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Journeys Through Collection: Volumes 1-3 by James Talisman – Review by Naomi McDonald

Journeys Through Collection: Volume 1-3Journeys Through Collection: Volume 1-3 by James Talisman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A lot of thought went into the creation of these books. Having them all in a collection is great because you can binge read all the way through! There are many layers to the story so it gives you an immersive experience. Interesting characters, great worldbuilding. Loved the spiritual aspects woven through.
You’ll definitely want to read through the series several times to soak up all there is to be absorbed. Subsequent readings will have you noticing things you didn’t before, and give you a deeper understanding of the story.
An epic reading adventure!

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Naomi McDonald

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wonderful read! Intriguing characters. Superb world building. Suspense. Danger. Masterful plot twists.
I loved the reading adventure this author took me on.

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King of Pain (Interstellar Rescue Series Book 5) by Donna S. Frelick – Review by Naomi McDonald

King of Pain (Interstellar Rescue Series Book 5)King of Pain by Donna S. Frelick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the fifth book in the series but I was able to pick it up and read it as a standalone. I’m sure I would have gotten even more impact if I’d read the previous books, as I understand some characters from those appear in this book. However, I didn’t feel like I was missing anything.
Superb tension throughout the story. This book had more suspense in it than an entire eight book series I just read that was specifically supposed to be suspense. You don’t want to stop turning the pages, that’s for sure.
I enjoyed that there was depth to the story outside of the romance as they are dealing with some serious subject matter.
Good action. Great flow to the story. Excellent read.

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ConQuest: The Art of Selling at Cons by Megan Mackie – Review by Naomi McDonald

ConQuest: The Art of Selling At ConsConQuest: The Art of Selling At Cons by Megan Mackie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I picked up this book because I’ve been considering branching out into working events. It’s a quick read, which is nice. There’s not a bunch of unnecessary stuff to weed through. I liked the personal examples the author gives. Most of what is included in this book is common sense stuff and yet simple things that often end up being forgotten in the hustle and bustle of preparing for an event. If you’ve worked events before (even if not as an author) you’ll recognize a lot of the tips in this book because some things are universal, no matter what you are selling. One thing I thought was awesome is that the author included a small section on interacting with neurodivergent people. As a neurodivergent person myself, this is really important thing to know!

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Swipe Right to Bite (New Orleans Nocturnes Book 6) by Carrie Pulkinen – Review by Naomi McDonald

Swipe Right to Bite (New Orleans Nocturnes, #6)Swipe Right to Bite by Carrie Pulkinen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the sixth book in this series, but it can be read as a standalone.
A fun, humorous read! I loved Katrina’s spiciness. I also enjoyed the focus Gabe had on building relationships on feelings and trying to make it deeper than the physical, and appreciated that it wasn’t instalove.
It’s got an enemies-to-lovers feel, but in a fun way.

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King Bastard (A Dark Sparrow Novel Book 6) by India Kells – Review by Naomi McDonald

King Bastard (Dark Sparrow, #6)King Bastard by India Kells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the sixth book in this series. I highly recommend reading the previous books in order to get the full scope of the overarching story line.
Finally! We get to know Oz. It’s been quite a journey to get to this point, each brother bringing another layer to the picture. Loved Sasha’s character – brave, strong, resourceful. I found the direction that the author took Sasha’s past was interesting. It wasn’t what I expected and definitely added an intriguing layer to the character.
There are a lot of other things I could comment on, but it would contain spoilers.
Un-put-downable read!

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Diabolical Sword (The Charm Collector Book 1) by Melissa Erin Jackson – Review by Naomi McDonald

Diabolical SwordDiabolical Sword by Melissa Erin Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love Urban Fantasy and was intrigued by the idea of a sentient sword so I decided to give this story a try.
There are a lot of things to love about it. The characters are interesting. The meat of the story is great. And, of course, the magic and paranormal aspects we love are plentiful. However, I found that there was a bit too much extraneous world building. It felt like I was getting lost in a lot of minor details that slowed down the story quite a bit. That being said, if you are a person who loves intricate worldbuilding, you’ll probably love that part of it.
Overall, I’d say the heart of the story was good, but I definitely will have to be in the right headspace to keep going with the series since the superfluous world building is distracting to me.

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Thief of Magic (Shadowed Minds Book 1) by Bree Moore – Review by Naomi McDonald

Thief of Magic (Shadowed Minds, #1)Thief of Magic by Bree Moore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is book one in the series and you are definitely going to want to pick up the next book! I loved this unique cast of characters and the unusual pieces of worldbuilding.
Having magic powers is great… until it isn’t. Lee is on a quest to cure what ails her and it’s an intriguing adventure filled with thievery, danger, betrayal, conspiracy, and secrets.
Sometimes writing a review is difficult because the things you want to comment on contain major spoilers, so I’ll just say, you won’t regret reading this wonderfully written tale!

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Red’s Peril Part 2: The Prez’s Old Lady (Satan’s Devils MC Vegas Chapter #2) by Manda Mellett – Review by Naomi McDonald

Red's Peril Part 2: The Prez's Old Lady (Satan's Devils MC Vegas #2)Red’s Peril Part 2: The Prez’s Old Lady by Manda Mellett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second part of Red’s story, so it is not a standalone. The first book was more of a recap from events of previous Satan’s Devils series with pertinent parts of Red’s story mixed in. My suggestion is to read the other series before you start this one so nothing is spoiled for you. I really feel that there were pieces from the first book that were crucial to this story that could have been condensed down and merged with the second part to make one book.

That being said, THIS IS THE STORY I CAME FOR! Part two lives up to the standard that I am used to reading from this author. The suspense, the drama, the real-life struggles of the characters – I am here for it!!! I loved that Cher is a strong character. And Zeke… loved their ability to not let what they’ve been through make them hate the world. I’m glad I stuck with it after being slightly disappointed with part one, because part two was everything I needed.

Superb read!

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THE BOX (HER THREE IMMORTALS BOOK 4) by HAZEL STORM – Review by Naomi McDonald

The Box: A Greek Gods Urban Fantasy Romance (Her Three Immortals Book 4)The Box: A Greek Gods Urban Fantasy Romance by Hazel Storm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the fourth book in this series and definitely not a standalone. Be sure to read the previous books to get caught up on the events that led up to this finale.
As with the previous books, I loved the world building and the unique characters. A couple of new types of characters are introduced in this book and I loved the way they were worked into the story. Of course, there are old favorites like Gorgonita and PK as well. You ‘ll definitely be hooked as you read about Vanessa’s final harrowing adventure!
Great ending to a fabulous paranormal romance series!

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A Sweet Christmas: A Sweet Confections Novella by Nicole Richards – Review by Naomi McDonald

A Sweet ChristmasA Sweet Christmas by Nicole Richard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you like Hallmark type holiday stories, this read is for you. It was a bit to sweet for me as I normally prefer my reads on the darker side, (though sometimes I revisit trying sweet stories just to see if my tastes have changed), but it was a well-written story.
I didn’t really care for the way things played out with Ben when he first meets Thea. He seemed a little creepy, but maybe that’s because he was really forward. It felt very contrasted to the way he is throughout the rest of the story, which I found a little too perfect.
But, if you are looking for low angst, contemporary romance, take-her-to-meet-the-family, and HEA, this is the story you want.

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Still Taking Chances by Roz Lee – Review by Naomi McDonald

Still Taking ChancesStill Taking Chances by Roz Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy this book, but I gave it a chance. It turned out to be pretty good. I don’t see books about Dominatrices very often so it was interesting to see how that character interacted with Elgin. I don’t know if it’s because I haven’t really read this type of character before, or what exactly, but I couldn’t get the love vibe from it, even though the characters were falling in love with each other. The only time I really got a hint of romantic vibe was after Mary Beth gave Elgin the gift and he’s using it. I totally got the healing aspect from the BDSM scenes that happened in the book.
Not sure Dominatrices are something I would choose to read regularly, but it’s not bad for an occasional book fling.

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Practically Pagan – An Alternative Guide to Magical Living by Maria DeBlassie – Review by Naomi McDonald

Practically Pagan - An Alternative Guide to Magical LivingPractically Pagan – An Alternative Guide to Magical Living by Maria DeBlassie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“I had disempowered myself when I stopped valuing my happiness and overall wellness.”
“…remember that beauty standards are often racist, gendered, ableist, and shaped
by a ton of other toxic -isms.”
“Saying no is a form of self-care. No is a two-letter spell for happiness.”

This book came into my life at the perfect time, as all magical things do. Even though a lot of the material in this book wasn’t new to me, it was a great reminder of things that I haven’t thought about in a while.
It’s so easy to fall into the trap of performance pressure, especially when it’s essentially what our society runs off of. We’re steeped in it from birth. I love how this book reminds us that even the most mundane thing can be magic if we tune into it and allow it. That is exactly what I need for myself right now.
If you are feeling overwhelmed and disconnected from the life you want, this book may be exactly what you need.

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Red’s Peril Part 1: The making of an MC Prez (Satan’s Devils MC Vegas Chapter) by Manda Mellett – Review by Naomi McDonald

Red's Peril Part 1: The Making of an MC Prez (Satan's Devils MC Vegas #1)Red’s Peril Part 1: The Making of an MC Prez by Manda Mellett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Red’s Peril: The Making of an MC Prez (Part One) is book 1 Satan’s Devils MC Vegas Chapter series. This is not a standalone book and ends in a cliffhanger.
For people who have read all of the related Satan’s Devils MC series, you’ll find a few places that might be a little slow as they recap events from those other books. If this is the first Satan’s Devils book you’ve picked up, some of the recapped events may contain spoilers to other stories.
I have to say, while I always appreciate the research this author does on real-to-life events and have enjoyed all of the books I’ve read in this world thus far, this one has a completely different feel to it. I’m not sure if it was all of the recapping or what exactly, but I found myself skimming through several places to get to the more pertinent parts of Red’s story. I’m not saying it’s a bad read, but as someone who has read other books in this world, it didn’t pack quite the punch the others have. Still, I’ll be reading book two at some point because I do want to find out how things play out based on the events at the very end of this book.

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Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery) by Merissa Racine – Review by Naomi McDonald

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery)Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Shadows of Doubt is the second book in the A Crawford Mystery series. You can read this as a standalone, however you’ll get more of a feel for some of the characters if you read the first book.
After reading the first book and finding it good but a bit slow in places, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one but decided to give it a go. The series is definitely picking up the pace. It’s interesting to have a main character that’s not in law enforcement trying to solve the crime. And of course, nothing makes a great twist in the mystery like uncovering unexpected secrets!
Great rainy day read!

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Cursed Luck (Broderick Coven Book 5) by AJ Renee – Review by Naomi McDonald

Cursed Luck (Broderick Coven, #5)Cursed Luck by A.J. Renee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cursed Luck is the fifth book in the Broderick Coven series. I haven’t read the previous books, but I could pick up on the story between these two characters pretty quickly. Knowing the other characters from previous books probably would give it more depth, though.

I related to the Edward character a lot. Not having a filter when speaking can make it difficult to form strong bonds with people. I liked Edward’s magical ability It’s not one you see very often in these types of stories.

If you like fated mate stories, this series is for you. The attraction is pretty much there from the start and then there is the push-pull of drama around the connection.

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Silent Gavel (A Crawford Mystery Book 1) by Merissa Racine – Review by Naomi McDonald

Silent Gavel (Crawford Mystery #1)Silent Gavel by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Silent Gavel is the first book in A Crawford Mystery series. It can be read as a standalone.
This book is listed under thriller and suspense, but I found it to be more of just a mystery – something to figure out, but not anything that would put me on the edge of my seat. I had the culprit figured out fairly quickly. Parts of the story were a little slow with extraneous details and I thought that the reveal scene happened a little abruptly. But overall, it was a good story. I’m going to give book two a shot and see how it goes.

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THE BOW (HER THREE IMMORTALS Book 3) by HAZEL STORM – Review by Naomi McDonald

The Bow (Her Three Immortals, #3)The Bow by Hazel Storm
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Bow is the third book in the Her Three Immortals series. I highly recommend reading the first two books before you delve into this one, otherwise you will likely be lost on what is happening. This book is not a hard cliffhanger, but there are parts of the story that are left open for the next book to address.

I enjoyed this story. Where the first two books focused mainly on Vanessa’s relationship with Raef and Grey, this book is focused on Aroz. I’m not going to go into details or it will give away the twist, but there is a bit of suspense and danger as you go through the story, because a pissed off Queen of the Underworld isn’t a good thing, lol. There were a couple of descriptions during the intimate scenes that struck me as a little corny, but overall, it’s a great read.

I can’t wait to see how Vanessa and her guys handle the mothers as the story continues in the next book.

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THE GOD (HER THREE IMMORTALS Book 2) by HAZEL STORM – Review by Naomi McDonald

The God (Her Three Immortals, #2)The God by Hazel Storm
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The God is the second book in the Her Three Immortal series. It picks up the story from book one so I’d suggest reading that book first so you understand the events that have happened up to this point. The end of this book isn’t necessarily a hard cliffhanger, but there are some pieces of the story that aren’t wrapped up. If those parts are of interest to you, you’ll want to get the next book.

This book is about Vanessa’s experience in the Underworld. I loved the addition of the Gorgonita and PK characters. They gave the story extra flair. I don’t really want to say too much in detail because it’ll ruin the way everything plays out. One thing I’m hoping we find out in future stories is how the current Ferryman got his position.

Looking forward to the next book!

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THE DON (HER THREE IMMORTALS Book 1) by HAZEL STORM – Review by Naomi McDonald

The DonThe Don by Hazel Storm
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Don is the first book in the Her Three Immortals series. It ends in a cliffhanger so it’s not really a standalone.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up this book, but it turned out to be a great read. The characters were easy to vibe with and the story line was intricate enough to keep me interested. This series is a unique depiction of the gods and demigods.
You’ll definitely want the second book in your library to start it immediately after this one.

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Unsettled Scores (DAG Team Series Book 2) by Kel O’Connor – Review by Naomi McDonald

Unsettled Scores (DAG Team #2)Unsettled Scores by Kel O’Connor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Unsettled Scores is the second book in the DAG Team series. It can be read as a standalone, but I feel like it would be better experienced if you’ve read the first book as some of the story line overlaps.
Good read – full of romance and suspense that will keep you interested. There are some questions that are left open so there’s room for more story line in another book.
Overall, not a bad way to spend a few hours in book land.

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Naomi McDonald

Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and PossibilitiesNotebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Decisions and Possibilities is the second book in the Notebook Mysteries series. While I could pick up on what was going on fairly quickly, reading book one probably gives you a better foundation on the characters.
YA is not my usual read, but the cover of this made it look interesting so I thought I would give it a shot. The overall story was good. However, the writing style with the narrator interruptions was very distracting and kept throwing me out of the reading flow. It would have been much more enjoyable without that.

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THE MARCY SERIES BOXSET: BOOKS 1-3 by Linda J. Burson – Review by Naomi McDonald

The Marcy Series Box Set: Books 1-3The Marcy Series Box Set: Books 1-3 by Linda Burson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This box set includes the first three books from this series (which at the time of this review, the series has thirteen books total).
An important thing you have to know going into this is that our subconscious mind operates behind the scenes 24/7 and exerts influence over every aspect of our daily life. When you read these books with that understanding, you can truly grasp what is happening with Marcy.
From the context of understanding how our brain influences us without us consciously being aware of it, you can see how behavior is actually communication. I think this is the key concept in getting the most out of these stories.
I enjoyed reading these books. They evoke a lot of emotional response and worm their way into your head so you find yourself thinking about them even when you’re not reading.

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HER DARK LOVE (DARK SPELL SERIES Book 4) by ISRA SRAVENHEART – Review by Naomi McDonald

Her Dark Love (Dark Spell #4)Her Dark Love by Isra Sravenheart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Her Dark Love is the fourth book in the Dark Spell series. This story takes us back to see who Isra was before she started down the dark path, and the events that set everything in motion. The insight this book gives into the character’s early years helps give the previous books more depth.
The fairy tale writing style is sometimes a challenge for me, but I like the originality.
Her Dark Love is a dark fairy tale story full of deceit, betrayal, magic, and heartbreak that will keep you turning the pages.

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Master Tuscano (Masters of the Consulate Book 2) by Sylvia Black – Review by Naomi McDonald

Master Tuscano: Dark Vampire Romance (Masters of the Consulate Book 2)Master Tuscano: Dark Vampire Romance by Sylvia Black
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Master Tuscano is the second book in the Masters of the Consulate series. It helps to read the first book so you have some background on the worldbuilding.
I liked the male lead in this book better than the one in the first book. This relationship at least felt like there was some romantic feelings rather than just lust.
The female characters banding together to go off to hunt the bad guys was awesome.
This story has danger and a bit of mystery to help move things along. This series isn’t exactly what I expected, but I’m warming to it.

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Dark Bastard (Dark Sparrow Novel Book 5) by India Kells – Review by Naomi McDonald

Dark Bastard (Dark Sparrow, #5)Dark Bastard by India Kells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dark Bastard is the fifth book in the Dark Sparrow series. It can be read as a standalone, but it has a much better impact if you’ve read the previous books to get all of the background.

I think this is my favorite in the series thus far. We haven’t gotten King’s book yet, and I have a feeling that one is going to be amazing, but for right now, yeah, this one is my favorite.

I loved Ellie. Even at her lowest point, she’s thinking about others. She handles the danger she faces bravely and keeps her wits about her. She accepts Sam as he is. Loved that strength in a female lead.

We finally get to understand Sam and what he’s been through. I love that he is willing to take the risk to love Ellie, even though he feels so completely broken.

Truly engaging read!

Content Warning: Be aware that this book mentions abuse to a child.

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Master Descallia (Masters of the Consulate Book 1) by Sylvia Black – Review by Naomi McDonald

Descallia: Dark Vampire Romance (Masters of the Consulate Book 1)Descallia: Dark Vampire Romance by Sylvia Black
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Master Descallia is the first book in the Masters of the Consulate series. This book wraps up the main story line, but there is room left to lead into the next book in the series.
While this book is referred to as a romance, I felt it was more lust-filled than love filled. The main character, Salvatore, is a bit of an alphahole and I didn’t care for him very much. I know it’s a dark romance, which I usually love, but this didn’t feel dark so much as that he’s just a jerk. Maybe the description of dark is referring to the overall content, not specifically the romance? I did love that Lucianna was willing to stand up to him and call him out.
Overall, the story was good – full of action and danger that’ll keep you turning the pages.

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Sign Steal Deliver (Gods of Thunder MC) by Carrie Pulkinen – Review by Naomi McDonald

Sign Steal Deliver (Gods of Thunder MC)Sign Steal Deliver by Carrie Pulkinen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sign Steal Deliver is part of a multi-author series, but it can be read as a standalone.

This is not my usual read, but a comedy every now and then breaks up all the angst of the stories I normally lose myself in. I found this book to be a quick, easy read. A lot of humorous moments – particularly the incident with the cream and the deodorant scene. It’s fun to see the gods dealing with things in the human world. The characters are fun and quirky. Loved the addition of the snakes. It gave the story a unique twist.

Overall, a fast, fun story that will keep you turning the pages while laughing the entire time.

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Avenging Devil Part 2 (Satan’s Devils MC San Diego #4) by Manda Mellett – Review by Naomi McDonald

Avenging Devil Part 2: Satan's Devils MC San DiegoAvenging Devil Part 2: Satan’s Devils MC San Diego by Manda Mellett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Avenging Devil Part 2 is the fourth book in the Satan’s Devils MC San Diego series. Since this is part two and it picks up right where part one left off, you really should read the first part to get all of the background on what is happening in this book.

As expected, this book is filled with action, suspense, and danger. We get to see how the rest of Niran and Saffie’s story plays out. We also get a little more insight on Cyn’s character. I absolutely did not like her in the first book and the way things play out in this story, it feels like her story is going to be one in this series. I’ll be interested to see how that whole thing goes.

One of my favorite parts of this story was Swift and Saffie. Power women. Take no crap. Loved it!

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Pet Me (The Toye Shoppe Book 1) by Angelique Jurd – Review by Naomi McDonald

Pet Me (The Toye Shoppe #1)Pet Me by Angelique Jurd
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pet Me is the first book in the The Toye Shoppe series. It doesn’t end in a cliffhanger but you can tell there are some lead ins to future books in the series… And I can’t wait!

I loved Bailey so much. He’s so relatable to me with his shy, personality and his clumsiness. Super sweet vibe to the story, which is not something I usually go for but it totally works with these characters. Even though the two main characters were fairly quick to fall in love, it didn’t feel forced or like there was insta-love with no foundation building.

I look forward to reading more in the series to discover how things play out between the other shop owners/employees and “the brats.”

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