release day review

Unsteady by Melissa Collins: Release Day Blitz and Double Review with Giveaway

April 28, 2017 by Denise

Micah Hudson and Jude MacMillian were both lonely teenagers. One the new kid and one the target of relentless bullying, they quickly became friends. But when friendship grew into more, the relationship was too much for either to handle. As their tenuous bond was tested, everything tumbled down, leaving them lonely once again.

A decade later, Micah is on the brink of losing his will to live. Beyond exhausted from lying to everyone, including himself, Micah thinks of the one person who knows his deepest secret. Desperate and alone, Micah makes the only decision he feels he has: he must leave. But his need for closure depends on one thing.

Can Jude make room in his Unsteady life for Micah once again?

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I love this series.. I already knew, from the other two stories, that it was going to be a tearjerker for me. It was…

Micha and Jude… let’s discuss.

After losing his mom, Jude and his dad hit a rough patch… one turned to food while the other turned to alcohol and, it just seemed that they both just got so lost that they didn’t know how to find their way back. The bullying in this, made me sick to my stomach and I hated that the bully just got away with being terrible. I hate when that happens… Fortunately, the new kid, Micah, was Jude’s saving grace. Not only did he befriend him and help him in so many ways, he became Jude’s best friend….

Micah had his own baggage, mainly with his father. He was a jerk plain and simple. You won’t like him, I’ll point that out right now. But I feel like, he was the biggest part of why Micah was the way he was. Even though I’m not a fan of the going back and forth from past to present… it worked here. We needed it, for the story to work, but I was broken hearted by the time we made it back to the present.
After losing touch for ten years, knowing that their friendship was well beyond friendship and that they loved each other so much….it was hard to see Micah as anything other than the strong one like he had been when they were younger; but the tables turned and now Micah needed Jude to be the strong one.
And he was….

Things are great with them for a while, though I wanted to reach in and slap Micha upside the head for keeping so much from Jude. I knew it was going to end badly when all the secrets came out, there was no way around it. I did understand why he kept the secrets, but I hated that he did…for everyone involved. (I mean, I have to just leave that there, cuz I don’t wanna spoil it)

This is truly a second chance romance and if I have ever needed two people to work out like they did.. it was these two. Their chemistry and passion and love for each other was evident from the very beginning and it never quit. I wanted to cry for them several times and just say “you have to work out! You just have to!”…. In all fairness, I knew they would… but it was a rough road getting there.

I loved this story… I loved the hurt/comfort and the realness of each character and… sigh… I just love them as a couple. It’s hands down, an excellent addition to an amazing series, although it’s a standalone and you don’t technically need to read the other two… you just should… just because they’re amazing too. But this one… easy 5 stars….Don’t miss it.

Pieces of Candy: 5

WOW – When the Prologue has you in tears, slightly sobbing, you know you are about to read a book that is going to tear you apart but you’re not sure if you are going to be put back together. Unsteady lived up to its name especially after such a passionate and powerful prologue.

Micah was introduced in On Higher Ground (Dax & Bec). There was something very intriguing and mysterious about him. I squealed when I heard he was getting a story.

Unsteady is somewhat of a 2 part story as Jude and Micah were best friends back in high school. In a previous book of hers (Let Love Live) part one was the past while part two was the present. With Unsteady it is mixed together and I have never seen an author do this with such effortlessness as Collins does. You will never feel lost or feel like it is not part of the story. There are not many “flashbacks” and each one is valid and added at the precise spot it should be. It gives it an endearing quality to see what happened to separate 2 people who were so in love with each.

Micah has secrets….TONS of secrets but he is also feeling dejected so he finds solace with the only person he has ever loved…..Jude. Collins writing is off the charts remarkable and the story flows with simplicity. It’s hard to find a writer than creates such a broken character a
nd does it with dignity and pride.

I fell in love with Collins writing back in 2014. Even though I know her stories will leave me needing tissues and lots of wine I will always read what she writes. Her love of writing shows in the stories she shares with us and they will hit you in the heart and take up residence there – For that alone I adore her.
If you are looking for a well-developed story with 2 broken souls, some sexy romance and a bit of unsteady issues (<- – – see what I did there…lol) – Than this read is for you. If you don’t like to cry or get sentimental while reading than pretend I didn’t state that (I tend to get emotionally over some topics) and give it a try.

A HUGE thank you to Melissa Collins for writing a heartfelt and beautiful story of 2 misplaced souls finding each other again. I am now naming you the QUEEN of prologues – No one has ever made me shed a tear with in the first 3 pages. Kudos to you on such an astounding book.

PS: That is one drool-worthy cover and it represents Micah and Jude to a T

Pieces of Candy: 5

FAVORITE LINE: And with each day, it’s more and more difficult to capture those fleeting seconds of peace. They only come at night when I relive the soldiers dying in my arms. Envious of their peace,eventually the dreams became increasingly morbid. It was no longer a comrade taking his last breath, but me.

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Melissa Collins Author Page

Melissa Collins has always been a book worm. Studying Literature in college ensured that her nose was always stuck in a book. She followed her passion for reading to the most logical career choice: English teacher. Her hope was to share her passion for reading and the escapism of books to her students. Having spent more than a decade in front of a classroom, she can easily say that it’s been a dream.
Her passion for writing didn’t start until more recently. When she was home on maternity leave in early 2012, she read her first romance novel and her head filled with the passion, angst and laughter of the characters who she read about it. It wasn’t long before characters of her own took shape in her mind. Their lives took over Melissa’s brain and The Love Series was born.

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Olive Juice by TJ Klune: Release Day Review with Giveaway

April 26, 2017 by Denise

32993007 synopsis

It begins with a message that David cannot ignore:

I want to see you.

He agrees, and on a cold winter’s night, David and Phillip will come together to sift through the wreckage of the memory of a life no longer lived.

David is burdened, carrying with him the heavy guilt of the past six years upon his shoulders.

Phillip offers redemption.

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jennifer

What a vague blurb, eh?

I didn’t care… I knew who wrote it so I was like.. of course, I’m gonna read it and of course, I’m gonna love it! I wasn’t disappointed… Surprised? Absolutely, I was not prepared for this book. Not one bit.
I went into it knowing it was about David and Phillip. Knowing that they’d been through something traumatic together and that was about it…And oh, boy, did they. The worst thing imaginable as parents.

This story is the epitome of overwhelming sadness and how one copes with it. How easy it is to be angry when your grief is so profound that you don’t know what else to do but lash out or blame yourself to feel better. Or to feel worse… because you feel as if you deserve it, which is what David did

He carried everything on his shoulders and because he was drowning is his own grief, he forgot that he wasn’t the only one suffering. Pain will make you do that, though, won’t it?

My heart broke for both of these guys. Literally, I was a sobbing lunatic through the majority of this story. I wanted so badly for them to get the answers that they were looking for, but like life, sometimes it isn’t all fairytales and roses. If you’re lucky, you won’t have to go through those hard times alone and I was glad that they had each other and even when they were lost, that they found their way back to each other because they’d already lost so much I didn’t want them to lose anymore.

Sigh… It was a heartbreakingly tragic read, but so well worth it. You’d be a fool to pass this one up.
And even though he made me cry….again… like, ugly, psychotic looking, Farrah from teen mom, ugly face cry… I loved it.

5 pieces of eye candy

5-pieces-eye-candy1

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Devour by Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott: Pre-Release Review and Giveaway

April 24, 2017 by Denise

Ian Pierce is the chef and part owner of the hottest restaurant in Cincinnati, his chosen family is full of happy relationships, and the scruffy, snarky cop who has been haunting his dreams is one step closer to being in his bed. But everything comes crashing down when the past he narrowly escaped nine years ago comes to a deadly head.

Hollis Banner was enamored of Ian at first sight. He’s kept his distance, knowing the gorgeous, self-confident man is out of his league. Yet there’s no standing aside when Boris Jagger escapes a raid. Jagger’s world has been nearly destroyed and this time, the crime boss is coming after Ian and his friends personally.

Hollis will do whatever it takes to keep Ian safe as they escape to a safe house with a couple of Ian’s overprotective friends. And Ian finds himself in a race to unlock painful memories—memories containing information that could take down the very last of Jagger’s illegal operations forever.

Amazon

**SIGH** I really didn’t want this series to end. I fell in love with Lucas, Snow, Rowe and Ian in Shiver (book 1). The series name definitely fits the friendships of these 4 men – there is nothing that will tear them apart and they will always have each other’s backs. I am a sucker for series that is revolved around a group friends and with each book you see how strong their bond is. With this series, you get the bond of friendship as well as the bond with their partner and I will forever love these 4 and the man they claim as their own.

Devour is book 4 in the Unbreakable Bonds Series and is best read in order as the storyline continues through all 4 books. I’ve been waiting, what feels like a lifetime, for Ian and Hollis’s story. I was a little worried about Hollis when he showed up in Torch (book 3) and was undercover. Ian holds a special place in my heart for what he has been through. In the previous books we only had a glimpse of what is early life was like but with Devour we finally are able to get the whole picture. You will definitely shed some tears – some happy and some gut wrenchingly sad.

Drake & Elliott are a duo team but you will never know there are 2 separate personalities writing this series. They write as one and it shows in how well composed the plot is. The story picks up where Torch left off. There are a lot of unknowns with Lucas leaving, Jagger out to get Ian and the rest of the group trying to pick up pieces to keep their family together. Devour is a thrilling rollercoaster of emotions. The suspense was throughout the whole book and I loved every minute of it despite my heart pounding the entire time. The book flowed with gripping ease you will not want to stop reading.

Drake & Elliott have given us another phenomenal read. It wasn’t always hearts and flowers but in the end they gave us an ending so wonderful I was fighting back the happy tears. This series will be a re-read for years to come. I am hoping they make a spin off series with the secondary characters we have come to love ***cough cough…Sven and Geoffrey**

A huge thank you to Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott for creating a gripping series for me to love.

5 pieces of eye candy

FAVORITE LINE: He got it. The sweet message that Ian was so subtly sharing – Rowe had his back no matter what. Over the past year, he’d marveled at his tight-knit family Ian was a part of. He’d never seen such a group of men so devoted to each other, willing to give up anything and everything for one another’s safety and happiness.

We will be giving away two copies of Devour (or any book in the Unbreakable Bonds series) on release day. Tell us about your most unbreakable bond, person, place or thing.

Gasping For Air by TS McKinney: Blog Tour, Review and Giveaway

April 22, 2017 by Denise

How far will Trystan go to win the heart of the man he loves? All the way.

Trystan Matherly is conceited, arrogant, and rich. He has plenty of money, athletic ability, and gorgeous looks to keep the men forming a long line just to be with him. Choosing his next lover has been as simple as down-selecting to the hottest candidate.

Until Dakota.

With his sad eyes, full lips, and perfectly sculpted swimmer’s body, Dakota is justthe kind of lover Trystan wants. After only one look, he knows he has to have him. Too bad Dakota seems to be totally oblivious to all his charms.

Dakota Jacobson is lonely, tired, and depressed. He’s at Alabama Temple to complete his degree, not to put up with idiots. He works diligently to be as invisible as possible. He doesn’t need friends and he sure doesn’t need lovers…especially not football titans that think they rule the world. Nope; been there, done that.

Until Trystan.

With his sexy eyes, arrogant smirk, and muscled physique, Trystan is just the kind of lover Dakota never intends to have…again. Too bad Trystan refuses to allow him to be invisible.

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2oxMtAY

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2psNfQk

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2p9dGxy

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2p9qx2K

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2paPBqs

Goodreads Link

In the Series:

Touchdown (Game Series #1)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2pQz9IP

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2eozGzo

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2dtQTTL

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2pGmQxY

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2pGiJSs

Okay… So, where to start….

First, let me start by saying that I was not aware when I came into this that it was a 2nd book. I didn’t read the first one, but fear not… it didn’t take anything away from the story for me. I did okay, keeping up even though we see the friends who were in book one… I could still follow along.
So, okay, now, we have Trystan, a.k.a. Tank, football extraordinaire/cocky jock/big man on campus/every stereotype of all those things that I just mentioned all rolled into one. Sometimes, I found him kind of charming, but mostly I found him overcompensating and obnoxious. The dialogue… oh help me, the dialogue… it was not for me.

What I did like about this story is that it touched on some pretty tricky stuff and I thought the way in which Dakota handled some things were a bit ridiculous, but everyone handles things in their own way and I could commend him for calling up that backbone when he needed it. He was determined not to be taken advantage of again, he was determined to not show weakness and he had a little mouth on him when it came to Trystan. Which was awesome, because it was very apparent, nobody ever nay-sayed him before, lol.

Now, Dakota had a past and it was a sad one. He was the victim of kidnap, torture and rape. And I’m trying really hard to understand why the person behind said kidnap, torture and rape was only on an ankle monitor and not rotting his life away in prison or better yet, dead. Sorry for the spoiler there, but I really wish I’d had one at the time so I could’ve skipped over that whole part… I actually had to skip some pages when Evan was talking to Trystan. I couldn’t handle it… I’m not one of those TRIGGERED, kind of people, but… I have to admit, it triggered alright. It made me physically sick to my stomach. I couldn’t hang, y’all, I couldn’t hang. I was not at all sad to see the justice handed down to him although I would’ve liked to have seen him tortured and raped for the rest of his life, in prison… but… I guess we can’t always get what we want.

I also liked the supportive parents, that was an added surprise that I wasn’t expecting but really liked. Towards the end, it got a little mushy and I found myself rooting for these two to make it. Even if I did roll my eyes towards the end where Dakota was being all sacrificial and trying to keep Trystan away… I was like, give it up, kid… he’s not going anywhere, you literally can never tell him what to do because he’d never allow it. This was the only time I was glad about it.

So, overall… not my favorite, but I feel like it’s because it’s just a little too young adulty for me. I didn’t care for the dialogue or the unrealistic situations… The rest, wasn’t so bad.

Pieces of Candy: 3

T.S. McKinney lives in East Tennessee with her high school sweetheart/husband and all the countless dogs she picks up from deserted country roads. Her professional career has been in business but her heart has always belonged to the fantasy world found in books.

Creating wicked worlds where one can meet the perfect hero – and then do anything to him that you want – has been a hobby that has brought her plenty of hours of fun and naughty entertainment.

When not working, reading, or writing, she loves to spend time with my family and forcing them (because they don’t really have another choice) to allow me to redecorate their houses…and listen to my naughty…sometimes sadistic stories.
Social Media Links:

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Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9822373.T_S_McKinney

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author-TS-McKinney-608447679285321

Publisher Author Site: http://www.darkhollowspress.com/ts-mckinney

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tsmckinney1

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Louder Than Words by Siryn Sueng: Release Day Review

April 11, 2017 by Denise

synopsis Derrek is a local teacher in Clearwater, Florida. He frequents a nearby coffee shop before work every morning, where he finds himself enraptured with a young barista, Alex. But Alex never seems to notice him, even when he’s handing Derrek his morning coffee.

After weeks of hiding in his corner under the pretense of working, Derrek finally gains enough courage to ask Alex on a date. He’s crushed when all he gets for an answer is complete silence. He thinks it’s the end, until he finds out that Alex has a disability that has paralyzed his vocal cords.

Sign language is Alex’s way of communication, and it’s something that Derrek knows little to nothing about. With renewed determination, Derrek asks Alex to teach him sign language. Derrek wants to be able to talk to Alex, to tell him how he really feels, and find out if Alex feels the same.

But more than anything, he longs for a relationship that goes deeper than just words alone.

Louder Than Words is an 18,000-word novella.

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jennifer

Hmmm, okay…

So, first… I understand that this is a novella, so, of course, it’s going to be short…. but it ends so abruptly, like literally, in the most random place, I thought for sure there would be another page or two or something, but nope… it just ended. This is my first story by this author, so I’m not sure if that’s the norm, but it took me a bit by surprise in this one.

Other than that, though… it was a cute story. Alex is a barista at the coffee shop that Derrek frequents everyday… sure for coffee but also because he’s smitten with the cute barista with a tongue ring and dark hair. Although he kind of botches his attempt in asking him out… Derrek’s obnoxious (and he seriously, ridiculously obnoxious), co-worker helps him out in asking him out again… That’s when he realizes that Alex doesn’t speak.

Alex, is adorable… tattoo’s, piercings, adorable smile… got me swooning over here! Derrek is a little cheesy but he’s sweet in a “clueless” kind of way. I didn’t take either of them for being particularly experienced but once they got comfortable with each other, they settled into a pretty cute relationship.

When asked to help a new fellow co-worker to learn sign… Alex and Derrek agree, since Alex had also taught Derrek and was a good teacher. However, it didn’t go quite as planned and the kid seemed like kind of a jerk. He’s with the abrupt ending though so don’t get used to him…. I wonder if they’ll be another book or another story involving any of them… I wouldn’t mind reading more about them… like I said… Alex was adorable and well worth the read of this short story…

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Love Comes to Light by Andrew Grey: Release Day Review, Guest Post and Excerpt

March 18, 2016 by Denise

Artist Arik Bosler is terrified he might have lost his creative gift in the accident that left his hand badly burned. When he’s offered the chance to work with renowned artist Ken Brighton, Arik fears his injury will be too much to overcome.

He travels to Pleasanton to meet Ken, where he runs into the intimidating Reg Thompson. Reg, a biker who customizes motorcycles, is a big man with a heart of gold who was rejected by most of his family. Arik is initially afraid of Reg because of his size. However it’s Reg’s heart that warms Arik’s interest and gets him to look past the exterior to let down his guard.

But Arik soon realizes that certain members of Reg’s motorcycle club are into things he can’t have any part of. Reg can’t understand why Arik disappears until he learns Arik’s injury was the result of his father’s drug activity. Though neither Reg nor Arik wants anything to do with drugs, the new leadership of Reg’s club might have other ideas.

Title: Love Comes to Light
Series: Senses Series
Author: Andrew Grey
Release Date: March 18, 2016
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 206

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Dreamspinner Press

ARe

Thank you to Andrew for joining us with a Guest Post!

When I was developing this final story for the Senses series, I wanted to return to the world of Ken and Patrick, but I didn’t want to return to them directly. They had already had their happy ending and I didn’t want to revisit that. So Arik was born. He’s an artist who has been injured. Before his accident, he entered a contest and won an internship of sorts with Ken. He hesitantly accepts his prize, believing that his accent has also claimed his talent. Arik of course receives help form Ken, but more importantly, he meets Reg, a garage owner who’s everything Arik fears.

Reg is large, bald, and intimidating and Arik reacts with pure fear the first time he meets him. But Arik is more than just his size and intimidating package. He’s an artist of sorts himself and he has a heart as big as his body. The big man with a heart of gold is a character type I have written before and it’s one I love. With many of us, our exteriors say one thing, but it isn’t until we learn what’s inside that we truly know a person. This story is very much about two people who must learn to look inside themselves and be willing to look deeply into others in order to find happiness.

Another great book by Andrew Grey. I absolutely adored Arik and Reg. My heart went out to Arik and what he had suffered in his past. His belief that he can’t do what he loves to do because of his injury and the feelings he shows really made me feel for him and connect with him. I thought that Reg was a great counterpart to him. His attitude and personality was so endearing to me. I thought Andrew did a wonderfull job keeping the story moving and entertaining.

4 pieces of eye candy

I have read a lot of Andrew Grey’s books but this was the first of the Senses Series that I have read.

This is the story of injured artist, Arik who is invited to paint with famous artist Ken Brighton. Despite the injury he goes to at least meet the painter. While there studying with Ken to overcome his injury and learn to create with different methods he meets Ken’s friend Reg, the local mechanic and gas station owner.

Arik is a broken man, just recovered from his injury and scared of his own shadow. Over time he becomes comfortable with Reg who is a much larger man than him. Arik and Reg start spending time together when Reg introduces him to his friends from the biker club. Arik, having grown up with junkies as parents instantly knows what some members of the club are doing and breaks it off with Reg. Not willing to lose Arik, Reg cuts ties with the biker club but that presents a whole new set of problems for Reg.

Arik will need to let go of a hurtful past before he can envision a future with Reg. Will Reg sit by and wait for Arik to come to his senses?

I enjoyed this book. Arik was pretty broken and sometime care across as whiny but by the end of the book I was fully invested. The story had good build up, there weren’t any plot holes and it was a great HEA. A solid three star read.

“Arik, I’m glad you made it.” He set his palette aside and walked toward Arik, extending his hand. Arik hesitated, then pulled his right hand out of his pocket. He could tell instantly when Mr. Brighton noticed. He looked into Arik’s eyes, meeting his gaze straight on. That alone was different. So was the gentle, yet firm, way Ken gripped his damaged hand. “It’s good to meet you.”

Arik looked away. “I should explain. I really wanted to meet you, but I thought about calling to cancel because—” He looked down at his hand. “Well, I’m not an artist any longer. I was so thrilled when you called, and I wanted to meet you so badly, but… I probably shouldn’t waste your time.”

“Slow down. And please call me Ken.” He reached over, grabbed a stool, and moved it closer, motioning for him to sit. “Let’s take things one at a time. This is my partner, Patrick,” Ken said, and Arik extended his hand. Patrick nodded and shook it. “He isn’t able to speak because of an accident, but he’s very adept at other forms of communication.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Arik said, and Patrick smiled, his eyes warming even more. Patrick lightly patted Arik’s hand and then released it. Patrick then left the room, closing the studio door. “Like I said, I shouldn’t have come and wasted your time.”

Ken didn’t say anything, just walked to the corner of his studio and returned with a painting that Arik instantly recognized as his contest entry. “All of the entries were sold at a charity auction, and yours was the only one I bought. It spoke to me in a way that went right to my heart. I had to have it.”

“I did that a year ago….” He looked down at his hand and slid it back into his pocket. He hated seeing it.

“Your work is gorgeous and shows great talent,” Ken said.

“Well, it shows what I once had.”

Ken continued looking at the painting.

“That was my grandmother’s home,” Arik said. “The contest guidelines were for us to paint a memory. I chose a time when I was happiest. My grandmother had a house on the lake in Muskegon. There was a swing in the backyard under a tree, and she and I used to sit in it and she read me stories.”

“She must have been a gardener.”

Arik nodded. “She loved flowers and even bred roses. The purple ones and the orange ones in the picture are ones she bred herself. She loved the color, but I think she was after scent more than anything. I remember her always smelling like roses. They were her passion.”

“You didn’t put her in the picture,” Ken remarked.

Arik smiled. “She’s there.” He pointed to the row of color that disappeared along the side of the house. “She’s in those flowers. She told me once that after she was gone, she’d live on as long as someone grew her flowers.”

Andrew grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in information systems for a large corporation.

Andrew’s hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing) He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful, historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Author Links

Amazon Author Page

Barnes and Noble Page

Dreamspinner Press

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Facebook Group All the Way with Andrew Grey

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Website

For Other Works by Andrew Grey

(Please Be Sure To Stop by His Website to See All of His Works)

Love Comes Silently Book 1