Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Breaker by Emma Raveling (Ondine Quartet #4) - Review


Release Date: January 28, 2015

War. Prophecy. Freedom. 

She fought for herself. She fought for friendship and love. 
Now, Kendra Irisavie fights for the survival of her world. 

War rages on, leaving no one untouched. Destruction rips through elemental communities and terror flourishes in its wake. Suspicion soars, order fractures, and loyalties crumble despite Kendra’s desperate attempts to protect everyone she holds dear. 

When an organized Aquidae army launches a series of merciless assaults, Kendra and her friends set out to end the bloodshed once and for all. With the fate of elementals hanging in balance, the Shadow and sondaleur hunt each other down in a brutal match of cunning and will. 

Kendra has trained for this her entire life. But in a ravaged world where trust is scarce and no life is sacred, she soon realizes her battle may be against an invincible enemy and that her darkest days lie ahead. 

Twists and turns shape her harrowing odyssey, leading to a stunning climax that challenges everything she believes in. 

Torn between destiny and autonomy, Kendra must finally decide whether the cost of freedom is too high. 

Heartbreaking decisions, turbulent alliances, and shattering revelations collide in Breaker, the explosive conclusion to the Ondine Quartet.


There are no words, really, to describe how this book made me feel but I'll do my best to articulate them. Let's see how coherent I can be, shall we?

You all know that I love Emma's characters. Kendra, our protagonist, is headstrong, stubborn, compassionate, and loyal to a fault. She is being pulled in many directions at the moment, torn between being a warrior and being the leader to her people. With her are her friends, Chloe, Aubrey, Cam, Ian, Helene, and more, who are all developed and unique and wonderful in their own right. And then there's Tristan (UGH) who is far from perfect and yet very close to perfection at the same time. Calculating and deadly with a heart of gold, he supports Kendra with all the hard choices she must make while allowing her to make her own mistakes (what. a. man.). I my love has only grown for all of these wonderfully deep and flawed characters in the Ondine Quartet.

Likewise, the world that Emma has created is imaginative and deep. I've heard many compare this series to Vampire Academy (an old favorite of mine from back in the day) series by Richelle Mead and I agree that the outlines of the academy and setting are similar. However, for me, the lore that Emma has created and the tensions between the many facets of the supernatural world are even more interesting. Her world is less predictable, darker, and I love that I have to think, and think a lot, while reading this series to connect the dots with stories from the past with the events happening in the present.

The thing that struck me the most about Breaker (and the thing that makes me so extremely proud of this author that I have never even met) is that Emma did not hold back. Like, at all. Breaker is the story of a world at war and a young woman who has the fate of her people on her shoulders and Emma does not gloss over the sacrifices and losses that come from an all out, no holds barred battle between two powerful forces. Many characters - big characters, small characters, meaningful characters - die or get hurt in this finale. I may or may not have cried quite a few times while reading but in the end, I loved how Emma depicted the sacrifice and the heartbreak that comes with the kind of conflict she created. There is pain and love and despair and hope and I ended the novel by just being grateful that I got to read something that the author so obviously labored over and loved.

I'm sad that this is the end of the series but I don't think that I could ever really get enough of Kendra and Tristan *swoon* and the rest of the gang, and I'm sure Emma would like to work on her other project so I'll just have to live *ugly cries*

Don't let the tears deter you! I absolutely love these books and highly recommend you check it out!

Whirl (Book 1): Amazon, B&N, Goodreads
Billow (Book 2): Amazon, B&N, Goodreads
Crest (Book 3): Amazon, B&N, Goodreads

Thank you, Emma, for writing such a spectacular series!
*I received this book for free from the author for an honest review.
Find out more about Emma and her works here: http://emmaraveling.com

Emma Raveling writes a wide variety of fiction for teens and adults. She is the author of the young adult urban / contemporary fantasy series, the Ondine Quartet, and Lost Blood, the first installment of the forthcoming young adult urban fantasy series, Chancer. She’s also working on the first book in her new Steel Magic series for adults.

An avid traveler hopelessly addicted to diet coke and coffee, she currently resides in Honolulu, Hawaii with her husband and German shepherd.

Find her:

Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Instagram
Tumblr
Pinterest

Happy Reading!

Jasmine
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Sunday, January 18, 2015

Breaker Countdown Giveaway

Guys.

Breaker is only 10 days away.

TEN DAYS.

I AM VERY EXCITED.

Breaker is the much anticipated finale to Emma Raveling's Ondine Quartet.  I wrote a giant post about it a while back but in case you need a refresher, here are some links so you can find out about the series and then pre-order the book!

Whirl (Book 1): Amazon, B&N, Goodreads
Billow (Book 2): Amazon, B&N, Goodreads
Crest (Book 3): Amazon, B&N, Goodreads
Breaker (Book 4): Amazon, B&N, Goodreads

In honor of there are only being 10 days until you can get this puppy in your hands, I thought I'd give some stuff (that Emma has so graciously given the elites) away! Just comment about why you're excited about Breaker or what you love about any of the Ondine Quartet novels or novellas and I'll pick a random winner! "What do I get?" you might be asking. Well, let me show you!


Those are some beautiful bookmarks and stickers and a (very shiny) card with a wonderful quote from Billow. You know you want some of these babies!

Again, just leave a comment and I'll randomly choose a winner on January 28, Breaker's release! Make sure you share the giveaway and all the info!

Happy Reading!
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Saturday, January 17, 2015

All Fall Down: An Embassy Row Novel by Ally Carter - Review

Release Date: January 20, 2015

A new series of global proportions -- from master of intrigue, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Ally Carter.

Grace Blakely is absolutely certain of three things:

1. She is not crazy.

2. Her mother was murdered.

3. Someday she is going to find the killer and make him pay.

As certain as Grace is about these facts, nobody else believes her -- so there's no one she can completely trust. Not her grandfather, a powerful ambassador. Not her new friends, who all live on Embassy Row. Not Alexei, the Russian boy next door, who is keeping his eye on Grace for reasons she neither likes nor understands.

Everybody wants Grace to put on a pretty dress and a pretty smile, blocking out all her unpretty thoughts. But they can't control Grace -- no more than Grace can control what she knows or what she needs to do. Her past has come back to hunt her . . . and if she doesn't stop it, Grace isn't the only one who will get hurt. Because on Embassy Row, the countries of the world stand like dominoes, and one wrong move can make them all fall down.

---------------------------- Amazon, B&N, Goodreads ----------------------------

So I am an Ally Ambassador (look at the pretty badge on the right - oooo, awwww) which means that I get to promote Ally Carter's newest release, All Fall Down, the first book in her newest series, Embassy Row. It even has its own awesome website: http://embassyrowbooks.tumblr.com. I got to read an Advanced Reader's Copy that came in the COOLEST LITTLE PACKAGE (pictured below) and man oh man, Alexei in a tux, did I love this book. 


If you've read Ally's other works, you know that she is a master at creating incredibly complex, sometimes damaged, always witty and sometimes snarky main characters with developed, supportive secondary characters. All Fall Down is no different, and, if I may say so, has possibly the strongest characters in one of her series' yet. 

Grace is a little emotionally fragile, and rightfully so, after she saw her mother get murdered and then was told she was crazy. I thought that Ally did an amazing job with the word choice and descriptions of setting and people as Grace. I immediately liked her and related to her and, I think most importantly, believed her. She is hurt but she is also incredibly smart and funny and strong and quite possibly my favorite Ally Carter character to date (and that's saying something because I am a huge fan of Cammie). 

The icing on the cake were the secondary characters. Noah, Megan, Rosie, and Alexei, all children of foreign diplomats and living on Embassy Row, are all complex and interesting and deep. Noah is hilarious and his witty banter with Grace is great, and Megan and Rosie are both so different and strong female characters. And then there's Alexei. *swoon* It was amazing how invested I was in his and Grace's relationship, even when Carter did such a good job focusing (and rightfully so, I think) on Grace and her own personal journey. 

The land that Carter has created was colorful, bright, and believable. Adria is such a vibrant country and I could imagine it all, despite it being completely fictional. It was so interesting to see the very real relations between countries and people among the greatly imagined country of Adria. Creative and yet grounded in history, I fell in love with Adria and its rich, if fictional, history. 

All Fall Down has a wonderful balance between international and political tensions, Grace coming to terms with her own tragedy, her desire to solve the mystery and prove her sanity, her initially unwanted but completely necessary growing number of friends, and the tensions between her older brother's mandated protector and old friend, Alexei. Global conspiracy meets very personal tragedy and Grace's response to all of it is funny, heartbreaking, action-packed, and exciting. I can't wait for the next installment, and the first one hasn't even released yet. *hysterical laughter turns into crying*.

Bravo Ally Carter! 

Find out more about Ally and her works here: www.allycarter.com.

Ally Carter is the New York Times bestselling author of the Gallagher Girls and Heist Society series. Her books have been published all over the world, in over twenty languages. She grew up on a farm in Oklahoma and has never caused an international incident (to her knowledge). 

Check out her other series! 
Gallagher Girl series: Amazon, B&N, Goodreads
Heist Society series: Amazon, B&N, Goodreads

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Wednesday, December 31, 2014

My Most Anticipated 2015 Releases!


Hey all!

2015 is going to be an amazing year for books and there are so many titles that I am dying to read. DYING. (And those are only the ones that I have written down and remember!) And since 2015 is now only a day away, I thought I'd compile a list of books that are oh so close and yet oh...so...far.  Hope 2014 treated you well and that 2015 will treat you even better. Cheers!

*clinks glass with either champagne or Martinelli's Apple Cider*

The Boy Next Door by Katie Van Ark (January 6)
Amazon, B&N, Goodreads

The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall (January 13)

All Fall Down by Ally Carter (January 20)

Collide by Melissa West (February 9)

Breaker by Emma Raveling (January 28)

The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead (February 10)

One of the Guys by Lisa Aldin (February 10)

Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton (February 10)

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard (February 10)

Sin Eater's Daughter by Melinda Salisbury (February 24)

Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder (February 24)

Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs (March 3)

A Curse Unbroken by Cecy Robson (March 10)

The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows (March 10)

The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord (March 31)

Things We Know By Heart by Jessi Kirby (April 21)

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (May 5)

Born of Defiance by Sherrilyn Kenyon (May 12)

Eighth Grave After Dark by Darynda Jones (May 19)

Scorched by Jennifer L. Armentrout (June 15)
Cover to be released on January 7th!
 Amazon, B&N, Goodreads

Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout (July 28)
Amazon, B&N, Goodreads

Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews (August 4)

There are so many more books that are coming out in 2015 that I probably don't know about or didn't write down or mention here.  It seems like it's going to be a good year for books, though, eh? Let me know what books you are looking forward to in 2015 or if I missed a favorite!

Happy New Year!

Jasmine 
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Monday, December 8, 2014

Last Will and Testament by Dahlia Adler - Early Review


Release Date: December 9, 2014

Lizzie Brandt was valedictorian of her high school class, but at Radleigh University, all she's acing are partying and hooking up with the wrong guys. But all that changes when her parents are killed in a tragic accident, making her guardian to her two younger brothers. To keep them out of foster care, she'll have to fix up her image, her life, and her GPA—fast. Too bad the only person on campus she can go to for help is her humorless, pedantic Byzantine History TA, Connor Lawson, who isn't exactly Lizzie's biggest fan.

But Connor surprises her. Not only is he a great tutor, but he’s also a pretty great babysitter. And chauffeur. And listener. And he understands exactly what it’s like to be on your own before you're ready. Before long, Lizzie realizes having a responsible-adult type around has its perks... and that she'd like to do some rather irresponsible (but considerably adult) things with him as well. Good thing he's not the kind of guy who'd ever reciprocate. Until he does. Until they turn into far more than teacher and student. Until the relationship that helped put their lives back together threatens everything they both have left.

---------------------------- Amazon, B&N, Goodreads ----------------------------

I just finished the book a few minutes ago, after a 7-hour reading spree, so just let me catch my breath for a second.

*takes a deep breath*

Okay.

So, Last Will and Testament is a New Adult story of Elizabeth “Lizzie” Brandt, who is struggling with the transition into college and then suddenly gets hit with a tragedy and responsibilities that no college student should have to deal with. Well, that no one should have to deal with, really. A loss that gives Lizzie guardianship over her two younger brothers, plus a quarter life crisis, PLUS an attractive, caring TA equals a novel jam packed with grief, humor, and romance a.k.a. a novel I greatly enjoyed.

Lizzie isn’t the type of protagonist to which I am usually drawn: she is mouthy and makes lots of bad choices on purpose and likes to get herself into trouble. But she’s also a character I can understand – she is feeling lost in the pressure and competition of college and therefore experiments in some not-so-healthy pastimes and eventually becomes a person she doesn’t really recognize. I was pleasantly surprised and really pleased with how much Lizzie grew on me, not only because of her resiliency and strength during her tragedy but because of the fun, sassy character that emerges amidst all this sadness and the responsibility of taking care of her younger brothers. Her self confidence and gung ho attitude really drew me in – she has a mouth and isn’t afraid to speak her mind and do what she wants. That being said, her insecurities also made her relatable and not completely reckless. Basically, I liked the depth that Dahlia gave her main character, whose humor and complexties made me fall in love with her.

And I couldn’t fall in love as deeply as I did if it wasn’t for Connor, her history TA and my new book boyfriend (please?). Intelligent, kind, and reliable, Connor is the sweetest love interest. He isn’t perfect, with family issues that still affect him and the little problem of him being Lizzie’s “teacher” *coughjustanassistantcough*, but he is perfect for Lizzie. He brought out Lizzie’s sensitive side, without which it wouldn’t make me love Lizzie as much as I do. Likewise, Lizzie brings out Connor’s wild side, which made me love him even more (how is that even possible, Dahlia, HOW?!). Their relationship builds well throughout the story and really helps the pace. And the witty banter! It’s not an insta-romance, which makes me so incredibly happy.

I also think that Dahlia handled the familial relationships really well. While I haven’t experienced the kind of loss that Lizzie, Tyler, and Max have suffered, the forms of grief and the difficulties surrounding such loss were treated in a way that seemed real and genuine. The love and affection, not only between siblings but also between Lizzie and Connor, was well developed and deep and authentic and I loved every minute.

Last Will and Testament made me feel every emotion and by the end I was cheering on Lizzie and Connor and couldn’t be more content in my love of these characters and their story. The ending was complete and lovely, but luckily this is only the first in the Radleigh University series. I feel like the other books will focus on Lizzie's quirky best friends, but I could always go for revisiting these characters that I fell in love with on a reading spree during a 7-hour bus ride. ;)

Find out more about Dahlia and her works here: http://dahliaadler.com/welcome

I'm an Associate Editor of mathematics by day, a Copy Editor by night, and a YA and NA author and blogger at every spare moment in between. I've also been a Production Intern and Editorial Assistant at Simon & Schuster, a Publicity Intern at HarperCollins, and a Fashion Intern at Maxim. So, I'm kind of into that whole publishing thing. 

My debut YA novel, BEHIND THE SCENES, is out now, and you can order it from Amazon, B&N, or The Book Depository now, if you're so inclined! (You can also preorder the companion, UNDER THE LIGHTS, from Amazon.) My debut NA novel, LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT, releases on December 9, 2014, and you can preorder that from Amazon too!

I live in New York City with my husband and our overstuffed bookshelves, and you can find me on Twitter at @MissDahlELama and blogging at The Daily Dahlia, YA Misfits, and Barnes & Noble. I'm also a member of OneFourKidLit. Come say hi!

Happy Reading!

Jasmine
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Monday, December 1, 2014

French Kissed by Chanel Cleeton - Release Day Blitz + Giveaway!


Release Day: December 1, 2014

On the surface, Fleur Marceaux has it all. If only the facade matched reality. With one year left at the International School in London, Fleur’s struggling to graduate, her love life is a mess, and she can’t stop thinking about Max, her ex-boyfriend’s best friend. But all that pales compared to the blackmailer determined to destroy her.

There’s a social hierarchy at the International School and Max Tucker is outside the velvet ropes. After watching Fleur break his friend’s heart, Max knows to stay away from trouble, despite the crush he’s had on her since freshman year. But when they’re partnered on a project, Max learns there’s more to Fleur than meets the eye, and she just might be worth the wild ride.

The more time they spend together, the further Max falls. And when a kiss awakens a passion Fleur never imagined, she’s unable to resist Max, who she had thought was all wrong for her but might be the only thing that’s right. But will he stand by her when her secrets are revealed?

Don’t miss the final book in the International School series. This New Adult romance is recommended for readers 17 and up.

---------------------------- Amazon, B&N, Goodreads ----------------------------

Finally, we get to see what the inside of Fleur Marceaux's mind looks like.  And it's a doozy.

French Kissed is the story of Fleur, a wild and carefree young woman finishing her senior year at the International School in London with her best friends Mya and Maggie.  She also is dating George, a very nice British boy and is perpetually bothered by Max, an American boy.  There's a lot more to Fleur than meets the eye, and in this story, reader's get to hear Fleur's thoughts and feelings.

Fleur is a wonderful character.  While I am usually drawn characters more like her best friend Maggie, who is the star in the first two International School books, Fleur is sassy and self-confident and in your face.  She is worried about her future after college and how her relationships are going to function after graduation (anxieties that, as a college senior, I can relate to all too well).  Not to mention that in the past she has suffered a great tragedy AND is currently being harassed by an unknown person with compromising photos.  Throughout all this, though, she stays confident and strong and refuses to let anyone take her down.  Even Max, who for some reason seems to be getting under her skin.

Max doesn't understand Fleur, or really anyone that attends the International School.  An American on a scholarship, he could care less about the money and excess that surrounds him all the time, the pinnacle of which is Fleur Marceaux.  She's a supermodel basked in money, basically, and that bothers Max - almost as much as his attraction to her.  Of course, though, she's dating his best friend, the extremely nice George.  He knows he needs to focus on his classes to get a good job in Europe after graduation and after being paired with Fleur for a business project, she realizes that he could help her future as well - in more ways than one.

Fleur and Max are an unlikely pair but their chemistry is off the charts.  Both of them are headstrong and stubborn and slightly judgmental but once they call a truce (literally) I fell in love with both of them.  Fleur is such a complex character and Max figures out all of her layers.  I was so happy to see how Fleur really deals with all the stuff that had happened in her life and it was fantastic to see her become happy and, most importantly, begin to find out who she is and who she would like to be.

French Kissed is an entertaining romp through college life in London.  Fleur and Max are complex, intriguing characters that will have you rooting for them in the end, all in the forefront of a beautiful setting and some of our favorite characters from I See London and London Falling (Maggie and Samie squee!).  Filled with smoking hot romance, sharp wit, and a quarter life crisis, this New Adult novel is a wonderful conclusion to the International School series.

Find out more about Chanel and her works here: www.chanelcleeton.com

Originally a Florida girl, CHANEL CLEETON moved to London where she received a bachelor’s degree from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Chanel fell in love with London and planned to stay there forever, until fate intervened on a Caribbean cruise, and an American fighter pilot with smooth dance moves swept her off her feet. Now, a happily ever after later, Chanel is living her next adventure in South Korea.
Law school made Chanel realize she’d rather spend her days writing sexy stories than in a courtroom, and she hasn’t looked back since. An avid reader and hopeless romantic, she’s happiest curled up with a book. She has a weakness for handbags, her three pups, and her fighter pilot husband. Chanel writes New Adult contemporary romances and thrillers.

She is the author of I SEE LONDON and LONDON FALLING, published by Harlequin HQN, the upcoming FRENCH KISSED, and FLIRTING WITH SCANDAL, the first book in a new three-book NA series to be released by Penguin/Berkley in 2015.

AUTHOR LINKS:
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Friday, November 7, 2014

A Cursed Bloodline by Cecy Robson - Early Review


Release Date: November 18, 2014

Just when Celia thinks the supernatural world can’t turn deadlier, a new rival emerges, proving just how dangerous a power-hungry were can be.

Since being cursed with unique abilities, Celia Wird and her three sisters have fought the most bloodthirsty preternaturals in the Lake Tahoe region. But Celia’s greatest threat is someone she would have never suspected: Anara, a werewolf Elder who has allowed his hatred for Celia to spiral out of control. In a play for dominance, Anara tortures Celia and gives her an ultimatum: sever her mate bond with pureblood were Aric — or Anara will kill everyone she loves.

From the instant they met, Celia and Aric have shared an attraction that cannot be tamed. So keeping Aric away is impossible, and Aric would sooner die than allow anyone to hurt the woman he loves. Misha, master vampire and Celia’s sworn protector, also finds his way into the chaos, seeking blood from those who have harmed her.

Now Celia and her sisters are caught in the middle of a war driven by lust, fueled by hatred, and destined to end in tragedy. For Anara is a force to be reckoned with, and he will not succumb without robbing Celia of those who hold her heart.

---------------------------- Amazon, B&N, Goodreads ----------------------------

This book crushed my heart to pieces, taped it back together, and now I have to wait for it to be properly bandaged.  But don't get me wrong, I loved every minute of it.

I'm going to be honest. I did a new blogger thing where I read this eArc months ago and didn't realize it would expire.  So this review is going to be made of what I can remember.  But no worries, the feels were strong, so this review should still be helpful.

I absolutely love the world and the characters that Robson has created in her Weird Girls series. Celia is strong and kick-butt.  I've loved her from Sealed with a Curse and I still love her now.  The things she has gone and continues to go through and has had to overcome is crazy but her growth is wonderful to watch.  This book broke my heart, because it plays with Celia's heart (over and over and over again), but she somehow managed to keep coming back, stronger than ever, something that makes me keep going and also have so. Many. Feels.  A Cursed Bloodline is a wringer especially, but the end result, even after all Celia goes through, is strong relationships and an even stronger main character (as well as family and friends) and I can't wait to see what happens in the next installment.

Aric's place in Celia's life is also something that I have enjoyed (enjoyed? That might be too content of a word) let's say...been fascinated with.  I fell in love with him shortly after falling for Celia.  Although his actions of late haven't been my favorite, this piece redeemed him a bit for me.  His love and devotion to Celia are once again put to the test in this installment, and the results are ones that finally weren't making me bang my head against a wall.

And of course, the rest of the Weird girls. Shayna is transitioning well (I won't say more than that, lest there be spoilers) and Taran and Emme are just as entertaining and sweet (respectively, of course) as the other books.  It's been interesting to see how Robson's conflicts surround mates and Pack versus other magical beings and I'm excited to see how they will continue to play out.  She's hinted at books focused on the other Weird girls and while I love Celia (and I mean, LOVE) I am really excited about learning more about her quirky sisters.

While A Cursed Bloodline follows the same overall pattern of the other books - there's a big bad something out to get Celia or someone she cares about and now she and her sisters (and now some of the Pack!) have to go save not only themselves but the world - it is just as entertaining and great as the rest of the series, because it is driven by Celia's character, with the help of all the strong secondary characters that Robson has created.  And this time, the stakes are even higher (and so are the losses).  A sometimes-romantic, sometimes-humorous, sometimes-heartbreaking, almost-always-action-packed read, I highly recommend for fans of The Weird Girls series and paranormal fantasy books by Patricia Briggs and Iona Andrews.  I can't wait for A Curse Unbroken!

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Find out more about Cecy and her works here: http://www.cecyrobson.com

 Cecy (pronounced SESSY) Robson is the New Adult Romance author of Once Perfect, Once Loved and Once Pure and the award-winning author of the Weird Girls Urban Fantasy Romance series. A self-proclaimed professional napper, her list of talents includes jaw-dropping knowledge of useless trivia, the ability to make her hair big, and a knack for breaking into song despite her family’s vehement protests. A full-time writer, registered nurse, wife, and mother living in the Great Northwest, Cecy enjoys spending time with her family and silencing the yappy characters in her head by telling their stories.

Cheers and happy reading!
Jasmine

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