Author: Jill Sorenson

Review: Against the Wall by Jill Sorenson

Posted February 3, 2016 by Rowena in Reviews | 0 Comments

Review: Against the Wall by Jill SorensonReviewer: Rowena
Against the Wall by Jill Sorenson

Publication Date: February 2nd 2016
Pages: 278
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
four-stars

Fans of Katie McGarry, Simone Elkeles, and Tammara Webber will love Against the Wall!

As teenagers, they fell for each other despite the odds. But now that Eric and Meghan are all grown up, they’re reunited by fierce passion and dangerous secrets.  

Eric Hernandez is the bad boy of every schoolgirl’s fantasies—and every mother’s nightmares. But after serving time for manslaughter, he’s ready to turn his life around. He just needs a chance to prove himself as a professional tattoo artist. The one thing that keeps him going is the memory of the innocent beauty he loved and left behind.  

Meghan Young’s world isn’t as perfect as it looks. The preacher’s daughter is living a lie, especially now that Eric is back. Tougher, harder, and sexier than ever, he might be the only person she can trust. But there’s no telling what he’ll do to protect her if he learns the truth, and that’s a risk Meghan won’t let him take. And yet, back in the arms of the troubled boy with the artist’s soul, Meghan can’t help surrendering to the man he’s become.  

Praise for Jill Sorenson   “Jill Sorenson’s sleek sensuality and fresh new voice are sure to score big with readers.”New York Times bestselling author Cindy Gerard   “With Jill Sorenson, you are guaranteed a dangerously addictive, gut-wrenchingly fast-paced read.”New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Tyler  

Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.

That was what I looked like when I first heard that Meghan and Eric were getting their own book. When I heard that they were a little older, Eric was out of jail and they were finally going to get their shit together and work toward that happy ending.

happy sigh

I was a fan of their secondary romance in The Edge of Night and I hoped that that wasn’t the last we saw of both Eric and Meghan so this was like a dream come true for me.

I’m happy to report that Jill Sorenson won me over yet again with Eric and Meghan’s story. I loved their characters so much from The Edge of Night that getting their story front and center was such a treat for me and I thought Sorenson did a fantastic job of bringing their characters into the lime-light because they shined.

Eric just got out of jail for manslaughter and is staying with April and Noah until he can figure something else out and he’s staying in Meghan’s old room. Noah isn’t too happy with the situation since he’s not wild about Eric and how Eric broke his sister’s heart but April’s happiness is high on Noah’s priority list and she wants Eric there so Eric is staying, whether he wants it or not. Eric isn’t too happy about the arrangement either but he’s got nowhere else to go so he’s just as stuck as Noah is.

Eric is still in love with Meghan but knows that that ship has sailed, considering she’s in a relationship with some new guy named Chip. He knew that he lost her the minute he shut her down, making sure she didn’t wait for him but he wasn’t prepared for the intense feelings to resurface as if they had never gone away, just from seeing her again after all of these years.

He tries to move on from her but they’re destined to be together and the chemistry that sizzled between them all those years ago is still there and after a while, it’s dumb to keep fighting it so seeing them get back to where they were all those years ago warmed my heart. These two had their own issues they needed to figure out and while it was hard to read through at times (Meghan’s whole deal with Chip and seeing Eric struggle to find his footing and trying to stay straight after being in prison), I just enjoyed the entire thing. I loved seeing these two figure their issues out way back in The Edge of Night but seeing them as grown ups now and seeing them find each other again and fall in love again? LOVE!

Eric and Meghan’s story wormed its way into my heart and I’m so happy with their story. I definitely recommend.

Grade: 4 out of 5

four-stars


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Guest Review: Against the Wall by Jill Sorenson

Posted February 1, 2016 by Tracy in Reviews | 1 Comment

Guest Review: Against the Wall by Jill SorensonReviewer: Tracy
Against the Wall
Publication Date: February 2, 2016
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
three-half-stars

Eric Hernandez is the bad boy of every schoolgirl’s fantasies—and every mother’s nightmares. But after serving time for manslaughter, he’s ready to turn his life around. He just needs a chance to prove himself as a professional tattoo artist. The one thing that keeps him going is the memory of the innocent beauty he loved and left behind.

Meghan Young’s world isn’t as perfect as it looks. The preacher’s daughter is living a lie, especially now that Eric is back. Tougher, harder, and sexier than ever, he might be the only person she can trust. But there’s no telling what he’ll do to protect her if he learns the truth, and that’s a risk Meghan won’t let him take. And yet, back in the arms of the troubled boy with the artist’s soul, Meghan can’t help surrendering to the man he’s become.

Eric Hernandez just got out of a halfway house after having lived there for the past three months.  He was required to live there after he got out of prison, having served three years for manslaughter.  He grew up hard and in a gang-filled neighborhood but he’s determined to never go back to prison. Both his father and brother died in prison and that’s not the way he wants to live his life. That means no associating with known criminals, not going back to his gang and not making a move on Meghan Young – the girl he’s been in love with for years.

Meghan is a college student who is in love with Eric.  They were together and she was willing to wait for him but he told her in no uncertain terms that she was a one-off and that she was nothing special to him.  Determined to move on she eventually moves in with her rich boyfriend, Chip.  She knows almost immediately that it’s a mistake but she’s not sure what to do about it.  When Eric moves in with her brother (who’s married to Eric’s ex sister-in-law) and Meghan sees him again she knows that her feelings haven’t changed.

Eric gets a job at a local tattoo studio and tries to stay out of trouble but as much as he wants nothing to do with his old gang or their rivals he finds himself in trouble once again and when Meghan’s life is threatened he knows that he can’t lose her.

Most of the NA books that I read are college related with both characters (or at least most of the time) being students.  This was a more than different with Eric having just gotten out of prison.  I felt his inner turmoil in wanting to do what’s right but knowing that he’s not a soft person and some things are just ingrained in him.  He tries so hard to do the right thing but the odds are so stacked against him and it made my heart ache for him.  He had killed the rival gang member in self-defense but admitted his crime and did the time.  He didn’t try to make light of that and I really liked that about the story.

Meghan was a litle harder to me to get close too.  Even though Eric was a tough guy I understood him and his thoughts.  With Meghan I sometimes had a hard time relating to her.  Her decisions with Chip made no sense to me and while at times she knew what she wanted other times she was wishy-washy about it.
In the book Meghan and Noah’s background was religious as they were preacher’s kids but they were raised Episcopalian.  I’m an Episcopalian and the way the church was depicted in this book, incredibly strict, was a bit alarming as I’ve never been to an Episcopal church like the one described in Against the Wall.  Now, if Sorenson had said Baptist (I was raised Baptist and they were extremely strict) then that would have made more sense.  I think that most people will skim over that part and not pay it a lot of attention but since it’s near and dear to me this deviation stood out to me.

I really enjoyed this story and hope that we’ll soon get to read about Meghan’s friend, Kelsea, as there was a part of the story involving her that was unfinished.

The story is tough and gritty but well done and worth reading.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5

three-half-stars


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Sunday Spotlight: Against the Wall by Jill Sorenson

Posted January 3, 2016 by Rowena in Features, Giveaways | 6 Comments

Sunday Spotlight is a new feature we’re running in 2016. Each week, we will spotlight a release that we’re excited about. We’ll be posting exclusive excerpts and being total fangirls. You’ve been warned. 🙂

Sunday Spotlight

To start things off, Jill Sorenson has a book coming out next month that I forgot I wanted. You see, back in 2011 I read The Edge of Night and really enjoyed it. You can read my review of that book here. I also really enjoyed the secondary romance but wanted more from Eric’s character and wanted a longer, fully fleshed out romance for Eric and Meghan. I hoped Eric would get his own book and my wishes came true because Against the Wall comes out on February 2, 2016 and…IT’S ERIC AND MEGHAN’S BOOK!

Excuse me while I do a little happy dance…

After reading the premise for this book, I’m even more excited because holy cow…I’m so stoked to see these two all grown up and falling in love again. I have every faith that Jill Sorenson will work her magic and completely win me over. I can’t wait for more Eric. Eric Hernandez is full of yum. In my head, this is Eric.

Eric Hernandez

heart eye emoji

Sunday Spotlight: Against the Wall by Jill SorensonAgainst the Wall by Jill Sorenson
Publisher: Loveswept
Publication Date: February 2, 2016
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Pages: 280
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books

Fans of Katie McGarry, Simone Elkeles, and Tammara Webber will love Against the Wall! As teenagers, they fell for each other despite the odds. But now that Eric and Meghan are all grown up, they’re reunited by fierce passion and dangerous secrets.
 
Eric Hernandez is the bad boy of every schoolgirl’s fantasies—and every mother’s nightmares. But after serving time for manslaughter, he’s ready to turn his life around. He just needs a chance to prove himself as a professional tattoo artist. The one thing that keeps him going is the memory of the innocent beauty he loved and left behind.   Meghan Young’s world isn’t as perfect as it looks. The preacher’s daughter is living a lie, especially now that Eric is back. Tougher, harder, and sexier than ever, he might be the only person she can trust. But there’s no telling what he’ll do to protect her if he learns the truth, and that’s a risk Meghan won’t let him take. And yet, back in the arms of the troubled boy with the artist’s soul, Meghan can’t help surrendering to the man he’s become.  Praise for Jill Sorenson   “Jill Sorenson’s sleek sensuality and fresh new voice are sure to score big with readers.”New York Times bestselling author Cindy Gerard   “With Jill Sorenson, you are guaranteed a dangerously addictive, gut-wrenchingly fast-paced read.”New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Tyler Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.

Jill Sorenson set this excerpt up for us and I’m more than a little anxious. Check it out: In this excerpt, Meghan returns to her brother’s house to search for a letter she wrote to Eric while he was in prison.

Excerpt

I park in the driveway at Noah’s house and unlock the front door. I’m greeted by silence, so I head straight to the den. Eric’s not there. The bed is neatly made with a black backpack sitting on top of it. I’m tempted to search through his stuff, but I resist the urge. I came for my letter, which he rejected. He didn’t want it then and he doesn’t deserve to read it now.
The only question is…where did I put it?

I start in the closet, shoving my old clothes aside. My body hums with a strange sort of tension. It takes me a minute to realize that it’s anger. I’m mad at myself for leaving the letter behind. I’m mad at Eric for coming back from prison, more handsome than ever. I’m mad at Chip for bruising my arm. I’m mad at my parents for being so disappointed in my choices. I’m mad at the world and at the way things worked out.

I find some photos and jewelry in a shoebox, but my letter isn’t there. I suspect that April has moved my belongings and I feel a twinge of pique. Leaving the closet in a disarray, I check the nightstand. Eric’s clothes are in the top drawer, along with a shaving kit and a stick of deodorant. I imagine removing the lid to smell it like a lovesick girl.

I grit my teeth and shove that drawer shut, moving on to the next one. There’s a large manila envelope stuffed with letters that aren’t mine. I peek inside anyway. I can’t read the folded pages without removing them, but I recognize the slanted masculine scrawl.

Before I can snoop further, someone walks in the front door.

“Hello?”

It’s Eric. I toss the envelope back into the drawer and shut it quickly. He appears in the doorway before I have a chance to escape. I can’t come up with an excuse to be in here, so I just stare at him, my heart racing. He’s wearing the same shirt as yesterday with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His boots are work-worn, his jaw smooth. Freshly shaved. There’s no hint of softness in his body. He’s all sharp edges.

He’s quieter than I remember, more self-possessed. There’s a new stillness in him, as if he’s braced for trouble. “You don’t have to clear out your stuff on my account. I told April not to bother you.”

I cross my arms over my chest to hide my trembling hands. Then I glance into the closet, which is full of the quirky thrift shop clothes I used to wear, BC. Before Chip. “I wanted to pick up a few things.”

Eric stands at the threshold, studying me. He looks hot. Not just good-looking hot, but sweaty-hot, as if he’s been walking in the sun for miles. He probably wants me to leave so he can freshen up. I imagine him stripping down to the waist and my brain short-circuits. He’s got more tattoos now. Harder muscles, broader shoulders.

I clear my throat, flushing. I feel trapped and awkward, in danger of embarrassing myself. I can’t find my letter with him watching. “I’m sorry about Chip.”

Eric shrugs. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not. He was rude.”

“Does he know about…?” He trails off, making a vague gesture between us.

“He knows now.”

His gaze searches mine, brow furrowed as if he’s wondering how many details I shared. He makes no attempt to apologize for the things he said when I visited him in jail. Maybe he doesn’t remember that conversation—or care.

“I heard Noah set you up with an interview at Fine Ink.”

“Yeah, he did.”

Matthew Fine is my best friend’s dad. He met Noah through me. “How’d it go?”

“Pretty good. I start tomorrow.”

“You move fast.”

“Not always.”

I’m not sure what he means by that. He moved pretty fast with me. Then again, I threw myself at him.
“I need a bag for my stuff,” I say, brushing by him. April keeps trash bags in the kitchen. I grab one and return to the den. Eric makes himself scarce while I start tossing vintage tees and secondhand dresses into the large plastic bag.

When I’m done, I tiptoe to the desk in the corner. It has a hidden drawer that I haven’t thought about in ages. My fingers search the underside of the desk for the release mechanism. It pops open and sure enough, there’s a pale blue envelope inside, next to a cross on a thin silver chain. Eric left it for me the day he got arrested. He seemed to know he wasn’t coming back from that fight.
I shove the necklace into my pocket and hide the letter in the clothes. Then I pick up the trash bag and drag it out. Eric is in the living room, drinking a soda. He opens the front door because my hands are full.

“I’ll carry that for you,” he says.

“No, I’ve got it.”

I try to sidestep him, but I’m all out of sorts and clumsy. I stumble over a potted plant by the entryway. He grabs my arm to save me from falling on my ass. Unfortunately, it’s the tender arm. I wince as he steadies me.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

His hand slides to my elbow. It’s a man’s hand, strong and dark against my pale skin. The fingerprint bruises are visible on my upper arm, just under the edge of my shirtsleeve. He pushes up the fabric, frowning. “What happened to you?”

“Nothing.”

“Chip did this?”

“I bruise easily,” I say.

The last thing I want is Eric going after Chip. The two of them hated each other on sight. I don’t need any more grief from Chip, and Eric is supposed to stay out of trouble. One slip and he’ll be back in prison.

He releases my arm, which tingles from his touch. Then his eyes travel down my body, as if searching for more injuries. I’m wearing a thin tunic blouse with cutoff denim shorts and huarache sandals. His gaze lingers on my bare legs.

We both notice the silver chain at the same time. It must have slipped from my pocket. Now it’s lying on the carpet, glittering in the afternoon haze like a beacon of shame. He bends down to retrieve it.

“That’s yours.”

“I know,” he says flatly.

I want to tell him that the item means nothing to me, but I’m not the best liar. My mouth goes dry and I don’t trust my voice. He puts the cross in his pocket, straightening. I couldn’t bring myself to fling the necklace off the end of the pier after he went away. Instead I crushed it into my fist and wept.

Moving past him, I continue out the door. He follows me to my car and helps me put the bag in my trunk. I stand by the curb, self-conscious. I can smell freshly cut grass and warm dirt. Bees buzz in the background, swarming high in the trees. My face is hot, heart racing. I feel alive in an uncomfortable way. It’s as if I’ve been reanimated or woken up from a coma. I’m not ready for this much stimulation.

“You look good,” he says.

“So do you,” I reply, mildly resentful of this fact. He doesn’t look good for someone who’s been in prison for three years, either. He looks good, period. He looks hard and healthy and strong. He looks like he hasn’t seen a pretty girl in a long time and he wants to eat me up.

“I’d better go,” I say.

“Yeah. You’d better.”

Despite the warning in his tone, I don’t move. The memory of our ill-fated affair, and the way he broke things off, hangs in the air between us.

I can’t let him use me and toss me aside again just because he’s eager for female attention. He’s young and well-built. He’s always been handsome. He’ll have no trouble finding a girl to hook up with. He needs a single girl, one who won’t cause so many complications in his life. Noah would be furious if Eric touched me, and Chip would go ballistic.

Even so, I lean forward to kiss him goodbye. My lips brush his cheek, lingering close to his mouth. It’s a friendly kiss, even sisterly, but I’m taunting him and he knows it. His jaw clenches with tension.

I want to elicit a reaction from him. I want to make him sorry. I have this revenge-fantasy of getting him excited and then pushing him away.

Excuse me for a minute…

Holy smokes, I can’t freaking wait for this book to come out. I’ve got a case of major grabby hands so I’m pretty sure that come February 2nd, this is going to be me…

Giveaway: We’re giving one lucky winner their choice of one of our Sunday Spotlight books. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter for one of January’s features.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Are you as excited for this release as we are? Let us know how excited you are and what other books you’re excited for this year!

About Jill Sorenson

Jill Sorenson is the RITA-nominated author of more than a dozen romantic suspense novels, including the Aftershock series by HQN. She lives in the San Diego area with her family. She’s a soccer mom who loves nature, coffee, reading, twitter and reality TV.

Riding Dirty is her first erotic suspense novel.


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Guest Review: Shooting Dirty by Jill Sorenson

Posted September 29, 2015 by Tracy in Reviews | 0 Comments

Guest Review: Shooting Dirty by Jill SorensonReviewer: Tracy
Shooting Dirty by Jill Sorenson
Series: Dirty Eleven MC #2
Also in this series: Riding Dirty, Riding Dirty, Shooting Dirty
Publisher: Carina Press
Publication Date: September 21, 2015
Format: eARC
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
three-half-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

She’s his only salvation.

Ace Clemmons has wanted Janelle from the moment he first saw her. Taking her captive while he carried out his last hit as a member of Dirty Eleven nearly broke him. Now that he’s gone straight, he’s back in her life, looking to stake his claim. He can’t erase the past but he’ll do anything to make it up to her.

Janelle Parker needs a new start, far away from the trailer park and the strip club. A down and dirty affair with a tattooed criminal is a step in the wrong direction, but she can’t resist Ace’s deliciously commanding touch, which has haunted her dreams for months. Soon they’re both in too deep, falling hard and fast—until an old feud with a rival motorcycle club explodes into an all-out war. Dirty Eleven’s enemies won’t hesitate to hurt Janelle to get to Ace. She has to fight to survive… and for the fiercest love she’s ever known.

Tracy’s review of Shooting Dirty (Dirty Eleven MC #2) by Jill Sorenson

 

Ace was once in the Dirty Eleven MC but quit because he wanted custody of his 3 year old daughter. He owns his own demolition company but he still does some murder for hire. He really hates it but he’s good at it. He “met” Janelle when he was on a job to kill the father of her son. He doesn’t want to be attracted to her but he can’t seem to keep himself away from her.

Janelle is a topless dancer and she actually enjoys it for the most part. She does want a better life for herself and for her 12 year old son but she can’t seem to catch a break. The last thing she needs is to get involved with Ace but the more he’s around her the more she wants him.

Janelle, despite her resolve to stay away from Ace, ends up having a sexual relationship with Ace. Unfortunately this puts him in the spotlight of those who would do both her, her son, and Ace harm. Janelle has to decide if being with Ace is worth all the danger.

Shooting Dirty is the second book in the Dirty Eleven series and it was an interesting one. I thought there was definitely more focus on Ace and his issues with his old MC and the rival MC than there was on the romance. That said, I felt that the story kind of lacked romance. Yes, it was a love story in it’s own dark, gritty way and there was definitely a relationship going on between Janelle and Ace but I really struggled to feel the love between the to main characters.

Janelle was trying for a better life and while I felt that she had feelings for Ace I just didn’t see the love blossoming between the two of them. That caused my brain to wonder how much of a better life she’d have with Ace. Yes, the issues were worked out in the end but it still made me wonder.

The writing, as usual, was what made this book for me. Sorenson always drags me into her stories and doesn’t let go. I didn’t put this one down once I started reading it, despite my issues with it, because of the story-telling…it was good. J

If you like a gritty, dirty, rough and tough love story then this one is definitely for you.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

This title is available from Carina Press. You can buy it here or here in e-format. This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

three-half-stars


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Review: Shooting Dirty by Jill Sorenson

Posted September 18, 2015 by Rowena in Reviews | 1 Comment

Review: Shooting Dirty by Jill SorensonReviewer: Rowena
Shooting Dirty by Jill Sorenson
Series: Dirty Eleven MC #2
Also in this series: Riding Dirty, Riding Dirty, Shooting Dirty
Publisher: Carina Press
Publication Date: September 21st 2015
Genres: Suspense
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
four-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

She's his only salvation

Ace Clemmons has wanted Janelle from the moment he first saw her. Taking her captive while he carried out his last hit as a member of Dirty Eleven nearly broke him. Now that he's gone straight, he's back in her life, looking to stake his claim. He can't erase the past but he'll do anything to make it up to her.

Janelle Parker needs a new start, far away from the trailer park and the strip club. A down and dirty affair with a tattooed criminal is a step in the wrong direction, but she can't resist Ace's deliciously commanding touch, which has haunted her dreams for months. Soon they're both in too deep, falling hard and fast—until an old feud with a rival motorcycle club explodes into an all-out war. Dirty Eleven's enemies won't hesitate to hurt Janelle to get to Ace. She has to fight to survive…and for the fiercest love she's ever known.

I haven’t read many of Jill Sorenson’s books even though I keep meaning to. I picked this book up because it sounded interesting and I miss Sons of Anarchy. I’m super glad that I decided to try this one because it was good. Everything that I loved about SOA was found in this book. I thought Sorenson did a great job of writing that crude, tough macho anti-hero because like Jax Teller, I found myself really liking Ace.

So this book follows Ace and Janelle as they fumble their way to their happy ending. Ace is an ex-member of the Dirty Eleven MC. He used to be the enforcer, the guy the club sent out to do the dirty work and by dirty work, I mean kill. lol. After his last job, which involved kidnapping a young woman and holding her hostage, he threw in the towel – much to the chagrin of the President of his MC. When he gave up his patch, he was supposed to be shunned from the other brothers in the MC but as Ace starts handling his business in this book, he realizes that his brothers from Dirty Eleven are still his brothers. They still have his back and that’s a good thing cause he needs them.

Janelle is a stripper trying to make ends meet and build a better future for herself. She’s doing all of this in an effort to give her young son, a better life. Things haven’t always been easy for Janelle but she’s smart and determined. The last thing she needs is a bunch of bikers sniffing around her doorstep, looking for Ace – the guy that kidnapped her. The guy that she can’t get out of her mind, no matter how hard she tries.

So Ace and Janelle are thrown together and Ace tries his best to look out for Janelle and her young son, Jamie. He’s not the caring type but he feels a responsibility toward Janelle so he watches out for her.

The romance between Ace and Janelle wasn’t perfect but neither was the world that they live in. The book can be described as crude, gritty and raw and the story in general, just worked for me. I was into everything that was going on and even with Ace, not being the most stand up of guys (I mean, let’s be real – he used to be a killer) but like Jax Teller, I loved him anyway.

I thought Janelle was a great heroine. She didn’t put up with anyone’s shit and she stood up for herself and for those that couldn’t stand up for themselves (at work). She wasn’t the most perfect of mothers but I liked that she never stopped trying. She made the most of not only what she had but of every situation thrown her way and at the very front of her priorities was her son.

There was a lot of things in this book that made me roll my eyes down the street but overall, the story itself was entertaining and I enjoyed it. I’m definitely looking for more from this series. I’ve got my fingers crossed for a book between Tiffany and Rex. Please make that happen, Jill Sorenson. 🙂

Grade: 4 out of 5

This book is available from Carina Press. You can purchase it here or here in e-format. This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

four-stars


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