feather
Author: Angela Wallace
# of Pages: 242
Published: May 19, 2011
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy
My Copy: Kindle edition provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
Average Rating: 4.00 / 5.00
My Rating: 4.00 / 5.00

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Goodreads Synopsis

Aidan Quinn is not entirely human. Every hundred years, she bursts into flame and is reborn from the ashes. Now she’s a grad student in Seattle, weary of these repetitious life cycles and grieving a lost love.

An obsession is born. Detective Bryan McCain is trying to solve the serial murders of young women with red hair. When his brother, Trent, starts dating a potential victim, Bryan has to pour everything he has into catching the killer, without losing himself in the process.

Aidan’s heart has been broken many times, but she just might have a little left for dashing fireman Trent McCain. Little does she know, the killer is on the hunt for a phoenix, and he’s getting closer.

My Thoughts

I was so thrilled to read this book!! The synopsis made this a must read for me, and I love the concept of the story. Aidan is a phoenix--a mythological creature that lives, dies, and rises from the ashes to be reborn into a new life. She meets a firefighter named Trent, and after much hesitation on her part, they begin dating. It's difficult for her to get close to people when she knows she'll keep on living after they die. I found it interesting that a woman who bursts into flame then is reborn from the ashes has fallen for a firefighter. :)

The pace at which their relationship grew was perfect--it wasn't too fast nor was it too slow. They complemented one another, and it seemed like this was the most genuine relationship Aidan has had throughout her many lives. I cared about these characters and absolutely adored them together. And what a stand up guy Trent is! He's there for Aidan when she needs him most, even when he didn't know her that well. Phoebe and Chris are twins and Aidan's best friends. Trent is immediately accepted by Phoebe and Chris and fits right in with them. I really liked the dynamics between the four of them. Trent is definitely swoon worthy, and they all cared about each other so much, they were like their own little family.

Trent's brother, Bryan, who's a cop, begins investigating a string of murders where the victims are all red heads. The killer is searching for the phoenix. A few times in the book, you're inside the mind of the killer. I wanted to know a little more about him, not to the point where he would become a main character, just more behind his motivations and knowledge.

This book explores life and death, and I like books that have me thinking beyond the story itself. I think that though it would be tempting to experience historical events and not have to worry about death being permanent, there are too many cons for me.

As a phoenix, Aidan deals with loneliness and fear of becoming close to people because she knows she'll die and come back, but they won't be here any longer. She's had to watch so many of her loved ones die--that would be too high of a price to pay for me. No more coming back to start a new life--I couldn't take all the grief and continually starting over. I wouldn't want to become attached to people only to miss them when they die and have to come back without them.

This was a beautifully told story that really tugged on my heartstrings and will tug on yours, too. I loved these characters so much, I felt like they were my family as well. I'm left wanting more!

Purchase the Book:  Amazon   Barnes & Noble (not yet available on Barnes & Noble but will be soon)

About the Author:

Angela Wallace has been penning adventures ever since she was sucked through a magical portal as a child. What she saw and whom she met gave birth to exciting and complex fantasy worlds where defying the laws of physics was a bonus. She has since come back down to earth, only to discover this mortal realm has magic of its own. Now she is quite at home in the world of urban fantasy, though believes that love, faith, and hope are of a stronger magic than fire wielding and sorcery. She loves gun-toting good boys, and could have been a cop in another life except real blood makes her queasy. She’ll have to stick to solving supernatural mysteries. Language is her pleasure, whether it’s weaving words on a page or lassoing linguistics into translations as a sign language interpreter. Angela is currently working on the next book in her Elemental Magic series.


You can find her at her blog:  http://angelawallace.wordpress.com/
Twitter https://twitter.com/AngelaRWallace
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Angela-Wallace-Author/232511253453440

~coming up on the blog~

Hey everyone! I have a lot coming up for you guys this week and wanted to give you a preview of what I have planned. :D Last week I was pretty quiet here, and I'm trying to get better at scheduling posts ahead of time. I want great content here for y'all to read! :)

I know many of you bloggers have started doing this, and I think it's a great idea. I'm not trying to copy or steal anyone's ideas, so if you feel I have, please email me and let me know. Thanks!

Coming up this week:

Monday: Review of Phoenix Feather  by Angela Wallace

Tuesday: Review of "Indomitable" by J. Meyers

Wednesday: Insecure Writer's Support Group post

Thursday: Review of Breed of Innocence by Lanie Jordan

Friday: Review (Not sure what book yet :D )

Review ~ Larimar: Gem of the Sea by Christine E. Schulze

Title: Larimar: Gem of the Sea

Author: Christine E. Schulze
Release date: August 17, 2011
Pages: 40
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

My Rating: 

Synopsis

Captain Michael Biekert is notorious for being the youngest captain to sail as much as he has, charting discoveries of new lands and species. He's also notorious for landing his men in adventures they hadn't counted on--adventures involving cannibalistic mermaids and such.

When Michael decides to search for the legendary underwater city of the Larimar people, he doesn't account for the adventure that follows. Rescued from shipwreck by a mysterious, beautiful young lady who walks on water and carries a singing sea shell around her neck, he soon finds himself reunited with an old friend once though lost to him and fighting to save her people from an ancient evil.

I received a copy of this story from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I was immediately drawn into this story--Michael's character played a large role in that. He's brave and puts the safety of his crew before his own, and I really admired that about him. He gave up a life of luxury as a prince to become an explorer. I wanted to know about their past adventures before the one they embark on in this story. They sounded exciting and dangerous and would make for awesome reading!

Natalie was also a character I loved. She was dreamy and mystical, and I really appreciated the relationship between Michael and Natalie because it was different and special. I did find myself rooting for them to get together; I just couldn't help myself! I'm a sucker for romance. :)

This story was beautiful, a little dark, and magical. I loved all of the elements that were incorporated into the telling, and I highly recommend reading this. It was completely original and extraordinary. :D

Larimar: Gem of the Sea, is a story from The Legends of Surprisers Books II and III, published 2010.

Goodreads | Amazon

About the Author

Christine E. Schulze has been creating books since she was too young to even write them in words. Her collection of YA fantasy books, The Amielian Legacy, is comprised of series and stand-alone books which can all be read separately but which weave together to create an amazing fantasy. She hopes to inspire readers throughout the world with these books by publishing in both traditional and electronic formats to make them available to all readers.

Christine has published several stories with Calliope and Kalkion magazines. She has also published several Fantasy and Christian Fantasy books which are available at various online retailers, as well as publishing several eBooks via Writers-Exchange.

Her latest and most exciting ventures include her publications with Old Line Publishing, Bloodmaiden and Lily in the Snow, as well as The Chronicles of the Mira with Writers-Exchange in both paperback and electronic forms. She is also the newest and proudest author at Book By You, a publisher specializing in personalized books, and is happy to release Song Quest, Black Lace, and Dark Embrace with them.

Christine currently lives in Belleville, Illinois in her first and most thrilling apartment.

Connect with Christine E. Schulze

Website |  Goodreads | Amazon | Shelfari