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Razorblade Tears
Razorblade Tears: A Novel | S. A. Cosby
A black father and a white father join forces on a crusade for revenge against the people who murdered their gay sons, by the award-winning author of Blacktop Wasteland Ike Randolph has been out of jail for fifteen years, with not so much as a speeding ticket in all that time. But a black man with cops at the door knows to be afraid. The last thing he expects to hear is that his son Isiah has been murdered, along with Isiahs white husband Derek. Isiah was a gay black man in the American South; Ike couldnt bring himself to attend his sons wedding. Isiah was a man Ike never understood. A boy he was never there for the way he should have been. Dereks father Buddy Lee is also suffering. Hed barely spoken to his son in five years; he was as ashamed of Derek for being gay as Derek was ashamed his father was a criminal. Buddy Lee still has contacts in the underworld, though, and he wants to know who killed his boy. Ike and Buddy Lee, two ex-cons with little else in common other than a criminal past and a love for their dead sons, band together in their desperate desire for revenge. In their quest to do better for their sons in death than they did in life, alpha-males Ike and Buddy Lee will confront their own prejudices, about each other and their sons, as they rain down vengeance upon those who hurt their boys. Provocative and fast-paced, Razorblade Tears is a story of bloody retribution, heartfelt change - and maybe even redemption.
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TheLudicReader
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Pickpick

Ike and Buddy Lee have nothing in common except that their sons fell in love and were recently murdered. The two men, both of whom have had their share of trouble with the law, join forces to track down who killed their boys. This is a straightforward revenge thriller, with a side of introspection. I enjoyed it.

AmyG Thank you, my friend for the lovliest holiday card. 😘 5d
TheLudicReader No, @AmyG , thank you for the parcel that was waiting for me today when I got home! 5d
AmyG Yay! 😘 5d
39 likes3 comments
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HeatherBookNerd
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Pickpick

A character study of two very different dads with unsavory pasts that join forces to avenge the deaths of their sons. But this is SO much more than a revenge story. It is a relationship-driven tale that reckons with racism, homophobia, and what healing and justice look like. There‘s also lots of vigilante violence, so be ready for that. This was my first Cosby and I will absolutely read more. This was just fantastic. The audiobook is perfection.

37 likes1 stack add
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Kitta
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After husbands Isaiah and Derek are mysteriously murdered, their father‘s team up to find the culprits and take revenge. Lots of violence, but I love that.

Some aspects seemed a little too contrived for me and predictable but it was a fun read. Quickly becoming a fan of SA Crosby! Thanks #camplitsy25 for introducing me to him. 😃

#lgbtqia2025 @Kenyazero

TieDyeDude I feel like some aspects of his stories are always a little cliché, but they come from a different enough perspective that it is forgivable. Plus, he's just such a good writer! 3mo
Kitta @TieDyeDude yes! That‘s why it‘s not a 5* for me, King of Ashes was though. Loved that one. 3mo
Kenyazero Sounds interesting! 3mo
Kitta @Kenyazero it was! It‘s mostly about two fathers who were previously not supportive coming to terms with their sons sexuality - plus a lot of violence and revenge! Fun thriller. 3mo
29 likes4 comments
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BilboBookends
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“When the people you love are gone, it‘s the things they‘ve touched that keep them alive in your mind. A picture, a shirt, a poem, a pair of baby shoes. They become anchors that help you keep their memory from drifting away.”

20 likes1 stack add
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ChrisBohjalian
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My gosh, I love the work of S.A. Cosby . You will, too.

Deblovestoread He‘s fantastic. Getting ready to start his latest 4mo
24 likes1 comment
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britt_brooke
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Working through Cosby‘s backlist, since I‘m a newly-found fan! Sad, tease, infuriating as hell. The character growth and adult maturation was solid. I won‘t say too much, but definitely a good one. I tore through it!

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alecia3dixie
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Pickpick

This book was everything! It had so many powerful messages that hit me hard in the feelings. Beautifully written, I will be thinking about this book for a long time. 5/5

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angel1
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
A revenge thriller with a powerful storyline gets all the stars from me!! Why did I wait so long to read this one?🥺

23 likes1 stack add
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swynn
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My February pick for #12Booksof2024 was my first S.A. Cosby novel and it blew me away.

Thanks for hosting @Andrew65 !

Andrew65 An author I need to read more of, this one is on my TBR. 12mo
22 likes1 comment
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Bookpearl
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This little device is a game changer! Operation book database loading in 3. 2. 1….

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Bookpearl
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Recovery has found me rereading this to refresh my memory and I must say it‘s even better the second time around. I always try to have 3-4 books in rotation…a physical book, audio and ebook.

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Zuhkeeyah
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Pickpick

An interesting mix of remorse, revenge, grief, and hatred propelled this plot forward. Ike and Buddy Lee are an unlikely duo of justice considering how much baggage and prejudices they carried into their hunt for the murderers of Isiah and Derek.

I finished my June #authoramonth a little bit late, but very glad I read this book. I‘ll definitely check out Cosby‘s backlist. @Soubhiville

5feet.of.fury All his books are so good! I loved this one, it was so gritty & violent but still had a lot of heart. 1y
16 likes1 comment
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WorldsOkayestStepMom
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Pickpick

Loved this book. It was gritty and raw, but very well done!

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brushlo
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Pickpick

should be a action movie. great revenge story with well developed characters. loved the lgbtq themes.

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vlwelser
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Pickpick

This was quite excellent. I highly recommend. It's a mystery/thriller. A couple of ex cons set out to solve their sons' murders.

#AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 1y
46 likes1 comment
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vonnie862
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Pickpick

This was an intense read!
Two fathers trying to avenge the deaths of their sons...I was not sure what to expect from this book so I was surprised on how much I enjoyed it despite all of the violence. It really brought the issues on how people view and treat the LGBTQ+ community and what it means to love your children no matter what. This was my first Cosby book and it won't be my last. 4.5 ⭐️

#authoramonth @Soubhiville

40 likes1 stack add
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Texreader
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Pickpick

Two fathers, one black one white, hope to come to terms with the fact that their sons married one another by finding and taking revenge against their killer. So much tension, this is way more than a murder mystery but a fast-moving thriller. I struggled to put it down until I was finished. This is another author I‘m very glad I met through #authoramonth. @Soubhiville

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Melismatic
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Panpan

I‘m thinking this author isn‘t for me. I‘ve heard so many good things going into it, but there was so little detail or world building here and I feel like the writing really suffered because of it. The theme of accepting and “righting” your mistakes, especially when it comes to racism & bigotry, is valid to be sure. But this felt like it was written like a 90s action film starring caricatures of real people. #AuthorAMonth

Melismatic I wanted to root for Ike & Buddy Lee but they somehow also didn‘t feel like good guys. Plus the plot had so little conflict. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 1y
dabbe #fanofthepan! 🤩🤩🤩 1y
TieDyeDude I enjoyed it for most of the reasons you didn't 😅 It felt exactly like a 80s/90s revenge thriller: cookie-cutter small Southern town, stereotypical towns people, enemies-become-begrudged allies, gritty, violent action. For me, even though everything was so cliché, Cosby's strong writing kept it from being boring. 1y
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Melismatic @TieDyeDude lol I get that! I definitely think I want it to be somethings it‘s not, so…prob safe bet the author isn‘t for me 😳 1y
TieDyeDude I've only read this and All the Sinners Bleed, but based on those, you're probably right 😁 1y
Texreader @TieDyeDude excellent description 1y
30 likes6 comments
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Megabooks
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Pickpick

While I‘ve enjoyed the two Cosby books I‘ve read so far this month, the violence is so extreme it sacrifices character development and the feelings I have about them. I was rooting for Ike and Buddy Lee, but I didn‘t feel I knew them.

Two fathers have lost their married sons to a gruesome double murder. They must avenge their deaths while grappling with conflicted feelings about their sons‘ queerness and regrets.

MallenNC I‘ve read this one and All the Sinners Bleed. I really like his writing but the violence level is tough to handle. 1y
Jas16 This one read a little too much like an action movie for me. 1y
BarbaraBB I agree. I liked it but a little too much action to my taste too. 1y
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mjtwo I agree. It was a good story but I am not inclined to read any more of his books due to the level of violence. And I do not usually think of myself as squeamish. 1y
Megabooks @MallenNC @mjtwo his books are very dark and violent! I like the writing, but I think I‘m going to stop at two this month. 1y
Megabooks @Jas16 @BarbaraBB it definitely gave me Tarantino vibes. Dark action movie with underdeveloped characters. 1y
MallenNC @Megabooks The crime in All the Sinners Bleed was disturbing but I thought the violence on the page was a little less than this one. Or maybe I was just prepared for it. I don‘t think I could read too many in the same month though. 1y
Megabooks @MallenNC agree re: all sinners. That crime was super disturbing!!! 1y
CatMS Yes Cosby's books are violent but that is the purpose as our country has become with daily mass shootings. However I still like all his books and look forward to his next. Another author you should try is Stephen Mack Jones whose protagonist is a half black half Mexican man in Mexicantown in Detroit. August Snow is trying to improve his neighborhood by renovating one house at a time while fighting crime perpetrated on his friends and neighborhood. 1y
82 likes1 stack add9 comments
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CatLass007
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Pickpick

#AuthorAMonth #ReadAway2024 This book packs a wallop! If you like stories about love, friendship, family, hatred, and acceptance, with lots of action and mystery, then I highly recommend Razorblade Tears.

DieAReader 🥳Awesome! 1y
65 likes1 comment
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Texreader
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This was a well-deserved confrontation by the deceased boy‘s father about the preacher‘s sermon at the funeral

#authoramonth @Soubhiville

Soubhiville Heartbreaking moment. 2y
Sharpeipup Such a good book 2y
40 likes2 comments
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Texreader
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My next ebook for #authoramonth @Soubhiville

45 likes1 stack add
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Melismatic
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On to the next! A pick for #AuthorAMonth

33 likes2 comments
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IndoorDame
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Mehso-so

This was a real page turner (or whatever the audio equivalent of that is) and I tore through it in 2 days. I definitely wasn‘t the target audience. I really couldn‘t handle the graphic nature of the violence or the sheer amount of it. Not all of the representation was positive, but I‘m still glad it was there, and the overall message was a positive one so I definitely appreciate getting that out there in the world. #authoramonth @Soubhiville

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IndoorDame
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So far S. A. Cosby is gorier than I like, so I doubt he‘ll become one of my new go to authors, but there are a lot of things I do like about this including some incredible one-liners. #aam @Soubhiville

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Yenya1954
Pickpick

Two young gay men, one black and one white are murdered. Neither father was accepting of the lifestyles of their married sons. The fathers unite while seeking justice for their sons. The novel is full of violence in this novel but I liked it. Much of the violence was a bit over the top but love is love and the color of one‘s skin shouldn‘t matter, I gave this book a 4.25/5

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plemmdog
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Pickpick

I don‘t read much crime fiction. I picked this for my book club, based on glowing reviews. While I found the friendship between Ike and Buddy Lee slightly implausible and the hard-core violence was over-the-top, this ultimately won me over, even though I saw where it was headed early. I guess I‘m a sucker for any work with a message of unity, or calling out hypocrisy whenever you see it. And yes, Sam Elliott should play Buddy Lee in the movie.

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Leniverse
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Pickpick

This was exactly as good as I thought it would be.
Grief. Guilt. Wasted opportunities. Redemption through personal growth and vengeance. Great one liners.

Ok, it was a bit over the top with the action movie villains, but whatever, I loved it. I even got really emotional at the end.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Loved this one! 2y
47 likes1 stack add1 comment
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swynn
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Pickpick

(2021) It's a noir thriller about two fathers of murdered gay sons, who never accepted their sons while they were alive, but come together to avenge their deaths. It's a gut-wrenching mix of introspection and violence about two flawed men who become better men while being very bad men. I liked it much.

Leftcoastzen Great review! I need to get to this one 2y
swynn @Leftcoastzen Hope you like it as well as I did! 2y
42 likes1 stack add2 comments
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CleverGirl
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Pickpick

SO good! This would make a really compelling tv series. The characters are fantastic.

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CleverGirl
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On to the next one! Recommended by Jessica. As a reminder to anyone who might read this, I‘m just trying to keep track for myself. It‘s ok if you don‘t know who Jessica is 😀 At some point in the future, it might jog my memory.

Bookwormjillk I agree with Jessica. Great book. 2y
CleverGirl @Bookwormjillk it was SO good! 10/10 2y
5 likes2 comments
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Texreader
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Ebook on sale for limited time

#authoramonth @Soubhiville

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Deblovestoread
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For those participating in #AuthorAMonth and those looking for an outstanding read Amazon has the kindle version of the tagged book for $2.99 in the US

@Soubhiville

KadaGul @Soubhiville Thank 🙏 you for sharing 2y
See All 15 Comments
CatLass007 That‘s great! Thanks for the info. I wonder if they‘ll put it on sale in Audible? I will take a look. 2y
tpixie Thx!!! 2y
RebelReader Good book! 2y
Bookwormjillk This was such a great book! 2y
Bklover Thank you!! 2y
TheSpineView Thanks! 2y
Amiable Oh, this book was fabulous! 2y
Julsmarshall This book was amazing! 2y
66 likes1 stack add15 comments
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Smoores101
Mehso-so

My very first full audiobook. Had an injury with my eye that made reading challenging. But I still found this story enjoyable even if it was a different topic than I usually go for and even tho it was a different method than I was used to.

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Bookwormjillk
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On the fourth day of Christmas…

This was my favorite book of April. Once I started I couldn‘t stop. Stressful in a good way.

#12BooksofChristmas

Andrew65 Sounds excellent. 2y
47 likes1 comment
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Kappadeemom
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This book wrecked me….💔

5feet.of.fury So good & so heart wrenching 2y
35 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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DHill
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I just discovered this author and I‘m plowing through everything I can get. Gritty, smart, moody and the audios are so - well - narrated.

ItsAnotherJen This was very good! 2y
Sleepswithbooks So good!!! 2y
53 likes2 comments
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Soubhiville
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AllDebooks Great selection of books 😊 2y
Soubhiville @AllDebooks I‘m going to post some more when I get home from my long weekend with friends. 🙂 2y
35 likes2 comments
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CollapsingLibrary
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Pickpick

A crime/mystery novel about 2 homophobic men with criminal backgrounds set out to serve their version of justice to the person that killed their gay sons and are forced to face their past along the way. Different than most of the books I read, it was refreshing and I highly enjoyed it. It was part of my #BlindBook series and while I got the color scheme right, the theme couldn‘t have been more off 😂

71 likes1 stack add
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Sharpeipup
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“But if all this has taught me one thing, it‘s that it ain‘t about me and what I get. It‘s about letting people be who they are. And being who you are shouldn‘t be a goddamn death sentence.“

A powerful story brimming with tension.

5feet.of.fury So good! Loved the character development 2y
Sharpeipup @5feet.of.fury I just finished it and I feel emotionally wrecked. 2y
35 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Murphytall
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Pickpick

This book was an incredible read. The characters are rich, the dialogue is mesmerizing and did I mention the character work?! This story touches on so many rich topics from a variety of viewpoints. The author does an incredible job of keeping the reader engaged in the story. I am already reading his next book.

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Nalbuque
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Pickpick

Oh just a book abt grown men growing up. Honestly, I liked this. It is definitely a book marketed for the straights, and I found myself kinda rolling my eyes a coupla time, but it‘s good. I dno if it‘ll change any “conservative” mind, but I do appreciate the representation and all the intersections this covers. I do wish the women/gays were better written but… they‘re there! So…yay? Anyhoo, if you like action and reformed main characters go for it

Reggie There used to be this podcast Get Booked by Book Riot and they always had these holiday recommendation shows where a woman would say my brother doesn‘t believe in feminism and they would recommend a book about feminism written by a man because they believe he would take it more serious. This book gave me those vibes. I liked it a lot. 2y
15 likes1 comment
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AnnieMcC
Pickpick

Excellent book although I had to skim a few of the more violent sections. I would highly recommend. . . tough and emotionally gripping. I ended up rooting for two very flawed characters as they fought their way through racism and homophobia, including within themselves.

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5feet.of.fury
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Pickpick

I finished this in a day & it was not light reading by any stretch. My heart was in my throat half the time, I could not put it down. What a phenomenal book! So much emotion, so much action.

#lmpbc

Bookwormjillk I agree. This one has my heart racing. 2y
42 likes1 comment