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The Song of Youth: An enjoyable uplifting beach romance book by a Greek author good to read on vacation
Emilia wished to be young again. And then it happened…
Emilia Paschos feels she’s lost out on life and wishes on her 45th birthday to be young again. A mysterious gypsy called Esmera makes it happen, allowing her to switch her age back and forth by twenty years by singing a song. Soon, unexpected news sweeps Emilia off to the island of Milos, where she was raised, with an opportunity to start her life anew.
A nosy neighbor, a flirtatious ex, and an obnoxious cousin cause trouble as Emilia tries her new gift from time to time, but then two strange girls, Elise and Chloe, turn up one day and begin to help in miraculous ways, being just as magical as Esmera. They are all angels, except Emilia has no idea...
Being young again makes Emilia feel exuberant, but it pales in comparison to the way Andreas, a handsome Greek widower and newly established restauranteur on the island, makes her feel. Together they rescue a puppy, and now she feels like she is being rescued too. Because Andreas, who is in his 50s, has eyes only for the real her, not for her younger self. The only problem is, her angelic gift keeps expiring in the most awkward moments!
How much longer can she keep her secret? And, what will she choose? The sweetness of love… or the exhilarating gift of youth?
This is a standalone story featuring angels from The Amulet. Preorder it now and get ready for a fun romantic escape this summer with a bunch of quirky angels on a Greek island paradise… but keep the hankies at the ready. And, whatever you do, do not read when hungry. You have been warned!
Emilia Paschos feels she’s lost out on life and wishes on her 45th birthday to be young again. A mysterious gypsy called Esmera makes it happen, allowing her to switch her age back and forth by twenty years by singing a song. Soon, unexpected news sweeps Emilia off to the island of Milos, where she was raised, with an opportunity to start her life anew.
A nosy neighbor, a flirtatious ex, and an obnoxious cousin cause trouble as Emilia tries her new gift from time to time, but then two strange girls, Elise and Chloe, turn up one day and begin to help in miraculous ways, being just as magical as Esmera. They are all angels, except Emilia has no idea...
Being young again makes Emilia feel exuberant, but it pales in comparison to the way Andreas, a handsome Greek widower and newly established restauranteur on the island, makes her feel. Together they rescue a puppy, and now she feels like she is being rescued too. Because Andreas, who is in his 50s, has eyes only for the real her, not for her younger self. The only problem is, her angelic gift keeps expiring in the most awkward moments!
How much longer can she keep her secret? And, what will she choose? The sweetness of love… or the exhilarating gift of youth?
This is a standalone story featuring angels from The Amulet. Preorder it now and get ready for a fun romantic escape this summer with a bunch of quirky angels on a Greek island paradise… but keep the hankies at the ready. And, whatever you do, do not read when hungry. You have been warned!
341 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 22, 2024
About the author
Effrosyni Moschoudi
28 books241 followersEffrosyni Moschoudi was born and raised in Athens, Greece. She writes books for the romantic at heart, and for all readers around the world, who love her country, its people and vast culture.
Her stories are set in alluring locations around Greece and tend to feature supernatural creatures such as angels, ghosts or witches, as she believes our world is magical and not as mundane as we think.
She writes clean and sweet romances that are peppered with humour and a touch of family drama, offering the reader an emotional rollercoaster ride with perfect happily-ever-after endings.
During her twenty years of work experience in large corporations in both Greece and the United Kingdom, Effrosyni has met some of the most problematic and unbalanced people one can ever have the misfortune of sharing an office space with. Still, it has not been for nothing, but has provided a wealth of material for creating the most hilarious among her villains.
Effrosyni lives in a quaint seaside town near Athens with a British husband, two naughty cats, and a vast collection of books and DVDs. Her little town is heavenly enough, yet her mind forever drifts to her beloved island of Corfu.
The Ebb, her new adult romance that was inspired from her summers in Corfu in the 1980s, was a Q-Finalist for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards in 2014. Her debut novel, The Necklace of Goddess Athena, won a silver medal in the 2017 book awards of Readers’ Favorite. Her ghost romance novella, The Boy on the Bridge, was a Top 10 winner of the “50 Best Indie Books” awards of Readfree.ly in 2021.
Effrosyni’s books are clean and sweet romances. All of them are Amazon bestsellers, having hit #1 several times, and are available mainly in kindle and paperback format.
The paperbacks, other than Amazon, can also be ordered at any library or physical bookstore worldwide.
What others say about Effrosyni's books:
"Effrosyni layers her words on the page like music."
~USA Today bestselling author Jackie Weger
"Very few writers have such a gift for realism."
~Kelly Smith Reviews
Go here to grab FREE books by this author: http://effrosyniwrites.com/free-stuff/
Visit her website for free excerpts, book trailers, her travel guide to Corfu, delicious Greek recipes, and to join her email list for her news and special offers: http://www.effrosyniwrites.com
**Like her on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/authoreffrosyni
**Follow her on X:
https://X.com/frostiemoss
**Find her on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
**Email her at contact@effrosyniwrites.com or ladyofthepier@gmail.com
**Follow her on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/effrosyni
**Like her page on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/authoreffrosyni
**Follow her on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/effro...
**Follow her blogs. The first one lists all her travels around Greece. On the second blog you’ll find all her yummy Greek recipes!
http://www.effrosyniwrites.com
http://www.effrosinimoss.wordpress.com
Her stories are set in alluring locations around Greece and tend to feature supernatural creatures such as angels, ghosts or witches, as she believes our world is magical and not as mundane as we think.
She writes clean and sweet romances that are peppered with humour and a touch of family drama, offering the reader an emotional rollercoaster ride with perfect happily-ever-after endings.
During her twenty years of work experience in large corporations in both Greece and the United Kingdom, Effrosyni has met some of the most problematic and unbalanced people one can ever have the misfortune of sharing an office space with. Still, it has not been for nothing, but has provided a wealth of material for creating the most hilarious among her villains.
Effrosyni lives in a quaint seaside town near Athens with a British husband, two naughty cats, and a vast collection of books and DVDs. Her little town is heavenly enough, yet her mind forever drifts to her beloved island of Corfu.
The Ebb, her new adult romance that was inspired from her summers in Corfu in the 1980s, was a Q-Finalist for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards in 2014. Her debut novel, The Necklace of Goddess Athena, won a silver medal in the 2017 book awards of Readers’ Favorite. Her ghost romance novella, The Boy on the Bridge, was a Top 10 winner of the “50 Best Indie Books” awards of Readfree.ly in 2021.
Effrosyni’s books are clean and sweet romances. All of them are Amazon bestsellers, having hit #1 several times, and are available mainly in kindle and paperback format.
The paperbacks, other than Amazon, can also be ordered at any library or physical bookstore worldwide.
What others say about Effrosyni's books:
"Effrosyni layers her words on the page like music."
~USA Today bestselling author Jackie Weger
"Very few writers have such a gift for realism."
~Kelly Smith Reviews
Go here to grab FREE books by this author: http://effrosyniwrites.com/free-stuff/
Visit her website for free excerpts, book trailers, her travel guide to Corfu, delicious Greek recipes, and to join her email list for her news and special offers: http://www.effrosyniwrites.com
**Like her on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/authoreffrosyni
**Follow her on X:
https://X.com/frostiemoss
**Find her on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
**Email her at contact@effrosyniwrites.com or ladyofthepier@gmail.com
**Follow her on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/effrosyni
**Like her page on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/authoreffrosyni
**Follow her on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/effro...
**Follow her blogs. The first one lists all her travels around Greece. On the second blog you’ll find all her yummy Greek recipes!
http://www.effrosyniwrites.com
http://www.effrosinimoss.wordpress.com
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 21, 2024
ARC July 2024
Firstly I have to say that I received a review copy of this book from the author, Effrosyni Moschoudi, and the review below is my unbiased and true opinion.
Now anybody who has ever looked at my “bookshelves” will know that romance does not feature heavily. That said I do read a few, and with any story from Effrosyni the quality of writing is always high, and the Greek connection is always a big bonus to me.
This book is the story of 40 something Emilia who looks back on her life in Athens and realises she has always been there for other people, caring and looking after them and now feels that her life may as well be over. Sitting on the beach alone on her birthday, she weeps as she looks back on everything that has happened to her wondering why she bothers, few friends, no family, no regular job, fading looks, she believes, and a long way from her family’s home on Milos.
She is suddenly interrupted by a friendly tall gypsy woman in her sixties sits down beside her on the sand, and being too polite to refuse, Emilia engages in conversation and then finds herself actually feeling better for having spoken to someone. She finds herself opening up about all of her supposed trouble and problems to this gentle gypsy woman, Esmera . After a long conversation Esmera gives Emilia a birthday present which she says will help her in the days ahead.
When Emilia hears some sad news the next day about her Aunt on Milos, she wonders how Esmera knew so much about her, and goes to find her. Finding out more about her present, she decides to take a chance and return to her beloved Milos for her Aunt’s funeral. Esmera tells her she has arranged for two of her friends on the island to help her.
What will she do with the gift from Esmera, and will it actually help her with her life. What follows are a series of surprising and fun adventures, for Emilia, her two new friend Elise and Chloe , but also involving new friends she meets on the island where she grew up. Unfortunately she also has a run in with her unfriendly and jealous cousin.
This is a gentle book, that is fun and full of likeable characters, as well as those you want to boo. It is good story that makes you want to read on, but also it contains some important positive messages for life, everybody’s life. And for me the icing on the cake so to speak is the setting, a Greek island, with friendly Greek people, glorious Greek weather and as ever with Effrosyni, descriptions of wonderful Greek food.
Firstly I have to say that I received a review copy of this book from the author, Effrosyni Moschoudi, and the review below is my unbiased and true opinion.
Now anybody who has ever looked at my “bookshelves” will know that romance does not feature heavily. That said I do read a few, and with any story from Effrosyni the quality of writing is always high, and the Greek connection is always a big bonus to me.
This book is the story of 40 something Emilia who looks back on her life in Athens and realises she has always been there for other people, caring and looking after them and now feels that her life may as well be over. Sitting on the beach alone on her birthday, she weeps as she looks back on everything that has happened to her wondering why she bothers, few friends, no family, no regular job, fading looks, she believes, and a long way from her family’s home on Milos.
She is suddenly interrupted by a friendly tall gypsy woman in her sixties sits down beside her on the sand, and being too polite to refuse, Emilia engages in conversation and then finds herself actually feeling better for having spoken to someone. She finds herself opening up about all of her supposed trouble and problems to this gentle gypsy woman, Esmera . After a long conversation Esmera gives Emilia a birthday present which she says will help her in the days ahead.
When Emilia hears some sad news the next day about her Aunt on Milos, she wonders how Esmera knew so much about her, and goes to find her. Finding out more about her present, she decides to take a chance and return to her beloved Milos for her Aunt’s funeral. Esmera tells her she has arranged for two of her friends on the island to help her.
What will she do with the gift from Esmera, and will it actually help her with her life. What follows are a series of surprising and fun adventures, for Emilia, her two new friend Elise and Chloe , but also involving new friends she meets on the island where she grew up. Unfortunately she also has a run in with her unfriendly and jealous cousin.
This is a gentle book, that is fun and full of likeable characters, as well as those you want to boo. It is good story that makes you want to read on, but also it contains some important positive messages for life, everybody’s life. And for me the icing on the cake so to speak is the setting, a Greek island, with friendly Greek people, glorious Greek weather and as ever with Effrosyni, descriptions of wonderful Greek food.
August 30, 2024
I write this review as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team and thank her and the author for this opportunity.
I have read several novels by this author and have come to look forward to the magic, the light, and the wonderful landscapes she peppers her stories with. And this novel is no different.
We have a protagonist, Emilia, who has reached 45, has spent her youth looking after others, and feels she is far too old now to have a chance at love and happiness. If she were only twenty years younger, all of her problems would disappear and she could be happy!
This being a novel by Effrosyni Moschoudi, a fairy godmother (well, Esmera, a mysterious gipsy woman who has otherworldly powers and qualities) comes and gives her the chance to try out what it would be like to be younger again, and see if that life suits her better than her current one. But “the gift” that allows her to go back in time comes with some conditions and provisos. And, to make matters a bit more complicated, Emilia’s dear aunt dies in the island of Milos, a place full of good memories for her, and her passing gives her an unexpected opportunity. It also means that Emilia has to interact with some people she isn’t that fond of, and her experience of being young again gets more and more complicated. One thing is to become young again in a place where nobody knows you, and quite a different one is to do it where people know you and remember you as a young woman. How will she manage to pull that off, and what will happen when she finally meets somebody who might be the right one?
I am not going to reveal all that happens, as you can probably imagine that there will be romantic events, more than one close call, and complications galore. Emilia is accompanied by some collaborators of Esmera (a young woman with an old-fashioned hairstyle and a young child), but even with their guidance, things aren’t easy.
This novel, told in the third person, mostly from Emilia’s point of view, but also from Esmera´s and her two helpers, has all the elements one could wish for in a romantic comedy: misunderstandings, handsome strangers (Andreas is a wonderful character, even though he comes with some baggage), a puppy, wonderful food, a beautiful island… and it reminded me of farces, where there are people pretending to be somebody they are not, wearing disguises, hiding and disappearing in the last minute, a lot of close calls, enemies and their machinations (in this case, Emilia’s nasty cousin and a former boyfriend who cheated on her with said cousin), plenty of coincidences, and some hurdles. Because, as we all know, true love never does run smooth. Emilia has to face some hard truths and heartaches; there are lessons to be learned, not only by her, but by some of the other characters too. And there are plenty of hilarious moments as well. I particularly enjoyed the epilogue, where some characters get their more-than-deserved comeuppance. (And a couple of owls play an important part, so, of course, I loved it!)
Even readers who don’t have much in common with Emilia will warm to her, because she has endured some terrible losses, and she’s a very relatable and understandable character. Who wouldn’t want to get a new chance at life if they’d gone through what she did? I loved the “magical” characters as well. A bit like Greek gods, they aren’t beyond playing pranks or making mistakes, and thanks to Chloe, we get to understand how they gain their knowledge and learn the ropes. We even see her undertake another mission, one that will take us back to our school days and will make us smile.
The book is full of delightful descriptions of the island, its people, its food, its smells… and the writing vividly captures the atmosphere and the landscapes of the Greek islands, transporting the reader there. This is a gentle romance, with no explicit sex, and despite the main character's age, I think it is suited to all young and older readers. Anybody who has ever wondered what they would do if given a second chance at life, lovers of romance and stories with a magical twist will enjoy this novel and are likely to start thinking about spending their future holidays in Greece and its islands.
Oh, do read the author’s note at the end. I found it very moving, and it reminds us of the healing power of writing and stories.
I have read several novels by this author and have come to look forward to the magic, the light, and the wonderful landscapes she peppers her stories with. And this novel is no different.
We have a protagonist, Emilia, who has reached 45, has spent her youth looking after others, and feels she is far too old now to have a chance at love and happiness. If she were only twenty years younger, all of her problems would disappear and she could be happy!
This being a novel by Effrosyni Moschoudi, a fairy godmother (well, Esmera, a mysterious gipsy woman who has otherworldly powers and qualities) comes and gives her the chance to try out what it would be like to be younger again, and see if that life suits her better than her current one. But “the gift” that allows her to go back in time comes with some conditions and provisos. And, to make matters a bit more complicated, Emilia’s dear aunt dies in the island of Milos, a place full of good memories for her, and her passing gives her an unexpected opportunity. It also means that Emilia has to interact with some people she isn’t that fond of, and her experience of being young again gets more and more complicated. One thing is to become young again in a place where nobody knows you, and quite a different one is to do it where people know you and remember you as a young woman. How will she manage to pull that off, and what will happen when she finally meets somebody who might be the right one?
I am not going to reveal all that happens, as you can probably imagine that there will be romantic events, more than one close call, and complications galore. Emilia is accompanied by some collaborators of Esmera (a young woman with an old-fashioned hairstyle and a young child), but even with their guidance, things aren’t easy.
This novel, told in the third person, mostly from Emilia’s point of view, but also from Esmera´s and her two helpers, has all the elements one could wish for in a romantic comedy: misunderstandings, handsome strangers (Andreas is a wonderful character, even though he comes with some baggage), a puppy, wonderful food, a beautiful island… and it reminded me of farces, where there are people pretending to be somebody they are not, wearing disguises, hiding and disappearing in the last minute, a lot of close calls, enemies and their machinations (in this case, Emilia’s nasty cousin and a former boyfriend who cheated on her with said cousin), plenty of coincidences, and some hurdles. Because, as we all know, true love never does run smooth. Emilia has to face some hard truths and heartaches; there are lessons to be learned, not only by her, but by some of the other characters too. And there are plenty of hilarious moments as well. I particularly enjoyed the epilogue, where some characters get their more-than-deserved comeuppance. (And a couple of owls play an important part, so, of course, I loved it!)
Even readers who don’t have much in common with Emilia will warm to her, because she has endured some terrible losses, and she’s a very relatable and understandable character. Who wouldn’t want to get a new chance at life if they’d gone through what she did? I loved the “magical” characters as well. A bit like Greek gods, they aren’t beyond playing pranks or making mistakes, and thanks to Chloe, we get to understand how they gain their knowledge and learn the ropes. We even see her undertake another mission, one that will take us back to our school days and will make us smile.
The book is full of delightful descriptions of the island, its people, its food, its smells… and the writing vividly captures the atmosphere and the landscapes of the Greek islands, transporting the reader there. This is a gentle romance, with no explicit sex, and despite the main character's age, I think it is suited to all young and older readers. Anybody who has ever wondered what they would do if given a second chance at life, lovers of romance and stories with a magical twist will enjoy this novel and are likely to start thinking about spending their future holidays in Greece and its islands.
Oh, do read the author’s note at the end. I found it very moving, and it reminds us of the healing power of writing and stories.
July 26, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. I have read all of the books from this author. I loved the characters and the angels that watch over us all. I would highly recommend it.
July 23, 2024
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it. I love Effrosyni’s books. The ones I love are set in Corfu, in a village called Moraitika, where I holiday every year, however, this book is not, it is set on another Island Milos. I loved it all the same. The description of the Island of Milos , was so good that I could conjure it up in my mind, how it looked, and the food descriptions, well, I was salivating. I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy this book as much as the others I have read by Effrosyni , but of course I did, I loved it.As for the story, well, I won’t give anything away, except I felt like I knew the characters,I could picture them in my mind, I could feel everything as they did.A beautiful intriguing tale. I read the book in 3 days, which is a record for me as I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next in the story. I highly recommend reading this book.
July 14, 2024
Romcom with supernatural touches set on MILOS (Cyclades)
The novel opens in Varkiza, Athens, where Emilia is pondering her mid-life birthday, overwhelmed by sadness, when she is approached by Esmera, a gypsy. Emilia spontaneously shares with her the story of her loss, and the situation that has brought her to her despondent state - just turned 45, dispirited about her advancing years and no-one in the world who really cares for her. She yearns for Milos, the island she calls home. She is desperate to regain her youthful years, she would love to be twenty-five again..... and maybe she just can revisit that age but that would come with its own unique problems - as she comes to discover 😉
Esmera encourages Emilia to unhook herself from her negative state of mind and learn to positively reframe the abundant opportunities that Emilia simply cannot see. And then Esmera disappears leaving behind a CD, a singularly old-fashioned piece of equipment.
The very next day Emilia is informed of her aunt's death on Milos, and she sets off for the funeral and for the reading of her aunt's will. She is back on her beloved Milos but the contents of the will stir up old family dynamics that Emilia has to face.
Yet magical things are starting to happen and Emilia, we know, is in good hands as she negotiates her way through the coming days and weeks. A cute puppy crosses her path, as does a certain Andreas, and the gods and their angel messengers somewhere are smiling down on her, the winds of Fate proving auspicious.... Life might just be taking a turn for the better but of course it is not all plain sailing.
A nicely told and heartwarming romcom, with just a touch of the supernatural. Off for a tyropitaki or two and some ouzo! Happy reading.
The novel opens in Varkiza, Athens, where Emilia is pondering her mid-life birthday, overwhelmed by sadness, when she is approached by Esmera, a gypsy. Emilia spontaneously shares with her the story of her loss, and the situation that has brought her to her despondent state - just turned 45, dispirited about her advancing years and no-one in the world who really cares for her. She yearns for Milos, the island she calls home. She is desperate to regain her youthful years, she would love to be twenty-five again..... and maybe she just can revisit that age but that would come with its own unique problems - as she comes to discover 😉
Esmera encourages Emilia to unhook herself from her negative state of mind and learn to positively reframe the abundant opportunities that Emilia simply cannot see. And then Esmera disappears leaving behind a CD, a singularly old-fashioned piece of equipment.
The very next day Emilia is informed of her aunt's death on Milos, and she sets off for the funeral and for the reading of her aunt's will. She is back on her beloved Milos but the contents of the will stir up old family dynamics that Emilia has to face.
Yet magical things are starting to happen and Emilia, we know, is in good hands as she negotiates her way through the coming days and weeks. A cute puppy crosses her path, as does a certain Andreas, and the gods and their angel messengers somewhere are smiling down on her, the winds of Fate proving auspicious.... Life might just be taking a turn for the better but of course it is not all plain sailing.
A nicely told and heartwarming romcom, with just a touch of the supernatural. Off for a tyropitaki or two and some ouzo! Happy reading.
August 16, 2024
As one of Effrosyni's beta readers, I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily choose to review it. Once again Effrosyni has produced a delightful store that will transport the reader to the beautiful country of Greece. The story was amusing, entertaining and, at times, thought-provoking. Effrosyni creates characters with whom you can identify - falling in love with them and hoping that their journey reaches a happy conclusion. Dotted with fun along the way, the story was well constructed and the ending was beautifully written. Effrosyni's description of the Greek islands and the Greek way of life is perfect. Having been lucky enough to have lived in Greece for some years myself, it always feels like I am going home when I read Effrosyni's books, especially with the little droplets of culture, gastronomy, and the unique personalities of the Greek people that pepper the stories. I am looking forward to reading this book again and highly recommend it.
July 22, 2024
Song of Youth
Emilia is at a point in her life where she is lost. The last 20 years have gone by with her caring for sick relatives in Athens, Greece. As she contemplates life one night on the beach she wishes she could relive those 20 years. She is joined on the beach by an elderly women who seems to know everything about her, and gives her an option to go get back those 20 years. She is drawn back to her childhood hometown due to the passing of her Aunt.
As she changes from herself now, to a 20 years younger version, will she find the things she feels she has lost out on. And which version of herself will she choose to be???
This is a very well written book and will keep you engrossed until the end!!
Emilia is at a point in her life where she is lost. The last 20 years have gone by with her caring for sick relatives in Athens, Greece. As she contemplates life one night on the beach she wishes she could relive those 20 years. She is joined on the beach by an elderly women who seems to know everything about her, and gives her an option to go get back those 20 years. She is drawn back to her childhood hometown due to the passing of her Aunt.
As she changes from herself now, to a 20 years younger version, will she find the things she feels she has lost out on. And which version of herself will she choose to be???
This is a very well written book and will keep you engrossed until the end!!
July 23, 2024
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
This would not be my usual choice of genre but having read the authors previous books of a similar genre, I think I may be converted. This book had me intrigued from the start. Effrosyni writes in such a way you totally engage with the characters. I enjoyed the story so much I read it over 2 nights!! Would very highly recommend.
December 24, 2024
The Song of Youth is a sweet, light romance/comedy with an angelic message, engaging characters and a creative story line.
The main character, Emilia, isn’t happy with her life. She feels she has wasted her years and never found love and had a family. Her wish is granted when her guardian angel hears her plea to be young again in order to get a second chance at life. Things aren’t always what they seem Emilia finds out.
An enjoyable light-hearted read.
The main character, Emilia, isn’t happy with her life. She feels she has wasted her years and never found love and had a family. Her wish is granted when her guardian angel hears her plea to be young again in order to get a second chance at life. Things aren’t always what they seem Emilia finds out.
An enjoyable light-hearted read.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews