Category: ARC

The Heiress Gets a Duke ARC Review

~ Tej ~ 5 Comments

The Heiress Gets a Duke by Harper St. George

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Genre: Historical Romance

Series: The Gilded Age Heiresses

Heat Level: 🔥🔥

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

SYNOPSIS

Even a fortune forged in railroads and steel can’t buy entrance into the upper echelons of Victorian high society—for that you need a marriage of convenience.

American heiress August Crenshaw has aspirations. But unlike her peers, it isn’t some stuffy British Lord she wants wrapped around her finger—it’s Crenshaw Iron Works, the family business. When it’s clear that August’s outrageously progressive ways render her unsuitible for a respectable match, her parents offer up her younger sister to the highest entitled bidder instead. This simply will not do. August refuses to leave her sister to the mercy of a loveless marriage.

Evan Sterling, the Duke of Rothschild, has no intention of walking away from the marriage. He’s recently inherited the title only to find his coffers empty, and with countless lives depending on him, he can’t walk away from the fortune a Crenshaw heiress would bring him. But after meeting her fiery sister, he realizes Violet isn’t the heiress he wants. He wants August, and he always gets what he wants.

But August won’t go peacefully to her fate. She decides to show Rothschild that she’s no typical London wallflower. Little does she realize that every stunt she pulls to make him call off the wedding only makes him like her even more.

REVIEW

August Crenshaw works for her father’s company Crenshaw Iron Works and she is content. She has been working hard and is showing her father how dedicated she is in furthering the family company.

Evan Sterling, Duke of Rothschild is in debt. His father recently passed and left all of the debt for Evan to sort out. Evan never thought he would be the one shouldering the burden, but he has to find a way to save the estate. When a marriage proposal comes from the wealthy American Crenshaw family, Evan is told that this will be the best way to help the failing estate. A marriage with the wealthy family will help to relieve Evan of his debts. Evan is also intrigued in getting to know August Crenshaw better after a brief interaction with her.

Evan is under the assumption that the heiress he would be marrying would be August. Turns out the heiress everyone had planned for Evan to marry was Violet – the younger Crenshaw sister. Evan makes it plain that it is August he wants to marry. But August isn’t so quick to marry Evan. What will happen of her position at Crenshaw Iron Works. How could she keep working if she is a duchess. And more importantly – her choice in the marriage is taken away from her. She has no plans to marry the arrogant Duke of Rothschild. Will Evan be able to sway August?

I enjoyed The Heiress Gets a Duke! I really liked the chemistry between Evan and August – it was sizzling from the get go. I LOVED their meet cute and their constant bantering was so perfect! August challenges Evan and it was so apparent how much Evan cared for August and her feelings.

I absolutely loved the scenes between August and Evan. I do feel that there was a lot of inner monologue as well as a lot of situations that kept Evan and August apart. I wish that there were more scenes with the two of them together.

Overall I really enjoyed this debut by Harper St. George! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

Float Plan ARC Review

~ Tej ~ 5 Comments

Float Plan by Trish Doller

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Women’s Fiction

Release Date: March 2, 2021

Heat Level: 🔥

SYNOPSIS

Critically acclaimed author Trish Doller’s unforgettable and romantic adult debut about setting sail, starting over, and finding yourself…

Since the loss of her fiancé, Anna has been shipwrecked by grief—until a reminder goes off about a trip they were supposed to take together. Impulsively, Anna goes to sea in their sailboat, intending to complete the voyage alone.

But after a treacherous night’s sail, she realizes she can’t do it by herself and hires Keane, a professional sailor, to help. Much like Anna, Keane is struggling with a very different future than the one he had planned. As romance rises with the tide, they discover that it’s never too late to chart a new course.

In Trish Doller’s unforgettable Float Plan, starting over doesn’t mean letting go of your past, it means making room for your future.

REVIEW

Anna has been dealing with grief in her own way after the loss of her fiancee Ben. Her mom and sister are worried about her – worried that Anna is going through the motions, but not really living her life.

Anna and Ben were planning a trip on his sailboat to the Caribbean islands, but Anna had forgot about the trip. When a reminder alerted her of the trip, Anna decides on going on the sailboat solo. Sailing alone is hard, harder than Anna anticipated and after a few rough days Anna hires Keane – a sweet professional sailor.

I absolutely adored Float Plan. The writing by Trish Doller is brilliant and immediately once I started reading I was highlighting passages. Both Anna and Keane are characters who have faced so much in the past they are processing their own grief separately and together throughout their journey.

I loved how Doller was able to describe the various islands and mechanisms of sailing without it feeling overwhelming. I honestly felt as if I was on the boat with Keane and Anna, sailing through the Caribbean sea. The other characters we meet and the relationships that Anna and Keane have with them were so very special and I never felt as if a character was there as a filler.

Anna’s journey of self discovery was captured so perfectly in Float Plan. I was holding back tears towards the end of the book. And although this book is categorized as a romance, it was so much more than that. The romance between Keane and Anna was there, but was so was companionship, understanding and so much love. I’m looking forward to reading more by Trish Doller.

CW: Suicide, loss of limb

Not My Match ARC Review

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Not My Match by Ilsa Madden-Mills

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Series: The Game Changers #2

Release Date: January 19, 2021

Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥

I received a complimentary copy and ALC from the publisher.

SYNOPSIS

Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills delivers a smart and sexy romance about a professional football hottie and the girl he’s sworn to never touch.

Homeless and heartbreakingly innocent, Giselle Riley walks into my penthouse and chaos follows.

I shouldn’t have invited the girl genius to live with me, but it’s clear she needs my help—not only for a place to lay her pretty blonde head but in finding real love, which she’s not going to get with the crazy men she picks up online.

Too bad she’s a twenty-four-year-old virgin and I’m a bad boy wide receiver. She’s off limits for a hardcore player like me—and we’re just friends.

Instead, I’m her matchmaking service, no matter how jealous it makes me when I tag along on her dates.

I can keep my self-control. Right? No way will I give in to everything inside me that dreams of a girl like her in my world.

I may be the best wide receiver in the country, but how could I hold on to a girl like her?

REVIEW

Giselle Riley is book smart (she is a physicist after all), but she’s not having the best of luck with her dating life. It doesn’t help that Giselle’s brother in law, Jack (from Not My Romeo) has declared her off limits to his teammates including Jack’s best friend Devon. When a bad date leads Giselle to Devon’s night club, he ends up coming to her rescue and talks her into letting him set her up with a “perfect” date.

When an unfortunate circumstance leaves Giselle homeless for the moment, Devon comes to her rescue and lets her stay in his guest bedroom. Giselle and Devon slowly get to know one another – and Giselle even agrees to let Devon set her up on some dates. While roommates for the moment, Giselle and Devon end up spending a lot of time with one another. Will they stay friends or will their growing attraction towards one another lead to something more?

Immediately when Giselle and Devon were on the same page I could feel their electricity. I loved their sweet friends to lovers story. They truly took the time to get to know one another and that made me root for these two even more. Ilsa Madden-Mills definitely knows how to write steamy scenes and the sexy times between Devon and Giselle were so HOT! But underneath their physical attraction, both Devon and Giselle exposed their vulnerability and I loved that most of all.

Although I did read Not My Romeo, you don’t have to read these books in order to enjoy them. Not My Match can be read as a standalone.

Audiobook:

Story: 5
Narration: 5
Overall: 5

I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Not My Match. The audiobook was narrated by Summer Morton and Alexander Cendese. These two did an amazing job narrating Giselle and Devon. I had not listened to an audiobook narrated by either Summer Morton or Alexander Cendese, but I feel like both of them did a wonderful job portraying different emotions for their characters. I could always tell if Devon or Giselle were happy, sad or anxious. I really enjoyed listening to this duo narrate Not My Match.

If you’re looking for a forced-proximity, friends to lovers steamy romance – grab your copy of Not My Match.

December Reads

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December is always a busy month and reading usually takes a back seat. I didn’t read as much as I did in November, but still managed to read quite a few books! I also re-read a favorite of 2020 You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle.

For 2021 I set my reading goal a little higher than last year at 100, but lower than what I actually read in 2020 which was 120 books. I hope that 2021 will be kinder to all of us and that we get to read some wonderful books!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan

A Duke in Shining Armor by Loretta Chase

You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle (re-read)

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez

Forever Wild by KA Tucker

Ten Things I Hate About the Duke by Loretta Chase

A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday

Return Billionaire to Sender by Annika Martin

Rating: 3 out of 5.

One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean

Ten Things I Hate About the Duke ARC Review

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Ten Things I Hate About the Duke by Loretta Chase

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Genre: Historical Romance

Series: Difficult Dukes #2

Release Date: December 1, 2020

Heat Level: 🔥🔥

I received a complimentary advance audiobook and e-book of this title from the publisher.

SYNOPSIS

Cassandra Pomfret holds strong opinions she isn’t shy about voicing. But her extremely plain speaking has caused an uproar, and her exasperated father, hoping a husband will rein her in, has ruled that her beloved sister can’t marry until Cassandra does.

Now, thanks to a certain wild-living nobleman, the last shreds of Cassandra’s reputation are about to disintegrate, taking her sister’s future and her family’s good name along with them.

The Duke of Ashmont’s looks make women swoon. His character flaws are beyond counting. He’s lost a perfectly good bride through his own carelessness. He nearly killed one of his two best friends. Still, troublemaker that he is, he knows that damaging a lady’s good name isn’t sporting.

The only way to right the wrong is to marry her…and hope she doesn’t smother him in his sleep on their wedding night.

REVIEW

Cassandra isn’t interested in marriage. She’s strong willed, opinionated and isn’t in the marriage market. Cassandra’s father though has issued an ultimatum – if Cassandra doesn’t marry soon then neither of her sister can’t either.

When Cassandra and Duke Ashmont find themselves in a compromised position, the only honorable thing would be for the Duke to marry Cassandra. Unless…Cassandra and Ashmont enter into a fake relationship and then plan to break things off therefore freeing each other to move on.

After recently reading A Duke in Shining Armor (book 1 in the Difficult Dukes series) I knew I had to read the story about Duke Ashmont. Ashmont was hilarious in the previous book and that didn’t change much in Ten Things I Hate About the Duke. I loved his hilarious interactions with Cassanadra. These two had such great chemistry and I was immediately rooting for them to end up together in this fake relationship/marriage of convenience historical romance!

Audiobook:

Story: 4
Narration: 5
Overall: 4

I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Ten Things I Hate About the Duke. The audiobook was narrated by Kate Reading. This is not my first audiobook narrated by Kate Reading and I think she is spectacular. I love the way she is able to convey different emotions for every character that she is playing. I had no difficulty telling when she was trying to portray Ashmont vs Cassandra. You definitely will not be disappointed if you pick up the audiobook for Ten Things I hate About the Duke. I found myself laughing, grinning and swooning while listening to the audiobook.

I received the earbuds shown in the picture above as a gift from Sudio.

A Princess for Christmas ARC Review

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A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: October 13, 2020

Heat Rating: 🔥🔥🔥

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

SYNOPSIS

Leo Ricci’s already handling all he can, between taking care of his little sister Gabby, driving a cab, and being the super of his apartment building in the Bronx. But when Gabby spots a “princess” in a gown outside of the UN trying to hail a cab, she begs her brother to stop and help. Before he knows it, he’s got a real-life damsel in distress in the backseat of his car. 

Princess Marie of Eldovia shouldn’t be hailing a cab, or even be out and about. But after her mother’s death, her father has plunged into a devastating depression and the fate of her small Alpine country has fallen on Marie’s shoulders. She’s taken aback by the gruff but devastatingly handsome driver who shows her more kindness than she’s seen in a long time. 

When Marie asks Leo to be her driver for the rest of her trip, he agrees, thinking he’ll squire a rich miss around for a while and make more money than he has in months. He doesn’t expect to like and start longing for the unpredictable Marie. And when he and Gabby end up in Eldovia for Christmas, he discovers the princess who is all wrong for him is also the woman who is his perfect match.

REVIEW

Leo Ricci is navigating life as best as he can. With the loss of his parents a few years ago – he’s not quite sure if he’s doing the parenting thing right with his little sister Gabby. When Gabby and Leo accidentally stumble upon a real life princess who needs a cab lift and Leo happens to be driving his cab he reluctantly says yes.

Princess Marie has her own issues to worry about. After making a UN speech in New York she’s on some “unofficial” business for her father, the King of Eldovia. This is her chance to shine, her chance to finally prove to her father that she is also a good businesswoman as well as a princess. Marie finally gets Leo to agree to escort her around New York while she is there on business. Will their unlikely business transaction turn into something more?

I adored this sweet and sexy romance between Leo and Marie! I’ve seen this book described as a sexy hallmark movie and I would completely agree. The chemistry between Marie and Leo was so believable and sweet. The sexy times were smoking hot and I loved our dirty talking hero!

Although this romance comes across as cute and sweet, there are also a lot of deeper issues that were discussed. The loss of a loved one can emotionally devastate a person and both Leo and Marie were trying to balance their losses in their own ways. The way they understood these feelings in each other was so sweet and another reason why I was rooting for these two to end up together!

Overall, I really enjoyed A Princess for Christmas and can’t wait to read the next book in the series (I’m hoping it’s Dani & Max!).

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren Review

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In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Women’s Fiction

Release Date: October 6, 2020

Heat Rating: 🔥 (closed door)

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

SYNOPSIS

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…but not for Maelyn Jones. She’s living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere job, and has just made a romantic error of epic proportions.

But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world—the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born, along with two other beloved families. Mentally melting down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple plea to the universe: Please. Show me what will make me happy.

The next thing she knows, tires screech and metal collides, everything goes black. But when Mae gasps awake…she’s on an airplane bound for Utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loop—and finally get her true love under the mistletoe.

Jam-packed with yuletide cheer, an unforgettable cast of characters, and Christina Lauren’s trademark “downright hilarious” (Helen Hoang, author of The Bride Test) hijinks, this swoon-worthy romantic read will make you believe in the power of wishes and the magic of the holidays.

REVIEW

Maelyn Jones looks forward to her family’s annual Christmas trip to the cabin in Utah every year. She loves spending time with her parents and their close group of friends, especially Andrew. Mae has had a crush on Andrew since forever, only he doesn’t know it. After a night of too much drinking and bad decisions, Mae and her family head home to California. Mae feels like her life is falling apart – she’s not happy at her current job, she’s living at home with her parents and she makes a wish to the universe – Please. Show me what will make me happy.

And then instead of driving to the airport with her family, Mae is back on the plane about to head to the cabin in Utah. Mae of course is freaking out because what the hell universe?! but she decides that the universe is giving her a second chance to make it right this time. Every time something goes horribly wrong, Mae ends up back on the airplane. What does she have to do to continue to live in the present without fear of being sent back?

Once I started reading In a Holidaze, I could not put it down! It did take me a bit to get into the book, but I loved the way Mae was able to experience the different parts of the holiday again with a different kind of clarity each time. I loved the way Mae came into her own and her various relationships with everyone in the cabin.

In a Holidaze is a perfect book to get you into the holiday spirit! I would love it if I could escape to a cabin in the woods each holiday season with the people who love me unconditionally. Such a great read!

Overall I would rate In a Holidaze 4.5 stars!

Loverboy ARC Review

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Loverboy by Sarina Bowen

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense

Series: The Company #2

Release Date: December 1, 2020

Heat Rating: 🔥🔥

I received a complimentary copy of this book & audiobook from the author.

Gunnar and Posy knew each other way back when. Gunnar was the bartender at Posy’s family bar and both of them were duking it out for the bar manager position. After a steamy hot kiss, Posy never saw Gunnar again. Until he shows up at her coffee shop asking her to hire him as a barista (?!). Something doesn’t add up, but Posy is desperate enough to hire him on.

Gunnar thought he was done with the East Coast and New York in particular. Having moved to California he helped Max run The Company from the West Coast. Max asks Gunnar for a favor and when Gunnar finds out that there’s a murderer on the loose in New York and one of the common threads always happens to be Posy’s coffee shop he agrees to an undercover operation. But can Gunnar and Posy’s close proximity rekindle feelings they both once had?

I really enjoyed Loverboy! Having read Moonlighter first, I was ready for the next book in The Company series and it did not disappoint. I love a great second chance romance and Gunnar and Posy had such great banter! And the adventure and suspense had me hooked. I looked down at one point and realized that I had almost finished the book because I was so sucked in to the story. Sarina Bowen is a master story teller and these books are so complicated, but I always understood what was happening and I couldn’t stop reading!

As always, the steamy scenes in Loverboy were STEAMY, but also with a lot of heart. Both Posy and Gunnar are so vulnerable – neither of them willing to let the other in completely. I appreciate it how they decided to go slow with their relationship. I definitely enjoyed this slow burn. I can’t wait to read Max’s story next!!!

Audiobook:

Story: 4.5
Narration: 4
Overall: 4.5

I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Loverboy. The audiobook was narrated by Joe Arden and Vanessa Edwin. I feel like these two did a wonderful job narrating Gunnar and Posy! I’ve listened to Joe Arden in the past and really enjoy his narrating. Vanessa Edwin is a new to me narrator, but I enjoyed the way she was able to portray the different emotions that Posy was feeling. This was a fantastic audiobook!

If you’re looking for your next sweet and sexy romance filled with amazing suspense pick up a copy of Loverboy!

Accidentally Engaged ARC Review

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Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Rating: 🔥 (Closed door)

Release Date: March 9, 2021

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher

SYNOPSIS

Reena Manji doesn’t love her career, her single status, and most of all, her family inserting themselves into every detail of her life. But when caring for her precious sourdough starters, Reena can drown it all out. At least until her father moves his newest employee across the hall–with hopes that Reena will marry him.

But Nadim’s not like the other Muslim bachelors-du-jour that her parents have dug up. If the Captain America body and the British accent weren’t enough, the man appears to love eating her bread creations as much as she loves making them. She sure as hell would never marry a man who works for her father, but friendship with a neighbor is okay, right? And when Reena’s career takes a nosedive, Nadim happily agrees to fake an engagement so they can enter a couples video cooking contest to win the artisan bread course of her dreams.

As cooking at home together brings them closer, things turn physical, but Reena isn’t worried. She knows Nadim is keeping secrets, but it’s fine— secrets are always on the menu where her family is concerned. And her heart is protected… she’s not marrying the man. But even secrets kept for self preservation have a way of getting out, especially when meddling parents and gossiping families are involved.

REVIEW

Reena Manji loves to bake. Baking bread is a hobby and it brings her joy. What doesn’t bring her joy – a) her overbearing Indian family b) her job in finance c) Nadim, her new neighbor who just happens to be the same guy Reena’s parents are trying to get her to marry.

Reena and Nadim eventually form a friendship. This friendship turns into a fake engagement when Reena and Nadim sign themselves up as cooking contestants for a show on FoodTV. They have so much fun cooking together that they decide to keep on going with the ruse as well as the cooking competition. But when they’re always in such close proximity will the lines start to blur between a fake engagement and a real relationship?

I honestly enjoyed Accidentally Engaged so much. I loved the desi representation and I have so many parts of the book highlighted. I related to Reena and Nadim’s characters A LOT – from her overbearing parents, to the food, to small things like going shopping for Indian outfits with your aunts and cousins.

Nadim and Reena’s relationship from dislike to friends to lovers was so sweet. These two had such great chemistry and I was rooting for them throughout the whole book. Reading this book made me hungry – so keep that in mind! I loved all of the secondary character’s from Reena’s best friend to her sister.

Overall I highly enjoyed Accidentally Engaged and would give it 4.5 stars!

Excerpt from Loverboy by Sarina Bowen

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Loverboy by Sarina Bowen

Release Date: December 1, 2020

Series: The Company #2

I’ve had the opportunity to listen to and read an ARC of Loverboy and loved Posy and Gunnar❤️ My full review will be up in a few days!! Enjoy the excerpt below.

EXCERPT FROM LOVERBOY BY SARINA BOWEN

Gunnar waits for my answer, watching me with hungry eyes. I take another sip of tart, fruity goodness and feel a rare looseness in my limbs, as if I’m limber enough to mold myself into the kind of woman who knows how to handle this moment. The possibility of Gunnar and me in bed stretched itself out around us.

He’s waiting for me to say something. Except that I’ve forgotten the question, let alone the answer. He gives me a smile, like he can read my thoughts. And then he lets me off the hook by glancing up at the TV screen to check the score. “Tell me,” he says. “Where did you go just now?”

“Nowhere,” I say quickly, chickening out. I take another deep gulp of my drink. I haven’t had quite enough alcohol to nonchalantly ask Gunnar to come home with me tonight. I want to, though. Really. A lot. He’s just the right kind of playboy to get me out of my rut. It won’t mean anything to him. He won’t have any expectations.

And neither will I, of course. We have nothing in common.

Although lately I find myself appreciating Gunnar for much more than his very fine ass. Who could resist a guy who comes to work on time every day, and makes fabulous coffee for eight hours without complaint? 

The old Gunnar would have teased me mercilessly and hidden the sugar cubes when he went on break. The new Gunnar keeps his head down and saves my overworked butt during every shift.

Sure, he still flirts mercilessly with the customers. But nobody is perfect. And I’m just jealous. I’d rather have those pale eyes trained on me. 

They were, too, only a moment ago. But I blew it already. He was waiting for me to give him the green light, and I chickened out.

That’s a theme with me. 

BLURB

Secrets, desires, and exquisite pie. It’s all in a day’s work at The Company.

Growing up, I was the rough guy from the wrong neighborhood who couldn’t catch a break. Posy was the pampered girl I tried to impress. But I managed to steal only a single kiss before I had to skip town.

Now I’m back, and the tables are turned. Posy runs a struggling pie shop. I’m the VP of a secretive billion dollar security company.

Not that I can tell her.

There’s a murderer on the loose in New York, and he seems to spend a lot of time at Posy’s shop. I can’t let on that I’m here to bring him down before he can harm a hair on her pretty head.

Going undercover as Posy’s new barista wasn’t my idea. I don’t even drink coffee. But now I have to call her “boss,” and do everything the curvy perfectionist asks of me. I’d forgotten how much we infuriate each other, and that she somehow fills me with both irritation and desire in the same breath.

There’s nobody more skilled at stealth ops than me. I can bring this killer down. Right after I take a cold shower. And just as soon as I figure out how to make a skinny peppermint latte with milk poured in the shape of a kitten…

PURCHASE LINKS

🗝️ Amazon https://geni.us/Amazon-LB 

🗝️ Apple https://geni.us/Apple-LB 

🗝️ Kobo https://geni.us/Kobo-Lb 

🗝️ Nook https://geni.us/Nook-LB 

🗝️Audio: https://geni.us/LoverboyAudible