THE PHOENIX CIRCLE
By BORIS RAYMOND
Published in 2007 by the KLYO Press
ISBN 1-4196-4235-9
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada , San Jose, California
Abbreviated reviews of Boris Raymond, THE PHOENIX CIRCLE, KLYO PRESS, 2007
As reviewed by New York Times best-selling author Ellen Tanner Marsh Many historical
novels depict ancient Rome, but only a very small number set out to describe one of
the fabled city's most complicated eras, its demise...It is precisely this literary
gap that Boris Raymond's novel, THE PHOENIX CIRCLE, beautifully fills...The strength
of THE PHOENIX CIRCLE is that, despite the complexity of the plot, one nevertheless
has the sense on every page of the inevitable about to occur. No matter how desperately
the Phoenix Circle attempts to save Rome, its fall is assured, and the various actors
are powerless to stop it. The novel proceeds inexorably forward, and the reader gets
the harrowing sense of being, as it were, present at the destruction...In classic
mythology, the phoenix is a bird that arises from its own ashes. The hope of the Phoenix
Circle is that Rome, too, will rise again, but in fact Raymond has a different
interpretation in mind. For with the death of Rome came not its own resurrection, but
the beginning of a new era, one where men and women will concern themselves more with
the salvation of their immortal souls than with amassing power or riches...This fresh
interpretation of the fall of Rome gives THE PHOENIX CIRCLE one more aspect to its many
strengths.
This is a fine novel of an ancient time that is fit to stand next to the best among such
historical novels. The plot is complex, the prose accomplished, and the moral original
and astute. Raymond has done a remarkable job with a very complex subject, and devotees
of historical novels will find themselves richly rewarded for picking this one up.
As reviewed by Kathleen C. Guler, author of THE ANVIL STONE THE PHOENIX CIRCLE successfully
captures the dynamics that caused the fall of Rome.
As reviewed by Marian Fricano, Head, Access Services, Michel Orradre Library, Santa Clara
University I thought THE PHOENIX CIRCLE a wonderful, imaginative take on the last days of
Rome's glory and the creation of the City of God... I couldn't help but feel that Alexia
is the depiction of a very modern woman, with a mind of her own, a strong will, and unwisely
subscribing to the wrong mores of her time. Her background could have led her to a life like
Eugenia's, but her love of luxury mandated the course she decided upon...She has the juiciest
part of this novel as the most captivating character...The character of the stoic Severinus
overcoming his debased childhood and rising to sainthood was a very interesting element of
this story, as is the development of the Catholic religion and it's importance to Rome.
As reviewed by Joy Calderwood ?May 2008,--- Publisher and Reviewer ...After 1200 years, the
ruler of most of Europe has degenerated internally, and is fast giving way to external and
internal enemies. Professor Boris Raymond's novel shows us cause and effect embodied in well
developed characters...Professor Raymond's extensive knowledge of the period provides the
strong foundation on which his story is built...In addition to being human beings living
gripping lives, his characters also illustrate the division between spiritual-and power-hunger
which intensified as the Empire degenerated.
The subplots are woven together smoothly and support each other ...I recommend it highly,
because of its epic vision and intimate characters.
As reviewed by Mary Harrsch, Network & Management Information Systems College of Education
1215 University of Oregon, Eugene THE PHOENIX CIRCLE by Dr. Boris Raymond is an engrossing
and insightful novel that examines the changes occurring in western civilization as the Roman
Empire succumbs to barbarian encroachment and the growing power of Christianity and dominance
of spiritual philosophy in social experience...His characters are well developed and he changes
scenes deftly without confusing the reader or disrupting the overall continuity of his tale...I
particularly found his examination of the various conflicts within the early Christian church
interesting...I recommend this work to Roman history enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in
how events of the late antiquity forged the society we have inherited.
As reviewed by Ginny Wagner, member of The Historical Novel Society I've just finished reading
THE PHOENIX CIRCLE written by one of our list members, Boris Raymond, and must say it is a totally
engaging read...I thoroughly enjoyed the book and hope there is a sequel before long.
As reviewed by Libby Trudell, Sr. Vice President, Market Development Corporate Markets, Thomson
Scientific As a child, I thought of the fall of Rome as one dramatic point in time when barbarians
sacked the city, thus ending the empire and changing the course of civilization. THE PHOENIX CIRCLE
explores the reality of decades in which the empire slowly collapsed from internal weakness as much
as from external pressures...aristocrats striving to maintain their life of power and indulgence,
slaves who will do anything to survive and become free, citizens who expected to be fed and
entertained, and barbarians whose values are often more civilized that the Romans. Most importantly,
it highlights the role of the Catholic Church as a force for stability during a period when the
emperors counted their reigns in weeks rather than years. By the end of the book it is clear that
Church has supplanted Empire...All of these themes are developed through an extensive cast of largely
real historical figures. While based on solid research, their thoughts, characters and contexts are
vividly evoked, and the action sweeps forward quickly.
As reviewed by Glenn Barnett, author of the forthcoming book THE PERSIAN WAR:
THE ROMAN CONFLICTS WITH IRAQ AND IRAN
The service that THE PHOENIX CIRCLE provides the reader is to flesh out the skeleton of the
history of the times with back stories of the actual participants. We have a richer
appreciation of the world that the Romans and barbarians inhabited in the fifth century of
the Christian era.
As reviewed by Sallie Shawl, Lakebay, Washington I came to this book with absolutely no
knowledge of the historical period in which it is set and a large part of the enjoyment
was learning something about it...now I want to do some reading about the actual known-history
of that time, and I can't imagine wanting to do so if I hadn't read the book...Also, it turned
into a page-turner.
As reviewed by Martha Bakerjian, travel councillor ...Just after THE PHOENIX CIRCLE, I visited
Ravenna...I was amazed at how much reading the book prepared me for my visit. I appreciated the
mosaics and monuments of Ravenna more having read the book.
As reviewed by Norman G. O. Pereira, Professor Emeritus, Dalhousie University The late Roman
Empire has not yet received its due from professional historians, so the task for the writer
of fiction is all the more daunting. But in his elegantly written and long (over 500 pages)
novel, Boris Raymond more than meets the challenge and succeeds in producing a credible and
highly readable picture of the fascinating effort of a dying elite's effort to forestall the
collapse of the great empire.
As reviewed by David Braybrook, Professor of Philosophy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
Boris Raymond has reached the height of his powers as an historical novelist in THE PHOENIX
CIRCLE; and they are considerable powers, displayed in an engrossingly readable book.
The original complete reviews of THE PHOENIX CIRCLE can be found at my website:
http://myweb.dal.ca/braymond
The original complete reviews of Boris Raymond, THE PHOENIX CIRCLE, KLYO PRESS, 2007
As reviewed by Joy Calderwood
Boris Raymond, The Phoenix Circle, KLYO Press, 2007
What caused the downfall of the Roman Empire? After 1200 years, the ruler of
most of Europe has degenerated internally, and is fast giving way to external
and internal enemies. Professor Boris Raymond's novel shows us cause and effect
embodied in well developed characters.
Orestes is son of a mid-level Roman noble whose estates have been engulfed by
Attila the Hun. Orestes' family has accommodated so well to Hunnish rule that
Orestes becomes a valued official of Attila. His plan, encouraged by Roman
aristocrats Cassiodorus and Romulus, is to learn everything he can from Attila
about leadership, and to understand Hunnish tactics so well that he can help
Rome defeat this overpowering enemy. When Attila dies, Orestes becomes
Cassiodorus's protégé and Romulus' son-in-law.
Cassiodorus was assigned the task, by the last worthy ruler of the Western
Empire, of forming a secret group of strong leaders to revive Rome. Rome is now
ruled by the kind of self-seekers who, five centuries ago, had destroyed the
Roman Republic by ignoring its welfare in favor of their own. Today it will be
dangerous for Cassiodorus' group to oppose them. Emperor Valentinian's
sister Honora, Pope Leo's secretary Galasius, Secret Service head
Cassiodorus, and others are grooming a leader who they hope will keep Rome from
being absorbed by surrounding barbarian civilizations. Meanwhile, a string of
short-lived emperors seize the Western throne and are in turn deposed by
Romanized foreigners hungry for power. Professor Raymond's extensive
knowledge of the period provides the strong foundation on which his story is
built.
THE PHOENIX CIRCLE follows not just the life but the development of Orestes,
chosen by the secret circle to be their representative on the throne. Professor
Raymond has put much thought into character development: his large cast of
characters evolve as experience changes them. Throughout the book we follow the
stories of Orestes' wife Barbaria, her slave Eugenia, Eugenia's lover
Severinus who becomes a great holy man, Orestes' mistress Alexia, his Secret
Service heads Carlus and Biglias, and his adopted brother Odovacar who becomes
a king. In addition to being growing human beings living gripping lives, his
characters also illustrate the division between spiritual- and power-hunger
which intensified as the Empire degenerated. The subplots are woven together
smoothly and support each other in a combination of absorbing threads.
Professor Raymond has revised his original book, called "The Twelfth Vulture of
Romulus," with outside help. The improvement in the writing is considerable,
though it still shows that it was written by a natural writer of non-fiction.
In spite of this I recommend it highly, because of its epic vision and intimate
characters. You can find THE PHOENIX CIRCLE at http://www.booksurge.com .
Joy Calderwood
May 2008 review
As reviewed by Sallie Shawl, Lakebay, Washington
Boris Raymond, The Phoenix Circle
I came to this book with absolutely no knowledge of the historical period in which it's set
and a large of part of the enjoyment was learning something about it. I must admit that I
wondered about what was fiction and what was not, but now I want to do some reading about
the actual known-history of that time, and I can't imagine wanting to do so if I hadn't read
the book.
Also, it turned into a page-turner. Not only did I want to find out what happened, and how,
but I was fascinated with both the social and internal changes in many of the characters,
wondering how they would resolve their situations ? or, more correctly for many, how their
situations would be resolved. Few, if any, of these changes, or the reasons for them, were
predictable. I thoroughly enjoyed The Phoenix Circle.
Sallie Shawl
Lakebay, Washington
As reviewed by Mary Harrsch
"The Phoenix Circle" by Dr. Boris Raymond is an engrossing and insightful
novel that examines the changes occurring in western civilization as the Roman
Empire succumbs to barbarian encroachment and the growing power of Christianity
and dominance of spiritual philosophy in social experience.
Dr. Raymond, a professor of history, sociology, and library science at Dalhousie
University in Nova Scotia, shares his in-depth knowledge of the period
artfully, providing a tactile context for each event and insight into the
thoughts and ideas that motivated the key players during this period. His
characters are well developed and he changes scenes deftly without confusing
the reader or disrupting the overall continuity of his tale.
I particularly found his examination of the various conflicts within the early
Christian church interesting. He shows us how the princes of the church
struggled for supremacy almost like rival Roman generals vying for the scepter
and how the church was impacted by changes in secular power when rulers or
their consorts supported or opposed various theological positions. We feel the
tension of a society whose people, like Attila's hapless secretary, must have
felt like they were tied spread-eagled to four horses precariously controlled
by duplicitous power brokers from both church and state.
Dr. Raymond's "The Phoenix Circle" reflects the growth of the author in
his understanding of the genre of historical fiction since the release of his
first book "The Twelfth Vulture of Romulus" and I recommend this work to
Roman history enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in how events of late
antiquity forged the society we have inherited.
Mary Harrsch
Network & Management Information Systems
College of Education 1215 University of Oregon Eugene
As reviewed by Martha Bakerjian
The Phoenix Circle Book Review
Boris Raymond's book, The Phoenix Circle, is historical fiction taking place
during the final years of the Roman Empire. Although it's fiction, the book is
based on fact and I learned a lot by reading it. One can easily envision the
events in the book being true.
In The Phoenix Circle, Dr. Raymond chronicles the years 448 through 476,
illustrating how the greed for power led to the Roman Empire's decline. This
period of Rome's history is often overlooked in literature so this was a very
interesting and unusual story.
Characters weave in and out of the story, disappearing and re-appearing adding
to the interest. The book has politics, battle, and romance. There's a sense of
foreboding as the reader feels the tension mount and the end draw near. My only
criticism would be the lack of a map as it was sometimes difficult to envision
where the story was taking place.
However there is a useful table in the back explaining place names and listing
emperors.
Just after reading The Phoenix Circle, I visited Ravenna, the city that was the
eastern seat of the Roman Empire. I was amazed at how much reading the book
prepared me for my visit. I appreciated the mosaics and monuments of Ravenna
more having read the book.
Although the book is long, it's engaging and fast-moving enough to hold the
reader's interest. If you enjoy historical fiction or ancient Rome, this is a
good book for you.
Martha Bakerjian
As reviewed by Martine Ham, Richmond California
Boris Raymond's recent book THE PHOENIX CIRCLE is a historical
novel comparable in quality with Robert Graves. Raymond crafts a tale at the
end of the Roman Empire allowing us to peek into what might have happened.
He has given voices to historical figures and filled it with characters that
allow the plot to move forward. Even though you know the logical outcome
because it is based on history, Raymond drives the plot to make you want to turn
the next page. Boris Raymond could have taken this novel in several different
genres such as a romance, (bodice ripper) or even spy/espionage, instead he
focuses on people and their impact on the events of 5th century Rome.
Martine Ham
Richmond California
As reviewed by Kathleen C. Guler, author of The Anvil Stone
The Phoenix Circle, by Boris Raymond
As Boris Raymond's historical novel The Phoenix Circle opens, the Roman empire is
rumbling towards its demise. Barbarians are crashing through the frontiers,
greed and mismanagement of government are more the rule than not, and the
church has become a political entity powerful enough to vie for control. Amidst
the chaos, a small group of patriots called the Phoenix Circle emerges, its
purpose to restore Rome to the full glory that she once was.
Beginning with the year AD 448 and ending with 476, the author takes up many
threads of Rome's later history: Attila the Hun's quest for European dominance;
the ambitions of Orestes who became the father of the last emperor Romulus; the
decadence of the Roman royal courts; the quickly growing power of the Church;
and most importantly, the secret society of the Phoenix Circle begun by
Cassiodorus, the head of the Imperial Secret Service and Honoria Augusta, the
emperor Valentinian's sister. Through intelligent storytelling, Dr. Raymond
intricately weaves the threads of history together, giving the reader a clear,
sweeping and engaging view of the age. The Phoenix Circle successfully captures
the dynamics that caused the fall of Rome.
Kathleen C. Guler
author of The Anvil Stone
As reviewed by David Braybrooke, Professor of Philosophy, Dalhousie University,
Halifax, Canada
The Phoenix Circle, by Boris Raymond
Boris Raymond has reached the height of his powers as an historical novelist in the
PHOENIX CIRCLE; and they are considerable powers, displayed in an engrossingly readable book.
David Braybrooke
Professor of Philosophy
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Canada
As reviewed by Marian Fricano, Head, Access Services, Michel Orradre Library, Santa Clara University
I thought THE PHOENIX CIRCLE a wonderful, imaginative take on the last days of
Rome's glory and the creation of the City of God. It created a sense of what
it would have been like to have lived in the last days of Rome, illustrating
the super rich of that period in time, and how they brought about their own
destruction in their constant quest for power and glory. I enjoyed the many
aspects of Roman life mentioned, and especially the descriptions of times and
places of historic events that graphically recreated this period and
enlightened me.
I couldn't help but feel that Alexia is the depiction of a very modern woman,
with a mind of her own, a strong will, and unwisely subscribing to the wrong
mores of her time. Her background could have led her to a life like Eugenia's,
but her love of luxury mandated the course she decided upon. Thinking of how
many lives she ruined, yet they may have actually been much worse off with
someone else. She has the juiciest part of this novel as the most captivating
character. The development of the jealousy in the relationship of Orestes,
Alexia, and Odovocar is an interesting subplot leading to the thought that this
somewhat parallels that of the Illiad and the Odessey, leading to the downfall
of Rome in this case.
The character of the stoic Severinus overcoming his debased childhood and rising
to sainthood was a very interesting element of this story, as is the
development of the Catholic religion and it's importance to Rome.
Yet, for me, the most interesting character development was that of Orestes.
Seeing him start out as an idealistic, young man, a good, loving son, later in
awe of Cassiodorus, someone striving to become a savior of Rome. Yet, he
subtly changes and becomes debased in his climb to power. He constantly
justifies his excesses, as is so often the case for many, and becomes beguiled
by the power he wields and hopes to achieve. His final degredation, in my
opinion, is his act of setting his own son up on a throne that could be toppled
at any time, all to further his own interests.
Marian Fricano
Head, Access Services
Michel Orradre Library
Santa Clara University
As reviewed by Norman G.O. Pereira, Professor Emeritus, Dalhousie University
Boris Raymond, The Phoenix Circle (Halifax, Canada: Kylo Press, 2007).
The late Roman Empire has not yet received its due from professional
historians, so the task for the writer of fiction is all the more daunting. But
in his elegantly written and long (over 500 pages) novel, Boris Raymond more
than meets the challenge and succeeds in producing a credible and highly
readable picture of the fascinating effort of a dying elite's effort to
forestall the collapse of the great empire. Raymond's characters in the
Phoenix Circle are finely drawn and realized; they are compelling as
individuals;
and their dialogue rings true. If this is not what actually happened fifteen
hundred years ago, Raymond's version is probably better and certainly more
enjoyable.
Norman G.O. Pereira
Professor Emeritus
Dalhousie University
As reviewed by Ginny Wagner
I've just finished reading THE PHOENIX CIRCLE written by one of our list
members, Boris Raymond, and must say it is a totally engaging read. He reworked
his previous book, THE TWELFTH VULTURE OF ROMULUS, by concentrating the story
in the pov of a central character, Orestes, behind the scenes puppeteer and
father of Romulus, the last western emperor of Rome, which added continuity
and concentrated the story into an emotionally engaging read by giving us one
main character with which to bond.
At the end, when Orestes dies, I found myself transferring my attachment from
Orestes to Severinus ... ready to read on about the next phase of Rome's demise
and the rise of the Church from the ashes, as the symbolism of the phoenix
implies. I can only hope that Boris writes the next phase in Rome's history as
beautifully as he penned the last because I'd love to read about how the slave
come hermit come holy man helps bring about the ascendancy of the popes and the
Church.
There is much to think about beyond the simple story of political jockeying ...
from the general acceptance of slavery and sex without boundary for the elite
to the characters of the hermit and pope's assistant who each reflected the
division in the Church that would finally erupt centuries later between the
spiritual visionary and the politically astute. The idea of the Circle is
reminiscent of Hillary Clinton's allegation of a coterie that exists even now
that moves us all around like pieces on a chessboard and makes for great drama.
The parallels to the elite in Boris' book, with the Romanesque toga parties
held by the CEOs of the late 1990s, televised around the time of the downfall
of their corporations, is particularly striking.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and hope there is a sequel before long. Boris'
writing grabbed me around the third chapter after which I couldn't put the book
down until it was finished, at which time I wrote him how much I enjoyed it and
made a request for a sequel to THE PHOENIX CIRCLE.
- Ginny Wagner
As reviewed by Glenn Barnett, author of the forthcoming book "THE PERSIAN WAR: The Roman
Conflicts with Iraq and Iran".
THE PHOENIX CIRCLE
By Boris Raymond
Reading the Phoenix Circle is a bit like watching the movie Titanic. The
characters who figure in Dr. Raymond's tragic novel go about their lives,
their loves, hatreds, successes and failures but we know when we pick up the
book that they are doomed. The sinking ship in this case is the Roman Empire.
The hero of the story is Orestes, a young Roman aristocrat who schemes with a
small group of patriots to restore the glory that was Rome. The secret group
known to each other as The Phoenix Circle is named after the mythical
bird that dies and is reborn. The group hopes to eliminate barbarian influence
and strengthen the native Roman and Italians to ward off the foreign enemies.
Orestes early on attaches himself to Attila the Hun to learn all he can from him
to use against Huns, Vandals and other enemies of Rome. By his character and
ambition he becomes the head of a vast spy network with agents in both the
eastern and western ends of the empire.
Yet despite all his efforts he is unable to restore the ancient glory of the
realm. The ship sinks around him and eventually takes him with it.
The service that THE PHOENIX CIRCLE provides the reader is to flesh out the
skeleton of the history of the times with back stories of the actual
participants. We have a richer appreciation of the world that the Romans and
barbarians inhabited in the fifth century of the Christian era. We see the
visceral change from the rule of the Caesars to the authority of the Pope.
Orestes was witness and participant in these events even in the midst of his
own personal tragedy.
Glenn Barnett,
author of the forthcoming book
"THE PERSIAN WAR: The Roman
Conflicts with Iraq and Iran"
As reviewed by Libby Trudell, Sr. Vice President, Market Development
Corporate Markets, Thomson Scientific.
As a child, I thought of the fall of Rome as one dramatic point in time when
barbarians sacked the city, thus ending the empire and changing the course of
civilization. The PHOENIX CIRCLE explores the reality of decades in which the
empire slowly collapsed from internal weakness as much as from external
pressures.
The book weaves together many threads: aristocrats striving to maintain their
life of power and indulgence, slaves who will do anything to survive and become
free, citizens who expected to be fed and entertained, and barbarians whose
values are often more civilized than the Romans. Most importantly, it
highlights the role of the Catholic Church as force for stability during a
period when the emperors counted their reigns in weeks rather than years. By
the end of the book it is clear that Church has supplanted Empire. But, a
tension is revealed within the Church as well, between those who seek to wield
power and those who seek spiritual growth, which sets the stage for the next
1,000 years of history.
All of these themes are developed through an extensive cast of largely real
historical figures. While based on solid research, their thoughts, characters
and contexts are vividly evoked, and the action sweeps forward quickly, with
the same kind of drama and intrigue found in novels about the much better known
time of the first Caesars, almost 500 years earlier.
One does need a map to keep track of all the movements of armies and invading
tribes, and distances between the many key locations. Readers are advised to
keep an historical atlas handy. This is a book which well repays the reader,
delivering insights into about a poorly understood period of history as well as
a good read.
Libby Trudell
Sr. Vice President, Market Development
Corporate Markets, Thomson Scientific.
As reviewed by New York Times best-selling author Ellen Tanner Marsh
Many historical novels depict ancient Rome, but only a very small number set out
to describe one of the fabled city's most complicated eras, its demise.
Indeed, a cursory Internet search turns up only one on the fall of Rome, by the
nineteenth-century British novelist Wilkie Collins, and this one, Antoninia,
is one of Collins' lesser-known works at that. It is precisely this literary gap
that Boris Raymond's novel, The Phoenix Circle, beautifully fills.
Perhaps the reason for the paucity of such novels is the fact that there are so
many competing theories as to what caused the fall of Rome. Some claim that
economic hardship, and the consequent anemia of military coffers, opened Rome
to defeat at the hands of otherwise inferior powers. Others claim that Rome's
fall can be explained by its moral decadence in the fifth century, while still
others believe that the Holy Roman Empire's conversion to Christianity caused
the fall by distracting it from its erstwhile classical virtues.
The strength of The Phoenix Circle, however, is precisely that it addresses all
of these possibilities, and intertwines them in a plot as intricate and
complex as any nineteenth-century novel by Wilkie Collins, or Charles Dickens,
or even Dan Brown, for that matter. Put succinctly, the novel is about a very
simple organization, the Phoenix Circle, which is given the task of saving the
empire from destruction by the Huns, then later the various Goth tribes of the
Visi- and Ostro- varieties. But its task is complicated by various internal
squabbles resulting in murder and dissension in the government and the Church.
At the end, we are left with a Rome that has been destroyed for all of the
standard reasons combined.
The strength of The Phoenix Circle is that, despite the complexity of the
plot, one nevertheless has the sense on every page of the inevitable about to
occur. No matter how desperately the Phoenix Circle attempts to save Rome, its
fall is assured, and the various actors are powerless to stop it. The novel
proceeds inexorable forward, and the reader gets the harrowing sense of being,
as it were, present at the destruction.
In classic mythology, the phoenix is a bird that arises from its own ashes. The
hope of the Phoenix Circle is that Rome, too, will rise again, but in fact
Raymond has a different interpretation in mind. For with the death of Rome came
not its own resurrection, but the beginning of a new era, one where men and
women will concern themselves more with the salvation of their immortal souls
than with amassing power or riches. In the fall of Rome, Raymond argues,
there lies not sorrow but hope. Christianity really was incompatible with a
classical civilization, but for Raymond this is the fault not of Christianity
but of classical civilization.
This fresh interpretation of the fall of Rome gives The Phoenix Circle
one more aspect to its many strengths. This is a fine novel of an ancient time
that is fit to stand next to the best among such historical novels. The plot is
complex, the prose accomplished, and the moral original and astute. Raymond has
done a remarkable job with a very complex subject, and devotees of historical
novels will find themselves richly rewarded for picking this one up.
- New York Times best-selling author Ellen Tanner Marsh
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