BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Fairy Tales from the Underworld Part II by L.C. Moon

Catching my eye with such a detailed title, and the fact that I love dark fairy tale retellings. Fairy Tales for the Underworld Part II (The Buried Tale: Star Crossed Lovers) by L.C. Moon is getting my spotlight treatment this week! Let’s Read on!

Do you know who you are?

Fairy Tales from the Underworld Part II The Buried Tale ( The Star-Crossed Lovers )

Release Date: December 2025

Genre: Fantasy Romance/Erotica

💜fairy tale fantasy
💜Star-crossed Lovers
💜 Revenge Plot
💜 Enemies to Lovers
💜 Morally grey MMC
💜 Hidden pasts & secrets
💜 Emotional Angst


Not all children are born equal. To say otherwise is a lie. So much is decided for us upon birth. Our name. The skin we live in. The family we're born into. A war-torn country… or a Beverly Hills ZIP code. So much of what shapes us lies beyond our control.
What of our choices? Do they not define us? Or is it the inner child we sacrificed to survive who holds the secrets to who we are?


Laura Malkin went through hell and came out crowned in flames. In the shadowed alleys of Montreal's Underworld, they all whisper the same words: "Beware the Purple Witch and her Little Wolves..."


And so, our tale begins again. Not where the last chapter ended, but where the pieces have landed. After all the lines were drawn, and the dust settled.
The Son of Snow… meets the Daughter of Sand.


(*Please note, this book contains graphic sexual content and deals with heavy subject matter, suitable for readers 18+.)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Canadian author L.C. Moon explores the themes of trauma, identity, and fate in her series Fairy Tales From the Underworld. A fan of Gothic fiction, domestic thrillers, character-driven stories, and epic sagas alike, Moon blends elements from various genres to craft deeply immersive tales featuring complex protagonists.

Her writing has been described as raw, evocative, and thought-provoking.

Learn more at https://www.fairytalesfromtheunderworld.com/

BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Bound by the Sky by Megan G. Elisabeth

“Treasure Planet” meets “Final Fantasy” in this fast-paced romantic fantasy by Mega G. Elisabeth. Read on as I spotlight BOUND BY THE SKY.

Bound by the Sky (Aether & Industry Book 1)

Release Date: January 28, 2026

Genre: Romantic Fantasy

Featuring
⦁ Sky pirate romantasy
⦁ Steampunk world
⦁ Found family
⦁ Morally grey MMC
⦁ Touch her and die
⦁ Dual POV 
⦁ Forbidden romance
⦁ Treasure Planet vibes


The sky brought them together.
The storm could tear them apart.

While pirate ships and floating cities soar overhead, Amaya Sinclair’s feet are planted on the ground. But when a violent tragedy results in her abduction by a villainous Sky Lord, her once-clear path vanishes underfoot. In its place, she finds a beautiful, unforgiving world that challenges everything she believes about herself and her future.


William Lexington has spent over a decade carving out a space for himself among the clouds, at the cost of his identity and ideals. When a twist of fate lands Amaya on his airship, he writes her off as a pretty inconvenience—until he realizes she’s the only thing standing between his monstrous former mentor and a brutal new era.


Caught in a fight to live on their own terms, Amaya and Will’s growing connection calls every priority into question. As the enemy’s looming shadow darkens, their race to control forces best left untouched reveals that much more than their lives are at stake.
Welcome aboard the Maelstrom. Enjoy the view—and don’t get killed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Megan G. Elisabeth has spent most of her life obsessing over stories and exploring the many different ways they can be told. Her passion for storytelling has led her to pursue disciplines like dance, theater, music, screenwriting, and design, but books and the written word are her deepest love—especially when they contain a dash of whimsy. When not writing, Megan loves experimenting with mixed-media crafts, adding to her book collection, and generally avoiding the outdoors. She lives in Virginia, where she works in humanitarian aid marketing and communications.

Follow Megan on Instagram @megwritesalot

BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: The Blood That Binds Us by Erin Mainord

Caught in our Spotlight today is The Bound by Blood series, which got a serious glow-up. Thus, we are showcasing the first book in the series, THE BLOOD THAT BINDS US.

The Blood that Binds Us (Bound by Blood #1)

Release Date: January 15, 2026

Genre: Dark Romantasy

Designers: @dreamechodesigns & @giulia_fw.arts

Featuring
⦁ Captor/captive
⦁ Enemies to lovers
⦁ Touch her and die
⦁ Tension & angst


A vow sworn in duty.
A love stained in blood.


Wren has never stolen a life, but that doesn't stop her from believing her darkness makes her a walking nightmare. Harboring a power so lethal, unpredictable, and entirely forbidden by kingdom law, Wren's spent her whole life hiding who she is—what she is. A bloodwitch.
Meanwhile, a war is looming, and Wren's feral magic may be the only thing that can stop the uprising from destroying the kingdom, her home, and everyone that stands in their way. After her sister is captured by the rebellion, Wren must seek help from her kingdom's ruler, the dark mage whose magic is as bloodthirsty as her own. Oath-bound to protect his kingdom from bloodwitches, he would sooner destroy her than offer aid, except... Singard needs her, and when she volunteers the use of her power in exchange for his help finding her sister, an unlikely alliance is born.


Forced into a reluctant compromise with the "white-haired witch," Sin finds himself protecting Wren for his kingdom's survival, but their star-crossed relationship quickly spirals into one straddling the precipice of hate and passion. As secrets are unveiled and loyalties are tested, neither are sure who they can trust.


When hostilities deepen and war draws near, Wren is determined to rein in her wild magic and bind it to her will. With the lives of everyone she loves at stake, Wren must look within and decide if she is the monster she fears, or if there is light to be found in the darkest parts of herself.


Content Warnings:
The Blood That Binds Us is a dark fantasy with mature themes

GET IT ON AMAZON!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Erin is a lover of all things fantasy and more than a little obsessed with morally gray characters. She holds a degree in Film and Media Studies but has shifted her focus to her one true love: writing novels set in fantastical places with dark, twisty romance. A self-proclaimed iced coffee enthusiast, you can often find Erin writing in local cafes, poorly singing along to the radio in any coffee drive-through, or rewatching The Vampire Diaries with a cold brew in tow. An avid traveler, Erin has lived all over the country, but Alaska and the Pacific Northwest has a special place in her heart. The Blood That Binds Us is her debut novel, and she looks forward to writing more stories where the “villain” gets the girl.

Follow Erin on IG: @erinmainordauthorTikTok at @erinmainordauthor

BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: The Skeleton Faerie by A.P. Mobley

It’s my birthday, and I am back spotlighting THE SKELETON FAERIE by A.P. Mobley! The cover caught my eye! It’s fantastic as Faerie folklore meets a nuclear post-apocalypse in this dark mythological fantasy woven with secrets, treachery, and star-crossed lovers!

Let’s dive in deeper!

The Skeleton Faerie (Children of the Death Gods Book 1)

Release Date: November 8, 2025

Genre: Dark Fantasy

Features

⦁ star-crossed lovers
⦁ emotional scars
⦁ different worlds
⦁ hidden identity
⦁ postapocalyptic settings
⦁ magical powers
⦁ mythology and folklore
⦁ faeries and monsters
⦁ portals to the otherworld

Ninety-nine years after the Nuclear War of 1989, twenty-one-year-old Gus Brandon should only be interested in the survival of humanity and the expansion of his compound. But he’s obsessed with legends from the distant past, superstitions of an expired people.
While searching forbidden ruins for the scraps of stories lost to time, he stumbles upon a mysterious young woman covered in scars. Her name is Saoirse, and their meeting sets off a bloody chain of events—one in which Gus discovers that the folklore he loves just might be real, and that it’s tied to mankind in ways he could have never imagined.
Soon the lines between myth and reality blur, as do the lines between realms.
Gus will have to rely on his knowledge—and Saoirse—to survive the horrors awaiting him… in this world and the next.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A. P. Mobley is the Halloween-loving, rock-music-obsessed author of dark fantasy inspired by mythology. She doesn’t only write about her favorite myths, folktales, and fairy tales in books, though; she discusses them on her podcast, Myths (& Folktales & Fairy tales), as well as on her blog and newsletter. She grew up in Wyoming and Nebraska and currently lives in South Dakota, and when she’s not up to her elbows in research for her next project, she can be found consuming dangerous amounts of coffee, reading speculative fiction, or rewatching The Good Place.

To learn more about A.P. and her books, follow her on Instagram @author_apmobley

BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: I Played My Best for Him! By Olapeju Simoyan

It’s a ho, ho, ho-liday book spotlight this Thursday as I am spotlighting the holiday historical, I Played My Best For Him!: The Inspiring Stories Behind The Little Drummer Boy and Other Christmas Favorites. It welcomes readers to learn the fascinating true stories behind how their favorite holiday classics came to be. Ideal for that history or musical history lover in your life, I Played My Best for Him delves into how such classic holiday songs like “O Holy Night”, “Joy to the World,” and “Silent Night” were birthed by each composer and lyricist. Including the “Little Drummer Boy” when the title is inspired by.

 Olapeju said, “The stories behind these songs are as moving as the music itself. In 2023, I recorded an album featuring 13 popular Christmas songs, and this book is a collection of essays that tell the inspiring stories behind those songs.”

I Played My Best for Him (The Inspiring Stories Behind The Little Drummer Boy and Other Christmas Favorites

Published: October 30, 2025

Genre: Books, Music, Musical genre, Sacred hymns

Pages: 100

This second edition has a new foreword by Dr. Mary Rorro, Chair of the American Medical Women’s Association’s Music and Medicine Committee, as well as a new postscript.

This collection of essays complements the album “Peju Sings! The Little Drummer Boy and Other Christmas Favorites,” which features thirteen Christmas songs recorded by the author and was first released in 2023. In this book, the author explores the stories behind each song, delving into the lives of the lyricists and composers, the context in which the songs were written, and other intriguing details. Readers will gain a fresh perspective on beloved carols like “O Holy Night” and “Silent Night” as they uncover their rich history. The themes of hope and peace that resonate through these timeless songs are also reflected in newer classics like “Feliz Navidad,” which transcended cultural barriers to become a bilingual favorite.

This book’s educational content will appeal to a broad audience, including those who may not celebrate Christmas. For those who do, it offers surprising insights into the origins of some of their favorite carols. No matter your background, this book invites you to be inspired by its stories and enjoy its message of celebration and reflection year-round.

GET IT BY CHRISTMAS! AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Olapeju Simoyan (a.k.a. The Doctor Writer and The Doctor Singer) is an addiction medicine physician, professor and longtime advocate for the intersection of art and science. She helped establish medical humanities programs at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine and Reading Hospital, and has served as editor of several literary journals.

She combines her writing and photography in The Amazing World of Butterflies and Giraffes are Amazing. Her other books include the devotional Living Foolproof! Wisdom for Daily Living and the academic memoir Girls Become Doctors and Much More. Along with Dr. William Santoro, she co-authored Navigating the Methadone Maze: A Guide for Patients and Professionals.

Follow Olapeju www.thedoctorwriter.com and on Instagram @drsimo1, or LinkedIn at Olapeju SImoyan, MD, MPH

BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Sage Haven by Paige Alexandra

I like Sage, so seeing the recent release of SAGE HAVEN by Paige Alexandra, it got picked to be in the spotlight this Thursday! It is book one in what is The Black Sigil of Naphal. Let’s dive in!

Sage Haven (The Black Sigil of Naphal) 

Release Date: November 19, 2025

Genre: Dark Romance

Feartures

• Dual-POV
• First in a Series
• Forced Proximity
• Forbidden Love
• Secret Pasts/Secret Society
• Trauma Recovery/Mental Health Rep
• Morally Gray MMC
• Captor/Captive Dynamic/Kidnapping
• Dark Romance
• Slow Burn
• BDSM
• Music as a Healing Element
• Redemption Arc
• He Calls Her "Wildflower"

SAGE
I ran to disappear. Providence was supposed to be a quiet and untouched place. A fresh start. But then I met Reich Davidian. Nothing escapes his gaze. Every word from his lips is a blade. And even as instinct begs me to turn away, something in me keeps finding its way back to him. But I know that every storm hides a calm at its core. And I think I’ve found his.
The only question is if it will be the end of me.

REICH
I was made to destroy monsters. But she isn’t one of them. Instead, she’s the complication that could ruin everything.Sage Holquinn is untamed, broken, and reckless enough to trespass on my property without realizing whose territory she’s stepped into. I should’ve turned her away. But distance is no longer an option.
She thinks she’s escaping the darkness.
She doesn’t realize she’s running straight into mine.
GET TODAY ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

My stories are an exploration of the human psyche, where trauma leaves permanent marks, love is both salvation and ruin, and survival often means surrendering to the darkness before clawing your way back to the light. I write for those who have lived through silence, for those who understand that healing is messy, brutal, and sometimes beautiful in its destruction.

In my worlds, nothing is black and white. Love coexists with obsession. Safety comes at a cost. And the past never stays buried. I believe in stories that haunt you long after the last page, where psychological horror bleeds into reality, and the line between devotion and destruction is razor-thin.

If you’ve ever felt broken and kept going anyway, these stories are for you.

Follow Alexandria at: @authorpaigealexandria on instagram or www.paigealexandria.com

BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: The Shadowless by R.J. Garcia

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate! In the spotlight on this special Thursday is a book you might want on your holiday wish list! The Shadowless (At the Corner of Eden and Darkness Book One) by R.J. Garcia. Let’s check it out!

The Shadowless (At the corner of Eden and Darkness Book One)

Release Date: November 26, 2025

Genre: Dark Romantasy

Features
🥀 Modern faery tale vs real-life suspense
🥀 White and black magic
🥀 Family dysfunction
🥀 Hidden realms
🥀 He falls first
🥀 Twists and turns

Mae Dawson returns to her family’s cabin to look for her missing sister. One night, she goes to sleep only to awaken in the depths of the woods surrounded by eerie and indiscernible voices, which lead her to her sister’s grave.

Trying to piece her life back together, Mae juggles college and a romance with her best friend-turned-boyfriend, Benji. Yet, everything unravels when strange late-night calls come from beyond, and a malevolent force begins to invade her friends.


Adding to her unease is the presence of a mysterious stranger, Brandon Sills, who seems to lurk in the shadows, watching her every move. Despite the warning bells ringing in her mind, Mae feels an inexplicable attraction to him.


As mortal and magical forces conspire against her, Mae must trust Brandon to uncover the secrets of the fae—secrets that could change her life forever, if she is able to survive.

Get it now on AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

R.J. Garcia is a wife and proud mom of two smart kids. She earned her MSW and worked with foster children and as a school social worker. Writing has been her other great love. She has been writing short stories for as long as she can remember. To her amazement, those short stories became novels!

Follow R.J. and her books at @writer_rjgarcia

BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: The Wicked Witch of the West by Dr. Lona Bailey.

With Wicked Part 2 coming out this month, when I spotted this book, I knew I had to feature it in the spotlight! Wicked Witch of the West: The Enduring Legacy of a Feminist Icon. From Baum’s imagination to Broadway’s stage,  learn how “Wicked Witch of the West” explores how the infamous Witch of the West from The Wizard of OZ became a mirror for modern feminism.

In this thought-provoking study, Bailey explores how the Wicked Witch of the West has evolved from L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel into a multifaceted feminist icon whose story continues to resonate. Through literature, film, and cultural analysis, she traces the Witch’s journey from feared outcast to symbol of defiance and empowerment, connecting her evolution to the broader struggles of women reclaiming their voices. More than a cultural history, this is an invitation to reexamine how “wickedness” has so often been the name given to women who refuse submission.

Wicked Witch of the West: The Enduring Legacy of a Feminist Icon

Published: October 2025

Genre: Non-Fiction/ Movie History/ Criticism/Pop Culture/ Literary Criticism

Pages: 224


More than 125 years after her introduction, the Wicked Witch of the West remains an icon of popular culture. Known by many names-from “The Wicked Witch of the West” to Evillene, Elphaba, and Theodora-she consistently defies expectations and wields her power unapologetically. At the heart of her everlasting appeal is her embodiment of feminist ideals that resonate today.

In Wicked Witch of the West: The Enduring Legacy of a Feminist Icon, Lona Bailey explores the radical feministic undertones of one of the most enduring characters in popular culture. Introduced in 1900 through L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch has captivated generations as both a symbol of fear and empowerment. More than just a villain, she embodies rebellion and resistance, refusing to conform to the roles historically assigned to women. This book traces her transformation over the past century, highlighting how she has evolved through countless adaptations from The Wizard of Oz to the film adaptation of Wicked while maintaining her core identity as a powerful, defiant figure.


To understand why the Witch remains captivating more than a century after her creation, Bailey delves into the radical feminism underlying her character and examines how she has been reinterpreted since her debut. From the suffrage movement to the fight for reproductive rights, and from the #MeToo movement to ongoing battles against gender stereotypes, the Witch symbolizes the struggles and triumphs women face. Her presence transcends mere performance; she serves as a reminder that the fight for justice, equality, and autonomy continues. By exploring the Witch's feminist evolution, readers will gain insight into why her character resonates with generations of women.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Lona Bailey is an award-winning, Amazon-bestselling author and a leading researcher on the Golden Age of Hollywood. Her books include Uncredited: The Life and Career of Actress Virginia Gregg, Voice of Villainy: The Betty Lou Gerson Story, Mrs. Radio: The Cathy Lewis Story, and Some Small Nobility: The Biography of Joan Banks Lovejoy. As a PhD and former therapist, Dr. Bailey is passionate about telling the untold stories of women who perhaps weren’t finished using their own voices during their earthly journeys. Her biographical works offer a balanced perspective on the multidimensional elements involved in feministic legacy maintenance, with particular interest in the preservation efforts surrounding the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Dr. Bailey’s Voice of Villainy biography was a finalist in the 2023 International Book Awards and won the Gold Medal in Dan Poynter’s Global Ebook Awards that same year. She has been featured on The Wolfe Den Show, in Film Daily, and The Los Angeles Tribune.

Dr. Bailey’s most recent books include Lead Thou Me On: Titanic’s Countess of Rothes (Ambassador International) and The Wicked Witch of the West: The Enduring Legacy of a Feminist Icon (Bloomsbury), which Gregory Maguire praises as “a riveting analysis of one of the most fearful and beloved characters in our national psyche.” One of her upcoming books, Wasp Woman: Hollywood’s Susan Cabot (Histria Press, 2026), is the basis for a recently completed docuseries with Embankment Films, set to premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

Learn more about Lorna and her books at https://www.lonabaileywrites.com/

BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Of The Stars And Sea by Brianna Remus

Touring all week, I joined in on the blog tour for OF THE STARS AND SEA by Brianna Remus, spotlighting it in my infamous Thursday book spotlight! Let’s check out what is told to be a Romantasy with sharp-witted banter, page-turning adventure, and delectable spicy romance.

Of the Stars and Sea (A Divine Trinity Book 1)

Published: July 10th. 2025

Genre: Action Adventure Romance/Romantasy/ Spicy

Features

🏴‍☠️Rivals to lovers
🏴‍☠️Morally grey MMC
🏴‍☠️Stäbby FMC
🏴‍☠️Slow burn
🏴‍☠️“I’ll be your villain”
🏴‍☠️Touch her and dïe
🏴‍☠️All the banter
🏴‍☠️He’s her awakening
🏴‍☠️“She’s mine”
🏴‍☠️”Who did this to you?”
🏴‍☠️Allies forged in darkness
🏴‍☠️Haunted pasts
🏴‍☠️Gothic world
🏴‍☠️Found family
🏴‍☠️Race to escape enemies


A traitorous pirate lord. A bounty hunter with a score to settle. And an epic treasure that will grant them both the freedom they desire…unless they destroy each other first.
Rowenya Stone is captain of the once fearsome pirate ship, the Trinity. Bound to her father’s old debts, Rowenya has been forced to break the Pirates’ Code by capturing her own kind in exchange for money. Tired of being shackled to her father’s past, Rowenya hatches a plan to steal an ancient artifact, said to unveil a map to the greatest treasure ever known to man.


But the plan goes awry when Grayson Tyde, the most ruthless and feared pirate lord in the Southern Realm, intercepts them. When Grayson discovers Rowenya has one thing he does not—knowledge of the old gods’ language inscribed upon the artifact—he forces her onto his ship.


However, they are not the only ones in search of the artifact, and as the threat of their enemies looms, Rowenya must trust the one person she’s always feared. But what terrifies her more is her perilous attraction to Grayson.
In a world where love is a traitorous thing and danger lurks around every corner, Rowenya must decide if finding the treasure is worth losing her heart.

.

CW:
This book contains content only suitable for adults. Such content includes explicit depictions of violence and sexual encounters. Additional content includes mentions of sex trafficking, child abuse and loss of parent
s.

AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brianna Remus is a Florida-based author who lives with her husband, three pups, and terrorizing cat. A true romantic at heart, you can find her walking the sandy beaches of Florida, getting lost in a forest, gazing at the stars, or reading a smutty book.

Learn more about Brianna Remus and her books by following her on Instagram @authorbriannaremus

BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: To Love a Grimm by Christina Farley

It’s November! Where did October go? In my book spotlight this week, we have “To Love A Grimm,” a forbidden fantasy romance wrapped in curses, courtly glamour, and dangerous fairy-tale magic, where only love can rewrite the story. Let’s read on!

To Love a Grimm (Fairy Tale Hearts Book 1)

Expected Release Date: November 11, 2025

Genre: Adult Romantasy/ Standalone

Features

🥀 Fated mates
⚔️ Forbidden romance
🥀 Broody hunter
⚔️ Hidden magical powers
🥀 Castle ruins kiss
⚔️ Stays true to the Grimms’ Cinderella
🥀 Happily ever after
⚔️ Slow-burn romance
🥀 Dual POV
⚔️ Secret identity
🥀 Based on the lives of the Grimm Brothers

When Jacob Grimm’s beloved brother, Wilhelm, falls gravely ill, Jacob will do anything to save him—even strike a blood bargain with a cunning Enchantress. In exchange, the brothers become her Hunters, cursed to serve her dark will. Their task sends them on a quest to a kingdom where villagers whisper of men turning to wolves, nixies lurking in ponds, and the young disappearing into the Black Forest, trailing after the tune of a piper.
But upon arrival, Jacob realizes there are evil forces at work, more powerful than the brothers have encountered. Seeking help, Jacob joins an alliance with a nobleman’s daughter, the smart and beautiful Ella von Maier. Yet, she too holds dark secrets, and she’ll do anything to keep them hidden.
Swept into a world of court glamor and alluring magic, Jacob and Ella’s lives are inextricably intertwined as they work to save the kingdom and break his curse. But as truths begin to unfold, Ella wonders if she can trust this handsome stranger, or if he’s, in fact, her enemy.
As friendship blooms into love, their cursed fates force them to make impossible choices where fairy tales and love come at a treacherous cost.

To Love a Grimm acts as a standalone, Cinderella romantasy. If you crave forbidden swoony romance, star-crossed lovers, protective heroes with hidden scars, and a heroine who must choose between duty and her heart, you’ll be enchanted by this thrilling tale that ends in a happily ever after.

PRE-ORDER HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CHRISTINA FARLEY is the author of the bestselling Gilded series, The Princess and the Page, The Dreamscape Series, The Immortal Bound series, and the Library of Alexandria series. Prior to that, she worked as an international teacher and at a top secret job for Disney where she was known to scatter pixie dust before the sun rose. When not traveling the world or creating imaginary ones, she spends time with her family in Clermont, Florida with her husband and two sons where they are busy preparing for the next World Cup, baking cheesecakes, and raising a pet dragon that’s in disguise as a cat. Visit her at ChristinaFarley. com.

CONNECT WITH CHRISTINA

Instagram: @ChristinaLFarley

Facebook: @ChristinaFarleyAuthor

YouTube: @ChristinaFarley