Thursday, November 30, 2023

Book #Review ~ Craving My Rival by P. Rayne ~ #MafiaRomance #Romance #Mafia @valentine_pr_

 



Craving My Rival by P. Rayne is now live! 


Polina Aminoff


At the Sicuro Academy, the Russians and the Italians give each other a wide berth. We’re bitter enemies after all.


So imagine my disbelief when my brother announces that I’m to wed Dante Accardi, next in line to run the Accardi Italian crime family.


After the shock subsides, I’m determined to save myself. It’s not until my plan is in full swing that I realize there might be more to Dante than I first thought. But those closest to me, those who were supposed to protect me have always hurt me. Now, I have to decide whether to trust him with my heart or whether he’ll just be another person in my life who brings me to my knees.


Dante Accardi


Polina Aminoff is a Bratva brat and an ice princess that I don’t think even an easy-going guy like me can thaw. And I’ve never had an issue melting the panties off a woman before. I’m just as unhappy about our engagement as she is, but my father made it clear—it is my duty to the family.


Once we’re forced together, another side of Polina shines and I start to think we could have a future together that doesn’t involve being bitter rivals.


But she’s hiding something, I just don’t know what. Which leaves me wondering, can I ever really trust my enemy?


My Review:


Craving My Rival is a wonderful fourth book in The Mafia Academy series.

The book was exceptionally written. I love mafia romances and Craving My Rival checked all of the boxes for me. The story is character-driven, focusing on Polina Aminoff and Dante Accardi. Polina, a Russian mafia princess, and bitter enemies of the Italian mob families. Dante, next inline to the Accardi Italian crime family and notorious playboy.  When the Russian princess and the Italian playboy are matched for marriage, will sparks or death threads fly?

I loved the dynamics between Polina and Dante. Polina isn't at all what she seems. Her ice princess facade tends to melt in the presence of Dante. Dante can't understand the feelings coursing through his body the more he spends time with Polina. I enjoyed their struggles as their feelings grew for one another. Bitter rivals, dangerous enemies, and ultimately a wonderful created slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance. I was engaged in their story every step of the way.

Craving My Rival is an excellent book.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

  



Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

https://geni.us/cmrpr


Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/467Glnr


Meet P. Rayne:



The darker side of USA Today Bestselling Author, Piper Rayne. 

 

Connect with P. Rayne 


Website: https://piperrayne.com/p-rayne

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3Gzm5B3

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/P.-Rayne/author/B0BR8M62DL

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/P-Rayne-Dark-Romance-Author-101312172854095

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorprayne

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@praynedarkromance

      


Legacy of Evil by James Peyton ~ @GoddessFish ~ Mystery Thriller



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

About the Book:

A banished detective. A body drained of blood. Mexico’s vampires are all too human.

After graduating from Harvard, Artemas Salcido is determined to transform Mexico’s justice system and joins the federal police. He begins solving crimes committed by the rich and powerful and is banished to the village of Bustamante.

On a college field trip to Bustamante’s nearby caverns, the daughter of a US senator is brutally murdered. The FBI, the international media, and a Mexican hit squad tasked with making the problem go away descend on the village. When Mexico’s attorney general tells Artemas his career depends on his cooperation, Artemas realizes his life is at stake.

As other grisly murders occur, Artemas’s investigation uncovers an ancient blood cult connected to a powerful financial cabal that stretches from mediaeval Europe to Mexico's most influential politicians and businessmen. When he disputes his violent colleagues’ bogus solution to the crime, Artemas is marked for death.

Can Artemas’s determination to bring fairness to Mexico’s justice system prevail against the overwhelming power of his government—or will it prove fatal …?

Genre:

Mystery Thriller 

Read an Excerpt:

Then it struck him. He, Artemas Salcido, illegitimate son of a former governor, Harvard graduate, and member of the federal police force, might have the only copy of the list containing both the group’s membership and its members’ individual holdings! If so, he possessed a weapon more powerful than he had thought. And he was in even more danger than he’d imagined. The trick would be to figure out how best to use the information and stay alive in the process.

About the Author:
Award-winning author James Peyton’s intriguing settings and memorable characters in his thrillers come from his years of international work and travel. The first two editions of his four-part thriller Artemas Salcido series are now available on Amazon; Legacy of Evil and Terror Crossing, to be followed by La Buchona and Not For Sale. Peyton’s stand-alone adventure thriller, The Royal Fifth, was released in 2022. James has had five acclaimed books published on Mexican cooking, history, and culture. Peyton's writing reflects a depth of understanding and a unique perspective that sets his work apart.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/216986.James_W_Peyton
Amazon links are affiliate links.

Book Tour Schedule: It Hurts Every Time by L.P. Mills - SciFi, Speculative Fiction, Political, Multiverse, Mystery @liampmills10 @MirrorWorldPub #SciFi #Mystery

 

Mirror World Publishing and Sapphyria's Book Promotions present the Virtual Book tour for

It Hurts Every Time by L.P. Mills

About It Hurts Every Time:

“Death is not the end, sir,

No, sir, not the end of the line,

Just remember what I say to you;

It hurts, baby,

It hurts every time.”

Pluto Garcia is a lieutenant in the Community Militia of Morrisette, a post-communist city-state where a miracle drug has advanced enough to allow the dying a second chance at life by launching them into the nearest available universe in which they are still alive.

In his latest incarnation, Pluto is tasked with investigating the death of Krishna Klein, a brilliant but troubled philanthropist who has been found with a bullet in his head following a week-long bender. With the aid of his assigned partner, Esther Dupont, Pluto uncovers a techno-fascistic plot to plunge the flawed Utopia of Morrissette into authoritarian control once and for all.

Tour Schedule:


December 5

LCW Allingham: Storytelling and all that goes with it - Exclusive Excerpt



December 6

The Writer's Life - Spotlight


December 7



Knitmare on Beech Street (A Knit & Nibble Mystery) by Peggy Ehrhart ~ #CozyMystery

 

Knitmare on Beech Street (A Knit & Nibble Mystery) by Peggy Ehrhart

About Knitmare on Beech Street:

 

Knitmare on Beech Street (A Knit & Nibble Mystery)

Cozy Mystery

10th in Series

Setting - Charming fictional town of Arborville, in northern New Jersey

Kensington Cozies (November 28, 2023)

Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496738861

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496738868

Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BZBM8P55

Knit and Nibble member Pamela Paterson, and her best friend, Bettina, stumble on a body in a once grand Victorian house when they join a group welcoming new residents to Arborville—and must figure out if old secrets killed the new neighbor . . .

When Pamela, Bettina, and their friends show up at the Voorhees House to greet its new owner, they’re met with a most unwelcome sight: a dead body on the kitchen floor. Tassie Hunt just inherited the old Victorian, which had been occupied by a reclusive widow for many years and had a reputation for being haunted. But Tassie would have been unlikely to be spooked since her career involved debunking such paranormal phenomena.

Her demise sets off a new flurry of gossip and ghostly speculation in the New Jersey town, of course—and it’s tempting to think spirits were indeed involved considering there’s zero evidence so far of foul play. A nosy neighbor reports strange lights and sounds, and a man obsessed with the Victorian era starts photographing the place from the street. But it won’t take long before Pamela and Bettina are moving in on a killer . . .

Read an Excerpt:
Pamela led the way down the steps, down the narrow concrete path, and along the sidewalk, until they reached another concrete path. From this path, steps led up to another porch, smaller and with a plainer railing, onto which the back door opened. Saying “I’ll try again,” Marlene hefted the gift basket and headed up the steps. As she pressed the doorbell, the rest of the group joined her on the porch one by one. Marlene turned away after a few minutes and much enthusiastic pressing of the doorbell. “No answer,” she murmured. “And I was sure ANGWY was clear about the date and time.” She shrugged, edged past the others, and started down the steps. Bettina, however, stepped closer to the door and tipped her head to peer at the doorframe. “I’m not sure it’s closed all the way,” she said and gave the door a tentative push. The door swung open easily. After a shrug and a glance at the other women, Bettina raised a stylishly shod foot and stepped over the threshold. “Tassie?” Her voice rang out with a cheerful lilt. “Hello? It’s the ANGWY committee.” She disappeared inside, but a moment later she was back in the doorway. Her cheer had vanished, leaving her face a wan canvas that made her careful makeup appear garish. Ignoring her heart’s sudden lurch, Pamela took a few quick steps and joined her friend in the doorway. Bettina backed up against the door, anchoring it in a fully open position, and Pamela slipped past her into the kitchen. A woman lay sprawled on the ancient linoleum, a slender blonde woman wearing a light cotton robe printed with small flowers in shades of blue and lilac . . .

About Peggy Ehrhart:

Peggy Ehrhart is a former English professor with a doctorate in Medieval Literature. Her Maxx Maxwell mysteries, Sweet Man Is Gone(2008) and Got No Friend Anyhow (2011), were published by Five Star/Gale/Cengage and feature a blues-singer sleuth.

Peggy is currently writing the Knit & Nibble mysteries for Kensington Books. Her amateur sleuth, Pamela Paterson, is the founder and mainstay of the Arborville, New Jersey, knitting club, nicknamed Knit and Nibble. Knitmare on Beech Street is book #10 in the series. Peggy herself is an avid crafter, dating from her childhood as a member of the 4-H Club in rural Southern California.

Peggy is a longtime member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. She regularly attends mystery-writing conferences and participates in conference panels. She also gives talks on mystery fiction at libraries and other venues in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey.

Author Links:

Yarn Mania Blog on my website: https://peggyehrhart.com/category/yarn-mania/ 

Purchase Links:


TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

November 28 – Lady Hawkeye - SPOTLIGHT
November 28 – Angel's Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT
November 28 – Cozy, Suspenseful, and Sweet – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 29 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
November 30 – Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense – AUTHOR GUEST POST
November 30 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
November 30 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 1 – Diane’s Book Journal – SPOTLIGHT
December 1 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 2 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 2 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST
December 3 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
December 3 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT
December 4 – Christy's Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 4 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
December 5 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 5 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today! Want to Book a Tour? Click Here


Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Once Upon a Christmas Castle by Virginia Barlow @virginiabar1031 @GoddessFish Historical Holiday Romance #Review

 


 

Once Upon a Christmas Castle

by Virginia Barlow

 

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Genre:   Historical Holiday Romance

 

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About the Book:

 

Lady Rosalind Chatham journeys with her family to Weston Castle to wed an ancient earl on Christmas day. Yearning for true love, she falls for the duke, her stepfather’s cousin, while preparing for her nuptials.
Lady Rosalind entrances the Duke of Weston. Concerned for her future with the tempestuous earl, he can’t afford to get involved. The fines and scandal will be too great for a man of his wealth and power.
When the truth comes to light, and he almost loses her forever, he finds he cannot afford to give less than his whole heart.

 

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My Review: 

Once Upon a Christmas Castle is a wonderful holiday romance. Set to marry and older earl, Lady Rosalind yearns for true love - not a match that isn't made in heaven. When Lady Rosalind meets the Duke of Weston, and things in her and the Duke's life suddenly go sideways. 

I enjoyed this story. The plot was solid and the author's writing style, character development, and plot twists kept me engaged. I will definitely be checking out more books by this author.

I was provided a copy of this book.

My Rating:



Read an Excerpt:

Careful not to make a sound, she sat on the window ledge and slipped her feet out the window. Turning to face the interior of the room, she inched her hips over the window ledge. She slipped on the ice, frozen to the brick outside the window, and slid down faster than she intended, cringing when the silk of her day gown ripped.

Panic gripped her like a cinched corset. She did not fear falling. No. The fine sheen of terror covering her brow appeared out of fear she might wake the earl.

Catching the edge of the brick where she lay against it halfway between her bosom and her waist, she sucked in a deep breath, conscious she must present a sight with her skirts bunched up and wedged between her and the window ledge. Her white pantalets and silk-stockinged legs dangled as she maneuvered her hands so she could drop to the ground. Thank the gods no one wandered the flower gardens beneath her to see her unladylike display.

Her prayer of gratitude stopped dead, and she received the shock of her life when a large pair of hands caught her about the waist!

She froze in terror, not daring to breathe.

 

“Lady Rosalind, how unexpected of you to drop by like this.” The duke’s deep voice laughed at her as he held her still.

 

She swallowed her cry of surprise and choked. God, what Cousin Lucius must be thinking about her right now.

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Meet the Author:



 

I have always loved reading romance novels. I used to sneak into my mom’s room as a young girl and read them while she was gone. As I grew older, my reading and tastes expanded to sci-fi, dystopian, paranormal, and fantasy.

 

I considered becoming an author in my late twenties but as a busy mother with toddlers, I didn’t have the time nor the energy.

Later, in my fifties, I decided to give it a try and have enjoyed every moment of it since. I recently signed my fourteenth contract and am doing my happy dance as I type this. My husband of forty-one years is my greatest support as are all my kids. Most of them are grown and carving out lives for themselves. They are the beat of my heart and with every grandchild, the rhythm gets stronger. I enjoy every moment of my life.

 

 

Social Media Links

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/virginiabar1031

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virginiasromancenook/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3046288755596817

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@virginiasromancenook

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvGFHEfWqTshpYrUvlwbQhQ

Website: https://www.virginia-barlow.com

 

 

Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub)

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Once-Christmas-Castle-Virginia-Barlow/dp/1509250379/

 

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/once-upon-a-christmas-castle-virginia-barlow/1144009112?

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198193906-once-upon-a-christmas-castle

 

Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/books/once-upon-a-christmas-castle-christmas-in-the-castle-by-virginia-barlow

 

 

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Virginia Barlow will be awarding a free copy of Gamble of Hearts to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


#Review ~ Grounds for Murder (Coffee & Cream Cafe Mysteries) by Lena Gregory @LenaGregory03 #CozyMystery

 

Grounds for Murder (Coffee & Cream Cafe Mysteries) by Lena Gregory

About Grounds for Murder:

 

Grounds for Murder (Coffee & Cream Cafe Mysteries)

Cozy Mystery

2nd in Series 

Setting - Watchogue, Long Island, New York

Gemma Halliday Publishing (November 21, 2023)

Number of Pages 226

Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CCLT922F

From author Lena Gregory comes a tasty new mystery with a killer twist...

Danika Delaney is thrilled to have taken over her uncle Jimmie's old fashioned malt shop on eastern Long Island and is working hard to make it her own. In an effort to increase business, Danika invites a mystery writer to the Cookies & Cream Café for a discussion and book signing. Things seem to be going well, until a guest shows up and confronts the author, accusing him of plagiarizing his work. Embarrassed by the incident, Danika goes to the inn where the writer is staying the following morning, hoping to apologize and offer him another chance to return. What she finds instead is his dead body—beside a cup of poisoned coffee! Now it's up to Danika to find out who wanted to silence the author... before the killer decides to write Danika a not-so-happy ending!

My Review:

Grounds for Murder is second book in the Coffee & Cream Café Mystery series.

Lena Gregory has dished up another winner with Grounds for Murder. A cleverly crafted mystery, delightful characters, and a fun small town with the infamous busybodies. I loved being back in this world.


The murder mystery was well-developed and the author provided a large number of potential suspects in the death of the mystery writer. There are many twists and turns, and every time I thought I solved the murder, the arc shifted and we were chasing down someone else.

I loved every single page of this book from the characters, the setting, the mystery, and the author's writing style. I found myself totally immersed in every facet of Grounds for Murder. The pacing was perfect and once I started the book, I just couldn't put it down.

I was provided a copy of this book.

My Rating:

 

About Lena Gregory:

Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.

Author Links: Purchase Links:

Amazon - B&N - Kobo 

TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

November 21 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 21 – Christy's Cozy Corners – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY
November 22 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
November 22 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
November 23 – Thanksgiving U.S.
November 24 – The Mystery of Writing – SPOTLIGHT
November 24 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 25 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
November 25 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT 
November 26 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT
November 26 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author – SPOTLIGHT
November 27 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW
November 27 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW
November 28 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT
November 28 – My Reading Journeys – SPOTLIGHT
November 29 – Novels Alive – REVIEW – SPOTLIGHT
November 29 – Sapphyria's Books – REVIEW 
November 30 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST
November 30 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT
December 1 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
December 1 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 2 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
December 2 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
December 3 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
December 4 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today! Want to Book a Tour? Click Here

 

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

In Urgent Need of Hosts ~ 1-Week Virtual Book Tour Invitation for It Hurts Every Time by L.P. Mills @MirrorWorldPub ~ SciFi, Speculative Fiction, Political, Multiverse, Mystery #SapphyriasBookPromotions


1-week tour invitation for It Hurts Every Time by L.P. Mills. The tour is December 1-7, 2023.

About It Hurts Every Time:

“Death is not the end, sir,

No, sir, not the end of the line,

Just remember what I say to you;

It hurts, baby,

It hurts every time.”
Pluto Garcia is a lieutenant in the Community Militia of Morrisette, a post-communist city-state where a miracle drug has advanced enough to allow the dying a second chance at life by launching them into the nearest available universe in which they are still alive.

In his latest incarnation, Pluto is tasked with investigating the death of Krishna Klein, a brilliant but troubled philanthropist who has been found with a bullet in his head following a week-long bender. With the aid of his assigned partner, Esther Dupont, Pluto uncovers a techno-fascistic plot to plunge the flawed Utopia of Morrissette into authoritarian control once and for all.


To learn more and to sign up to host, please visit this link:

Butterfly Betrayal: A Seneca James Mystery by Ruth J Hartman ~ Cozy Mystery

Butterfly Betrayal: A Seneca James Mystery by Ruth J Hartman

About Butterfly Betrayal:

 


Butterfly Betrayal: A Seneca James Mystery

Cozy Mystery

1st in Series

Setting - Rural Indiana

Level Best Books (November 21, 2023)

Print length ‏ : ‎ 289 Pages 

Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CKJ16LXB

Raising butterflies is peaceful and calm, until someone dies.

Majestic Monarch Butterfly Farm might flitter away forever. That is, unless Seneca James acquires the property next door. She and Winifred, her costume-wearing cat, have a fight on their hands. Their land sits next to a milkweed-covered field, essential for monarchs. If she’s unsuccessful in buying it, her precious, winged friends won’t survive. When people end up dead on her farmland, Seneca is suspected of murder.

What is it about the milkweed field that’s worth killing for? And who’s the murderer?

About Ruth J. Hartman:

Ruth J. Hartman spends her days herding cats and her nights spinning mysterious tales. She, her husband, and their cats love to spend time curled up in their recliners watching old Cary Grant movies. Well, the cats sit in the people's recliners. Not that the cats couldn't get their own furniture. They just choose to shed on someone else's.

Ruth, a left-handed, cat-herding, farmhouse-dwelling writer uses her sense of humor as she writes tales of lovable, klutzy women who seem to find trouble without even trying.

Ruth's husband and best friend, Garry, reads her manuscripts, rolls his eyes at her weird story ideas, and loves her despite her insistence all of her books have at least one cat in them. See updates about her cozy mysteries at Ruthjhartman.com.

Author Links:


Purchase Link - Amazon

TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

November 21 – Cassidy's Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT
November 21 – My Reading Journeys – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 22 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT
November 22 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
November 23 – THANKSGIVING U.S.
November 24 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
November 24 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
November 25 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT
November 25 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
November 26 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy – REVIEW
November 26 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
November 27 – Sneaky the Library Cat's Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
November 27 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
November 28 – Christy's Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 28 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 29 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
November 29 –My Journey Back – SPOTLIGHT
November 30 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT
November 30 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
November 30 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT
December 1 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
December 1 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today! Want to Book a Tour? Click Here

 
Amazon links are affiliate links.