The beautifully illustrated book depicts the science behind flowers. It goes into details about the different animals, types of flowers and other scientific question behind flowers. The book gave very basic building blocks to encourage kids to explore and learn more. I thought the book was beautifully drawn and informative. I think its a good basic book to get kids interested in science.
Iris Winters and Maddy Harris are the two latest newcomers to the group. Iris has feelings for a man who is charming but, troubled. Maddy moved back to escape from a problem in New York. They both are excited to join the group because they need support from each other to help them make a decision.
I thought the novel was a quick and easy cozy read. I did feel that the book had too many characters at one point and it made it hard to keep track of everyone. A few times, some of the characters just blended together. Some of the situations and the characters did feel a bit unrealistic. However, I did enjoy reading the novel and felt it was a nice palate cleanser from books I normally read.
About The Book:
Author: Daniel José Older
Pub. Date: May 3, 2022
Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 384
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org
Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents Daniel José Older's music-and-magic-filled YA urban fantasy about two teens who discover each other and their powers during a political battle within a unique diaspora community.
Almost sixteen years ago, Mateo Matisse's island homeland disappeared into the
sea. Weary and hopeless, the survivors of San Madrigal's sinking escaped to New
York.
While the rest of his tight-knit Brooklyn diaspora community dreams of someday
finding a way back home, Mateo--now a high school junior and piano prodigy
living with his two aunts (one who's alive, the other not so much)--is focused
on one thing: getting the attention of locally-grown musical legend Gerval.
Mateo finally gets his chance on the night of the Grand Fete, an annual party
celebrating the blended culture of pirates, Cuban Santeros, and Sephardic Jews
that created San Madrigal all those centuries ago.
But the evil that sank their island has finally caught up with them, and on the
night of the celebration, Mateo's life is forever changed when he witnesses a
brutal murder by a person he thought he knew.
Suddenly Mateo is thrust into an ancient battle that spans years and oceans.
Deadly secrets are unraveled and Mateo awakens a power within himself--a power
that not only links him to the killer but could also hold the key to unlocking
the dark mystery behind his lost homeland.
From the author of the award-winning Shadowshaper Cypher series comes the
first novel in the Outlaw Saints duology--a brilliant story that will transport
readers to a world where magic, myth, and gods reign over the streets of
Brooklyn.
About Daniel José Older:
Daniel José Older is a New York Times
best-selling author and story architect. He has published fourteen novels and
numerous short stories and essays, and he is a regular comics writer for Star
Wars: The High Republic Adventures and Marvel. He won the
International Latino Book Award and has been a finalist for the Kirkus Prize,
the Mythopoeic Award, the Locus Award, the Andre Norton Award, and the World
Fantasy Award. You can find his thoughts on writing, read dispatches from his
decade-long career as an NYC paramedic, and hear his music at http://danieljoseolder.net, as well as on
YouTube, @djolder on Twitter, @danieljose1 on Instagram, and @danieljoseolder
on TikTok. He and his family live in New Orleans.
Website | Twitter |
Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub
Giveaway Details:
1 winner will receive a finished copy of BALLAD & DAGGER, US Only.
a Rafflecopter giveawayTour Schedule:
Week One:
|
5/1/2022 |
Excerpt |
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5/2/2022 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
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5/3/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/4/2022 |
IG Review |
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5/5/2022 |
IG Review |
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5/6/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/7/2022 |
IG Review |
Week Two:
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5/8/2022 |
Review |
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5/9/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/10/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/11/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/12/2022 |
IG Review/TikTok Post |
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5/13/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/14/2022 |
IG Review |
Week Three:
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5/15/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/16/2022 |
IG Review |
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5/17/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/18/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/19/2022 |
Review |
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5/20/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/21/2022 |
Review/IG Post/TikTok Post |
Week Four:
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5/22/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/23/2022 |
Review |
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5/24/2022 |
Review |
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5/25/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/26/2022 |
Review/IG Post/TikTok Post |
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5/27/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/28/2022 |
Review |
Week Five:
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5/29/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/30/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/31/2022 |
Review/IG Post/TikTok Post |
I can't believe May is already finished! The month has gone by and also the year so quickly. I didn't go too crazy with the goodies!
I got a few facial masks that I got on sale from Facetory. I don't have a specific favorite or a mask that I want to try first. I just need to try and use more of the masks instead of buying and having a rather huge stockpile.
I got a few lip products including the Urban Decay Vice lipstick palette. I can't wait to be able to wear lipstick more often in public. I did get a new lip treatment from Hanalei. I believe I have tried it a few years ago but, I can't remember if I loved it or not.
I am excited to try the body wash by Beauty Protector. I have tried their hair products and really enjoy them. II am super excited and intrigued by The Beautiful Factr. probiotic ball cream. It looks like an interesting concept and I hope it keeps my skin feeling soft and hydrated. Before I bought the cleansing oil from Derma E, I used to love the brand. I recently both a few of their products and the last few things I have used have been quite disappointing. However, I am hoping this cleansing oil works wonders.
Mars always felt that he was the lesser twin. He was
always in his sister, Caroline's, shadow. However, when Caroline dies in
a horrible accident, Mars is determined to learn more about his twin.
The pair were once inseparable but, sister has slowly grown distant from
him.
Mars realizes the camp
atmosphere and what it stands for isn't for him. The adults and children
still follow outdated old fashioned gender roles along with allowing
predatory behaviors among the campers. Mars seeks out Caroline's old
roommates, a group of girls called the Honeys. They were named after the
beehives they maintain near their cabin. Mars feels drawn to them but
he is certain that they are connected to Caroline's death.
**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**
Author: Kat Cho
Pub. Date: May 17, 2022
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 336
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org
Elena Soo has always felt overshadowed. Whether by her more successful older
sisters, her more popular twin brother, or her more outgoing best friend,
everyone except Elena seems to know exactly who they are and what they want.
But she is certain about one thing - she has no interest in going to prom.
While the rest of the school is giddy over corsages and dresses, Elena would
rather spend her time working to save the local community center, the one place
that's always made her feel like she belonged.
So when international K-pop superstar Robbie Choi shows up at her house to ask
her to prom, Elena is more confused than ever. Because the one person who
always accepted Elena as she is? Her childhood best friend, Robbie Choi. And
the one thing she maybe, possibly, secretly wants more than
anything? For the two of them to keep the promise they made each other as kids:
to go to prom together. But that was seven years ago, and with this new K-pop
persona, pink hair, and stylish clothes, Robbie is nothing like the sweet,
goofy boy she remembers. The boy she shared all her secrets with. The boy she
used to love.
Besides, prom with a guy who comes with hordes of screaming fans, online
haters, and relentless paparazzi is the last thing Elena wants - even if she
can't stop thinking about Robbie's smile...right?
About Kat Cho:
Kat Cho used to hide books under the bathroom sink and then
sneak in there to read after bedtime. Her parents pretended not to know. This
helped when she decided to write a dinosaur time-travel novel at the tender age
of nine. Sadly, that book was not published. She currently lives and works in
NYC and spends her free time trying to figure out what kind of puppy to adopt.
Kat is the internationally bestselling author of the Gumiho
duology (Penguin) and Once Upon a K-Prom (Disney).
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub | Write or Die Podcast
Giveaway Details:
1 winner will receive a finished copy of ONCE UPON A K-PROM, US Only.
a Rafflecopter giveawayTour Schedule:
Week One:
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5/1/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/2/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/3/2022 |
Excerpt |
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5/4/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/5/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/6/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/7/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
Week Two:
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5/8/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/9/2022 |
IG Review |
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5/10/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/11/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/12/2022 |
Review/IG Post/TikTok Post |
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5/13/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/14/2022 |
Review |
Week Three:
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5/15/2022 |
IG Review |
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5/16/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/17/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/18/2022 |
Review |
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5/19/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/20/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/21/2022 |
Review |
Week Four:
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5/22/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/23/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/24/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/25/2022 |
Review |
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5/26/2022 |
Review/IG Post/TikTok Post |
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5/27/2022 |
IG Review/TikTok Post |
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5/28/2022 |
IG Review |
Week Five:
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5/29/2022 |
IG Review |
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5/30/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/31/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
The girls at Camp Nightingale play a game called "Two Truths and a Lie". Vivian, Natalie, and Allison are all veterans at the camp and Emma Davis is a first time camper and the youngest of the group. All the fun and games end when Emma awakes in the middle of the night to see the others sneak out of the cabin under the cloak of darkness. The last time any of the girls were seen was when Emma saw Vivian closing the door behind her and signalling Emma to keep it a secret.
When Emma returns to camp again, she feels like she's transported to the past as she is assigned to the same cabin. She notices that the only security camera on the property is pointed directly at her door. She finds cryptic clues that Vivian had left behind about the camp's twisted origins. As she digs into the past, she finds herself confronted by threats in the present.
I thought the novel was an interesting read but, I felt like it was moving a bit slower than I would have liked. The reader is taken on a drawn out ride and was given small nuggets at a time to keep you reading. The ending was a surprise but, it left me with a few questions and I am questioning how plausible the plot was. However, I would still be interested in reading other books by the author.
The illustrated book gives little readers bite size information about women in science. The book has fun facts about each women's contribution to the field. Personally, I thought this book was just okay. It had some rather useless information such as Jane Goddall bringing her mother with her to the field. I also felt that it wasn't very diverse. I think its a good starting point but, could have been better. Also, I noticed that there are quite a few variations of this book and I am not sure why if they all seem to have the same information.
Aydis is a viking woman warrior but, she is also a heathen and an outcast. She was born into a time of constant wars and suffering along with the being treated as a second class citizen because she was born a female. Aydis was banished from her village after breaking one of their rules. She decides to destroy the god-king Odin to end his tyrannical reign over humans and immortals. As she makes her journey, Aydis crosses paths with many people who take an interest in her journey.
This has been probably one of my favorite graphic novels I have read this month. The story was interesting and captivating and keep me rooting for Aydis. Unlike other graphic novels, I felt like I could easily follow along and that I wasn't missing some backstory or that they made references to something that I didn't quite get. I thought the drawing style was different and thought it was cool for the most part. I liked the appendix with the collection of covers at the end of the book. If you like reading about badass women who rock, you will like this graphic novel.
**Disclosure - I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion**
Author: Natasha Alterici, Ashley A. Woods (Illustrations),
Rachel Deering, Morgan Martinez
Pub. Date: May 17, 2022
Publisher: Vault Comics
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Pages: 336
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org
WOMAN. WARRIOR. VIKING. HEATHEN. OUTCAST.
THE GODS MUST PAY…
Born into a time of warfare, suffering, and subjugation of women, and exiled
from her village for kissing another woman, the lesbian Viking warrior, Aydis,
sets out to destroy the god-king Odin and end his oppressive reign. She is a
friend to many as she is joined by mermaids, immortals, Valkyries, and the
talking horse, Saga. But she is also a fearsome enemy to the demons and
fantastic monsters that populate the land.
Heathen – The Complete Series Omnibus Edition trade paperback collects the
entire twelve-issue series.
Soon to be movie directed by Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight, Red Riding Hood, & Lords of Dogtown)
Perfect for fans of Monstress, Helheim,
and Northlanders.
Reviews:
“These
declarations of self from women and queer characters fit so elegantly into the
mythology Alterici uses to weave her tale, it reminds us that these narratives
belonged there all along.”- The Mary Sue
“I want epics with female leads, and fortunately HEATHEN fulfills that desire in a big way, while also adding its own unique touch with themes that are as contemporary as they are timeless.”- Women Write About Comics
“One look at the cover and I knew this book was right up my alley. If you are into Norse mythology and aching for a lesbian angle, then this book is for you. If you want a love story that is more than a romance, a heroine that is truly honourable and fierce, then I urge you to pick this … up.”- The Lesbian Review
“Natasha Alterici's Heathen, has single-handedly redeemed the disaster that pop culture has been making of Norse mythology. It’s a smart, funny, feminist, queer and sex-positive take on the Viking world; one with a wide cast of diverse and endearing characters. Heathen is a must-read for comics (and mythology) lovers of all sorts and those in quest of superb queer and feminist comics in particular. RATING: 10/10”- Pop Matter
About Natasha Alterici:
Natasha
Alterici is a writer
and artist living in Tulsa, OK who has been working as a freelance artist for
over ten years. Works include Heathen (Vault Comics), Dinosaur
Project, Gotham Academy: Yearbook, Grayson Annual, The Lez Film Review, Mixed
Signals, Lovers and Other Strangers, Transcience, and a number of others. When
not drawing, she enjoys watching cooking shows with her wife and their two
cats, Cheshire and Louise.
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon
Ashley A.
Woods is a
comic book artist, writer, & creator from Chicago known for her work on the
"Niobe", "Ladycastle" and "Tomb Raider" series.
She got her start through self-publishing her action-fantasy comic series
“Millennia War” which led to her career in comics and TV. After earning her
degree in Film and Animation from IADT, she traveled to Kyoto, Japan where she
presented her work in a gallery showcase called, “Out Of
Sequence”. Recognized for her female illustrations and designs, her most
prominent work is "Niobe: She is Life" with Stranger Comics.
Her latest work can be seen on HBO's "Lovecraft Country", DC’s
“Wonder Woman Black & Gold 2” and "Jupiter Invincible" with
Pulitzer Prize winning author Yusef Komunyakaa which premiered at the Tribeca
Film Festival June 2021.
Giveaway Details:
2 winners will receive a finished copy of HEATHEN, US Only.
a Rafflecopter giveawayTour Schedule:
Week One:
|
5/1/2022 |
Guest Post |
|
|
5/2/2022 |
Guest Post |
|
|
5/3/2022 |
Excerpt |
|
|
5/4/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/5/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/6/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/7/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
Week Two:
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5/8/2022 |
Guest Post /IG Post |
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5/9/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/10/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/11/2022 |
IG Review |
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5/12/2022 |
IG Review |
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5/13/2022 |
Review/IG Post/TikTok Post |
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5/14/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
Week Three:
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5/15/2022 |
Review |
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5/16/2022 |
Review |
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5/17/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/18/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/19/2022 |
Review |
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5/20/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/21/2022 |
Review |
Week Four:
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5/22/2022 |
Excerpt |
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5/23/2022 |
Guest Post |
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5/24/2022 |
IG Post |
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5/25/2022 |
IG Review |
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5/26/2022 |
IG Review |
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5/27/2022 |
Review |
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5/28/2022 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
Week Five:
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5/29/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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5/30/2022 |
IG Review |
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5/31/2022 |
IG Review/TikTok Post |
