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Natalie
A private eye finds meaning in a woman’s push for justice. But can they stop New York’s most powerful man from destroying more lives?
Gordon Flynn is a failure. After decades of solving petty crimes, the private investigator is crushed by the realization that his life’s work amounts to nothing. But the wilted detective is reinvigorated when an enigmatic woman asks for help in a matter of life and death.
Teaming up with the elegant femme fatale, Flynn hopes he’s finally found a case with significance. But with her vicious fiancé hunting him, Flynn worries he’s becoming dangerously entangled in a game he’s ill equipped to play.
With justice in the balance and their lives on the line, can Flynn and Natalie bring the sociopath to his knees?
Natalie is an enthralling historical mystery novel. If you like crime, poetic justice, and wrenching plot twists, then you’ll love Josh Roberts’s emotional thrill-ride.
Gordon Flynn is a failure. After decades of solving petty crimes, the private investigator is crushed by the realization that his life’s work amounts to nothing. But the wilted detective is reinvigorated when an enigmatic woman asks for help in a matter of life and death.
Teaming up with the elegant femme fatale, Flynn hopes he’s finally found a case with significance. But with her vicious fiancé hunting him, Flynn worries he’s becoming dangerously entangled in a game he’s ill equipped to play.
With justice in the balance and their lives on the line, can Flynn and Natalie bring the sociopath to his knees?
Natalie is an enthralling historical mystery novel. If you like crime, poetic justice, and wrenching plot twists, then you’ll love Josh Roberts’s emotional thrill-ride.
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About the author
Josh Roberts
2 books440 followersJosh Roberts who has written two novels from his home in Columbus, Ohio, where he lives with his wife and children. When he's not writing, Josh is reading, watching movies, playing with his kids, or building one website or another.
For more information about Josh, what he's working on, or what he's reading, visit:
Website: www.joshmroberts.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/joshrobertsauthor
For more information about Josh, what he's working on, or what he's reading, visit:
Website: www.joshmroberts.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/joshrobertsauthor
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 26, 2023
Natalie by Josh Roberts
Synopsis /
1 body. 2 killers. 14 witnesses. No one knows what happened.
For nearly three months in late 1944, the enigmatic Natalie entwines herself in the lives of Raymond Grant, famed Wall-Street playboy, and Gordon Flynn, seasoned private eye. From the moment Grant lays eyes on her in the Copacabana, he refuses to be without her. And Flynn doesn’t stand a chance against the damsel in distress, sauntering into his office and asking him to peer behind the curtain of one of New York’s brightest shining stars on her behalf. What then leads to Natalie in a standoff with not one, but both of these men in front of fourteen horrified onlookers?
Alluring, mysterious, and completely unrelenting, Natalie is at once a classic noir, a modern heist, and—in a surprising twist on the tried-and-true who-dun-it—a tale of why rather than the who. Roberts enthralls us with a con, a cop, a gumshoe, and investor, each discovering in their own way that everyone has a motive.
My Thoughts /
4 stars rounded up to 4.5
Firstly, my sincere thanks to the Author, Josh Roberts for providing my gifted advanced readers copy for review. Natalie is currently slated for publication end of June 2023.
Throughout time there have been celebrities so iconic they are known by a single name. Examples of these mononymous people include Sting, Madonna, Cher, Bono, Oprah, Elivs, Liberace. This is a group of individuals that do not need a surname to distinguish them in our mind, instantly recognisable for just one name. Now there is Natalie.
I'm having a little difficulty writing this review because I don't want to give anything away. So let me say that Josh Roberts will be an author to keep a close eye on. Clawing Free, Roberts' debut novel, hit the shelves in 2021 and it's clear to this reader that he has been working hard during these last couple of years honing his writing skills because Natalie reads streets ahead of his previously published work. I'm not even sure where I'd categorise Natalie on my bookshelves. I might just need to create a new shelf. Something like "original concept" or "author to watch".
It's early 1940's New York. It was a time where the world was in the midst of battle, but life in 1940s New York was one of vibrancy. The city was riding a wave of triumph, it was a time of unbridled self-confidence. The city had contributed over 850,000 servicemen to the war effort. The explosion in commercial activity brought on by the war had reignited the city's economic engine, carrying it to a level of economic power and dominance like nothing before or since. The war had transformed New York into the capital of the world.
But for all that glorious new growth in industry and commercial activity, there is the flipside, a growth in crime and even worse, greed.
Let's meet Raymond Grant. Raymond is regarded by those who know him, and by those who read gossip mags, as a keen businessman, one who's making his mark on the business world. He also has a reputation of being a Wall Street playboy because he likes to have pretty girls on his arm while he's out and about schmoozing the rich and famous in the social scene. It's at a local fundraising event where Grant, who is 'working' the room, lays eyes on the most beautifully striking woman he has ever seen. He can't take his eyes off her and decides then and there that he must 'have' her for his own. The woman he's referring to of course, is Natalie. But Natalie, has other ideas.
Running in a parallel thread is Gordon Flynn. He's working as a private eye in a small drab non-descript office in the main part of town. His bread-and-butter clients are mainly women wanting him to surveil their husbands for signs of cheating. So it comes as no surprise to Flynn when Natalie knocks on his door - he's thinking to himself - she's beautiful, stunning - why would a husband cheat on a wife who looks like she does? Except, Natalie is not married, and she doesn't want to engage Flynn to run surveillance on a cheating spouse. What Natalie proposes to Flynn that morning, sitting opposite him in his drab little office, will send him down a path of no return - if, he agrees.
The writing here is crisp and the parallel threads follow each other smoothly. The author unveils just a little bit more about Natalie with each chapter and will quickly reel you in. I certainly have no complaints about the quality of the writing, any quibbles I might have with this book, say more about me as a non-patient reader - I would have liked to be let into more about Natalie's 'why' a little earlier on in the book. But then again, I hate waiting - so don't mind me.
This one line in the synopsis covers it all. 1 body. 2 killers. 14 witnesses. No one knows what happened.
It's one hell of a journey and one that I'm glad I was able to take.
Synopsis /
1 body. 2 killers. 14 witnesses. No one knows what happened.
For nearly three months in late 1944, the enigmatic Natalie entwines herself in the lives of Raymond Grant, famed Wall-Street playboy, and Gordon Flynn, seasoned private eye. From the moment Grant lays eyes on her in the Copacabana, he refuses to be without her. And Flynn doesn’t stand a chance against the damsel in distress, sauntering into his office and asking him to peer behind the curtain of one of New York’s brightest shining stars on her behalf. What then leads to Natalie in a standoff with not one, but both of these men in front of fourteen horrified onlookers?
Alluring, mysterious, and completely unrelenting, Natalie is at once a classic noir, a modern heist, and—in a surprising twist on the tried-and-true who-dun-it—a tale of why rather than the who. Roberts enthralls us with a con, a cop, a gumshoe, and investor, each discovering in their own way that everyone has a motive.
My Thoughts /
4 stars rounded up to 4.5
Firstly, my sincere thanks to the Author, Josh Roberts for providing my gifted advanced readers copy for review. Natalie is currently slated for publication end of June 2023.
Throughout time there have been celebrities so iconic they are known by a single name. Examples of these mononymous people include Sting, Madonna, Cher, Bono, Oprah, Elivs, Liberace. This is a group of individuals that do not need a surname to distinguish them in our mind, instantly recognisable for just one name. Now there is Natalie.
I'm having a little difficulty writing this review because I don't want to give anything away. So let me say that Josh Roberts will be an author to keep a close eye on. Clawing Free, Roberts' debut novel, hit the shelves in 2021 and it's clear to this reader that he has been working hard during these last couple of years honing his writing skills because Natalie reads streets ahead of his previously published work. I'm not even sure where I'd categorise Natalie on my bookshelves. I might just need to create a new shelf. Something like "original concept" or "author to watch".
It's early 1940's New York. It was a time where the world was in the midst of battle, but life in 1940s New York was one of vibrancy. The city was riding a wave of triumph, it was a time of unbridled self-confidence. The city had contributed over 850,000 servicemen to the war effort. The explosion in commercial activity brought on by the war had reignited the city's economic engine, carrying it to a level of economic power and dominance like nothing before or since. The war had transformed New York into the capital of the world.
But for all that glorious new growth in industry and commercial activity, there is the flipside, a growth in crime and even worse, greed.
Let's meet Raymond Grant. Raymond is regarded by those who know him, and by those who read gossip mags, as a keen businessman, one who's making his mark on the business world. He also has a reputation of being a Wall Street playboy because he likes to have pretty girls on his arm while he's out and about schmoozing the rich and famous in the social scene. It's at a local fundraising event where Grant, who is 'working' the room, lays eyes on the most beautifully striking woman he has ever seen. He can't take his eyes off her and decides then and there that he must 'have' her for his own. The woman he's referring to of course, is Natalie. But Natalie, has other ideas.
Running in a parallel thread is Gordon Flynn. He's working as a private eye in a small drab non-descript office in the main part of town. His bread-and-butter clients are mainly women wanting him to surveil their husbands for signs of cheating. So it comes as no surprise to Flynn when Natalie knocks on his door - he's thinking to himself - she's beautiful, stunning - why would a husband cheat on a wife who looks like she does? Except, Natalie is not married, and she doesn't want to engage Flynn to run surveillance on a cheating spouse. What Natalie proposes to Flynn that morning, sitting opposite him in his drab little office, will send him down a path of no return - if, he agrees.
The writing here is crisp and the parallel threads follow each other smoothly. The author unveils just a little bit more about Natalie with each chapter and will quickly reel you in. I certainly have no complaints about the quality of the writing, any quibbles I might have with this book, say more about me as a non-patient reader - I would have liked to be let into more about Natalie's 'why' a little earlier on in the book. But then again, I hate waiting - so don't mind me.
This one line in the synopsis covers it all. 1 body. 2 killers. 14 witnesses. No one knows what happened.
It's one hell of a journey and one that I'm glad I was able to take.
June 27, 2023
Genre: Thriller, NA
Tropes: classy revenge, crime, modern heist, 1940 American glam
Trigger Warnings: death, torture
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
Spice: 0/5 🌶
"There’s something miraculous in those times in which the mundane crosses paths with the extraordinary."
First of all, many thanks to Josh Roberts for this ARC. It was great and I enjoyed it immensely.
This was a gripping tale about revenge and, as always, when served cold and by a classy dame, I'm all ears (or, errr.. all eyes in this case). Easy to read, fast-paced and with interesting characters, Natalie is the perfect choice for fans of Gillian Flynn.
》》The Plot《《
“You would die for this?”
“Dying for this would be so much easier than living with the knowledge I could have put him away. If it takes me putting my head on the block to take him off the streets, that’s exactly where I’ll lay it.”
A hideous crime committed by two men and observed by 14 shocked witnesses results in the death of a stunning and mysterious woman: Natalie. No other name, no known background, nothing. Just Natalie. The killers? The famous and rich Raymond Grant, Wall Street playboy and Gordon Flynn, experienced private investigator. And yet, what happened?
“But first you’ll answer one question.”
“Yes?”
“Is this dangerous?”
“Not yet.”
Combining past and present, the story unfolds on two lines: one, after the murder, where Everett Hart and his partner are investigating Natalie's death, trying to understand what were the actions and the reasons that lead to her death. As both Raymond and Gordon are rather cryptic, the investigation follows a twisted thread, each chapter bringing answers but also new questions about Natalie. In parallel, the other line takes us through the past, from the first moment Raymond Grant has seen Natalie and has decided to make her his, continuing with Natalie's meeting with Gordon Flynn to ask for his private eye services and building all the way up to the moment of her death. Masterfully intertwined, the two threads give a little more with each new page, while also keeping the mystery intact until the very end.
》》Characters and Relationships《《
👩🏼 Natalie
“How about you? What kind of girl is Natalie?”
“Unrelenting. I’m a force to be reckoned with, Mister Grant.”
Natalie, just Natalie, is indeed a forced to be reckoned with as she, herself, has warned from the beginning and as, one by one, the men dominate the story will discover. She was determined and with a charm and quick wits I'm looking for in every heroine. She was easy to admire but difficult to understand, as the motif behind her actions, the 'why' of the story, was a secret revealed very late along the way.
🧑🏻Raymond Grant
“Are you saying you’re a liar, then?”
“Not in the strictest of terms.” His smile stretched even wider. “I’ve told a well-placed fib here or there. But I’m a man willing to do things that other men won’t do, so I can do things that other men can’t.”
I can't think of a moment I looked at his character and I thought 'he might be a good guy'. From the very beginning he felt like the embodiment of all the greed, corruption and cruelty of the rich and unscrupulous new yorker, the dark side of all that American glam.
🕵🏽♂️Gordon Flynn
“I’ve thought of a lot of ways to die. None of them were as pleasant as hand in hand with the elusive Natalie.”
“Be careful, Gordon, your heart is showing.”
“And here you are, holding a knife.”
Now, here, I could see the good guy. Just like a mirror that reflects the opposite, Flynn seems to be everything Grant was not. But then, how could he be a murderer? Why the crime?
》》Conclusion《《
“I loved her. I love her. Without meeting her, you would never get it. She was light. She was . . .” He searched for the right words to describe the girl. “She was joy.” Tears welled in his eyes. “She didn’t just walk into a room. It was like . . . before she entered, there wasn’t a room. There was nothing. But when Natalie came in, there was everything. And everyone sensed it. Married, unmarried, young, old, we were all in love with her.”
All in all, I can't say too much, as it would be a shame to give anything away. But this was a book about a girl seeking revenge in a stylish manner, a book about corruption and greed but also about righting wrongs. Any Gone Girl fan should give Natalie a chance.
Tropes: classy revenge, crime, modern heist, 1940 American glam
Trigger Warnings: death, torture
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
Spice: 0/5 🌶
"There’s something miraculous in those times in which the mundane crosses paths with the extraordinary."
First of all, many thanks to Josh Roberts for this ARC. It was great and I enjoyed it immensely.
This was a gripping tale about revenge and, as always, when served cold and by a classy dame, I'm all ears (or, errr.. all eyes in this case). Easy to read, fast-paced and with interesting characters, Natalie is the perfect choice for fans of Gillian Flynn.
》》The Plot《《
“You would die for this?”
“Dying for this would be so much easier than living with the knowledge I could have put him away. If it takes me putting my head on the block to take him off the streets, that’s exactly where I’ll lay it.”
A hideous crime committed by two men and observed by 14 shocked witnesses results in the death of a stunning and mysterious woman: Natalie. No other name, no known background, nothing. Just Natalie. The killers? The famous and rich Raymond Grant, Wall Street playboy and Gordon Flynn, experienced private investigator. And yet, what happened?
“But first you’ll answer one question.”
“Yes?”
“Is this dangerous?”
“Not yet.”
Combining past and present, the story unfolds on two lines: one, after the murder, where Everett Hart and his partner are investigating Natalie's death, trying to understand what were the actions and the reasons that lead to her death. As both Raymond and Gordon are rather cryptic, the investigation follows a twisted thread, each chapter bringing answers but also new questions about Natalie. In parallel, the other line takes us through the past, from the first moment Raymond Grant has seen Natalie and has decided to make her his, continuing with Natalie's meeting with Gordon Flynn to ask for his private eye services and building all the way up to the moment of her death. Masterfully intertwined, the two threads give a little more with each new page, while also keeping the mystery intact until the very end.
》》Characters and Relationships《《
👩🏼 Natalie
“How about you? What kind of girl is Natalie?”
“Unrelenting. I’m a force to be reckoned with, Mister Grant.”
Natalie, just Natalie, is indeed a forced to be reckoned with as she, herself, has warned from the beginning and as, one by one, the men dominate the story will discover. She was determined and with a charm and quick wits I'm looking for in every heroine. She was easy to admire but difficult to understand, as the motif behind her actions, the 'why' of the story, was a secret revealed very late along the way.
🧑🏻Raymond Grant
“Are you saying you’re a liar, then?”
“Not in the strictest of terms.” His smile stretched even wider. “I’ve told a well-placed fib here or there. But I’m a man willing to do things that other men won’t do, so I can do things that other men can’t.”
I can't think of a moment I looked at his character and I thought 'he might be a good guy'. From the very beginning he felt like the embodiment of all the greed, corruption and cruelty of the rich and unscrupulous new yorker, the dark side of all that American glam.
🕵🏽♂️Gordon Flynn
“I’ve thought of a lot of ways to die. None of them were as pleasant as hand in hand with the elusive Natalie.”
“Be careful, Gordon, your heart is showing.”
“And here you are, holding a knife.”
Now, here, I could see the good guy. Just like a mirror that reflects the opposite, Flynn seems to be everything Grant was not. But then, how could he be a murderer? Why the crime?
》》Conclusion《《
“I loved her. I love her. Without meeting her, you would never get it. She was light. She was . . .” He searched for the right words to describe the girl. “She was joy.” Tears welled in his eyes. “She didn’t just walk into a room. It was like . . . before she entered, there wasn’t a room. There was nothing. But when Natalie came in, there was everything. And everyone sensed it. Married, unmarried, young, old, we were all in love with her.”
All in all, I can't say too much, as it would be a shame to give anything away. But this was a book about a girl seeking revenge in a stylish manner, a book about corruption and greed but also about righting wrongs. Any Gone Girl fan should give Natalie a chance.
July 4, 2023
Such an unique noir crime book with the 40s glamour, gangs like Al Capone style and the icon female character that will do everything for justice. In this novel we know from the beginning who was the true criminal, the question is who was Natalie and why did she involved with Grant? And why an private detective help this criminal, when he was hired for investigate him.
Really suprised so invested I was in this story, since I do not read much crime novels. But this is some special book, all because of the Natalie character that still in the end remains a mystery. The ending took me by suprise too.
Thanks for the author for give me this ARC in exchance of an honest review. It really was an plesuare read this novel.
Really suprised so invested I was in this story, since I do not read much crime novels. But this is some special book, all because of the Natalie character that still in the end remains a mystery. The ending took me by suprise too.
Thanks for the author for give me this ARC in exchance of an honest review. It really was an plesuare read this novel.
May 27, 2023
This was a really great fact paced thriller that was really cleverly plotted. Why is a girl standing at the end of a pier with two men holding guns in her face threatening to kill her? With witnesses claiming that the girl wants to be killed is boastful about it. This story follows Natalie and her plot to get Raymond Grants money for this moment but what is the bigger picture?
So I had some predictions about what Natalie was planning to do but I was proven wrong because the backstory, the PI's involvement what Grant did I would have never have guessed this was a great read. I loved the era, the strong female character putting a misogynist, sexist man down. I loved the PI and his story the police and Natalie. The ending was the best thing ever the pier and how all of that went down was so clever and so heart breaking at the same time. I really would love to watch this if it was made into an adaptation.
Thank you to the author for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I would highly recommend this book you won't regret it.
Quotes/
'She knew before you could twist the knife, you had to be close enough to put it in your enemy’s back.'
'I think people would do better to understand each other before becoming too close.'
So I had some predictions about what Natalie was planning to do but I was proven wrong because the backstory, the PI's involvement what Grant did I would have never have guessed this was a great read. I loved the era, the strong female character putting a misogynist, sexist man down. I loved the PI and his story the police and Natalie. The ending was the best thing ever the pier and how all of that went down was so clever and so heart breaking at the same time. I really would love to watch this if it was made into an adaptation.
Thank you to the author for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I would highly recommend this book you won't regret it.
Quotes/
'She knew before you could twist the knife, you had to be close enough to put it in your enemy’s back.'
'I think people would do better to understand each other before becoming too close.'
June 16, 2023
An enjoyable book full of suspense! There was always that why for Natalie that kept me turning the pages to learn more. I loved Natalie’s strength and perseverance along with the way she wove others in for support.
July 2, 2023
Set in 1940s Manhattan, this novel was pure noire goodness - intrigue, deception, revenge and redemption.
Natalie, our story’s femme fatale with a mysterious past, seeks revenge on the man who wronged her, the powerful millionaire Raymond Grant. Why? You’ll have to read to find out.
I quite enjoyed this book and was kept guessing through its many twists and turns. The writing was sharp and it felt very much like watching an old noire flick à la Humphrey Bogart.
Speaking of old movies, a less favorable review on here said they found the near-perfect “not like other girls” Natalie character somewhat cliché, but I don’t entirely agree. The characters in this book are classic archetypes of the genre, and I don’t think the intent of the book was to stray very far from that fantasy. I wouldn’t bat an eye at this sort of character in an old movie, and I don’t here either. It’s glossy, it’s thrilling, it’s romantic - what more could you ask for?
Overall, a fun book that’s hard to put down. I recommend to anyone in the mood for gangsters, smokey piano bars, French 75 cocktails and intrigue. Five stars!
Natalie, our story’s femme fatale with a mysterious past, seeks revenge on the man who wronged her, the powerful millionaire Raymond Grant. Why? You’ll have to read to find out.
I quite enjoyed this book and was kept guessing through its many twists and turns. The writing was sharp and it felt very much like watching an old noire flick à la Humphrey Bogart.
Speaking of old movies, a less favorable review on here said they found the near-perfect “not like other girls” Natalie character somewhat cliché, but I don’t entirely agree. The characters in this book are classic archetypes of the genre, and I don’t think the intent of the book was to stray very far from that fantasy. I wouldn’t bat an eye at this sort of character in an old movie, and I don’t here either. It’s glossy, it’s thrilling, it’s romantic - what more could you ask for?
Overall, a fun book that’s hard to put down. I recommend to anyone in the mood for gangsters, smokey piano bars, French 75 cocktails and intrigue. Five stars!
July 15, 2023
It's very engaging and well written. In starting, it might seem a bit slow paced but with going through each chapter you'll find yourself immersed in the world of this suspense crime thriller. Thank you Josh Roberts for the ARC. I'm happy to have had the opportunity to read and review.
June 14, 2023
I was contacted directly by the author and offered an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed his debut novel, but this one fell flat for me. I DNF at 25%.
The writing is good but the characters are intolerable to me. As soon as I heard "not like other girls" I bowed out. Classic perfect rich girl who no one understands and sleazy "I'm going to get the girl" man. Not my cup of tea.
I really enjoyed his debut novel, but this one fell flat for me. I DNF at 25%.
The writing is good but the characters are intolerable to me. As soon as I heard "not like other girls" I bowed out. Classic perfect rich girl who no one understands and sleazy "I'm going to get the girl" man. Not my cup of tea.
June 21, 2023
Excellent read! I love a good mystery and throw in gangsters and a few well-placed plot twists... well, I'm a happy reader.
Natalie is an almost mystical character. Too beautiful for words, and so charismatic and attractive that the draw to her by everyone who sees her, male or female, just because she is so, so something, made me want to keep reading and digging into the story. Continuing to read in the hopes she might live; in the hope of learning her secrets.
This book isn't perfect (what is!), but it's a perfect read. Not too long and drawn out, but long enough to tell the tale without an abrupt and unsatisfying ending. Everything is brought to a finish, and the book can be closed. Thank you, Josh Roberts for the ARC. I am delighted to have had the opportunity to read and review.
Worthy of being taken to the big screen. I'll help with the casting!
Natalie is an almost mystical character. Too beautiful for words, and so charismatic and attractive that the draw to her by everyone who sees her, male or female, just because she is so, so something, made me want to keep reading and digging into the story. Continuing to read in the hopes she might live; in the hope of learning her secrets.
This book isn't perfect (what is!), but it's a perfect read. Not too long and drawn out, but long enough to tell the tale without an abrupt and unsatisfying ending. Everything is brought to a finish, and the book can be closed. Thank you, Josh Roberts for the ARC. I am delighted to have had the opportunity to read and review.
Worthy of being taken to the big screen. I'll help with the casting!
July 4, 2023
Very good read
Great characters, interesting plots twists. You will learn to like, love, and hate the cast, but good luck trying to figure it all out!
Great characters, interesting plots twists. You will learn to like, love, and hate the cast, but good luck trying to figure it all out!
June 30, 2023
This was a really great and unique story! A lot of thought and research went into this one. I wish I would’ve read it straight through rather than a piece here and there (due to having to read on my phone) because I got confused and would have to go back to remember things. Loved the setting! I pictured Grace Kelly as Natalie!!! Loved the bit of mystery but just overall a well told engrossing story.
June 7, 2023
Intriguing storyline! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. I received an ARC from the author. This is my honest opinion.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews