Book Blog Walkers: January Weekly Check-in Jan 24, 2014

#BookBlogWalkers is hosted by Felicia @ The Geeky Bloggers Book Blog  Happy to report I am over whatever I had last week – and just in time as my sister ended up having the baby last weekend – she was scheduled to have the baby today! Luckily I was able to go down on Sunday and get lots of cuddle time with my newest niece! It was definitely love at…

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Review: The Life List by Lori Nelson Spielman

Title: The Life List   Author: Lori Nelson Spielman  Published: July 2013, Bantam Format: Paperback, 368 pages   Source: Personal copy   In this utterly charming debut — one woman sets out to complete her old list of childhood goals, and finds that her lifelong dreams lead her down a path she never expects. 1. Go to Paris 2. Perform live, on a super big stage 3. Have a baby,…

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Review: The Splendour Falls by Susanna Kearsley

Title: The Splendour Falls    Author: Susanna Kearsley   Published: January 2014, Sourcebooks Landmark Format: ARC e-copy, 386 pages   Source:  Netgalley  1205 – the town of Chinon is beseiged by enemies of King John, and his young Queen calls upon a trusted servant to conceal her treasured jewels. Emily Braden is intrigued by the medieval story of Queen Isabelle, and cannot resist when her cousin Harry, a historian, suggests…

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Blog Tour & Review: Friendship on Fire by Melissa Foster

Title: Friendship on Fire    Author: Melissa Foster  Series: Love in Bloom: Snow Sisters & The Bradens #6; Love in Bloom: The Bradens #3    Published: November 2013, World Literary Press    Format: E-copy, 304 pages  Source: Publicist   Small-town overachiever Riley Banks has finally scored her big break—working in Manhattan as a fashion design assistant for her childhood crush, Josh Braden. She enters her new job hoping to make…

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The Sunday Post #8 (1.19.14)

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.    I’ve decided to try a new weekly meme – a place where I can do both a weekly wrap up and share what…

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Book Blog Walkers: January Weekly Check-in Jan 17, 2014

#BookBlogWalkers is hosted by Felicia @ The Geeky Bloggers Book Blog  Well, this week certainly didn’t go as planned. I did an awesome training walk on Sunday, did an easy walk Monday morning and then nothing the rest of the week. Why, you ask? Because I got that dreaded flu bug…ughhhh!  Luckily, I have a mild case, but needless to say, the week has been a wash. I’m so bummed,…

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Review: Fear Nothing by Lisa Gardner

Title: Fear Nothing    Author: Lisa Gardner  Series: Detective DD Warren #7  Published: January 2014, Dutton Books  Format: Hardcover, 400 pages  Source: Publisher   In #1 New York Times bestseller Lisa Gardner’s latest pulse-pounding thriller, Detective D. D. Warren must face a new fear as a serial killer terrorizes Boston. My name is Dr. Adeline Glen. Due to a genetic condition, I can’t feel pain. I never have. I never…

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Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: Destined for Love by Melissa Foster

Title: Destined for Love    Author: Melissa Foster  Series: Love in Bloom: Snow Sisters & The Bradens #5; Love in Bloom: The Bradens #2  Published: November 2013, World Literary Press  Format: E-copy, 227 pages  Source: Publicist   Rex Braden is wealthy, hard working, and fiercely loyal. Sweat at his brow, he works the family ranch by day, then kicks back at night with part time lovers who require nothing more…

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Review: In the Blood by Lisa Unger

Title: In the Blood   Author: Lisa Unger   Published: January 2014, Touchstone  Format: ARC e-copy, 352 pages   Source: Netgalley   SOMEONE KNOWS LANA’S SECRET—AND HE’S DYING TO TELL. Lana Granger lives a life of lies. She has told so many lies about where she comes from and who she is that the truth is like a cloudy nightmare she can’t quite recall. About to graduate from college and…

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Review & Giveaway: Love Water Memory by Jennie Shortridge (CLOSED)

Title: Love Water Memory   Author: Jennie Shortridge    Published: January 2014, Gallery Books   Format: Paperback, 352 pages  Source: Publisher/She Reads   If you could do it all over again, would you still choose him? At age thirty-nine, Lucie Walker has no choice but to start her life over when she comes to, up to her knees in the chilly San Francisco Bay, with no idea how she got there…

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Bout of Books 9.0 Wrap-Up

  My Goals: To read and listen as much as possible this week To finish at least 3 complete books, plus the 2 that I need to finish Write the reviews as I finish the books Be social each day and visit other blogs to cheer them on! What I accomplished: Fear Nothing by Lisa Gardner – finished In the Blood by Lisa Unger – completed Love Water Memory by…

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The Sunday Post #7 (1.12.14)

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.     I’ve decided to try a new weekly meme – a place where I can do both a weekly wrap up and share what…

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Review & Giveaway: Eggs in a Casket by Laura Childs (CLOSED)

Title: Eggs in a Casket   Author: Laura Childs  Series: Cackleberry Club, #5  Published: January 2014, Berkley Hardcover  Format: ARC Paperback, 336 pages   Source: Author    The ladies of the Cackleberry Club are always ready to serve—whether they’re cooking up breakfast or sniffing out a bad egg. While Petra handles the breakfast rush at the Cackleberry Club, the café’s other two owners, Suzanne and Toni, head to Memorial Cemetery…

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Book Blog Walkers: January Weekly Check-in Jan 10, 2014

Great news!!!   Felicia @ The Geeky Bloggers Book Blog has decided to make #BookBlogWalkers a year-long monthly challenge!!! I’m so excited and pumped – what better way to stay motivated than with a great bunch of gals!!! Thank you Felicia for getting us moving! This week the weather was CRAZY here in NY. We went from the 40s to close to zero back up to near 50 degree temps, with…

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Review: The Silent Girl by Tess Gerritsen (audio)

Title: The Silent Girl      Author: Tess Gerritsen    Series: Rizzoli & Isles, #9    Narrator: Tanya Eby   Published: July 2011, Brilliance Audio    Length: 10 hours, 10 minutes   Source: Library  Every crime scene tells a story. Some keep you awake at night. Others haunt your dreams. The grisly display homicide cop Jane Rizzoli finds in Boston’s Chinatown will do both. In the murky shadows of an…

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Author Meet & Greet: Sue Monk Kidd

Last night, I had the privilege of meeting Sue Monk Kidd, author of the newly released book The Invention of Wings. She is currently on tour for the book and the Greenwich Public Library in Connecticut was her first stop.  I have not read any books by Sue Monk Kidd yet, but have heard a lot of good things about her new book. Plus, one of my goals for the…

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Book Spotlight: Anybody’s Daughter by Pamela Samuels Young

Title: Anybody’s Daughter   Author: Pamela Samuels Young  Series:  Angela Evans, #2 Published: October, 2013; Goldman House Publishing  Pages:  376  Is Anybody’s Daughter Ever Safe? Based on the real-life horrors faced by thousands of girls, award-winning author Pamela Samuels Young takes readers deep inside the disturbing world of child sex trafficking in a fast-paced thriller that educates as much as it entertains. The opening chapter of Anybody’s Daughter introduces readers…

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Bout of Books 9.0: Goals & Updates

  This week I will be participating in another round of Book of Books. This is a great, no-pressure read-a-thon. Here is some info about the read-a-thon from the founders: The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 6th and runs through Sunday, January 12th in whatever…

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The Sunday Post #6 (1.5.14)

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.      I’ve decided to try a new weekly meme – a place where I can do both a weekly wrap up and share…

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Review: While We Were Watching Downton Abbey by Wendy Wax

Title: While We Were Watching Downton Abbey    Author: Wendy Wax  Published: April 2013, Berkley Trade  Format: Paperback,  384 pages Source: Personal copy   FROM THE AUTHOR OF TEN BEACH ROAD AND OCEAN BEACH, A NEW NOVEL OF FOUR FRIENDS—AND A SHARED PASSION THAT COULD CHANGE THEIR LIVES. When the concierge of The Alexander, a historic Atlanta apartment building, invites his fellow residents to join him for weekly screenings of…

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Book Blog Walkers: January Weekly Check-in Jan 3, 2014

This is the second time I’ve joined the #BookBlogWalkers group that Felicia @ The Geeky Bloggers Book Blog has put together but this time around I’m going to post weekly check-ins. Part of staying motivated in a fitness regiment is writing it down, so I’m going to use these posts as a diary of sorts.  With the cold winter we’ve been having here in the Northeast, getting out of the…

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Guest Post: Wendy Wax (Plus Giveaway!!!) CLOSED

***Congratulations to Petite, Susan @ Reading World & Kaley @ Books Etc, winners of the giveaway!!! Thanks to all who entered!  I don’t know about you, but I have been counting the days until the return of Downton Abbey here in the States with the premiere of Season 4…and that countdown is slowly dwindling down to a mere few days!  To help pass the time, I picked up Wendy Wax’s…

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Book Spotlight/Press Release: While We Were Watching Downton Abbey by Wendy Wax

WENDY WAX’S “ENGROSSING”* WHILE WE WERE WATCHING DOWNTON ABBEY, “THE FIRST NOVEL ABOUT FANS OF THE SHOW,”** IS NOW PUBLISHED AS  A JOVE MASS MARKET PAPERBACK REPRINT First Mass Market Edition of Wax’s 2013 Trade Paperback Original Goes On Sale December 31st as America Prepares to Watch the PBS Debut of Downton Abbey Season 4 on January 5th “What do you get when you mix one dashing British concierge with…

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Read a Million Pages – A Perpetual Challenge

While looking into reading challenges for this year, I came across this challenge and thought it would be fun to join – it’s being hosted by Julie over at Smiling Shelves.  Of course, this is not a challenge that will be completed in a year, but rather many years! And, according to Julie, we can start the counting anytime, so I am going to go back to when I started…

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2014 Audio Book Challenge

  The 2014 Audio Book Challenge is hosted by Teresa’s Reading Corner, and it goes from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014. I love listening to audio books and have been doing this challenge for the past few  years. I’m joining at the Married level, which means I need to listen to more than 25  audio books in 2014. I’ll keep track of them here.   ***As of 7/31/14, I…

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2014 Nonfiction Reading Challenge

The 2014 Nonfiction Reading Challenge is hosted by The Introverted Reader, and it goes from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014. I have quite a few nonfiction book sitting on my bookshelves just waiting to be read and hope this reading challenge will be the perfect push to get me to read them!  I’m joining at the Dilettante level, which means I need to read 5 nonfiction books in…

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2014 Finish the Series Reading Challenge

The 2014 Finish the Series Reading Challenge is hosted by Socrates’ Book Reviews, and it goes from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014. I love reading series and have quite a few that I really need to catch up on. I’m joining at the Level 3, which means I need to complete three or more series (and hopefully I’ll be able to do more!). I’m going for 4, one…

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2014 E-book Reading Challenge

  The 2014 E-Book Challenge is hosted by Workaday Reads and it goes from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014. I’ve done this challenge for the past couple years and love seeing just how much I end up reading on the iPad at the end of the year. I’m joining at the DVD level, which means I need to read at least 25 e-books in 2014. I’ll keep track…

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2014 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

The 2014 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge is hosted by Historical Tapestry, and it goes from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014. I’ve participated in this challenge for the past few years and really enjoy it.  I’m joining at the Ancient History level, which means I need to read at least 25 historical fiction books in 2014. I’ll keep track of them here. Honeymoon in Paris by Jojo Moyes (e-book)…

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2014 Quick Fix Reading Challenge

The 2014 Quick Fix Reading Challenge is hosted by Jessie’s Book Place, and it goes from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014. The goal of this reading challenge is to read books with less than 300 pages.  I am going to join this challenge at the Paperclip level, where I hope to read 15 of the shorter books.  ***As of 3/30/14, I completed this challenge. I’m going to keep…

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2014 Chunkster Reading Challenge

  The 2014 Chunkster Reading Challenge is hosted by Vasilly, and it goes from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014. The goal of this reading challenge is to read books with 450 pages or more. There is no set levels for this challenge – the goal is to challenge yourself to read those chunksters. I’m going to set a goal for myself to read at least 5. ***As of…

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2014 First Reads Reading Challenge

  The 2014 First Reads Reading Challenge is hosted by b00k r3vi3ws, and it goes from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014. The goal of this reading challenge is to read new-to-you authors.  I’m joining at the Lover level, which means that I need to read between 26-50 books from new-to-me authors. I’ll keep track of them here. I’ll also link my reviews to the list.  ***As of 8/31/14,…

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2014 Review Pile Reading Challenge

  The 2014 Review Pile Reading Challenge is hosted by Rachel @ Fiktshun and Reanna @ Phantasmic Reads, and it goes from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014. This is a reading challenge where we are challenged to read all those review books that have piled up on our shelves that we just haven’t gotten to yet. I am going to join this challenge at the Aprrentice level, where…

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2014 Netgalley Reading Challenge

  The 2014 Netgalley Reading Challenge is hosted by Ariel Avalon, and it goes from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014. This goal of this challenge is to not only read all those books we’ve requested from Netgalley but to then review them so as to get our feedback ratio up to the recommended 80%. I’m joining at the Hard level, which means I need to read and review…

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2014 I Love Library Books Reading Challenge

  The 2014 I Love Library Books Reading Challenge is hosted by Book Dragon’s Lair, and it goes from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014. I love my local library and love doing this challenge. This is my fifth year participating in the library challenge! I’m joining at the Just Insert IV level, which means I need to borrow at least 50 books from the library in 2014. I’ll…

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2014 Mount TBR Reading Challenge

The 2014 Mount TBR Reading Challenge is hosted by My Reader’s Block, and it goes from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014. I participated in a similar challenge last year, but didn’t quite make my goal. I’m hoping to be successful this time around as at last count, I have about 200 books on my shelves that I have not read yet. I’m joining at the Mt. Vancouver level,…

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2014 You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge

  The 2014 You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge is hosted by Book Dragon’s Lair, and it goes from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014. This is a reading challenge where we are challenged to read, read, read!!! I am going to join this challenge at Level 2, where I hope to read 150 books. While We Were Watching Downton Abbey by Wendy Wax Halfway There by Susan…

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2014 Goals for Reading/Blogging/Life in General

I did this last year, and it helped me set myself up for the upcoming year. I think this will be a fixed feature on January 1 of each year I blog. One of my resolutions for 2014 is to be more organized – in life and in blogging. I need to get back to using my blogger planner. Between the holidays and the new puppy, that kind of fell…

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Year in Review: 2013

2013 has been a great year. I’ve been blogging for almost four years now and am always humbled when I read your comments and see that I have new followers. Thank you to all who visit my blog. This year has been a year of many new things for me and my blog. I’ve joined a few online book clubs (She Reads and Book Lovers Unite) and made many new…

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The First Book of the Year 2014

Each year, Sheila over at Book Journey makes a big deal over what the first book she’ll read will be for the new year and this year she’s asked us to join her.  For my first book of the year, I decided to go with a book I’ve been wanting to read for a while – and one that’s been sitting on my shelf for some time as well. And…

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Month in Review: December 2013

Here are my reading stats for December! Books read:  13 Books I read (reviewed ones have * and link to review; books not yet reviewed will be linked up once review is posted.) The Diva Frosts a Cupcake*  — Krista Davis The Wrong Girl* — Hank Phillippi Ryan Takedown Twenty*– Janet Evanovich (audio) The Silent Girl* — Tess Gerritsen ( audio) All Summer Long* — Susan Mallery (e-book) A Fool’s…

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Review: Big Sky Secrets by Linda Lael Miller

Title: Big Sky Secrets   Author: Linda Lael Miller  Series: Swoon Worthy Cowboy Series, #6   Published: December 2013, Harlequin HQN Format: ARC e-copy, 384 pages   Source: Netgalley    Self-made tycoon Landry Sutton heads to Hangman Bend’s Ranch to sell his land to his brother Zane. Though he’s got cowboy in his blood, Landry plans to return to city life before the dust even settles on his boots. Of…

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Review: Touch & Go by Lisa Gardner (audio)

Title: Touch & Go    Author: Lisa Gardner    Narrator: Elisabeth Rodgers   Published: February 2013, Brilliance Audio Length: 14 hours, 29 minutes   Source: Personal copy  #1 New York Times bestseller Lisa Gardner, author of Catch Me and Love You More, returns with a heart-thumping thriller about what lurks behind the facade of a perfect family. This is my family:  Vanished without a trace… Justin and Libby Denbe have the kind of life…

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The Sunday Post #5 (12.29.13)

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.    I’ve decided to try a new weekly meme – a place where I can do both a weekly wrap up and share what…

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Bout of Books 9.0 Sign-Up!

Another Bout of Books is coming and I am declaring my intention to join. As it is happening the first full week of January, I hope it will give me a good reading burst for the new year. Not familiar with what Bout of Books is? Check out the blurb from the Bout of Books gals… The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender…

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Review: A Seaside Christmas by Sherryl Woods

Title: A Seaside Christmas    Author: Sherryl Woods  Series: Chesapeake Shores, #10   Published: September 2013, Harlequin MIRA    Format: ARC e-copy, 288 pages   Source: Netgalley   #1 New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods takes you back to Chesapeake Shores for another heartwarming holiday season As the only child of a single mom, Jenny Collins wanted nothing more than to be part of a large, rambunctious family like…

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The Sunday Post #4 (12.22.13)

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.   I’ve decided to try a new weekly meme – a place where I can do both a weekly wrap up and share what…

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Review: A Fool’s Gold Christmas by Susan Mallery

Title: A Fool’s Gold Christmas   Author: Susan Mallery  Series: Fool’s Gold, #9.5  Published: October 2013, Harlequin HQN   Format: ARC e-copy, 336 pages   Source: Netgalley   A classic heartwarming tale for the holidays from New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery The cheer in Fool’s Gold, California, is bringing out the humbug in dancer Evie Stryker. An injury has forced her to return home to her estranged family.…

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Review: All Summer Long by Susan Mallery

Title: All Summer Long   Author: Susan Mallery  Series: Fool’s Gold, #9  Published: July 2012, Harlequin HQN  Format: e-book, 384 pages  Source: Personal copy   Former underwear model turned entrepreneur Clay Stryker has loved, tragically lost and vowed that he’ll never risk his heart again. After making his fortune, the youngest of the rugged Stryker brothers returns to Fool’s Gold, California, to put down roots on a ranch of his…

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Review: Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich (audio)

Title: Takedown Twenty    Author: Janet Evanovich    Series: Stephanie Plum, #20    Narrator: Lorelei King   Published: November 2013, Books on Tape   Length: 6 hours, 12 minutes   Source: Personal copy  New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum knows better than to mess with family. But when powerful mobster Salvatore “Uncle Sunny” Sunucchi goes on the lam in Trenton, it’s up to Stephanie to find him. Uncle Sunny is…

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