Cara Faith Donvovan's Blog, page 35

A Special Vape Edition Sponsored by Smoking Things

Thanks so much to Smokingthings online Vape shop for sponsoring this special vape edition from Tears of Crimson.  As long time readers of this blog, you'll know that in 2015 I was diagnosed with COPD after smoking for 25+ years, and switched to vaping to save my life.  I've been given a new opportunity to breathe again, and that is why I'm such a huge advocate for vaping for smoking cessation.  Before I talk more about that, I'd like to do a quick review for Fubar from Cyclops Vapor.

Cinnamon lovers are going to fall hard for Fubar.  The description for Fubar is a  toasty cereal topped with sugar, powdered cinnamon and a big helping of sweet, cold milk.  To me this is cinnamon and sugar, I didn't get the milk but it definitely tasted like cinnamon and sugar toast which was one of my favorite things to eat when I could indulge.  As a diabetic, I can't enjoy that treat these days, so it was a great way to revisit one of my favorite flavors.  The cinnamon is not so overpowering that it tastes like a those types of candies, it's sweet but doesn't have that underlying burn I associate with some cinnamon vapes.  Overall, this is a pleasant, tasty flavor.  If you'd like to try it for yourself visit Smokingthings and click Cyclops Vapor Fubar.


When I was first diagnosed with COPD, I had already lost my ability to sing, excercise, or even play with my kids.  As a former singer/songwriter losing my voice was as devastating as not being able to enjoy the activities with my children.  I'd tried most of the smoking cessation ideas before:  Nicotine patches, the pill, even hypnosis, but I was still smoking two packs of cigarettes a day.  A friend of mine (another author, Dawn Thorp) suggested vaping.

Ironically, I'd passed a new vape shop close to my hometown once a week and had never given it a thought except to roll my eyes at people puffing on some electronic cigarette.  Sometimes it takes knowing you won't live to change a habit, and that's how it was for me.  With my friend Dawn on the phone with me, I pulled into that vape shop and she talked to the store owner to set me up.  I'll be honest, I didn't think this was going to work.  The owner walked me through setting up the mod and how to add eliquid into a tank, and I walked out the door with my new e-cigarette.

The first pull was a life changer for me.  While it didn't taste just like those cigarettes I'd almost killed myself over, it was enjoyable.  My friend had them set me up with a MTL (mouth to lung) tank so the pull was very tight, and similar to how I used to smoke a cigarette.  The nicotine level (I was clueless about what that meant when I started) was 18mg and satisfied the cravings.  For the first few weeks I vaped like a freight train on that thing, but didn't thing about lighting up a combustible cigarette.

I won't lie, it was a little gross at first, not the vaping, but what my lungs were expelling.  I did a lot of coughing up of the nasty stuff in my lungs that smoking cigarettes  had caused.  Then something miraculous happened after about three weeks.  My breathing started to become easier.  Instead of gasping for breath when I walked around shopping, I found it was getting easier to breathe.  Two months later and I was able to sing again.  Four months later I started exercising again.  The changes in my lung were incredible and I was completely sold on this vaping phenomenon.

Fast forward to three years later, and I'm still vaping.  Over time I lowered my nicotine to 3mg's and not once did I go back and pick up a real cigarette.  My lung capacity has improved to the point to where I don't have breathing problems anymore.  Before vaping I was dealing with bronchitis or pneumonia several times a year, since vaping I haven't had either.  I'm the story the anti-vaping people don't want you to talk about.  The mother of five, grandmother of two who is living now because of vaping.

The campaigns against vaping obviously anger me, because I know without a doubt I wouldn't be here writing on this blog, or selling romance book if I hadn't found vaping.  In my personal opinion, vaping should be the first thing physicians recommend to their patients.  I'm living proof that vaping works when everything else failed me.  The public is bombarded daily with remarks about how we don't know what long term vaping will do because it hasn't been studied.  To that I say, we know EXACTLY what long term smoking will do, and it's killing people!

Vaping not only saved my lungs, but my mother has given up cigarettes and my husband.  Both are breathing better and have remarked on how vaping has benefitted them.  The truth about vaping is out there if you look for it.  We get so much false information and when it comes to vaping it's not an exception.  I could give you my thoughts behind why pharmaceutical companies and tobacco makers don't want you vaping, but instead I encourage you to seek out the truth for yourself.  It saved my life, and that's the only thing that matters to me!Thanks for joining us at Tears of Crimson. Home to Bestselling Author Michelle Hughes,and all the Friends of Crimson!

Finding Home - J. Leann

It wasn't in the plans for me to leave Pace Springs, Mississippi. My life from the age of seventeen was planned out for me. Be happily in love with my husband, Daniel, and be the best mom I could be to our daughter, Lyla.

But then both of our hearts died along with her. And in the heartache that followed, he went to prison. I left Pace Springs.

And now I'm back ten years later -- after surviving so much outside of my hometown. With a son Daniel knows nothing about.

Can we put our past heartache and mistakes behind us?


Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/2JbwtPt Barnes and Noble: https://bit.ly/2J9UhWQApple IBooks: https://apple.co/2ktWqiu Kobo: https://bit.ly/2J5Q2M3 Smashwords: https://bit.ly/2J8Iog



Pseudo-pinterest junkie, J. Leann writes gripping stories of romance and finding love after hardship. She has what she likes to call "Oh shiny syndrome," because she tends to write about what interests her rather than pigeon holing herself into one specific genre. In a former life (before motherhood), J. Leann studied journalism at Delta State University and went on to become an award-winning reporter and photographer. She still currently lives in Mississippi with her significant other and two rambunctious little boys. They run amok with a lab-mixed dog named Cooper. She is an advocate for autism awareness. Her oldest son was diagnosed with the condition and a very rare chromosome deletion in 2014. Through Amazon Smile, a portion of the profit of every book sold is donated to the Autism Center of North Mississippi.


www.jleannauthor.com
Thanks for joining us at Tears of Crimson. Home to Bestselling Author Michelle Hughes,and all the Friends of Crimson!

J.Q. Baldwin - variant

‘Superhero? Hardly. Humanitarian? I’m not.’

The chain he commands drags her slowly, inevitably back in with a deceiving promise, but, third generation Variant Delilah, simply wants to vanish among the throng of a decrepit civilization.

When a dangerous Variant abducts her sister, Delilah must decide if free will is more important than starving the bond he machined.

‘I recognised his fingerprints, they lingered so slowly. 
I didn’t reply to that whisper hiding in the dark. A whisper seething darkly.
He’d found me.’ 


An embroiling thriller/ futuristic Scifi /romance dominated by instincts, tangled relationships and a fight for independence.

Mature themes, not recommended for persons under the age of 18 years old.


https://www.amazon.com/Variant-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B07CWHD796/ https://www.amazon.com/Variant-Evasion-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B07DFLG2H2/

J.Q.Baldwin is a qualified builder and accomplished author who enjoys physics and science-fiction. She has four children that cropped up rather quickly and a handsome, but rugged Irishman for a husband.Her writing reflects her tangled hypothesis on deep social, geopolitical and environmental futures based on our current choices.
She would encourage everyone to visit her web pages/FB/Twitter She loves a good chat!jqbaldwin.comThanks for joining us at Tears of Crimson. Home to Bestselling Author Michelle Hughes,and all the Friends of Crimson!

#UnsilenceYourVoice - A Special Blog Edition From Tears Of Crimson

This is a special blog edition from Tears of Crimson, dedicated to every woman that has been affected by sexual abuse.  I don't like to be labeled, so I don't consider myself a survivor or a victim.  I'm a woman who has known the terror of being affected by rape and a sexual predator.  We are all different, but if you've been sexually assaulted, we have one thing in common.  That is the understanding of what it feels like to have your body violated and the aftermath of dealing with that crisis.  Each of us deals with that reality in a different way.  Some of use go after our abusers, and find justice in having them pay for their crimes.  Others hide what they've been through and deal with life long issues of fear and inadequacy.  Then there are those that have told their story and been denied the justice they so rightly deserve because the system is inherently flawed.  I'm sure there are many other ways that we as woman have tried to deal with this atrocity against or bodies, but only your story can bring that to life.

There have been many campaigns to help women feel empowered about sharing their story, and I have great respect for those strategies. The truth is, I don't think this topic can be covered enough.  Until the day when a woman who comes forward is met with understanding and not judged by what she was doing to "make this act" happen, we have to keep fighting.   Never should a woman be asked what she was wearing, what type of relationship she had with the abuser, or how could she have prevented this from happening.  It's an insult to all women that we are put in the situation that this is inherently somehow our fault and we have to prove our innocence against the sexual predators that violate our bodies.  In fact, that should be reversed and the person accused of any sexual abuse should be the one that should be forced to prove how he wasn't responsible.

Come forward and share your story.  #UnsilenceYourVoice is the Tears of Crimson campaign that's goal is to empower women to continue fighting against the male-orientated thinking that women are responsible for being sexually assaulted.  I'd like to share some of the horrifying truths to what women have been put through by speaking out about what happened to them.  It's my greatest hope that you're as disgusted as I am and are willing to help change this.



Star Tribune - Women Denied Justice This is Star Tribunes review of more than 1,000 sexual assault cases, filed around the state in a recent two-year period and the lack of justice for these women.

Statistics from RAINN are disturbing! "Out of every 1000 instances of rape, only 13 cases get referred to a prosecutor, and only 7 cases will lead to a felony conviction."

Palm Beach Rape Kits 994 examined with no arrests.  "Several suspects in those cases went on to get arrested in other rapes while the kits containing their DNA collected dust. "

Amnesty International claims "RAPE VICTIMS WORLDWIDE DENIED JUSTICE AND DIGNITY"

Daily Beast States: ‘No Justice at All’: Class-Action Lawsuit Says Austin Officials Failed Female Rape Victims.

ABC news in AU describes how "How the justice system lets sexual assault victims down."

The Walrus gives this account of "Why Many Women Can't Get Justice From Sexual-Assault Trials."Thanks for joining us at Tears of Crimson. Home to Bestselling Author Michelle Hughes,and all the Friends of Crimson!

Romance Authors Marketing

For all my new romance authors out there, I wanted to let you know of a new blog, specifically geared toward helping you.  You can visit the website at www.michellehughes.club and visit the Facebook page as well.  I'll also be taking questions.  If you'd like to learn how to self-publish romance books and marketing, I'd be happy to offer my help.  We're starting off with some basics, but like I said, if you have any questions, visit the website or facebook page if you have specific questions.

CREATING YOUR AUTHOR FACEBOOK PAGE
Creating your Facebook Author PageFollow the Steps below to create a great landing page for your readersVisit your homepage scroll to the bottom where you’ll see createpage (highlighted below)
Choose Business or Brand as highlighted below

Fill in the following information with your author name and choose author as highlighted below

Upload a photo of yourself here (or if you wish a logo)
Create a facebook banner for your page by visiting www.canva.com I’ll show you how to do that in the next step.

Visit www.canva.com and click on the facebook cover
After choosing the banner you like edit it as as shown in the next step
You’ll see these options on the canva screen highlighted, this is where you would put your author or logo photo
I chose a photo of my beautiful cousin Candace LeRae as an idea of how your banner could look, then filled in an author name and what type of books I write.
The next thing that comes up on your page is this. See the highlighted button below and click it to get your friends liking your page.
Next you want to add a button on your facebook page so people can subscribe to your newsletter. Click the highlighted button on your new page
This is how you add that button and configure it. Follow the highlighted steps
Again follow the highlighted steps in order
Make sure to click finish as highlighted below
The last thing to do is adding a short description about your page as highlighted below. It can be as simple as your name, what types of books you write, to longer with a bio if you choose. That’s it, you’ve got a new facebook author page!
Thanks for joining us at Tears of Crimson. Home to Bestselling Author Michelle Hughes,and all the Friends of Crimson!

Release Day Blitz - Tripp - Mavericks of Montana Creek by Somer Hayes

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The oldest of five boys, Tripp shoulders the heavy burden of running the family businesses. His responsibilities bring with them bitterness, as his only desire is to work the family ranch away from the annoyances and frustrations of the city. However, the love he possesses for his younger brothers drive him to assume the role so they may be free to pursue their lives outside of the onerous name of Maverick. He finds himself withdrawing from the things he once loved and fears happiness is a noun that will never again apply to his life.

Hannah Price has worked hard for everything she has – which isn’t much. Born into a family mired in poverty to parents who dealt with addiction, they struggled to take care of themselves, much less raise their only daughter. Refusing to feel sorry for herself, Hannah quickly learned the value of a dollar and through her entrepreneurial spirit scraped and saved enough money to open her own business. However, the niche she thought she would be filling has been slow to catch on as the red meat loving cowboys all around her aren’t impressed by a fancy, gluten-free bakery.

Unwittingly, their paths collide and heads butt. Their struggles to reach their dreams seem to depend on the successes or failings of each other. Soon, the hard line Tripp draws between business and pleasure begins to blur, and the infallible Maverick falls.

**Standalone**






My heart thumped an extra anxious beat when a dark shadow filled one window and then the doorframe. A moment later, a mountain of a man stepped through the threshold and squinted down at me. He was the most attractive person I’d ever laid eyes on, and for a moment, I swear I forgot my name.
“Hannah Price?” Right. That was it. His voice was deep and sounded hoarse as though he spent his days barking orders like a drill sergeant.
“Yes. Can I help you?”
He extended a palm the size of my dessert plates. “Tripp Maverick. I’m taking over the property management business for my father. I’ll be here the first of every month to check on the building and collect rent.”
I swallowed the dry lump that had formed in my throat before I accepted his handshake. I’d never met Tripp Maverick, but I knew his name well, and the fact that he was my new landlord was bad news for me. His reputation was that of a bulldozer—straight and steady—his will bent to no man. Or woman, as it were.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Maverick.” I pulled my hand from his strong grip and unconsciously wiped it down the apron covering my thigh. “Is everything okay with your dad?”
I didn’t know Rhett Maverick well, but he’d always been kind to me, and it seemed strange he’d turn the property management business over to his son without first notifying his tenants.
“He’s just taking a step away from some of the family businesses for a while. I’m going to fill in for him until other arrangements are made.”
The Maverick family had a long history in this part of Montana and had built an empire first through ranching, then by expanding to everything from oil to financial investments to real estate development. Through the latter, the family now owned much of downtown including the building we stood in.
“I see. May I get you a cup of coffee or a scone? The special this week is orange cranberry.”
“No thank you, ma’am. I’ll just take a quick look around to familiarize myself with the building, then collect your payment and be on my way.”
He stepped around me, the scent of pine and man dizzying. I counted six loud echoes of his boots against the floor before I found my voice again. “Mr. Maverick?”












Somer Hayes is an avid reader and writer of stories, hailing from the Midwest.

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Thanks for joining us at Tears of Crimson. Home to Bestselling Author Michelle Hughes,and all the Friends of Crimson!

Cover Reveal - Hangmen Novella by Tillie Cole

EVEN IN HELL, THERE IS BEAUTY TO BE FOUND.

There is life before the Hangmen.There is life before your soulmate is found.
There is life even when all seems lost.

Shane ‘Tank’ Rutherford is just seventeen when, escaping his father’s lethal fists, he ends up on the streets. Fighting for survival, he finds himself suddenly saved. Saved by a group that takes him under their wing.
A group that everyone knows . . . the Texas Ku Klux Klan.
Years later, Tank is disillusioned from the Klan and what they stand for. Recently released from prison, he is lost in a world he no longer knows. He is on his own. Until he picks up a woman hitchhiking on the side of a road. A beauty queen dressed in pink.

Susan-Lee Stewart is done with the crowns. She’s done with the glitz and glamor of pageant life. And she’s done with the bruises . . . the bruises gifted by the one person who should love her unconditionally—her mother.
Seconds after taking yet another pageant title, Susan-Lee makes a split decision and flees the stage. Flees the glossy life of a pageant queen, flees her violent mother . . . and jumps straight on the back of a tattooed muscled god’s motorcycle . . .
And never looks back.
As Susan-Lee holds tightly to Tank’s waist, neither of them know it’s a chance meeting that will change both their lives, and their hearts, forever.

There are stories of how you find your other half.There are stories of how someone can save your soul when all hope is lost.
Before they were Tank and Beauty, they were Shane and Susan-Lee.Two lost hearts who, together, were finally found.

Contemporary dark romance. Contains scenes of violence, offensive language, mature topics and sexual situations.
Beauty Found: A Novella (Hades Hangmen 6.5) is to be read AFTER Crux Untamed. Recommended for ages 18 and over.






Tillie Cole hails from a small town in the North-East of England. She grew up on a farm with her English mother, Scottish father and older sister and a multitude of rescue animals. As soon as she could, Tillie left her rural roots for the bright lights of the big city.

After graduating from Newcastle University with a BA Hons in Religious Studies, Tillie followed her Professional Rugby player husband around the world for a decade, becoming a teacher in between and thoroughly enjoyed teaching High School students Social Studies before putting pen to paper, and finishing her first novel.

Tillie has now settled in Austin, Texas, where she is finally able to sit down and write, throwing herself into fantasy worlds and the fabulous minds of her characters.

Tillie is both an independent and traditionally published author, and writes many genres including: Contemporary Romance, Dark Romance, Young Adult and New Adult novels.

When she is not writing, Tillie enjoys nothing more than curling up on her couch watching movies, drinking far too much coffee, while convincing herself that she really doesn’t need that extra square of chocolate.

Author Links
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Thanks for joining us at Tears of Crimson. Home to Bestselling Author Michelle Hughes,and all the Friends of Crimson!

Release Day Blitz - Wilde About Brant (The Brothers Wilde Series, #2) by Cate Faircloth

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As an entertainment lawyer to LA's finest musicians, I manage the arrogant, protect their interests and pander to all likes of the rich, somewhat talented, and famous.

I have never wanted anything out of the ordinary until musician Brant Wilde waltzes in with careless charm and secrets to hide.

He is a dangerous combination of sweet and charming despite being secretive, persuasive, and reckless. He's equipped with an irresistible smile and even sweeter voice—the kind that rocks arenas to their feet.

He wants me. I want him.

Brant Wilde is a man who always gets what he wants.

But clients are strictly off limits, and I’ve never broken a rule. Never even touched one. I have people depending on me, and I can’t lose my job.

Problem is… when Brant Wilde looks at me, he sets my soul on fire. He touches me like his soul is about to change too.

**Wilde About Brant is Book Two of the explosive new series - The Wilde Brothers. Each Book is a full length, stand-alone romance with a happily ever after and no cliffhanger!**












I have been a romantic all my life; in books, movies, television, and anything that brings happiness into the world. Though I love reading and avoiding daily responsibilities, I am also an undergraduate at the University of Iowa, a flag ship university for writing and creative freedom. I love connecting with all my readers, and sharing the stories that dance around in my head.



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Thanks for joining us at Tears of Crimson. Home to Bestselling Author Michelle Hughes,and all the Friends of Crimson!

Release Day for Wicked - M. Malone & Nana Malone

Blurb
What could be worse than catching your creepy boss in an inappropriate position? Hearing him say your name...
This day couldn't get any worse for Bailey.She just saw her boss Mr. Dent's extremely unimpressive... dent. A night of drinking with her best friend is exactly what she needs. Hunter is always there for her. The perfect Mr. Nice Guy.
This day couldn't get any better for Hunter.He just saw Bailey’s perfect curves soaped up in the shower and all his dreams are coming true. Until she won't return his calls the next day.
Bailey wants to pretend none of it happened but Hunter just needs one chance to prove their attraction is real. He’s finally going to show her he’s not that...nice.

ADD TO GOODREADS




Purchase Links
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Will be free in Kindle Unlimited from August 1, 2018
Available at the following retailers today only!
B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS GOOGLE PLAY





Coming Soon

Releasing August 14, 2018
Only available at the following retailers
until August 14, 2018
B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS GOOGLE PLAY


Releasing August 28, 2018
Only available at the following retailers
until August 28, 2018
B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS GOOGLE PLAY





M. Malone

NYT & USA Today bestselling author M. Malone lives in the Washington, DC metro area with her husband and their two sons. She holds a master's degree in Business from a prestigious college that would no doubt be scandalized by how she's using her expensive education.
Independently published, she has sold more than 1/2 million ebooks in her two series, THE ALEXANDERS and BLUE-COLLAR BILLIONAIRES. Since starting her indie journey in 2011 with the runaway bestselling novella "Teasing Trent," her work has appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than a dozen times.
She's now a full-time writer and spends 99.8% of her time in her pajamas.
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Nana Malone

USA Today bestselling author Nana Malone's love of all things romance and adventure started with a tattered romantic suspense novel she "borrowed" from her cousin.
It was a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana, and Nana was a precocious thirteen. She's been in love with kick-butt heroines ever since. With her overactive imagination constantly channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters.
While she waits for her chance at a job as a ninja assassin, Nana works out her drama, passion and sass with fictional characters every bit as brazen and kick-butt as she thinks she is.
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Thanks for joining us at Tears of Crimson. Home to Bestselling Author Michelle Hughes,and all the Friends of Crimson!

Release Day Blitz - Black Light: Suspicion by Measha Stone

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Sophie Nelson knows her kinky interests are no more than fantasy, definitely not something that'll ever happen in the real world.  So the sexual playground Black Light is the best place to turn. A safe place to play. Until Scott.

Detective Scott Russo knows better than to get sexually involved with his partner. Mixing business with pleasure never ends well, but sometimes rules are meant to be broken. He can't avoid the temptation of giving Sophie exactly what she needs, even if that means a firm hand.

While Sophie and Scott find themselves mired in a high-stakes investigation, their off-duty kinky explorations intensify.  With danger at the door, and complications that threaten to tear them apart, can they survive the tug of war.





“Sure. I can do fifteen.” She nodded. Fifteen smacks and she’d win. “But wait. What do I get if you can’t get me to crack?”
His lips quirked with a laugh. “Have I ever not gotten the guilty to talk?” he asked then held up his hand. “Don’t answer. We aren’t bringing work here. Fine. Just so you can have a glimmer of hope, if you can hold out, if you don’t give me the answers I want, I’ll pay for a month of your membership dues. Since you didn’t get a chance to win it at the game, make it through this scene with your secret still hidden, and you’ll get a free month.”
He couldn’t be serious, but then again, she would admit, she had not seen a reluctant suspect who didn’t crack beneath him. She knew how he worked, though. She could get through it.
“Fine.” She nodded.
“Good.” He sealed the deal by pulling his arm back and unleashing the first lash across her exposed breasts.
The wind from the flogger blew her hair. Her breasts jostled from the impact, but all in all, not bad. Fourteen more to go—bring it.
She straightened her back and brought her gaze to meet his. He shook his head, still wearing that damn grin of his, and brought his hand back again, this time landing a hard smack to her thighs. She bit back a cry, clenching her jaw instead. The third and fourth lashes came hard and quick, one to her chest, the next to her thighs.
He moved around her to her right side and brought his hand back again.
By the tenth stroke, her breath came in ragged bursts. Her nipples budded in pained arousal, but the lashes to her thighs throbbed more.
“Doing good, sweetheart,” he said as he ran his palm over her aching thighs. “Do you think you’d like to answer me now?”
“I already told you.” She lifted her chin and avoiding his stare.
He wiped a strand of hair from her heated face. “That’s my girl. I’d almost be disappointed if you made this easy on me.” He kissed her forehead and stepped back into place. The flogger came quickly across her breasts, one way then the next. Her chest became his canvas, his flogger the brush.
She cried out, no longer able to bite back the sound of her torture.












Measha Stone is an international bestselling author of erotic romance. She’s had #1 top-selling books in BDSM, and suspense. She lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with her husband and children, who are just as creative and crazy as her. Her vanilla writing has been published in numerous literary magazines, but she’s found her passion in erotic romance. She loves reading it, writing it, and living it whenever possible.

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Thanks for joining us at Tears of Crimson. Home to Bestselling Author Michelle Hughes,and all the Friends of Crimson!