Dad of Divas

One Dad's Quest to Regain Control of his Kingdom

Book Review – Magic Tree House: Balto of the Blue Dawn

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Pack your snowshoes! The magic tree house is taking Jack and Annie to Alaska in this NEW adventure in the New York Times bestselling Magic Tree House series!
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About the Book
Pack your snowshoes! The magic tree house is taking Jack and Annie to Alaska in this NEW adventure in the New York Times bestselling Magic Tree House series!

The magic tree house has returned and it’s taking Jack and Annie back in time to Alaska, 1925. There they meet Balto, a jet-black Siberian husky destined to save victims of the diphtheria epidemic. But the trail isn’t easy, and Balto is going to need Jack and Annie’s help!

Have more fun with Jack and Annie on the Magic Tree House® website at MagicTreeHouse.com

 

 

My Take on the Book

My daughter read this book this weekend and below is her thoughts!

I  like this book because they really made it sound realistic and the pictures look like the historic past. I love how in every “Magic tree house book it teaches you  something about a specific topic. In this case, the book is about dog sledding. All in all I really think that this was another great addition to the “Magic Tree House” series and i cant wait to see what other books the author publishes in the Magic tree house series.


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Audiobook Review – Heroes Reborn- Book 1:Brave New World

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heroes-reborn
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About the Book

As Heroes Reborn approaches its third week, more and more questions regarding both new and old characters are piling up. One way to learn more about the beloved characters is through [amazon text=Heroes Reborn- Book 1:Brave New World&asin=B011CCHBO2] by prolific science fiction author and former Judge Dredd Magazine editor David Bishop.

The first of six thrillers, Brave New World addresses many previously unanswered questions, offers new information about characters and treats readers to a deeper examination of the Heroes universe.

Based on original drafts from the first episode of Heroes Reborn, the novella is set one year after the events of the Odessa Summit and reveals a Heroes universe radically different from the world fans of the original series once knew. The evolved humans—or ‘Evos’—are held responsible for the events at the Summit and forced to either go into hiding, or fight back.

The Heroes Reborn eBooks and audiobooks are the first books officially connected to the hit NBC show. Penned by different bestselling authors—including New York Times-bestselling author Timothy Zahn and multi-million bestselling novelist Kevin J. Anderson—the stories extend and expand the Heroes universe for both longtime and new fans alike.

 

My Tawhat I coiuld do ke on the Book

I am a huge fan of the show Heroes so when I heard about the new series this season I wanted to see what I could do to explore the orld I am such a big fan of the show and now this…even better…cant wait for the other 5. The first one is nice and very close to the pilot i watched yesterday and its a real Heroes book!! – so I can’t wait for book 2-6 that will bring some more light into the open space of heroes and more background stories and and and….I am so excited !!!

What is great about this audiobook and book is that the book itself includes some great information not seen in the TV episodes. You also get some great commentary that helps to bring context to the new series too.

If you are a fan of the original Herors series or the one this fall, this is a great add-on that will draw you in and will support your fan passion too! Check it out!

 

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I’m Part Of The Dr. Seuss Classic Celebratory Tour!

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I was excited to be able to be a part of this exciting tour reading a new Dr. Seuss book with my kids as we prepare for the new release of the newly found Dr. Seuss book, What Pet Should I get?. I received You’re Only Old Once!: A Book for Obsolete Children – a book I had never read before. For those of you that do not know, the book is about the following:

You're-Only-Old-Once

About the Book

With his unmistakable rhymes and signature illustration style, Dr. Seuss creates a classic picture-book ode to aging in You’re Only Old Once! On a visit to “the Golden Years Clinic on Century Square for Spleen Readjustment and Muffler Repair,” readers will laugh with familiar horror at the poking and prodding and testing and ogling that go hand in hand with the dreaded appellation of “senior citizen.” Though Dr. Seuss is known for his peerless work in books for children, this comical look at what it’s like to get older is ideal for Seuss fans of advanced years. In his own words, this is “a book for obsolete children.” A perfect gift for retirement, birthdays, and holidays!

Me Reading the Book

My Take on the Book

While this book is not a book that all young kids will understand, it is a great book that anyone that is getting older will appreciate and understand. Dr. Seuss is at his best here and makes getting older fun and allows readers to poke fun at their own ages too. The book was a blast to read and was a ton of fun to read to the kids (my wife enjoyed it too!). This was a great book for all ages that really gives you a unique perspective on getting older!

 

ABOUT DR. SEUSS

Theodor “Seuss” Geisel is one of the most beloved children’s book authors of all time. His long list of awards includes Caldecott Honors for [amazon text=McElligot’s Pool&asin=0394800834], [amazon text=If I Ran the Zoo&asin=0394800818], and [amazon text=Bartholomew and the Oobleck&asin=0394800753], the Pulitzer Prize, and eight honorary doctorates. Works based on his original stories have won three Oscars, three Emmys, three Grammys and a Peabody. Geisel wrote and illustrated 45 books during his lifetime, and his books have sold more than 650 million copies worldwide. Though Theodor Geisel died on September 24, 1991, Dr. Seuss lives on, inspiring generations of children of all ages to explore the joys of reading. For more information about Dr. Seuss and his works, visit Seussville.com.

 

AUTHOR PHOTO

Dr-seuss

ABOUT WHAT PET SHOULD I GET?
In the Fall of 2013, an original manuscript with accompanying sketches by Dr. Seuss, aka Ted Geisel, was discovered in the La Jolla, California home of the late beloved children’s author. That complete manuscript was for the picture book, [amazon text=WHAT PET SHOULD I GET&asin=0553524267]?, and will be published by Random House Children’s Books on July 28, 2015. It is the first original new Dr. Seuss book since the publication of the last book of Dr. Seuss’s career, [amazon text=Oh, the Places You’ll Go!&asin=0679805273] in 1990. [amazon text=WHAT PET SHOULD I GET?&asin=0553524267] captures the excitement of a classic childhood moment—choosing a pet—and features the brother and sister characters that Dr. Seuss drew in One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish.

 

I am not the only one celebrating Dr. Seuss! Below is a list of others reviewing the books and sharing them with you this week!

Dr. Seuss 44 Classic Book Celebratory Tour
  1. [amazon text=And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street&asin=0394844947], 1937 – The Young Folks.com
  2. [amazon text=The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins&asin=039484484X], 1938 – Bookish Antics
  3. [amazon text=The Seven Lady Godivas&asin=0394562690], 1939 – The Eater of Books
  4. [amazon text=The King’s Stilts&asin=0394800826], 1939 – On Starships and Dragonwings
  5. [amazon text=Horton Hatches the Egg&asin=039480077X], 1940 – The Book Cellar
  6. [amazon text=McElligot’s Pool&asin=0394800834], 1947 – Media Mikes
  7. [amazon text=Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose&asin=0394800869], 1948 –Mommie of 2
  8. [amazon text=Bartholomew and the Oobleck&asin=0394800753], 1949 – Nonperfect Parenting
  9. [amazon text=If I Ran the Zoo&asin=0394800818], 1950 – Live to Read
  10. [amazon text=Scrambled Eggs Super!&asin=0394800850], 1953 – Word Spelunking
  11. [amazon text=Horton Hears a Who!&asin=0394800788], 1954 – Bookiemoji
  12. [amazon text=On Beyond Zebra!&asin=0394800842], 1955 – Jessabella Reads
  13. [amazon text=If I Ran the Circus&asin=039480080X], 1956 – Book Hounds
  14. [amazon text=The Cat in the Hat&asin=039480001X], 1957 – The Bookbag
  15. [amazon text=How the Grinch Stole Christmas! &asin=0394800796], 1957 – Nightly Reading
  16. [amazon text=The Cat in the Hat Comes Back&asin=0394800028], 1958 – Winter Haven Books
  17. [amazon text=Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories&asin=0394800877], 1958 – Alice Marvels
  18. [amazon text=Happy Birthday to You!&asin=0394800761], 1959 – Chapter by Chapter
  19. [amazon text=Green Eggs and Ham&asin=0394800168], 1960 – Poland Bananas
  20. [amazon text=One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish&asin=0394800133], 1960 – Once Upon a Twilight
  21. [amazon text=The Sneetches and Other Stories&asin=0394800893], 1961 – The Mod Podge Bookshelf
  22. [amazon text=Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book&asin=0394800915], 1962 – Good Books and Good Wine
  23. [amazon text=Dr. Seuss’s ABC&asin=0679882812], 1963 – The Irish Banana
  24. [amazon text=Hop on Pop&asin=039480029X], 1963 – Mundie Moms
  25. [amazon text=Fox in Socks&asin=0394800389], 1965 – Page Turners
  26. [amazon text=I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew&asin=0394800923], 1965 – Book Rock Betty
  27. [amazon text=The Cat in the Hat Songbook&asin=B000PKV2C0], 1967 – Giveaway Train
  28. [amazon text=The Foot Book&asin=0679882804], 1968 – I Am A Reader
  29. [amazon text=I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today! And Other Stories&asin=039480094X], 1969 – Cuddlebuggery
  30. [amazon text=I Can Draw It Myself&asin=0375866000], 1970 – The Children’s Book Review
  31. [amazon text=The Lorax&asin=0394823370], 1971 – Elizziebooks
  32. [amazon text=Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now!&asin=0394824903], 1972 – Reading with ABC
  33. [amazon text=Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?&asin=0394827198] 1973 – Me, Myshelf, and I
  34. [amazon text=The Shape of Me and Other Stuff&asin=0679886311], 1973 – Paperback Princess
  35. [amazon text=There’s a Wocket in My Pocket!&asin=0679882839] 1974 – Presenting Lenore
  36. [amazon text=Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!&asin=0394831292] 1975 – YA Books Central
  37. [amazon text=The Cat’s Quizzer&asin=0394832965], 1976 – Lille Punkin’
  38. [amazon text=I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!&asin=0394839129] 1978 – Confessions Of A Vi3tbabe
  39. [amazon text=Oh Say Can You Say?&asin=0375822763] 1979 – Ex Libris
  40. [amazon text=Hunches in Bunches&asin=0394855027], 1982 – No BS Book Reviews
  41. [amazon text=The Butter Battle Book&asin=0394865804], 1984 – Novel Novice
  42. [amazon text=You’re Only Old Once!&asin=0394551907] 1986 – Dad of Divas
  43. [amazon text=Oh, the Places You’ll Go!&asin=0679805273] 1990  – Jesse the Reader

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Jim Joseph’s New Book – Out & About Dad

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out-and-about-dad
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About the Book

“A book about being a father?” “Good, maybe it’ll help someone.” “Are you going to tell stories about us?” “Yes, a few.” “Well, we have a lot of them!” That was my children’s reaction when I first told them I was writing another book, but this one was going to be about fatherhood. I guess they’ve gotten used to me writing marketing books and daily blog posts and all of the comments that come along with them. But this time it’s personal. This one hits close to home – our home.

jim-joseph

 

About the Author

Entrepreneur of the Year, Agency of the Year, Consumer Launch Campaign of the Year, Most Creative Agency, Best Place to Work, Social Media Icon, Hall of Fame these are the accolades that Jim Joseph has amassed through his long career in marketing. But none are more important than the badge he wears with the most pride – Dad. Jim Joseph is the proud father of two children. He has spent the last twenty-plus years raising them, looking after their physical and emotional well-being, and building their confidence to tackle their own lives. While he has written a trilogy of marketing books and is a regular contributor to Entrepreneur and Huffington Post, it’s his newest book and corresponding blog posts that represent what’s most important to him: being an Out and About Dad.

 

My Take on the Book 

In Jim Joseph’s new book, Out and About Dad: My Journey as a Father with all its Twists, Turns, and a Few Twirls, he delves deep into his own experience in being a father. He shares raw insights into his steps in being a dad, but beyond that a single gay father and what he and his child went through during this time in his life. He talks about dating and finding positive, meaningful relationships that changed his life and so much more. The book is filled with stories that will make you laugh, but others that will make you choke up with emotion. Jim Joseph is a powerful writer and does an amazing job at sharing passion and a positive outlook on life throughout the book. Even through some of the tougher stories, Jim Joseph does a great job at sharing a message that will uplift and inspire. As I was reading this I could empathize with what he was sharing. I truly appreciated how honest and open Jim Joseph was with sharing his own experience, but also in the fact that through this re-telling, we as readers are really getting a glimpse into a modern life family story, which is more and more common. This was a great book that any parent will love!

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Star Wars Epic Yarns Brings The Movies To Life!

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Star Wars® Epic Yarns is a new board book series for kids of all ages, that tells the story of each of the first three Star Wars movies in just 12 words and 12 iconic scenes depicted in incredibly detailed – and adorable – needle felt.

Star-Wars

Created by twins Holman and Jack Wang, the team behind the hit Cozy Classics series, Star Wars Epic Yarns will delight Star Wars fans, geek-y crafters and fans of the cute! The Wang brothers painstakingly re-create each scene in incredible detail at a 1:7 scale, building elaborate sets and staging elaborate on-location photo shoots.

star-wars

Watch the Behind the Scenes video here:

Jack and Holman grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, where Holman still lives. As well as being the creators of the Cozy Classics board books, Jack is a professor of writing at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York, and Holman, a former attorney and middle school teacher, is an artist and author.

 star-wars

My Take on the Book

My daughter and I are HUGE Star Wars fans! I have watched all of the Star Wars movies with them and now they are asking about reading novels that have Star Wars in it too. Recently, I was asked to review the books above. When I received these I was definitely intrigued. The books were simple but thorough. On the small number of pages that were in these books, you will be shown the high points of the first three Star Wars movies all made out of felt. TYou can tell that the creators of these books are as big of Star Wars fans as I know that my girls and I are. The scenes are painstakingly created and they have chosen words that young readers can both read and understand! They were well written, and visually stunning and if you too are a Star Wars fan, you will definitely get a kick out of the books!

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Sometimes You Need a Jellyfish by Chris Routly

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jellyfish

About the Book

[amazon text=Sometimes You Need a Jellyfish&asin=0986323101] was inspired by Christopher Routly’s oldest son, Tucker, when the latter was only a few years old. One day, while father and son drew pictures together, Tucker requested that Chris draw a jellyfish. “Why a jellyfish?” Chris asked.“Because,” Tucker replied, “Sometimes you need a jellyfish!”moving-truck

And now, years later, the culmination of their work — together trying to determine just when those situations were, where a jellyfish might be handy — has led to a real live book! Thanks to the many, many friends and family and even strangers who supported Chris’ Kickstarter campaign, financing was raised for the printing of this high-quality hardcover picture book that you and your kids are going to love.

Jellyfish

My Take on the Book

What a clever and creative story for a young child. Who would have imagined that a jellyfish could be so useful.
So what are some of the uses for a jellyfish if you decided to bring him along on a trip and put him in your suitcase?  Well, the jellyfish could turn into a parachute or use its tentacled arm to catch a robber. It could become an umbrella or lend a hand or two cleaning up your room.
You and your child may be able to brainstorm other ways a jellyfish could be useful after reading this delightful story.
The ending will lead you to a new story about the usefulness of a giraffe. That one will keep you thinking until the book is published.
You will love the illustrations, characters and more in this family friendly book for all ages!
Enjoy this one for now!

Whatever After: Beauty Queen by Sarah Mlynowski

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whatever-after

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About the Book
The magical seventh installment in this NEW YORK TIMES bestselling series!

In Whatever After: Beauty Queen by Sarah Mlynowski, the magic mirror sucks Abby and Jonah into the story of Beauty and the Beast. When Jonah angers the Beast by picking flowers from his garden, he becomes the Beast’s prisoner! Abby has to save her brother by finding Beauty, whom the Beast will surely fall in love with, right? NOPE. The Beast doesn’t like Beauty, so it’s up to Abby and her brother to match-make this reluctant pair and fix this fractured fairy tale before things get pretty ugly!


My Take on the Book

This book is one of 8 books in a series called WHATEVER AFTER BOOKS. Abby and her brother Jonah have a magic mirror in the basement. Their parents do not know about the mirror. The mirror takes them into a fairy tale. They have experienced many encounters with various princesses and villains.
In this particular story Jonah takes a rose from the Beast’s garden. Abby helps her brother but it is quite interesting how she solves the problem of the stolen rose considering the Beast would not approve. The children meet various fairy tale characters along the way: some are helpful and some are not.
This story is taking the fairy tale characters and encounters with people in the present world to a new reading concept. It is interesting the way the author developed the story and found the solution which was positive for all  the characters in the story. Of course the children had to return to their home back through the mirror.
If you enjoy imaginative stories with a twist , I think your child will find this book fun to read.

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TombQuest: Amulet Keepers by Michael Northrop

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tombquest

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About the Book
In TombQuest: Amulet Keepers, strange things are happening in London. Red rain is flooding the streets. People are going missing. And someone’s opening graves in Highgate Cemetery . . .

Only Alex and his best friend, Ren, suspect the truth: a Death Walker, a powerful ancient Egyptian evil, is behind the chaos. Their quest to bring him down takes them from New York to London, and from the land of the living to the deep underground tombs of the long dead. Will they be in time to stop the Death Walker before he gets too powerful . . . or will the tombs claim them, too?

Read TombQuest: Amulet Keepers, then continue the adventure online! Build an Egyptian tomb of your own, hide treasure and protect it with traps, then challenge your friends to break in.


My Take on the Book

This was an adventure filled book that will keep you and your kids engaged from beginning to end. The book was written for all ages, not just for younger grades (even though that is its’ intended target). My daughter and I loved reading this together and we found that it reminded us somewhat of the adventure that we had read before when reading some of the Rick Riordan books. While the story and characters in this were very different, the adventure and action were reminiscent of it.

We read this book first, so now that we have completed this, my daughter and I have already put book number one on hold at our local library. As mentioned, this book is filled with action and adventure and I can easily say that it is one of those books that you will not want to put down once you start it with your own kids (or they won’t if they are reading it alone).

The book has some great detail, but I also could tell that some of it was not completely historically accurate. That was fie with me though as the author did a great job of weaving and creating a great backdrop for the characters that he created and you truly do get lost in the action and adventure of the book itself.

All-in-all this was a great book that you and your kids will love reading together or individually!

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Pip Bartlett’s Guide to Magical Creatures by Maggie Stiefvater & Jackson Pearce

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Pip-Bartlett
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About the Book
From bestselling authors Maggie Stiefvater and Jackson Pearce comes Pip Bartlett’s Guide to Magical Creatures,  an exciting new series full of magical creatures, whimsical adventures, and quirky illustrations.

Here’s a list of things Pip Bartlett can talk to:

  • Unicorns
  • Miniature Silky Griffins
  • Bitterflunks
  • Basically, all magical creatures

Here’s a list of things she can’t talk to (at least, not very well):

  • Parents
  • Teachers
  • Basically, all people

Because of a Unicorn Incident at her school (it was an accident!), Pip is spending the summer with her Aunt Emma at the Cloverton Clinic for Magical Creatures. At first, it’s all fun, games, and chatting with Hobgrackles, but when Fuzzles appear and start bursting into flame at the worst possible places, Pip and her new friend Tomas must take action. Because if the mystery of the Fuzzles isn’t solved soon, both magical and unmagical creatures are going to be in a lot of trouble.


My Take on the Book

While this is not a Harry Potter story it sure has some creatures that should be in those books! I have to say that this was such a fun book to read with my eldest daughter. You truly get transformed into a young kid again and get to explore the magical world that it laid out in front of your eyes thanks to the wonderful writing of Maggie Stiefvater & Jackson Pearce. I loved how you really get transported into the book and you get to see the characters interacting with these magical and mythical creatures.  By the end of this my eldest was saying how she wished that she too had the ability to talk to and understand creatures like this and I have to agree. The authors truly create a bigger than life canvas for you and all readers to fall in love with and it is not hard not to when you are interacting with creatures as their characters do!

I for one would love to hear from these authors how they came up with some of these creatures as they were beautifully described and illustrated and you can tell lovingly created – but how? Where did the inspiration come from?

The book also has quite a bit of humor spread throughout the book as well which made the book a quick read too. My daughter and I particularly loved the “Supernatural/Magical Animal Care, Keeping, and Education Department” (S.M.A.C.K.E.D). I saw many similarities in the spirit that Pip had and my own eldest daughter which made this book hit even closer to home.

This was a great book that you will fly through. I am now hoping for more and more books from these authors and by the end you will be too!

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Tyme #1: Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel by Megan Morrison

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rapunzel

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About the Book
In Tyme #1: Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel by Megan Morrison you get to know Rapunzel’s story in a whole different way!

In all of Tyme, from the Redlands to the Grey, no one is as lucky as Rapunzel. She lives in a magic tower that obeys her every wish; she reads wonderful books starring herself as the heroine; her hair is the longest, most glorious thing in the world. And she knows this because Witch tells her so—her beloved Witch, who protects her from evil princes, the dangerous ground under the tower, even unhappy thoughts. Rapunzel can’t imagine any other life.

Then a thief named Jack climbs into her room to steal one of her enchanted roses. He’s the first person Rapunzel’s ever met who isn’t completely charmed by her (well, the first person she’s met at all, really), and he is infuriating– especially when he hints that Witch isn’t telling her the whole truth. Driven by anger at Jack and her own nameless fears, Rapunzel descends to the ground for the first time, and finds a world filled with more peril than Witch promised … and more beauty, wonder, and adventure than she could have dreamed.


My Take on the Book

This was a whole new take on the story of Rapunzel. As someone who enjoys reading fairy tales, and especially renditions different than the original, this was a fun and engaging story that will let you see Rapunzel and her feelings about the Witch. Rapunzel is definitely a bit conflicted when it comes to the Witch as you see in this book seeing that she was what she thought of as her mother as well as her captor.

The author of this book truly captures some great adventure and action in this story but combines this with a light wit and humor that makes the story fun and easy to read. My daughter and I read this together and we both found that we were very interested to see what would happen never to Rapunzel and the other characters that we met throughout the book.

While I had never read any of this author’s books in the past, after reading this and seeing the humor and detail that she provides in her writing I would definitely be more than happy to read more from her in the future.

This was a great book that I would highly encourage others to read and experience as well!

 

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