What Happens in the Ruins by Kelsey McNight | Romance Novel

 

What Happens in the Ruins by Kelsey McNight 

Rating: 2.5 stars 

Published: July 8, 2019 

Publisher: Tule Publishing 

Pages: 222

Genres: romance, contemporary romance 

Recommend to fans of: contemporary romance novels in Scotland

 

Synopsis:

Can she stop her past from ruining her future?

Sorcha Mackinnon isn’t your typical tortured artist. She is also a party girl, a vintage shopper, and the heiress to a whisky fortune. But when inspiration suddenly flies out the window, she’s left with an empty whisky glass and a blank canvas…until a childhood friend waltzes back into her life.

She’s known Danny Gordon since birth, but they lost touch as their careers took them in different directions. He offers to show her the parts of Scotland he swears will spark life back into her brushes. And as they tour the sights on the back of his motorcycle, Sorcha realizes that under the tattoos and smart mouth, Danny may inspire more in her than just a new painting.

But as a good time begins to morph into an ever after, Sorcha is reminded of old wounds that just won’t heal. Danny tries to open her heart, but her self-imposed isolation makes things harder than ever. Now she must decide what to do, because what happens in the ruins doesn’t always stay there.

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley, Tule Publishing, and Kelsey McNight for an ARC ebook copy to review. As always, an honest review from me. 

Like:

• Builds the romance and most importantly the friendship between Danny? And Sorcha before jumping into the sexy times. There’s still enough flirting and mild physical contact to remind me reader that it’s a romance novel they’re reading. 
• The sexy times start about 25% of the way through the book, which I think is the right time (enough pages to get to know the characters as people, but not so much that it becomes a contemporary fiction novel with only a tiny bit of romance)
• The settings: a good mix of old and new places to create a perfect atmosphere for new romance to spark

Love: 

• The setting – beautiful, romantic, interesting, and unique for a romance novel 
• The cover = beautifully done!

Dislike: 

• For a second, I thought there was going to be someone cheating on their best friend (still not sure), so that took away from the enjoyment of the book for a bit
• A little more interpersonal tension that I would have lived in a romance novel 
• The story/plotline aspect didn’t really capture my attention, which is vital to me in a romance novel … or really any novel 

Wish that: 

• More unique – it’s cute but a generic romance novel. Nothing that particularly sets it apart 
• The different moments within the story were more cohesive into the overall story 

Overall, fairly good in the romance aspect but a bit of a let down when it comes to the contemporary fiction story telling. A great read, but as someone who is very particular about her romance novels, I’m going to give this one a pass. Not a bad book, so I would still say to consider reading it if the synopsis interests you. 

 

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The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman | ARC #BookReview

 

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

Rating: 5 stars 

Published: July 9, 2019 

Publisher: Berkley Books 

Pages: 352

Genres: contemporary fiction, romance, books about books, mental health 

Recommend to fans of: books about the bookish world, quirky relatable anxious characters

 

Synopsis:

Meet Nina Hill: A young woman supremely confident in her own…shell.

The only child of a single mother, Nina has her life just as she wants it: a job in a bookstore, a kick-butt trivia team, a world-class planner and a cat named Phil. If she sometimes suspects there might be more to life than reading, she just shrugs and picks up a new book. 

When the father Nina never knew existed suddenly dies, leaving behind innumerable sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, Nina is horrified. They all live close by! They’re all–or mostly all–excited to meet her! She’ll have to Speak. To. Strangers. It’s a disaster! And as if that wasn’t enough, Tom, her trivia nemesis, has turned out to be cute, funny, and deeply interested in getting to know her. Doesn’t he realize what a terrible idea that is?

Nina considers her options.

1. Completely change her name and appearance. (Too drastic, plus she likes her hair.) 

2. Flee to a deserted island. (Hard pass, see: coffee). 

3. Hide in a corner of her apartment and rock back and forth. (Already doing it.)

It’s time for Nina to come out of her comfortable shell, but she isn’t convinced real life could ever live up to fiction. It’s going to take a brand-new family, a persistent suitor, and the combined effects of ice cream and trivia to make her turn her own fresh page.

 

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Books, and Abbi Waxman for an ARC ebook copy to review. As always, an honest review from me. 

Like: 

• Too cute but there’s definitely some adult content at times (not too much)
• Lots of trivia games
• Socially anxious, planner and overall funny person — sums up the main character, Nina Hill

Love: 

• Relatable for all bookish nerds like me!
• The colorful, fun cover
• Such an enjoyable read … I cannot get enough of it (an actual note I wrote to myself while reading)
• Sarcastic and witty
• Shows that people like her can have a love life. There’s hope for people who don’t fit the typical extroverted, supermodel beauty, perfect life societal ideal.

Dislike: 

• Some of Nina’s extended family — I don’t see the reason they need to be so rude to her. Luckily it doesn’t take up much of the book or create too much tension.

Wish that: 

• Nina could better explain to people why she needs to be alone when dealing with a lot of anxiety, post panic attack, or a day that required too much socialization. I absolutely understand that this can be very difficult, but this perspective and explanation could also be very validating for others who struggle with anxiety and/or an introvert. It’s also a great way to educate others, who can’t relate to Nina, as to the frustrating life moments that Nina and so many others experience. 

Overall, this book is why I love reading. Thank you to the author for bringing me such joy while reading The Bookish Life of Nina Hill. The book has truly been the highlight of my week … well, besides all the cats I’ve also gotten to pet. I’m sure Nina Hill would agree with that one!

 

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Love to the Rescue by Radclyffe | #BookReview #LGBTQIA+ #RomanceBooks

Love to the Rescue by Radclyffe

 

Rating: 3.5 stars

Published: April 1, 2019

Publisher: Radclyffe

Pages: 240

Genres: Romance, medical, LGBTQIA+

Recommend to fans of: Radl

 

Synopsis:

 

The last time Brody Clark left the Rivers, she walked away from her life―her foolish dreams, her few friends, and the secrets she’d kept from everyone. For ten years she’d told herself there was nothing in her past she cared about―not the family who’d given her a home or the one girl she never stopped thinking about. But now she’s back as part of the new medevac flight crew, for at least as long as it takes to finally bury her ghosts.
Val Valentine, DVM, planned on a big city boutique vet practice with high profile clients, easy hours, and lucrative profits. All until the man who was more father to her than her own asks for her help, and she ends up back in the backwater where all she has are bad memories.
Brody figures cutting her ties to the past would be a hell of a lot easier if she could only avoid the woman she’s never been able to forget. Since Val never even knew she was alive back in high school, that shouldn’t be too hard now. When their lives collide, both women discover what might have been is closer than they think.

 

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley and Radclyffe for the ebook copy to review.

Like:

– The publisher: almost always creates great books and many that are centered around the medical world
– ER, medics, vet practice all in one book – authentic and well written as always
– Lots of details to get to know the town and make it feel like you’re really there in the story
– Romance, but need to wait until more than half way through for it

Love:
– Good representation LGBTQIA+
– Romance in the medical field – a personal favorite of mine
– Medical info is well done – always makes for a much better, more authentic read
– There’s a trans character as well

Dislike:
– Couldn’t get into the book in the beginning – I read other books from the same author and was captivated right away. To be fair, I was tired when reading Love to the Rescue so that may have been a factor.
– The tension, awkwardness and almost hatred at the beginning
– Family drama – might be realistic but not enjoyable to read about

Wish that:
– Captured my attention more
– More of a feel good book. It’s not bad, but lately I’m not quite in the mood for drama and tension in my personal life.

Overall, good but not my favorite novel that I’ve read by Radclyffe. As always, I love the romance, medical field setting, and LGBTQIA+ centric characters. I didn’t love the tension and family drama throughout. I would still recommend Love to the Rescue by Radclyffe.

 

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Otherwise Engaged by Lindsey Palmer | Release Day #BookReview

 

Otherwise Engaged by Lindsey Palmer 

Published: February 26, 2019 

Publisher: Skyhorse

Pages: 304

Genres: romance, chick lit, contemporary fiction

Rating: 3 stars

Recommend to fans of: character studies, women whose lives aren’t happily ever after

Foodie Vibes: wedding cake tasting and then hitting the local bar afterwards 

 

Synopsis: 

Life is sweet for New Yorkers Molly and Gabe: They’re young, in love, and newly engaged.

But when Gabe sells his first novel—a thinly-veiled retelling of his wild love affair with ex-girlfriend Talia—and it becomes a national sensation, Molly can’t help but feel like the third wheel. To make matters worse, Talia reappears in Gabe’s life, eager to capitalize on the book’s success and to rekindle what she had with Gabe… at least, that’s how it seems to Molly. But even more concerning? Gabe doesn’t seem concerned at all. Instead, he’s delighting in his newfound fame and success.

Jealous, paranoid, and increasingly desperate, Molly starts to spin out of control. Her social life, work life, and love life all go to pieces. As fact and fiction, and past and present, begin to blur, Molly realizes the only way out of this downward spiral is to fight her way back up. But what—if anything—will be left of her life and her relationship when she arrives?

 

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley, Skyhorse, and Lindsey Palmer for an ARC ebook copy to review. As always, an honest review from me.

Like:

• The character of Sam – she’s unsure about life, but she tells it like it is
• It’s a character study
• The storylines with Molly’s mom — so sweet!
• Watching a far from perfect relationship unfold

Love: —

Dislike:

• Gabe’s book — the writing is so cringe worthy
• Doesn’t go very in depth into so many hard hitting topics such as uncertainty in relationships, becoming a mother, addiction, medical fraud, and more. There’s so much potential to really understand the characters’ feelings about experiences about these struggles.
• People cheating on each other — ahhhhh, one of the things I really dislike in books 

Wish that: 

• Molly had just finished reading Gabe’s book, because then maybe she wouldn’t have freaked out so much
• I liked more of the characters. None of them really resonated with me, and I wanted to shake them out of so many of their bad actions.
• Was marketed correctly – I thought I was getting into a fluffy romance novel, but that wasn’t the case.

Overall, I feel like this is either a book you’ll love or go “meh” about. I’m in the later category. For me it’s less about the quality but more about the fit between the book and reader. 

 

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A Season to Dance by Rebecca Heflin

 

A Season to Dance by Rebecca Heflin

Published: December 13, 2018

Publisher: Rebecca Heflin Books, LLC

Pages: 336

Genres: romance, contemporary romance, sports

Rating: 4.5 stars

Recommend to fans of: the ballet world, sweet and steamy contemporary romance 

Foodie Vibes: dark roast coffee and chocolate croissants from the local shop – a wonderful indulgence among old friends 

 

Synopsis: 

Olivia James and Zach Ryder were high school sweethearts, but at age eighteen, she left small-town Georgia for the bright lights and satin pointe shoes of Chicago’s Joffrey Ballet. Seventeen years later, Olivia’s come home for her mother’s funeral, nursing an injury that could likely end her meteoric dance career. Being back home stirs up old heartache, and seeing Zach again is not on her to-do list. Her best bet is get in, get out—a week at most. Then she’ll return to Chicago to rehabilitate her injury and salvage her career. But best laid plans often go astray . . .

Zach has never really recovered from Olivia’s departure, even though he always knew she was destined for fame, while he was destined for small-town life. Now Olivia’s back and he’s determined to protect his heart. But when he learns she’s staying in town longer than originally planned, Zach knows they are going to have to face the past to move on. He’s just not prepared for the beautiful woman she’s become or the effect she still has on his heart.

Small towns being what they are, Zach and Olivia are constantly thrown into one another’s paths, and it soon becomes apparent they still love each other. Will they give in to their rekindled desire and seize a second chance at happiness?

 

Review:

I won this book for free from Goodreads Giveaways. Thank you to Goodreads, Rebecca Heflin and the publisher for the ebook. As always, an honest review from me. 

A Season to Dance is a sweet & steamy second chance romance set in a small but successful southern town. Olivia is a prima ballerina on break from her career of elite ballets, magazine deals and worldwide performances. Months before she tore her achilles tendon and is now currently rehabbing her injury. The uncertainty over her future in ballet makes for some great tension and lots of soul searching throughout the book. To help her along on her journey is her late Mom’s wife, high school boyfriend, and used to be enemy but now close friend. 

I liked that there weren’t many hard feelings between the characters who had conflict. They realized their hurt feelings were due to miscommunication instead of hate, and resolved their disagreements like adults. The growth in their relationships was wonderful. While the friendships are great, this is a romance novel after all. The romance was sweet and steamy, just how I like it. It’s not overly raunchy, but there’s definitely enough adult content to keep romance lovers entertained. The romance is like a good dark chocolate – rich, deep, sweet but with substance. Also the ballet world setting is perfection. The author has included enough ballet terms to make you feel as if you’re transported to the world of dance, but not so much that the non dancer will be confused. There’s also a glossary of dance terms at the end in case you want to reference it. 

There were very few moments that I didn’t enjoy. Actually nothing. There were a few minor storylines that didn’t add much to the book, but other than that it’s all good.

Overall, A Season to Dance is a perfect feel good romance novel for a day when you need a pick me up. I highly recommend. I really hope there is a sequel to the book. 

 

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Bookish Question:

How many of you took dance class as a child? Which types of dance? 

 

I danced for 16 years including tap, ballet, pointe, flamenco, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary.

 

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The Light to My Darkness by Ivy Smoak

 

The Light to My Darkness by Ivy Smoak

Published: September 19, 2017

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Pages: 358

Genres: romance, contemporary romance, contemporary fiction, suspense 

Rating: 4 stars 

Recommend to fans of: romance novels with a mix of suspense, realistic fiction, adorable family life, couples that are #relationshipgoals 

Foodie Vibes: bananas and ice cream ~ for all those pregnancy cravings 

 

Synopsis: 

My relationship with my husband has been splashed all over the tabloids ever since we first started dating. What should I have expected when I took New York City’s most eligible bachelor off the market?

But no matter how long I’m with my husband, I can’t shake the feeling that a stroke of luck brought me here. That I don’t deserve the life around me. And I swear, if one more paparazzi takes a picture of me I’m going to freaking lose my mind.

I needed to prove to myself that I’m not worthless. So I wrote a novel under a pen name, but I’ve been rejected by so many literary agents I’ve lost count. And I’m so consumed with this idea that I need more out of life that I never had a chance to see the real story unfolding around me. The story that would threaten the life I took for granted.

 

Review:

I won this ebook for free through Goodreads Giveaways. Thank you to Goodreads and Ivy Smoak for the copy. As always, an honest review from me.

The Light to My Darkness is wonderful, heartfelt, passionate, and has just enough suspense. Penny is pregnant with her second child. She craves bananas and ice cream. She looks after her adorable 3 year old, Scarlett. And her husband absolutely worships her. The only difference this time around is that she has a moderate to severe heart murmur, and the pregnancy is putting added stress on her heart. 

I really liked that this romance novel features a pregnant and married woman as the main character. Not many authors do this. Their relationship is very steamy. The stress that her health condition puts on their day to day lives is also explored. The representation is great. Scarlett is also such a smart adorable kid. The suspense of Penny’s health condition and later darker elements kept me turning the pages quickly. 

However, there are a few aspects that I’m not a huge fan of. One is the manner that the couple met. Some people don’t have a problem with it, but I did. Also the last 20% of the book had a lot of information thrown in quickly. I wish that it was further explored. And the ending … let’s just say you’ll either love it or hate it.

Overall, I really enjoyed this contemporary romance featuring a strong smart woman who is pregnant. The suspense made it even better. I definitely recommend giving The Light to My Darkness a read. 

 

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If you’ve been pregnant before, what’s the weirdest food craving that you experienced?

 

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New Release | The Army Doc’s Christmas Angel by Annie O’Neil

 

The Army Doc’s Christmas Angel by Annie O’Neil

Published: December 1, 2018

Publisher: Harlequin Medical Romances 

Pages: 256

Genres: contemporary romance, romance, medical, holidays

Rating: 3 stars

Recommend to fans of: sweet holiday romances with a medical setting, caring people

Foodie Vibes: hot chocolate with marshmallows 

 

Synopsis:

Letting go of his past…

…to embrace their future!

In this Hope Children’s Hospital story, pediatrician Dr. Finn Morgan keeps himself fiercely private—after losing his leg in Afghanistan, he pushed everyone away. So his unexpected attraction to colleague, physiotherapist Naomi Collins, infuriates him! Something in her stunning eyes tells him she’s a survivor too. Christmas is a time for healing, maybe they’ll both find what they’ve both been looking for—in each other’s arms…

 

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Medical Romances, and Annie O’Neil for an ARC ebook copy to review. As always, an honest review from me.

A story about kind medical professionals, the holidays, and romance will almost always make for a nice read. I enjoyed the book but didn’t love it. The main characters were great – caring, competent, and complex. However, I never really got into the book. Maybe because the writing makes me very aware that I’m reading words instead of fully pulling me into the story. To be fair, I was very tired while reading this book so my focus wasn’t as great as usual.

There’s plenty of holiday spirit packed into this fairly short read. If you like medical romances that are great for the holidays, consider giving The Army Doc’s Christmas Angel a read. 

 

Share your favorite holiday beverage in the comments.

 

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New Release | Taming Fire by Leora Gonzalez

 

Taming Fire by Leora Gonzalez

Published: November 27, 2018

Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation

Pages: 191 

Genres: romance, contemporary romance, women’s fiction

Rating: 3 stars

Recommend to fans of: streamy firefighter romances, aggressive men, women who learn to stand up for themselves

Foodie Vibes: wine and fried chicken – both feature during significant events

 

Synopsis:

Steam

Yoga instructor Louise Pine is the ultimate caretaker. Everyone around her seems to have an emergency, but Lou hasn’t met a fire she couldn’t put out—until she’s faced with the hunky, bossy firefighter who crashes into her own backyard—and her life. No one tells Lou what to do, yet somehow the guy’s take-charge style makes her tingle . . .

Simmer

Phoenix “Nix” Jones is used to calling the shots, whether he’s dealing with his younger siblings or taking on a dangerous blaze. Luckily, the fire at Lou’s is a false alarm. But the heat the fit and feisty woman ignites is far from dying out . . .

Afterglow

As the sparks turn into 5-alarm passion, can two strong-willed people end up engulfed by love—or will they crash and burn?

 

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing Corporation and Leora Gonzalez for an ARC ebook copy to review. As always, an honest review from me.

Taming Fire is certainly an intense steamy romance that at times almost borders on erotica — at least I think so, based on never having read it before. It was a bit more than I bargained for. Let’s just say that Nix likes things rough, is dominant, and aggressive at times. He knows what he wants and communicates that to his partner, but it’s not for me. Also Nix is very presumptuous that Louise will like him and the things that he enjoyed. This is explained later, so we learn to understand him more. Also the descriptions of women’s bodies, “fat” or “thin” sometimes worked and many times didn’t. 

Now onto the things that I did like. Louise’s family takes advantage of her generosity and kindness. I’m glad the book focused on her learning to stand up for herself. Louise as a person is wonderful. I would love to read even more about her, not necessarily with the romance. 

Overall, I enjoyed many aspects of the book, but was put off by some of the bedroom happenings. Maybe it’s for you though. Not for me, but I can still recommend it to others. 

 

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ARC Review | A Sister’s Survival by Cydney Rax

 

A Sister’s Survival by Cydney Rax

Published: November 27, 2018

Publisher: Dafina

Pages: 352

Genres: contemporary fiction, romance, domestic fiction

Rating: 2.5 stars

Recommend to fans of: books about complex but strong relationships

Foodie Vibes: home cooked meal — potato salad, collard greens, cornbread 

 

Synopsis:

To keep their family ties strong, the five Reeves sisters meet regularly to give each other a reality check. But explosive family secrets begin to pour out like molten lava, and forever change all they treasure most . . .
 
After a shattering revelation, youngest sister Elyse struggles to overcome the sexual abuse that nearly destroyed her. Between her tough eldest sister, Alita, and a promising fresh start with a new man, she’s finding the strength to make the most of her fierce intelligence. But Elyse still has a score to settle with the perfect sister she feels betrayed by—and she’s going after everything Burgundy can’t afford to lose . . .
 
 Coco thinks her useless baby daddy is finally about to commit—until she catches him with a woman who’s everything she’s not. As she tries to move on with her life, she can’t resist carrying out the ultimate revenge. But when she inadvertently gets caught up in Elyse’s plan, she must reveal an unforgivable truth that could crush any chance these sisters have to make things right.

 

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley, Dafina and Sydney Rax for an ARC ebook copy to review. As always, an honest review from me. 

Trigger warning: sexual assault

A Sister’s Survival has a great premise, but didn’t end up being the right book for me. I liked that the female characters had strong supportive relationships. They felt comfortable discussing times they were sexually assaulted. Another book that fits in perfectly with the #MeToo Movement. It’s rare that people feel comfortable discussing such horrific circumstances with others. So I appreciated that the book was able to shine a light on living your life after sexual assault.

However, there is so much drama. Over the top drama, which was a bit much for me. There’s also a lot of cheating on others, which I’ve stated before that I’m not a fan of. Sleep with whomever you want, as long as it’s consensual and safe, but please don’t cheat. It does show that people are human though. Another aspect that frustrated me was the lack of continuity between chapters. Information that made me question if I had accidentally skipped pages, because it wasn’t make sense to me.

Overall, a good representation of characters that I don’t often see in books. But too much drama and inconsistencies for me to really get into the story.

Release Day | Chasing Shadows by Catherine Bybee

 

Chasing Shadows by Catherine Bybee

Published: November 13, 2018

Publisher: Montlake Romance

Pages: 316

Genres: contemporary romance, contemporary fiction, romance, suspense

Rating: 3.5 stars

Recommend to fans of: contemporary romance with an underlying suspenseful mystery, strong women who know what they want, characters working through trauma

Foodie Vibes: burger and fries at a local bar – simple yet effective 

 

Synopsis:

Avery Grant doesn’t date. Her first marriage was a mutually beneficial contract that gave her the financial freedom she needed to step away from her controlling parents. Wealthy and single, the last thing she’s looking for is love sneaking in to mess up her life plans. And after a brutal attack, she’s determined to never be vulnerable again, even if the new man in her life helps her feel safe.

Mesmerized from the moment he sets his eyes on Avery, Liam is driven to learn everything about this tough, sexy, challenging woman. Breaking down her defenses won’t be easy, but Liam refuses to be pushed away. All he needs is a tiny crack in Avery’s armor to wiggle his way into her heart.

But when a terrifying lie about her attacker’s fate comes to light, Avery’s past returns to haunt her. Now she’s willing to put herself in danger to get the answers she needs. That means jeopardizing the best thing that’s ever happened to her: Liam.

 

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley, Montlake Romance and Catherine Bybee for an ARC ebook copy to review. As always, an honest review from me. 

Chasing Shadows centers around Avery Grant, who we see as a tough woman who knows what she wants. As the book goes on and we learn more about her character, we also learn more about the reasons behind this. Why she’s taking martial arts classes to ward off an attacker, is determined to be successful at her job despite not needing the money, and why she only has a few close friends. I really liked the main character, even when I wanted her to be a bit more emotionally open with her new love interest. I also liked that the book featured many other strong women that help her on her journey through life. The romance felt authentic and was sufficiently sexy.

I didn’t see the twist at the end coming. And I’m not sure how I feel about it still. I don’t hate it, but I think certain people got away with their bad behavior too easily. 

Chasing Shadows is a more substantial read that I initially thought and that’s exactly the way I like my contemporary romance novels. Worth the read!

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Totally random question for you all:

What’s your favorite color?

 

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