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Half Broke Horses
Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel | Jeannette Walls
Half Broke Horses is Laura Ingalls Wilder for adults, as riveting and dramatic as Isak Dinesens Out of Africa or Beryl Markhams West with the Night. Destined to become a classic, it will transfix readers everywhere.Those old cows knew trouble was coming before we did. So begins the story of Lily Casey Smith, Jeannette Wallss no-nonsense, resourceful, and spectacularly compelling grandmother. By age six, Lily was helping her father break horses. At fifteen, she left home to teach in a frontier townriding five hundred miles on her pony, alone, to get to her job. She learned to drive a car and fly a plane. And, with her husband, Jim, she ran a vast ranch in Arizona. She raised two children, one who is Jeannettes memorable mother, Rosemary Smith Walls, unforgettably portrayed in The Glass Castle. Lily survived tornadoes, droughts, floods, the Great Depression, and the most heartbreaking personal tragedy. She bristled at prejudice of all kindsagainst women, Native Americans, and anyone else who didnt fit the mold. Rosemary Smith Walls always told Jeannette that she was like her grandmother, and in this true-life novel, Jeannette Walls channels that kindred spirit. Half Broke Horses is Laura Ingalls Wilder for adults, as riveting and dramatic as Isak Dinesens Out of Africa or Beryl Markhams West with the Night. Destined to become a classic, it will transfix readers everywhere.
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Lizwarnerpdx
Pickpick

This is an interesting oral history of a woman born in 1901. Based on the author‘s grandmother. I read The Glass Castle a couple years ago, about the author‘s life growing up & especially her dad and his crazy schemes. This book was interesting as it showed her mom came from stock that wasn‘t much less chaotic.

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Lcsmcat
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Pickpick

My #bookspin for June was a wild ride. I enjoyed every adventure along with Lily. Number 17 for #24in2024, so I‘m ahead of schedule.

Jas16 You are tearing through your list! 7mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 7mo
43 likes2 comments
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Messiejessie
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Pickpick

What a story! This was an adventure from start to finish and I couldn‘t put it down. Its even more amazing knowing that it‘s based on the author‘s Grandmother‘s life.
What adds to this experience is that, having already read The Glass Castle, knowing some of the effects, outcomes and consequences that are handed down through the next two generations.
Jeannette Walls did a brilliant job telling this story.

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Gingerbikerchick
Mehso-so

A follow up on the Glass Castle. Loved the Glass Castle. This was not quite as good.

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Soubhiville
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Pickpick

Half Broke Horses is based on the author‘s grandmother‘s life on the #Arizona rangelands. She had some real adventures, born in a dugout home in West Texas, spending some time in Chicago, but mostly living in AZ teaching in one room schoolhouses and raising horses and cattle and her family. This was a lot of fun. Similar in voice to Glass Castle, but much less stressful, I thought this was a fun story.

Crazeedi Enjoyed both books 4y
66 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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vicky_reeve
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Pickpick

Fresh, Gritty and Down To Earth. I mean those three words literally!

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rather_be_reading
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Pickpick

I had no idea how much I would love this! I love rural farmtown stories. I just never knew what was coming in this one. Its been awhile since I read The Glass Castle but Im sure theres some overlap.

mjtwo I read this book ten years ago and loved it but had completely forgotten it. 4y
64 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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rather_be_reading
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Book 54

sblbooks I read this a few years back, loved it. 4y
44 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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bookishbitch
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It is amazing some of the lives that have been lived. #tbrpile

14 likes1 stack add
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Beccacraft
Pickpick

This “true-life novel” is written in first person about the author‘s grandmother‘s life from stories passed on by her mother. The stories center around her childhood on a ranch, and raising her own family in the desert. It‘s wonderful storytelling and a great look at the character and determination of a strong woman.

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staci.reads
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Pickpick

Good storytelling is an age-old skill, and Jeanette Walls seems to have been raised in a family rich in the storytelling tradition. This is labeled a "true-life novel" because she writes in 1st person, trying to capture her grandmother's life through the stories passed on to her mother. Although it makes it all factually questionable, it makes for a great story. If you liked The Glass Castle, you should also like this one.

62 likes1 stack add
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BekaReid
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Pickpick

This book!! I love Jeannette Walls' writing and will read anything she pens. The Glass Castle remains my favorite, but this definitely is a close second.

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BekaReid
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"Most important thing in life...is learning how to fall."

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Butterfinger
Pickpick

Five stars because it kept my focus. The unique voice of Lily was wonderful. Jeannette Walls is such an awesome writer. I loved reading about her adventurous grandmother - traveling 4 weeks on horseback by herself to learning to be a pilot. It would make a great movie.

To those who also read The Glass Castle, did it mention Rosemary also burned herself? I read it and remember Jeannette's, but don't remember it saying anything about the mom.

41 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Butterfinger

Sometimes after I finished a particularly good book, I had the urge to get the library card, find out who else had read the book, and track them down to talk about it.

I do that now on Litsy. Why did I wait so long to read this book?

#bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

Cinfhen 😊 5y
Crazeedi It is such a great book and so is 5y
TheAromaofBooks Great review!! And yes, it's super fun to get on Litsy and see who else has loved a book you just read! 5y
38 likes3 comments
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Butterfinger

"History gets written by the winners," (Dad) said, "and when the crooks win, you get crooked history."

#bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

Crazeedi Great book 5y
35 likes1 comment
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Butterfinger

We'd also heard about the indoor plumbing they were installing in fancy houses back east, but no one in west Texas had it, and most people, including Mom and Dad, thought the idea of an indoor bathroom was vile and disgusting. "Who in the Lord's name would want a crapper in the house?" Dad asked.

?

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Butterfinger

My number 20 #bookspin @thearomaofbooks Ready or Not Here I come!!!!!

AmyK1 I read Half Broke Horses a few months ago and liked it 👍🏼 5y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo! Good luck!! 5y
31 likes2 comments
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Tracyantoon
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#FebruaryFeels #favenonfiction This is the story of the author‘s grandma, who was indeed one tough lady. So well written and intriguing! Loved this book!! Most definitely my favorite nonfiction book I have read...so far at least😉❤️📚

Eggs Must be a powerful story 5y
TerriGreen This book is on my TBR. I loved The Glass Castle. 5y
18 likes1 stack add2 comments
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AmyK1
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I‘m starting this book today while I wait to go to lunch with a friend. I‘ve read her other 2 books and enjoyed them.

Crazeedi This was really good. I've been thinking of you, how are you doing?? 5y
AmyK1 @crazeedi It was good. Have you read The Glass Castle? I‘m doing pretty well. How are you? 5y
Crazeedi @AmyK1 oh yes it was the first of hers I read, and that book affected me for a long time. I'm doing well! 5y
AmyK1 @crazeedi It was the first of hers I read too. It was the freshman book when my daughter started college-they pick a book every year for the freshman class. She hated it lol So I read it after her. 5y
13 likes4 comments
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LiterRohde
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“Ironing was a particularly galling waste of time. You'd spend twenty minutes pressing one shirt front and back, spraying starch and getting the creases sharp, but once the man of the house put it on, it would wrinkle as soon as he bent an elbow; plus, you couldn't even see whether the danged shirt was ironed or not under his suit coat.”

#QuotsySept19 | 5: #Iron

📷: Made with Typorama

BookNAround Hehe. At the end of the school year last year, I only ironed the very front and collar of my kid‘s choir tuxedo shirt since I knew they wouldn‘t be allowed to remove their jackets at any point during the grad ceremony. 5y
52 likes1 comment
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Jess861
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Picture from Google Images

Jeannette Walls certainly lived an unorthodox life which made for great reading. These books do paint a picture of what life could be like for some throughout the 1900s in the USA.

#LetsTravelJuly #USA #JeannetteWalls #Biography @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn62

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🇺🇸📚 5y
20 likes1 stack add1 comment
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natalieebloom
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Pickpick

I‘ve read all of Walls‘ novels and this one comes in a very close second behind The Glass Castle. I like that, even though it‘s a biography about her grandmother, it is still written in the first person. The main character, Lily, is a super badass heroine. If you‘ve enjoyed Walls‘ other novels (or historical fiction/nonfiction) I‘d recommend this book for sure!

Crazeedi I agree 6y
4 likes1 comment
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natalieebloom
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“‘You have a mighty high opinion of yourself,‘ I told him. ‘The fact is, you don‘t love me, and you haven‘t destroyed me. You don‘t have what it takes to do that.‘”

I‘ll definitely be thinking about this quote for a while.

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EastWind76
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Next up, non-fiction! I thought The Glass Castle was excellent, so I'm looking forward to getting into this one!

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Eggbeater
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Pickpick

Jeannette Walls took what she knew of her grandmother's amazing life and was able to posthumously give her a voice. Lily Casey Smith's journey makes for a hell of a story. She seemed like a super strong, righteous woman, if not a warm and fuzzy parent. Everyone should get to be heard like this.

My first book completed for #24b4Monday. My first day I've logged 9 hours and 4 minutes reading time. I am tired! @TheReadingMermaid @Andrew65

Andrew65 A great total 🙌 and sounds an interesting book. 6y
BeansPage Your time is amazing! You are doing so great! 👍🏻👍🏻 6y
63 likes2 comments
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GinEyre22
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MPick
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Early morning.
Strong coffee.
Just me and my book.
❤️

Crazeedi Oh I loved that book and this one was mind blowing 6y
13 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Thousand-Lives
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Love this quote! 💕

mcipher I miss those cards where you could see who else got the book out! I guess social media takes their place now. 6y
Thousand-Lives @mcipher Yes! This quote made me feel nostalgic for those cards, but Litsy does a great job of taking their place! 6y
80 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Thousand-Lives
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I started three or four different books yesterday and nothing felt right. Does this happen to anyone else?

I think I‘ve finally settled on this “true life novel” written about the author‘s grandmother. My plans for the day were canceled so I‘m just going to take it easy and read while my youngest naps. 🙌

Tamra That happens to me with audio books. 6y
TheBookgeekFrau I hate when that happens! 6y
CouronneDhiver All the time 6y
InnerSavvy Yes it happens because I am a mood reader 6y
Thousand-Lives @InnerSavvy I am too. I made a TBR stack for this month and haven‘t followed it at all. 6y
71 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Heideschrampf
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Pickpick

Finally found time to finish this biography of a very american wonder woman, penned by her great-daughter Jaennette Walls in Lily Casey‘s fictionalized voice. It ties in great with the glass castle, and makes for a great, quick and feminist read. #sistersaredoingitforthemselves #weirdwomenrock

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Heideschrampf
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RebelReader I really liked this one!👍🏻 7y
Heideschrampf @RebelReader me too! Even better than the first one 7y
64 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Heideschrampf
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celtichik Yum! 7y
63 likes1 comment
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Heideschrampf
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I wish all i were doing was eating and reading.... #bookanddinner

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Heideschrampf
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#booksandbreakfast at momma‘s house

alisiakae Yum! 7y
britt_brooke Pretty photo! 7y
62 likes2 comments
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Heideschrampf
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starlight97 Yumm *___* 7y
55 likes1 comment
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Heideschrampf
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ephemeralwaltz Lovely. Enjoy! 7y
53 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Heideschrampf
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SassyBookworm Yum! 😋 7y
erzascarletbookgasm Those 🍤😋 7y
50 likes2 comments
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Heideschrampf
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Hard at work...

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Sarahandhella
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Some fiction books picked up from rummaging.

MommyOfTwo I loved the maze runner 7y
11 likes1 comment
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smoorhouse
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A seniors centre close to my house puts on a book sale twice a year and this is what I picked up yesterday...normally I take home way more but the selection was limited.

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Talewaggingreads
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Pickpick

Wisdom, wit, determination, and grit are characteristics that have well served Jeanette Walls over the years. This "pre-quell " to The Glass Castle chronicles the life of her rough riding, moonshine peddling, school teaching, crop dusting grandmother Lily Casey Smith, from whom these traits have descended. I LOVED Lily. Her sardonic sense of humor and fatalistic approach to life are qualities to be admired, imo. Inscription is pretty cool, too.

DivineDiana Yes! The inscription! Do you know her? 7y
Talewaggingreads @DivineDiana , I do not know the previous owner or her thoughtful benefactor. It wasn't until I began reading that I noticed the inscription. And of course, it saddens me so that the owner would part with the book. But, after holding a bit of a grudge, I realized I will never know what transpired to have such a sweet gift end up in a used bookstore.😢 7y
DivineDiana So true. That spirit of love has been given to you. 💗 7y
6 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Bookartbookmarks
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Pickpick

Today I thought I‘d share one of my favorite female authors. This is my favorite book of hers. I wish she‘d come out with another! The lotus flower bookmarks are now up on my Etsy.

tammysue Lovely bookmarks! 7y
Amabear Lovely bookmarks!!! 😍😍😍 7y
blithebuoyant Those are gorgeous! Where did you get them?! 7y
See All 8 Comments
Bookartbookmarks @blithebuoyant thank you! I actually make them. I have an Etsy shop with a bunch of different styles. https://www.etsy.com/shop/Bookartbookmarks 7y
Bookartbookmarks @whatshesreadingnow thank you! When I saw the charm I had to make them! 7y
Bookartbookmarks @Amabear thank you! Just put them up on my Etsy. I haven‘t making a ton new ones, but I had to put those up. Especially today. :) 7y
blithebuoyant @Babiesandbooks Would you shoot me an email real quick so I could ask you something? blithebuoyant@yahoo.com 7y
74 likes8 comments
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KrystleTheBookSlayer
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Thank you so much @Natasha.C.Barnes , the package arrived safe and sound! I've wanted to read this ever since I read The Glass Castle! I'm so excited! 😁 #NCBgiveaway

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Lucy1062

I've read The Glass Castle and enjoyed it. I received a gift the other day and the book is Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls. I wished I wish I would have read this first.. Now things are making some since that happened in The Glass Castle.

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Natasha.C.Barnes
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Next up in the #NCBgiveaway is Half Broke Horses! Did you read The Glass Castle and want to try more by this author/know more about this family? This one is about Wells' grandmother, who sounds like quite an amazing woman. It's thought to be not quite as good as TGC, but still really good. If you like in the US and want to win this book, comment below-drawing on Tuesday.

Ash.on.the.line I read the glass castle in college. I didn‘t even know she wrote more! 😊 7y
KrystleTheBookSlayer Yes! I've been wanting to read this ever since I read The Glass Castle! 😍 7y
Giabow I loved the Glass Castle! 7y
See All 7 Comments
MiyakoBunny 🙃💐 7y
Eggs I'd be interested in another book by this author! I Read Glass Walls last year. Thanks for the opportunity! 7y
kricheal I loved the Glass Castle! 7y
Ingerella I haven't read The Glass Castle but I've seen great reviews. I would be interested in reading this one as well. 7y
61 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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candority
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Pickpick

I didn't love this as much as The Glass Castle, but it was still a wonderful read. It is clear that the family, even generations back, is spirited and a little wild, and it is evident where Jeannette gets her 'gumption' from.

76 likes4 stack adds
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Libraries_are_cool
Pickpick

Amazing

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candority
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I can't believe it's already December! I have one more week until my courses are done for the semester, and here are some of the books I'm planning to get through this month! I'm going to try to keep up with some photo challenges this month. The #FirstNovel I'll read is The Best Kind of People. #DeckTheShelves #TBR #ItsBeginning #SeasonsReadings2017 #ReindeerReads #DeckTheShelves

Lwiesman Love the Nightingale. It was a tear jerker! 7y
DebbieGrillo I loved The Best Kind of People 7y
jillannjohn I really liked Bird Box. Creepy... 7y
82 likes3 comments
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Cconnolly
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I got mail! Thanks again @emilyhaldi !!!!

RebelReader How exciting! I loved Half Broke Horses and Girl on the Train. I have Empty Mansions on my TBR list! 7y
sprainedbrain Loved Sleeping Giants! 7y
Cconnolly @RebelReader @sprainedbrain , Just like a little kid, I don‘t know which one I want to start first! Empty Mansions is such an intriguing story, but the others sound so good. 3 hour ride to Thanksgiving tomorrow, maybe I‘ll take a few with me..... 7y
emilyhaldi Awesome!! Enjoy! ❤️❤️❤️ 7y
17 likes1 stack add4 comments