4/19/19

Thirty Days Hath: Blog Tour

About the Book


Book: Thirty Days Hath  
Author: Chautona Havig  
Genre: Christian fiction, contemporary romance
 Release Date: Revised edition, Feb 26, 2019  

Blind Dates Are for Wimps!
At least, that’s what Adric Garrison thinks. Can you blame him? Thanks to his sister and brother-in-law, Adric is about to embark on a year of month-long, chaperoned, blind dates. Awkward.
He didn’t ask for it. But Adric still finds himself living what seems more like a bad TV reality show than a new life in Fairbury. Once an ordinary (if prematurely gray and vertically challenged) guy, Adric is now Fairbury’s newest “most eligible bachelor,” and dreams of permanent bachelorhood loom on the horizon. Will he call it quits before the year is out, or will one of his “girls of the month” change his mind? One man, twelve women, one happily ever after. 
  
Click here to purchase your copy!

My thoughts: 

This was a cute story with a unique premise. I enjoyed the writing and there were a number of clever and fun scenes. Unfortunately, because there were so many different women, I missed some relationship development. I also didn't really think that the story needed the suspense aspect, although it did add some drama and solidify Adric's feelings for his choice. Overall, I did enjoy the book and look forward to my next book by Chautona Havig.

About the Author


Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her on the web and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.


More from Chautona

A Silent Truth No One Admits: Blind Dates Are for Wimps

Maybe I’m not the one to talk. After all, I never dated. Not really. My best friend in high school was a guy. We went to the movies. We did things. Still, we were just great friends. I had what might be considered one date in Lubbock, Texas in 1987. Maybe. I didn’t consider it one, but I suppose the guy might have. Maybe. Then I went from best friends with the guy I’ve been married to for 30 years to engaged in the span of a few seconds after what might have been a rhetorical question. He’s under orders not to tell me if it was. After all, he’s the fool who went on to say, “I do.” Just sayin’. Still, in the first decade of the 21st century, I discovered a new “thing” in reality TV. The Bachelor. Though I tried watching it, I couldn’t after a while. It started out reasonably clean, but then it devolved into cat fights, spit-swapping sessions, and drama. Oh, the drama. But one aspect intrigued me. The focused attention to finding the girl. What if Christians did that? What if we stopped playing the silly game of “pretend we’re not in this to see if you’re someone I could put up with for the next fifty or sixty years…”? Oh, man. What if the church rallied around its members and helped without pushing. Trust me, you don’t want to push too much. You may discover that the people you’re pushing just get together and talk about it. Laugh at your antics. Mock the ridiculousness of it. Not that Kevin and I ever did that back in the day or anything. (Check out that story HERE.) That “what if?” spurred an idea. Sister churches. Chaperones. Not a couple of weeks in a giant house somewhere, but a whole month of real living with someone, day in. Day out. And again, with that chaperone to avoid that “appearance of evil” thing. If you could spend that much time with someone, seeing warts, virtues, best and worst sides… well, maybe you might just be right for each other. At the least, you’d have a good idea if you even wanted to find out. That’s a healthier and quicker start than two or three months of a date here or there and hoping you’re seeing the real person. Right? I created a character and ran with it. From giving him less than Hollywood good looks, to an anger problem and a blue-collar job, Adric had lots going for him… and not so much! Then I tested it out. Acid test. I signed him up for eHarmony. No, really. I did. For the record, apparently short, prematurely graying mechanics with anger issues are a hot commodity. It took hours to get it set up, but man there were many women out there for him… supposedly. And to this day, my Gmail email (that I never use) still says adricgarrison@gmail.com. No joke. For what it’s worth, Adric learned one very difficult lesson that year. As I’ve already confessed. I’ve never been on a blind date. I doubt anyone would even consider that I’ve been on a date. Still, after writing this book, I know for one thing. Blind Dates Are for Wimps.

Blog Stops

Giveaway

 
To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away a grand prize of a paperback copy of Thirty Days Hath, book cozy, and a $25 Starbucks gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into to the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/dee7/thirty-days-hath-celebration-tour-giveaway


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4/16/19

This Daring Journey


About the Book


Book: This Daring Journey  
Author: Misty M. Beller  
Genre: Christian Historical Romance  
Release Date: March 26, 2019

As a half-Indian raised among her Peigan tribe, Moriah Clark knows better than to trust white people. The tragedy that resulted in her birth is proof enough. But when her trusted grandfather marries her to a white man, she has no choice to but to obey and hope this new life isn’t her downfall. Her white husband turns out to be a decent sort, but his unexpected death left her to birth a newborn baby among hostile mountain men. She wants nothing more than to retreat to the safe haven of her tribal upbringing. When a mysterious frontiersman arrives on her doorstep seeking her deceased husband, his offer to escort her and the babe to her people seems like the opportunity she’s been praying to find. But can she trust him? Samuel Grant has been sent to retrieve Henry Clark for his sister’s wedding, but the sight that greets him at the little cabin in the woods is not what he expected. Not only has the man died, but Henry’s wife is fighting off an aggressive gang of men at gunpoint—while trying to conceal a newborn. He can’t leave the pair unattended, so helping her travel into the mountain country to reach her family seems like the only option. If he can win her trust, that is. Such a grueling journey with a three-week-old baby will be risky, but the challenges that arise test them far more than either expected. When a devastating surprise increases the danger ten-fold, Moriah focuses all her efforts on keeping her newborn daughter alive. Maybe that’s why she doesn’t realize how much of her heart belongs to the mountain man—until it’s too late.

My Thoughts:
To be honest, I had never heard of Misty Beller before this book! I actually thought it might be her first book, but it is not. She has many books you can check out at her website or on Amazon.  This Daring Journey was a light and fast read. I finished it in a day and I enjoyed it. The story of Moriah and Samuel's journey through the mountains poses difficult challenges that require them to rely on each other. The sweet progression of respect and care they have for each other is a beautiful result of the adventure they embark on together and the kind and hard-working individuals that each one is. If you're looking for a quick and sweet historical romance, you should check this one out.

 
Click here to purchase your copy.



About the Author





Misty M. Beller writes romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and children now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

God has placed a desire in Misty’s heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.



More from Misty

How did I get started writing? 

I’ve always loved to read, but several years ago I was putting together my bucket list, and realized that I really did want to write a novel. So, “Write a novel that’s published” made it near the top!

I decided, it’s now or never, and made the commitment to do it. So, I had a general idea that I wanted it to be a Christian historical western romance. But where to start? I finally decided I needed to find a good book to help me plan. I stumbled upon (a.k.a. God led me to) the best possible book to help me get started with a great plan: Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell. For all you writers out there, I can’t recommend it highly enough!

From there, I’ve soaked in every bit of writing instruction I can from some amazing groups and individuals. And I’ve spent countless hours sitting with my laptop pouring out words onto the screen. Writing is in my blood. It’s my passion. A true gift from my Heavenly Father, and I pray daily that he uses the words for His purpose.





Blog Stops



Among the Reads, April 4



Simple Harvest Reads, April 4 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)







Pause for Tales, April 6




Splashes of Joy, April 7





Mary Hake, April 8









Wishful Endings, April 11





Vicky Sluiter, April 12



The Becca Files, April 12



Carpe Diem, April 13




Bigreadersite, April 14













Inklings and notions, April 17











Giveaway











To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away a grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!



Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/de81/this-daring-journey-celebration-tour-giveaway


















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4/12/19


          

        










The Songbird and the Spy






















About the Book





Book: The Songbird and the Spy

 

Author: J’Nell Ciesielski

Genre: Clean historical romance

 

Release Date: Feb 19, 2019



As shells explode over Nazi-occupied France, American music student Claire Baudin is trapped behind enemy lines, struggling to protect her identity. Singing as a barmaid while she plans her escape, a handsome Third Reich captain threatens everything she knows to be true about the enemy.

Nazi Captain Michael Reiner isn’t who he claims to be. A British language expert turned spy, he discovers the truth about Claire, but he knows the importance of a secret. Struggling to resist his attraction to the songbird, he’s determined to complete his assignment, no matter the cost. His cover is threatened when a ruthless female Gestapo officer arrives hunting Resistance fighters. The raid forces Michael’s hand: complete the mission or save Claire.

As the war threatens to tear them apart, they must rely on each other for survival. Is there hope—and a future—for an American songbird and a British spy?



My Thoughts: 

The Songbird and the Spy is a fast paced WWII romantic adventure. There are many books set during this time. Maybe, because for those of us who didn't live through it, it is hard to imagine the atrocities others experienced. Or maybe the small acts of kindness, sacrifices and moments of good look so much brighter amidst the dark background of this period in tour history. I am usually quite moved by stories set during this war and holocaust. I like to find hope in a "hopeless" situation. This book delivered that message of hope. Claire experienced fear and loss and found love and meaning. I enjoyed this book and will be looking for others by J'Nell Ciesielski!




Click here to purchase your copy!



About the Author



Believing she was born in the wrong era, J’nell Ciesielski spends her days creating heart-stopping heroes, brave heroines, and adventurous exploits in times gone by. Winner of the Romance Through the Ages contest and Maggie Award, J’nell can often be found dreaming of a second home in Scotland, indulging in chocolate of any kind, or watching old black and white movies. Born a Florida girl, she now calls Virginia home, along with her very understanding husband, young daughter, and one lazy beagle. Find out more at www.jnellciesielski.com.





More from J’nell

The most popular question an author is asked is where did the inspiration come from. Most of the time, if not always, my inspiration comes from a trifecta of resources: movies, music, or books. A single song lyric, or secondary character, or novel setting can trigger a whole world of possibilities that has to be explored. In the case of Songbird and the Spy, it was a movie. A Quentin Tarantino movie to be exact set during WWII where one of the characters is a British officer posing as a Nazi meets up with other spies in a French bar. Another character was a Jewish woman posing as a theater owning Frenchwoman. My brain immediately tingled with ideas. What if identities were all in question? What if you fell in love with the wrong person? Not just the wrong person, but the enemy? The drama and tension in such a situation would be unbelievable!

And that is how Songbird was born.

Here are a few bits of trivia for you:



    

  • Songbird was originally titled Iron Shepherd for Michael’s call sign.
    • 

  • There have been three or four different endings written.
    • 

  • Michael Reiner was based off of Michael (see what I did there?!) Fassbender’s character in Inglorious Basterds. The actor was born in Germany to German and Irish parents, and later grew up in Ireland J Art imitating life.
    • 

  • Music always makes its way into my stories and here it takes center stage.
    • 

  • I’ve always wanted to write a USO story so the ending was my perfect chance to squeeze it in.
    • 

  • Ilsa von Ziegler was based off of Elsa Schneider from Indiana Jones.
    • 

  • There was a scene showing Michael at SOE training in Scotland, but it was later cut.
    • 

  • Nazi headquarters in Paris really was located on Foch Ave. The building is still there.
    • 

  • The molten lead that Michael’s new assistant talks about is a German New Year’s tradition to divine fortune in the coming year. A small bit of lead or tin is melted, and then dropped in water. The form created by the metal predicts the future.
    • 

  • Chanteuse is a female singer. Edith Piaf, the most famous French singer of all, was known as The Little Sparrow. Songbird and chanteuse are both used to reference Claire and pay homage to Piaf.
    • 




Blog Stops







Among the Reads, April 3




Wishful Endings, April 4



Carpe Diem, April 4




Emily Yager, April 5





Hallie Reads, April 7





Genesis 5020, April 8





Stories By Gina, April 10





Mary Hake, April 11






Bigreadersite, April 13





The Becca Files, April 14







Giveaway







To celebrate her tour, J’nell is giving away a grand prize of a print copy of Songbird and $25 Amazon gift card!!



Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/dfe9/the-songbird-and-the-spy-celebration-tour-giveaway






















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3/31/19


          

        










Convergence by Ginny L Yttrup
























About the Book



Book: Convergence

 

Author: Ginny L Yttrup

 

Genre: Christian thriller/suspense

 

Release Date: March, 2019

 



A psychologist paralyzed by fear.

A mother propelled by love.

A stalker bent on destruction.

Psychology professor Dr. Denilyn Rossi contends that the past is either a shadow that haunts us or a force that propels us. The choice is ours, she tells her students. What she doesn’t tell them is that her own past is a shadow she can’t seem to shake. Fear has immobilized her and is taking a costly toll.

Adelia Sanchez, however, has embraced Dr. Rossi’s teaching. She is ready to confront fear and render it powerless—using the trauma of her past to propel her to entrap the man who stalked and brutally attacked her.

As Denilyn’s past and Adelia’s present converge at the Kaweah River, a dangerous man bent on destruction threatens them both. Will he uncover the secret Deni and Adelia have fought so hard to protect?





Click here to purchase your copy.

 




About the Author





Ginny Yttrup is the award-winning author of Words, Lost and Found, Invisible, and Flames. She writes contemporary women’s fiction and enjoys exploring the issues everyday women face. Publishers Weekly dubbed Ginny’s work “as inspiring as it is entertaining.” When not writing, Ginny coaches writers, critiques manuscripts, and makes vintage-style jewelry for her Esty shop, Storied Jewelry (etsy.com/shop/StoriedJewelry). She loves dining with friends, hanging out with her adult sons, or spending a day in her pajamas reading a great novel. Ginny lives in northern California with Bear, her entitled Pomeranian. To learn more about Ginny and her work, visit ginnyyttrup.com.

 




More About Convergence

A psychologist paralyzed by fear. A mother propelled by love. A stalker bent on destruction.   Dr. Denilyn Rossi’s past is a shadow that haunts her. Adelia Sanchez’s past is a force that propels her. When Denilyn’s past and Adelia’s present converge at the Kaweah River, a dangerous man bent on destruction threatens them both. Will he uncover the secret Deni and Adelia have fought so hard to protect? Find out in Convergence by Ginny L. Yttrup.   Read an Exclusive Excerpt from Convergence:   She straightens, squares her shoulders, and takes a deep breath as she climbs aboard the plane. There are no seats, the other divers are piled close to one another on the floor. Mike points to an open space near him. She lowers herself, sits, pulls her knees to her chest, and then looks out the oval window next to her. That’s when she sees him. Her breath catches. She leans in, cups her hands on the glass to cut the glare, and peers out. It can’t be. . . . Mouth dry, she tries to swallow. She looks away. Her heart batters her chest and her pulse roars in her ears, nearly drowning out the clamor of the plane’s propeller. It isn’t him. You’re imagining things, she tells herself. She inhales then exhales. She takes another look then stares at the man near the hangar. He pulls some­thing from his shirt pocket, sticks it in his mouth. A cigarette? She watches as he lights it. It isn’t him. He doesn’t smoke. Anyway, it’s impossible. She knows where he is, and it isn’t here. He’s seen her staring at him through the window of the plane. He takes a drag, flicks ash to the ground, and smiles. But his eyes behind the sunglasses are cold. Hard. She steadies herself as the plane shoots down the runway then lifts. As memories flash, perspiration trickles down her back. She inhales again, deeper this time. It wasn’t him. Let it go, she admon­ishes, then shakes her head. Fear will not win. Not this time. Not ever again. Within what feels to her like mere moments, the group of profes­sional skydivers have all jumped, and she stands, back pressed against Mike, hooked to his harness. They brace themselves against the pum­meling force of wind as they wait near the gaping opening in the side of the plane. She pulls goggles from the top of her head down over her eyes. There’s no room in her mind now for thoughts of the man on the ground, or of the man who haunts her memories. There’s no room for thoughts of any kind. Terror, as she well knows, is all-consuming. Her breaths are shallow, her pulse races. “Step to the edge,” Mike yells. When she doesn’t move, he yells again, this time his breath hot against her ear. She hesitates then steps forward, him stepping in sync with her. There’s nothing to see but the vast expanse. “Go!” Mike shouts. Heart hammering her rib cage, she leans forward, eyes squeezed shut, and falls more than jumps into nothingness, arms stretched wide. She anticipates the sensation of falling—stomach lifting to throat—but it isn’t evident as she’d expected. Nor is the velocity at which she knows they’re falling. She dares to open her eyes, only aware of the force of air pushing her cheeks back to her ears, which makes her laugh. The free fall is like nothing she’s experienced. She laughs again, the sound carried heavenward on the drafts, she imagines. Too soon she’s jerked, hard, the harness cutting into her thighs, and pulled upward with what seems like exceeding force. She hadn’t expected the force. But then they’re floating. Soaring. “Oh,” she whispers. She wants to take it all in, remember every exhilarating moment. These currents she could ride forever. Tension is replaced by peace, pervasive peace. Quietude. Silence. Wonder. “That was a hard pull.” Mike’s shouted words behind her threaten to break the spell, but she’s enchanted and pays little attention. She assumes the pull—the parachute opening and catching air—was harder than usual but fine. They’re fine. She doesn’t understand. Doesn’t know what’s to come. How could she? As they float, her eyes are trained on the ground below. The earth is a patchwork of tones. She sees the river, a thread, stitched across the quilt of colors. She searches for familiar landmarks as her sense of confidence soars. She’s done it. Faced fear, terror even, and— Suddenly they’re plummeting. Tumbling. Head first. Arms and legs akimbo. Land and sky spin as they interchange. Her lungs deflate. Pres­sure. The currents, tumultuous, pull her under and then spit her out. She can’t breathe. Why can’t she breathe? She gasps. She’s drowning. Help! Someone, help! But no. . . There’s no water. Instead, she’s above, where there’s nothing. Just. . . Nothing. Nothing to reach for. Nothing to grab. Nothing to save her. A scream sounds in her mind. Rings in her ears. Scathes her throat. Her scream? Awareness hits. She’s going to die. It’s her only thought. There are no thoughts of those she loves. Those who love her. Memories don’t flash. No, just the one thought. The only thought she has time for. She is going to die. Then. . . Everything goes black. 



My Thoughts: 

Ginny Yttrup is fast becoming one of my favorite authors! The first book that I read by her was Words, and I was hooked. Convergence is quite different from Words, but both are psychological dramas. Convergence focus on the victim of a stalker attack and her healing process. The alternating view points adds a unique twist, and frightening series of events the main character experiences leads to a satisfying internal journey toward faith and subsequent strength. 







Blog Stops





By The Book, March 28

Simple Harvest Reads, March 28 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Multifarious, March 29

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 29

Where Crisis & Christ Collide, March 30

Remembrancy, March 30

Inspired by fiction, March 31

To Everything A Season, March 31

Blogging With Carol, April 1

Ashley’s Bookshelf, April 1

For Him and My Family, April 2

Book by Book, April 2

All-of-a-kind Mom, April 3

janicesbookreviews, April 3

Spoken from the Heart, April 4

Texas Book-aholic, April 4

Seasons of Opportunities, April 5

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 5

Genesis 5020, April 6

Pause for Tales, April 6

Splashes of Joy, April 7

A Reader’s Brain, April 7

Bigreadersite, April 8

The Lit Addict, April 8

Through the Fire Blogs, April 9

Inklings and notions, April 9

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, April 10

The Becca Files, April 10











Giveaway







To celebrate her tour, Ginny is away a grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of Convergence!!



Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/dd7b/convergence-celebration-tour-giveaway




















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3/23/19


          

        










The White City: Celebration Tour!




















About the Book







Book: The White City

Author: Grace Hitchcock

 

Genre: Christian Historical/Suspense

 

Release Date: March, 2019

 



Mysterious Disappearances Taint the Chicago World’s Fair

Step into True Colors—a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime

While attending the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, Winnifred Wylde believes she witnessed a woman being kidnapped. She tries to convince her father, an inspector with the Chicago police, to look into reports of mysterious disappearances around the White City. Inspector Wylde tries to dismiss her claims as exaggeration of an overactive imagination, but he eventually concedes to letting her go undercover as secretary to the man in question—if she takes her pistol for protection and Jude Thorpe, a policeman, for bodyguard.

Will she be able to expose H. H. Holmes’s illicit activity, or will Winnifred become his next victim?





Click here to order your copy.

 








About the Author



Grace Hitchcock is the author of three novellas in The Second Chance Brides, The Southern Belle Brides, and the Thimbles and Threads collections with Barbour Publishing. The White City is her debut novel and releases March 2019 with Barbour Publishing. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives in southern Louisiana with her husband, Dakota, and son. Visit Grace online at GraceHitchcock.com.

 








Guest Post from Grace

True Colors—Fiction Based on Strange, But True, American Crime Stories

True, riveting stories of American criminal activity are explored through 6 unique stories of historical romantic suspense in the exciting new True Colors series.

In book one, The White City, Winnifred Wylde believes she witnessed a woman being kidnapped while attending the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. She tries to convince her father, an inspector with the Chicago police, to look into reports of mysterious disappearances around the White City. Inspector Wylde tries to dismiss her claims as exaggeration of an overactive imagination, but he eventually concedes to letting her go undercover as secretary to the man in question—if she takes her pistol for protection and Jude Thorpe, a detective, for bodyguard.

Will she be able to expose H. H. Holmes’s illicit activity, or will Winnifred become his next victim?

The Real Criminal Behind the Story

While Winnifred Wylde is a fictional character, Doctor H. H. Holmes was very real and became infamously known as America’s first serial killer. Learn more about him HERE.

 




Blog Stops







The Lit Addict, March 14




Multifarious, March 15



Back Porch Reads, March 15



Livin’ Lit, March 16










By The Book, March 18





EmpowerMoms, March 19






Bigreadersite, March 21



Genesis 5020, March 21




Emily Yager, March 22




Pause for Tales, March 22




Mary Hake, March 23



Book by Book, March 23







amandainpa, March 25



Older & Smarter?, March 26















My Thoughts: 

The White City is the first installment of a new series of books called True Colors, historical fiction based on "strange but true" history. It's strange but true historical basis is the infamous H.H. Holmes and his hotel of horrors. Although the true story certainly is a horror story, The White City is more of a romance adventure novel. When the chief of police's daughter says that she witnessed an abduction, her father assigns one of his men to become her bodyguard while she pursues what she believes is a big lead. She finds herself working for the possible suspect, and as her entanglement with the suspect grows, so does her feelings for her bodyguard. Unfortunately, her dad is adamant about her not being involved with a policeman. Suspense heats up as Winnifred stumbles upon even more suspicious findings at work. Will they be able to find enough proof to stop him? And will she be able to convince her father to change his rule and pursue a future with the only one who may be able to keep her safe. 



I love the premise of this novel being based on a true historical criminal, and I look forward to checking out the next in the series. I could really relate to Winnifred and her love of reading and thirst for adventure. I enjoyed her friends and possible beaus because even side characters were interestingly portrayed with their own little quirks and unique personalities. The White City has a little bit of everything: suspense, romance, a detailed setting; but in my opinion the characters and historical detail were what made this book. If you are looking for a historical romantic suspense, this is the book for you!





Giveaway















To celebrate her tour, Grace is giving away a grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of The White City!!



Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

  https://promosimple.com/ps/dd7d/the-white-city-celebration-tour-giveaway












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