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SUMMARY:

REVIEW:

5 STARS

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The Part That Doesn't Burn
by Sam Poling

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GENRE: Fantasy (Dark with Romance)

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BLURB:

In an overpopulated city-state where technology and magic are forbidden by the corrupt church, young witch, Mirabel Fairfax, plots the creation of a deadly plague to cull the burdensome rabble. That is, until she falls in love with the very alchemist she has been deceiving. Now, with soul-hungry geists flooding the city, the church scrambling for their prey, and her own mind at war with itself, Mirabel must decide what she's fighting for before she loses everything to the evils of Autumnfall.

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He flew through the door so quickly he caught a conversation between tan-suited gentlemen.

“—Should really get us some stools,” said the skinnier of the two, before they both faced him. “Can we help you, sir?”

Behind them was a long hall, and no one else in sight. He wanted to grab the doormen by their collars and demand Mirabel’s location. Instead he straightened his cuffs. “Yes, good evening.”

The wider-bodied attendant cracked his neck. “Good evening? Sir, we are an exclusive club.”

“Ah, yes, and I, I am an exclusive clubee.”

“Sorry, a what?”

“A clubee. Um.” He tried to think of the fancier words Mirabel would use, but all he could remember (for some inexplicable reason) was her shouting “hunky dory.” He cleared his throat. “I am a club member, Mister doorm’n.” Doorm’n. That’s better. Definitely something Mirabel would say, even if it was a type of contraction.

“We would be pleased with the presentation of the letter.”

“Oh, I’m, err, rather, I am on the list,” said Felix. He wanted to spout the most common noble name he could, but only one name came to mind. “Preston.”

“There is no list, Mr. Preston. Member names are never written down outside of the census, which is secured. Letter or token of entry only.”

Who was he kidding? He couldn’t talk his way into a donut shop, let alone a well-guarded secret society. “Oh, I see,” he said. “How absolutively ludicrous of me. The token, of course.”

“Absolutively is not a word, sir. And I cannot let you in.”

“I see what the problem ‘tis. This is a fantastical-style, masky, masquerade-type party, quite?”

The guards exchanged looks. “Excuse me?”

He revealed his beak-shaped plague mask from his overcoat pocket and placed it snuggly on his face. “This will grant me entry for sure.”

“And just how will it do that?”

After a quick shaking and popping of its cork, he dropped one of his vials to the carpet. Striking red gas billowed through the opening. The doormen responded by ejecting knives from their sleeves into their hands. They didn’t have time to strike. Those same sleeves went to cover their hacking mouths. In seconds they collapsed, and he kicked the bottle aside.

He unsheathed his syringe, drew up a solution from another vial, and injected the dogs who would have kept him from Mirabel. “You’ll awaken nice and refreshed sometime tomorrow. Absolutively.”


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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Sam Poling has been writing fantasy and science fiction for the thrill of it his entire life, from short stories to screenplays. His love for each of the sub-genres led to dedication to writing genre-skirting fiction with all the elements that make up the human condition. He holds a strong enthusiasm for medical studies and currently works as a medical assistant in a large clinic while taking classing for nursing. He also serves on a health and safety committee, including disaster preparedness and infection control. His interest in epidemiology and medical science tends to spill over into his writing endeavors.

Website: http://samuelpoling.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamuelPoling
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15010988.Sam_Poling
At Publisher’s Page: http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Poling_Sam/index.htm

Buy links:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BW0Q2Y4/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01BW0Q2Y4
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-part-that-doesnt-burn/id1085532763?mt=11
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-part-that-doesnt-burn-sam-poling/1123440882
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-part-that-doesn-t-burn
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/616259


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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Sam Poling will be awarding $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.



<a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f2180">Enter to win a $50 Amazon/BN GC - a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>...

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Join the race from Missouri, across the plains and mountains to California and back again as brave Pony Express riders and their supporters along the route work to get mail across country in just ten days. It is an outstanding task in the years 1860 to 1861, and only a few are up to the job. Faced with challenges of terrain, weather, hostile natives, sickness, and more, can these adventurous pioneers hold fast, and can they also find lasting love in the midst of daily trials? Find out in this exciting collection of nine historical romances.
 My review :- fantastic, fabulous snd awesome.  I absolutely loved it with intriguing and adventurous stories, lovely characters and great plots. I loved it and would recommend it to everyone. 

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Join a class of unlikely Ohioans who take cooking lessons at Lyle and Heidi Troyer’s Amish farm. A woman engaged to marry, an expectant mother estranged from her family, a widowed mom seeking to simplify, a Vietnam vet who camps on the Troyer’s farm, and an Amish widower make up the mismatched lot of students. But Heidi’s cooking lessons soon turn to life lessons as they each share the challenges they are facing. Is this what God had in mind when Heidi got the idea for cooking classes?
 My review :-  I totally loved it with a flowing and captivating prose, lovely and beautiful characters, insightful and intriguing plot along with the added bonus of yummy recipes. I was hooked into the story of Lyle,Heidi and the other characters. This was a 4 star book for me with a one sit read. I really enjoyed it and can't wait to read more stories from the author. 

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Just Like You Said it Would Be C.K. Kelly Martin Publication date: February 15th 2017 Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult Goodreads B&N Amazon Kobo iBooks Did you ever want something so much that it felt like a kind of sickness, one you didn’t want to be cured of? On New Year’s Eve the feeling compels seventeen-year-old Amira to text the Irish ex-boyfriend she’s been missing desperately since they broke up at the end of summer, when she returned to Canada. They agreed they wouldn’t be friends, that it would never be enough. But that was then— back when Amira’s separated parents had shipped her off to relatives in Dublin for the summer so they could test-drive the idea of getting back together on a long haul cruise. Back when Amira was torn away from a friend in need in Toronto only to fall in love with a Dublin screenwriting class and take a step closer to her dream career. And only to fall for cousin Zoey’s bandmate, Darragh, the guy who is first her friend, then her enemy and later something much more complicated—the guy she can say anything to, the guy who makes every inch of her feel wide awake in a way she hadn’t known was possible. The guy she might never see again. Or is there, despite the distance, somehow still a chance for them? ABOUT THE AUTHOR Long before I was an author I was a fan of books about Winnie the Pooh, Babar, Madeline, Anne Shirley and anything by Judy Blume. Throughout high school my favourite class was English. No surprise, then, that most of my time spent at York University in Toronto was as an English major–not the traditional way to graduate with a B.A. in Film Studies but a fine way to get a general arts education. After getting my film studies degree I headed for Dublin, Ireland and spent the majority of the nineties there in forgettable jobs meeting unforgettable people and enjoying the buzz. I always thoughts I’d get around to writing in earnest eventually and I began writing my first novel in a flat in Dublin and finished it in a Toronto suburb. By then I’d discovered that writing about young characters felt the freshest and most exciting to me. You have most of your life to be an adult but you only grow up once. Currently residing near Toronto with my Dub husband, I became an Irish citizen in 2001 and continue to visit Dublin as often as I can. My first young adult book, I Know It’s Over, came out with Random House in September 2008 and was followed by One Lonely Degree, The Lighter Side of Life and Death, My Beating Teenage Heart and Yesterday. I released Yesterday’s sequel, Tomorrow, in 2013 and put out my first adult novel, Come See About Me, as an ebook in June 2012. My most recent YA book, The Sweetest Thing You Can Sing, was published by Cormorant Books’ Dancing Cat Books imprint in 2014 and I’m pleased to announce they’ll be releasing my upcoming contemporary young adult novel, Delicate, on September 16th. Watch my website for more details!
 My review :- I absolutely loved it.  The book was awesome with a poignant and touching prose and insightful plot. I recommend it to everyone who likes to read something deep and moving. You become hooked into the story right from the beginning till the end. I can't wait to read more books from this author.

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Emme is a sophomore in high school who starts dating, Brendon Agretti, the popular senior who happens to be a senator’s son and well-known for his good looks. Emme feels out of her comfort zone in Brendon’s world and it doesn’t help that his picture perfect ex, Lauren, seems determined to get back into his life, along with every other girl who wants to be the future Mrs. Agretti. Emme is already conflicted due to the fact her last boyfriend cheated on her and her whole world is off kilter with her family issues. Life suddenly seems easier keeping Brendon away and relying on her crystals and horoscopes to guide her. Emme soon starts to realize she needs to focus less on the stars and more on her senses. Can Emme get over her insecurities and make her relationship work? Life sure is complicated when you’re dating the it guy.

My review :-  The plot was good and unique but the prose was just above sleep -inducing. Also, I felt like the author left out somethings that needed to be addressed.  Still, I read it in one day because the plot was good and the characters were engaging.  The book could have been lot better with a little editing here and there. This was a 3.2 stars for me.

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About Book #1:
Nexis (Tricksters, #1) by A.L. DavroeRelease Date: Dec. 1, 2015
Genre: YA Sci-Fi / YA Science Fiction
Published by: Entangled Teen
Goodreads Book Link:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21480858-nexis
Amazon Buy Link:http://www.amazon.com/Nexis-L-Davroe/dp/1633750175?tag=entangpublis-20&link_code=ur2&creative=9325&camp=211189
Barnes & Noble Buy Link:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nexis-al-davroe/1120919370?cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-je6NUbpObpQ-_-10:1
Entangled Page: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/nexis/
In the domed city of Evanescence, appearance is everything. A Natural Born amongst genetically-altered Aristocrats, all Ella ever wanted was to be like everyone else. Augmented, sparkling, and perfect. Then…the crash. Devastated by her father’s death and struggling with her new physical limitations, Ella is terrified to learn she is not just alone, but little more than a prisoner.
Her only escape is to lose herself in Nexis, the hugely popular virtual reality game her father created. In Nexis she meets Guster, a senior player who guides Ella through the strange and compelling new world she now inhabits. He offers Ella guidance, friendship…and something more. Something that allows her to forget about the “real” world, and makes her feel whole again.
But Nexis isn’t quite the game everyone thinks it is.

My review :- This book was a roller-coaster ride of adventure, courage and bravery. With beautiful characters, vivid description, thrilling and imaginative plot and a hooking prose, I read this book in one sitting.  I loved the character of Ella as well as the Guster. They were carefully and artfully developed.  In short , I loved the book. A whooping 4 stars for me . I hope for more great reads like this from the author.

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LEE ANN MANCINI SET TO TAKE 
“GOD’S EASTER MIRACLES” 
ON THE VIRTUAL ROAD


Author Lee Ann Mancini has just released her latest children’s book “God’s Easter Miracles” and is taking it on the virtual road with My Book Tour! 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 20, 2017 – The book tour for God’s Easter Miracles is scheduled to begin today, March 20 and will run thru March 28. Several exciting events are planned and they include a giveaway, author interview and other informative content. Lee Ann is scheduled to make stops on several book blogging sites. Readers are encouraged to enter the giveaway for a chance to win one of five free, signed print copies of God’s Easter Miracles.

Lee Ann’s award-winning books have been well received by children, parents and grandparents and are valued highly for their eye-catching photos, kid-friendly dialogue and positive role-modeling messages. As an active community member, spiritual leader, professor and mentor, Lee Ann makes it her mission to write encouraging and upbeat Christian books for kids. What began as stories for her children to enjoy has become a labor of love to be shared with all children. “I saw the need for children’s material that taught children how to have a strong relationship with Jesus, not just hearing stories about Him. We exist to help children build a strong, foundational, active relationship with Jesus by teaching them how to have compassion and show His love to others,” says Lee Ann. It’s Lee Ann’s hope that God’s Easter Miracles helps build upon this important foundation. 

God’s Easter Miracles is truly a unique Easter story for children. When asked what makes God’s Easter Miracles different from other children’s books like it Lee Ann explains: The story starts on a lovely Easter day at Sunday school! God’s Easter Miracles highlights God’s love and provision to His children. The lessons learned are not only about Jesus’s resurrection, but also awareness of treating children with Autism with love and respect, taking care of God’s creations, and most importantly, accepting Jesus Christ as your savior.

God’s Easter Miracles is available in hardcover print version via Amazon.com for just $16.99. Lee Ann is certain that this book will be a welcome Easter gift for boys and girls of just about any age. A giveaway is in progress through the book tour. Five signed copies are up for grabs, so readers are encouraged to stop by and enter on the My Book Tour website. 

Lee Ann Mancini invites readers to visit her website for more information on her, her books and upcoming events.

Lee Ann Mancini Author Interview 


In your own words, please tell us about your book: 

The story starts on a lovely Easter day at Sunday school! God’s Easter Miracles highlights God’s love and provision to His children. The lessons learned are not only about Jesus’s resurrection, but also awareness of treating children with Autism with love and respect, taking care of God’s creations, and most importantly, accepting Jesus Christ as your savior.


Have you always known you wanted to be a writer?
 

No, this was an acquired desire later in my adult life. I saw the need for children’s material that taught children how to have a strong relationship with Jesus, not just hearing stories about Him. My writing path began when I started writing these stories for my children.


Do you remember the first thing you ever wrote? 


I’ve been a volunteer most of my adult life and wrote several little articles for various volunteer associations. However, the first published book was Fast Freddy, which I wrote 20 years ago, when my children were little. 


Where do your story ideas come from? 

When my children were little, I observed different situations and conflicts among them and their friends, which motivated me to write stories that address these issues in a loving, compassionate way, according to connecting them with our Lord and Savior.


What do you think makes a good story? 


For Christian children’s stories, it’s establishing characters the children can relate to that help to capture their imagination and touch their hearts in a loving way. Also, making the stories fun and endearing. They really like finding the hidden symbols that we placed upon each page. 


What kinds of things do you like to do when you’re not writing? 

I enjoy reading and walking. Also, preparing for my classes that I teach at South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary in addition to volunteering at different venues and spending time with my lovely family!

Who would you say has been a major influence in your life? 


 First of all, my mother, who taught me Godly morals at an early age. Also, Dr. Warren Gage, who has been a mentor in my Biblical studies and a source of guidance in my personal life as well. Both are examples of the Gospel.

What types of books do you like to read? 


I love to read books that inspire, encourage and are uplifting. In addition to any books that educate me in the word of God.  

What would readers be surprised to know about you?


 I received my BA in Religious Studies, and my two Master’s in my 50’s! 

What are you currently working on? 


Our seventh book in our series, God’s Creation, deals with teaching children to be good stewards regarding God’s wonderful ocean creatures. Again, they are faced with a dilemma, but relying on Jesus and His guidance, they learn how to be loving and caring for not only God’s creatures, but also their friends and family.  

How can readers connect with you? 

Readers can go to my website, GLMPublishing.net, our Facebook page is Adventures of the Sea Kids, and our Twitter is @GLMPublishing.

What advice would you give aspiring authors? 


I wrote these stories 20 years ago, with hopes of publishing them one day. After receiving rejection upon rejection, it wasn’t until the Holy Spirit prompted me many years after, to bring these stories out and work diligently to get them published. It was all God’s perfect timing. So, never give up, if it’s God’s will, it will be done!




ABOUT LEE ANN MANCINI

Lee Ann Mancini’s desire is for children to begin to know and love Jesus from an early age. This passion led her to seek out books for her own children that portrayed an active relationship with Jesus in a relatable way. She knew communicating God’s truth through captivating words and compelling illustrations is a crucial part of establishing that foundation.
An adjunct professor at South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary, Mancini holds a master’s degree in Christian studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School as well as Knox Theological Seminary. She holds a board position with the Florida Authors and Publishers Association and the Alexandrian Forum and maintains memberships with organizations such as the Christian Small Publishers Association and the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. Mancini is an active member in her local community, visiting schools to share the Adventures of the Sea Kids series with children, as well as speaking to women’s groups about the redemptive power of the Gospel represented through the types of brides of the church. Learn more about Mancini and the Adventures of the Sea Kids at glmpublishing.net.

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The Enchanted Swans
by Christy Nicholas

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GENRE: Fantasy

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BLURB:

In pre-Celtic Ireland, Fionnuala was a fae princess, born to a life of luxury. She knew her duty and loved her family. She missed her mother, who died in childbirth when Fionnuala was but ten years old. Still, she had hopes and dreams of love and a full life.

All her dreams were stolen from her, ripped away in a torrent of envy and magic.

Now she must care for her three brothers while learning to live under an evil curse. Will she find a way to break the spell, or would they remain swans, tethered to three places for nine hundred years?

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EXCERPT:


It was a good training session. It left me sweaty and tired, and I hadn’t thought of Mother for a full hour. Mistress Scuida was gentle at first, but soon realized I needed to vent my fury, so she increased her efforts. At one point, I snarled and roared at the weapons mistress, while she parried my attacks with grim determination. Aed still practiced on the pells, but I heard several good whacks from his direction.

I could never get inside Scuida’s guard unless she let me, of course. She was Father’s best warrior, a student of the Morrigan herself. She allowed my frustrations free reign with no damage to either me or her. I thanked her when I was exhausted and panting.

The thick bronze sword was not my favorite weapon. I did better with the bow. The bow, however, didn’t allow one to push their anger through blows as the sword did. I wanted to learn the spear, but Scuida didn’t believe I was ready yet for the large weapon. I occasionally practiced in the woods with my father’s fosterling, Tadhg. Just a few times, mind, but enough to enjoy it.

Aed, however, had great skill at the bow. He could hit a mark from twice the distance I could, despite being two winters younger. His skill ranked as high as many young adult warriors. Not the older ones, those with several hundred winters’ worth of experience and the physical strength needed to pull the great bows, but still, not bad for his mere eight winters. Maybe that’s why he didn’t argue as much with Scuida as he did with everyone else.

My people, the Tuatha Dè, the People of the Gods, lived much longer than the recent Milesian invaders. The humans lived a mayfly’s life, a mere fifty winters or so. We, however, might live a thousand winters, though we may still die through violence or disease. Mother had been barely thirty winters old.

After I wiped the betraying tears from my cheeks and choked down the knot in my throat, I changed from my practice breeches back into my simple dress. With a splash of clean water on my face, I took a deep breath and cleared my head. I must get control over this. My duty lay in being presentable at all times. As the eldest, I must be a credit to my mother.

It became easier this time to push the tears away. A good swallow, and they retreated. Could I dismiss grief so simply, then? I didn’t think so.

I headed toward the great hall. A quick meal and my afternoon lessons awaited me.

Aed grabbed two apples from the kitchen and scampered by me.

“Aed, where are you going?”

“I can’t enter the great hall now. You must think me a great fool.”

“I think you are the son of a king. Am I mistaken?”

He shrugged and ran to his room

Father sat silent on his chair. He stared into the middle distance. No one sat nearby or spoke to him, though at least twenty of the guards ate their midday meal in the hall. What conversation there was remained muted and strained.

I now wished I’d done the same as Aed.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

My name is Christy Nicholas, also known as Green Dragon. I do many things, including digital art, beaded jewelry, writing and photography. In real life I'm a CPA, but having grown up with art and around me (my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother are/were all artists), it sort of infected me, as it were. I love to draw and to create things. It's more of an obsession than a hobby. I like looking up into the sky and seeing a beautiful sunset, or a fragrant blossom, a dramatic seaside. I then wish to take a picture or create a piece of jewelry to share this serenity, this joy, this beauty with others. Sometimes this sharing requires explanation – and thus I write. Combine this love of beauty with a bit of financial sense and you get an art business. I do local art and craft shows, as well as sending my art to various science fiction conventions throughout the country and abroad.

AUTHOR WEBSITES
www.greendragonartist.net
Blog: www.greendragonartist.com
www.facebook.com/greendragonauthor

PUBLISHER WEBSITE:
http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Nicholas_Christy/index.htm

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Christy Nicholas will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.



<a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f2181">Enter to win a $15 Amazon/BN GC - a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>...

MediaKit_TheEnchanatedSwans

My review :- The book was an intriguing dystopian witha somewhat different and unique plot. The plot was captivating and the prosewas good but the characters were not well developed.  I still enjoyed reading it. This book was a 3.5 stars.

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Full of Wonderment: a novel
By Josh Greenfield
Genre: Adventure, Young Adult
Jordan Fineman needs a break. His second year of college has almost done him in. His solution is to take off for a summer of work and adventure in Alaska. All the while mental illness is setting in. A summer to remember. A tale to grow on.
The story begins with Jordan alone in the great research library of Cornell University dreaming about traveling to far off places.  Call it craziness, but that is exactly what he does.  Without any guarantee of employment, he boards a plane for Anchorage, Alaska and spends the next eight weeks on his own, working hard, making money, meeting fellow travelers from all around the world, and seeing some of the country’s finest scenery.
Had this been all, it would have been a summer to remember. His adventures however, are undertaken with a shadow cast from far above.  Jordan Fineman is both bi-polar and a severe obsessive compulsive.  In two years’ time, he will become incapacitated.  The story is written with that knowledge in mind.
As it stands however, Full of Wonderment: a novel, is an adventure story that lays out the possibility of spending a college summer without an eye on the professional resume - a summer for personal growth, alternative education and fun.

About the Author

Josh Greenfield is a graduate of both Phillips Andover Academy and Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences. He holds two masters degrees from the City University of New York, one in History and one in English Literature. He also completed the better part of a doctorate in English at Fordham University. His desire in writing is to tell an entertaining and engaging story, to look for laughs in dark places. 

He is the author of a prior novella, “Homeward Bound: a novella of idle speculation,” also published by Lulu.  His work has been featured in The Cornell Daily Sun, The Riverdale Press, Appalachia, and Word Catalyst Magazine. He appears regularly at comedy club open-mic’s.

On Facebook: http://bit.ly/2m0O6cF On Twitter: https://twitter.com/jgreenfieldnyc 
On Amazon: http://amzn.to/2mePpRs 
On B&N: http://bit.ly/2lehI4y 
On Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2leoUOo

My review :- I really enjoyed this book with a unique approach and an insightful message.  I would recommend it to everyone who is still in college or university.  I loved it

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The truth can hurt, and sometimes it leads to murder …