Review of Her Lost and Found Baby by Tara Taylor Quinn

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to the book tour for Her Lost and Found Baby by Tara Taylor Quinn. This is another one that piqued my interest and I knew I needed to check out. Please enjoy my review and then check out other reviews along the rest of the tour below.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I also have affiliate links present within this post. Should you make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission to help me to support my websites, at no additional cost to you.

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Her Lost and Found Baby

By Tara Taylor Quinn

Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Paperback & ebook, 224 Pages

August 1st 2018 by Harlequin Special Edition

Friends. Without benefits. They both agreed.

Until she stole his heart.

Tabitha Jones will find her kidnapped toddler…even if it means searching every daycare in Southern California. So when her hunky, wealthy neighbor, Johnny Brubaker, offers a deal, Tabitha sees it as an ideal way to expand her search. In exchange for working his food truck, Johnny agrees to pose as Tabitha’s husband. It’s the perfect relationship…until Johnny realizes posing as a family man isn’t enough anymore.

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**My thoughts**

I felt a little thrown off at the beginning of the book when we were introduced to Johnny and Tabitha. We're clearly in the middle of their story, as they've already been working together for some time trying to track down her missing son. Already they have the hots for each other, though they aren't admitting it to each other. Somehow I think I would have liked it had we started a bit more at the beginning so that I could better understand how their partnership came to be and to really watch the feelings develop. 

At the same time, we are thrown into the action. The food truck has been doing well. They are getting closer and closer to finding Baby Jackson. And the two of them really seem to be ready to move on from their previous relationships. You're hopping on the horse mid-ride, but it's a heck of a ride.

I cannot imagine what it would be like to have your child abducted, to be constantly searching for his face in the faces of every toddler who comes across your path, and to have doors frustratingly slammed in your face every time you feel like you are making progress. And then as you are doing your own investigation, how difficult to make sure you are carefully following protocol so that nothing you unearth gets thrown out of evidence as a technicality. I really enjoyed this part of the book, the search for Baby Jackson.

Johnny and Tabitha are good for each other. They have an easy camaraderie that serves them well both in business matters and in their personal lives. That's such a beautiful thing when you finally find it in someone else. Both of them are quite damaged from their losses and need the other one to help to fill those voids. I like they way they work together and was rooting for them on multiple levels through the entire story.

About the Author

The author of more than 70 original novels, in twenty languages, Tara Taylor Quinn is a USA Today bestseller with over six million copies sold. A 2015 RITA finalist Tara appears frequently on bestseller lists, including #1 placement on Amazon lists, and multiple showings on the Publisher’s Weekly Bestseller list. She has appeared on national and local TV across the country, including CBS Sunday Morning.

Tara is a supporter of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. If you or someone you know might be a victim of domestic violence in the United States, please contact 1-800-799-7233.

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Tour Schedule

July 30th:

Launch

Andi's Book Reviews

By Her Shelf

July 31st:

Inside The Mind of An Avid Reader

Book by Book

Wishful Endings

August 1st:

Jorie Loves A Story

Becky on Books

August 2nd:

My Devotional Thoughts

Rockin' Book Reviews

Harlie's Books

August 3rd:

Thoughts of a Blonde

Busy Bumble Bee Book Reviews

Aubrey & Co.

August 4th:

Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

1 winner has their choice of any two TTQ backlist ebooks

Open internationally

Ends August 8th

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The Heart of Aleppo (A Novel of the Syrian Civil War) by Ammar Habib with Giveaway

The Heart of Aleppo

After standing for over 7,000 years, Aleppo's ruin came overnight. Separated from his family during the night the rebels attacked the city, thirteen-year-old Zaid Kadir is lost in the middle of a war zone. Alongside his friends, he is forced to survive the dangers of a civil war he does not even fully understand. Zaid witnesses the destruction of the brutal Syrian Civil War as it grows more deadly by the day and rips his city apart. However, as he braves this destruction, as he desperately tries to survive this catastrophe, he discovers something. Zaid realizes that it is in the darkest hours when humanity's spirit of hope burns brightest.

Goodreads * Amazon

 

About Ammar Habib

Ammar Habib is a bestselling and award-winning author who was born in Lake Jackson, Texas in 1993. Ammar enjoys crafting stories that are not only entertaining but will also stay with the reader for a long time. Ammar presently resides in his hometown with his family, all of whom are his biggest fans. He draws his inspiration from his family, imagination, and the world around him.

Social Media Links

Website: www.ammarahsenhabib.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ammarahsenhabib

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmmarAHabib1 @AmmarAHabib1

Blog: www.ammarhabibblog.wordpress.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Ammar_Habib

Instagram: https://instagram.com/ammar.a.habib/ @Ammar.A.Habib

Contest!

In conjunction with the release of The Heart of Aleppo, I am running a giveaway from July 26^th to August 3^rd. The prize of the giveaway is a signed copy of my national award-winning novel, Memories of My Future. Memories of My Future is a historical/inspirational novel that was published in 2016. It received several accolades after its release, including the Independent Press Award in May 2017.

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The Clock Flower (The FIG Mysteries Book 3) by Barbara Casey with Giveaway

Welcome to the book blast for The Clock Flower by Barbara Casey! I hope you enjoy the excerpt I'm sharing today. Please let the author know what you think by leaving her a comment. Or ask her any questions you may have! And then be sure to enter the giveaway. Follow the tour for more engagement and chances to win!

Please note that affiliate links are present within this post. Should make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission to help me support my websites at no additional cost to you.

The Clock Flower

Mackenzie Yarborough, one of the three FIGs—Females of Intellectual Genius—finds herself facing a terrifying death of an ancient evil dragon while in China working on a secret research project and trying to discover the truth of her birth parents.

Available on Amazon

Read an excerpt:

At first Mackenzie just listened, from a distance, like an interested bystander looking through a window and then passing on by untouched by what she saw. Gradually, as more of the story was revealed, Mackenzie allowed the words to get a little closer and started to examine each one and its meaning, holding it up against her body like clothing, as though deciding whether to try it on to see if it fit. Deciding if the pain was too great. Then, slowly, like ripples in a pond eventually reaching the shore, or a far-away echo finally being heard, the words became clear and their meaning understood. All of those years of calculating her numbers to find the answers, of wondering, of wanting to know; now she did. It was real, and it was true. It was her story.

There would be more questions in time, when she was ready to hear the answers, but for now Mackenzie knew what she needed to know. That her mother hadn’t wanted to put her in an orphanage, and she had always loved her. And a father who tried to show his love by taking care of her, even when she was far away and living in an orphanage where numbers were her friends.

As the sun’s first rays cast sparkling glitter over the Yellow Sea heralding the arrival of a new brilliant day, Mackenzie and her mother sat quietly on the wooden seat in an ancient pagoda, loving one another as only a mother and her child could, while the delicate scent of lotus embraced and comforted them, offering reassurance.

Back inside the house, in the wing where Carolina and the FIGs were staying, Jennifer impatiently threw back the bed covers and went to Dara’s room only to find Dara sitting up in bed, also unable to sleep. Without saying anything, Jennifer climbed in next to her best friend, careful not to wrinkle the neatly folded spread, the blanket, and the top sheet, knowing that was how Dara liked it. There in the quiet darkness, the two FIGs sat side by side, one foot touching the other’s, waiting for the black of night to once again give birth to the light of day.

“What I want to know is about that guy’s birthmark he had on his arm—Fu Wang. It was definitely a dragon, and the symbol below it meant ‘Dragon King Ruler,’” said Dara because she was a genius in foreign and obscure as well as obsolete languages.

“Yeah, I saw that. It was fake. Not even a good tattoo—it was just painted on,” said Jennifer, because she was a genius in music and art.

Silently, the first early-morning rays of the sun tentatively reached through the latticed window forming a crisscrossed pattern on the dark, polished wooden floor. “You finished the musical composition you were writing.” Dara said it as a matter of fact rather than a question.

“Yeah.” Then after a moment, “I call it The Clock Flower.” Another moment, “It is Mackenzie’s story.”

“That’s great, Jennifer.”

Then, as though Jennifer knew Dara was thinking about the painting and wondering what it meant, “Ling is Mackenzie’s mother. She is the blue lotus. The yellow dandelion is the research—Yellow Sea Laboratories, and the red dandelion is Mackenzie.”

Dara didn’t ask any questions because in a strange way it made sense. Certainly in Jennifer’s mind, it all made perfect sense because she was a Female of Intellectual Genius.

After another pause, “Dara, Mackenzie has one on her shoulder.” Jennifer didn’t need to explain to Dara what she meant—that Mackenzie had the dragon birthmark.

“I know,” Dara answered.

About Barbara Casey

Originally from Carrollton, Illinois, author/agent/publisher Barbara Casey attended the University of North Carolina, N.C. State University, and N.C. Wesleyan College where she received a BA degree, summa cum laude, with a double major in English and history. In 1978 she left her position as Director of Public Relations and Vice President of Development at North Carolina Wesleyan College to write full time and develop her own manuscript evaluation and editorial service. In 1995 she established the Barbara Casey Agency and since that time has represented authors from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan. In 2014, she became a partner with Strategic Media Books where she is involved in acquisitions and day-to-day operations and oversees book production.

Ms. Casey's two middle-grade/young adult novels, Leilani Zan and Grandma Jock and Christabelle (James C. Winston Publishing Co., Trade Division) were both nominated for awards of excellence by the SCBWI Golden Kite Award, the National Association of University Women Literary Award and the Sir Walter Raleigh Literary Award. Shyla's Initiative (Crossquarter Publishing Group), a contemporary adult novel (occult romance/mystery), received a 2003 Independent Publisher Book Award and also an award of special literary recognition by the Palm Beach County Cultural Council. The Coach's Wife (ArcheBooks Publishing), also a novel for adults (contemporary/mystery), was semi-finalist for the 2005 Dana Award for Outstanding Novel and listed on the Publisher’s Best Seller List. The House of Kane (ArcheBooks Publishing), released in 2007, was considered for a Pulitzer nomination. Another contemporary novel for adults, Just Like Family, was released at Christmas 2009 when it received “Special Recognition from the 7-Eleven Corporation,” and The Gospel According to Prissy, also a contemporary novel written for adults, received a 2013 Independent Publishers Book Award for Best Book in Regional Fiction.

The Cadence of Gypsies, a novel written for young/new adults, was released in 2011 and was reviewed by the Smithsonian Institute for its List of Most Notable Books. In 2012, The Cadence of Gypsies was expanded into a four-book mystery series called THE FIG MYSTERIES: The Wish Rider (2016), The Clock Flower (2018), and The Nightjar’s Promise (to be released in 2019).

Ms. Casey also writes book-length nonfiction for adults. Kathryn Kelly: The Moll behind Machine Gun Kelly was released in 2016 and has been optioned for a major movie. In 2018 her book Assata Shakur: A 20th Century Escaped Slave was released and it has been signed for a major movie.

Ms. Casey's award-winning science fiction short stories for adults are featured in The Cosmic Unicorn and CrossTime science fiction anthologies. Ms. Casey's essays and other works appear in The Chrysalis Reader, the international literary journal of the Swedenborg Foundation, 221 One-Minute Monologues from Literature (Smith and Kraus Publishers), and A Cup of Comfort (Adams Media Corporation). Other award-winning articles, short stories, and poetry for adults have appeared in both national and international publications including the North Carolina Christian Advocate Magazine, The New East Magazine, the Raleigh (N.C.) News and Observer, the Rocky Mount (N.C.) Sunday Telegram, Dog Fancy, ByLine, The Christian Record, Skirt! Magazine, and True Story. A thirty-minute television special which Ms. Casey wrote and coordinated was broadcast on WRAL, Channel 5, in Raleigh, North Carolina. She also received special recognition for her editorial work on the English translations of Albanian children’s stories.

Ms. Casey is a former director of BookFest of the Palm Beaches, Florida, where she served as guest author and panelist. She has served as judge for the Pathfinder Literary Awards in Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Florida, and was the Florida Regional Advisor for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators from 1991 through 2003. She is a frequent guest lecturer at universities and writers’ conferences around the country including the SCBWI Regional Conference, the Harriett Austin Writers Conference in Athens, SIBA (Southeastern Independent Book Sellers Association), Florida Writers Association, and the University of Auburn, Montgomery.

In 2018, Ms. Casey received the prestigious Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award for her extensive experience and notable accomplishments in the field of publishing and other areas. She makes her home on the top of a mountain in northwest Georgia with her husband and Benton, a hound mix who adopted her.

Website: http://www.barbaracaseyagency.com/

www.barbaracaseyagency.com

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/697572.Barbara_Casey

https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-casey-a9527667/

Barbara Casey will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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From Maid to Duchess (A Sweet Romance) by Regina James

I was compensated via Fiverr for sharing this post. I only share those books that I feel will be of interest to my readers. Please also note that affiliate links are also present in this post. Should you make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

From Maid to Duchess

Lady Evelyn’s life changed when her mother died and her step-mother Lady Cecilia entered her life. Still everything became worse when her father died leaving them in poverty. Her wicked step-mother decided to use Evelyn as a servant in their household. Evelyn was resigned to her fate and was just happy that she at least had her step-sister Lady Jane in her life. Until she met the Duke of Langley and spoke to him in the shadows.

The Duke of Langley, Julien had no desire to remarry after his first wife jumped to her death from the balcony of their home. However, after losing the third governess for his children, his mother convinced him that finding himself a mother for his twins would be better…More permanent. Set out to find such a woman to act in the sole capacity of mother and nothing more, Julien found the perfect woman. Only she was a servant, way beneath him for marriage. And there was another huge problem— he had feelings for her. He did not want feelings in the equation.

Against the machinations of one wicked step-mother and an unfeeling mother; with expectations of marriage without love, would this maid be the next Duchess of Langley?

Available on Amazon

About Regina James

Regina James is an author of historical and contemporary romance.

Her romances range in setting from Medieval times to the Twentieth Century.

When not writing, you can find her trying to keep up with her husband and three kids and exploring the different parts of the world.

Read an excerpt from Winter Flowers by Tani Hanes with Giveaway

Welcome to the blog tour for Winter Flowers by Tani Hanes! It's the second book in The Flower series. Please enjoy an amusing excerpt that anyone who has ever had kids or worked with kids will appreciate, and then be sure to enter the giveaway! Also check out the rest of the tour for other excerpts, reviews, and more. 

Please note that affiliate links are present within this post. Should you make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission to help support my websites, at no additional cost to you.

Winter Flowers (The Flowers Series #2)

by Tani Hanes

Genre: NA Romance
Release Date: July 20th 2018

Summary:

What ever happened to Pete and Daisy?

When we left them, their daughter had just been born, and some momentous decisions had been made.

It’s now four years later. Their family has grown, as has their love for each other. Clio is a rocky smart, precocious four year old, and she’s been joined by baby sister Francie. Pete’s career as a musician is finally taking off, and things should be rosy; however, fame and fortune bring their own pitfalls, and a voice from the past arrives in their lives, threatening to upset everything they’ve worked for.

Can they survive Pete’s success, and the long shadow cast by Daisy’s past? How will Pete deal with groupies, temptation, and prolonged separation from his family? And how far is Daisy willing to go to protect those she loves?

Join the Santangelos on this rollicking roller coaster second installment of their journey.

Read an excerpt:

Clio looked dubiously between her parents. “Hunh? It what?” 

The three of them were sitting in her parents’ bedroom, on their big, fluffy bed. It was Clio’s favorite place in the entire house, as it smelled like both her mother and her father. It was a cloudy afternoon, with rain imminent, though none had hit the ground yet. Francie lay sleeping in the room she shared with her sister, the sister who was presently doubting the sanity of her mother and father. 

Pete had just finished explaining how the baby had gotten in her mother’s tummy, and he and Daisy were looking expectantly at Clio. Her response to this was huge. It would color their home lives for the next six months. 

“That sounds like the biggest load of crap,” she finally said. Pete and Daisy looked at each other and resisted the urge to laugh. 

“You’re telling me that something from Daddy joined together with something from Mommy, and it turned into a bunch of tiny cells, and they’re inside Mommy’s tummy right now, growing into a baby? No, sorry, her, um uterus?” The unfamiliar word rolled off her tongue.

Clio was nothing if not precocious, both of them knew that. Her aptitude tests, placement tests for pre-school, and frankly every kind of test they’d ever given her was off the charts for intelligence; she was the smartest, the most articulate four-year-old most people had ever encountered.

That fierce intellect was now focused on her mother and father, her go-to source for anything and everything, as if she could no longer understand their accents. 

“How did it happen?” she finally threw out into the huge silence. “How did the, um, sperm get to Mommy’s egg? Did it just fly through the air?” And she made a jumping motion with her hand to clarify her meaning. 

Pete sighed and rolled his eyes, running his fingers through his hair. Daisy swallowed, looking around the room as if for inspiration. They again looked at each other, both utterly at a loss as to how to proceed. 

“Well, no, it didn’t fly through the air,” Pete finally answered. He blew out another breath, making his cheeks huge. “You know how Daddy has a penis? And Mommy doesn’t, right? Well, there’s an extra opening down there that women have, and we fit together, and that’s how my sperm and Mommy’s egg met, inside Mommy’s body…” he trailed off to see the effect his words were having. 

“And when you guys do this it’s called ‘sex,’” Clio said, brows drawn together, just like Pete. Clio wore a searching look, her “detective look,” Pete and Daisy called it. It was the look she got when she needed to know something, and was going to find out, no matter what. “So that’s how you got me? And Francie? By fitting yourselves together?” 

Pete and Daisy both nodded, relieved. The end might actually be in sight.

“So what about Uncle Evan and Uncle Bjorn?” she asked skeptically. “They have Molly and Ethan, but they don’t fit together, do they? They’re both boys.” 

She looked from Pete to Daisy, her face one big question mark. “How did they get Molly and Ethan if they can’t do what you guys are saying? Sex? Or can they? Can one man put his penis in a different opening on another man and make a baby?” 

Jesus. 

“No, only a man and a woman together can make a baby, though any grownups who want can have sex; but it wouldn’t be fair if only man-and-woman families could have children, would it?” Daisy asked. “So when there’s a woman who wants to be a mommy, or a man who wants to be a daddy, they can adopt children, from anywhere in the world. You remember how Molly has dark skin? The man and woman who made her are from Africa, and they couldn’t take care of her, so they let Uncle Evan and Uncle Bjorn adopt her, get it?” 

And thankfully, Clio was nodding, beginning to smile. 

“So you guys are just lucky that you can make a baby with each other,” she said. “Right? Otherwise, you could adopt, too? From anywhere?” 

“Esattamente,” Pete said, relief all over his face. “Sometimes people get sick and die, or they can’t take care of a child. Sometimes people make a baby by accident, and aren't ready for it or whatever, and other people who want a family can adopt those children.”
Oops, too far. Clio’s look of dawning comprehension was replaced by another question mark. What now? 

“Hold on, Daddy, how do people do that by accident?” She looked between them again, and Daisy wished the bed would just open up and swallow her. She always prided herself, as did Pete, on being completely forthright with their kids. “As much truth as they can handle, always,” had been their motto, and it had been going gangbusters until this major pileup. 

Clio, mistaking her parents’ silence for a lack of comprehension, proceeded to elucidate. “How do people ‘accidentally’ have sex?” she asked, even putting air quotes, which she knew Daisy hated, around the word “accidentally.” “Is that something that can happen in, like, a car accident or something? Or when people aren’t paying attention when they walk?” 

Fuck. Fuck fuck.

Daisy pursed her lips, and bit the inside of her mouth, hard. She mustn’t laugh at her daughter’s very legitimate question. Pete wasn’t having as much success, and was grinning. 

“No, baby, the sex isn’t the accidental part. People like to have sex.” He looked at his wife, who was hanging on his every word, eyebrows so high they were in danger of disappearing into her hairline. 

“People like to have sex,” he repeated, trying to figure out how to continue, “but they don’t always want a baby, you see? The baby is the accident, the lovely surprise.”
“So the new baby is a surprise?” Clio asked, gesturing at Daisy’s tummy.

“Yes, it’s a lovely surprise,” Daisy agreed. Pete had, for once, hit upon a wonderful turn of phrase. “It’s something we didn't even know we wanted until we got it.” 

Clio, ever the practical creature, had more questions for her floundering parents. “So when do you guys do sex?” she asked. “Have sex, have sex, I mean,” she corrected herself, and Daisy again marveled at the human brain, which could hear a phrase once and learn it and use it correctly. Clio looked around the bedroom, eyes finally coming to rest on the bed upon which all three sat. 

Her eyes widened and she jumped off the bed. “Here? You guys do that here?” she asked, hands spread wide. She looked like they’d just told her they liked to drink from the toilet. She looked at the bed carefully, as though it might accidentally impregnate her. 

She again looked from Pete to Daisy. “I’m not doing that for a long time, okay?” she said, shaking her head, making her ponytail swing from side to side. “I’m too little, right?”
And at those words Pete did laugh out loud, holding his arms out to his amazing four year old daughter. “Yes, you’re definitely too little, Topolina, you don’t have to worry about anything like this for years and years, I promise.” 

“I think that’s enough talking, you guys, okay?” she asked as she hid her head in her father’s neck.

“Yes, yes, definitely,” Daisy said, laughing herself.

As they were leaving the bedroom, she thought of one more question. “So you guys had to do that thing, that ‘sex’ thing, two times?” Her voice indicated that she was very impressed. “Wow, you must’ve wanted Francie and me a lot, hm?”

Buy on Amazon

Also available: Pete and Daisy (Book 1)

Available on Amazon

Add to Goodreads

About Tani Hanes

My name is Tani Hanes, and I am a 51 year old substitute teacher. I'm from central California and am a recent transplant to New York City. The most important things to know about me are that I'm punctual, I love grammar and sushi, and I'm very intolerant of intolerance. The least important things to know about me are that I like to knit and I couldn't spell "acoustic" for 40 years. I've wanted to write since I was ten, and I finally did it. If you want to write, don't wait as long as I did, it's pointless, and very frustrating!

Author Links:

Website | Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook | Tumblr | Pinterest

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Aries' Red Sky by James Young Blast and Giveaway

Welcome to the book blast for Aries' Red Sky by James Young. Check out an excerpt from this new science fiction novel. Leave James any comments or questions you may have. Be sure to follow the tour for even more excerpts and reviews. And then, of course, enter the giveaway! 

Please note that affiliate links are present within this post. Should you make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Aries' Red Sky

The Confederation of Man believes all Humanity should be under Terra’s rule.

The Spartan Republic has spent seven centuries preparing to resist Earth’s tyranny.

The stars will burn as these two mindsets come into brutal conflict in Aries’ Red Sky, the newest novel by award-winning author James Young.

Available on Amazon

Read an excerpt:

Despite his best efforts, Agenor Acheros’ was unable to completely dodge his opponent’s whirling axe kick. Rather than a clean, visage altering hit, however, the blow thudded into the Spartan lieutenant’s thick chest.

Ow, he thought with a grunt, the woman’s combat boot sliding off the right side of his dark green gi. Agenor did not give his sparring partner time to regain her balance, allowing his dodge to the left to flow into a crouch. Even as Lieutenant Abigail Schweizer realized her vulnerability, Agenors braced himself on his left arm. This was followed by a left leg sweep that knocked his diminutive opponent onto her back. Continuing the motion with a speed and agility no man his size should possess, Agenor completed an almost complete rotation on his straining left arm. Schweizer was just trying to regain her bearings when Agenor’s feet came back around and caught her steel-toes-first in the back. The blow elicited sharp cries and gasps from onlookers as the woman flung forward several feet.

Let’s finish this, Agenor thought, coming to his knees then springing to his feet and striding towards the stunned Schweizer. He felt a calmness descend upon him, blue eyes narrowing as he carefully stalked towards his opponent.

She might be faking. Either way, she will yield.

“Enough!” Captain Mordechai Butler barked, stopping Agenor in his tracks The tall, thin officer stood just outside the “Square of Enlightenment,” Alpha Company’s nickname for their designated sparring area. Agenor stopped to look at him, face quizzical.

“The Square has spoken,” Butler continued, signalling the end of the fight. Unlike the two lieutenants, Butler wore the standard Spartan Marine camouflage uniform. Inside of the Basile’s dark grey compartments, the clothing’s adaptive threads had adopted a mottled, random pattern of grey, white, black, and silver lozenge shapes.

“The Square tells all,” the roughly sixty Marines scattered in the open bay chanted with varying degrees of solemnity.

About James Young

James Young is a Missouri native who escaped small town life by attending the United States Military Academy. After being set free from the Hudson River Valley, Mr. Young spent the next six years of his life in the Army repaying his education the proverbial “nickel at a time.” Along the way he collected a loving, patient, beautiful spouse…and various animals that did not fit that description. Leaving the Republic’s employ, he returned to the Midwest to pursue his doctorate—a process which took twice the time planned but is finally concluded. Having now concluded two of the prerequisites to be a super villain, Dr. Young spends his time waiting for the inevitable origin story, winning writing awards (2016 United States Naval Institute Cyber Essay Contest Winner, among others), and writing an alternate history (Usurper’s War) and military space opera (Vergassy Chronicles) series. His latest book is Aries Red Sky, the first in a new Vergassy Universe trilogy.

James Young’s Blog / James Young’s Amazon Author Page

James Young will be awarding a 5x7 print of concept artwork from the Vergassy Universe to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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The Truth Between Us by Tammy L. Gray Book Tour Grand Finale with Giveaway

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to the grand finale for the book tour grand finale for The Truth Between Us by Tammy L. Gray. This is a book that I reviewed over at Uplifting Reads. Find even more reviews and some excerpts here, plus an interview with the author. You can preview the first book in the series. And then of course there is a great giveaway at the end!

Please note that affiliate links are present within this post. Should you make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Book Tour Grand Finale for

The Truth Between Us

By Tammy L. Gray

We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops

you can see snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:

Launch - Interview with the Author

1. What was your motivation behind writing THE TRUTH BETWEEN US?

One of my goals in writing is to have a deeper meaning come through the story. Since this book is the second in a series, I always knew April and Sean would get their happy ending, but choosing the inspirational thread was a little more challenging. I wanted to show how even the strongest of people can hurt in silence. April is tough, guarded and defensive. But she also has a myriad of wonderful qualities—loyalty and kindness—if she would lonely allow herself to love. As her arc progressed, I could clearly see her need to understand unconditional love and did my best to show how God’s love doesn’t come with strings or conditions. 

Remembrancy - Review

"In The Truth Between Us, Gray focuses on how the unconditional love of one person covers over years of fighting to measure up to others expectation, seeking acceptance to the point of losing who you are meant to be.

It’s not an easy road to traverse, there are switchbacks, wrong turns, potholes, and deep ruts to navigate along the way. But with friends to navigate her back to the route, April just might find herself."

Katie's Clean Book Collection - Excerpt

Chapter 1 – Sean

Nine months, twenty-seven days, and four hours.

The last time he’d had contact with the woman he was supposed to marry. The woman who’d chosen misguided loyalty and lineage over his unconditional love. 

Sean drummed his left fingers against the steering wheel, his right hand occupied with the ring April had so easily returned. He slid the smooth gold onto his pinky, the same way he had in the jewelry store to measure its size. It stopped at his knuckle, the light bouncing off the diamond in an array of beautiful colors. 

All-of-a-kind Mom - Review

"The second book in Tammy Gray’s Bentwood series, and it was just as attention-grabbing as the first!This one has April as the main character, and I was completely hooked into her and her life!

I was enthralled and captivated by her story...

Ms. Gray skillfully wove life lessons, and much truth, into this story line. We need to let go of who we think others are demanding us to be, and look for the person God wants us to be."

Christian Chick's Thoughts - Review

"When I started reading The Truth Between Us, I wasn't sure what to think. . . . But as I kept reading and got to know them each better, I found myself drawn into the story, which ended up being a beautiful tale of redemption and forgiveness.

...Though it took me a while to get into, The Truth Between Us is a really engaging story, and I'll definitely be coming back for book three."

The Power of Words - Review

"I thoroughly enjoyed this story and am thrilled to have discovered the writing of Tammy L. Gray. The Truth Between Us is an extremely well-written relationship drama with a strong, compelling plot and themes of grace and redemption. Honestly, I never wanted to put it down."

Uplifting Reads - Review

"They have such a beautiful and rich past together, stretching way back to their early days. And it just feels like so much was a misunderstanding that they never had a chance to work through. Reading this was a great way to relax on a hot summer's day. I want to read the first book in the series now, to get a better understanding of this book. And I would be interested in reading the next one to follow up on where everyone goes, and to figure out what is happening with some of the other characters."

My Scribbler's Heart - Review

"I appreciate how Tammy Gray has met these characters where they are at, largely broken and faithless. The subtle introduction of Christianity is unseen and realistic, given entry by the desires written on their hearts, the natural law, and those God has put in their path."

Locks, Hooks and Books - Excerpt

Chapter 2 – April

She slipped away quietly and continued toward the altar as if the wedding march were playing through the wind. A melody imprinted in her soul with each careful step. 

At the front, the white wooden arbor draped with lace and held together at the corners by bouquets of pink roses, was just like the one April had seen in a magazine, but Sean had staunchly vetoed the idea of a fancy arbor, not wanting anything to distract from the beauty of their venue.

Or the beauty of his bride, he’d said, ruining her chance to argue. He was the only person she knew who could make her cave with so little effort.

C Jane Read - Review

"Once I connected with the characters I couldn’t put the story down. This is an emotional story filled with a powerful message of discovering yourself, a wonderful example of unconditional love and what trust really means."

Reading Is My SuperPower - Review

"The Truth Between Us takes us on a roller coaster of emotions, from passion to anger to hurt to redemption and everything in between. Sean and April are complex characters and their story is as layered as they are. Tammy L. Gray is extremely skilled at writing in such a way that the reader feels part of the story too, and nothing feels forced or out of place. The sweet ending and the undertones of redemption do not cancel out the rawness of the story itself, rather it gives the journey an edge of grace that makes it all worth it."

Book by Book - Review

"So, if you like to read romantic, character-based fiction, add The Truth Between Us to the TBR. Tammy L. Gray tells the story so well that it’s hard not to enjoy it. I know I certainly did (so much so that I’m once again left very eager to read more of the series), and I recommend it."

Author Austin Ryan - Review

"With The Truth Between Us, I had nothing to worry about, and here’s why: Sean Taylor.

I had a hard time liking the other main characters until later in the book. But Sean, I loved from the start, for the same reasons all the Bentley Brats love him: he’s funny, he’s daring, he’s passionate, he’s authentic.

...I found a story that shows the great impact of being loved unconditionally, and how very different that kind of love is from the conditional kind."

Faithfully Bookish - Excerpt

Chapter 3 – April

The hostess smiled at her warmly, and April motioned toward the man already standing to greet her. Aiden had secured a table next to the towering windows at the back of room. They faced north, allowing the sky to reflect the beauty of dusk without the spotlight of the setting sun. With the light to his back, a halo encircled his blond head and saintly face. Lucifer himself would be jealous of the effect.

Wishful Endings - Excerpt

Chapter 3 – April

“I pay attention.” His tone was casual, as was the way he dismissed the waitress with a nod. “Especially to people who fascinate me.”

“Careful Aiden, one might think you’re flirting.” She was amazed at the ease in which she threw out those words when warning sparks were firing through her body. “You forget I’ve known you too long to be charmed by your looks and good manners. You offered a proposition. Get to it.”

Tell Tale Book Reviews - Excerpt

– Sean

Sean wasn’t sure about anything anymore except that in three days he’d be face to face with the two people who’d trampled his heart. “Surprising her is the only way I’ll know if we still have a chance.” She was too good at hiding her feelings. Too good at shutting out every single emotion she didn’t want to feel.

“Okay. But know this. If a blow up occurs, I will take her side.” Andrew had abandoned the Duncan kingdom and had admitted more than once that he didn’t understand his sister’s choices. Still, his loyalty was unwavering.

Rockin' Book Reviews - Review

"This is a great story. I shows just how evil people can be and how power and money can tear a family apart.

The characters are well-developed and I enjoyed the group of friends. The way they continued to remain close for so many years was fun to see...

I would recommend this book to other readers."

Redeemed Hope Dweller - Review

"There’s an abundance of depth and richness and beauty to this book and the series it’s in, to its characters and their relationships, and to the themes present throughout. I’m very much looking forward to revisiting all these characters that tug on my heartstrings, that make me think, and that have become real to me in Ms. Gray’s next addition to the Bentwood Series."

Among the Reads - Review

"I really loved Sean. He was so alive. His love for April was so incredible it almost hurt to see. He’d loved her ever since they were kids. Waiting patiently. It was the kind of love every girl dreams of. A sacrificing, forever kind of love. Sigh...

This book chews you up, spits you out and then puts you back together again. It leaves you with tears in your eyes and yet a satisfied kind of warmth in your chest at the end..."

Christen Krumm - Review

"If you are needing a sweet escape from this summer heat (and let’s be honest … with the heat wave this week, who doesn’t?) you aren’t going to want to miss Tammy L. Gray’s The Truth Between Us.

The newest addition to Gray’s Brentwood series is every bit as toe tingling as I hear the first one is...

I felt like this book was down to earth. It was a little bit gritty — just like you’d encounter in real life, and I found that very refreshing."

Heidi Reads... - Review

"I've been eagerly anticipating April and Sean's story since meeting them in the first book and wondering how on earth the author planned to get them back together. . . . They have great chemistry, even when they are in the midst of conflict, and the process of reconciliation was gratifying. I appreciated the positive influence of Caroline, a newcomer to the group of longtime friends, and once again I'm anxiously awaiting the next book in the Bentwood series!"

Don't forget to enter the giveaway below, if you haven't already...

The Truth Between Us
(Bentwood #2)
By Tammy L. Gray
Inspirational Contemporary Romance
ebook, 252 Pages
July 12th 2018

Nine years to win her. Three years to love her. And one decision that destroyed it all.

April Duncan was raised with three clear truths: the family name is absolute, ambition and success rule over every emotion, and love always comes with strings attached. Image was everything in her carefully crafted world... until the mirror cracked.

Sean Taylor was April's best friend, the one man who taught her it was okay to let her guard down and to rely on someone. She trusted him. She loved him. Which made his deception the darkest kind of cruelty.

Now, nearly a year later, she’s ready to leave her failed engagement in the past and get back her life and her estranged family, even if it means dating a man solely for his connections. She’ll never again choose love over loyalty.

Sean has spent his entire life breaking barriers, facing challenges, and never giving up. Until one impossible choice destroyed his future and left him no option but to flee from the woman who annihilated his heart.

Now he’s back in Bentwood and determined to make her hear the truth and rebuild the trust he shattered. But April has become a mere shell of the woman who claimed his heart long ago.

Winning her back is more than just seizing a victory, because if he fails… the girl he’s loved for a lifetime will disappear forever.

The Truth Between Us is the second book in the Bentwood series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but it is recommended that you begin with book one to get the full experience among this tight group of family and friends.

Goodreads│Amazon

Other Books in the Series

Until I Knew Myself
(Bentwood #1)
By Tammy L. Gray
Inspirational Contemporary Romance
ebook, 264 Pages
March 8th 2018

RITA Award-winning author Tammy L. Gray delivers an unforgettable new series following five struggling friends in search of the true meaning of family through secrets, betrayal and the unexpected influence of an outsider…

Tyler Mitchell grew up an orphan, taken in by his best friend’s family when he was only sixteen. Even though ten years have passed, and he’s been given everything he should ever want—a loving home, an adoring girlfriend, a successful career, and lifelong friendships—Tyler has always felt a foreigner in his own life.

When a surprising phone call reveals the death of his biological grandfather, Tyler’s seemingly perfect life starts to unravel. The people he loves most in world have kept from him the greatest secret of all—knowledge of his father’s family.

Now hunting for more information about his past, Tyler discovers nothing is quite as it seems. And the definition of family is far more complicated than choosing between blood and loyalty.

Goodreads│Amazon

About the Author


Tammy L. Gray lives in the Dallas area with her family, and they love all things Texas, even the erratic weather patterns. She writes modern Christian romance with true-to-life characters and culturally-relevant plot lines. She believes hope and healing can be found through high quality fiction that inspires and provokes change.

Her characters are real, relatable and deep, earning her a 2017 RITA award in the Romance with Religious and Spiritual Elements category.

When not chasing after her three amazing kids, Tammy can be spotted with her head in a book. Writing has given her a platform to combine her passion with her ministry.

Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│Instagram│Pinterest│Amazon│Newsletter

Tour Giveaway

- 1 winner will receive a Kindle ebook of UNTIL I NEW MYSELF, book one in The Brentwood Series, and a $10 Amazon eGift Card
- Open internationally
- Ends July 25th

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Stolen Obsession by Marlene M. Bell Book Tour Grand Finale with Giveaway

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to the grand finale for Stolen Obsession by Marlene M. Bell! These are my favorite kinds of posts because you get to see everything all at once. Fan of reading excerpts? We've got you covered. Want to find all of the reviews? They're all here. And of course there is the huge giveaway with five winners! 

Book Tour Grand Finale for

Stolen Obsession

By Marlene M. Bell

We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops

you can see snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:

Launch - Author Interview

Q: What do you hope readers take with them after they’ve read it?

A: There are many morals in this book. Here are the top three: First, you are stronger than you think you are. Shown by Annalisse’s trials with personal loss and helping those around her. Secondly, keep those around you close to your heart because you never know when they can be taken away. Annalisse experiences a great deal of personal loss. Third, judge people not by what others say about them, but by how they truly are. Give people a chance to redeem any negative qualities that come from hearsay. Annalisse learns this with Alec Zavos, her love interest in Stolen Obsession. The tabloids paint him with a broad womanizer brush, and Annalisse takes her time deciding for herself who Alec is and if he can be trusted.

Stacking My Book Shelves! - Excerpt

“Now, what do you think of the necklace?” Generosa twirled her arm toward the case in game show host style.

Annalisse loved the way Generosa’s gestures followed her words. A modest woman whose confidence and positive attitude had rescued Annalisse from more than a few scrapes with Harry.

“It scares me, Gen. I’d like your permission to cover it tonight.”

“Nonsense, bambolina.” Generosa escorted Alec to the display.

“It’s a bad omen. Where’d you find it?” Annalisse balled a fist and banged her hip.

#bookish - Review

"The characters in this book seem so real and so obviously flawed in a good way. I loved this story which starts action packed and stays that way until the very end. Annalise and Alec,as well as the other characters in this book, have a pretense in your heart from beginning to end. I could not put this book down and ended up reading it in two back to back reading sessions. This book is an absolute adventure with a perfect mystery."

It's All About the Romance - Excerpt

SEVERAL WILD-EYED WOMEN stood in a semicircle, their hands pressed against their cheeks or over their mouths. Annalisse broke for an opening in the rigid line of guests. Her heart stopped at the sight of Alec administering the Heimlich maneuver to her boss. A cool clamminess rushed the nape of her neck while she watched Alec’s repeated cupped fists to Harry’s upper abdomen. Harry’s stoic, ashen face left her woozy.

“Alec, let me help.” Annalisse ran to Alec’s side.

Harry’s dead weight collapsed on Alec, and he stumbled to keep Harry from falling on her. Alec slowly laid him on his back. Lifeless. Not breathing. Annalisse’s suspicions were confirmed. Harry was sick.

Hearts & Scribbles - Excerpt

He trapped her between his body and the wall, a human sandwich. “You freak!” She wrenched against him but made no headway against his surprisingly strong grip. The photo crashed to the tile, shattering glass at her feet.

He worked one hand over her mouth.

Annalisse squirmed, fighting to breathe through her nose. Blood pounded her eardrums. Think. He’s drunk, and your mind’s clearer than his. Spin the nozzle. Pick your moment.

fundinmental - Review

"Numerous times Marlene M Bell takes me to the brink of suspenseful tragedy, only to keep them safe and let me know there is more danger to come. I am very suspicious and she leads me to the edge of a cliff. I feel I’ll fall off, but she yanks me back from the precipice saying…not yet…but soon. I love that!!!"

An Indie Adventure - Excerpt

Alec waited by the stairs and whispered, “Your bedroom up there?” He pointed upstairs.

She nodded, lifted the mahogany stand upright and, with both hands, replaced the hefty bronze to its rightful place next to the desk.

“Stay downstairs. You’ll be safer. I won’t be long, and I’ll look for your cat.” Alec hit the first step.

“Be careful.”

Whoever destroyed her home had acted with malice. They had her personal data and internet search history, where she shopped online, email correspondence as well as business contacts. A privacy breach she couldn’t afford. Compiling a list of possible suspects in her head, she felt so violated, even more so than by what had happened with Peter. Names and faces blurred together. With fingertips pressed at her temples, she willed the jackhammers in her head to stop.

Bri's Book Nook - Review

"I have to say that the story started off really fast, slowed down in the middle, and then sped up again...

The worldbuilding of this novel was also nice...

I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for a new mystery/thriller to enjoy on a nice summer day."

Colorimetry - Excerpt

Licking her lower lip, she tore her eyes from his pecs to his shoulder and gently pulled the adhesive tape. She peeked at the neat row of stitches to calm the flutter in her heart. The area around the sutures had reddened and were puffy.

“We’ll watch the swelling. Having been in battle with metal and gunpowder, I expected worse. I’d find something waterproof to put over it in the shower. Like a liquid bandage. And finish all of your antibiotics even if you feel better.” His skin was smooth under her fingertips.

“I’ll do that, Dr. Drury. Thank you.” He glanced at her fingers on his shoulder. “Anything else?”

Annalisse’s face flushed with heat. She jerked her wrist back and balled her hand in her lap. Her mind told her to get some distance from him, but her feet had other ideas.

Two Points of Interest - Review

"I found the novel to be an interesting read. The beginning was a bit convoluted and hard to get into. However, towards the middle of the book, it started picking up. The book had a lot of intrigue and plot twists. A very thrilling book!"

Wishful Endings - Excerpt

ANNALISSE WOKE TO the snap of a log in the fireplace. One more compact but just as grand as the fireplace in Alec’s formal room. She was no longer lying on the green chaise lounge, staring at the forty-foot rock wall. Confused, she slid her hand across a grand silk coverlet. Turning her head, she checked the other side of the bed, her heart knocking in her chest. She’d slept alone.

“The perfect gentleman. Him in a guestroom and me in his bed,” she mumbled, with a pang of regret that she’d conked out so soon after supper.

As hard as she’d tried to convince herself she didn’t need him, he’d made himself indispensable with his concern for her since the party. The tug-of-war between his reputation and the way he’d lifted her spirits was exhausting to work through...

Handcrafted Reviews - Excerpt

“What’s wrong?” Alec looked at his father who’d jumped up, staring at a section of water.
“Hand me the binoculars. Hurry.” Pearce pointed to the table next to Alec.

Annalisse looked over her shoulder at a tiny black dot speeding toward them. A faint hum broke through the call of gulls overhead.

Pearce spent seconds with the binoculars, for Annalisse the wait was excruciating. She got up to check the ocean for herself.

“Ladies, get below. And take the keys to the yacht with you. Hide them someplace where no one will find them and hide yourselves,” Pearce said.

SilverWoodSketches - Review

"The pace of the story moved along swiftly and drew me in from the first page. The suspense is well crafted and had me on the edge of my seat several times, wondering who was in on the conspiracy. The romance in this book was very solid. . . . A sweeping romantic and often deadly adventure, Stolen Obsession is my new standard for excellent suspense fiction."

Teatime and Books - Excerpt

Patting the cushion next to her, she managed a smile.

“Sit next to me. We’ve had a few horrible days, but I couldn’t imagine spending them with anyone else.”

He laughed and patted her knee as he sat beside her.

“Good thing my ego’s in check.”

“That’s twice today my attempt at humor’s bombed.”

He laughed. “It’s charming.”

Deal Sharing Aunt - Review

"This was a great romance. I wanted Alec and Annalisse to end up together, and as they worked together the chemistry between them built. . . . The mystery was very interesting. was it a curse? A killer? Or both? I definitely kept turning the pages to find out what was going on."

Locks, Hooks and Books - Excerpt

BOOM!

A horrific noise shrouded the sound of their engine.

An unseen force jolted Annalisse. She grabbed her seat with both hands and screamed.

The concussion from an outside blast shook the Jeep.

A bright glow filled the sky.

“Down!” Chet barely got the word out when a second explosion rocked the vehicle. He fell over Annalisse, crushing her body with his massive torso, shielding her head and neck with his arms.
Annalisse stayed folded over, her heart banging in her chest.

My Life Loves and Passion - Review

"The action kicks off right away. . . . Loved their chemistry. . .

I like how quickly the story moves. You don't have to do a lot of skipping around and waiting. . . . I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series."

Don't forget to enter the giveaway below, if you haven't already...

Stolen Obsession

(Annalisse Series #1)
By Marlene M. Bell

Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Paperback & ebook, 294 Pages

June 30th 2018 by Ewephoric Publishing

People die, but legends live on.

New York antiquities appraiser Annalisse Drury recently lost her best friend to murder. The killer’s identity may be linked to her friend’s expensive missing bracelet—a 500-year-old artifact that carries an ancient curse, one that unleashes evil upon any who dare wear the jewelry created for the Persian royal family.

Weeks later, Annalisse sees a matching necklace at a Manhattan gallery opening. She begs the owner to destroy the cursed piece, but her pleas fall on deaf ears—despite the unnatural death that occurs during the opening. With two victims linked to the jewelry, Annalisse is certain she must act.

Desperate, Annalisse enlists the gallery owner’s son to help—even though she’s afraid he’ll break her heart. Wealthy and devastatingly handsome, with a string of bereft women in his wake, Greek playboy Alec Zavos dismisses Annalisse’s concerns—until his parents are ripped from the Zavos family yacht during their ocean voyage near Crete.

Annalisse and Alec race across two oceans to save his mother, feared dead or kidnapped. When the killer changes tactics and goes after Alec behind Annalisse’s back, can her plan to rescue Alec’s mother save them all?

Hold on for a heart-thumping, thrilling adventure through exotic lands in this fast-moving romantic suspense mystery by Marlene M. Bell.

Praise for the Book

"Debut author Bell delivers a great, slow-building romance, gently examining her characters' painful pasts." — Kirkus Reviews

"An irresistible page turner and a successful melding of thriller and romance. With a splash of international adventure and plenty of surprises, Stolen Obsession is an entertaining read and a great beginning to the Annalisse Series." — Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★½

Goodreads│Amazon

About the Author

Marlene M. Bell is an acclaimed artist and photographer as well as a writer. Her sheep landscapes grace the covers of publications such as, Sheep!, The Shepherd, Ranch & Rural Living and Sheep Industry News. Ewephoric, her mail order venture, began in 1985 out of a desire for realistic sheep stationery. A color catalog of non-fiction books and sheep-related gifts may be requested at www.marlenembell.com or www.texassheep.com. Marlene and her husband, Gregg reside on a wooded ranch in East Texas with their 50 head of Horned Dorset sheep, a lovable Maremma guard dog named, Tia, and 3 spoiled cats who rule the household.

Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│Google+

Tour Giveaway

- 1 Grand Prize winner will receive: One signed copy of STOLEN OBSESSION, One lined Journal with handcrafted pen, One set of Wool Dryer Balls, a Pair of Stolen Obsession style earrings and a $50 gift card from Amazon
- 4 winners will each receive: One signed copy of Stolen Obsession, One sheep bookmark, One lined journal and a pair of Stolen Obsession-style earrings-Gold-various styles

- US only
- Ends July 25th

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