Disenchanted by Lucy Jane Wood is the third novel in the cozy standalone fantasy series Bewitched. Here we meet a reluctant witch named Sage Hemlock whose working on an exhibition on magic in the cozy town of Port Sylvan. When the grimoire of Lilara Mournfell appears she and her friend and co-worker Casimi must fix the spell it opens.

Sage Hemlock has no interest in embracing her witchy side. Magic has betrayed her before, bringing nothing but heartache, and she will not let something so foolish happen again.

Instead, Sage has thrown herself into her work and studies, running the local museum and largely preferring the company of her library and her cat to other humans. Her one goal is to fly under the coven's radar so that she can finally shed her blasted powers forever.

But when a strange historical book accidentally triggers a curse, Sage's quiet, small-town life is suddenly overrun and magic is running rife. A beanstalk grows in her garden, and her friend and co-worker Casimir starts to look an awful lot like a handsome prince. Fairytales are coming true . . .

Now, with the threat of the coven on her tail, Sage must confront the magic she’s always denied to solve the mysteries of the book and save everyone she’s come to love from being lost to a fairy tale forever. The question is, can she finally learn to be her own happily ever after?

Disenchanted is the perfect autumn cozy with a little mystery, self-discovery, and magic. The romance in this one is served solidly on the side as a deliciously cute and loyal slow-burn.

Sage Hemlock is working on an exhibit about magic and the town of Port Sylvan when she isn’t giving magical historical tours. Sage may possess magic, but a tragic event in her past makes her avoid it. All magic comes with a cost, or goes sideways for her. Because of this, she keeps her head down and focuses on things she can trust, like books, history, and family.

Sage’s best friend from college and co-worker, Casimi, knows all about her magic, the tragedy, and Sage’s struggles. To anyone around them, it’s obvious Casimi has it bad. When a strange package is delivered containing a grimoire, Casimi, her family, and ghostly cook will all be there for her.

I got caught up in this one as the town transformed and Sage found herself. We learn more about the witch Lilara Mournfell and about Sage’s own tragic past as the story unfolds. The romantic development felt genuine and left me grinning.

From familiars to beanstalks, Disenchanted delivered a well-paced cozy fantasy filled with magic, character growth, family, and heart.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Lucy Jane Wood

Lucy Jane Wood is an online content creator, avid reader and cosiness-seeker from the Wirral. These days, you’ll find her living in London, giant coffee in hand, and being headbutted at any given time by her cat.

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The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @CaffeinatedReviewer. It’s a chance to share news — a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join weekly, biweekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

A three-day weekend is just what I needed. For the month of August I read/listened to 16 books and met my Goodreads goal of 150 books. I am not going to reset it, but rather see what more I can accomplish. For the rest of my challenges- 12/12 Library books and 94/150 for Audiobooks. Stay caffeinated & spread kindness.

Last Week on the Blog

• The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies by Kate Westbury (book review)
• Paper Ghosts by Sarah Addison Allen (book review)
• Rapport by Martha Wells (audiobook review)
• The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon (audiobook & book review)

This Week on the Blog

• Disenchanted by Lucy Jane Wood (book review)
• A Time of Witches by Madeline Martin (audiobook review)
• Frost and Venom by Christine Feehan (book review)

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

• We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman
• A Divided Duty by Seanan McGuire

A special thank you to PRH Audio, Macmillan Audio

Around The Blogosphere

• Library Love Bingo
• Make the switch to Libro.fm and support independent bookstores. You’ll get two audiobooks when you sign up.

Link Up Your Edition Of The Sunday Post

Before you link up, please be sure your weekly post includes a link back to Caffeinated Reviewer and the Sunday Post.

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I love historical fiction blended with historical figures and was delighted to read along as I listened to The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon, narrated by Tara Flynn. You’ll want to grab this and discover the adventures of Grace O’Malley, the infamous Irish sea captain who protected her clan against the Elizabethan regime. Danger, Romance and adventure await you on the high seas.

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Frozen River and I Was Anastasia, a thrilling historical adventure inspired by the life of Grace O'Malley, the infamous Irish sea captain and folk heroine who risked everything to protect her people against the powerful Elizabethan regime

Grace O'Malley was born to be at sea. Raised alongside her brother by their father, chief of the name of clan O'Malley, Grace learns early that her dreams of the open water are not compatible with the life she's expected to lead as the daughter of a noble family. And when her father marries her to the wrong man, a neighboring chief named Donhal, Grace's world shifts for the worse.

Undaunted, Grace raises a family without abandoning her passion, aiding her hot-tempered husband in his campaigns against rival tribes. Eventually ousted from her husband's land in the wake of his death, Grace returns to her childhood home and begins her career as a pirate in earnest, claiming new territories and finding deeper love, only to see her livelihood threatened by English incursions into Ireland, and her family endangered in an attempt to check her power.

Tenderly observed and fiercely written, Ariel Lawhon's gripping latest channels the natural beauty of sixteenth-century Ireland alongside the brutality of the period as seen through the eyes of an unforgettable heroine and defender of her people, who truly earned the title "the Pirate Queen of Ireland."

First, I have to commend Lawhon for shining a light on Grace O’Malley. She did an excellent job of delivering a compelling story with the limited amount of historical information available while still staying true to the details.

I will be the first to admit I have read very little fiction surrounding the Tudor era and Queen Elizabeth and her battles with Ireland. After reading the Pirate Queen, I fear I need to amend that.

The timeline in non-linear as we meet Grace and her clan. It begins when she is young and discovers her love of the sea, then it transports us through her life as she falls in love, is forced into an arranged marriage, bears children and ultimately commands a ship to protect her family and clan.

The tale that unfolded was addictive, and I loved Grace from her fearlessness to her sense of duty. She was clever, determined and used the disadvantages of being a woman to her advantage. I laughed, cried, got angry and slipped into the story and these characters.

Do not miss the author’s notes at the end. I had the pleasure of reading along as I listened to the narration performed by Tara Flynn. Flynn did a splendid job of capturing the force of Grace and made listening an immersive experience. I highly recommend grabbing your earbuds for this one.

If you love strong historical women, high seas adventure, and the shores of Ireland, you will want to grab The Pirate Queen.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Ariel Lawhon

Ariel Lawhon is the critically acclaimed, New York Times Bestselling author of THE WIFE, THE MAID, AND THE MISTRESS, FLIGHT OF DREAMS, I WAS ANASTASIA, and CODE NAME HELENE. Her books have been translated into numerous languages and have been Library Reads, One Book One County, Indie Next, Costco, and Book of the Month Club selections. She lives in the rolling hills outside Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband, four sons, and black Lab—who is, thankfully, a girl. Ariel splits her time between the grocery store and the baseball field.

Website

About Tara Flynn

Tara Flynn is an acclaimed Irish actress, writer, and prolific audiobook narrator known for performing popular contemporary fiction.

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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It’s no secret that I absolutely love the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells narrated by Kevin R. Free. So when one of the shorts became available I had to listen. At just under an hour, Wells offers a glimpse into a mission involving ART, Iris, Tarik, and Matteo.

Perihelion and its crew embark on a dangerous new mission at a corporate-controlled station in the throes of a hostile takeover...

Rapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy features sound design and special effects to enhance your listening enjoyment

While Rapport was released after Systems Collapse, the events take place after the second audiobook, Artificial Conditions. It doesn’t matter when you listen to Rapport, but for the record, it is Murderbot Diaries 2.5, and if you haven’t begun this series, it would be more insightful to read it after Artificial Conditions.

Rapport is very short and just 53 minutes long. It’s not a complete story but a glimpse into the Perihelion crew as they begin a dangerous mission on a corporate-controlled station. The station is in the middle of a hostile takeover, making it extremely difficult. They are looking for pre-rim artifacts, and it’s a good thing ART has learned some new tricks.

I loved the inside look at the dynamics of this team. Especially the relationship between ART and Iris. Looking back, as I have listened to all the novellas, this short story hints at things regarding team members and gives us a closer look into the world itself.

Kevin R. Free narrates this series, and I was delighted to listen to this short. I had imagined that these shorts would be put into an audiobook anthology, but it appears TOR will release them individually on audio. At least for now.

Amazon | Audible

About Martha Wells

Martha Wells has written many fantasy novels, including The Books of the Raksura series (beginning with The Cloud Roads), the Ile-Rien series (including The Death of the Necromancer) as well as YA fantasy novels, short stories, media tie-ins (for Star Wars and Stargate: Atlantis), and non-fiction. Her most recent fantasy novel is The Harbors of the Sun in 2017, the final novel in The Books of the Raksura series. She has a new series of SF novellas, The Murderbot Diaries, published by Tor.com in 2017 and 2018. She was also the lead writer for the story team of Magic: the Gathering's Dominaria expansion in 2018. She has won a Nebula Award, an ALA/YALSA Alex Award, a Locus Award, and her work has appeared on the Hugo, Nebula, and Philip K. Dick Award ballots, the USA Today Bestseller List, and the New York Times Bestseller List. Her books have been published in eleven languages.

Website

About Kevin R. Free

Kevin R. Free is an actor, writer, director, and producer whose work has been developed both regionally and in NYC. He is an accomplished voice actor, having created voices for commercials and, most notably, the voice of Kevin for the popular podcast Welcome to Night Vale. He is proud of his 20 years as an audiobook narrator whose work spans many genres.

Website

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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Paper Ghosts by Sarah Addison Allen delivered a love story steeped in magical realism that pulled me in with the secrets that lie beyond the front doors of the Wester House. You’ll want to curl up with this southern fiction and uncover the Wester women’s secrets.

Part ghost story, part love story and steeped in magical realism, Paper Ghosts will transport you to a place where old secrets echo through the years and love finds a way of bringing us home.

Every family has its secrets . . .The Wester women live inside theirs.

For decades, the women of Wester House have unsettled and fascinated their small, timeless North Carolina town. Their home is full of whispers, old griefs, and uncanny knowing. But when Willamena Wester reaches out to the granddaughter she once pushed away, long-buried truths begin to stir.

1976:

Restless young Willamena falls for a stranded musician who brings freedom and the promise of another life to her carefully controlled world. Their brief, incandescent love story promises to escape the pull of the Wester legacy until Willamena makes a fateful choice that changes her life forever.

Present Day:

Returning home is the last thing Bailey Wester wants. Yet as she reconnects with Willamena, the grandmother she feared, Bailey begins to understand the love, heartbreak, and impossible choices that shaped the women in her family and realizes the past may not have been trying to haunt them after all.

A luminous novel filled with Sarah Addison Allen’s stunning prose and signature blend of romance, Southern charm, and wonder, Paper Ghosts reminds us that in order to have the future we really want, sometimes we need to live with the past, and not let go of it.

The story begins in 1976 in a small North Carolina town owned by the Westers. Here we meet Willamena Wester, who resides at Wester House with her grandmother. This is her senior year of high school, and her grandmother has her life mapped out for her, including who she’ll marry. All that changes when a band performs at the school with ties to the town.

The tale that unfolded was steeped in magical realism and pulled me in. Willamena is restless and feels the chains that bind her future even as she is determined to accept them. Her grandmother seems to be all-knowing, and the townsfolk readily do her bidding; some even fear her. When a young musician named Jack gets stuck in town and gives guitar lessons for bus fare, Willamena is like a moth to a flame. Allen pulled me into this forbidden romance and its outcome.

Then the story transports us to the present, where we meet Bailey Wester, Willamena’s granddaughter. When her son and granddaughter move into Wester House, we see a repeat of 1976, but also learn what happened to Willamena and Jack.

The tale was atmospheric, and the reveal of the title was cool. The conclusion, while sad, left me satisfied. If you are a fan of Garden Spells and Allen, you will want to add this to your fall reading list.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Sarah Addison Allen

New York Times Bestselling novelist Sarah Addison Allen brings the full flavor of her southern upbringing to bear on her fiction -- a captivating blend of magical realism, heartwarming romance, and small-town sensibility. Her big break occurred in 2007 with the publication of her first mainstream novel, Garden Spells, a modern-day fairy tale about an enchanted apple tree and the family of North Carolina women who tend it. Booklist called Allen's accomplished debut "spellbindingly charming." The novel became a Barnes & Noble Recommends selection, and then a New York Times Bestseller. Allen continues to serve heaping helpings of the fantastic and the familiar in fiction she describes as "Southern-fried magic realism." Clearly, it's a recipe readers are happy to eat up as fast as she can dish it out.

Website | Blog | Facebook

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The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies by Kate Westbury delivered an engaging historical murder mystery set against post-WWII Oxford University. Murder, spies and romance wrapped in a clever tale make this the perfect fall mystery to add to your list!

Set against the backdrop of post-WWII Oxford University, The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies is the irresistible debut from Kate Westbury that seamlessly layers mystery, romance, and a dash of academia to introduce the Crown’s newest undercover operatives.

Oxford, England, 1951 - The Honorable Ginevra Bishop likes red lipstick, clever retorts, and earning top marks in her tutorials. She’s following her mother’s footsteps by studying at Oxford, eager to prove she’s more than a debutante.

Sidney Braithwaite likes brooding, Latin, and ignoring his nightmares. He’s determined to forge a new life for himself at Oxford, far from his childhood mining village and free from memories of the war.

Though Gin and Sidney have little in common, the British Security Service is keen to unite her charm with his espionage there’s a Soviet spy at the university, and the agent tracking them down was poisoned. MI5 wants Gin and Sidney to pick up the trail and identify the informant before more sensitive information is compromised. As a team, the pair of undergraduates clash in personality, upbringing, and taste––but have a connection neither can deny. Gin and Sidney must unite their respective talents to follow the clues before they’re caught in the traitor’s crosshairs…if the sparks flying between them don’t blow up the operation first.

We meet the Honorable Ginevra Bishop in the library of Oxford, where she attends college. She is following in her late mother’s footsteps and is studying languages. She has plans, even if her father is pushing her to marry. Sidney Braithwaite is determined to buckle down after dealing with the war and trouble at home. While the two don’t move in the same circles, I found their first interaction intriguing and was curious to see how things unfold.

After the two discover the librarian in the gardens suffering from an apparent heart attack, they are approached by the British Security Service. Sidney was an agent during the war, and they want them to help find answers. MI5 believes there is a Soviet spy at the university. The librarian was working for them and was close to uncovering the spy before he was murdered.

I was all in, from the mystery to Gin’s bold investigative skills and Sidney’s wish for it all to go away. The author did a splendid job of unraveling the mystery while sharing Gin and Sidney’s backstories and fanning the chemistry between them. The romance is a slow-burn and one I hope develops further in the next book.

From the historical backdrop to the problems that vex women, the story hooked me. I loved the spying, the gathering of clues, and seeing Gin and Sidney work together. I loved the nod to academia, from heated debates to the library itself. Outside interference dampened the romance before Gin set the record straight. I loved her spunky personality. She takes risks where Sidney is slow and methodical. Together they make the perfect team.

The case wrapped up splendidly, and I am eager to see what the next novel brings. Perfect for fans of historical mysteries served with a side of romance.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Kate Westbury

Kate Westbury grew up a voracious reader of detective fiction, and unraveling plot twists became her favorite pastime. She now puts her whodunnit obsession to good use writing historical mysteries. Beyond the page, Kate teaches Latin and dreams of moving to an English village with crimes to solve.

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The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @CaffeinatedReviewer. It’s a chance to share news — a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join weekly, biweekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

Cooler mornings and the last weekend of August have me thinking of witchy books and horror whilst mourning the end of summer. It was a crappy news week and my heart goes out to the people of Nepal. Stay caffeinated & spread kindness.

Last Week on the Blog

• Library of Forbidden Books by Mario Escobar (book review)
• Wolftamer by Maggie Rapier (book review)
• The Unexpected Guest by Agatha Christie, adapted by Charles Osborne (guest post/ audiobook review)
• Thaw of Spring & Burn of Summer by Rebecca Zanetti (book review)

This Week on the Blog

• The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies by Kate Westbury (book review)
• Paper Ghosts by Sarah Addison Allen (book review)
• Rapport by Martha Wells (audiobook review)
• The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon (book & audiobook review)

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

• A Time of Witches by Madeline Martin

A special thank you to Libro.fm

Around The Blogosphere

• Make the switch to Libro.fm and support independent bookstores. You’ll get two audiobooks when you sign up.

Link Up Your Edition Of The Sunday Post

Before you link up, please be sure your weekly post includes a link back to Caffeinated Reviewer and the Sunday Post.

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I love books/series set in Alaska. When you toss in brothers, I am all in. Such is the case with the Knife’s Edge, Alaska series. Each book shares one of the four Osprey brothers’ stories. The brothers have returned from military service with shadows in their eyes and secrets in their hearts. Suspense, small-town antics, and swoon-worthy romances make these a must for fans of romantic suspense.

Welcome to Knife's Edge, Alaska, where the four Osprey brothers return from military service with shadows in their eyes and secrets in their hearts. As danger looms, new romances ignite, and these rugged men must fight for love…and survival.

Christian Osprey prefers the wilderness to the company of people. A former Navy Special Operator, he’s built for isolation and thrives in the untamed wild. He doesn’t want ties, doesn’t need anyone—but he can’t seem to stay away from Amka, the soft-eyed tavern owner who always greets him with a warm smile, a hot cup of coffee, and no expectations.

Amka Pinga has spent her life being strong for everyone else, even as her own life unravels. Trapped in an engagement that feels more like a cage, she’s tangled in obligations that threaten to break her spirit. Christian’s quiet strength feels like a lifeline she doesn’t dare reach for—but danger is circling Knife’s Edge, and this time, she’s at the center of it.

When Amka becomes a target, Christian will stop at nothing to protect her. But their simmering attraction explodes into something fierce and undeniable, and keeping her close blurs the line between protection and possession. In a town where secrets run deeper than the icy rivers and trust is as treacherous as thin ice, survival means risking everything—even their hearts.

Thaw of Spring belongs to former Navy Special Operator Christian Osprey. Christian isn’t cut out for an office job and needs the open skies and earth beneath his feet. He prefers isolation and the great outdoors, but he can’t seem to stay away from Amka Pinga, the local tavern owner. This one hooked me, and I have to admit I have a soft spot for Christian and his wolf.

Amka is engaged, and instead of feeling joy, she feels trapped. As her feelings for Christian bloom, the walls of her cage close-in and the danger grows. I loved the chemistry between them and Amka’s acceptance of who Christian is.

Zanetti knows how to build tension and has created characters I care about. All of which kept me reading into the wee hours. The chemistry, siblings, and local community only heightened my enjoyment. I found myself completely caught up in their story and needed a happily ever after.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

Welcome to Knife’s Edge, Alaska, where the four Osprey brothers return from military service with shadows in their eyes and secrets in their hearts. As danger looms, new romances ignite, and these rugged men must fight for love…and survival.

Ace Osprey was born to fly—but a crash stole his wings and left him with scars he refuses to show. Grounded and restless, the former Navy pilot masks his broken pieces with charm and swagger. He swore he’d never get tied down again, but when Dr. May Smirnov walks into Knife’s Edge with secrets in her eyes and fire in her heart, Ace finds himself pulled into a storm he can’t outmaneuver.

May came to Knife’s Edge to hide, not to burn. The small-town doctor keeps her past locked away, but Ace Osprey is a temptation she can’t ignore—infuriating, magnetic, and far too good at peeling away her walls. Their chemistry is combustible, but in a town where women are turning up dead under the endless summer sun, desire might be as dangerous as the killer stalking the shadows.

When May becomes the next target, Ace has no choice but to fight for more than just survival. Protecting her means risking his heart—and the closer they get, the more certain he is that she’s the one thing he can’t afford to lose. In Knife’s Edge, love isn’t safe…but some passions are worth the danger.

Burn of Summer gives us Ace Osprey’s story. Ace is a former Navy pilot. A crash has kept him from flying, and he hides how broken he is behind his swagger, good looks and charm. He’s a regular at Dr. May Smirnov’s clinic. Despite her efforts, he won’t open up to her about the fights or the obvious chemistry between them.

We’ve seen hints of this romance since the beginning, and I was all in. Summer’s long days, though great for outdoor activities, also usher in death. Young women are being murdered. Zanetti brings the suspense as Ace finds himself a suspect thanks to trouble from May’s past. Will these two open up about their past and their feelings? I’ll admit I enjoyed seeing them figure things out!

Once again, small-town community, family, and strong characters gave way to an addictive, swoon-worthy tale. We also meet someone from Damian Osprey’s past, and I have to say, I am excited for Shadow of Fall coming in October 2026.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

While each of the books in the Knife’s Edge, Alaska series features one of the Osprey brothers’ romance and a suspenseful tale, you’ll want to start at the beginning with Dead of Winter and read them in the order of their release.

About Rebecca Zanetti

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Rebecca Zanetti has worked as an art curator, Senate aide, lawyer, college professor, and a hearing examiner - only to culminate it all in stories about Alpha males and the women who claim them. She writes dark paranormals, romantic suspense, and sexy contemporary romances.

Website | Facebook

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Today we’ve got Sophia Rose on the blog with an audiobook review of The Unexpected Guest by Agatha Christie, adapted by Charles Osborne. Read her thoughts and see why this short murder mystery packs a wallop.

A thriller as well as a puzzler set in a foggy estate in Wales, this mystery opens as a stranger walks into a house to find a man murdered and his wife standing over him with a gun. But the woman is dazed and her confession is unconvincing. The unexpected guest decides to help her and blame the murder on an intruder. Later, the police discover clues that point to a man who died two years previously and a Pandora's box of love and hate, suspicion and intrigue is opened in the night air.

Sophia Rose’s Review

His car gets stuck in a ditch and when he goes to the nearest house for help, a murder has just taken place. Agatha Christie wrote The Unexpected Guest as a play and it has been adapted by Charles Osborne into a novella.

The scene is set, the Welsh countryside, a foggy night, a stranger comes up to a house and finds the glass doors to the study open so he enters.  What does he find?  A dead man in a chair and a woman holding a revolver nearby.  Oh, she doesn’t deny having done it, but said stranger has the sudden urge to help her get away with it.  They set the stage for the murderer to have gotten away into the night.  The household is roused by ‘the murder’ that happens right then, the police are called, and…

But naturally, it couldn’t be that easy.

The Unexpected Guest might be short, but it packs a murder mystery wallop.  It was an interesting twist to have the murderer right there and this man coolly wanting to know all about the victim, why, how, and then offers to help her out of the jam.  In true Christie-fashion, there is a household of others who know more than they let on at first.  A picture of the dead man, the past, and then the surprises that pop out made this have some entertaining twists and turns to the end.

Hugh Frazer is my favorite Christie narrator and I was jazzed that he was narrating this one.  He catches the clever little nuances in characters, dialogue, and brings the scene and story vividly to life for me.

All in all, this was a fabulous first-time encounter for me.  Now I need to go forth and listen to the rest of Charles Osborne’s play adaptions of Agatha Christie.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Charles Osborne

Charles Thomas Osborne was a journalist, theatre and opera critic, poet and novelist. He was assistant editor of The London Magazine from 1958 until 1966, literature director of the Arts Council of Great Britain from 1971 until 1986, and chief theatre critic of Daily Telegraph (London) from 1986 to 1991. He is the only author the Agatha Christie Estate has ever allowed to produce adapted works in her name.

About Hugh Fraser

Hugh Fraser is an English actor and audiobook narrator best known for playing Captain Hastings in the television series Agatha Christie's Poirot. He has narrated over 90 Agatha Christie audiobooks.

About Sophia Rose

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

Goodreads

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Wolftamer by Maggie Rapier delivers the conclusion of the romantic fantasy duology Magpie the Wolf. I loved book one, from the pirates to the magic, and was excited to dive in. While I struggled with the first half, the second half grabbed me as the danger increased. I closed the book with a smile and recommend this duology for lovers of fantasy and romance.

Legends don't die.

Saoirse and Foalan's quest for freedom turns into a battle for the fate of their entire world, in this aching and lush conclusion to the Magpie and the Wolf duology.

Faolan has escaped death. Twice.

After a lifetime chasing freedom and legends, he was finally on the brink of becoming one himself when it all went up in flames. Stranded on the Isle of Lost Souls, bound by an oath he did not make, Faolan is plagued by dreams of drowning and a past he swore never to revisit. The pirate in him wants nothing more than to raise hell and run away—but with no ship, and no way to untether his wife, Saoirse, from the land she’s pledged herself to, Faolan is trapped.

And everyone knows who tamed the Wolf.

When their sinister rival King Maccus unveils an ancient godly relic—one with the power to unbalance their entire world—Faolan knows the game has changed. There’s only one person who can hunt down the missing relics before Maccus can, and the Wolf of the Wild will do anything to protect his wife.

Even if that means leaving her behind.

Wolftamer begins right where Soulgazer left off, and it’s important to read these in the order of their release. If you like a high-stakes adventure with danger, magic, and a swoon-worthy romance, this duology is for you. Fair warning, our hero will most likely annoy you for the first half of Wolftamer, but redeems himself, so hang in there.

Saoirse and Faolan find themselves trapped on the Island of Lost Souls after the events of book one. They are attempting to help the people there even as Saoirse takes on her responsibilities as a Soulgazer. Faolan is flawed, and the author highlights every one as he struggles to find his place among Saoirse’s strengths and new role. For her part, she sees the wolf’s struggles, and when the enemy appears, she sends Wolf on a mission. In doing so, he finds himself.

The world-building and overall story, from the magic to the characters, held me spellbound. I struggled with Faolan during the first half of the book and wanted to throw my copy against the wall more than once. He struggles with his place in the scheme of things. I felt Saoirse was struggling, and he needed to man up. When he journeys, we first see recklessness and slowly character growth that redeems him in my eyes.

The second half of Wolftamer was positively addictive, and I loved both Saoirse and Faolan from their bravery to their passion for each other. Secondary characters like Brona, Nessa, Aidan, Lorcan, and Kiara added to the tale and were instrumental in the plot. I admit to crying over some scenes, and don’t even get me started on the soul stones. Ri Maccus and his thirst for power made him the perfect villain. Saoirse has endured a lot in her lifetime, and Maccus deals her some ruthless blows.

While Wolftamer didn’t quite hold the magic that Soulgazer did for me, what it did was give me a conclusion that left me well satisfied. I highly recommend the overall duology for its poetic prose, unique world, and rich characters if you are looking for a swoon-worthy adventure on the high seas.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Maggie Rapier

Born in the South with a healthy streak of wanderlust, Maggie is an incurable romantic who loves nothing more than wordplay and witchcraft—except, perhaps, her sourdough starter. When she’s not marketing French antiques or writing about moody girls and sexy pirates, you can find her wandering in the woods with her partner, and a basket in hand.

Website | Instagram

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Library of Forbidden Books by Mario Escobar shares a fictional historical fiction based on the heroic true stories of librarians who fought back in Berlin as the Nazis tried to destroy the works of Jewish writers and more. This is Helene Nathan’s story. One of the first female librarians at a prestigious German library who risks everything to hide books before they are burned.

In a world of burning books, one woman will risk everything to keep stories alive.

Berlin, 1933. The vibrant cultural heart of Germany is darkening under the shadow of the Nazi regime. For Helene Nathan, one of the first female librarians at a prestigious German library, the books she cherishes are no longer just sources of knowledge--they are targets. As the government begins its systematic purge of literature, compiling lists of "forbidden" works and orchestrating public book burnings, Helene realizes she cannot stand by as her world turns to ash.

Determined to resist the encroaching tyranny, Helene and her colleagues embark on a perilous mission of secretly collecting and hiding the very books slated for destruction. It's a dangerous act of defiance in a city where every neighbor could be an informant and the Gestapo are a constant, looming threat. Her quiet rebellion is especially complicated by the fact that Helene is half-Jewish, and Rudolf Kummer, a ruthless Nazi official, seemingly has a personal vendetta against her.

As the stakes escalate and friends and neighbors begin to disappear, Helene must decide how much she is willing to sacrifice. Her fight is not just for the pages she saves, but for the very soul of her country and the freedom to think.

Based on the heroic true stories of librarians who fought back, Library of Forbidden Books is a gripping tale of courage, the profound power of literature as resistance, and one woman's struggle to preserve humanity in the face of absolute evil.

I love historical fiction steeped in history and am a sucker for stories surrounding books and libraries. Library of Forbidden Books highlights the men and women who risked their lives to protect banned books and what it cost them.

It’s Berlin 1933, and the Nazi regime has begun its systematic purge of literature, compiling lists of “forbidden” works and executing public book burnings. Helene is a half-Jewish librarian who, along with others, attempt to hide forbidden books right under the Nazi’s noses. Rudolf Kummer, a ruthless Nazi official, seems to have a personal vendetta against her and seeks to find these books and send her away.

I liked Helene, who is strong-willed, and most of our time is spent with her. She was married to a German officer when the book burning began. Fellow librarian workers, Lena and Klaus help her hide the books, but there is very little development of secondary characters and I think it would have enhanced the story. Maybe this is because Helene was based on the real librarian?

The story was intense as Helene finds herself in a work camp and expecting her first child. The author gives us a clear picture of not only what happened to these books but also the lengths some went to preserve them, from risking their lives to hide them to memorizing them.

The story includes an epilogue, but be warned it’s not necessarily a happy one. It is perhaps a more factual one and reflects the cost these people endured to protect culture and books.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Mario Escobar

Mario Escobar has a master's degree in modern history and has written numerous books and articles that delve into the depths of church history, the struggle of sectarian groups, and the discovery and colonization of the Americas. Escobar, who makes his home in Madrid, Spain, is passionate about history and its mysteries.

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The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @CaffeinatedReviewer. It’s a chance to share news — a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join weekly, biweekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

Another busy week with school and work. Hazel started school on Wednesday and it was an adjustment for her especially since last year she had afternoon pre-k. We’ve had thunderstorms almost daily. Stay caffeinated & spread kindness.

Last Week on the Blog

• Junkyard Riders by Faith Hunter (audiobook review)
• The Calamities by Chuck Wendig (book & audiobook review)
• The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion Volume 5 by Beth Brower (guest post/ book review)
• North Country by K.A. Tucker (audiobook review)

This Week on the Blog

• Library of Forbidden Books by Mario Escobar (book review)
• Wolftamer by Maggie Rapier (book review)
• The Unexpected Guest by Agatha Christie, adapted by Charles Osborne (guest post/ audiobook review)
• Thaw of Spring & Burn of Summer by Rebecca Zanetti (book review)

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

• Birth of the Witch by Nora Roberts
• Monsters of Ohio by John Scalzi

A special thank you to Macmillan Audio & Tor Publishing

Around The Blogosphere

• Make the switch to Libro.fm and support independent bookstores. You’ll get two audiobooks when you sign up.

Link Up Your Edition Of The Sunday Post

Before you link up, please be sure your weekly post includes a link back to Caffeinated Reviewer and the Sunday Post.

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Narrated by Ryan West & Summer Morton, North Country by K.A. Tucker delivers a standalone, second chance romance with a side of mystery and suspense. A touching, swoon-worthy small-town romance that will keep you listening way past your bedtime.

From the USA Today and international bestselling author of the Simple Wild comes a sweeping second-chance, forbidden romance set against the rugged beauty of northern Canada.

Emery McAllister once dreamed of leaving Cold River with the boy next door, but one devastating night destroyed their future and left her heart carefully guarded. Twenty years later, she’s built a life of control: running the town’s police detachment, raising her daughter, and keeping a fragile peace with her ex-husband, the mayor.

She’s certain she has moved on until the day she has dreaded—and secretly hoped for—finally arrives.

Logan Landry is home.

After two decades behind bars for being in the wrong place at the wrong time—and the choices that haunted him ever since—Logan returns to his family’s bison ranch carrying the weight of everything he lost, but especially Emery. Friendship is all he dares hope for now, but seeing her ignites a fire he thought long extinguished.

When a teenage girl disappears and old wounds reopen, Logan becomes Cold River’s favorite suspect, despite his airtight alibi. As distrust closes in, Emery must choose between the life she’s built … and the love she can’t let go.

I love the characters and stories Tucker creates, and was in the mood for a romance and picked up North Country. Tucker did not disappoint. The story takes place in Cold River in Canada. It begins when we meet Logan Landry and Emery McAllister on his eighteenth birthday. The two are neighbors and high school sweethearts. When Logan goes out on the town that night, events change everything. Fast-forward twenty-years and Emery still lives in her ancestral home, is divorced, and the mother of a teen when Logan comes home to his family cattle ranch. The tale that unfolded hooked me and never let go.

Tucker slowly allows readers to understand the events from twenty-years ago while Emery and Logan dance around old feelings, time lost, and the forbidden accepts of resuming their romance. I loved all the feels, Logan’s struggles, and seeing Emery fight for those she cares about.

The story had so many elements I enjoy. We had small-town dynamics, close-knit families, and two mysteries that brought suspense and revealed secrets from the past. Emery followed in her father’s footsteps and is the local Staff Sergeant for the police department. We have townsfolk upset with Logan’s return, a missing teenager, and threats from the local riffraff. All of this blended together, creating characters and stories I was fully vested.

The missing teen case and trouble from Logan’s past were well done. It pushed Emery and Logan to work together and build trust again when he becomes a person of a interest. Their romance felt genuine from their sizzling chemistry to their need to protect loved ones and each other.

Told in dual POV, the story is perfect for audio. Ryan West and Summer Morton brought these characters, their emotions, and the storyline’s tension to life. I highly recommend grabbing your earbuds for this one. It’s the perfect end of summer listen.

Amazon* | Audible| Libro.fm

*kindleunlimited

About K.A. Tucker

Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.

Website | Facebook

About Ryan West

Ryan West tells stories for a living.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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Sophia Rose is here with a review of Volume 5 in the Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower. Come see what Sophia loves about this serial-style tale narrated by Genevieve Gaunt.

I took Treasure Island to church with me as a talisman.

“What a lovely bible,” Mrs. Tribly said.

“Isn’t it just?” I replied, hoping she would not ask me to read a favorite verse aloud.

I do not believe the psalmist wrote,

Fifteen men on a dead man’s chest,

Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum.

The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighbourhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plans for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian’s. Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.

Sophia Rose’s Review

In the last installment, Emma’s journal covered the time period of the fall and she had to do one of the hardest things in her life- attend the burial of the man she loved.  Now, Beth Brower continues the Emma M Lion epistolary tale with volume five of her journals and the descent from All Hallow’s Eve to the finish of the year.  What misadventures will Emma face in this season?

The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion series is an ongoing serial-style tale that is told in journal entry form of Emma Lion, a young Victorian era miss who has an aptness for mischief, an ability to make eclectic friendships, and a heart for others which gets her into said mischief.  Obviously, the volumes really must be read in order as Emma’s life progresses.

In volume five, Emma is struggling with a dark depression and moroseness because she has buried Maxwell, but can’t seem to get past the overwhelming weight of grief and loss.  She thinks she is hiding this well behind a sunny smile, busy-ness around Lapis Lazuli House and her quirky St. Crispin’s community, even meeting with friends and making a half-hearted effort to find work as her banker suggested.

But it takes an intervention.  Her brooding boarder, her haughty duke, her perky cook-maid, and her enigmatic vicar all step in and hold a figurative mirror up for her to see that she’s barely coping- indeed she’s drowning- as she grows thin, sleepless, and prefers to watch the world go by from her garret room.

What does the trick, pray tell?  I’m keeping mum about that though it might involve a friendship shared, curiosity about said friend’s secrets, a mysterious Roman ghost roaming St. Crispin’s, and a copy of Treasure Island.

Like every other time of the year, the Winter Holiday season in St. Crispin’s neighborhood is celebrated like nowhere else.  Emma now finds herself helping her intrepid friend Mary face the professor she works for with the truth that she’s a woman, doing her last obligatory favor-owed to the larcenous Jack, avoiding her aunt’s country holiday invitation and insistence on meeting Emma’s fictious proper lady’s companion, and of course discovering the perfect gifts for her odd assortment of friends and household.

Volume Five is full of slice of life moments, but it all is woven together in a way that makes the listener/reader care and want to know all the Emma does, says, and thinks.  The witty bantering with the Islington, her uncomfortable soul-searching moments with Pierce and the curious mystical side to Young Hawkes.  Her irritation with her annoying Cousin Archibald who vies with her over control of the house and finances and her care for the two serving staff, Agnes who is trying for a big upper servant’s club membership and Parion who isn’t as useless or quite as she expected. 

It has a feel of very slow-burn romance, but without an actual clear male romantic lead or even contest for male romantic lead as all the men around Emma have remained firmly in the friend category.  An interesting possibility that I look forward to seeing get answered eventually.

Genevieve Gaunt continues to out do herself as the excellent, talented narrator who brings Emma and all the colorful characters to life and puts the heart in the story that is already whimsical, witty and heartwarming.

All in all, this was a table-setter installment, but with all sorts of fascinating tidbits that drew the listener along into wanting it all like a treasure gathering magpie.  A Victorian era historical that I heartily recommend.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Beth Brower

Beth Bower graduated with a degree in literary studies, and is working on the novels that keep pounding on the doors of her mind and none of her characters are very patient to wait their turn. She lives with her wonderful chemist husband and has books in every room of their house.

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About Sophia Rose

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

Goodreads

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I have been enjoying Chuck Wendig’s special brand of horror, (even if he forever ruined apples for me) and was excited to dive into The Calamities, book one of the Fiends. A dark fantasy horror with demons, greed, powerful families and vivid dreams that bring four characters together on a deadly quest. I read along as I listened to the audiobook with it’s all star cast of narrators.

The heir to one of the world’s most influential families reckons with the demonic secret of their power in this contemporary dark fantasy that melds occult magic with shocking family drama, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Accidents.

“Vivid, unsettling, and darkly compelling, The Calamities is Chuck Wendig at his best.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth

Mourning Mayne knows he’ll one day bear the duty of managing his family’s vast empire of wealth and power. But the feckless Mourning has always struggled to accept this legacy of cruelty, domination, and exploitation . . . and something even darker.

Because the Maynes are no ordinary Hidden in our world are the fiends—half-human, half-demon, and possessed of a dark magic born from buying human souls—and the Maynes are one of the oldest and most influential fiendish families.

But when Mourning’s estranged father, the formidable and terrifying Hadrian Mayne, demands that Mourning return to the fold, he has to decide whether to accept his legacy and embrace his role in the family or to forge his own destiny, and with it, change the course of the world.

Because along the way home, he will meet Key, a black-market seller of human souls, and Quinn, an artist who may hold the dark truth behind the fate of the fiends. Alone, they have all struggled with the darkness of their natures . . . but together, they might find a path out of the shadows.

The Maynes are no ordinary family. In their world you will find the fiends—half-human, half-demon, and possessed of a dark magic born from buying human souls. The Maynes are one of the oldest and most influential fiendish families and Mourning Mayne will one day he will be at the helm of this empire. When we meet Mourning he’s living in Seattle, on the outs with his father but all of that changes when he is summoned home. Mourning soon finds himself searching for his father and the strange place in his dreams.

Key works for the Diantalions another of the powerful families. She doesn’t drink from the fount, but collects souls for them. Her journey will set her on a path towards Mourning.

Something is happening to Quinn. They are having trouble distinguishing between their dreams and reality. Only their orange tabby named Apple brings comfort. The images they draw and their cries for help soon set others on their path.

Silas (the Clever) is servant to another of the families and is sent out into the world to help protect their fount and discover what is happening. Their path crosses with Mourning and soon Mourning, Key, Silas and Quinn will find themselves working together. To save them all or destroy everything they do not know. Trust isn’t given easily and the families are coming for them.

Gads, this was dark and Wendig took his time building each storyline and character as he revealed this world to us. Greed, power and hunger are at its core and something more sinister than the families themselves. The worldbuilding and sheer horror of the world kept me engaged and reminded me a little of The Passage trilogy by Justin Cronin.

As I said, I read along as I listened to the audiobook which quite frankly rocked. The story was narrated by Dani Martineck, Nicole Cash, MacLeod Andrews and Xe Sands. All gave outstanding performances and captures the tone and characters while heightening the horror of it all. I recommend grabbing both the book and audio version. I know I will.

While this is the first of the Fiends books, it ended well with enough of a hook to have me counting down the days until book two. On a side note; if like me you are a fan of Wendig’s work I know you will appreciate all the nods to his previous works in the telling of this tale.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Chuck Wendig

Chuck Wendig is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Star Wars: Aftermath, as well as the Miriam Black thrillers, the Atlanta Burns books, Zer0es/Invasive, Wanderers, and Book of Accidents. He’s also worked in a variety of other formats, including comics, games, film, and television. A finalist for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer and the cowriter of the Emmy-nominated digital narrative Collapsus, he is also known for his books about writing. He lives in Pennsyltucky with his family. His agent is Stacia Decker, with Dunow, Carlson and Lerner.

Website | Instagram

About Dani Martineck

Dani Martineck is a New York-based actor and writer with a passion for stories that help us feel less alone. A published playwright and Audie- and Earphones Award-winning audiobook narrator, they just wrapped their newest short film, Handle With Care (co-starring Vico Ortiz), as part of a short-to-feature pipeline deal with Sundance-lauded producing team The Dazey Phase.

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About MacLeod Andrews

MacLeod Andrews is an American actor and audiobook narrator. He has won 15 Earphone Awards and 2 Audie Awards, as well as acting awards.

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About Nicole Cash

Audie nominated audiobook narrator, proud mama of 2 humans and 2 dogs, inspired by all the people who make the world more beautiful by creating art.

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About Xe Sands

Xe Sands is an award-winning narrator known for her authentic characterizations and intimate delivery. She has more than a decade of experience bringing stories to life through narration, performance, and visual art, including recordings of Wonderland by Stacey D'Erasmo, The Art Forger by B. A. Shapiro, and Survival Lessons by Alice Hoffman. Sands has also been recognized for her engaging romance narrations and was named Most Impressive Narrator Discovery for titles such as Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins and On Thin Ice by Anne Stuart.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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Junkyard Riders by Faith Hunter is the fifth audiobook in the science fiction fantasy Junkyard Cats. I have come to enjoy the adventures of Shining Smith, her cats and the motley crew who have become her found family. The Dark Riders are closing in and Shining is looking to protect what is hers. CAIT, the AI on the junkyard’s crashed spaceship has her own ideas.

Shining Smith returns, taking on the “Dark Riders,” a paramilitary group motorcycle gang searching for Gov. political power, military connections, and alien tech. The Dark Riders are closing in on Shining’s secrets and, while she would rather nest in her new roadhouse, Shining must protect her own, once again taking the battle to the enemy.

Unfortunately, CAIT, the original AI on the junkyard’s crashed spaceship, has its own agenda buried in the ship’s code and choses this time to implement it. There is nothing Shining can do to stop it, except what she does best–plot an offensive, get her people in place, and hope Jolene can outsmart the virtual alter ego.

But the cataclysmic snow storm crashing in with all the power and subtlety of Mateo in his WarBot suit could be the end of them all.

The setting is a dystopian wasteland set in the future after Chinese Mamabots destroyed most of the world in 2043. I estimate this timeline to be some twenty years later. While each of the audiobooks addresses its own issue, the overall series arc and characters demand they be listened to in the order of their release. With Khristine Hvam narrating the story I promise you won’t be disappointed.

A snowstorm, an ornery AI and trouble knocking at the door have Shining leaving the comforts of the roadhouse. At just under five hours, Junkyard Riders packs a bunch. We’ve got climatic scenes and plenty of danger as the Dark Riders go after territory under Shining’s protection. They are into all kinds of shady stuff including sex trafficking. To do this she is going to need help from her allies as protecting her own will mean going against the Gov and his military.

I of course devoured Junkyard Riders and have come to care for these characters. Shining puts out this tough as nails image, but inside she truly cares about her people even as she makes tough calls that she’ll have to live with. Hvam who narrates captures Shining perfectly allowing the listener to see all sides of her. The voices for secondary characters even jerks like Jagger and the villains make listening a must.

Amazon | Audible

About Faith Hunter

NYT Bestselling author Faith Hunter writes three series: the Jane Yellowrock series, dark urban fantasy novels featuring Jane, a Cherokee Skinwalker; the Rogue Mage novels, a dark, urban fantasy / post apocalyptic series and role playing game featuring Thorn St. Croix; and the Soulwood Series featuring Nell Nicholson Ingram.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

About Khristine Hvam

Khristine Hvam is a professional voice artist whose work includes audiobooks, video games, and voice-overs, including as Professor Juniper in the Pokemon television series. Among her narrations are the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa, Dare Me by Megan Abbott, and Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. Khristine lives in New York City.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @CaffeinatedReviewer. It’s a chance to share news — a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join weekly, biweekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

Back to School went well as we figured things out. Both kids had a great week and like their classes. Hazel had a sleepover with us Saturday night and starts school this Wednesday. Stay caffeinated & spread kindness.

Last Week on the Blog

• Murder in Blackfriars by Jennifer Ashley (book review)
• Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K. England (audiobook review)
• Holiday at Pemberley by Kelly Miller (guest post/ book review)
• 15 Year Blogoversary (event/giveaway)

This Week on the Blog

• Junkyard Riders by Faith Hunter (audiobook review)
• The Calamities by Chuck Wendig (book & audiobook review)
• The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion Volume 5 by Beth Brower (guest post/ book review)
• North Country by K.A. Tucker (audiobook review)

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

• The Age of Witches by Hannah Mathewson
• A Time of Witches by Madeline Martin

A special thank you to Libro.fm, Penguin Audio,

Around The Blogosphere

• Make the switch to Libro.fm and support independent bookstores. You’ll get two audiobooks when you sign up.

Link Up Your Edition Of The Sunday Post

Before you link up, please be sure your weekly post includes a link back to Caffeinated Reviewer and the Sunday Post.

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This week marks the fifteenth year of blogging for Caffeinated Reviewer. From it’s humble beginnings at Blogspot to its final home on WordPress.org, it’s morphed from a simple book review blog to a site that now reviews both audiobooks and books in multiple genres to hosting annual events. It’s the home of the Sunday Post, a weekly book haul and blog update. It also hosts the Audiobook Challenge, JIAM Audiobook Challenge and annual Fraterfest & Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon.

Along the way I have made some terrific friends, traveled to book cons and found some amazing authors.

Giveaway

To celebrate I will select one winner to receive their choice of a $15.00 Amazon gift card or Chirp gift card. Leave a comment and let me know if you loved a book I recommended. I will select one winner on August 31, 2026.

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Sophia Rose is here with a low-spice, angsty Pride & Prejudice Regency romance with a paranormal twist. Come check out her thoughts on Holiday at Pemberley by Kelly Miller.

What will Mr. Darcy do when confronted with the mercurial whims of an all-powerful angel?

Fitzwilliam Darcy’s well-ordered life is propelled into chaos when an angel of death, Mr. Graham, compels Darcy to act as his host for a sojourn in the world of mortals.

Can Darcy trust Mr. Graham’s assurance that no harm will come to his beloved family? And why does the angel insist on spending time with Elizabeth?

In this low-spice, angsty Pride & Prejudice Regency romance with a paranormal twist, Darcy and Elizabeth contend with both human and unearthly challenges. Are the fates against them, or will their extraordinary love conquer all?

Holiday at Pemberley is ideal for readers who enjoy plenty of charming scenes with Darcy and Elizabeth, along with a twisty plot that leads to a happily-ever-after ending. Start reading this unique and engaging story today!

Originally published as Death Takes a Holiday at Pemberley, this second edition has been re-edited and includes a new epilogue.

Sophia Rose’s Review

What if Fitzwilliam Darcy’s number is up and Death is there to collect him, but instead the angel decides he’d rather take a holiday instead?  Kelly Miller offers an entertaining genre mashup of historical and paranormal in her Pride and Prejudice sequel.

Darcy and Lizzy are married and living their happily ever after, but they are also coming to the realization that marriage is work and sometimes, due to circumstances, the glowing romantic love can get pushed aside for duty and responsibility.  The love is still there, but it takes the shake up of a near death experience for Darcy to realize he needs to prioritize his wife better.  And, Lizzy learns that maybe they weren’t quite over some past foibles as she thought when a stranger who is supposedly her husband’s old university friend along with many other familiar faces comes to stay and complicate their life at Pemberly.

Darcy is the only one who knows that his ‘old university friend’ is no such thing.  In fact, Pemberley is hosting Graham, the angel of death who has a burning curiosity to experience first-hand humanity and the world of the living instead of just getting brief glimpses as he does his job collecting the people at the moment of their death.  Graham insinuates himself into Darcy’s life and to his dismay, is captivated by Elizabeth.  How can he get the unwelcome guest to leave- and leave him to live the life that he has come to value so much more?

Holiday at Pemberley is an updated, expanded version on Death Takes a Holiday at Pemberley which I read a few years back.  For those who are wondering what changed, I am sadly not going to be able to point out more than the obvious new epilogue as I only had the general memories of the story from my earlier read.

This was a light and entertaining read that includes a serious layer because a near death experience has jolted the complacency in a marriage and given the family a whole new value on their life together.  Though one doesn’t have to have read P&P to appreciate Holiday at Pemberley, it also functions as a sequel updating on the extended family and friends who show up at Pemberley for various reasons.  Graham has a unique perspective on it all as he watches and experiences things as a human for the first time ala Death Takes a Holiday movie. 

I remember really enjoying this tale the first time and that has not changed.  Kelly Miller’s revitalized romance tale hit the spot as an easy, heartwarming historical paranormal romance read.

Amazon*

*kindleunlimited

About Kelly Miller

When not writing, Award-winning Regency romance author Kelly Miller spends her free time singing, playing the piano, reading, and amusing her dogs. Like a much loved Jane Austen character, she is an excellent walker. She lives in Silicon Valley with her husband, daughter, and their many pets. "Death Takes a Holiday at Pemberley," winner, Royal Dragonfly Awards and Indies Today Awards, and finalist, International Book Awards. "Mr. Darcy's Perfect Match" recommended by the Historical Novel Society, a Recommended Read, Author Shout Reader Ready Awards. "Accusing Mr. Darcy," winner, Firebird Book Awards and Queer Indie Awards-Ally Division, and finalist, Wishing Shelf Awards, and a Recommended Read, Author Shout Reader Ready Awards. "A Consuming Love" winner, Royal Dragonfly Awards & a Recommended Read, Author Shout Reader Ready Awards. "Captive Hearts," winner, Royal Dragonfly Awards & Top Pick, Author Shout Reader Ready Awards. Her new release, an Amazon #1 Best Seller, is "A Dutiful Son."

Instagram

About Sophia Rose

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

Goodreads

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I’ve been enjoying cozy fantasy audiobooks and grabbed a Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K. England. Narrated by Dani Martineck, England delivers a cozy nonbinary fantasy with magic, healing and redemption.

STARDEW VALLEY meets STUDIO GHIBLI in a charming cozy fantasy about healing, redemption, and the subtle magic of simple living. Perfect for fans of Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea and The Spellshop. Welcome home, weary traveler.

When Oaklin Nettlewood accidentally joined an evil world-ending cult, mind control magic forced them to do unspeakable things. Years later, the realm's heroes have finally saved the day, defeated the villain, and shattered the last remnants of the spell...leaving destruction in their wake. And so, with a spell-damaged memory and whole bushel of trauma, Oaklin escapes to a small farm on the edge of Mossley’s Rest and swears an After all the things they were forced to do with their magic, they will never use it again. Ever.

The no-nonsense ghost granny who lives in Oaklin’s house has other ideas. As she coaxes Oaklin out of their shell and back into the world, they find companionship (a grumpy horse and a very good dog), friendship (a local bard and magical baker who should just kiss already), and tentative romance (a paladin-librarian who makes Oaklin's heart come alive for the first time in ages.) Magic even seems possible again—though strictly for foraging magical mushrooms and protecting the farm from bugs.

Healing comes in gentle waves, and Oaklin doesn't have to do it alone. So what does it mean when an inquisitor comes to town to hunt former cultists just as Oaklin begins to think that maybe, just maybe, they deserve a happy ending after all?

Oaklin Nettlewood is running from what the past when they accidentally joined an evil world-ending cult and mind control magic forced them to do unspeakable things. Oaklin remembers very little, and escapes to a small farm on the edge of Mossley’s Rest. They purchase a farm and swear to never use magic again. The tale that unfolds was touching and filled with magic, a ghost and lots of healing and Oaklin learns not all magic is bad.

Oaklin discovers the farm and animals well-tended and that they are not the only occupants of the house. The previous owner, now a ghost granny along with the help of a grumpy horse and adorable dog, work to coax Oaklin into using their magic for the good of the farm and community.

Slowly, Oaklin opens up and makes friends. They finally feel at home. That is until an inquisitor shows up in town. Will Oaklin run or have they found something worth fighting for?

If you love cozy fantasy, you’ll enjoy Mossley Rest and the residents who reside there. Dani Martineck narrates and beautifully captured all of Oaklin’s emotions. She brought the tale and characters to life, enhancing my overall experience. I highly recommend listening.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Autumn K. England

M. K. England grew up on the Space Coast of Florida watching shuttle launches from the backyard. These days, they live on a micro-farm in rural Virginia packed with video and board games, plants, D&D books, and their kid’s giant personality. They’re probably covered in dirt right now. MK is the bestselling author of thirteen novels for kids, teens, and adults.

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About Dani Martineck

Dani Martineck is a New York-based actor and writer with a passion for stories that help us feel less alone. A published playwright and Audie- and Earphones Award-winning audiobook narrator, they just wrapped their newest short film, Handle With Care (co-starring Vico Ortiz), as part of a short-to-feature pipeline deal with Sundance-lauded producing team The Dazey Phase.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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I absolutely love the Below the Stairs Mystery novels & novellas and was excited for an early copy of Murder in Blackfriars by Jennifer Ashley. When Daniel McAdam learns a man claims to know about his childhood, Kat and he set out to learn more. It soon leads to murder and a hunt to uncover what he knew. An addictive installment with suspense, touching moments and more.

In Victorian London, valiant cook and amateur sleuth Kat Holloway must help the man she loves solve the murder that will finally uncover his mysterious past, from the New York Times bestselling author of A Silence in Belgrave Square.

Kat Holloway’s beau, Daniel McAdam, has always had a past shrouded in mystery. He knows nothing about his origins, only that a kind man rescued him from the streets all those years ago. So when a man claiming he knows where Daniel comes from turns up dead moments before meeting with them, Daniel goes on the hunt for the killer. It soon becomes clear that to see justice served, Daniel will have to figure out who he truly is and where he came from. When Daniel asks Kat for her assistance, she readily complies, knowing she’ll do whatever it takes to protect the man she’s come to love.

The quest takes Kat and Daniel deep into the East End, where they face dangerous foes from Daniel’s rugged past, many of whom aren’t happy that Daniel now works with the police and will stop at nothing to keep Kat and Daniel from uncovering their secrets. As Kat begins to learn things about Daniel’s history she’s not certain she wants to know, she fears that the darkest secret—his true name and lineage—will tear apart the tender bonds they’ve begun to form.

While each of the books in the Below the Stairs Mysteries contains a mystery for Kat Holloway, our Victorian London cook & amateur sleuth to solve with the help of her beau and friends you’ll want to read them in the order of their release. The characters and their storylines, including a slow-burning romance will pull you in as much as the mysteries.

An attempt to learn more about Daniel’s past puts them in the path of a murder and a dangerous faction of the city. While Daniel looks to solve the murder, Kat enlists the help of her friends, and a man of the cloth to uncover the secrets of Daniel’s past.

In the meantime, big changes are happening. Kat learns news that upsets her even as she takes steps to secure a better future for herself and her daughter. I loved all the threads and the unwavering love we see between Kat and Daniel. The story had some suspenseful moments and I found myself in awe of Kat’s fearlessness.

While this was supposed to be the last book, their story is far from over and whether Ashley continues the story through a traditional publisher or on her own, I will be there to gobble them up.

If you love historical mysteries, happens below the stairs, foodie books, and richly developed characters you will want to devour Murder in Blackfriars and the entire series.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Jennifer Ashley

NY Times Bestselling author Jennifer Ashley writes historical, contemporary, and paranormal romance, historical mysteries, and urban fantasy as Jennifer Ashley, Allyson James, and Ashley Gardner. Jennifer's novels have won RWA's RITA and RT Reviewer's Choice awards, have been translated into many different languages and earned starred reviews from Booklist and Publisher's Weekly.

Website | Facebook

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The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @CaffeinatedReviewer. It’s a chance to share news — a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join weekly, biweekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

We arrived home late Tuesday into early Wednesday and it was pouring. By the time we got home and got the Royals settled it was almost 3 am by the time I crawled into bed. I spent the rest of the week working, doing laundry and restocking the house. Our vacation was wonderful. I completely unplugged and got to dip my toes in the ocean every day. The Royals start school this week. Sophia will be in middle school and her brother has two more years of elementary school. Hazel doesn’t start kindergarten until the 19th. I imagine this week will be full of adjustments as we fall into a routine again. Stay caffeinated & spread kindness.

Last Week on the Blog

• A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett
• How To Tell If Your K-9 Is A Demon by Trista Ricketts

This Week on the Blog

• Murder in Blackfriars by Jennifer Ashley (book review)
• Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K. England (audiobook review)
• Holiday at Pemberley by Kelly Miller (guest post/ book review)
• 15 Year Blogoversary (event)

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

• Wickhills by Premee Mohamed
• The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon
• Grim Folk Tale by James J. Butcher
• Frost and Venom by Christine Feehan

A special thank you to Tor Books, DoubleDay Books, Penguin Random House, Berkley

Around The Blogosphere

• Make the switch to Libro.fm and support independent bookstores. You’ll get two audiobooks when you sign up.

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Link Up Your Edition Of The Sunday Post

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Narrated by Corvin King, How To Tell If Your K-9 Is A Demon by Trista Ricketts delivered the first paranormal romance in the My K-9 is a Demon series. This paranormal rom-com offered an addictive, laugh out loud tale.

A female cop adopts a K-9 partner who turns out to be a demon, unleashing a hilariously chaotic paranormal rom-com full of supernatural disaster, sharp banter, and a hellish slow-burn romance

She went to adopt a K-9 partner.
She did not mean to adopt a demon.

Officer Kelly “Chuck” Charles thought choosing her new K-9 would be straightforward.
Obedient. Loyal. Not possessed by ancient evil.

She was wrong.

Her new K-9 partner growls in dead languages, smirks like he’s plotting world domination, and reacts to holy water like it personally insulted his ancestors.

Because Malachi isn’t just a dog.
He’s a centuries-old demon trapped in a canine body—morally black, dangerously clever, and very annoyed about it.

The problem?
Chuck doesn’t know any of that yet.

She’s just a cop trying to survive long shifts, bad coffee, and a partner who may or may not be judging her soul.
She definitely doesn’t know she’s part angel.
And she absolutely isn’t prepared for the supernatural chaos headed straight for her life.

When a well-meaning witch gives Malachi his body back, everything goes from “weird dog behavior” to full-blown celestial disaster.

Redeem him.
Banish him.
Or fall for the demon who was never meant to have a heart.

I was looking for a light listen, and love K-9 dogs, so I grabbed How To Tell If Your K-9 is a Demon Hunter. This was my first Ricketts novel, and I had a blast getting to know these characters. If you love dogs and a little paranormal woo-woo it’s worth a listen.

Officer Kelly “Chuck” Charles has been tasked with selecting a pup/dog for her department’s new K-9 unit. She chooses Malachi, who seems to interpret her every need almost as if he understands her. He actually does, in fact, understand her. Malachi is a demon trapped in dog form. He’s morally black, dangerously clever, part succubus, and very annoyed. What could go wrong?

I liked Chuck, who ends up getting Malachi and another dog who isn’t fit for K-9 duty but needs love just the same. The tale that unfolds has humor, sexual tension, danger, and is easily consumed. The suspense thread added some depth, and the concept of the paranormal world, while not new, offered its own take on it. Ricketts establishes the series arc, and I will be curious to see this duo work together.

Corvin King narrates and captured the voices, snark, and humor of this series while setting the tone for the suspenseful elements. In my opinion, the narration elevated the overall story. I highly recommend listening.

Amazon* | Audible | Libro.fm

*kindleunlimited

About Trista Ricketts

Trista Ricketts lives in Texas with her amazing husband, two sons and three black cats. A lifelong lover of fantasy, mythical beings, and the paranormal, she always dreamed of becoming a writer. Though life took her on a different path, her passion for storytelling never waned. On a whim, she decided to write a story, and that single spark ignited a series she is now eager to share with the world. Her debut novel, “Lahaina Noon: Modern Legends of Dragons and Shadows, Book One” blends urban fantasy with epic battles of good versus evil, drawing readers into a world where dragons and magic wielders fight against the dark forces of the Shadow Claw. This is the first book in a series that will keep readers captivated and begging for more.

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About Corvin King

Narrator for both traditional and indie bestselling authors, Corvin King brings a unique and compelling voice to multiple genres.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett was one of my most anticipated listens of 2026. I was delighted to listen to Andrew Fallaize as I read along. Ana and Din are tasked with solving a murder mystery and clearing an innocent man. Another addictive and brilliant tale that held me spellbound.

Brilliant detective Ana Dolabra must prove a man's innocence to stop a civil war in the third book of the series that began with The Tainted Cup , named an Edgar, Hugo, and World Fantasy Award Finalist and one of the best books of the year ( New York Times Book Review , NPR, Elle ) — from the bestselling author of The Founders Trilogy.

In the canton of Sapirdad, two of the Empire’s most powerful families are moments away from going to war with each other, their hundreds of retainers gathered with swords drawn. If blood is spilled, the whole of the empire may be plunged into starvation and chaos.

To deescalate matters, someone must do the prove that one family’s eldest son is innocent of a gruesome and unforgivable murder, despite the incontrovertible evidence against him.

It is with this undertaking that the great detective Ana Dolabra is tasked, her assistant Din at her side—and the two find themselves racing with great speed and little dignity to the scene.

As ever, the impossible proves little obstacle for the deadly combination of Ana’s intellect and Din’s keen eye, and mere hours after riding into the dusty town, Ana glimpses the greater pattern behind the crime. A deeper, subtler web of death is being woven in plain sight, by a mastermind with an ancient magical technology at his disposal.

But even Ana's uncanny insight is of little use when each new suspect she uncovers ends up dead—with each new killing calculated to bring tensions between the two rival clans past the boiling point. And as Din pursues their adversary through the canton's wild ranges, sprawling ranches, and reeking slaughterhouses, he finds his loyalties divided in unexpected ways.

In the canton of Sapirdad, two powerful farming families are ready to go to war when a young woman is found murdered at the hands of another. A Romeo and Juliet romance goes horribly wrong when the two spend the night at a local inn. Now, Detective Ana Dolabra and her assistant Dinios Kol (Din) must uncover what happened, and the tale that unfolds was highly addictive, dark and brilliant.

Tensions are high as the oldest son of one family is accused of brutally murdering the daughter of the other family. Their clans block roads in and out of the town, each demanding justice all of which could lead to civil war. Ana and Din find themselves tasked with proving the young man innocent, even as all evidence points to his guilt. Soon, between Din’s investigations and Ana’s brilliant mind, they discovered something more sinister at play.

What an addictive and disturbing tale, from the strange creatures who mindlessly harvest to the strange woods, I was completely caught up in the mystery. Ancient magical technology that will give me nightmares long after this series ends was both terrifying and fascinating. From the horrors at the jail to the atmospheric woods, I could not put this down. Our duo works so well together. There is trust between them, even if Din dismisses Ana’s personal recommendations.

We learned more about Din and spent some time with his sister. The story is told from Din’s perspective, and I find his augmentations and thoughts fascinating. I of course, love Ana and her strange mannerisms. I love her mind, wit, and odd behaviors.

Bennett’s world-building of the Khanum Empire continues as Ana and Din move through each area. One soon realizes the depth of the world he has created, from the social structure to the layout. His characters are fleshed out, likeable, and fascinating. His prose brings everything to life, and I can imagine this world from the streets to the dangers that lurk. The Shadow of the Leviathan series is best read/listened to in the order of their release, although each contains its own case to solve.

This is a series that I enjoy reading along as I listen to the narration performed by Andrew Fallaize. He has created unique voices for Din and Ana and truly brings the world to life.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Robert Jackson Bennett

Robert Jackson Bennett is a two-time award winner of the Shirley Jackson Award for Best Novel, an Edgar Award winner for Best Paperback Original, and is also the 2010 recipient of the Sydney J Bounds Award for Best Newcomer, and a Philip K Dick Award Citation of Excellence. City of Stairs was shortlisted for the Locus Award and the World Fantasy Award. City of Blades was a finalist for the 2015 World Fantasy, Locus, and British Fantasy Awards.

Website

About Andrew Fallaize

Andrew Fallaize is a New York-based British actor and voice-over artist. In the UK, he appeared regularly on BBC Radio 3 and 4 with recordings of fiction and nonfiction. His work also includes numerous commercial voice-overs for leading brands and companies.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

Source

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @CaffeinatedReviewer. It’s a chance to share news — a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join weekly, biweekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

We are on vacation and will head home on Tuesday. . . Stay caffeinated & spread kindness.

Last Week on the Blog

• Sunday Post

This Week on the Blog

• A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett
• How To Tell If Your K-9 Is A Demon by Trista Ricketts

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

A special thank you to

Around The Blogosphere

• Make the switch to Libro.fm and support independent bookstores. You’ll get two audiobooks when you sign up.

Caffeinated PR

Link Up Your Edition Of The Sunday Post

Before you link up, please be sure your weekly post includes a link back to Caffeinated Reviewer and the Sunday Post.

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