Take a look at this month’s selection of bestsellers now in paperback! July had a great selection of bestselling books to check out from thrilling mysteries to enthralling literary reads, and insightful biographies. Pick up these latest paperback books by bestselling authors Lucy Foley, Paulo Coelho, Karen Marie Moning, Jessica Goodman, Omid Scobie, Carolyn Durand, and many more!
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New Romantic Novels to Read | August 2021
New Romantic Novels to Read | August 2021
Looking for a new romantic comedy or a second chance romance? Don't miss out on our favorite new romance reads from USA Today and New York Times Bestselling Authors Sarah Kraft, Teri Wilson, Lisa Darcy, Erin Ritch, Jennifer Snow, Amanda Arista, and Lori Foster. Enjoy your new romance books!
Once Upon a Royal Summer
by Teri Wilson
Release Date: June 15, 2021
Get the royal romantic comedy that everybody's talking about by Hallmark and USA Today Bestselling Author Teri Wilson...Lacey found her dream job: playing a princess character at a popular fairytale theme park in sunny southern Florida. Her diamond tiara might not be real, but the smiles of the children she meets every day certainly are. It’s just too bad that her ex-boyfriend was never impressed with her career choice. Henry, the crown prince of Bella-Moritz, is trying to fulfill his young daughter’s birthday wish: to be a normal girl with a normal life. That’s why they’re pretending to be ordinary tourists at an American amusement park. Henry lost his wife four years ago, and he’s been going through the motions ever since. But could a meeting with a make-believe princess lead to real love?
Five Years Later
by Sarah Kraft
Release Date: August 21, 2021
An emotional second-chance bestseller from Sarah Kraft...When Portland sales girl, Elle Fox, takes some old friends up on an offer to join their group "zencation" to the Oregon Coast, she hardly expects their gathering to include her ex, Scott Darcy. Told in dual timelines, Five Years Later explores the trials of true love, the ties of a family divided, and the challenges of forgiving those who unintentionally hurt us - including ourselves.
Witchy Coffee
by Erin Ritch
Release Date: August 14, 2021
Practical Magic meets You’ve Got Mail in this clean witchy romance by bestselling author Erin Ritch...Set on the enchanting Oregon coastline, Witchy Coffee is filled to the brim with magical hijinks, an authentic enemies-to-lovers romance, and the cozy atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest during the holidays. Settle in with a coffee and slip away to the little town of Windia, where the forest meets the sea and there’s a promise of magic in every corner.
My Big Greek Holiday
by Lisa Darcy
Release Date: July 30, 2021
Get away from it all with this heart-warming vacation rom-com from bestselling author Lisa Darcy...On an all-expenses-paid holiday, Claudia Taylor jets off to glorious Santorini with her two best friends, Tara and Sophie. But when her simple task of handing over a flash drive becomes complicated, and the handsome Jack tries to romance her, Claudia’s holiday becomes less relaxing than she’d hoped.
Alaska Reunion
by Jennifer Snow
Release Date: August 24, 2021
Book 5 of the Wild River series by USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer Snow...Still single and still pining for the guy who got away, Ellie Mitchell cringes at the prospect of attending her high school reunion. She just can’t face showing up alone—with her dreams of becoming a teacher still unfulfilled—when her ex will be bringing a model-gorgeous plus-one. Callum McKendrick has been in love with Ellie forever, but he’s not sure his coworker takes him seriously. Offering to be her date for the reunion is his chance to show Ellie just what she’s missing by being stuck in the past, but will becoming her fake boyfriend be enough to prove that Callum is her perfect match?
Diaries of an Urban Panther
by Amanda Arista
Release Date: August 24, 2021
The newly released author edition of a shifter romance by bestselling author Amanda Arista...Violet Jordan thought the fairy tales her mother wove were just a way to get Violet to sleep, not a way to prepare her for the apocalypse she is the key to preventing. When she becomes a midnight snack for werepanther Spencer Haverty, his infectious bite invokes the first element of her destiny. When Violet’s budding instincts allow her to save a boy’s life, she realizes this new gig may come with perks: a slimmer figure, the attention of a handsome Guardian, and insights into her future embedded in her mother’s stories. But as push comes to claws, can Violet make the fatal strike against the men threatening her new family, her new home and her first boyfriend in ages?
Stronger Than You Know
by Lori Foster
Release Date: August 24, 2021
Book 2 of The McKenzies of Ridge Trail series by New York Times Bestselling Author Lori Foster...Kennedy Brooks has spent years learning how to protect herself and empowering other women to do the same. But, there are some hazards that can’t be predicted like Reyes McKenzie. Strong, capable, and watchful, he seems like the one man who might understand her. For once, Kennedy is tempted to let her guard down—something she’s vowed never to do. The moment Kennedy walked into his gym, Reyes knew that she carried secrets. What he didn’t expect was that she could tell the same about him. When trouble tracks her down, she turns to Reyes for help. But will her need for him end when the danger does, or will they take the ultimate risk—on each other?
New Science Fiction & Fantasy Books to Read | August 2021
New Science Fiction & Fantasy Books to Read | August 2021
Science Fiction and Fantasy readers have a host of new novels this week! Check out our favorite post-apocalyptic, urban, and epic adventures. Enjoy your new books by bestselling authors AJ Rugg, Sam J Fires, BR Kingsolver, Christine Kersey, Elise Kova, and Elizabeth Hunter!
Esther (The Watcher Trilogy Book 1)
by AJ Rugg
Release Date: July 18, 2021
Book 1 of The Watcher Trilogy, a new fantasy series from debut author AJ Rugg...Mahilde is the last of an ancient race that can harness the power of the Earth but she is waning in a world almost devoid of magic. Her task is to protect the child, the one chance against the darkness, but she cannot do it alone. She finds Malcolm, an aging mercenary who cares for nothing but coin, and Willich, a hopeless drunkard who longs for his own death. With these two she must spark a rebellion, for the demon, Morbus has turned monarchs to his will and their populations into mindless fanatics.
Dark Souls (Ravaged World Book 1 )
by Sam J Fires
Release Date: August 19, 2021
An exciting new post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller from bestselling author Sam J Fires...A decade after the apocalypse, the planet is suffocating. Travis is the savior: he brings order to a disordered society, or what's left of it. But a murder rocks the community. The people turn to Travis for answers. Sixteen-year-old Lea may only be just a teenager, but she's lived through it all. Can she help Travis nail the murderer and avoid her own untimely death?
The Gambler Grimoire (Wicklow College of Arcane Arts Book 1)
by BR Kingsolver
Release Date: August 22, 2021
A new paranormal and urban mystery from Amazon Bestselling Author BR Kingsolver...When Savanna Robinson showed up at Wicklow College to assume her new teaching position, she was somewhat curious about the abrupt departure of her predecessor. Then she discovered he had been murdered. No one knew who killed him, or why, but everyone had their theories and suspects. Even the police—arcane and mundane—didn’t seem very eager to investigate too deeply.
Chaos Begins (EMP Collapse Book 1)
by Christine Kersey
Release Date: August 24, 2021
A post-apocalyptic EMP survival thriller from Christine Kersey...When an EMP takes down the power grid and everything that runs on a computer chip, Melissa has no choice but to walk from her office in downtown Salt Lake City to her home in a suburb fifteen miles south. With a few co-workers to keep her company, she isn’t too worried—until they begin their journey and discover how quickly society can fall apart. Alex, Melissa’s husband, works thirty blocks south of Melissa’s office. When everything stops working he has to decide whether to head north and find Melissa or go in the opposite direction to see if their teenage children made it home. Only trouble is, he’s by himself and danger is everywhere.
The Bone Scroll (Elemental Legacy Book 5)
by Elizabeth Hunter
Release Date: August 24, 2021
The next supernatural mystery in the Elemental Legacy series by USA Today Bestselling Author Elizabeth Hunter...It’s a secret lost in time, a myth among immortals, a relic of such power that vampires around the world have quietly harbored the hope that it doesn’t really exist. It’s a mystery that Tenzin and Ben cannot resist. But to obtain the Bone Scroll, they’ll need leverage over the most powerful and mercurial vampire in the known world: Saba, the mother of vampires. She is playing her own game, and both Ben and Tenzin are no more than pawns. Can Tenzin, Ben, and Saba outsmart and outmaneuver the most primeval beings in their race to find the Bone Scroll before it lands in the possession of those who care only for their own selfish gain?
A Dance with the Fae Prince (Married to Magic)
by Elise Kova
Release Date: August 19, 2021
USA Today Bestselling Author Elise Kova brings us a new standalone fantasy...Katria swore she'd never fall in love. So when she's married off to the mysterious Lord Fenwood for a handsome price, all Katria wants is a better life than the one she's leaving. Feelings are off the table, but her new husband makes not falling in love difficult. But, Katria must also survive as a human who accidentally pilfered the magic of ancient kings - magic a bloodthirsty king is ready to kill her for in order to keep his stolen throne - and her new husband is the rightful heir in hiding. The power to save the fae is in her hands. Who will save her from a love she vowed never to feel?
The Buzziest Books of August | 2021
The Buzziest Books of August | 2021
The month of August was a great time for readers with a host of exciting releases from bestselling authors. There were so many page-turning novels that captivated us from cover to cover this month. If you want to catch up on the books everyone was talking about, here are our choices for the buzziest books of August. Happy reading!
Billy Summers
by Stephen King
Release Date: August 3, 2021
From legendary storyteller, Stephen King, whose “restless imagination is a power that cannot be contained” (The New York Times Book Review), comes a thrilling new novel about a good guy in a bad job.
The Long Slide: Thirty Years in American Journalism
by Tucker Carlson
Release Date: August 10, 2021
From the host of Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News and the New York Times bestselling author of Ship of Fools, a collection of nostalgic writings that underscore America’s long slide from innocence to orthodoxy.
Starlight Enclave
by R. A. Salvatore
Release Date: August 3, 2021
From New York Times bestselling author R. A. Salvatore comes a new trilogy and adventure of Drizzt and fantasy’s beloved characters from Dungeons & Dragons’ Forgotten Realms.
We Are the Brennans
by Tracey Lange
Release Date: August 3, 2021
In the vein of Mary Beth Keane’s Ask Again, Yes and Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney's The Nest, Tracey Lange’s We Are the Brennans explores the staying power of shame—and the redemptive power of love—in an Irish Catholic family torn apart by secrets.
Velvet Was the Night
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Release Date: August 17, 2021
From the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic comes a “delicious, twisted treat for lovers of noir” (Simone St. James, New York Times bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel,) about a daydreaming secretary, a lonesome enforcer, and the mystery of a missing woman they’re both desperate to find.
We Were Never Here
by Andrea Bartz
Release Date: August 3, 2021
A backpacking trip has deadly consequences in this “eerie psychological thriller . . . with alluring locales, Hitchcockian tension, and possibly the best pair of female leads since Thelma and Louise” (BookPage), from the bestselling author of The Lost Night and The Herd.
The Noise
by James Patterson & J. D. Barker
Release Date: August 16, 2021
In the shadow of Mount Hood, sixteen-year-old Tennant is checking rabbit traps with her eight-year-old sister Sophie when the girls are suddenly overcome by a strange vibration rising out of the forest, building in intensity until it sounds like a deafening crescendo of screams. From out of nowhere, their father sweeps them up and drops them through a trapdoor into a storm cellar. But the sound only gets worse...
If the Shoe Fits
by Julie Murphy
Release Date: August 3, 2021
Best-selling author Julie Murphy’s reimagining of a beloved fairy tale is an enchanting story of self-love and believing in the happy ending each and every one of us deserves. If the shoe doesn’t fit, maybe it’s time to design your own.
A Terrible Fall of Angels
by Laurell K. Hamilton
Release Date: August 17, 2021
Angels walk among us, but so do other unearthly beings in this brand new series by #1 New York Times Bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton.
The Heart Principle
by Helen Hoang
Release Date: August 31, 2021
A woman struggling with burnout learns to embrace the unexpected—and the man she enlists to help her—in this heartfelt new romance by USA Today bestselling author Helen Hoang.
Interview with Sam J Fires, Author of Dark Souls (Ravaged World)
What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Dark Souls (Ravaged World)? The inspiration for my book was climate change. And I love all things post-apocalyptic so I thought I would combine the two. This is a unique type of catastrophic change in the weather. Rather than the world heating up, as is what's happening in real life, the planet is suffocated by a never-ending tirade of sandstorms. The sand has 'special' qualities, so, you won't want to touch it! The great thing about humanity is that no matter what's thrown, somehow, it always manages to adapt and survive, albeit in my books the population is decimated. So, there is hope. Dark Souls starts off with a gruesome murder. The city's new leader Travis, who is a charismatic but controlling man, orders an investigation to find the killer and bring him to justice. Travis's loyal and trustworthy followers, Vincent and his assistant, a young girl called Lea set out to find him. It's a very dangerous assignment, and all is not what it appears in Dark Souls. If you woke up in the world of Dark Souls (Ravaged World), what is the first thing you would do? I would need to find shelter away from the vicious sandstorms, then water and food. If I could be transported to another land or planet I would do that! If you had to write a blurb for the last book you read, what would it say? The Dying Animal David is a college lecturer in his sixties. He sees that his life has passed him by as a mediocre academic and a minor celebrity. He looks for comfort in the arms of his young, nubile students and becomes obsessed with a young Cuban woman. They begin to have a torrid affair, which for once, completely throws David and strips away the facade of a cultured and sophisticated academic. Who is the dying animal? Ironically it's not David but the young woman. Age triumphs beauty. Is this life or a living death? Lucky him to have the choice. Where did you write Dark Souls (Ravaged World)? Perhaps the best question is, when?! I have a daytime job, so free time is when you're not working the day job. My best time is the early mornings when it's quiet and my mind is fresh. I usually wake up about 5 ish, get my cup of tea and go back to bed... to write! Pretend you qualified for the Olympics this year. What sport would you compete in? The sport of couch potatoes! Seriously, I used to be quite good at sprinting, so the 100m sprint. I also loved playing hockey, so maybe hockey too.
Sam J Fires is the author of the new book Dark Souls (Ravaged World Book 1) Connect with Sam J Fires
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Interview with BR Kingsolver, Author of The Gambler Grimoire
What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The Gambler Grimoire? Most academy/college urban fantasy novels are written as Young Adult or New Adult stories, with students as the main characters. I wanted to use that setting, but with adults as the main characters. A college makes a great cozy mystery setting. If you woke up in the world of The Gambler Grimoire, what is the first thing you would do? It is a rather comfortable world. Other than witches and magic being common, it's basically the world we live in. If you had to write a blurb for the last book you read, what would it say? A not-very-good cozy mystery with two-dimensional characters that is really slow. Where did you write The Gambler Grimoire? I do most of my writing at the kitchen table. There's a bay window that overlooks a golf course with the mountains in the distance. Pretend you qualified for the Olympics this year. What sport would you compete in? Downhill skiing. Senior division.
BR Kingsolver is the author of the new book The Gambler Grimoire (Wicklow College of Arcane Arts Book 1) Connect with BR Kingsolver
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Interview with Erin Ritch, Author of Witchy Coffee
What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Witchy Coffee? I started writing Witchy Coffee in December 2020, when the pandemic felt especially dark and bleak. I had been watching a lot of Hallmark movies (as I usually do around the holidays...well, at any time, really) and loved the escapism they offered. That got me inspired to write my own "Hallmark style" story. I started compiling a list of all things that made me feel cozy - coffee, the Oregon coast, the holidays, and finding magic in everyday life. And from there, a story was born! I based the fictional town of Windia on the actual town of Astoria, Oregon, which most people recognize as the place where The Goonies was filmed. It truly is a magical community where you feel on top of the world. As I was writing, Witchy Coffee became my safe place to escape to, filled with all things magical and welcoming, and where everything works out in the end - just like in those Hallmark movies. I hope everyone that reads the story will feel the same. If you woke up in the world of Witchy Coffee, what is the first thing you would do? I would go straight to The Yurt and order the coffee special of the day! (Hopefully the Salted Sea Mussel Macchiato with sand sprinkles.) "The Yurt" is the name of the coffee shop that is at the heart of Witchy Coffee. I'd want to explore every nook and cranny and enjoy my coffee at the table with the very best view of the Pacific. I’d love the chance to share funny conversations with all my characters, ideally over more coffee and Pearl's baked treats! If you had to write a blurb for the last book you read, what would it say? When the Ton's most eligible bachelor Anthony Bridgerton announces he will marry, it's no surprise the lucky lady is Edwina Sheffield, this year's "diamond of the season." But fate has its own ideas, and when Anthony suddenly marries Edwina's sister Kate Sheffield instead, has this reformed rake finally found love? You can trust that Lady Whistledown's Society Papers will keep everyone informed of all the scandalous details. Where did you write Witchy Coffee? Most of Witchy Coffee was handwritten in the morning at my dining room table - with a cup of coffee, of course! Between my kids eating breakfast and playing dolls upstairs, I had about an hour to myself to write before my kids needed me again. And that's okay, it was just the right amount of time to finish my coffee and explore Windia before returning to "real life." If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be? Because of her witchy family background and connection to the ocean and forest, I would pick Samain Night by Loreena McKennitt as Florence Mackenzie's theme song. (I can absolutely envision her taking a walk down the beach on an autumn day listening to this!) And I would pick Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac for Samson Richards’ theme song. That song makes me think how Samson is trying to step out of his father's shadow and, well, "go his own way." Pretend you qualified for the Olympics this year. What sport would you compete in? I would compete in artistic swimming! I love to swim (I learned to swim in the lakes of Oregon) and I also love to dance (I took ballet lessons as a teen.) The athletes that compete in artistic swimming are so elegant and fierce, I love to watch their routines. And their makeup is always on point!
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Interview with Teri Wilson, Author of Once Upon a Royal Summer
What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Once Upon a Royal Summer? A couple of years ago I attended a Cinderella character dinner at Disney World in Orlando when I was there for a writing conference. I went with a group of romance authors, and we had the best time! I remember thinking how much fun it would be to write a book about someone who had the job of a theme park character. Then last year, after seeing a super glamorous photo of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sharing an umbrella and surrounded by raindrops that looked like falling stars, I really wanted to write a royal romance. I spent a weekend trying to figure out who my fictional prince should fall in love with, and when I remembered that Cinderella character dinner, I knew I had my perfect couple. If you woke up in the world of Once Upon a Royal Summer, what is the first thing you would do? The book is sort of split into two halves—the first half takes place at Lacey’s theme park in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and the second half is set in Prince Henry’s kingdom, Bella-Moritz, near the French Riviera. If I woke up in the first half of the book, I would definitely head straight to Lacey’s tea party at the Ever After Castle. If I woke up in the second half of the book, I think I’d nibble on macarons and sip champagne at one of the sidewalk cafés in Grand Flower Park. If you had to write a blurb for the last book you read, what would it say? Cinderella is a contestant on The Bachelor, and the suitor just might be her Prince Charming. This is for If The Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy, and it’s a delightful read! Where did you write Once Upon a Royal Summer? I wrote most of Once Upon a Royal Summer during Covid lockdown in 2020, so the bulk of it was written in my home office while I was hanging out with my dogs. It’s such a whimsical, joyful story and was the perfect escape during a difficult time. I hope people feel the same way about it when they read it. If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be? What a fun question! Lacey’s theme song would definitely be something from a Disney movie, probably A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes from Cinderella. Lacey’s job is being a theme park princess, but a lot of her actual personality goes into her character of Princess Sweet Pea. Prince Henry’s song would have to be Save the Last Dance for Me by Michael Bublé, because he and Lacey have a special connection on the dance floor, no matter whose castle they’re dancing in! Pretend you qualified for the Olympics this year. What sport would you compete in? I would compete in one of the equestrian events because I’m a big animal lover and I love all the posh ceremony surrounding those events.
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Interview with AJ Rugg, Author of Esther
What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Esther? I’ve been into Fantasy since reading Ursula Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea when I was a kid. My love for the genre turned into a bit of an obsession in my late teens and I found I was devouring every fantasy title I could get my hands on. Eventually, I found myself wishing that there was a bit of this book in that book and wondering what would happen if the characters of that book were to find themselves in the same situation as this book. After a while, the perfect (at least in my mind) set of characters and situations, world features, and bad guys came into being and I started writing the book. It took a very long time to finish. If you woke up in the world of Esther, what is the first thing you would do? I’d sit down with my character Mahilde and have a cup of tea. I’d listen to her talk of her worries and then I’d give her a big hug. Mahilde is a lonely old soul who has an impossible task, but she does it anyway. I think that’s what makes true heroes - those that know they’re going to fail but then do it anyway. I’d then have a strong word with Esther and tell her that she’s a kick ass warrior and to stop doubting herself. But then again, if I were to do that she wouldn’t learn all the things she does along the way and the book wouldn’t be nearly as interesting. If you had to write a blurb for the last book you read, what would it say? The last book I read was David Gemmell’s Sword in the Storm. I’ve actually lost track of how many times I’ve read this book, but I try to read it at least once a year. It inspires me. The blurb would say ‘Read this if you want to experience truly beautiful fantasy writing. Emulate it at your own risk. Where did you write Esther? It took me for than ten years to write Esther and I was fortunate to be traveling a lot during that time. My work and my travels took me to me to the Muslim islands of southern Thailand and I based the race of the Salat on the Thais there. I also wrote in the United Arab Emirates and Denmark and based two other cultures on the locals of those places. I write when I'm not working, which is part of the reason it took so long to finish Esther. I write mostly by hand, usually at my kitchen table. Pretend you qualified for the Olympics this year. What sport would you compete in? This year was the first time I really enjoyed watching the Olympics. In the middle of a Pandemic, it was just what the world needed. There was something really inspiring about watching the athletes. Their whole lives had led to that one point and they only had that one chance. I commend every one of them. I think I’d compete in skateboarding if I magically qualified. They were all so cool and really seemed to support each other. I loved the sportsmanship on show. The young female skaters were amazing and great role models for my baby daughter.
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Interview with Jurrell A. Pabrezis, Author of Forever Free
What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Forever Free? Forever Free is a fictionalized version of a very true time in my life. Many years ago, I joined a wrestling club in the Boston area. I met a lot of great people, three in particular that were like brothers. I wanted to honor the people and the memories that helped shape my life. If you woke up in the world of Forever Free, what is the first thing you would do? I would head for wrestling training. I very much enjoyed my daily routine back then. I miss those days. I would have wrestling to occupy my time, which gave me focus. I would then head to the local Irish pub with my friends where we would recall our larger-than-life tales of the world we thought we would conquer. If you had to write a blurb for the last book you read, what would it say? The last book I read was, The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. I read it every year. If I wrote a blurb, I would say, a lost generation can always be found if they were never truly lost. According to Hemingway, "We too may have been battered, but we were never lost." The expatriates of Hemingway and co. were changed by the war as they were coming of age. My brotherhood of friends and I, in that aspect, were forever changed by our shared experiences through life in the times of wrestling. Anyone that feels lost should read his novel. It reads like a road map of the stars that helps the lost become found again. Where did you write Forever Free? Forever Free was written at home in December 2019, but it originally began as life progressed, and those experiences became distant memories. This was between 1999-2010. The words were always in my head. I just needed to have some distance from it, yet I needed to still be close enough that those written memories conveyed the emotions necessary to tell the story. Pretend you qualified for the Olympics this year. What sport would you compete in? Given the topic of my novel, it'd be wrestling. It was the first true place where I felt like an artist and a superhero at the same time. If my former wrestler self emerged once more, I'd take home the gold.
Jurrell A. Pabrezis is the author of the new book Forever Free (The Forever Series Book 1) Connect with Jurrell A. Pabrezis
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