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The Witches of New York
The Witches of New York | Ami McKay
The beloved, bestselling author of The Birth House and The Virgin Cure is back with her most beguiling novel yet, luring us deep inside the lives of a trio of remarkable young women navigating the glitz and grotesqueries of Gilded-Age New York by any means possible, including witchcraft... The year is 1880. Two hundred years after the trials in Salem, Adelaide Thom (Moth from The Virgin Cure) has left her life in the sideshow to open a tea shop with another young woman who feels it's finally safe enough to describe herself as a witch: a former medical student and gardien de sorts (keeper of spells), Eleanor St. Clair. Together they cater to Manhattan's high society ladies, specializing in cures, palmistry and potions--and in guarding the secrets of their clients. All is well until one bright September afternoon, when an enchanting young woman named Beatrice Dunn arrives at their door seeking employment. Beatrice soon becomes indispensable as Eleanor's apprentice, but her new life with the witches is marred by strange occurrences. She sees things no one else can see. She hears voices no one else can hear. Objects appear out of thin air, as if gifts from the dead. Has she been touched by magic or is she simply losing her mind? Eleanor wants to tread lightly and respect the magic manifest in the girl, but Adelaide sees a business opportunity. Working with Dr. Quinn Brody, a talented alienist, she submits Beatrice to a series of tests to see if she truly can talk to spirits. Amidst the witches' tug-of-war over what's best for her, Beatrice disappears, leaving them to wonder whether it was by choice or by force. As Adelaide and Eleanor begin the desperate search for Beatrice, they're confronted by accusations and spectres from their own pasts. In a time when women were corseted, confined and committed for merely speaking their minds, were any of them safe?
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BookNAround
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Pickpick

A charming mix of history and magic, this Gilded Age set novel moves from a quaint, witchy tale to a desperate howl against the patriarchy. It was out of my comfort zone but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Full review at http://booknaround.blogspot.com/2023/10/review-witches-of-new-york-by-ami-mckay....

44 likes1 stack add
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angieinwonderland
Pickpick

It was a bit longer than could hold my careful attention steadily which means I think some minor details were missed. But I have to say that while it was a solid 3 star till 78% in, it did climb to 4 stars for the end. I was excited to see there is a Novella that follows. Worth the read.

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IMASLOWREADER
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12 likes1 stack add
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PuddleJumper
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Panpan

That was a very boring book that was a chore to slog through

20 likes6 comments
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Deblovestoread
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Jenni, thank you for the perfect #LammasSmallSwap. I can‘t wait to read the book and use the bath salts, most likely together. Thanks for hosting as well. Thanks to @Chrissyreadit for co-hosting.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awesome 🖤 2y
sprainedbrain I‘m glad you like it! ❤️ 2y
46 likes2 comments
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BookNAround
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Starting this one for Thursday‘s book club. While I normally might not finish it this late, I am flying home tomorrow so I‘ll have a good long time in the airport and in the air to get through it.

67 likes1 stack add
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Sharpeipup
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I‘ll be under the spell of this book for the weekend.
#weekendplans #weekendreads

40 likes2 stack adds
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LMJenkins
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Santa was good to me and brought me some great books, as did my #jolabokaflod swapper @MaleficentBookDragon ⭐️

Thank you, Chelle!

#jolabokaflodswap

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SilverShanica
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I am posting one book per day from my to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new - don‘t judge me I have a lot of books.
Join the fun if you want. This is day 334.
#bookstoread
#tbrpile
#bookstagram

8 likes1 stack add
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Linsy
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One of my absolutely favorite books. I need to do a reread soon! 🔮 #crystalball #haunted

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🔮🧙🏻🙌🏻📚 3y
51 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Kshakal
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🧙‍♀️ 🧹🖤 3y
GondorGirl This book was so good! 3y
Eggs 🖤🧙‍♂️❤️ 3y
22 likes1 stack add3 comments
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AmyG
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This was a bit of a struggle for me but I finished it.

#Bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

Tamra I listened to the audio book. I wasn‘t wowed enough to continue on with the other books. (edited) 3y
AmyG @Tamra I didn‘t even know there were ither books but I‘ll pass on those. Too many other books I‘d rather read. 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
65 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Clare-Dragonfly
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Panpan

I would have really liked this book if it had been written differently—a first-person or close third for Beatrice or all 3 witches would have been lovely. Instead, I got head-hopping and info-dumping. Meh.

monalyisha Oh no! I definitely have this somewhere & have been loosely looking forward to it. 🙈 3y
DivineDiana Too bad. I have been wanting to read this. 🤔 3y
Clare-Dragonfly @monalyisha @DivineDiana Other people like it! Maybe you‘ll be one of them 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3y
22 likes3 comments
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Clare-Dragonfly
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I wasn‘t going to read this until I‘d finished Winterkeep. But I locked my keys in the car at the library. 😅 So while I‘m waiting for my friend to pick me up so my husband can get the car… at least I have a book.

monalyisha Whoops! Hope you‘re able to retrieve them soon! At least you narrowly avoided *real* tragedy. 😉 📚 3y
KVanRead Well if you had to have that happen, at least you were in the right place 😂 3y
Clare-Dragonfly @monalyisha Don‘t worry—as long as I have an internet-connected device, I will never be without a book! 😁 I called a friend, who picked me up and brought my husband back to get into the car. Apparently I had put my keys in my purse and just not picked them up when I got out. 3y
Clare-Dragonfly @KVanRead Right?! The grocery store would have been so much worse 😂 3y
37 likes4 comments
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staci.reads
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Pickpick

This is one my daughter has been wanting me to read for some time, so she was excited when it was my #bookspin #doublespin for the month of April. It's an interesting story about 3 witches in late 1800s New York and explores many women's issues of the time. @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
58 likes6 stack adds1 comment
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Tamra
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Pickpick

I wasn‘t sure about this one when I checked it out, but I really did enjoy the character development and setting!

I have to confess with audiobooks these days that I listen in bed at night with a timer, so I get a story in fits and starts, so I can‘t say that I‘m getting a cohesive experience.

What a lousy reading year for me for a lot of different reasons. Hopefully next year is better - not in terms of quantity, but quality experiences.

72 likes3 stack adds
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TheSpineView
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Mehso-so

The book is about 2 women witches in New York in the late 19th century that run a hebal medicine and tea shop. Then Beatrice comes to the shop looking for a job. But with Beatrice also comes trouble. I found the plot slow and uninspiring. I was frequently bored and almost bailed. The story did pick up a little at the end. 3⭐

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brindille
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Pickpick

“How does anyone come to know a witch? It's not like I went looking for one. Only a fool would do that.”

Look, I just like quaint stories about witchcraft.

🌟3.5

▶️🎧 Summer Kpop Readathon:
[MAMAMOO-Hip] female empowerment ✔

#witches #witchcraft #summerreadathon

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LibraryCin
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Mehso-so

I liked Beatrice‘s story, but what I wasn‘t crazy about was all the different changing perspectives of so many different characters. I don‘t like when I‘m a good chunk of the way in and a new character is introduced and I have to try to fit them in. This happened quite a bit in this book, as there was a lot of flopping all over the place, following all the characters. Toward the end, the story picked up a bit, so overall, I‘m still rating it good

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StaceyKondla
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I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join the fun if you want.
This is day 56 #bookstoread #tbrpile #bookstagram

MidnightBookGirl I loved this book! 4y
Mariposa_Bookworm My favorite podcast, “What Should I read Next?” recommended this one! 4y
59 likes1 stack add2 comments
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behudd
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Bailedbailed

I think at a different time I would have liked this book, but now with pandemic-stress-brain is not that time. It‘s an atmospheric, feminist, character study, more driven by the people than the plot, at least for the first half-ish. And right now I need a lot more help to keep my concentration.

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Skeeterisme
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Pickpick

Buddy read, while I walk. Gooood.

62 likes3 stack adds
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Jen2
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Pickpick

Good story!!!

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melissajayne
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Pickpick

4⭐️ I quite enjoyed this read. I really liked the strong female characters and the storyline in general. #2020 #bookclub #fiction #bookstagram #historicalfiction #w #litsyatoz

31 likes1 stack add
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VeryLazyDaisy
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Oh, I have a feeling I‘m going to love this book. #iwannabeawitch

4 likes1 stack add
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JoyfulChaos
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New (to me) books! Yay :)

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lahousewyfe
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Pickpick

An intrepid group of witches quietly work their magic through a tea shop in New York in 1880. Their adventure drew me in and entertained from the first page to the last. My writer soul was inspired by the skill of the author as well. #adventrecommends @emilyrose_x

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kzwoz
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This "spell" from The Witches of New York, by Ami McKay is supposed to get you what you wish. I wish for my night shift to be over so I can go home to bed. It's not working...

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Eggbeater
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Pickpick

I appreciated the feminist rallying cry of the author's note at the end of the book and her reasons for writing it. The personalities of the witches themselves made this book. The plot was a little predictable, but the knowledge of the time period, the feminist flavor, and the detailed magic made it a much worthy read. The narrator does an excellent French accent.

50 likes3 stack adds
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Dcueto
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Ready to listen to this one!!!

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KatieDid927
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Thank you @4thhouseontheleft !! I love everything! I‘m dressed as Sally for Halloween this year! I may post a pic on here, not sure yet haha. The books were perfect choices too and the plaque is so cute and so me. You‘re awesome. And thanks for organizing such a fun swap @sprainedbrain & @Meaw_catlady !

#BasicWitchSwap #BWS

Meaw_catlady Ooh so many great treasures!please post a pic of your costume! 🖤 4y
alisiakae I'm glad you like it! Happy Halloween! 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🖤🖤🖤 4y
KT1432 Those Tazo teas sound amazing! 4y
sprainedbrain Wonderful gifts! Happy Halloween! 🎃 4y
32 likes5 comments
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Deborah42
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Pickpick

A blend of fantasy and historical fiction about a group of witches fighting the patriarchy in Victorian New York.

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Well-ReadNeck
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66 likes1 stack add
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MidnightBookGirl
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My current audiobook- loving it! #TeamSlaughter #scarathalon @Clwojick

39 likes2 stack adds
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shaynarae
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Pickpick

It took me a minute to get into this one, but once I did, it was an absolute delight! McKay creates a beautiful world where witches and magic swirl around science & technology and the suffragette movement in late 19th century New York. I didn‘t find this book to be particular plot-driven, and what plot there was didn‘t wrap up so well for me. But the characters and atmosphere were so delicious, that‘s where the book shines.

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LadyCait84
Pickpick

This book ended up delivering exactly what I was hoping for from my first witchy read of the spooky season...something atmospheric, and fun, and easy to lose myself in for a while. Not a literary masterpiece, just an enjoyable story of strong women, sisterly bonds, and magic.

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LadyCait84
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Starting my first thematic read of the spooky season and I‘m just so glad it‘s finally September...

58 likes1 stack add
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Ladygodiva7
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Good read so far! 116 pages in. 👍🏻

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instalovewithbooks
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I wanted to read the book. Jasper said no. I guess I am not reading the book. 💁

rretzler 😻 Welcome to Litsy! 📖 5y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Welcome to Litsy 💖📖💖 5y
SW-T Welcome to Litsy 😊 5y
Eggs Welcome to Litsy 👏🏻🎈 5y
9 likes4 comments
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Mitch
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Mehso-so

I could never quite allow myself to be transported to McKay's New York . It had the perfect ingredients for an enjoyable book - an atmospheric historical setting with women issues front & centre, a range of main & side characters that were interesting. But I found the plot too sprawling & at times boring, the characters too one dimensional & the landscape missing the range of voices that were vocal at the time.

Crazeedi I was very disappointed with this book too, I had read another of hers that I liked. This one was meh 5y
Mitch @Crazeedi meh - sums it up ! 🤣 5y
73 likes2 comments
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Mitch
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Flying home today - drawing out the day with an early breakfast wiling time to slow down.

AlaMich 😍 that bookmark!! 5y
DGRachel Have a safe flight! 5y
Mitch @DGRachel thank you 🙏 5y
See All 8 Comments
AmyG Safe travels home. 5y
julesG Safe travels! 5y
erzascarletbookgasm Safe flight ✈️ 5y
wanderinglynn Safe travels! 🙏🏻❤️ 5y
Sarah83 Safe travels 😍 5y
88 likes8 comments
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Mitch
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Settling in for the next 8 hours...

julesG Have a good trip! 5y
Mitch @julesG thank you 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 5y
Cathythoughts Enjoy 5y
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Libby1 Ooh! Where are you going? Have a great trip. Thank you for the email. 😊 5y
squirrelbrain Have a fab time! Love that your book matches your trip! ❤️ 5y
Soubhiville Have a wonderful time! I hope you find some treasures in the NY book crawl! 5y
DGRachel Have a great trip!! 5y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Have an amazing trip! 5y
Mitch @Libby1 off to New York for a very very early birthday trip! 5y
67 likes9 comments
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Lauren_reading
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Pickpick

Kind of creepy, but really good. Cool history, great ghostly interactions and some feminism too. Good stuff :)

69 likes2 stack adds
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Well-ReadNeck
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Mehso-so

An entertaining audiobook. Would make a good Halloween read. #MountTBR

87 likes1 stack add
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TheBogwitch
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Pickpick

Great, fun read. Perfect for Halloween, or the Halloweenie In you. Witches, demons, ghosts, and fae folk galore. But it‘s more—the plight of women throughout history, the molds forced upon them, the brave being persecuted for stepping out of that mold. Though a little predictable at times, and leaving stray bits and pieces for a sequel, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

11 likes1 stack add
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wildwoodreads
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Pickpick

The Witches of New York started off beautifully. I paused several times to write down quotes. The writing and descriptions are impeccable and it really draws you into the story. That being said, I did find that about halfway through I found myself getting a bit bored. The plot building was incredibly long with most of the climax taking place near the end. However, the atmospheric writing kept me interested.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

TheBogwitch Glad to hear it! I‘ll be sure to persevere through the slower bits. (I‘ve been known to skim those!) 5y
Linsy Loved this book! 5y
Redy2trvl Totally spot on! I felt the same way. 5y
122 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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TheBogwitch
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Started this one today. Fingers crossed!

wildwoodreads I‘m reading it currently. I‘ve enjoyed it so far. 5y
TheBogwitch @megzlynn good to know! I‘m only a few pages in and I already know I won‘t bail on it. 😊 5y
7 likes2 comments
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wildwoodreads
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Dishes are cleaned. Lunch for tomorrow is packed. It‘s time to enjoy a nice mocha and chocolates to end my evening. Thanks to our hosts. This has been a blast #LitsyPartyofOne

MrBook 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 5y
Linsy Loved this book! 5y
Jess_Franzino This book is one of my faves! 5y
141 likes1 stack add3 comments
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wildwoodreads
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I have my book and my tea. I‘m about to go make some wings and ranch potatoes. #litsypartyofone

MrBook MMMMMmmmm! 😋 5y
Freespirit Love your coffee mug 5y
wildwoodreads @Freespirit Thank you! 🥰 5y
97 likes3 comments