Friday, April 28, 2017

Review ~ The Wedding Charm by Susan Hatler



Maid of honor Sarah Carlton hasn’t failed at anything since her high school science project was sabotaged by a relentless competitor. So, she’ll do whatever it takes to make her best friend Jill’s wedding absolutely perfect. That includes taking the next flight out of Sacramento to retrieve the panicked bride’s cherished family wedding charm from her late grandmother’s attic in Atlanta Georgia.
Unfortunately, someone else has offered to come to the bride’s rescue—best man Ben Atkins, the same man who destroyed Sarah’s high school science project all those years ago. Now he wants to one-up her by retrieving the charm first? Sarah refuses to let that happen. The race is on.
When Sarah and Ben arrive in Atlanta, instead of finding the wedding charm there’s a letter from the bride’s grandmother directing the bride and groom to complete a series of tasks in order to prove their commitment to each other. With the wedding only two days away, Sarah and Ben must join forces by pretending to be the bride and groom in order to earn the wedding charm. Should be a cinch. After all, how hard can it be to fake true love for forty-eight hours?

The Wedding Charm is part of the Magnolias and Moonshine romance series, where you’ll fall in love with the South. Twenty New York TimesUSA Today, and Amazon bestselling authors bring you a taste of Southern charm with ten sweet and ten sizzle contemporary romance novellas in the series.


Jewelz Review~
Susan Hatler is one of my go-to authors for delightful, sweet romance novellas. Her stories are always a wonderful treat for me. The Wedding Charm was the perfect little escape for me. Sarah and Ben remind me a little bit of Ann Shirley and Gilbert Blythe. They have known each other since grade school and Ben has teased Sarah and "one up'd" her more times than she can count. He clearly doesn't like her - right? And Sarah can't possibly be attracted to the deliciously handsome Ben because of the way he treats her - right?

As Sarah and Ben work together to retrieve Jill's grandmother's wedding charm, they make some amazing discoveries about each other. They'll do anything required - including pretending to be engaged - in order to save their best friends' wedding. The tasks they have to complete and the obstacles in their way provide opportunity for both love and laughter. The tale is nothing short of a delight.

honest disclosure ~ I received a copy from the author for review

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Starting Over at Steeple Ridge by Liz Isaacson



**Amazon Top 10 in Christian Romance**
**Amazon Top 100 in Western Romance**

From the publisher of the USA TODAY bestselling Timeless Romance Anthology series in Clean & Wholesome Romance, comes the Timeless Romance Singles line: STARTING OVER AT STEEPLE RIDGE: A brand new contemporary romance novella from bestselling author Liz Isaacson:

Tucker Jenkins has had enough of tall buildings, traffic, and business meetings to determine the next app that will change the world. He's sold his technology firm for billions and traded it for Steeple Ridge Horse Farm in rural Vermont.

Missy Marino has worked at the boarding stable and farm since she was a teen, and she's always dreamed of owning it. But her ex-husband left her with a truckload of debt, making her fantasies of owning the farm unfulfilled.

When she meets Tucker, she starts having a new kind of fantasy—one where they work with the horses together. Tucker didn't come to the country to find a new wife, but he supposes a woman could help him start over in Steeple Ridge. Will Tucker and Missy be able to navigate the shaky ground between them to find a new beginning?


Jewelz Review~

I know I can always count on Timeless Romance for a delightful, clean romance that I can get through in a weekend. Starting Over at Steeple Ridge was just that. Liz Isaacson has crafted a sweet story that will pull on your heartstrings and leave you with a smile on your face.

Missy is devastated that her beloved Steeple Ridge has been sold to some rich city slicker. Not only did her ex-husband leave her with debt and emotional scars, but now her dream of owning the horse farm is forever out of reach. The fact the new owner makes her pulse race only complicates matters.

Tucker wants nothing more than to escape the city. His jet-set lifestyle left him feeling unhappy and unfulfilled. Moving to a tiny town in Vermont and buying a horse farm, even though he's never even been on a horse, seems the perfect solution.

Even though Missy and Tucker are seemingly opposites, they quickly learn how to work together and find that the attraction is mutual. Neither is looking for a new relationship. Both have things in their pasts they'd like to keep hidden. Both need a new beginning.


Sweet western romance that even a city slicker can enjoy.

honest disclosure~ I received a review copy

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Cover Reveal for The Heart of Escher




Born and raised in Hampshire, I spent most of my childhood dreaming up random adventures.

I left the sunny south coast to study Graphic Communication in Bath, where I fell in love with the rolling Somerset hills when I wasn’t walking up them.

Returning to Hampshire 6 years later, after meeting my now wife, Claire, I enjoy a quieter life, walking in the New Forest and relaxing with my wonderful wife and fluffy cat Molly.

I have always enjoyed telling stories, more often than not in visual form, either in films or animations. However, the idea of Escher was too big for me to do visually by myself so I picked up a pen and started writing.

Having written one novel, I am now keen to tell more stories of Escher, while at the same time expressing my imagination with my art. 


Connect with the Author here: 


James Fisher, a lonely, bullied schoolboy, finds himself in the dark and twisted land of Escher after wishing himself away from an ill-fated family holiday.
Lost and frightened, James must help heal the dying world of Escher, overrun by the creatures of the Nightmare forest, to return home.
Guided by the emerald-eyed cat, Sam, and befriended by the headstrong resistance fighter, Jasper, James is taken on an adventure through a world mirroring his own nightmares, where he is forced to confront his own fears and the ghostly Shadow in order to save Escher.
Unbeknown to James, not only is he fighting for Escher’s future, but also his own.




First lets take a look inside the book

Snippet:

Up in the clouds, everything was different; James was now shrouded by mist and he was all alone. Where the others had gone, he did not know.

At first, James did not know what to think, everything had happened so fast, and now to be seemingly floating within the clouds seemed rather surreal.

James called for Jasper and Sami, but only rumbles of thunder could be heard. Flashes of lightning rippled through the haze, and with each new burst James saw imprints of sad memories amongst the clouds. 


And now for the Cover

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I am loving this cover!


Purchase your copy here:  Book Website ~


Make sure you join our tour for this book so you can get more content and more chances to win prizes!



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Friday, April 14, 2017

A Real Life Fairytale Blast

   

Cinderella: a REAL life fairytale If a dream is a wish your heart makes then Cindee Ellis is in major trouble. There’s no way Henry Christensen will ever notice her under all those oil stains and brake fluid splattered across her shirt. Unless—she’s dead wrong about him. Join her with this real life fairytale set in the small town of Silver Creek to find out how she’ll work her guts out to make her own happily ever after.

 


       
Beauty and the Beast: a REAL life fairytale There's a tale as old as time of two people falling in love, but what happens when Belle won't have anything to do with it. Join her with this real life fairytale set in the small town of Silver Creek to find out how she’ll transform the town's beast into a handsome prince with her heart, not her beautician skills.  
 
   
The Frogg Princess: a REAL life fairytale Taya is almost there. Join her in this real-life fairytale, set in the small town of Silver Creek, as she plans to start a new life by opening a little restaurant. Only to find a few rude people that don’t seem to welcome her. But that doesn’t seem to bother Felix Frogg, a local police officer, and the love-at–first-sight reactions he keeps tossing her way. If Taya isn’t careful with the way her heart is softening towards Felix, she could be walking into a lifetime commitment of happily ever after that wasn’t in her plans.
      
 ~Excerpts~ 

Cinderella: a REAL life fairytale
“Hey, Cindee, before I forget. You have a real nice day.”

I nod with about the blankest expression I’ve ever felt, and then he winks. HE LITERALLY WINKS!

My eyes are as big as I can stretch them.

Either Henry Christensen just did that on purpose, or he has something irritating his eye. I want to go with my first choice, but the second one seems more accurate. I’m the girl with no name, until just now, standing in a huge coat, so it’s gotta be the second choice, right?

“Henry? Is that you?” Priscilla’s sticky-sweet voice interrupts.

He doesn’t speak a word as he presses on the gas to slowly start backing up.

“I’ll stop by the station to pick up the trucks in a while. Make sure you’re there,” he says before quickly pulling onto Main Street where everything disappears, except for the faint glow of his brake lights that blink three times.

Is he saying goodbye?

I know other girls back in high school had boys do this to them, but not me. NOT EVER. Not once did a boy tap his brake lights to me. <em>I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.</em>

Beauty and the Beast: a REAL life fairytale

“Thank you for this.” I whisper into Adam’s ear.

“For what?” He grins.

“For being the kind of man that makes a woman believe there’s a God in heaven.” I nuzzle into his shoulder and close my eyes as the preacher asks us to pray.

Once we finish, the rows of people begin to stand. I wipe under my eyes one more time just to make sure I don’t have mascara running down my face.

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The Frogg Princess: a REAL life fairytale

“You probably shouldn’t be with a girl like me. I could corrupt a boy like yourself,” I tease, trying to ease the heat flooding my face. How could I push myself on him? I’m cringing inside at being so stupid.

“Nah, I’d happily go as far as you’d allow me,” he softly chuckles. “I just have a promise I made with my brother.”

“A promise?” I narrow my eyes.

“Yeah, we both agreed to wait for marriage.”

I stifle a gasp. Is he for real?

 
~Praise for the Book ~
Five Stars: Couldn’t put this book down! This book has a way of not only making you feel what the characters are feeling, but it sucks you in where you don’t want to put it down, Not only have I read this book once, but I read it all over a second time. If you want to get lost for a few hours then I would highly recommend you read this book!!

Five Stars: Sooooo Good! I really enjoyed this novella. I was so happy with the ending. It was well written and kept my attention even when my Grandson interrupted for help on his homework. So happy he left the math worksheet at school. I will be looking for more of this author's work. Hope you enjoy this novella.

Five Stars: A clean romance book! Jamie Brook Thompson has got some mad writing skills! She has talent that can take you to another world for a few hours! I recommend this book to anyone who needs a good chic book (like a chic flick but in book form ;) ) to escape the real world for a bit! And who doesn't love cowboys?!

  Author Jamie Brook Thompson Jamie Brook Thompson is a small town girl that loves to tell a good story. She grew up as the daughter of a redneck farmer and hippie mother. Her entire life has been filled with duct tape and peace and love. She currently has 6 children, two dogs, and a handsome Prince of her very own! When she isn’t writing, you can find her out at her father’s ranch changing tires on tractors, working on motors that need repair, or adjusting carburetors on the family four wheelers to ride the high Utah desert. She’s a woman of many talents and trades, but the one she enjoys the most is writing stories to take readers into a world of hope—a world of clean romance!
  amazon or paypal$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway Ends 5/3/17 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. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, April 10, 2017

A Strange Companion Blast

 
  A Strange Companion by Lisa Manterfield 

Kat Richardson isn’t running away from grief; she’s just hiding out in a gloomy Welsh university town until she’s sure it’s gone. Now, one year, nine months, and 27 days after the climbing death of her first love, Gabe, she thinks she’s ready to venture out into the relationship world again. And Owen—a cake-baking, Super Ball-making chemistry student—appears to be a kind, funny, and very attractive option.

But the arrival of Kat’s newly adopted niece, Mai, forces her home to northern England, where she runs headfirst into all the memories of Gabe she’s tried to leave behind—and discovers that Mai stirs up an unnerving feeling of déjà vu. Before long, Kat’s logical, scientific beliefs about life after death are in battle with what she feels to be true—that reincarnation is real and Gabe has come back to her through Mai. The question now, is why?

Taking on the topics of love, loss, and how we deal with grief, A Strange Companion is a twisted love triangle among the living, the dead, and the reincarnated.
    
 Excerpt
Mai dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around Frida’s enormous head. She rested her cheek against Frida’s bristly fur and the two of them lay there as if they’d been best pals forever. Luke reached down and ran his hand along Frida’s back. As he moved back to stroke again, his hand paused on Mai’s arm, curled around Frida’s neck.
Luke froze.
I felt the air around us go still—all except for one crackle of energy that danced between Mai and Luke. I felt it, Luke felt it, Frida felt it . . . and so did Mai.
Luke cast his eyes down at the little girl at his feet, who stared, unblinking, back at him. His brow wrinkled, as his mind struggled to understand what I knew his heart felt. Then, something passed between them that I had once seen pass between Luke and his brother. It was more than love, more than understanding, more, even, than blood. It was a deep connection, a spark between two people, two souls, who were inextricably intertwined.
Luke looked at me. “Did you feel that?”
I nodded.
“What was it?”
I hesitated. I knew exactly what it was, but how could I tell Luke? It was one thing to tell Maggie about my suspicions, but Luke was Gabe’s brother. Was it fair of me to risk opening up the hurt I knew he’d spent the past two years trying to heal? But perhaps I wasn’t the only one Gabe needed to visit. I felt a prickle of excitement at the possibility that someone else might finally understand.
Glancing back to make sure Luke and I were out of earshot, I leaned in and whispered. “I think it’s Gabe.”
Luke narrowed his eyes at me. “He’s haunting her?”
I shook my head. “Do you believe in reincarnation, Luke?”
He shrugged, but the expression of curiosity on his face prompted me to take a chance.
“I didn’t either until I met Mai.”
 
  Praise for the Book “This beautiful blend of heartbreak, finding one’s self, grief, forgiveness, loss, and second chances, is a perfect rainy day read. I cannot say enough good things about this book! Read it with a box of tissues, as you will cry your eyes out.” ~The Reading Wolf  
 
Author Lisa Manterfield 
Lisa Manterfield is the award-winning author I’m Taking My Eggs and Going Home: How One Woman Dared to Say No to Motherhood. Her work has appeared in The Saturday Evening Post, Los Angeles Times, and Psychology Today. Originally from northern England, she now lives in Southern California with her husband and over-indulged cat. A Strange Companion is her first novel.
    amazon or paypal$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway Ends 4/28/17 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. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, April 8, 2017

Tad's Treasure by Shanna Hatfield ~ Grandma's Wedding Quilts 12 Book Blitz (Day 12)




I've been fascinated with the Victorian and Edwardian eras, as well as the Old West as long as I can remember.
    Growing up on a farm in Eastern Oregon where only the most determined and resolute individuals dare toil the soil that spent centuries covered in sagebrush, rock, and the random juniper tree, I never gave a thought to my great fortune in having a rural foundation on which to build my future.
   All the crazy exploits I had as a girlie-girl being raised as a tomboy came in handy when I began writing western romances. You'd be surprised how many of the wild adventures in my stories are based on things I either experienced or witnessed during my formative years.
   I joyfully bear the burden of being a hopeless romantic, with a bit of sarcasm thrown in for good measure. I've always been a sappy-hearted girl who loves a happy ending. I also love the western and rural way of life and that's why I began writing sweet and clean western romances.

   Everything you never wanted to know about me is posted with frequency on my blog. There you'll discover I'm completely and entirely smitten with my husband, lovingly referred to as Captain Cavedweller. You'll also find that I eat too much chocolate, have a thing for roses, like to play with my camera, and enjoy researching the towns and eras for my romances set in the old west.



Connect with the Author here: 


Tad Palmer makes a promise to his dying friend to watch over the man’s wife and child. Years later, he continues to keep an eye on Posey Jacobs and her precocious little boy. The only problem is that he’s not sure his heart can withstand the vow he made when he falls in love with the widow and her son.
Posey Jacobs misses her beloved husband, but her wrenching grief has given way to hope for the future as she finds herself falling deeper and deeper in love with Tad Palmer. However, the infuriating man doesn’t seem to notice her interest and treats her as he would his sister.

Throw in a goat who thinks she’s a dog, a town full of quirky characters, and this widow has her work cut out for her if she wants one handsome cowboy to give her his heart.

~ Amazon ~ Amazon UK



Q&A with the Author

1.     Tell us about things you enjoy — what you do for fun or personal satisfaction besides writing?
I love to bake. My biggest project was a wedding cake for my niece's wedding. It's fun to try new recipes and I've been known to make them up, too. Photography is another thing I enjoy, and I dabble in graphic design. Pinterest is a place I love to visit even if I have to limit the amount of time I spend there, drooling over recipes, fashions, and dream kitchens! I also enjoy working in my yard when the weather cooperates. Captain Cavedweller and I like to travel. And we get a kick out of attending rodeos when our schedules permit.

2. When did you first realize you were an author?

I don't suppose the adventure-packed story I wrote in third grade about a raccoon counts, so I'll probably go with the day I sold a copy of my first book on June 18, 2011. Up until that point it didn't feel real.

3. Have you done anything writing-related, but besides actually writing your books, that seemed to get a lot of positive response? Something that encouraged you?

I created a group for my street team, Hopeless Romantics. The response from that has been so positive and uplifting. The active participants in the group so often encourage me (even if they might not realize it) and I feel like it's provided a place for me to really connect with my readers. It is such fun for me to get to know them better.

4. What is the thing you struggle with the most while writing? And how do you defeat it?
I'm a stickler for getting the historical details as accurate as humanly possible in my stories. Sometimes, I invest more time researching details than I do writing. It doesn't help that I minored in history in college, so I love delving into history to glean details that will help bring my story to life. When I know I'm about to get sucked into a vortex of historical facts that truly aren't necessary for the story, I rein in my enthusiasm and get back to writing. 

5. What is the “message” of your writing? (For example, is your purpose to encourage old-fashioned values, encourage romance, or do you have different purposes in different books?)

If readers pull one consistent message from my books, I think it would be hope. Even when things seem the darkest and impossible, hope is there, lingering in the background. And of course, I'm all about the sweet romance. I think people so often confuse true romance with other things, so I try to have the stories I write be about pure heart-sighing, swoon-worthy romance. 

6. What are your thoughts/feelings on ebook vs. print book?

I'm a fan of both! For me, I love being able to take my Kindle with me when I'm away from home, because I have a variety of books at my fingertips. Other times, when I actually get a few spare moments to sit down and read (with a cup of tea and a piece of yummy chocolate), I like to hold a book in my hand and turn those crisp pages as I am drawn into the story. 

7.  How many books do you have out?  Are you planning a specific number altogether, either in this series or separately?

Tad's Treasure is my 46th book. I have several other series out, as well as a handful of stand-alone books. In addition to being part of Grandma's Wedding Quilts, Tad's Treasure is also the prequel to my Baker City Brides series. The fourth book in the series will be out in March. It's called Bobbins and Boots and is about a cowboy who goes to town for supplies and returns home married to someone else's mail-order bride. 

8. Are your characters/stories/scenes, etc. based on anything in real life?

It's safe to say a lot of real life experiences are incorporated into my stories. For the ranch and farm scenes, many times I draw on my past experiences to add a sense of authenticity to a scene. And there are some characters in my books who are loosely based on people I know (both good and bad!). I always joke if you don't want to end up as a bad guy in one of my books, be nice!

9. What are your future projects?

This year is a busy one for me. In addition to the Bobbins and Boots coming out in March, I will also have another book out in the Pendleton Petticoats series (Dally). Other books I plan to release this year include three group novella projects, another book in the Hearts of the War series (Home of Her Heart), additions to my two holiday series, and surprise project that will release during the holidays. 





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Friday, April 7, 2017

Backhand by Elise Faber ~ Release Blitz

Title: Backhand
Author: Elise Faber
Series: Gold Hockey novels (book 2)
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Sports Romance
Publisher: Blue Tulip Publishing

Puck Harder.

Who says dating a bad boy is a terrible idea? Or a reformed one at least…


**Standalone Novel**
Mike Stewart is a bad boy.
Sleeping around. Boozing. Fighting with teammates.
Name a bad behavior and he’s done it—done it so well, in fact, that he almost tanked his career as a starting defensemen for the NHL’s San Francisco Gold.
But Mike is done with all that. He’s starting with a fresh foot forward and putting his past behind him.
That is, until his past quite literally reappears before his eyes.
Sara Jetty is just as beautiful as she was a decade before, but Mike hasn’t seen her since she left for her first Olympics and scored a gold medal in women’s figure skating. Now something has put shadows in her eyes, a familiar type of hurt he is all too well versed in.
This Sara wants nothing to do with him. Their easy friendship is gone and in its place is a hardened woman who’s nothing like the girl from his past.
Still, Mike hasn’t become a top defensemen in the NHL by being afraid of hard work, and he isn’t about to let Sara push him away. Come hell or high water, he’s going to crack her tough outer shell and find the sweet, innocent woman he’s lusted after and loved, in equal measure, for more than ten years.
B&N | iBooks | Kobo


“I’ve had enough serious for a while. Let’s stick with fun.”
“Fun as in you teasing me?”
She shrugged and got out. “Yes, that works.”
“Or fun as in sexy naked time?” he asked, getting out of his own side and looking over the top of the car at her. The garage was dark, except for the faint light coming from the opener above their heads.
He was gorgeous, as in he literally took her breath away, all planes of hard lines softened by his five o’clock shadow and plump lips.
She wanted to sketch him.

Jewelz Review~
Elise Faber can certainly tell a story. I neglected my home and work responsibilities and read Backhand over two days. I would have likely read it in one, but there were some outside issues preventing that. Needless to say, I really enjoyed this book. It's the second in her series following the  San Francisco Gold hockey team and chronicles the story of bad boy Mike Stewart.

Mike has known Sara Jetty since they were teenagers, but it's been ten years since they've had any contact. Now that their paths have crossed once again, Mike can't ignore the fact that he feels just as strongly for her now as he did back then. But a lot has happened in both Mike and Sara's lives over the past ten years. Things that are better left in the past. But with Mike being in the spotlight with the Gold, their pasts won't stay hidden once they start dating - especially with Sara Jetty being, well, Sara Jetty.

Despite the obstacles, Mike and Sara's relationship progresses. The two have chemistry - both in and out of the bedroom. I loved the way they interacted, their verbal sparing - such a fun dynamic to their relationship. I enjoyed Brit and Stefan's roles as not only Mike's teammates, but also as relationship mentors (whether solicited or not). Monique and Mira were a delightful addition to the story and I loved how they embraced Sara immediately as one of their own. And I would be remiss if I failed to mention Pascal and Mitch - those two are simply awesome.

Backhand is an intense, hold-onto-your-seat romance. Even when Mike tries to "take it slow," there's really nothing slow about this story or their relationship. It's sweet and spicy with some sauciness thrown in for good measure - and perhaps a little suspense as well ;)

FYI ~ open door intimacy, language

While I personally would prefer less language & less detail in the intimate scenes, all content is appropriate for the story - intimate scenes are plot driven and language isn't used in excess (they're hockey players, right?) 

Honest disclosure ~ I received a review copy





Check out the rest of the Gold Hockey Standalones!


Gold Hockey, Book 1
B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Offsides-Gold Hockey, Book 1.5
iBooks | B&N


Aside from writing romance, Elise’s passions are chocolate, Star Wars, and hockey (the order depending on the day and how well her team — the Sharks! — are playing). She and her husband also play as much hockey as they can squeeze into their schedules, so much so that their typical date night is spent on the ice. Elise is the mom to two exuberant boys and is thoroughly addicted to Dancing With the Stars. Connect with her on facebook (facebook.com/elisefaberauthor), twitter (@faberelise), instagram (@elisefaber) or http://www.elisefaber.com.

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