darladoodles
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darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 27, 2023
darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 26, 2023
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Happy Publication Day to this birthday weekend thriller. Here's what I liked about it:
🍷 The atmospheric setting: a winery/estate originally named "Secret's Edge." Three couples are there to celebrate the birthday of the twins (Richard and Harper) and oldest of the Van Ness siblings. Oh, and a storm is on the way.
🍷 The POV of an anonymous individual we know only as "The Party Guest." Who is this guest? What does he or she have to do with the news bulletin we read about at the beginning of the book?
🍷Richard and Harper are twins and still have a special connection as thirty something adults.
🍷Outsider Lauren (the plus one for Zach, the youngest Van Ness) has some secrets of her own and may find she has an advantage in the game.
This is my first read from Tara Laskowski and I am intrigued enough to look into other titles. Thank you to Graydon House and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.Happy Publication Day to this birthday weekend thriller. Here's what I liked about it:
🍷 The atmospheric setting: a winery/estate originally named "Secret's Edge." Three couples are there to celebrate the birthday of the twins (Richard and Harper)…
Twelve Days of ChristmasTwelve Days of Christmas, eBookA Christmas Novel
by Macomber, DebbieeBook - 2016eBook, 2016
Available
darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 26, 2023
Comment:
Kill him with kindness? It just might work. 🌲 This book was a part of my Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Here is what I liked about it:
🎄A festive read with clean content. Julia and Cain live across the hall from each other and do not have sleep overs. Julia accompanies her church choir and volunteers to help others in a variety of ways.
🎄The power of kindness goes hand in hand with celebrating the gift of a Savior at Christmas. Julia's twelve days involve doing something kind for Cain each day and quickly grows into friendship.
🎄Fabulous supporting characters like Julia's bestie Cammie, Cain's grandfather, and his dog Schroeder.
🎄Both Julia and Cain will find that they have made mistakes, but frank communication and forgiveness work wonders.
👎I was not a fan of how much Julia shares in her blog. It did not seem wise from the beginning. Not my favorite plot decision as it seemed immature.Kill him with kindness? It just might work. 🌲 This book was a part of my Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Here is what I liked about it:
🎄A festive read with clean content. Julia and Cain live across the hall from each other and do not have sleep…
He Sees You When You're SleepingHe Sees You When You're Sleeping, eBook
by Higgins Clark, Mary • Higgins Clark, CaroleBook - 2001eBook, 2001
Available
darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 26, 2023
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Hark, the Herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Sterling Brooks has been waiting for decades in the heavenly waiting room. He is sent down to earth by the heavenly council to help a little girl be reunited with her father and grandmother for Christmas. While the theology on this one is really loosey goosey, I did enjoy the story. Sterling (like Clarence in "It's a Wonderful Life") takes some time completing his mission and is able to jump back in time to give us background info. Not my favorite from this duo, but a heartwarming read.Hark, the Herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Sterling Brooks has been waiting for decades in the heavenly waiting room. He is sent down to earth by the heavenly council to help a little girl be reunited with her father and grandmother for…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 26, 2023
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1 unfinished toy soldier
1 lonely boy
1 grandfather in progress
Set during WW II in Philadelphia, this holiday read will have you grabbing your tissue box. Patrick Collin has lost his mother in a car accident and his father is overseas as a pilot fighting Germany. When a diligent social worker drops Patrick off at grandfather Ian Collins' home, she can tell that the two are off to a rocky start. Between her oversight and that of the gregarious Mrs. Fortini next door, Patrick will not be forgotten. This is quite a story and I don't want to give any spoilers. Dan Walsh has given us a Christmas classic that I heartily recommend.1 unfinished toy soldier
1 lonely boy
1 grandfather in progress
Set during WW II in Philadelphia, this holiday read will have you grabbing your tissue box. Patrick Collin has lost his mother in a car accident and his father is overseas as a pilot…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 26, 2023
Comment:
Loved this angels unaware tale. Edith Ryan is a delightful pastor's wife who finds herself convicted by one of her husband Charles' sermons. She may not have her kids and grandkids coming home to Christmas Valley, but she can open up her B&B with discounts to fill up every room. When a brightly painted bus arrives with a young couple expecting a baby inside, the town has some mixed opinions on how to handle the situation. Such a blessing to reflect on the very first Christmas while reading his inspiring tale.Loved this angels unaware tale. Edith Ryan is a delightful pastor's wife who finds herself convicted by one of her husband Charles' sermons. She may not have her kids and grandkids coming home to Christmas Valley, but she can open up her B&B with…
Deck the HallsDeck the Halls, eBook
by Higgins Clark, Mary • Higgins Clark, CaroleBook - 2000eBook, 2000
Available
darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 22, 2023
Comment:
Rereading this Christmas mystery is pure nostalgia for me. I have long been a fan of Mary Higgins Clark's books. When her daughter Carol Higgins Clark partners up for these holiday reads, there is an added element of humor that is like that secret spice added to your favorite holiday cookie recipe. Another plus to this one is -- no murder. Although I think that one of our bad guys was about ready to strangle the other. Quite the bumbling wannabe villain. We also have the recurring character Alvirah Meehan, the famous lottery winner turned sleuth, using her iconic sunburst pin to help save the day. I know I am a bit of an outlier on this one. Perhaps it helps to have read both authors separately before reading their combined titles. I am hoping to reread at least one or two more before the end of the year. Stay tuned.Rereading this Christmas mystery is pure nostalgia for me. I have long been a fan of Mary Higgins Clark's books. When her daughter Carol Higgins Clark partners up for these holiday reads, there is an added element of humor that is like that secret…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 21, 2023
Comment:
Know what I realized while reading this Christmas title from Debbie Macomber? I need to read more of her holiday titles. I love the title and corresponding character names. Merry is a lovable MC and just who somewhat grumpy Mr. Bright needs in his life. The supporting characters, especially Merry's brother Patrick, really elevated the story and helped add some humorous and heartwarming moments. If you are looking for a clean, festive read . . .here you go! 🎄🎅Know what I realized while reading this Christmas title from Debbie Macomber? I need to read more of her holiday titles. I love the title and corresponding character names. Merry is a lovable MC and just who somewhat grumpy Mr. Bright needs in his…
What's in your Pocket?What's in your Pocket?, BookCollecting Nature's Treasures
by Montgomery, Heather L.Book - 2021Book, 2021
darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 21, 2023
Comment:
"Every discovery started with just one thing.
One little thing that could fit in a pocket.
What's in your pocket?"
This picture book is packed with info and engaging illustrations. We are amazed by the discoveries and accomplishments of great scientists like George Washington Carver and Jane Goodall. The author of this book gives us a window into the childhood of nine famous naturalists. They all started by observing nature and collecting items to observe them more closely. Also included in this book are mine bios of each scientist with additional titles for more info, notes on collecting, and a list of recommended field guides. Perfect for a classroom or homeschool unit."Every discovery started with just one thing.
One little thing that could fit in a pocket.
What's in your pocket?"
This picture book is packed with info and engaging illustrations. We are amazed by the discoveries and accomplishments of great…
THE FORGOTTEN LIFE OF EVA GORDONTHE FORGOTTEN LIFE OF EVA GORDON, Unknown
by LINDA MACKILLOPUnknownUnknown
darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 20, 2023
Comment:
The last few chapters of this thoughtful read had me crying like a baby. Eva Gordon is sliding into dementia and fighting it every step of the way. She wants to go back to her own cottage on Cape Cod and schemes to get there while her caregiver granddaughter Breezy is at work. Pesky neighbor Mabel keeps popping in to check on Eva and inviting her to go to the funerals of people they don't even know "to support them." Eva just wants to be alone. We are privy to Eva's thought process and much of her time is spent reliving old mistakes -- a stream of negative feedback that makes her feel helpless and alone and crabby. How to break that cycle? It takes love and forgiveness and patience and Amazing Grace. There are so many other great characters like Breezy's fiance' Ian and his uncle George. You will fall in love with Try Again Farm and Eva's road to redemption. Includes a set of discussion questions for a book group. This would be a fabulous pick for a buddy or group read.The last few chapters of this thoughtful read had me crying like a baby. Eva Gordon is sliding into dementia and fighting it every step of the way. She wants to go back to her own cottage on Cape Cod and schemes to get there while her caregiver…
The Life and Adventures of Santa ClausThe Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, eBook
by Baum, L. FrankeBook - 2015eBook, 2015
Available
darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 20, 2023
Comment:
Talk about an origin story! L. Frank Baum does some extensive worldbuilding as he gives us the full story of Santa Claus from being a founding in a forest to an immortal with parents as his deputies. The language is very flowery and indicative of the early 20th century style of prose. It was a bit much for me, but I am glad I read this classic. My favorite parts were seeing how Claus evolved from making wooden animal figures to delivering with reindeer and using chimneys and the convenience of stockings. Others have commented on how much they enjoyed the epic showdown between Ak's immortals and the Awgwas for Claus's life. It was an epic climax to the book! Most of all, the great love that Claus had for children all over the world was the most beautiful theme for me. 🎅Talk about an origin story! L. Frank Baum does some extensive worldbuilding as he gives us the full story of Santa Claus from being a founding in a forest to an immortal with parents as his deputies. The language is very flowery and indicative of…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 19, 2023
Comment:
The beauty of this book is you don't have to know how to read to "read" it. You can just make sound effects while looking at the pictures. Perfect for those dads out there who get bored with the words and either make up their own or let the kids do it. (You know who you are, O husband of mine.)
A little girl with a red hat leaves her sled outside and goes into her house for the night. That red sled gets a workout from the animals while she is sleeping. There is a bear, a moose, a rabbit, a possum, raccoons, a mouse, and more! If it weren't for the paw prints outside, she would never know. Great fun for the imagination! Happy sledding! 🛷The beauty of this book is you don't have to know how to read to "read" it. You can just make sound effects while looking at the pictures. Perfect for those dads out there who get bored with the words and either make up their own or let the kids do…
The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of ChristmasThe Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas, Downloadable Audiobook
by Patterson, James • Safran, TadDownloadable Audiobook - 2022Downloadable Audiobook, 2022
Available
darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 19, 2023
Comment:
Well, this was more fun than a barrel of monkeys. (With the assumption that you think monkeys are fun.) I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audio production of a story built on the foundation of the Christmas carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas." Henry Sullivan is a widower, employed as a respectable college professor. He has two children: Ella (12) and Will (14). An attempt to connect their dad with a new love on a dating site leads them to a prospective match named Ms. Truelove. The next thing they know the gifts begin to arrive beginning with a partridge in a pear tree. If you know the song you also know they will eventually be gifted with 23 assorted birds, 50 humans in various occupations, and eight cows. They have a houseful! I loved the skills and resources that were uncovered as they dealt with their gifts. The delivery of the audio narration is excellent and I enjoyed the somewhat author's sense of humor. If they had given us more info on days 11 and 12 I would have given this five stars. I feel a bit cheated.Well, this was more fun than a barrel of monkeys. (With the assumption that you think monkeys are fun.) I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audio production of a story built on the foundation of the Christmas carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas."…
Christmas MiraclesChristmas Miracles, BookTrue Stories From the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
by Kingsbury, KarenBook - 2023Book, 2023
darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 18, 2023
Comment:
This is a book that is meant to be savored and shared. Karen Kingsbury gives us over one dozen stories about ordinary people who have a Christmas miracle to share. These are full out extraordinary occurrences that can only be from God's hand. Kingsbury begins by sharing a heartwarming miracle that took place in her own family. At the center of this story is the Rod Steward classic "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You." I will never hear that song again without remembering her inspiring story. And that is just the beginning. There is so much more in this book: an impossible plane landing, a reconciled couple, an overnight healing, a recovered ring, and so much more. Enjoy this book of miracles in the midst of the seasons when we celebrate the miracle of God made flesh -- the baby in the manger.This is a book that is meant to be savored and shared. Karen Kingsbury gives us over one dozen stories about ordinary people who have a Christmas miracle to share. These are full out extraordinary occurrences that can only be from God's hand.…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 18, 2023
Comment:
whenever there's one of them out there in the night, trying to get back, I'll go out and bring him home.
This is worth a read this holiday season. It is not long, but this story communicates the camaraderie and sacrifices of the British pilots during WW II in text and ink drawings. It is Christmas Eve, 1957 and a jet pilot finds himself without the necessary instruments to find a place to land. His fuel is almost gone. Will this be his last flight? A shepherd comes to his assistance in a Mosquito -- a plane used extensively in WW II. After landing, the reader along with our pilot is gently led to a chilling yet heartwarming conclusion.whenever there's one of them out there in the night, trying to get back, I'll go out and bring him home.
This is worth a read this holiday season. It is not long, but this story communicates the camaraderie and sacrifices of the British pilots…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 17, 2023
Comment:
Are you a fan of country music? Of music competition shows like "American Idol" and "The Voice?" Then you might want to give this book a try. Here are three things I liked about it:
🎄Sadie has a beautiful voice and a sweet personality. Her Wisconsin roots include her spunky Gran who also loved to sing and sharing Kringle. Yum!
🎄Max has a papillon mix rescue dog named Patsy Canine. He knits sweaters for her to help with stage fright.
🎄Imagining this duo performing their duets and launching the #Saxie craze.
Sorry, Maggie Knox. I much preferred your duo production of "Holiday Swap." I have not given up on y'all. Hope your next holiday title has main characters who communicate a bit better.Are you a fan of country music? Of music competition shows like "American Idol" and "The Voice?" Then you might want to give this book a try. Here are three things I liked about it:
🎄Sadie has a beautiful voice and a sweet personality. Her…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 17, 2023
Comment:
In this 480-page novel, two weeks pass at a Venice Beach hostel. There is an extensive cast of characters:
Ron (owner)
Peyk (handyman)
Tommy (front desk)
Nicole and Eric (travelling Route 66 in a pickup truck)
Matty and Declan (backpacking across America)
Savannah (hiding from her past)
Ruth (too quiet)
Jane (sharing Savannah's room)
John (homeless and addicted)
As time goes by, Marrs feeds us bits of their back stories. We get just enough to keep the pages turning. The management of the character development as well as the well-planned (and sometimes terribly shocking) twists was done with great skill.
My one problem with this book is I just felt icky about reading it. The whole thing just left me with a bad taste in my mouth. So, leaving this at 3 stars. The hostel is seedy and so is the story.In this 480-page novel, two weeks pass at a Venice Beach hostel. There is an extensive cast of characters:
Ron (owner)
Peyk (handyman)
Tommy (front desk)
Nicole and Eric (travelling Route 66 in a pickup truck)
Matty and Declan (backpacking across…
Holidays Are Better With FriendsHolidays Are Better With Friends, BookThe Television Series
by Ostow, MicolBook - 2022Book, 2022
darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 17, 2023
Comment:
"So, whatever you celebrate when the holiday season is here, just remember. it's better with friends."
One of my favorite episodes of "Friends" is when Rachel makes her English trifle for Thanksgiving dinner. I can still hear Ross saying, "It tastes like feet!" That little vignette is in this book as are so many others. Also featured is a reminder of the time when Joey and Chandler bought Christmas gifts at the gas station. There is the time when Ross dressed as "Spud-nik" and when Monica wears a turkey on her head. The front cover alone will give fans of the show reminders of multiple episodes. So, sit down with a kid you love and relive your favorite holiday episodes. It's a win-win!"So, whatever you celebrate when the holiday season is here, just remember. it's better with friends."
One of my favorite episodes of "Friends" is when Rachel makes her English trifle for Thanksgiving dinner. I can still hear Ross saying, "It…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 16, 2023
Comment:
Hedgehog wants to give her best friend Bear the perfect gift. A gingerbread house is just the thing. She drafts a plan, bakes gingerbread into the night, and builds a house big enough for a bear to enjoy. It's in the transporting that something goes wrong, but . . .
A day with a friend is the best gift of all!"
Little listeners will love the many gingerbread shapes that Hedgehog crafts for her friends (so many bunnies), the beautiful house Hedgehog builds just for Bear, and the little teacup "bed" she sleeps in at Bear's house. If this book makes you hungry for gingerbread there is a recipe inside the front cover. 😋Hedgehog wants to give her best friend Bear the perfect gift. A gingerbread house is just the thing. She drafts a plan, bakes gingerbread into the night, and builds a house big enough for a bear to enjoy. It's in the transporting that something goes…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 15, 2023
Comment:
This is my favorite read from Kristin Hannah so far. What a powerful story giving us a window into the lives of our Vietnam soldiers and nurses.
Part 1 gives us an inside look at army nursing on a battlefield through the eyes of Frankie McGrath. Deplorable living conditions, incoming wounded at all hours, and having to say good bye to patients who die on the table, those who return stateside, and the coworkers who end their tours and go back to their old lives. No one prepares Frankie for her return home. She is spit upon, yelled at, and even her parents pretended she was abroad rather than tell their friends what she was really doing.
Part 2 is Frankie's continued unravelling as even the VA turns her away when she asks for help. She hears over and over that there weren't any women in Vietnam! Every veteran is unique and Frankie simply could not move ahead in the same way that her best friends had.
What is so clear is the need for our veterans to talk about their experiences -- especially with others who have been there, too. A few years ago I heard a Vietnam nurse talk about a group she has been working with to help veterans heal by taking them back in country with other vets. Her name is Lou Eisenbrandt and I highly recommend her book: Vietnam Nurse which won a Silver Medal Award from the Military Writers Society of America. I also want to commend Julia Whelan for her excellent performance in narrating this new release.This is my favorite read from Kristin Hannah so far. What a powerful story giving us a window into the lives of our Vietnam soldiers and nurses.
Part 1 gives us an inside look at army nursing on a battlefield through the eyes of Frankie McGrath.…
The Season of Second ChancesThe Season of Second Chances, Book
by McMorris, KristinaBook - 2023Book, 2023
darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 15, 2023
Comment:
This dual novella was an absolute home run for me and had me grabbing my tissue box. Here is a bit about each of the stories inside:
The Christmas Collector by Kristina McMorris
"The mix of comfort and uncertainty formed a tangle of thoughts. A collection of feelings."
Jenna is in the estate sale business. She helps folks clear up their clutter and her boss to find valuable items to help increase their bottom line. It all seems like a win for both sides of the equation until Jenna discovers a shoebox with WW II memorabilia and the Mrs. Porter the owner disavows the items inside and meets her enigmatic grandson Reece. This storyline connects with another book I am listening to: The Women in which a young nurse back from Vietnam hears repeatedly that "there were no women in Vietnam." I have loved Kristina McMorris since reading Sold on a Monday and her personal note at the end of this novella reminded me to read her first book Letters from Home which is based on WW II letters that her Grandma Jean shared with her.
Gifted by Tammy Greenwood
"This was her gift. And, one last time, she wanted to share it."
This second story is set in NYC. An adult daughter searches for her mother on Christmas Eve while a young ballerina searches for her path forward. Both have connections to The Nutcracker. I am listening to "The Waltz of the Snowflakes" while writing this review. Whatever you do, do not read the Author's Note before reading this novella. It will ruin it! Now I want to read the book Tammy Greenwood has coming out in February entitled The Still Point.
The fact that I am looking forward to reading more from these authors says so much about how much I enjoyed this double helping of wonderful holiday stories.This dual novella was an absolute home run for me and had me grabbing my tissue box. Here is a bit about each of the stories inside:
The Christmas Collector by Kristina McMorris
"The mix of comfort and uncertainty formed a tangle of thoughts. A…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 14, 2023
Comment:
This is triple dip serving of Christmas mysteries by three cozy authors. I quite enjoyed the candy cane theme. Here are some notes on each of the novellas included:
Candy Cane Murder by Joanne Fluke
Ten 5-star recipes support a 3-star story. I am definitely going to try the Candy Cane Bar Cookies sooner than later. The mystery was okay. As I have not read a book in this series previously, there were too many cast members to keep track of. 🎅
The Danger of Candy Canes by Leslie Levine
This was my favorite of the three -- probably because I have been working through this Jaine Austen mystery series. Jaine makes a snarky comment about Hannah Swensen's recipes and that is my kind of book humor. 🍬
Candy Canes of Christmas Past by Leslie Meier
This was the most unique of the three. Lucy Stone is going stir crazy in Tinker's Cove, Maine with a house in permanent renovation mode, a toddler, and a baby on the way. When she partners up with the librarian to solve a decades old mystery, things get interesting. Two recipes with this one. 🍪This is triple dip serving of Christmas mysteries by three cozy authors. I quite enjoyed the candy cane theme. Here are some notes on each of the novellas included:
Candy Cane Murder by Joanne Fluke
Ten 5-star recipes support a 3-star story. I am…
darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 13, 2023
Comment:
Zander the goose decides to switch things up and NOT go south for the winter. As the other animals make their winter preparations, Zander takes notes. The squirrel tells him to gather nuts, but Zander doesn't like nuts. Should he turn completely white like the showshoe hare? Zander is already white! None of them seem to have the right strategy for our goose and he finds himself almost frozen in a snowdrift until a little girl takes him home. Zander has the best winter ever with his new BFF. What will happen when all his friends come back and hear about what a great time he had? His human friends might need a bigger house. An adorable book about being unique, making new friends, and how to hibernate OR migrate.Zander the goose decides to switch things up and NOT go south for the winter. As the other animals make their winter preparations, Zander takes notes. The squirrel tells him to gather nuts, but Zander doesn't like nuts. Should he turn completely…
HemlockHemlock, Downloadable Audiobook
by Modglin, KierstenDownloadable Audiobook - 2023Downloadable Audiobook, 2023
darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 13, 2023
Comment:
When you purchase an old home on Hemlock Street, you might find you got a poisonous deal. Maggie begins to get buyer's remorse almost immediately. She smells death, has flickering lights, and a thermostat with a mind of its own. Could her house really be haunted by the family who died there decades before? Then there is the love triangle she has been tangled up in for over a decade. She escaped once, but now she is back in the thick of it. Who is right for her -- Tucker or Clayton? You might think you know, but by the end of the book you will have no doubt. Told in alternating "Then" and "Now" chapters, the narrative makes you want to read the next chapter right away and Brittany Pressley's narration made this book just fly by. If those bedroom doors had stayed closed a bit more, I would have given this KMod title 5 stars.When you purchase an old home on Hemlock Street, you might find you got a poisonous deal. Maggie begins to get buyer's remorse almost immediately. She smells death, has flickering lights, and a thermostat with a mind of its own. Could her house…
The AtonementThe Atonement, Downloadable Audiobook
by Modglin, KierstenDownloadable Audiobook - 2022Downloadable Audiobook, 2022
darladoodles's rating:
Added Dec 13, 2023
Comment:
This has been quite a riveting trilogy. I read The Arrangement in print, but was able to listen to The Amendment on audio as well as this last installment. The narrators are top notch and really added to the entertainment value. If you have been following along, you know that the second book ended with quite a cliffhanger. The cat and mouse feel of this new release had me listening whenever I was walking the dog, doing housework, cooking, gardening, etc. I had to know if Ainsley or Peter would ultimately win. Along the way there are some really great twists, a few eye-rollers, and a plot hole or two. Are you Team Ainsley or Team Peter? Only one of them will get what they want. Who will it be?This has been quite a riveting trilogy. I read The Arrangement in print, but was able to listen to The Amendment on audio as well as this last installment. The narrators are top notch and really added to the entertainment value. If you have been…
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