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Short Book and Scribes

Tag: genealogical

#QandA with Sandra Danby @SandraDanby + #Extract from Connectedness

Posted on 11th June 2018 By Nicola

I’m delighted to be welcoming Sandra Danby to Short Book and Scribes today. She’s the author of Ignoring Gravity and the recently published Connectedness. They […]

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Extracts, Q&A

Interview with Wendy Percival, author of the Esme Quentin novels @wendy_percival #QandA

Posted on 23rd October 2017 By Nicola

I’m delighted today to welcome Wendy Percival to Short Book and Scribes. I read and reviewed her novella, Death of a Cuckoo back in April […]

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Q&A

#blogtour – The Blood Detective by Dan Waddell @danwaddell @brookcottagebks #bookreview #giveaway

Posted on 1st May 2017 By Nicola

I love genealogical mysteries and I must confess to having had this book for quite some time but you know, too many books, not enough […]

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Blog Tour, Giveaways, Reviews

#bookreview – Death of a Cuckoo by Wendy Percival @wendy_percival @BrookCottagebks @SilverWoodBooks #extract

Posted on 12th April 2017 By Nicola

I’m so pleased to be taking part in a book blitz today for Death of a Cuckoo, which is an Esme Quentin novella by Wendy […]

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Blog Tour, Extracts, Reviews

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The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent šŸ¦ž The lobster says The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent
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The lobster says you must read this book when it's published in April. I finished it last night and it's absolutely wonderful.
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Review coming sometime between now and 15th April šŸ˜„

Synopsis:
Have you ever imagined running away from your life?

Well Birdy Finch didn't just imagine it. She did it. Which might've been an error. And the life she's run into? Her best friend, Heather's.

The only problem is, she hasn't told Heather. Actually there are a few other problems...

Can Birdy carry off a summer at a luxury Scottish hotel pretending to be her best friend (who incidentally is a world-class wine expert)?

And can she stop herself from falling for the first man she's ever actually liked (but who thinks she's someone else)

The Summer JobĀ is a fresh, fun, feel-good romcom for fans ofĀ The Flatshare, Bridget JonesĀ andĀ Bridesmaids.
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#TheSummerJob #LizzyDent #booksread #romancefiction #debutfiction #scottishfiction #supportdebuts #bookblogger #bookreviewer #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #instareads #instabooks #ilovebooks #lovereading #lovebooks #booklover #booklove #shortbookandscribes
New review: The Appeal by Janice Hallett. Publishe New review: The Appeal by Janice Hallett. Published by Viper Books tomorrow.
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The Appeal is going to be a tricky book for me to review. I don’t want to give away anything that gives too much of an insight into the actual storyline or characters. It’s a small-town murder mystery based around two pivotal events: the amateur production of a play and the requirement of funds for a little girl’s potentially life-saving treatment.
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What’s so innovative about this story is it’s told almost completely in emails and messages. I must admit to being simultaneously intrigued and wary of this format as I don’t always get on with epistolary novels, but I needn’t have worried. Hallett has made this such an addictive read with a feeling akin to peeping through a window and observing the (pretty unlikeable, to be fair) characters’ behaviour both first- and second-hand, and watching their stories unfold.
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Through the various correspondence devices we learn how each character feels about the others and about the situations they find themselves in. We also learn the reason for the correspondence being collated and its relevance. We get to see it dissected and at this point the pace slows down somewhat, requiring a more considered, yet still fascinating, read.
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In The Appeal nothing and nobody is what they seem. Even the title surprised me as it has more than one meaning. I have come to the conclusion I would be a terrible detective and am hopeless at reading between the lines. Janice Hallett, however, is a masterful plotter, pulling all of the different strands together with aplomb. It gives me a headache just thinking about the planning of this novel. This is an accomplished debut novel and a compelling mystery, with a very original style. I loved it.
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Thank you to the publishers for the proof copy of the book.
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#bookreview #bookreviewer #bookblogger #bookblog #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #instareads #instabooks #ilovebooks #lovereading #lovebooks #booklover #booklove #epistolary #crimefiction #TheAppeal #JaniceHallett #shortbookandscribes
Last • Now • Next šŸ“š Good morning. 😊 Tod Last • Now • Next
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Good morning. 😊

Today I thought I'd share my #lastnownextreads with you. As you can see, it's a bright and sunny morning. Is anybody else who is homeschooling finding that their days start later and later as time goes on? 😬🤭 It was the same first time around.
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So to the lovely books in my photograph.
Last is #TheAppeal by Janice Hallett which will be published on Thursday by Viper Books. It is a really unusual book as it's a murder mystery in epistolary form. I found it totally addictive.

Now is #TheSummerJob by Lizzy Dent which will be published by Viking in April. I've only just started this one but it seems like lots of fun. šŸ¦ž

Next will be #TheShapeOfDarkness by Laura Purcell which is published by Bloomsbury Raven next week. I'm really excited to read it.
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Hope you have a lovely day. šŸ‘‹
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#bookblogger #bookblog #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #instareads #instabooks #amreading #currentlyreading #booksread #tbrpile #tbr #ilovebooks #lovereading #lovebooks #booklover #booklove #shortbookandscribes
New review: Rescue Me by Sarra Manning. Published New review: Rescue Me by Sarra Manning. Published by Hodder on 21st January.
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Who is being rescued here? Blossom the dog, or Will and Margot, her owners?
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As the book begins Margot is in her mid-30s and has just split up with George. He wasn’t the one but she was hopeful that he might still be someone she could settle down and have children with. She’s watched her friends do this but when will it be her turn? She decides to adopt a rescue dog and she finds herself drawn to Blossom, a nervous Staffy with who knows what kind of past. Will is a troubled man, totally eligible but has no faith in himself. He also wants to adopt Blossom and so he and Margot agree to co-pawrent(!). It’s an interesting concept and perhaps one that would suit a lot of people but you have to be able to get on with your co-pawrent, and Margot and Will butt heads quite a lot.
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The story is told in alternating chapters from both human viewpoints and through this device we see how each character sees the other as well as being privy to their own inner thoughts. I felt this really made each of them three-dimensional and made me like them even more. It brought out the fact that what we show to other people isn’t always indicative of our real self.
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Blossom is an absolute delight. She’s quite a little madam at times and knows exactly how to manipulate her two owners and often play them off against each other, the little minx. Even Blossom, though, has a back story which only sometimes she feels able to face.
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I thought Rescue Me was a book with a story that creeps up on you and slowly wraps you in a warm embrace. I came to care about the main characters and also really enjoyed the supporting cast of Margot’s friends and Will’s family. It’s a gorgeous, original read, totally heart-warming and full of all the things I love in a book.
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Thank you to the publishers for the proof copy of the book.
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#bookreview #bookreviewer #bookblogger #bookblog #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #instareads #instabooks #dogsinbooks #dogbooks #dogfiction #ilovebooks #lovereading #lovebooks #booklover #booklove #RescueMe #SarraManning #shortbookandscribes
Rescue Me by Sarra Manning 🐾 Today is my stop o Rescue Me by Sarra Manning
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Today is my stop on the blog tour for Rescue Me. Unfortunately, what at the weekend seemed like plenty of time to read the book has turned into not enough time. The unexpected return to home-schooling (and my constant refrain of "get on with it") means that I haven't finished reading it yet and rather than rush through it my review will be coming in a few days time.
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I can tell you that it's a delightful read about two people who would never normally have anything in common being drawn into an unlikely union over a dog named Blossom. I'm really enjoying it, it's making me smile a lot.
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Here's the synopsis for you to be going on with:
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Margot doesn't have time for love.

Will is afraid to love.

And neither of them are expecting to fall in love with Blossom: a gentle Staffy with a tragic past, a belly made for rubbing and a head the size of a football.

After their first meeting at the rescue centre, both Margot and Will want to adopt Blossom so reluctantly agree to share custody. But Will's obsession for micro-managing and clear-cut boundaries and Margot's need to smother Blossom with affection, means that soon they have a very confused and badly behaved dog on their hands.

Can they put their differences aside to become successful "co-pawrents" and maybe even friends? And meanwhile, does Blossom have plans of her own?
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Does it sound like a book for you? If so, it's published by Hodder on 21st January in ebook, hardcover and audiobook.
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#bookpromo #RescueMe #SarraManning #bookreviewer #bookblogger #bookblog #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #instabooks #instareads #ilovebooks #booklover #booklove #lovereading #lovebooks #dogsinbooks #dogbooks #dogfiction #shortbookandscribes
Thank you @orionbooks for #TheSilkHouse by @kayten Thank you @orionbooks for #TheSilkHouse by @kaytenunn2. It sounds wonderful and completely my kind of thing.

#BookPost
New review: The Push by Ashley Audrain. Published New review: The Push by Ashley Audrain. Published tomorrow by Michael Joseph.
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The Push has to be one of the most anticipated reads of 2021. I can see why. It’s quite a read.
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At its core, The Push considers motherhood and its effects. Blythe knows as soon as her daughter, Violet, is born that something isn’t right. Where is the bond that mothers and their children have? Why doesn’t she seem to be able to connect with Violet the way her husband, Fox, does? I felt so sorry for Blythe. There are such expectations put on new parents, particularly mothers, and I really felt her frustration and upset at the way things were turning out. The story also considers the effects of children on a relationship and how it doesn’t always bring a couple closer.
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Interspersed with Blythe’s story are small sections about her mother, Cecilia, and grandmother, Etta. It’s quite clear there is a history of poor mothering. Is Blythe just following in their footsteps or is Violet the terror that she appears to be? It raises the question of nature vs nurture. Are we pre-destined to behave in a certain way based on our upbringing? I did often find myself getting confused between the three mothers and having to stop and think about where their stories fitted in, but that might just have been me. It didn’t detract in any way from the read overall, just required that bit of extra consideration.
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This is a compulsive and addictive read, one that is extremely thought-provoking. It is a challenging subject matter, at times shocking and most often just plain sad. The chapters are short, making it easy to get pulled into reading just another one, and then another one. The story is full of tension and the writing is sharp and cleverly executed to give the reader doubts right up to the very end.
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The Push is quite the debut from Ashley Audrain. I understand it’s going to be adapted for film or television and I think it will translate really well. It’s dark and intense, with a sense of foreboding throughout. A compelling portrayal of a mother’s hell.
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Thank you to the publishers for the proof copy of the book.
New review: A Thing Called Love by Nell Carter. To New review: A Thing Called Love by Nell Carter. To be published by Welbeck. I'm unexpectedly early with this review as I've only just found out that publication has been delayed until July. But you can pre-order it!
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As the back of this book proclaims: love comes in many forms. A Thing Called Love is not a conventional love story. It shows us that there is more than one way to show love and that some of those ways are not as nice as others.
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This is the story of Jack and Clare. Both have had more than their fair share of bad luck, both have suffered in love, and both now need to make fresh starts in their 40s. The synopsis doesn’t give much away so I won’t either but let’s just say that each may just turn out to be the other’s saviour. The storyline is original and different and is woven together so well by the author. For a debut I found it to be intuitive, thoughtful and emotive.
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I had a real soft spot for Jack. He’s a lovely character who shows outer strength and inner vulnerability. Clare is probably the other way around. Both grow so much throughout the story. I also particularly liked Grace, Clare’s teenage daughter, who probably has more wisdom in her little finger than most adults.
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I thought A Thing Called Love was a lovely read. It’s a story of long-lasting love, intense love, friendship, and motherly love in all its forms. It highlights the dangers of love whilst showing that the right kind can be all you ever hoped for. More than anything, it shows that it can find you at any time and it’s never too late to start again. It’s an easy read but is still full of depth. I really enjoyed it.
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Thank you to the publishers for the proof copy of the book.
New review: A Hogmanay Kiss by Elsie McArthur. Out New review: A Hogmanay Kiss by Elsie McArthur. Out now.
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The Back Up Plan by Elsie McArthur was one of my favourite reads of 2020 so I was thrilled to be able to catch up with Marsaili and Will again in this sequel novella.
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We join the characters eighteen months after the end of the previous story when they are still looking for their own home and in the meantime are living at Marsaili’s parents’ croft in the Scottish Highlands. This doesn’t provide our lovebirds with much privacy, something that made me laugh pretty early on. They’re hoping their trip to Edinburgh over Christmas and New Year for the wedding of Marsaili’s brother will provide them with some alone time…….the best laid plans and all that.
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It was such a treat to meet all the characters again. Marsaili is as fiery as usual and somewhat insecure, but she’s also incredibly kind and likeable. Will is a delight as before and I always think an author has done a fabulous job when they make their hero so delectable. I really enjoyed all the wedding celebrations too as the bride is Indian and so the ceremonies were multi-cultural.
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Marsaili and Will’s original road to true love was bumpy and a snooty bridesmaid and some misunderstandings send them down another rocky road, but I’m pleased to say that the ending didn’t let me down and the ripples were smoothed out most satisfactorily. I closed the book with a smile on my face.
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I loved this return visit to Scotland and I so enjoyed the relationship between the two main characters. A Hogmanay Kiss is a lovely read for this time of year, written with such warmth. It’s pure joy.
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The book was my own copy, purchased from the author's Etsy shop where you can buy signed copies of all three of her books.
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#bookreview #bookreviewer #bookblogger #bookblog #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #instareads #instabooks #ilovebooks #indiefiction #indiebooks #lovereading #lovebooks #booklover #booklove #scottishfiction #Scottishbooks #shortbookandscribes
20 Very Special Reads of 2020 šŸ“š These are the 2 20 Very Special Reads of 2020
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These are the 20 books that particularly stood out for me in 2020. They're books that made me laugh and/or cry, had a gorgeous love story, or provided thrills galore.
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On the second picture is a book that received an honorary mention this year. I read You, Me and the Movies right at the end of 2019 after I had rather rashly already done my list of Very Special Reads for that year. I wanted to make sure it was featured as I loved that book so much.
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#topreads2020 #topreads #favouritebooks #bookblogger #bookblog #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #instareads #instabooks #ilovebooks #lovereading #lovebooks #booklover #booklove #lovestory #frostythrillers #indiefiction #indiebooks #shortbookandscribes
December Reads šŸŽ‰ Happy New Year!!šŸŽŠšŸ„³ I hop December Reads
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Happy New Year!!šŸŽŠšŸ„³ I hope 2021 is a good year for you all.
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These are my December Reads. Not as many as I hoped to read but it turned into a really busy month. Still, there are some belters there and not a single one that I didn't enjoy.
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Have you read any of these?
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#decemberreads #decemberreads2020 #bookblogger #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #instareads #instabooks #lovereading #lovebooks #ilovebooks #booklover #booklove #frostythrillers #festivereads #shortbookandscribes
New review: Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k New review: Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up by Alexandra Potter. Published by Picador and out 31st December in hardback.
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Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up jumped out at me the first moment I saw it, perhaps because I’m a forty-something myself, but more likely because the story sounded right up my street. It’s been a long wait for it due to the publication date being put back, but at last it’s here and it was everything I hoped for and more.
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Nell Stevens is the forty-something f**k up, or she believes that’s what she is. After running a successful business in America with her fiancĆ©, she suddenly finds herself back in the UK, alone and faced with having to move back into her parents’ house. I think the worst thing for Nell is that she’s the odd one out amongst her friends who are all settled in happy relationships with families, and homes that look like they belong in glossy magazines.
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Of course, nothing is what it seems. What I loved about this book was how it challenged everything. Do we ever know what goes on behind closed doors? Nell is a brilliant character who is fun and kind. We follow her through a whole year of her life, month by month, as she slowly gets back on her feet. She meets Cricket when she writes the obituary of her husband, Monty, and they become the best of friends. Cricket is in her 80s but has lost none of her zest for life. And then there’s Edward, Nell’s new landlord. I loved their little battles over the thermostat and the toilet rolls.
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I admit I was slightly daunted by the size of this book (500 pages). I needn’t have worried as I raced through it. It’s the sort of book I didn’t want to put down and was thinking about whenever I did. I felt all the emotions reading it. I laughed a lot as there’s so much humour in the story. I also sympathised with Nell’s situation and raged when she got let down again. I marvelled at her new friendship with Cricket and felt aggrieved on her behalf when she was with her old friends. Finally, I punched the air (not telling you why!). I loved it!
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Thank you to the publishers for the review copy of the book.
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  • ShortBookandScribes **20 Very Special Reads of 2020** ShortBookandScribes **20 Very Special Reads of 2020**
  • ShortBookandScribes #BookReview – A Thing Called Love by Nell Carter ShortBookandScribes #BookReview - A Thing Called Love by Nell Carter
  • ShortBookandScribes #BookReview – Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up by Alexandra Potter ShortBookandScribes #BookReview - Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up by Alexandra Potter
  • ShortBookandScribes #BookReview – The Push by Ashley Audrain ShortBookandScribes #BookReview - The Push by Ashley Audrain
  • ShortBookandScribes #BookReview – Love, on the Rocks by Elsie McArthur ShortBookandScribes #BookReview - Love, on the Rocks by Elsie McArthur
  • ShortBookandScribes #BookReview – The Appeal by Janice Hallett ShortBookandScribes #BookReview – The Appeal by Janice Hallett
  • ShortBookandScribes #BookReview – Rescue Me by Sarra Manning #rescuemeblogtour ShortBookandScribes #BookReview – Rescue Me by Sarra Manning #rescuemeblogtour
  • ShortBookandScribes #BookReview – The Push by Ashley Audrain ShortBookandScribes #BookReview – The Push by Ashley Audrain
  • ShortBookandScribes #BookReview – A Thing Called Love by Nell Carter ShortBookandScribes #BookReview – A Thing Called Love by Nell Carter
  • ShortBookandScribes #BookReview – A Hogmanay Kiss by Elsie McArthur ShortBookandScribes #BookReview – A Hogmanay Kiss by Elsie McArthur
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  • ShortBookandScribes #Giveaway of a Paperback Copy of Women of Steel by Michelle Rawlins ShortBookandScribes #Giveaway of a Paperback Copy of Women of Steel by Michelle Rawlins
  • ShortBookandScribes #BookReview – Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up by Alexandra Potter ShortBookandScribes #BookReview - Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up by Alexandra Potter
  • ShortBookandScribes #BookReview – A Hogmanay Kiss by Elsie McArthur ShortBookandScribes #BookReview - A Hogmanay Kiss by Elsie McArthur
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