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Bow Street Brides #3

A Dangerous Affair

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A THIEF WITH NOTHING TO LOSE...
Juliet is beautiful, intelligent…and one of the best thieves in all of London. Raised in the cutthroat streets of St. Giles, she’s learned to survive by whatever means necessary. Even if those means include pretending to be a highborn lady to avoid capture by The Wolf, one of Bow Street’s most cunning runners…and the only man to ever set her blood on fire.

A RUNNER WITH A SCORE TO SETTLE…
Grant is charismatic, titled...and second-in-command of the Bow Street Runners. When his captain orders him to find and arrest the lad who has been stealing jewelry from the ton’s elite he thinks it’s just another job. Until the lad turns out to be a five foot, four inch red-haired hellion with a penchant for knives…and the softest lips he’s ever kissed.

A DANGEROUS AFFAIR…
Juliet and Grant’s daring game of cat and mouse will take them from the glittering ballrooms of Grosvenor Square to the dangerous alleys of the East End as they try to outwit one another…and fight their growing passion. But when an enemy from Juliet’s past threatens her future, she has no other option except to trust the runner she has sworn to hate. Forced to choose between duty and desire, will Grant listen to his head…or risk everything to follow his heart?

BOW STREET BRIDES:

A Dangerous Seduction
A Dangerous Proposal
A Dangerous Affair
A Dangerous Thief - May 2018

Publisher's Note: While you'll get the most out of the Bow Street Brides' series by reading the novels in order, each book is a complete standalone.

270 pages, ebook

First published March 7, 2018

337 people are currently reading
352 people want to read

About the author

Jillian Eaton

89 books489 followers
Jillian Eaton has written over forty historical romances and is known for finding the perfect balance between "intense emotions, sizzling chemistry, and light-hearted humor" (Swept Away by Romance). She grew up in Maine and now lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and their three boys on a 17-acre farm where they rescue and rehabilitate senior horses.

When she isn't writing, working at the barn, or playing a cutthroat game of Harry Potter Monopoly with her family, Jillian enjoys gardening, hiking, and being an adjunct professor at her Alma mater, Delaware Valley University.

If readers are new to her books, she always suggests the following:

Sweet and Swoony Romance: Duke at First Sight
Spicy and Mysterious: A Dangerous Seduction
All Around: Bewitched by the Bluestocking
Bit Darker: The Duchess Takes a Lover

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
Profile Image for Sammy Loves Books.
1,137 reviews1,679 followers
December 2, 2021
Lady Blue Balls Alert!!

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Some authors don't write sex, and that's fine. I read a lot of books that are squeaky clean and love them. But don't write fabulous sex in books 1 & 2, work me into a frenzy with fabulous chemistry, and an over endowed hero, only to leave me hanging with Lady Blue Balls!!

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My disappointment was partly because the first two books in the series built Grant up to be a Rakehell, fabulous lover, that's never known love. Juliet is described as a not so innocent virgin because of all the things she'd witnessed growing up in the slums of London. Her best friend is a prostitute so she gets a lot of free advice. This would lead you to think we're headed to pound town...but we got lost and never made it there.

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During Grant and Juliet's only make out session, they both remain fully dressed. Grant makes it to 3rd base and she palmed him over his pants. Juliet's so impressed by the size of Grant's member that she compares him to being hung like a hoarse. They have explosive chemistry and this was building up to be a very sexy first time. But we never got a first time. We got a few kisses, one make out session, and then...crickets! The book ended without a wedding and with Juliet's V card still unpunched.

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The epilogue said they fooled around a lot while she was visiting his mother's house and that they got married. We missed the wedding...We missed Grant's emotions as Juliet walked down the isle...We missed the honey moon...We missed their first time together!

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What is the point of reading a romance book, if the author is gonna leave out all the good stuff that I've been waiting to get to? I could see if this were her usual style of writing. It was as if she ran out of room to finish the book and threw an epilogue together that was all fade to black. WTF?

I was really looking forward to Grant's book but was disappointed. Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed the writing and the overall story. The book was great and full of action...just not the bedroom kind.
Profile Image for Shawna.
3,803 reviews4,734 followers
January 18, 2020
4 stars - Historical Romance

I liked the pairing of a hero who is a wealthy third son of a duke and Bow Street Runner and a skilled jewel thief heroine born and raised in the rookery of St. Giles. Their enemies cat and mouse chase game was entertaining, but I wish there had been more time with them actually together.

The hero's judgmental attitude and obstinate black-and-white thinking was annoying at times. The ending felt rushed, and I was disappointed that there wasn't a .

I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator, Mary Sarah, does a fabulous job with the characters and accents and really enhanced my enjoyment of the story.
Profile Image for Tina Miles.
484 reviews11 followers
July 29, 2023
I loved the story of Grant and Jules, who are at opposite sides of the law but have an overwhelming attraction to each other. I thought the sexual tension was excellent but was quite disappointed with the ending. We didn’t get a detailed love scene at all and no view of their wedding. Did all the Runners come to the wedding? What did Jules wear? Where did they go for a honeymoon or did they just go right back to work? I have so many questions!
Profile Image for Amara Luciano.
Author 7 books176 followers
May 15, 2018
Favorite so far.

I skipped the first one in this series, but am really looking forward to going back. Can't say i regret diving into Grant & Juliet. Not at all. The chase shockingly kept ME on my toes as the reader... and what a delightful chase it was.
Profile Image for Winnifred D..
911 reviews35 followers
March 15, 2021
3 1/2 stars for the sizzling tension between H/h and the author's somewhat improved writing style. However, this book is evidence that not only is a good editor a writer's best friend, but you must focus on your immediate characters before expecting readers to want to move on to the next book. The author seems stuck on rushed HEA's and cliffhangers.

I love a great cat-and-mouse romance/mystery, and so about 3/4 of this worked for me. There's a lot of fun to be had with a sexy but married-to-the-job Runner/nobleman in pursuit of a tough, smart, beautiful jewel thief from St. Giles. One thing to note is that this author uses overlapping timelines but shift of perspective from book to book. Each entry feature MC's introduced in the previous entry, but the plots aren't entirely separate. Because timelines overlap, you see some of the same scenes, but from the entirely different point of view of another character. This is an interesting idea that sometimes works (although occasionally seems a bit too cute and just adds padding to the story). For example, in the previous book, the MC was a former thief who views the MC of this book, Grant, as an entitled womanizer. A scene at a bar seemed to prove this out. But you get the same scene in this book from Grant's perspective and realize that there's more going on than that.

My biggest irritation with this series, though, is that the endings are rushed and the epilogues impinged upon by the next book's MC's. So you have constant cliffhangers. I was irritated with this in the last book, when the heroine (who's had several traumatic experiences) finally gets her HEA, and suddenly we're thrust into what actually is the action at the halfway point of the storyline for this book. Same thing happens here, and it's extremely irritating, because although the H/h have great sexual chemistry, we're never given a consummation, just a "let's move on to this next couple." The wedding is glossed over and fun and games are hinted at, but not described in any detail. I don't mind sweet and clean, but the previous entries in this series were not sex-free, and with all the steam between this couple, the resolution seems rushed and like a complete tease.

Another issue here is pacing. For the first half of the story this seems like a light, sexy caper. Not much of any depth is revealed about Grant or Juliet, the heroine. (I thought Grant's war experiences could definitely have been explored). Then suddenly a new character is introduced, someone who played a key role in Juliet's past, and, in fact, has probably impacted her view of sexuality and men for years. This is jarring and feels like an element the author threw in at the last minute because she wasn't sure how to resolve H/h's stalemate. Not that there's anything wrong with the character or plot element, but it should have been introduced much earlier in the story.

Then you have the Slasher character re-emerging. The search for the Slasher is an ongoing plot element that won't likely be resolved until the end of this series. I expected to at least be thrown a few clues in the last book and was disappointed when that didn't happen.

As far as basic editing goes, there still is an issue with missing or misused words, and, one of my pet peeves, misused or missing apostrophes. When you're talking about the plural members of a family, an apostrophe is not used (eg it's the Smiths, not the Smith's). Plural nouns don't contain an apostrophe; a show of possession requires an apostrophe. You get the idea.

Anyway, I liked the H/h here. They were fun and sexy. The plot had potential, but didn't quite deliver on its promise. Dear author: The more invested readers are in the H/h, the more shortchanged they feel when the resolution is rushed just to push the next book in the series. Please be respectful of readers' investment in what you've written and give them a satisfactory HEA. Also, please review punctuation rules. Your loyal readers will thank you.
Profile Image for Captain Dem the second.
278 reviews
July 23, 2019
So i will try to not spoil anything


PROS:
What i liked the most;
-the character of the heroine was really strong, she wouldnt give up even if her life was at stake. That, i think , was the spirit of the whole book, her energetic nature.

-the plot was well made, the scenes were finely connected even though sometimes the change of the point of view was a bit sudden.

-the hero was a good one, i will tell in the cons why he wasnt an awesome one. He completed the stuborness of the heroine and that was giving the book the suspense and the intrigue it had. It made the whole adventure even more interesting.

-I liked the setting, historically. Also i think the description was just fine. The words flowed and it was neither something hard to read nor something that reminds you a child writing an essay in kindergarten.

Cons:

-The heroine was strong but i didnt see much depth in her character. Of course there were scenes of her kindness but except from that i couldnt see anything that made her a great leading role. She was a bit shallow and she had a stuborness that it wasnt something funny or acceptable but something that showed that she heared only her own ideas and advices.

-I didnt like that the hero was a womanizer. It was presented that, alright, who cares that he had a million women before and that he goes with prostitutes? What matters is that he is experienced with seduction, and the most important of it all, that the heroine never had another releationship with a man. Again! I mean why everyone must present the two sexes in that way? And why is it thougt as "cool" for a guy to have had a lot of mistresses in the past? And why in every book the hero will always think "I cant imagine another man touching her. I will cut his hands off" but the woman never, ever thinks something similar?

-There was a random unimportant that was out of place sex scene inside this book apart from the sexual tension that existed and i think that their attraction was so concentrated on their bodies and outer appearance and not so in the characters and their life experiences. I liked their romance story, dont get me wrong, because i always liked a thief stronghearted heroine with a cop trying to send her to the jail but losing her all the time hero, but i think that it could be even better if what i mentioned before was absent.

-The ending was rushed. The book was flowing so perfectly and the adventure was so interesting and exciting but then at some point it seemed as if the author got tired of waiting out their happy ending. She probably had a scene in her head already that should be put as the finale but i think that it didnt match that well. It was like the character of both heroin and hero changed in one second and that the problems they had before were all solved. And the strangest thing is that she totally forgot about her previous family about her so called "brother" and she just did what she wanted to do. Who cares about a "second in command" role, right?

I think thats all. Well apart from all the disadvantages that this book had and even though in the end i wasnt as pleased as i expected to be, i actually liked this book and i will try out reading more books by this author.
Profile Image for Elaine.
4,433 reviews90 followers
March 24, 2019
This was bloody brilliant. I loved the excitement and danger about it. I loved both Juliet and Grant, and had to laugh at Grant's parents - they were so in love and liked to swim naked!
I have been totally enchanted reading this, even through the dark and dangerous scenes.
5☆
47 reviews1 follower
Currently reading
May 11, 2019
Excellent read

The story was great, the main character lead the man on a merry chase, charming rogues, loved ones & dowager duchesses make for a fun read
Profile Image for Perrie.
105 reviews5 followers
Read
August 20, 2023
DNFing at 70%. The fact that the only time steam happens is when Grant has Juliet prisoner and has, or is about to, arrest her is not cool. The last scene read too much like non-con for me. A shame.
Profile Image for Carlene Michalk.
72 reviews3 followers
April 15, 2018
This series keeps getting better and better!

In the third of the series of Bow Street Brides. This one gives a cat and mouse type of relationship, and it highly does not disappoint!
This series is getting better and better each book. Juliet and Grant are now in my top favorite historical romance couple!

The first thing I love about this series is the stories are intertwined with one another. It can be read as a stand-alone. But it's much more fun when you read it as a series. And trust me this is a series you do not want to miss!

Grant, he is born into a high society, which he finds it terribly boring, and what he does well he's not at fancy balls and parties is he's a second-in-command Bow Street Runner. He takes his job rather seriously and it was quite fun watching him interact with Juliet. Just watching the couple grow was just amazing and there was a couple of funny moments as well. Especially, when he was trying to figure out if Juliet was a male or female. For some reason he cannot resist the beautiful Thief that has stolen his heart. Even though he does not want to admit that he is smitten with the thief he had promised to capture her no matter how long it takes. No matter how many kisses is stolen on the way.

Juliet, oh she is just perfect I absolutely love her spirit. She had to grow up tough on the rough side of the city. This woman can take care of herself. She's done a fair share of robbing the rich, but she would never do anyone who cannot afford it. She was clever and cunning and can smooth her way out from Grant. But she cannot resist his kisses of course! When she and Grant meet Sparks are sure to fly both within the heart and, when she tries to get away from him.

This is a fantastic story of a romance between two opposite sides of the law. The Sparks Fly and there are some very heated moments that are extremely well done. All of the characters are absolutely likable except for the villain. But I loved how everything ended in the book. I actually was sad because it had ended.

I will surely read the next in the series if the author decides to write another. Which I think she will judging by the ending of this one! I eagerly await!
Profile Image for Christine.
Author 2 books14 followers
September 6, 2019
I liked the story well enough, but it is so poorly executed. There are lots of typographical errors -- and they are weird. Every other sentence, a word is missing. I'd be reading along and think, wait a minute, isn't there supposed to be a word there? I go back and yes, there is supposed to be a word there. It wasn't too distracting, because my brain would just insert it. But it was at times quite jarring. Also often the writer would have a "he" when it should be "she" (no, it's not a book by Anne Leckie or that type of book, so yes personal pronouns are appropriate here). I can't quite decide if this was a transfer to Kindle problem, or just an editing issue? I'm guessing the writer didn't get good editors or tried to do it all herself? My sympathies either way. Getting good editors nowadays is really hard. Gone were the good old days when books got edited by the publisher, now the writers hire good editors or suffer the consequences. And a good line editor/copy editor is expensive.

Anyhow, what I liked about it? It's a story about an unrepentant tough as nails, jewel thief and bow street runner (who is also the third son of a Duke, and quite well off). Juliette is an orphan, born and raised by thieves in St. Giles. (Think Oliver Twist except the Artful Dodger is a girl, and Oliver doesn't exist.) Most of the book is Hargrave, the runner, chasing after Juliette. He catches her, they kiss, she finds a way to escape before he can imprison her. Until eventually he falls in love with her and much chaos ensues. There's no sex to speak of -- which was rather refreshing actually. (Just the suggestion of sex -- they do it off page.) More attention on family and friend relationships. And building the characters -- also a slight plot about another jewel thief.

The only detractor is the typos. The writer really needs to get a good editor. Writer's shouldn't edit their own books -- we can't see all our own mistakes. Either that, or Kindle let her down. (I feel her pain, she may have gotten a good editor and somehow word rejected the corrections and she should have paid for a second line edit -- which costs a pretty penny, let me tell you.)
Profile Image for Kim.
390 reviews7 followers
May 20, 2021
Narrated with perfection by Mary Sarah, this book was a delight! I encourage everyone to listen to the audiobook. Juliet, a jewel thief who grew up in the slums but wants something more, and Grant, privileged and titled (a little stuffy), second-in-command of the Bow Street Runners. He is determined to catch the thief stealing the jewels of the ton, and is flabbergasted to finally realize the thief he is after is a beautiful young woman! This third book in the series goes back in time to run concurrently with the first two books. Juliet runs, Grant chases, Juliet escapes, Grant chases again. It's fun and funny. I loved Juliet's (mild) swearing. Maybe it was Mary Sarah's delivery. Grant had to do some re-thinking of his priorities. He couldn't imagine marrying someone of her class, but he came around quickly. An exciting, dramatic conclusion leaves the series open to discover the stories of other couples. The Slasher is still on the loose and needs to be caught. I'm devastated that I can't find the following books of the series in audiobook! Why?
Profile Image for LOVEROFBOOKS.
656 reviews19 followers
November 8, 2018
MAN does this need an editor!! In many instances complete words are missing, and at least twice "violet" is used instead of "violent". There are so many errors that need to be corrected!

I enjoyed this story and the thrill of the chase for both Juliet and Grant. There was passion and chemistry throughout the book. I will say I was disappointed we never actually get to see that played out in the first time they make love. For all the sexual tension and a few 'choice' words thrown around, I was amazed that she wrote it that way.

And one last thing-I just wish Grant would have not been such a stickler and seen things in only black/white for most of the book. Don't let these things keep you from reading it though. It really is a great story and I enjoyed all the extra characters from Grant's parents, to Bran and the Bow Street Runner family. In fact I'm off to read Bran's story now.
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Profile Image for Gerbera_Reads.
1,687 reviews154 followers
April 11, 2018
This one was I think the best so far in the series. I wondered in the beginning how Ms Eaton going to bring Grant and Juliet together considering his hatred towards everything criminal. He did in fact called himself "the law" in the book. I am glad that Juliet helped him realize that everything was not black and white, that he was judgemental towards her. I hope if the series continue that his relationship with Felix will improve.

The climax of the story was powerful and just what I wanted it to be. I am happy that Grant's family is very nice and understanding and they accept Juliet into the fold even though she a commoner.

It was a great read and one of the best series altogether about Bow Street Runners. I hope it continues.
Profile Image for Wendy Tavenner.
1,325 reviews12 followers
June 15, 2020
Loved the 3rd Bow Street installment! The author is fabulous! Juliette was raised in St. Giles and new nothing else but stealing to live and eat. She was one of the best Jewel Thieves but only took from those who had enough. Grant was a solider, a Dukes son but did not want a life of luxury. He wanted to be a Bow Street Runner and he was good at it. He was the Wolf.

His task was to find the jewel thief. But he was looking for a man and when he encounters a lad he is shocked. He is even more shocked when he finds out he is a she. During there cat and mouse games they both have feelings about each other. Grant can only think in black or white, right or wrong there is no other to him. A great read with a wonderful ending and a great start to book 4.
51 reviews2 followers
August 18, 2019
A great adventure and love story

Very well done. The descriptions, the dialogue, the plot and the characters were all very well written. I enjoyed this book very much. A very different plot that kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next. I would recomend this book to anyone who enjoys books that have some adventure to the romance. It's not a sweet and clean romance but there are no graphic love scenes. The book could have used some proof reading as there were typos, words missing or words not needed and some sentences that were jumbled up but not enough errors to distract from the story.
393 reviews1 follower
September 25, 2019
Grant, Lord Hargrave & Juliet\Jule's story was mesmerizing. He was determined to live his life in the service of protecting others. She had been borned into an environment that had formed what she had become. Together they will break all the rules in order to find happiness. I really enjoyed this story. Highly Recommend. Happy Reading!


PS....Although I enjoyed this story tremendously. I must say I was disappointed with all the errors in it's writting. Words were missing all together in some of the setences. Others were out of order, and made no sense. I'm sure you have people who edit your novels. You may consider hiring new ones 😕.
Profile Image for Bridget Love to read Lewis.
2,448 reviews28 followers
February 3, 2021
To steal a heart

Grant is the 3rd son of an Earl and sees everything in black and white, right or wrong! Juliet aka Jules was a thief a very good thief rather than lay on her back for a man this was a more honorable profession! Grant known as the Wolf never lost a case or a thief until Jules! Risking capture from Grant Jules decided to semi retire until some crown jewels and evil Eddy came out of hiding!
When faced with exposing Jules or risking his heart Grant has a choice to make! Can he let her go or turn in the only woman he has ever loved?
Profile Image for Lana Birky.
1,699 reviews22 followers
August 22, 2022
I really do love this series & this 3rd book is my favorite but don't miss the first 2! I am so glad I discovered Jillian Eaton's books - her stories are fun, humorous, romantic, dangerous, suspense, a little spice & just down right enjoyable. The journey to a HEA for Grant, a third son of a Duke & Bow Street Runner & Julia, a orphaned thief that grew up in St. Giles is a bumpy one with lots of twists along the way. I highly recommend this series to all historical romance readers - you won't be disappointed!
345 reviews
September 10, 2023
This book was so, so good with the chemistry of the bow street runner and thief heroine. Such great banter was funny but the ending just was rushed and introduced a new villian at the end which all seemed a bit much. Also, there was a distinct lack of steam and no consummation of the relationship in the HEA. Too closed door and the author leads us to expect more and left unsatified. Such a shame it was so close to being a favorite! I'll try a few more books from her and see if this is a pattern of her writing. Banter and chemistry were great so very hopeful the next book is better.
98 reviews2 followers
April 15, 2018
A Dangerous Affair

Here is another wonderful story by Jillian Eaton. It's about two people who are less likely to fall in love with each other. He is a runner and she is a thief. He sees the world in black and white while she sees the world in color and tried not to care about each other. I will not say any more about the story except that I hope you will enjoy reading this book as much as I did.
Profile Image for Alyl02.
91 reviews
June 8, 2020
Jillian has created a wonderful world of Bow Street like I have never seen. The characters were full and made me laugh when trying to out do each other. Watching two people drawn together but fighting the attraction while also not knowing if they could put their prejudices/biases aside to truly love. This book makes me want to read the rest of the books in this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Sonia.
667 reviews15 followers
October 16, 2021
Enjoyable read. Unlike the 1st 2 installments, I'd classify this as a clean romance with some sensuality. The story is completely interwoven time-wise with #1 and #2, so you really must read the books in order. The ending flows right into book 4, so I'm going to assume that this couple will get married and have their HEA in a later book. I would normally be irritated by a book without a proper ending, but there are enough ongoing story arcs (and the entire series is free via KU).
Profile Image for MsWhiskey.
334 reviews
March 8, 2024
In retrospect, the writer did kinda well despite the MAJOR flaws of the story.

That being:
They only met a handful of times!!! one or two hours, mostly less
And in those moments spent was the hero chasing the heroine to get her to jail as he lusts over her.

I cannot imagine how the writer got away with how bloody ridiculous and shallow that was. I didn't feel any true romance or true love between the MCs, I mean, how could they?
Profile Image for Angel.
276 reviews17 followers
March 19, 2018
Wonderful as always!

This is probably my favorite entry into this series so far! Jules and Grant are such a fun pairing with her being a thief and him being a runner. Their interactions kept me laughing, and feeling rather warm, throughout the story! I loved the way this ended and I can't wait to find out what happens next!
42 reviews1 follower
May 28, 2018
Chase, kiss, stab, run, chase

The story is good. Juliet and Grant make a great pair with him chasing her, he thinks for justice, throughout the book. It could use some editing. Words are missing or switched around. And their are contradictions:. Juliet says she never takes more than one piece of jewelry, then takes several, the description of Juliet change.
Profile Image for Mrs. Bookworm.
435 reviews27 followers
June 1, 2018
The whole time I was reading this book, I was irritated. Grant is well complex but not that well developed and Juliet, well, like I said, no layer. 2D.

I don't know. I'm pretty disappointed because the whole book was about Grant chasing Juliet and like..well it got old and Juliet was just that...no realizations, no conflict, no reflection whatsoever.

So, what is her redeeming quality?
261 reviews2 followers
August 7, 2019
Wonderfully entertaining and romantic tale - a must read.

Great story. I love Jillian Eaton's novels. I love the passion and tension between Juliet and Grant as they play out the dance of love as prey and predator through the east end of London before coming to a head when Juliet's life is threatened and Grant must fight for her life.
Profile Image for Karen Darling.
3,379 reviews24 followers
November 2, 2019
I enjoyed this book, it kept my interest. I didn't care too much for the hero, he was a hypocrite and he had no integrity. He kept trying to arrest the heroin and he had no proof that she stole anything. Also whenever he caught her he kept sticking his tongue down her throat and at one time his hand between her legs. Throughout the entire book he kept saying he had to do his job. Really guy?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews

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