I was drawn to this book before I even started reading, first because of the stunning cover and secondly because I love the Greek island of Zakynthos (Zante). When I was offered a free copy in return for an honest review, I jumped at the chance hoping to recapture some of the beauty of this island.

As it turned out, the writing exceeded my expectations tremendously on this score. Reading this book actually felt like I was back in Zakynthos and I could see and feel it all down to the last enchanting detail. The heroine went through an incredible journey of growth and healing. Out of the blue, she finds herself in an unknown place in a foreign country where she winds up finding her roots, new love and even deliverance from resentment and pain that had been blocking her advancement in life, denying her happiness.

The awkward situations between the two main characters felt real and down to earth, and the romance was utterly sweet and delightful. Actually, this book offers a number of delights: a wonderful romance, a host of lovely, lifelike characters, and a well-structured family story that added drama in the right measure, just enough to enrich the plot. More than anything else though, I enjoyed the wonderful way in which Greece and its people are portrayed in this book. Being Greek, this is always a delight and a huge compliment.

The love of this author for Zakynthos, its people and the way of life there shines through. I highly recommend this book to anyone who shares similar passions for any place in Greece. And I’ll definitely read more from this author.

My rating:

5-stars

Exquisite writing that made me feel like I’m on the island!

Do you enjoy Greek island romances? What about stories about old family secrets, redemption and healing? If this sounds like your cup of tea, then definitely give this book a try!

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And check out my interview with Isabelle Broom on this site!

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A glowing review of My Map of You by @Isabelle_Broom #ASMSG #Zante #Bookworm
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Hi folks! I am back to Athens after my heavenly Corfu holiday and feeling rejuvenated. This is where I’ve been enjoying the sun and the sea for the past two weeks. Hard to wipe out the dreamy smile on my face, I can tell you…

Anyway, I am thrilled to share today an amazing new tip! Thanks to this article on the Kindlepreneur that is run by cool dude and entrepreneur Dave Chesson, I now have an email signature that rocks!

Here are two different versions – check it out:

The free app is  called Wisestamp. Everything you see above is clickable. For example, the Youtube image takes you to the video, and the banner on the right takes you to my website where readers can browse through my books.

Creating your email signature on Wisestamp takes about ten minutes. And you can add all sorts of things on a free account. You don’t have to upgrade to a paid option.

Note: If you decide to use a banner, you can create it on the free program Canva – choose the format of a Twitter banner as the Facebook one is too big to be inserted whole on Wisestamp.

Once you’ve created your email signature, you get to choose your free email provider to use it on. I chose Yahoo but get this: in the options, Wisestamp set it to ‘all email addresses’ which means that without doing anything else, it is now available also on my Gmail mailbox. Wisestamp will make a quick installation on your computer so the signature will be available to you in future. Once installed, I set mine to not come up on emails by default, unless I insert it manually.

See this icon I’ve circled in red below? That’s where you click to add your signature to the bottom of any email. Easy!

Now, once you’ve set up your signature, Wisestamp will email you and prompt you to make use of another cool free feature: a webpage where you get to present yourself to others. You create this here and it looks like this:

Below, you can see the whole page…

Or, you can see it here live.

People can even email you directly via this page!

The doggie graphic you see on the top right is something I added with the HTML option and it points to my books on my website. With the HTML option you can link up to virtually anything you want readers to see. I also used the Youtube option to link up to my book trailers. At the bottom I added the RSS feed for my blog. Hope this gives you a few ideas if you decide to create yours. It’s all free. I expect this page will come in handy the next time I need to introduce myself to a new associate, reader or new author friend – you never know. And one thing I’ve learned in my interactions with people is that the cooler you look when presenting yourself, the better your brand looks… and that’s of paramount importance, right?

You can create your own presentation page here once you’ve set up your signature.

If you’ve enjoyed this tip, make sure to spread the word! And if you’re not signed up for the posts of  Dave Chesson (The Kindlepreneur), now is the time to do it, if only for the eye-opening free books you get to download. Trust me, you’re seriously missing out if you haven’t checked out Dave Chesson yet. If there’s one thing I could say about him is that he thinks out of the box. And this makes him unique. For me, he’s an absolute star. So go sign up and get amazed. I know I do. Every time.

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Author, is your email signature as cool as this? #ASMSG #IAN1 #IARTG
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Do you love Greece? Check out our guide to Corfu! For delicious Greek recipes, go here. Sign up to the newsletter for Effrosyni’s news and special offers (sparse emails) NEW: To read Effrosyni’s books for FREE (yes, free!), sign up to her team of loyal readers here. It’s free to join!

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I’ve read all the short story collections of Nicholas Rossis and this is one of my favorites. They are all equally highly imaginative but the twists in this particular book are that something else. Two of them had me laughing out loud when all was revealed in the end but I don’t wish to describe them and spoil anyone’s fun. Just trust that if you read this book you’re in for a ride, indeed, and one that is truly unforgettable. The most unexpected surprises will be awaiting for you at the next turn again and again. Some of the stories  are chilling to the bone, and others are compelling page turners. My only disappointment was that it ended too soon! Choose this book on a wintry night tucked in bed and have the most exhilarating experience. I know I did and devoured it in one sitting!

 My rating

5 stars

An exhilarating experience!

Looking for something to excite and intrigue? Look no further. This is exactly what you’re looking for and it’s only $0.99 for a limited time!

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5-star #review You're in for a Ride by @Nicholas_Rossis #scifi #ASMSG
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Limited time offer: Join Team Effrosyni and grab The Amulet for FREE! Do you love Greece? Check out our guide to Corfu! For delicious Greek recipes, go here. Sign up to the newsletter for Effrosyni’s news and special offers (sparse emails) NEW! Are you an author? Check out our FREE promo tips & resources here!

This is a digital proof of the finished article. Three tote bags will be up for grabs in the next giveaway.

Hello peeps! I haven’t blogged in a while but I’ve been very busy throughout September. This month I’m giving it my all to prepare The Amulet in time for a launch early November. Feedback from my beta readers has been wonderful and my eagle-eyed British husband is currently giving it a last edit. I’m pleased to say he’s nearly done and hasn’t found a single typo yet – a first! I must be getting better, it’s official

I’m blogging quickly today to let you know I’m choosing prizes for the next exclusive giveaway for Team Effrosyni members. There will be tote bags, cute little prizes relevant to the content of The Amulet (i.e. angels and Greek food – yum!) and e-books, of course!

I’ve teamed up with a bunch of wonderful authors, whose books I personally adore, and they will be gifting one copy of their kindles each to the lucky winners of the giveaway. Feast your eyes at these tantalizing book goodies:

Scroll down for Amazon links to these kindles

Now is the perfect time to sign up to Team Effrosyni! Why? Because by joining the team now, not only will you be able to enter the forthcoming giveaway, but you’ll also be in my mailing list to receive a FREE, Advance Reader’s Copy of The Amulet as soon as it’s ready, and before its official launch.

Wuhoo, right?

CHECK OUT THE TEAM EFFROSYNI PAGE AND SIGN UP TODAY

Still mulling it over? Download this FREE exclusive chapter from The Amulet and see what you think!

Interested in the ebooks up for grabs? Visit their Amazon pages now:

Truly Madly Greekly by Mandy Baggot

Fate Captured (Clean Version – there’s also a Spicy one!) by MM Jaye

Evanthia’s Gift by Effie Kammenou

An Octopus in my Ouzo by Jennifer Barclay

Girl Gone Greek by Rebecca A Hall

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Now is the perfect time to sign up to Team Effrosyni! #ASMSG #chicklit #bookworm
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Do you love Greece? Check out our guide to Corfu! For delicious Greek recipes, go here. Sign up to the newsletter for Effrosyni’s news and special offers (sparse emails) NEW: To read Effrosyni’s books for FREE (yes, free!), sign up to her team of loyal readers here. It’s free to join!

NEW! Are you an author? Check out our FREE author promo tips & resources here!

Morning peeps! I’m thrilled to announce The Amulet is now available on Amazon on preorder. The paperback will also be published in a day or two. The kindle will be 99c for a limited time. However, you’ll be pleased to hear you can read it for FREE!

YES! Early next week I am sending all members of Team Effrosyni a FREE PDF copy of the book. By joining the team you will receive this special benefit AND will also gain entry to the new exclusive giveaway!

A digital proof of the finished article

Tote bags and kindles by fabulous authors are up for grabs. Head over here to read all about it!

Here’s a photo of me cooking up some angel magic in my cauldron…

As you can see I’m keeping busy, preparing even more exciting surprises for my loyal supporters in the future… so make sure to be a part of the team, especially if you love all things Greek!

Enjoy Halloween, and see you in the team!

The Amulet is a romantic comedy of angel magic and tantalizing descriptions of Greek food. Read it at your own peril; it’ll make you feel ravenous (not to mention all loved-up!) Head over here to find out all about it.

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So good a deal, it's spooky! #FREE ebook & giveaway #ASMSG #chicklit
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Limited time offer: Join Team Effrosyni and grab The Amulet for FREE! Do you love Greece? Check out our guide to Corfu! For delicious Greek recipes, go here. Sign up to the newsletter for Effrosyni’s news and special offers (sparse emails) NEW! Are you an author? Check out our FREE promo tips & resources here!

It’s official! The Amulet is now on pre-order at $0.99 for a limited time. The launch date is November 14, but for those who want to start reading sooner, I have two other suggestions.

First, you can read it on paperback. This will be posted to you immediately. Out now!

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Secondly, you can read a PDF copy for FREE on your computer or any portable device.

How? Join Team Effrosyni (my street team!) and I’ll send you the free copy of the book in a jiffy. The sign ups are still coming in heavily for Team Effrosyni, so I thought I’d play Santa early and keep open the FREE PDF offer for The Amulet a little longer!

This amazing offer for a brand new book will expire in a couple of days so, you’d better hurry. There’s also an exclusive giveaway for the members. It’s currently open and the entries are rolling in. Don’t miss out! See here for all details, including the giveaway prizes.

As I’ve already sent the FREE book and the giveaway link to the existing members, if you join us now you won’t have to wait at all. As soon as you sign up, you’ll be taken to a screen with both links so you can dig right in!

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#99c Angel magic on a Greek island #chicklit #ASMSG
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Planning to visit Greece? Check out our guide to Corfu! For delicious Greek recipes, go here. Sign up to the newsletter for Effrosyni’s news and special offers, or join Team Effrosyni for exclusive benefits. Are you an author? Check out our FREE promo tips & resources here!

Hello peeps! Sorry for disappearing for a while. I’ve been mega busy with the launch of The Amulet and the promotion of the giveaway of Team Effrosyni at the same time. The work has paid off. The Amulet has had a successful launch and even hit Amazon’s #1 in Greek & Roman literature last weekend!

As for Team Effrosyni, I’ve had a boom in signups in the past month seeing that many bookworms and Greek lovers were after the FREE PDF copy of The Amulet on offer for a while, as well as the giveaway prizes (Greek kindles, Greek-themed kitchen sets and tote bags.

The giveaway has now ended and I am already working on the next one – a Christmas kindle giveaway this time. I am teaming up with successful authors (both indies and traditionally published writers). Watch this space! Or, if you just want to take my word for it that it’s going to be a blast, no need to wait! Go here to read all about Team Effrosyni and sign up today so you can be one of the first to enter the upcoming giveaway. A total of 12 authors are participating this time! Dozens of Christmas kindles will be up for grabs so entrants will have more chances to win than ever before!

Now, on to the main reason for blogging today. The Lady of the Pier trilogy has brand new covers now, for both kindle and paperback. To refresh your mind, these are the original ones:

And these are the new ones:

I am very pleased with the result of my efforts to make the covers as eye-catching as possible. Many of my readers commented on Facebook enthusiastically about them and a few said the new covers will attract younger readers too. I hadn’t thought of that, so it was exciting to hear. As for my super-talented graphic designer, Alex Saskalides of 187Designz, he is a dream come true and a breeze to work with. Highly recommended!

That’s it for today, folks! If this is the first time you hear about my work, now is a good time to pick up one of my reads and see what you think. On my Amazon page you will find 3 kindles of an overall 5-star rating! And two of my kindles are 99c at the moment. Whether you pick The Ebb or The Amulet you’re bound to drift to a sunny, blissful summer paradise in no time…

Remember, by signing up to Team Effrosyni you’ll be getting my future books for free. And did I say membership is FREE?

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Effrosyni has some exciting news... #ASMSG #IAN1 #IARTG
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Planning to visit Greece? Check out our guide to Corfu! For delicious Greek recipes, go here. Sign up to the newsletter for Effrosyni’s news and offers, or join Team Effrosyni for exclusive offers & giveaways. Are you an author? Check out our FREE promo tips & resources here!

Hi peeps! December is upon us and it’ll  be Christmas before we know it! I bet you’re drooling over the festive kindles on social media and so do I. But fear not, this year I got you covered. I’ll help you choose among the best and even give out dozens as Christmas presents! How, I hear you say? Well, I’ll be opening a 12-kindle Christmas giveaway any day now, and today I’m starting a series of posts that will introduce all 12 of the festive kindles up for grabs, one by one! This fine morning, I am starting with Grown-Up Christmas List by USA TODAY bestselling author Donna Fasano. The book is launching today! A brand new Christmas book! Check it out:

Dina Griffin flees a dangerous situation and ends up in Ocean City, Maryland where she hopes to spend the holidays in hiding. Trusting no one, she wants only one thing this Christmas—to feel safe. Then Officer Gav Thomas threatens to arrest her for shoplifting. Shoplifting?

Gav is certain there’s something Dina isn’t telling him about her visit to his seaside town, so he devises a means to stick close to the vulnerable beauty. An unexpected attraction sparks, fierce enough to heat up the salt-tinged, wintry nights.

But the trouble Dina had hoped to escape arrives at her doorstep, bringing with it stark-raving fear and the realization that she must place her trust in someone.

Is Gav really just a local cop… or is he Dina’s guardian angel?

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To check out the book on Nook, Kobo, iBooks, and Google Play, go here

USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR DONNA FASANO is a three-time winner of the HOLT Medallion, a CataRomance Reviewers Choice Award winner for Best Single Title, a Desert Rose Golden Quill Award finalist, a Golden Heart finalist, and a two-time winner of Best Romance of the Year given by BigAl’s Books & Pals Review Blog. Her books have sold 4 million copies worldwide and have been published in two dozen languages. Her novels have made the Kindle Top 100 Paid List numerous times, climbing as high as #1.

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New! Grown-Up Christmas List by @DonnaFaz #newrelease #Christmasreads #IAN1
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How would you like a chance to read this book for FREE? Grown-Up Christmas List by Donna Fasano is up for grabs in Effrosyni’s 12-kindle Christmas giveaway!

Join Team Effrosyni today to be among the first to receive the exclusive giveaway link. Only team members get to enter! 20+ winners will be picked! Visit this blog regularly on the run up to Christmas to hear all about the 12 books. Or, hit the ‘follow this blog’ box on the right sidebar and get email notifications. Done!

Hi folks! I am back today for a full week of blogging to introduce you to yet more of the 12 kindle stories up for grabs in my new giveaway. See how you can enter at the bottom of this post. Feast your eyes at my pick for today:

All I Want for Christmas is a big, cozy Christmas story about the importance of family, the strength of childhood friendships, and learning to trust your heart.

Christmas comes once a year . . . But true love comes once in a lifetime.

Snowflakes are falling, there’s carol-singing on every corner, and Leah Evans is preparing for a family Christmas at her grandmother’s majestic plantation house in Virginia. It won’t be the same now that her beloved Nan is gone, but when Leah discovers she has inherited the mansion, she knows she can give her daughter Sadie the childhood of her dreams.

But there’s a catch. Leah must split the house with a man called David Forester. Leah hasn’t heard that name in a long time. Not since they were kids, when Davey was always there to catch her. Now David is all grown up. He’s gorgeous, successful, and certain of one thing: Leah should sell him her half of the house. They can’t agree, but as they share memories over wine by the log fire, Leah notices a fluttering in her stomach. And by the look in his eyes, he’s starting to feel it too.

Will it be Leah or David who must give up their dreams? Or, with a little bit of Christmas magic, will they finally understand Nan’s advice to them both about living life without regrets … and take a chance on true love?

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A short bio of Jenny Hale

When I graduated college, one of my friends said, “Look out for this one; she’s going to be an author one day.” Despite being an avid reader and a natural storyteller, it wasn’t until that very moment that the idea of writing novels occurred to me. Sometimes our friends can see the things that we can’t. While I didn’t start straight away, that comment sowed a seed and several years, two children, and hundreds of thousands of words later, I completed a novel that I felt was worthy of publication. The result is Coming Home for Christmas, a heart-warming story about friends, family, and the magic of love at Christmas. The rest is history. When I’m not writing, I’m a mother of two boys and a wife to a very supportive husband.

Check out my interview with Jenny Hale on this blog!

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All I Want for Christmas by @jhaleauthor #xmasbooks #kindlelovers #bookworm
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How would you like a chance to read this book for FREE? All I Want for Christmas by Jenny Hale is up for grabs in Effrosyni’s 12-kindle Christmas giveaway.

Join Team Effrosyni today to receive the exclusive giveaway link on your screen within seconds ! The giveaway closes on December 19 and only team members get to enter. 28 winners will be picked and it’s all FREE! Join the fun now!

Hi! I know I promised you a full week of Christmas book posts last week but life had other plans for me and I wound up in hospital! It’s a dreary story though and certainly not fit for a Christmas book post. I am feeling better already and, being committed to deliver my promises as always, you can now expect two posts a day throughout this week so I can make up for lost time. The giveaway ends on December 19. See the bottom of the post for directions to enter. Snow Pup by Mimi Barbour is another of the books up for grabs. Check it out!

In this delightful Christmas love story, Deputy Shawna Mallory finds Billy McCrae – a runaway boy sleeping in a mound of snow with an anxious puppy guarding him. He’s a sad child surviving a terrible existence until she puts a stop to it and becomes his foster parent. She’s drawn to the snarky kid and just wants his life to be happier, his and the stray mutt who won’t leave his side. Not that the boy cares about the dog… or her. Then she meets his father, the one who abandoned the boy when he was five.

John Reid McCrae wants only one thing in his life to make it worth living. Years ago he’d lost his son to a bitter wife and now his goal is to get Billy back. He’ll do whatever it takes, no matter who gets hurt. Until he meets the town’s stunning deputy. Can he put his needs ahead of her happiness?

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New York Times, USA Today, Best-selling author – Mimi’s been heard to say: “I’m an author who loves to write uplifting stories about romance. Add in some time travel, or maybe an angel, or even a little romantic suspense and it makes the story more fascinating because of the incredible possibilities.”

Mimi is an Amazon best-selling author who’s sold over 500,000 copies of her books world-wide. Her five romance series: The Vicarage Bench/ time travel at its best, Angels with Attitudes / angels love romance, Vegas / fast-paced plotting, Elvis / make a song a book and her newest, Undercover FBI / with sizzling conflicts and lots of humor.

Visit her blogs: http://mimibarbour.blogspot.com  &  http://Authorsbillboard.com

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Delightful! Snow Pup by @MimiBarbour #xmasbooks #kindlelovers #bookworm
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How would you like a chance to read this book for FREE? Snow Pup by Mimi Barbour is up for grabs in Effrosyni’s 12-kindle Christmas giveaway.

Join Team Effrosyni today to receive the exclusive giveaway link on your screen within seconds! The giveaway closes on December 19 and only team members get to enter. 28 winners will be picked and it’s all FREE! Join the fun now!

Without further ado, I am introducing the 4th of 12 Christmas books up for grabs in my giveaway. See instructions on how to enter at the bottom of the post. Feast your eyes at this Christmas gem by the fabulous, Mandy Baggot:

How many croissants does it take to mend a broken heart?

Ava and her best friend Debs arrive in Paris just as the snow starts to fall. The Eiffel Tower glitters gold, but all Ava can think about is Leo, her no-good, cheating ex.

Debs is on a mission to make Ava smile again, and as they tour the Christmas markets, and eat their body weight in pain-au-chocolat, Ava remembers there’s more to life than men… Until they cross paths with sizzling hot, oh-so-mysterious photographer Julien, with his French accent and hazelnut eyes that seem to see right inside her.

Ava can’t ignore the intense chemistry between them, but she can’t help but feel he’s hiding something. Her fingers have been burned before and she can’t forget it, especially when her ex, Leo, starts texting again. Can Ava really trust Julien – and what exactly is his secret?

Will Ava go home with a broken heart, or will she find true love in Paris?

Join Ava and Julien in the most romantic city in the world this Christmas, as they discover the importance of being true to themselves, and learn how to follow their hearts.

‘Oh wow this was a beautiful story! Loved every bit of it and now want to spend Christmas in Paris! It made me cry, smile, laugh and made me hungry! Loved it, loved it, loved it!’ Goodreads Reviewer

‘I fell in love immediately … Mandy Baggot has a talent in creating three-dimensional characters that will pull in readers, everywhere … highly entertaining, hilarious, and romantic.’ Urban Book Reviews

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Mandy Baggot is an award-winning romance writer represented by The Kate Nash Literary Agency. The winner of the Innovation in Romantic Fiction award at the UK’s Festival of Romance, her romantic comedy novel, One Wish in Manhattan, was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Romantic Comedy Novel of the Year award in 2016.

Mandy loves the Greek island of Corfu, white wine, country music and handbags. Also a singer, she has taken part in ITV1’s Who Dares Sings and The X-Factor. Mandy is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and the Society of Authors and lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK with her husband and two daughters.

Visit Mandy’s website: http://www.mandybaggot.com/

Check out an interview with Mandy Baggot on this blog!

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One Christmas in Paris by @MandyBaggot #Christmasreads #mustread #bookboost
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How would you like a chance to read this book for FREE? One Christmas in Paris by Mandy Baggot is up for grabs in Effrosyni’s 12-kindle Christmas giveaway.

Join Team Effrosyni today to receive the exclusive giveaway link on your screen within seconds! The giveaway closes on December 19 and only team members get to enter. 28 winners will be picked and it’s all FREE! Join the fun now!

Mornin’ folks! Here is the fifth of 12 Christmas kindles up for grabs in the open giveaway. Instructions on how to enter at the bottom of the post. Check this out:

Will her cat ruin her Christmas chance for love?

Bella Tallahan has always hidden behind her twin sister, Tally. She was born with cerebral palsy and even though she has finished college, she lives vicariously through her sister’s adventures.
 It worked, until her sister married writer Lucky Lenigan, and Bella developed a crush on Lucky’s brother—a bad boy with a shady past.


Chance Martin made one mistake growing up—one that landed him in prison. After his release, he spends his days restoring antique furniture and his nights alone.


When Mr. Klutz, Bella’s fat tabby cat, wreaks havoc in the furniture workshop, Chance confronts Bella and finds himself with a dilemma. He’s not the right kind of guy for a woman with disabilities, but at the same time, he can’t get her out of his mind.
 Will the trail of destruction left by one naughty cat bring Bella her Christmas chance for love? Can Chance rise above his past and convince Bella that she is truly worth loving? Or will the secret he is keeping horrify Bella enough to send her back into hiding?



Author’s Note: Although part of the Christmas Creek Romance Series, Her Christmas Chance is a complete and standalone story. Bella Tallahan appears in a previous story, Lucky in Laguna, where her sister Tally Tallahan meets and falls in love with Lucky Lenigan.

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Rachelle Ayala is an award-winning USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. She writes emotionally challenging stories but believes in the power of love and hope. Her book, Knowing Vera, won the 2015 Angie Ovation Award, and A Father for Christmas garnered a 2015 Readers’ Favorite Gold Award. Christmas Stray was awarded the 2016 Readers’ Favorite Gold Award and A Pet for Christmas had an Honorable Mention.

Sign up for her NEWSLETTER to get a FREE surprise book and her latest book news! http://bit.ly/RachAyala

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Her Christmas Chance by @AyalaRachelle #xmasbooks #mustreads #ASMSG
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How would you like a chance to read this book for FREE? Her Christmas Chance by Rachelle Ayala is up for grabs in Effrosyni’s 12-kindle Christmas giveaway.

Join Team Effrosyni today to receive the exclusive giveaway link on your screen within seconds! The giveaway closes on December 19 and only team members get to enter. 28 winners will be picked and it’s all FREE! Join the fun now!

Here’s the 6th of 12 Christmas kindles up for grabs in the open giveaway. Hope you’re getting the Christmas spirit by now, I know I am! See instructions at the bottom of the post on how to enter. Hurry – the giveaway closes in less than a week!

‘Perfect for the holiday season!’ – Books Are Here For You

Twelve days. Two gold rings. One BIG secret…

Emily needs a husband…fast. It’s just a few days until Christmas and to finally put a stop to her nagging mother’s matchmaking plans, Emily has convinced her that she’s already married!

And when her excited mum announces that she’s coming to stay, Emily can think of only one man to play the part: gorgeous ex-soldier, Sam. It’s the best part of her day, handing him a coffee every morning – but then, Emily never expected to offer him her hand in marriage, too…

All that’s left is for Sam to say ‘I do’ – it’s the perfect plan! So why then, do her ‘pretend’ feelings for Sam seem far too real?

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Carla Burgess was born in Solihull and now lives in Chester, UK, with her husband, three children, dog and bearded dragon. She has a degree in English Literature and Psychology and started her working life as an editor on a trade journal.

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Marry Me Tomorrow by Carla Burgess #xmasbooks #mustreads @MsBear123
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How would you like a chance to read this book for FREE? Marry Me Tomorrow by Carla Burgess is up for grabs in Effrosyni’s 12-kindle Christmas giveaway.

Join Team Effrosyni today to receive the exclusive giveaway link on your screen within seconds! The giveaway closes on December 19 and only team members get to enter. 28 winners will be picked and it’s all FREE! Join the fun now!

Hello! I am pleased to present today the 7th of the twelve kindle prizes in my giveaway. See instructions on how to enter at the bottom of the post. Hard to resist with these mouthwatering covers, I know! But hurry – it closes soon!

It’s time to get toasty by the fire with a glass of mulled wine and a slice of chocolate yule log sprinkled with a little romance. Welcome to Christmas at the Little Village Bakery.

Snow is falling in Honeybourne and Spencer is bringing home his American fiancée Tori for a traditional English Christmas with all the trimmings. But when his hippie mum and dad meet her high-maintenance parents, sparks of the wrong sort start to fly. Then Spencer bumps into his first love Jasmine and unexpected feelings come flooding back.

Millie is run off her feet with Christmas orders at the Little Village Bakery and new baby Oscar. Thank goodness her cousin Darcie is here to help her. Although she does seem to be rather flirty with Millie’s boyfriend Dylan.

Will Darcie ever find true love of her own? And is marrying Tori a terrible mistake for Spencer if his heart is with someone else?

‘Observant, insightful, humorous, and heart squeezing. I adored her humor’ Books and Bindings

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Tilly Tennant was born in Dorset, England, the oldest of four children, but now lives in Staffordshire in the heart of England with a family of her own. After years of dismal and disastrous jobs, including paper plate stacking, shop girl, newspaper promotions and waitressing (she never could carry a bowl of soup without spilling a bit), she decided to indulge her passion for the written word by embarking on a degree in English and creative writing, graduating in 2009. She wrote a novel in 2007 during her first summer break at university and has not stopped writing since. She also works as a freelance fiction editor, and considers herself very lucky that this enables her to read many wonderful books before the rest of the world gets them. Find out more about Tilly and how to join her mailing list for news and exclusives at www.tillytennant.com

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Christmas at the Little Village Bakery @TillyTenWriter #xmasbooks #mustread
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How would you like a chance to read this book for FREE? Christmas at the Little Village Bakery by Tilly Tennant is up for grabs in Effrosyni’s 12-kindle Christmas giveaway.

Join Team Effrosyni today to receive the exclusive giveaway link on your screen within seconds! The giveaway closes on December 19 and only team members get to enter. 28 winners will be picked and it’s all FREE! Join the fun now!

Without further ado, here’s the 8th of 12 kindles up for grabs in the giveaway. The entries keep rolling in and it’ll close soon. Hurry and sign up – instructions at the bottom of this post! You could win this gem:

A gorgeous country house hotel, a liberal dusting of snow, a cosy weekend away…what more could Lizzie ask for at Christmas?

Every Christmas Lizzie promises herself that things will change and she will leap into the new year a new woman. And yet here she is again, at the beginning of December and nothing is different. Her girls have grown up and left home, her husband Henry is slumped in front of the TV and she is alone in the kitchen, seeking refuge in the cooking sherry and talking to her Gary Barlow calendar. She’s also been very diverted by handsome new neighbour Marcus and she knows she shouldn’t be…

So when best friend Ann suggests a weekend away in the country, Lizzie jumps at the chance. Will this Christmas escape give Lizzie some much needed perspective and allow her to mend her marriage? Or will Marcus prove to be too much of a distraction?

‘This is sooo much more than a festive read…a powerful and emotional story that will stay with me for a very long time to come …simply stunning!’ By the Letter Book Reviews

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Christie Barlow is the author of A Year in the Life of a Playground Mother, The Misadventures of a Playground Mother and Kitty’s Countryside Dream. She lives in Staffordshire with her husband, four kids, horses, chickens and a mad cocker spaniel. Her writing career came as somewhat a surprise when she decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. The book she wrote to prove a point is now an Amazon #1 bestseller in the UK and USA.

Christie loves to hear from her readers; you can get in touch via her website www.christiebarlow.com Twitter @ChristieJBarlow and Facebook page Christie Barlow author

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Lizzie's Christmas Escape by @ChristieJBarlow #xmasbooks #greatreads
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How would you like a chance to read this book for FREE? Lizzie’s Christmas Escape by Christie Barlow is up for grabs in Effrosyni’s 12-kindle Christmas giveaway.

Join Team Effrosyni today to receive the exclusive giveaway link on your screen within seconds! The giveaway closes on December 19 and only team members get to enter. 28 winners will be picked and it’s all FREE! Join the fun now!

Good morning peeps! Pleased to present today the 9th of 12 Christmas reads up for grabs in the giveaway. Not too long now till it closes so hurry before it’s too late! See bottom of post for instructions.

Tiffany broke their engagement five years ago when she thought Matthew cheated on her. Now, fate keeps throwing him into her path. His tender gaze erases years of loneliness and her heart squeezes with longing. And then, she notices the two little girls in his arms. His daughters? Where is their mother? Can Tiffany and Matthew forgive each other, live in the present, and create a new future?

Holiday Babies Series:
With high moral values and a strong sense of unity, the Ramsay family counts five daughters—Madelyn, Roxanne, Heather, Claire, Tiffany, and their mother Barbara. Later, stepdaughter Monica Roland joins the clan.
Holly Jolly Christmas: Prequel to the series. Mr. Ramsay is still with his family and Heather is pregnant at eighteen. (Heather’s story)
Christmas Babies: A sweet and powerful Christmas Story. (Madelyn’s story)
Valentine Babies: Can he love a woman expecting another man’s baby? (Roxanne’s story)
Mother’s Day Babies: Never too late to find love and happiness. (Barbara’s story)
Wedding Surprise: Is it the worst or best wedding surprise? (Claire’s story)
Christmas Papa: Who’s my Papa, Mommy? (Monica’s story)
On Christmas Eve: We want a mommy for Christmas. (Tiffany’s story)

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New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Mona Risk, received an Outstanding Achiever Award from Affaire de Coeur Magazine. She’s a two-time winner of Best Contemporary Romance of the Year from Readers Favorite, a winner of Best Romance Novel of the Year from Preditors & Editors Readers Poll, and an EPIC Award finalist. Mona lives in South Florida and has traveled to more than eighty countries on business or vacation. She writes contemporary romances, medical romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal fantasy. Sprinkled with a good dose of humor, her stories are set in the fascinating places she visited or more simply at home. Visit her website at www.monarisk.com

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On Christmas Eve by @MonaRiskS #xmasbooks #whattoread
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How would you like a chance to read this book for FREE? On Christmas Eve by Mona Risk is up for grabs in Effrosyni’s 12-kindle book Christmas giveaway.

Join Team Effrosyni today to receive the exclusive giveaway link on your screen within seconds! The giveaway closes on December 19 and only team members get to enter. 28 winners will be picked and it’s all FREE! Join the fun now!

Just look at this stunning cover! Still can’t believe how lucky I was getting all these fabulous authors to work with me on this event. A Cornish Christmas is the 10th of 12 Christmas reads to be won in my giveaway.  See instructions at the bottom of the post on how to enter. But hurry – it ends soon!

Nestled in the Cornish village of Cloudsea, sits Sea Cottage – the perfect place for some Christmas magic …

At last Ivy is looking forward to Christmas. She and her husband Stuart have moved to their perfect little cottage by the sea – a haven alongside the rugged cliffs that look out to the Atlantic Ocean. She’s pregnant with their much-longed for first baby and for the first time, since the death of her beloved mother, Ivy feels like things are going to be alright.

But there is trouble ahead. It soon emerges that Stuart has been keeping secrets from Ivy, and suddenly she misses her mum more than ever. When Ivy stumbles across a letter from her mother hidden in an old writing desk, secrets from the past come hurtling into the present. But could her mother’s words help Ivy in her time of need? Ivy is about to discover that the future is full of unexpected surprises and Christmas at Sea Cottage promises to be one to remember.

This Christmas warm your heart and escape to the Cornish coast for an uplifting story of love, secrets and new beginnings that you will remember for many Christmases to come.

‘A lovely, curl up in front of a roaring fire, drinking hot chocolate, kind of book. 5 stars’ The Reading Shed

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Lily grew up in dusty Johannesburg, which gave her a longing for the sea that has never quite gone away; so much so that sometimes she’ll find sand grouting the teaspoons, and an ocean in a teacup. She lives now in the English countryside with her husband and her sweet, slobbering bulldog, Fudge, and brings her love for the sea and country-living to her fiction. Her first two novels were Amazon bestsellers, and have since been re-published by Bookouture, with The Summer Escape (previously published as An Invincible Summer) and A Cornish Christmas (previously published as The Postcard) out now. She is currently working on her third novel.

Wonder what Fudge looks like? Would you like to see Lily’s paintings? Check out my interview with Lily Graham on this blog!

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A Cornish Christmas by @Lilywritesbooks #xmasbooks #greatreads
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How would you like a chance to read this book for FREE? A Cornish Christmas is up for grabs in Effrosyni’s 12-kindle book Christmas giveaway.

Join Team Effrosyni today to receive the exclusive giveaway link on your screen within seconds! The giveaway closes on December 19 and only team members get to enter. 28 winners will be picked and it’s all FREE! Join the fun now!

Good morning, fellow bookworms! The Christmas Cake Cafe is the 11th book to be won in the giveaway. Nearly there, how exciting! Make sure to enter before the giveaway ends. See instructions at the bottom of the post.

‘This book made me stay up until 2am to finish and had so many laugh out loud moments!’ Karma for Life Chick

Heart-warming and hilarious, a story that will make you laugh, cry and bring a smile to your face.  Get ready for another deliciously amazing Christmas treat from Sue Watson….

As the Prosecco chills and Bing Crosby croons, Jen Barker just knows that her long-term boyfriend is about to propose.  But instead of a diamond ring nestled in her champagne flute, Jen finds cold flat rejection.  Her once perfect life and dreams of a husband and family seem even further from reach. 

A working holiday to the Swiss Alps with her younger sister Jody might not be the Christmas Jen had it mind, but it offers her the chance to recharge her batteries and recover from heartbreak.

When Jen meets handsome ski instructor Jon Zutter her hopes for a happy-ever-after seem within her grasp again. Jon is kind and gorgeous and as they bond over Sachetorte at the picturesque Cake Café, Jen thinks he might just be her perfect man. But a relationship with him comes with a catch – and there are some things even cake can’t fix.

As the snow falls and Christmas approaches, could this be the place that restores Jen Barker’s faith in love?

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Sue Watson was a TV Producer with the BBC who combined motherhood and family life with a busy career. However, one day it dawned on her that Cosmo magazine may have been telling porkies about ‘having it all,’ and her life had become a slightly crazed juggling act. So after much soul-searching (and comfort-eating) she abandoned her TV career, bought a pink laptop and wrote ‘Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes.’ It was then she realised she couldn’t stop writing and produced more books. To date she has written eight.

Originally from Manchester (UK), Sue now lives with her husband and teenage daughter in Worcestershire where she bakes (and eats) lots of cake. She spends much of her time making big decisions about whether to have Caramel Chew Chew or Peanut Butter ice cream (or both?) while watching ‘The Biggest Loser USA,’ and procrastinating over her latest novel.

For more info visit her website at http://www.suewatsonbooks.com/

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The Christmas Cake Cafe by @suewatsonwriter #xmasbooks
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How would you like a chance to read this book for FREE? The Christmas Cake Cafe by Sue Watson is up for grabs in Effrosyni’s 12-kindle book Christmas giveaway.

Join Team Effrosyni today to receive the exclusive giveaway link on your screen within seconds! The giveaway closes on December 19 and only team members get to enter. 28 winners will be picked and it’s all FREE! Join the fun now!

Wuhoo! Thrilled to present Christmas Under a Cranberry Sky – the 12th book up for grabs, which means I’ve now presented you all the tantalizing festive reads you could be reading for FREE this Christmas! The giveaway ends soon so hurry and enter! Instructions at the bottom of the post. Good luck to you!

Curl up with this gorgeously romantic tale and let the glistening snow and the roaring fires of Stardust Lake Hotel get you in the festive spirit this Christmas.

Piper Chesterfield lives a glamorous life travelling the world and reviewing the finest hotels. She calls nowhere home, she works alone and that’s how she likes it. For long ago Piper decided that to protect her heart she should lock it away. So when Piper’s next assignment brings her to the newly opened Stardust Lake Hotel for the festive season, the last person she expects to face is Gabe Whitaker, the man who broke her heart so completely she could never love again. But Piper isn’t the only one who has been frozen in time by heartbreak. Gabe hasn’t forgotten the golden-eyed girl who disappeared from his world without a trace.

Now fate has reunited them on Juniper island, can the magic of Christmas heal old wounds? And can this enchanting town be the one place Piper can finally call home?

‘I cherished every single page of this book… Holly whisks you away to this magical place that had me craving all things Christmas.’ Star Crossed Reviews

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Holly lives in sunny Bedfordshire in a house with round windows. She has worked as a hotel receptionist, bank clerk and schoolteacher. Nowadays, she writes full time, doing what she loves.

Holly has been writing for 6 years. She was shortlisted for the New Talent Award at the Festival of Romance. Her short story won the Sunlounger competition and was published in the Sunlounger anthology. She won the Carina Valentine’s competition at the Festival of Romance 2013 with her novel The Guestbook. She was shortlisted for Best Romantic Read, Best eBook and Innovation in Romantic Fiction at the Festival of Romance 2014.

Visit her blog at https://hollymartinwriter.wordpress.com/

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Christmas Under a Cranberry Sky @hollymartin00 #xmasbooks
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How would you like a chance to read this book for FREE? Christmas Under a Cranberry Sky by Holly Martin is up for grabs in Effrosyni’s 12-kindle book Christmas giveaway.

Join Team Effrosyni today to receive the exclusive giveaway link on your screen within seconds! The giveaway closes on December 19 and only team members get to enter. 28 winners will be picked and it’s all FREE! Join the fun now!

Hello All and Happy New Year. After a major surgery and a scary month that I like to call The Athens Hospital Tour Under Christmas Lights, I am back and, this time, fixed for good. Mind you, I’ve never felt more broken than I feel at the moment.

For one, I am suitably shocked still, seeing that I nearly lost my life last month due to severe anemia from my perimenopausal menstrual problems. The doctors at Tzaneio Hospital in Pireas saved me literally in the last minute when I was rushed there one evening with hematocrit 15.5. As they set me down on the operating table for an emergency D&C, I overheard the surgeon say it was a miracle I was alive as it was. When I was brought round afterwards, I heard the nurses discuss how scared they were to see I’d gone ‘white like marble’ while I was under. These shocking words were etched in my brain for eternity, as you can imagine.

A month later, and after a total hysterectomy, I am home and recuperating slowly. Christmas has been a blur and, despite having planned to visit Athens to see the Christmas lights more than once, I wound up visiting only city  hospitals three times throughout the Holiday Season, twice in an ambulance. Through its back window, and as its siren screamed in my ears the second time, I saw the Christmas lights in Omonia Square and my heart sank. But I knew that day there would be better days and so it happened.

My physical ordeal (and mental angst) ended in exactly one month – from December 7 when I visited the hospital the first time until January 7 when I returned home after the hysterectomy.

But I’m thankful for this gruesome month. For one, it has caused quite a stir in me. You hear this in movies often, when someone escapes death and they say they feel like they’ve been given a second chance. This is exactly what this feels like to me. I remember the first time I left the hospital, right after the D&C and the blood transfusions. It was sunny that morning. I felt the warm sunlight on my face and it felt like a caress from God Himself.

As gooey as this may sound, it felt like the sunlight was giving me strength, welcoming me back to life. And since that day, I still can’t help thinking that every day is a gift now. And do you know what’s really scary? The fact that I’d never realized my continuous bouts of iron deficiency anemia involved a mortal risk. My doctors and many older females in my social circle had advised me to just be patient; to take my iron tablets and hope the ordeal will end earlier rather than later. I imagine many women must have done the same and maybe lost their lives, unaware of the risk involved just as I was. But I was lucky. Had I not decided to call a microbiologist to come home that day and check my blood, I’d never have known my hematocrit had dropped to 16 from 37 in just 5 days. Had it not been for her to alert my family to call an ambulance I would have passed away that evening in my bed, thinking it was just another hit of anemia that was causing the migraines, the weakness, and the scary palpitations.

If you’re a woman nearing 50 and battling with excessively heavy menstruations and anemia, please, do not sit patiently and suffer it. Seek help now. Take drastic measures. The doctors I’d been seeing never alerted me to the mortal danger involved. I pray yours will and that my experience will serve to help you one day to fix yourself in your own good time.

It is not often that I choose to share publicly harrowing experiences of my life. But I made an exception today for two reasons. The first was to warn other women, as I just have. The second was to share, for those among you who believe in angels, a third angel message I received while in hospital before the op.

In my previous post, About Hardship, Angels, and my New Book, I shared two angel messages that were given to me in my tiny office at home. Both messages came just before a major hardship hit my life and they gave me the strength I needed to endure. In a way, it felt like my angels (whom I’ve always felt by my side) said to me, ‘You are not alone. We are here to see you through.’

The third message came in my hospital room and this time I even had a witness. My husband, Andy, was there and he was shocked to see what happened. It was the first day, one day before the op. After sitting around the room for a while waiting for instructions and to get my blood checked, I decided to sit on the bed. As soon as I did, a man walked in whom I knew from my first stay in the hospital. The kindly man rents out flat TVs to the patients for a small fee. After I accepted his offer for one, he left a Post-It-Note-sized piece of paper that advertises his service on top of the a/c temperature control on the wall by my bed and left the room, promising to return soon with the TV.

About thirty seconds later, and while my husband was standing talking to me from the foot of the bed, the note the man had left flew off the a/c temperature control, floated in the air away from the wall and landed on the bed beside me, its blank side up. I remember vividly following it with my eyes as it approached the bed, then landed; it flew ever so slowly as if hanging in mid-air, taking its time. Here I must explain that there was no open window, hence no draft, and that the bed was not near the wall. The distance between them allows a large bedside table to fit in comfortably, so the natural thing would have been for the paper to land on the floor instead.

After both my husband and I had gasped for air, staring at the piece of paper that had landed by me smoothly as if brought there by an invisible hand, my husband said breathlessly: ‘It’s from your angels, isn’t it’?

I only nodded, as I was choking by then, full of trepidation for what awaited me the next day.

And with that, I will leave you here, wishing you health and joy this new year and always. Personally, I intend to make 2017 the best year I’ve had in a long time. My happiest thought right now involves the summer swims in store for me, both in Corfu and in my little seaside town. Daily. Without another scary pause. Ever again. Month in. Month out. Freedom from this self-induced prison and fun times at last. Again, if you are going through this too, I beg you – don’t suffer it. Do something about it today.

There is a silver lining to every cloud. There is always a rainbow after a rainfall.

God bless you all and thank you for reading. If you’ve been through a similar situation, had a hysterectomy, or have an angel story/message to share, please add a comment. I’d love to hear from you!

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