Category Archives: Uncategorized

#ReviewAudioBook – Center Ice (Boston Rebels Series Book 1) – by: Julia Connors – Narrators: Teddy Hamilton and Andi Arndt


I’ve always been a wild card – the first to start a fight on the ice, and the life of the party off it – but appearances can be deceiving.
Being traded to the Boston Rebels could not have come at a better time. With serious family obligations to fulfill and a contract renewal with a new hockey team on the line, I have no time for anything else. I return to Boston knowing I need to buckle down and focus on what really matters.
But the first night I’m back in town, I come face to face with Audrey, my college calculus tutor. We had a brief fling right before I was drafted into the NHL. Now, her five year old son is standing by her side, and I don’t need a tutor to do that kind of math.
Audrey insists she doesn’t want me involved in Graham’s life unless I can commit to being a dad. With everything else going on, this is the worst possible timing.
But every minute I spend with Graham and Audrey feels exactly right, and I’m left questioning everything I thought I wanted.
Because now my goals are shifting, and getting what I really want might come at the expense of the game I’ve given my entire life to.

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Review by Twinsie Melinda

I purchased this audio one because one hockey players & secret baby and two Andi Arndt was one of the narrators.

Teddy Hamilton and Andi Arndt did a great job of narrating Drew and Aubrey. They kept me invested in this story I has a hard time pulling myself from the book once I hit play.

Drew Is a hockey star that finds himself back home because he has to help care for his mom. However, when he is at his agent’s house for a party, he comes face to face with his tutor from college and one night stand, Audrey. He gits a big shocker when he also finds himself looking a “mini me” named Graham.

Audrey was Drew’s tutor in college and gave into temptations one night only to realize Drew left her with a keepsake for the rest of her life. She tried to tell Drew about Graham but when Drew failed to call her back after 20 left messages, she realized it was just her and Graham. Well and her family who didn’t know who his dad was.

Audrey was not sure about Drew after he broke her heart so bad but now she also has Graham to protect. Drew has his mind set he is going to be a part of Graham and Audrey life so now is the time to prove he is not the same man she once knew. I enjoyed getting to know all the characters in this book. Audrey and her family were great. They were the support system she and Graham needed. I have to say I enjoyed seeing how over protective her brother (who is also Drew’s agent) is of Audrey and Graham. To watch how loving and caring Drew is toward his mom and Audrey and Graham is so heartwarming.

Julia grew up on the warm and sunny West Coast, but her first decision as an adult was to trade her flip-flops for snow boots and move to Boston.

She’s been enjoying everything that New England has to offer for over two decades, and now that she’s acclimated to the snowy winters and finally found all the places to get good sushi and tacos, she has zero regrets.

You can usually find her in front of her computer, but when she stops writing she’s most likely to be found outdoors, preferably with a pair of skis or snowshoes strapped to her feet in winter, or on a paddleboard in the summer.

#Review – His Shifter Wolf Boss (The Clan of Hogan Falls Book 1) by: Serena Meadows

My clan of wolf shifters wanted me dead for being born a girl… but I didn’t just survive but also met someone that felt like family.

That someone was a boy in the orphanage I grew up in.
I never could have imagined that I’d meet Derek again…
His innocent eyes had a lot of pain in them after all those years.
Perhaps that was the reason I didn’t recognize him at first.

It didn’t matter what my heart felt for him.
I had to keep myself from Derek… at all costs.
There was no way he could find out my real identity.
Derek was human, and I was not.
That was the only fact I needed to remember, especially now that I had hired him as my employee.

But the heart never listens to reason.
One single night changed everything.
The bad boy that I’d been in love with was hiding a secret of his own.
And he was the only one that could make my body shiver with pleasure.

The dream that I’d started living in wasn’t real.
Danger was chasing us… and Derek became the only one that could save my entire world.

Each book in this sexy-as-sin series can each be read as standalones, and has no cliffhangers, but are best read in order.

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Review by Twinsie Melinda

I picked up this box set simply because I was in the mood for a shifter book.

This was a quick read and was enjoyable. It did start a little slow but worldbuilding so I get it. There were a few things that were different about this book than other shifter books like a shifter could not identify another shifter and why in the world would a pack want to kill off all female children.

Louisa family sent her away when the pack wanted to kill the female children in the pack. They found an orphanage that also took 7 other girls. Millie took all the girls in and raised them. The girls stayed together and are now running the old orphanage as a bed and breakfast together.

Derek remembers living at the orphanage before being adopted. He has had a rough go at life since leaving and just needs to get back there. Once there he finds himself the new handyman for the bed and breakfast. Louisa realizes what Derek has always meant to her and he could be the one that helps her and her sisters when the past comes knocking on their door.

I enjoyed seeing Louisa and Derek get to know each other and overcome their fear of being able to open up to each other. I liked that we got to see interactions between three of the sisters just wish I could have been able to get to know the others a bit more. Can I just say I would love to have a secluded cave and a hot spring to get away from everything once in a while too. My heart warmed when Louisa realized the amount of people she had on her side that wanted to help when she needed it most. This was a quick read but packed full the entire read. I cannot wait to jump in and read the rest of the series.

Serena Meadows has always been obsessed with writing short stories since she was in junior high school. She writes paranormal romance stories of all types but writing about sexy steamy alpha shifters is her passion. She lives in Denver with her two dogs. On her downtime (which is rare), she enjoys hiking and camping in the mountains or riding her bike with her own alpha male to keep her safe and warm. Typically she enjoys an evening curled up buried in a good book or watching Netflix. She also enjoys time with good friends.

Serena is excited to share her work with all of you and looking forward to interacting with her fans!

If you share her passion for big sexy bears and lean, steamy wolves, sign up for Serena Meadows newsletter to receive information about new releases, or how to join her review team!

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#WOTR25 – #NewRelease #Review – Stone Crest: Rise of a Raven by: S.J. Chaynie

Stone Crest : Rise of a Raven

A chance encounter.
A blue-eyed Raven.
A single curse.
She’s not supposed to be mine. Not just because I’m her professor, or she’s my student, but because of what I am. A man with a mask. A shifter with a curse. But I can’t stay away. Not when I know the beauty of her heart, and not when her life is in danger. Truths are revealed, secrets unveiled, and when my wolf decides she’s ours, there’s no turning back. I’ve always protected Stone Crest, but now, I’ll spend the rest of my life protecting her.

Stone Crest: Rise of a Raven is a standalone professor/student shifter romance with no cheating and a HEA.

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Review by Twinsie Melinda

I received a copy of this book for an honest review.

I was so excited when this book hit my kindle, I even put down another book I had just started. I have been waiting on this book since SJ Chaynie said she was writing a paranormal book.  This book did not disappoint and I want to know more about the other characters too. I am hooked on these guys and need to know everything about them.

Raven is dealing with the death of her best friend and her dad sends her off to a new school, new roommate, and new surroundings. After a night out with her new roommate she finds herself kissing a stranger. The pull to this guy is strong but when she realizes the same guy is one of her professors, they both try to fight the pull. However, somethings are too strong to resist especially when they keep gravitating to each other.

Locke is Raven’s professor and a shifter with a curse there is no way he can be with Raven at least that is what he tries to tell his wolf. However, his wolf has other ideas she is theirs and they need to protect her. Even if that means stalking her and watching Raven from afar to keep her safe.

I was so drawn into this story and wanting to know the characters I did not want to put this book down. The storyline was good I wasn’t sure how I would like the student/teacher relationship but It worked for me in this case. Learning the roll of each of Locke’s friends and what they were intrigued me. In so many stories’ vampires and wolfs do not get along but here they share a house and work very well together. The secrets that came out and the plot twists were great I was blind sided on most of them. I enjoyed the chemistry between Raven and Locke. Is there something going on with Decan and Presley? I need Presley’s story we just got to see little glimpses of who she is when around Raven. I know there is a good story there I need to know it. To be honest I want to know all the guy’s stories really what brought them to were they are. What happened to them to leave their families and make their own with each other. Everyone has secrets and they need to be let out.

A few of my favorite lines:

I cross my arms. “I don’t know you.” He flips his visor up. “I just had my tongue down your throat. We’re acquainted enough…” – Locke

“Eat.” He shoves a box to me. “What? My ass not big enough for you, Sullivan? You one of those Kardashian groupies?”…“You avoided the question.” I point my fork at him then twirl it around. “You like big butts.” He Shrugs. “I cannot lie.” Did he just make a joke? A laugh bursts from my chest. “He’s got jokes.” – Raven and Locke

S.J. Chaynie is a small-town Texas girl who has found a love for writing. She enjoys writing romance, with a sprinkle of suspense, and a little humor. If she is not busy writing her newest ideas, she is spending time with her husband and two beautiful daughters. She believes a good book and a lot of laughs is the best medicine. She brings suspense, love, angst, and sometimes the occasional heartbreak to her stories. Always a HEA, but every character and story she holds close to her heart and hopes they touch yours as well.

#Review #WOTR25 #AttendingAuthor #MMRomance #PartOfASeries #AgeGap Peaches & Cream (The Men of Haven Grove book 1) by: A.D. Ellis

Peaches & Cream is a steamy, age-gap, friends-to-lovers M/M romance between a jack-of-all-trades and his dad’s best friend. This is Book 1 in The Men of Haven Grove.

Hudson’s past left him with some baggage, but he’s happy in the small town of Haven Grove with his family and a variety of jobs to keep him busy. Not willing to touch a relationship with a ten-foot pole, Hudson sticks to quick, easy hookups.

Lance left his hometown eight years ago to take care of unavoidable responsibilities. He’s back home now and he knows himself a lot better than when he left. Hookups aren’t really his thing, but sometimes a guy has to do what he has to do.

Hudson and Lance have a long history together. Can they overcome the messy obstacles and look forward to a long future together as well? Or will they be forced to give up on the unexpected spark smoldering between them and stick with being just friends?

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Review by Twinsie Tenise

I can’t stop smiling. Lance is so poetic. I love him. He’s just perfect.
He’s gentle, kind, and patient. He’s prepared to do whatever it takes to sweep Hudson off of his feet.
Hudson is anti relationships and there is nothing his teenage crush can do to change his mind. Things are perfectly fine how they are. Lance worked hard to try and earn Hudson’s trust and hopefully his heart. It was adorable.

The way A.d. creates a world where you want to know more about book after book is beyond me. I’m excited to see what happens next in this series.

#Review – Secret Southern Promises (Magnolia Grove Book 10) by: Winter Travers

Dolly Hanes has a secret no one knows but the whole town of Magnolia is about to find out. Boone West included

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Review by Twinsie Dee

i was given this book by the author for an honest review

15 years of keeping a secret Dolly thought she was in the clear with keeping the town thinking her son was the result of a one-night stand and not really her high school sweetheart’s son. Until the only man who can make her heart do summersaults walked back into her life when he walked into her store. Dolly pushed Boone away 15 years ago to go chase his rodeo dream and leave her behind, he didn’t know she was pregnant, and she didn’t want him to give up his dream and possibly one day resent her, so she let go of the future she could have and broke his heart. Now that he was back in Magnolia Grove her secret to who her son’s father actually might come out, and she’s not sure how she will be able to handle that or how her son and Boone will both handle this secret. Small town drama and secrets come out at some point in life just might be a while. omg this was so cute I couldn’t stop reading it, Boone and Dolly’s love story is timeless.

Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author Winter Travers is a devoted wife, mother, and aunt turned author who was born and raised in Wisconsin. After a brief stint in South Carolina following her heart to chase the man who is now her hubby, they retreated back up North to the changing seasons and to the place they now call home.

Winter spends her days caring for her family and her nights writing happily-ever-afters. She also has an addiction to anything MC related, her dogs and cooking/baking!

#MysterySuspense #Standalone –The Silent Patient by: Alex Michaelides

“The perfect binge listen.”—Yahoo Lifestyle

Instant #1 New York Times bestseller.

The Silent Patient is a shocking psychological thriller of a woman’s act of violence against her husband—and of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive.

Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word.

Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London.

Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations—a search for the truth that threatens to consume him….

More praise for The Silent Patient:

“Absolutely brilliant… I read it in a state of intense, breathless excitement.”—Stephen Fry

“Smart, sophisticated storytelling freighted with real suspense—a very fine novel by any standard.”—Lee Child

The Silent Patient sneaks up on you like a slash of intimidating shadow on a badly lit street. Michaelides has crafted a totally original, spellbinding psychological mystery so quirky, so unique that it should have its own genre.”—David Baldacci

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Review by Twinsie Tenise

Whoa! I will keep this short and sweet as I feel this book needs to be experienced by the reader without much information to go on. There were so many plot twists. I didn’t see them coming. I love a good mystery; one that makes you think and this one freaking delivered! I couldn’t tell you how many times I was just like what the $&%@ did that just say?! I’m still sitting here processing The Silent Patient, 8 days later. I’m sure I will eventually be able to pick up another book.

Alex Michaelides was born and raised in Cyprus. He has an M.A. in English literature from Trinity College, Cambridge University, and an M.A. in screenwriting from the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. The Silent Patient was his first novel and was the biggest-selling debut in the world in 2019. It spent more than a year on the New York Times bestseller list and sold in a record-breaking forty-nine countries. Alex lives in London.

#StudentTeacher #SecondChance #MMRomance #AllTheFeels –Kismet by: Ashley James

Cash DeMarco

Five years ago, I gave my heart and soul to my professor. He made me fall for him, only to destroy me with his silence. I’ve never been the same. I finally have the chance to leave this town, start over, and try to move on with my life. But what happens when fate insists the chapter of your life that haunts you isn’t over?

Stone Philips

He was the temptation I shouldn’t have divulged in. The secret that ruined everything. He was the beginning to my end, and when I left, I left as the shell of the man I once was. Just like with the angriest of storms, when he walks back into my life, destruction and chaos are never far behind. The universe has a funny way of bringing everything full circle, opening old wounds, and forcing you to face your destiny.

*Kismet is a full-length, standalone, MM romance novel about missed opportunity, right person/wrong time, heartbreak, and second chances.

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Review by Twinsie Tenise

I’m pretty sure I just finished my favorite book of the year. This one may have even made my top 10 ever list. Every once in a while I read a book and think 5 stars just don’t do it justice. A whole lot of boxes have to be checked in order to meet those requirements.

I want to start by saying I’ve never been drawn to student/teacher romance. I’ve read a couple of good ones but they aren’t my go to. I happened upon this book when I was looking for something to read and it took like 2 days to find something.  From the beginning, this story just “felt” different. I was intrigued with the plot and the 2 men, Cash and Stone, had me slowly becoming obsessed. Speaking of slow, it took me 12 days to read this book. Some days I would only read 1 or 2 chapters. Not because I didn’t like the book, quite the opposite actually, I honestly just wanted to savor every page. Without giving too much away, let’s dig into the boxes it checked…
• I didn’t want it to end. When I feel that way the book is at least rating a high 4 for me.
• My heart freaking hurt on more than one occasion for these characters. By end end of Part 1, I was bawling!
• Nothing about this was easy or instant. There was angst and I love me some angst. The character development was superb. The raw emotion displayed by these 2 men had me invested in their relationship and hoping for a positive ending to their story.
• I laughed, I felt and I cried. But most importantly, I ugly cried. I know I’m not with the majority but if someone tells me a book made them ugly cry I’m like- tell me more. Lol

I know above I mentioned student/teacher but it was also a 2nd chance at romance and I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for them if they are well written. And I believe this one was very well written. This was my first read by Ashley but certainly not my last. I’m looking forward to exploring their backlist.

About the author

Ashley James is a queer romance author who enjoys writing stories that will equally make you swoon and blush. Ashley calls upstate South Carolina home with her two daughters and two kitties. When she is not writing, Ashley can be found singing and dancing to music with her kids, thinking up new stories in her head, or with her nose in her kindle.

#twinsiefortheday – Dark Reflections (Dark Reflections #1) by Kelsey Ketch

Being possessed by a vampire sucks!

Alana Jones’s world has been completely turned upside-down after being bitten by a vampire’s reflection in a cursed mirror. Now she’s forced to stay in an abandoned Victorian inn on an isolated island off the west coast of Florida, where Alana lives a double life: one as herself and one as a vicious murderer. Over the past year, she has spilt and drunk the blood of sixteen victims. The guilt of their deaths slowly eating away her sanity.

Sixteen dead . . .

However, things become even more complicated when Alana finds Cole, a surfer she felt a connection with the moment they met on the mainland, locked up in the island’s shed. Knowing his death is inevitable, she attempts to distant herself from him, continually reminding herself of the monster residing underneath her skin. Unfortunately, it’s a small island, and the more she interacts with Cole, the more her feelings grow for him.

Eventually, she has to make a decision. Either accept his fate or find a way to expel the vampire’s spirit from within herself before she murders him as well.

Goodreads

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Review by Brandy

I received this book for an honest review.

this book has an unusual twist to it. Alana’s body is possessed by a vampire every night, and she has no
control and no memory of what happens. She is allowed one day off the island every so often to get
food and supplies, and she must pawn things off and try and sell her art for money. Charissa, the
vampire, doesn’t get why she wants things, but lets her do it.
Alana’s guilt over what the vampire has been doing is eating her up and she sees the ghosts of the
“donors” that have been killed at the island when Charissa tires of them. When she wakes up to find
Cole trapped with her on the island, the ghosts start to actively harass her. Between the ghosts and the
growing feelings for Cole, Alana gets desperate to save Cole. In her desperation she decides to take a
chance that may kill her or worse.
I really enjoyed the vampire’s pet cat. He’s cute with plenty of catitude lol. I also like the interaction
between Alana and the people in town. With Charissa you start by hating her, then you hear her back
story and start to fill a little bad for her, and then bam she really makes you hate her. There is lots of
gore and violence. Alana wakes up to bloody messes all the time. I would recommend older teen and up.

Kelsey Ketch is a young-adult/new-adult author, who works as a Wildlife Biologist and Data Analyst. During her free time, she can often be found working on her latest work in progress. She also enjoys history, mythology, traveling, and reading.

#WOTR25 Reader Spotlight on Amy Schaffer

Hey friends! We, The Twinsie Girls (Angie, Melinda, JM, Kelly, Tenise, and Dee) talked to some of the readers attending Writers on the River to see what they had to say about the event.  As we come down from our book signing highs from July and start to prepare for 2025, YEAR 10, we wanted to see what some of the attendees are saying about Writers on the River.

Today we are chatting with the one and only Amy Schaffer.  You can find her where ever Kate Hawthorne is as Amy is The Kate Keeper.  I just made that up but we are going with it.

Was this your first WOTR? If not how many have you attended?
This was my fourth year
How far did you travel to get to the event?
I traveled from Kansas City so it’s a just under 6 hour drive for me
Did you go to the event with anyone? 
Oh yes! My author bestie, Kate Hawthorne.
How many new books did you bring home?
9 books total. 8 novels and one GIGANTIC antho
Did you participate in the raffle? If yes, did you take any baskets home this year?
Not this year but I did manage to sneak over to take a peek at all the baskets. They all looked so good. I wouldn’t have known which to choose.
Did you get a chance to hear the Dorris talk? If yes, what are your thoughts?
I’ve been to this even 4 times and I’ve gone to hear Doris talk at every single one of them. Doris is such a strong woman and her story is heartbreaking, yet untimately a hopeful one. It’s a reminder that this is more than just a book signing, it’s a chance to support a cause I think we all feel passionately about.
Do you have a highlight or special memory from the event you would like to share?
Just watching everyone come together every year and seeing them get excited to see their signing friends again. It really is like one big family. And it’s not just a readers/authors thing. People even get excited to me… a mere PA
Anything else you would like to add?
❤️ Keep up the good work everyone and I’ll see you for year 10!
Well that is all for today. Check back all month long for more reader and volunteer spotlights.
SAVE THE DATE
Tickets for for the 10th annual Writers on the River go on sale November 4, 2024!
For event location, dates, times, list of 2025 attending authors, and other important information, please follow the link below to the event web page.

#Twinsieoftheday – Vikings Conquest (Viking Ancestors Rise of the Dragon Book 5) by Sky Purington

An alpha Viking dragon shifter and his destined mate face their demons in a scorching medieval romance about second chances.

Tormented by her past, Tess hits the open road, and never looks back until she’s forced through time to medieval Scandinavia. Caught in an unraveling prophecy, the only way she can defeat the enemy is to take a mate. But first, she must work through heart-wrenching memories. What she doesn’t expect is navigating her rocky history alongside a man as broken as her. A Viking who offers not just solace but sparks fierce desire.

Though determined to end his rival without becoming mated, Viking Rokar Sigdir begins thinking differently when Tess joins him on his quest and awakens feelings he thought long dormant. Yet with passion and a chance to start anew come dark flashbacks of losing his kin and the unimaginable pain it caused. A misery he fears repeating.

Will Rokar and Tess be able to let their pasts go and work together to end their nemesis so they can share a future? Or are some things just too hard to overcome? Find out as they journey through time and turbulent memories on a fast-paced, otherworldly adventure that becomes not just a conquest of their enemy but of their grief-stricken souls.

This book contains strong sexual content and is recommended for a mature audience.

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Brandy

I received this book for an honest review.

This is a good addition to this series, and really brings Tess’s character to life. I’ve read a couple of the
previous books and Tess came across as the flighty, carefree sister. As the previous books directly affect
things in this book I would recommend not starting with this book if new to the series.
Both Tess and her man have been through a painful past, and neither is interested in being hurt again.
Fate, however, has different plans and they must fight through their pain or everything is doomed. Tess
has a big secret that’s she’s even kept from her sisters and it may ruin the future she’s trying to save.
Rokar can’t escape the guilt over the death of his wife and child and has shut everyone out. Trouble is
they have no idea how they are such a huge part of what is going on. When they finally figure it out it’s a
little bit of OMG! due to how their story ties a lot of things together from the entire series. This author
really is very good at slowly unraveling the mystery of the truth without it feeling like it’s a slow reveal.
I’ve really enjoyed this series as there is a lot of Norse mythology woven into the story line along with
Viking dragon shifters. This book is no exception, and if you haven’t read any of the books you may get a
bit confused as to where and when the characters are in different places as there is also time traveling.
There are some major reveals in this book, so I wouldn’t start with this one if your new to the series.
There is explicit adult content.

SKY PURINGTON is the award-winning, 4-time RONE nominee, bestselling author of over seventy novels and novellas. A New Englander born and bred who recently moved to Virginia, Purington married her hero and has an amazing son who inspires her daily. Her wolf pack, one ultra-lovable husky shepherd mix, and two Siberian huskies, rarely leave her side. Passionate for variety, Sky’s vivid imagination spans several romance genres, including historical, time travel, paranormal, and fantasy. Expect steamy stories teeming with protective alpha heroes and strong-minded heroines.

#1 in Time Travel Romance 2011-2023

#1 in Viking Historical Romance 2015-2022

#1 in Medieval Historical Romance 2016, 2019 & 2021

#1 in Ancient World Fiction 2016, 2017 and 2019

#1 in Historical Norse & Icelandic Fiction 2019

#1 in Scottish Historical Romance 2019-2021

Latest Releases→ Click +Follow

Website→ www.SkyPurington.com

Newsletter→ https://bit.ly/3hQIHka

New Release Text Alerts→ Text ‘skypurington’ (no quotes, one word, all lowercase) to 74121

Sky loves to hear from readers! Email her at Sky@SkyPurington.com.