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Diana Gabaldon

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Dragonfly in Amber: A Novel (Outlander) Mass Market Paperback – November 2, 1993

by Diana Gabaldon (Author)

57,802

Book 2 of 9: Outlander

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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The second book in Diana Gabaldon’s acclaimed Outlander saga, the basis for the Starz original series.

“A triumph! A powerful tale layered in history and myth. I loved every page.”—Nora Roberts

With her classic novel Outlander, Diana Gabaldon introduced two unforgettable characters—Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser—delighting readers with a story of adventure and love that spanned two centuries. Now Gabaldon returns to that extraordinary time and place in this vivid, powerful sequel to Outlander.

For twenty years, Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to the mysteries of Scotland’s mist-shrouded Highlands. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as shocking as the events that gave it birth: the secret of an ancient circle of standing stones, the secret of a love that transcends centuries, and the truth of a man named Jamie Fraser—a Highland warrior whose gallantry once drew the young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his.

Claire’s spellbinding journey continues through the intrigue-ridden French court and the menace of Jacobite plots, to the Highlands of Scotland, through war and death in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves.

Book 2 of 9

Outlander
Print length

976 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Dell
Publication date

November 2, 1993
Dimensions

4.2 x 1.5 x 6.85 inches
ISBN-10

0440215625
ISBN-13

978-0440215622
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Popular Highlights in this book

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But for the hours of the night, I was helpless; powerless to move as a dragonfly in amber.
Highlighted by 2,875 Kindle readers
You cannot save the world, but you might save the man in front of you, if you work fast enough.
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“Lord, ye gave me a rare woman, and God! I loved her well.”
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From the Publisher


	Outlander (20th Anniversary Collector's Edition)	OUTLANDER BOX SET	SEVEN STONES TO STAND OR FALL	OUTLANDER COMPANION	THE OFFICIAL OUTLANDER COLORING BOOK	THE EXILE

Customer Reviews	951	11,812	11,289	2,566	1,173	2,796
Price	$23.30	$21.69	$12.99	$21.89	$14.95	$16.89
	The first book in the Outlander saga, and the basis for the Starz original series. This special twentieth-anniversary edition features an original essay, a new map, and more.	Blending rich historical fiction with riveting adventure and a truly epic love story, here are the first four books of the epic Outlander series: OUTLANDER DRAGONFLY IN AMBER VOYAGER DRUMS OF AUTUMN	A magnificent collection of Outlander short fiction—including two never-before-published novellas—featuring Jamie Fraser, Lord John Grey, Master Raymond, and many more, from Diana Gabaldon	Perfect for readers of the bestselling Outlander novels—and don’t miss The Outlandish Companion Volume Two!	This spectacular adult coloring book features forty-five all-new illustrations!	This Outlander graphic novel gives readers a fresh look at the events from Jamie Fraser’s point of view, gorgeously rendered by artist Hoang Nguyen.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Diana Gabaldon is a born storyteller. . . . The pages practically turn themselves.”—The Arizona Republic

“A triumph! A powerful tale layered in history and myth. I loved every page.”—Nora Roberts

“Compulsively readable.”—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

"A judicious blend of history and romance...proves that, regarding talent, Diana Gabaldon is light-years ahead of her romance-novelist colleagues."
Daily News (New York)

From the Inside Flap

From the author of Outlander... a magnificent epic that once again sweeps us back in time to the drama and passion of 18th-century Scotland...

For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to Scotland's majestic mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones ...about a love that transcends the boundaries of time ...and about James Fraser, a Scottish warrior whose gallantry once drew a young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his ....

Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful copper-haired daughter, Brianna, as Claire's spellbinding journey of self-discovery continues in the intrigue-ridden Paris court of Charles Stuart ...in a race to thwart a doomed Highlands uprising ...and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves....

From the Back Cover

From the author of "Outlander... a magnificent epic that once again sweeps us back in time to the drama and passion of 18th-century Scotland...
For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to Scotland's majestic mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones ...about a love that transcends the boundaries of time ...and about James Fraser, a Scottish warrior whose gallantry once drew a young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his ....
Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful copper-haired daughter, Brianna, as Claire's spellbinding journey of self-discovery continues in the intrigue-ridden Paris court of Charles Stuart ...in a race to thwart a doomed Highlands uprising ...and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves....

About the Author

Diana Gabaldon is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the wildly popular Outlander novels—Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes (for which she won a Quill Award and the Corine International Book Prize), An Echo in the Bone, Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, and Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone—as well as the related Lord John Grey books, Lord John and the Private Matter, Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade, Lord John and the Hand of Devils, and The Scottish Prisoner; a collection of novellas, Seven Stones to Stand or Fall; three works of nonfiction, “I Give You My Body . . .” and The Outlandish Companion, Volumes 1 and 2; the Outlander graphic novel The Exile; and The Official Outlander Coloring Book. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with her husband.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

1
Mustering the Roll

Roger Wakefield stood in the center of the room, feeling surrounded.

He thought the feeling largely justified, insofar as he was surrounded: by tables covered with bric-a-brac and mementos, by heavy Victorian-style furniture, replete with antimacassars, plush and afghans, by tiny braided rugs that lay on the polished wood, craftily awaiting an opportunity to skid beneath an unsuspecting foot. Surrounded by twelve rooms of furniture and clothing and papers. And the books—my God, the books!

The study where he stood was lined on three sides by bookshelves, every one crammed past bursting point. Paperback mystery novels lay in bright, tatty piles in front of calf-bound tomes, jammed cheek by jowl with book-club selections, ancient volumes pilfered from extinct libraries, and thousands upon thousands of pamphlets, leaflets, and hand-sewn manuscripts.

A similar situation prevailed in the rest of the house. Books and papers cluttered every horizontal surface, and every closet groaned and squeaked at the seams. His late adoptive father had lived a long, full life, a good ten years past his biblically allotted threescore and ten. And in eighty-odd years, the Reverend Mr. Reginald Wakefield had never thrown anything away.

Roger repressed the urge to run out of the front door, leap into his Morris Minor, and head back to Oxford, abandoning the manse and its contents to the mercy of weather and vandals. Be calm, he told himself, inhaling deeply. You can deal with this. The books are the easy part; nothing more than a matter of sorting through them and then calling someone to come and haul them away. Granted, they’ll need a lorry the size of a railcar, but it can be done. Clothes— no problem. Oxfam gets the lot.

He didn’t know what Oxfam was going to do with a lot of vested black serge suits, circa 1948, but perhaps the deserving poor weren’t all that picky. He began to breathe a little easier. He had taken a month’s leave from the History department at Oxford in order to clear up the Reverend’s affairs. Perhaps that would be enough, after all. In his more depressed moments, it had seemed as though the task might take years.

He moved toward one of the tables and picked up a small china dish. It was filled with small metal rectangles; lead ‘‘gaberlunzies,’’ badges issued to eighteenth-century beggars by parishes as a sort of license. A collection of stoneware bottles stood by the lamp, a ramshorn snuff mull, banded in silver, next to them. Give them to a museum? he thought dubiously. The house was filled with Jacobite artifacts; the Reverend had been an amateur historian, the eighteenth century his favorite hunting ground.

His fingers reached involuntarily to caress the surface of the snuff mull, tracing the black lines of the inscriptions—the names and dates of the Deacons and Treasurers of the Incorporation of Tailors of the Canongate, from Edinburgh, 1726. Perhaps he should keep a few of the Reverend’s choicer acquisitions . . . but then he drew back, shaking his head decidedly. ‘‘Nothing doing, cock,’’ he said aloud, ‘‘that way madness lies.’’ Or at least the incipient life of a pack rat. Get started saving things, and he’d end up keeping the lot, living in this monstrosity of a house, surrounded by generations of rubbish. ‘‘Talking to yourself, too,’’ he muttered.

The thought of generations of rubbish reminded him of the garage, and he sagged a bit at the knees. The Reverend, who was in fact Roger’s greatuncle, had adopted him at the age of five when his parents had been killed in World War II; his mother in the Blitz, his father out over the dark waters of the Channel. With his usual preservative instincts, the Reverend had kept all of Roger’s parents’ effects, sealed in crates and cartons in the back of the garage. Roger knew for a fact that no one had opened one of those crates in the past twenty years.

Roger uttered an Old Testament groan at the thought of pawing through his parents’ memorabilia. ‘‘Oh, God,’’ he said aloud. ‘‘Anything but that!’’

The remark had not been intended precisely as prayer, but the doorbell pealed as though in answer, making Roger bite his tongue in startlement.

The door of the manse had a tendency to stick in damp weather, which meant that it was stuck most of the time. Roger freed it with a rending screech, to find a woman on the doorstep.

‘‘Can I help you?’’

She was middle height and very pretty. He had an overall impression of fine bones and white linen, topped with a wealth of curly brown hair in a sort of half-tamed chignon. And in the middle of it all, the most extraordinary pair of light eyes, just the color of well-aged sherry.

The eyes swept up from his size-eleven plimsolls to the face a foot above her. The sidelong smile grew wider. ‘‘I hate to start right off with a cliche,´ ’’ she said, ‘‘but my, how you have grown, young Roger!’

Roger felt himself flushing. The woman laughed and extended a hand. ‘‘You are Roger, aren’t you? My name’s Claire Randall; I was an old friend of the Reverend’s. But I haven’t seen you since you were five years old.’’

‘‘Er, you said you were a friend of my father’s? Then, you know already. . . .’’

The smile vanished, replaced by a look of regret.

‘‘Yes, I was awfully sorry to hear about it. Heart, was it?’’ ‘‘Um, yes. Very sudden. I’ve only just come up from Oxford to start dealing with . . . everything.’’ He waved vaguely, encompassing the Reverend’s death, the house behind him, and all its contents.

‘‘From what I recall of your father’s library, that little chore ought to last you ’til next Christmas,’’ Claire observed.

‘‘In that case, maybe we shouldn’t be disturbing you,’’ said a soft American voice.

‘‘Oh, I forgot,’’ said Claire, half-turning to the girl who had stood out of sight in the corner of the porch. ‘‘Roger Wakefield—my daughter, Brianna.’’

Brianna Randall stepped forward, a shy smile on her face. Roger stared for a moment, then remembered his manners. He stepped back and swung the door open wide, momentarily wondering just when he had last changed his shirt.

‘‘Not at all, not at all!’’ he said heartily. ‘‘I was just wanting a break. Won’t you come in?’’

He waved the two women down the hall toward the Reverend’s study, noting that as well as being moderately attractive, the daughter was one of the tallest girls he’d ever seen close-to. She had to be easily six feet, he thought, seeing her head even with the top of the hall stand as she passed. He unconsciously straightened himself as he followed, drawing up to his full six feet three. At the last moment, he ducked, to avoid banging his head on the study lintel as he followed the women into the room.

‘‘I’d meant to come before,’’ said Claire, settling herself deeper in the huge wing chair. The fourth wall of the Reverend’s study was equipped with floor-to-ceiling windows, and the sunlight winked off the pearl clip in her lightbrown hair. The curls were beginning to escape from their confinement, and she tucked one absently behind an ear as she talked.

‘‘I’d arranged to come last year, in fact, and then there was an emergency at the hospital in Boston—I’m a doctor,’’ she explained, mouth curling a little at the look of surprise Roger hadn’t quite managed to conceal. ‘‘But I’m sorry that we didn’t; I would have liked so much to see your father again.’’

Roger rather wondered why they had come now, knowing the Reverend was dead, but it seemed impolite to ask. Instead, he asked, ‘‘Enjoying a bit of sightseeing, are you?’’

‘‘Yes, we drove up from London,’’ Claire answered. She smiled at her daughter. ‘‘I wanted Bree to see the country; you wouldn’t think it to hear her talk, but she’s as English as I am, though she’s never lived here.’’
‘‘Really?’’ Roger glanced at Brianna. She didn’t really look English, he thought; aside from the height, she had thick red hair, worn loose over her shoulders, and strong, sharp-angled bones in her face, with the nose long and straight—maybe a touch too long.

‘‘I was born in America,’’ Brianna explained, ‘‘but both Mother and Daddy are—were—English.’’

‘‘Were?’’

‘‘My husband died two years ago,’’ Claire explained. ‘‘You knew him, I think—Frank Randall.’’

‘‘Frank Randall! Of course!’’ Roger smacked himself on the forehead, and felt his cheeks grow hot at Brianna’s giggle. ‘‘You’re going to think me a complete fool, but I’ve only just realized who you are.’

The name explained a lot; Frank Randall had been an eminent historian, and a good friend of the Reverend’s; they had exchanged bits of Jacobite arcana for years, though it was at least ten years since Frank Randall had last visited the manse.

‘‘So—you’ll be visiting the historical sites near Inverness?’’ Roger hazarded. ‘‘Have you been to Culloden yet?’’

‘‘Not yet,’’ Brianna answered. ‘‘We thought we’d go later this week.’’ Her answering smile was polite, but nothing more.

‘‘We’re booked for a trip down Loch Ness this afternoon,’’ Claire explained. ‘‘And perhaps we’ll drive down to Fort William tomorrow, or just poke about in Inverness; the place has grown a lot since I was last here.’’

‘‘When was that?’’ Roger wondered whether he ought to volunteer his services as tour guide. He really shouldn’t take the time, but the Randalls had been good friends of the Reverend’s. Besides, a car trip to Fort William in company with two attractive women seemed a much more appealing prospect than cleaning out the garage, which was next on his list.

‘‘Oh, more than twenty years ago. It’s been a long time.’’ There was an odd note in Claire’s voice that made Roger glance at her, but she met his eyes with a smile.

‘‘Well,’’ he ventured, ‘‘if there’s anything I can do for you, while you’re in the Highlands . . .’’

Claire was still smiling, but something in her face changed. He could almost think she had been waiting for an opening. She glanced at Brianna, then back to Roger.

‘‘Since you mention it,’’ she said, her smile broadening.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dell; Revised edition (November 2, 1993)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 976 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0440215625
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0440215622
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.01 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.2 x 1.5 x 6.85 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #307,664 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,067 in Time Travel Romances
- #2,557 in Historical Fantasy (Books)
- #7,569 in Romantic Fantasy (Books)

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Diana Gabaldon

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Diana Gabaldon is the internationally bestselling author of many historical novels including Cross Stitch, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross and A Breath of Snow Ashes. She lives with her family in Scottsdale, Arizona.

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Jana L.Perskie

In A Word - OUTSTANDING!!

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2004

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I usually do not care for sequels, whether in novels or films. After reading Diana Gabaldon's wonderful book, "Outlander," I was sure she could not come up with another book to match the first. I was wrong and "Dragonfly In Amber" is an exception to my rule and an exceptional book. Once you begin to read, you will find yourself absorbed immediately and probably forget the novel's length (900+ pages). In fact, you may find yourself wishing it were longer.
There are two major storylines here. One takes place in the 18th century. Claire Randall, who had traveled back in time from post WWII Scotland to a Scotland preparing for the restoration of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, (Bonnie Prince Charlie) to the throne, had married James Fraser and confided to him the truth of her time travels. She also told him of the coming disaster of the Battle of Culloden Moor, (1745), and its terrible aftermath for all of Scotland. Together they do everything in their power to halt the inevitable uprising, including move to Paris to become part of the Prince's entourage and perhaps effect a change in history through their relationship with the Jacobites living in France. The relationship developed between Claire and Jamie continues to grow in this book. Their intensely passionate love and close friendship is extremely moving. Although James is a very strong and competent person, Claire with her strength of character, independence, resourcefulness and nursing skills moves adeptly through another time period and is as indispensable to James as he is to her. We travel with both of them, from the Scottish highlands to the pomp of the French court, as they attempt to impact history and continue on together with a love that transcends the boundaries of time.
The second and parallel plot takes place in 1968. Culloden is 200 years in the past. James had sent Claire back to the future to keep her and their unborn child safe from Scotland's fate right before the doomed battle and, they both believed, Jamie's inevitable death during the fight. Claire still feels the bitterness of the intrigues, betrayals, murders, treason and violence that were so much a part of her life with James as they fought together to spare Scotland from its future. Twenty years have passed and Claire, now a doctor, and her daughter Brianna, travel to Scotland from Boston. Brianna does not know the truth about her mother's history, before her birth, nor who her real father is. Claire's 20th-century husband is now dead and she is determined to discover what happened to James, their family and friends. He was her soulmate and the only man she ever loved. If there is a chance at all to find her Jamie, or at least discover what happened to him, she is will do it.
Once again Ms. Gabaldon deftly portrays 18th century Scotland and France and immerses the reader in another time with her superb historical research and writing style. Her characters, major and minor, complex and simple, grow and develop as you read. Many of them are introduced in "The Outlander," but some remarkable new figures emerge from this novel also. Many of them are bound to capture your heart.
I don't know if this book could stand alone without reading "Outlander" first. And since there is so much to gain by reading both books, and continuing on to number three, I don't know why anyone would wish to do so...unless this book is purchased without the knowledge of the prequel. Gabaldon's "Outlander" series is a major epic and this novel is one of the best in the series. It is jam-packed with adventure, accurate historic detail, romance, friendship, and more from a most unusual perspective. Highly recommended!
JANA

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Sheila M

Political Intrigue and Romance With Claire and Jaime

Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2016

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FINAL DECISION: I ended up liking this one better than OUTLANDER itself. The story seemed tighter, the relationship between Claire and Jamie more complex and although there is plenty of death and pain in this book, it felt more civilized after the events of the first book. And I ended up in tears for most of the end of this book.

THE STORY: After the events of OUTLANDER, Jaime and Claire have fled to France. There they will try to prevent the coming battle of Culloden in order to prevent the destruction of the Highlanders culture. Their scheme requires them to participate in Eighteenth Century French court politics and intrigues with Bonnie Prince Charlie and the King of France. There are still repercussions from Jamie's torture and rape at the end of OUTLANDER. Intrigues, danger and the past threaten to tear Jamie and Claire apart even at the point where they share joy at the coming of their child.

OPINION: I liked OUTLANDER, but I liked DRAGONFLY IN AMBER more. OUTLANDER was about Jamie and Claire discovering one another and falling in love. This book is about letting their love and marriage mature. In OUTLANDER Jamie and Claire ran the gauntlet of danger. This book is a slow burn. Things are quieter, more outwardly civilized and yet even more complicated and dangerous. Politics, society and intrigue take up the majority of this book.

For those readers who read OUTLANDER but don't know more about the series, they will be surprised by the beginning of this book. (I don't want to give it away, but it is a clever story device to begin the narrative there instead of being strictly chronological). The book feels fresh and different after OUTLANDER. The characters have grown and changed (not always for the good) and there are lots of new characters to get to know. Old friends and enemies also have returned so there is a good reason to review the events of OUTLANDER if you haven't read it in a while.

Jamie is more remote in this book after the events with Jack Randall in OUTLANDER. He is still struggling with the aftermath and the pressures of trying to save the entire Highlands. Being involved in the political intrigue means that he and Claire spend less time together and thus immense pressure is placed on their relationship.

Claire is also struggling to find her role in this new situation. The new life in the Court of France has new conflicts and restrictions upon this twentieth century woman. She has to use her imperfect knowledge of the past to help avoid Culloden while know knowing whether such a thing is possible. She is also struggling with her relationship with Jamie. She gave up her entire life to be with him and now she has to deal with those consequences.

On a more philosophical point, the book also investigates the idea of changing the past. Is it even possible for Jamie and Claire to change the events that lead to Culloden or does everything they do actually cause that event to happen? Can the past be changed at all? These are universal themes in time travel stories and this book examines those issues with complexity and subtlety. Even better, there are no real answers.

I began reading OUTLANDER when the television series started because I always want to read the books first and I began reading this one in preparation for Season 2. I don't know if I have been influenced by the series, but I felt that this book went more quickly and the events were clearer, the characters more defined and the outcome more devastating. I cried through the end of the book because it was incredibly well written and sad. At the end of this book, I desperately wanted to begin VOYAGER (book 3) to find out what happens.

WORTH MENTIONING: This book ends on a cliffhanger.

CONNECTED BOOKS: DRAGONFLY IN AMBER is the second book in the Outlander series. It can be read as a standalone, but why do that. Read OUTLANDER first to really appreciate DRAGONFLY IN AMBER.

STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.

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Ariana

great sequel!

Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2024

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Really enjoyed this! It was so long but worth the journey. If you can get through the Paris chapters, you’re in for an emotional ride. Onto Voyager!!

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Ginette Moreau

Must read in order

Reviewed in Canada on March 1, 2024

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Fantastic books, can't put them down, wish there where more, the TV series is true to these books

Luíza

Perfect

Reviewed in Brazil on February 26, 2024

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Loved the book

Annlar

Brilliant! Held me enthralled throughout.!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 14, 2024

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I love the characters, I can't get enough of them! With every page I become more invested.
The authors writings touch on my own emotions, I lost my husband 19 years ago and still feel the loss, the loss Jamie and Claire feel of each other and of others stir that feeling in myself again her writing is so on point!

Craczy

merveilleux

Reviewed in France on November 13, 2023

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Deuxième fois que je le lis… tout aussi magique et parfait dans les détails historiques et charge émotionnelle. Un livre délicieux!

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dd26r

Love the storytelling

Reviewed in Mexico on April 10, 2019

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There few books of romance rhat i like to read, i am a suspense or thriller reader, but these is all in one history ficcion and a romance story as real as i should be not happily ever after but the real struggle of a couple with ups and down and comitment

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