It’s time again! Are you up for it? This month, I’m going to be reading (at least) four books published by Dean Street Press, the indie publisher devoted to finding and republishing good fiction and non-fiction. This is the starter post and where I’ll record all your reviews during the month. See this post for all the detail. If you want to be inspired, my round-up post with all the stats from 2022’s challenge is here.
What should I do?
Read your book(s) and comment on this post with a link to your blog post, Goodreads review or other place where you’ve written about your read.
I will also read and review books during the month and add my own links; please also feel free to chat about those books and visit other people’s links during the month and afterwards.
Ready to go?
Are you in? Link to this post in your reviews, comment here with them and use the hashtag #DeanStreetDecember23 on social media through the month!
THE STARTER AND SUMMARY POSTS
Here are people setting their intentions for the month!
THE REVIEWS
Verily Anderson
Spam Tomorrow – Staircase Wit
Gwen Bristow & Bruce Manning
The Invisible Host – All the Vintage Ladies
Christopher Bush
The Case of the Misssing Men – Robinwalter
The Case of the Platinum Blonde – Robinwalter
The Case of the Running Mouse – Robinwalter
Molly Clavering
Because of Sam – Robinwalter
Because of Sam – Clothes In Books
Because of Sam – Whatmeread
Love Comes Home – my review
Love Comes Home – Robinwalter
Touch Not the Nettle – Robinwalter
Moray Dalton
Death in the Dark – Robinwalter
Death in the Forest – Robinwalter
The Art School Murders – Robinwalter
The Night of Fear – Clothes in Books
Elizabeth Eliot
Cecil – Brona’s Books
Elizabeth Fair
Bramton Wick – My review
The Native Heath – Heavenali
Rachel Ferguson
A Footman for the Peacock – Shereadsnovels
Brian Flynn
Glittering Prizes – Robinwalter
Such Bright Disguises – All the Vintage Ladies
The Sharp Quillet – Robinwalter
The Sussex Cuckoo – Robinwalter
Stella Gibbons
A Pink Front Door – Shereadsnovels
The Weather at Tregulla – Volatile Muse
The Woods in Winter – Gert Loveday’s Fun with Books
The Woods in Winter – Volatile Muse
Daniel Klein
Viva Las Vengeance – AnnaBookBel
Ursula Orange
Company in the Evening – Whatmeread
Tom Tiddler’s Ground – Madame Bibliophile
E. R. Punshon
It Might Lead Anywhere – Literary Potpourri
E. & M. A. Radford
Who Killed Dick Whittington? – All the Vintage Ladies
Susan Scarlett
Babbacombe’s – Staircase Wit
Babbacombe’s – All the Vintage Ladies
Babbacombe’s – my review
Babbacombe’s – Sarah Matthews
Murder While You Work – Fanda Classiclit
Sally-Ann – my review
Margery Sharp
The Foolish Gentlewoman – Fanda Classiclit
D. E. Stevenson
Kate Hardy – Robinwalter
Smouldering Fire – Robinwalter
The Fair Miss Fortune – Entering the Enchanted Castle
The Fair Miss Fortune – Fanda Classiclit
The Tall Stranger – my review
Vittoria Cottage – Fanda Classiclit
Winter and Rough Weather – Robinwalter
Young Mrs Savage – Literary Potpourri
Molly Thynne
The Draycott Murder Mystery – Literary Potpourri
Patricia Wentworth
The Annam Jewel – Staircase Wit
Who Pays the Piper? – Reese at Typings
E. H. Young
Miss Mole – Heavenali
Miss Mole – Entering the Enchanted Castle
OVER ON INSTAGRAM
Adventures in reading, running and working from home 
Dec 01, 2023 @ 15:12:53
This gives me the perfect excuse to read another of the Elvis Mysteries from DSP.
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Dec 01, 2023 @ 17:51:33
Excellent! Enjoy!
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Dec 15, 2023 @ 16:45:06
And here’s my review https://annabookbel.net/dean-street-december-viva-las-vengeance-the-elvis-mysteries-3-by-daniel-klein/
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Dec 15, 2023 @ 17:06:20
Great, thank you for joining in the challenge!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dec 01, 2023 @ 16:02:02
Looking forward to joining in again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dec 01, 2023 @ 17:51:46
Hooray, I look forward to seeing what you read!
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Dec 02, 2023 @ 13:41:51
Some mysteries are going to be on the list for sure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dec 01, 2023 @ 17:40:03
I kicked off the event with The Invisible Host by Gwen Bristow and Bruce Manning, and it’s a treat!
https://allthevintageladies.com/2023/12/01/dean-street-december-kick-off/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dec 02, 2023 @ 17:21:17
Excellent news and I’ve put it on the list!
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Dean Street December kick-off - All the Vintage Ladies
Dec 01, 2023 @ 17:45:48
State of the TBR – December 2023 | Adventures in reading, running and working from home
Dec 01, 2023 @ 18:37:56
Dec 01, 2023 @ 18:38:07
My post is up! https://hopewellslibraryoflife.wordpress.com/2023/12/01/dean-street-december/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dec 02, 2023 @ 17:21:41
Excellent, lovely to see so many posts already!
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Dec 01, 2023 @ 18:52:08
I managed to post an intro post as well!
https://allthevintageladies.com/2023/12/01/dean-street-december-the-main-post/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dec 02, 2023 @ 17:22:02
Brilliant, I’ve added the link!
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Dec 01, 2023 @ 21:03:01
I hope to read a few too, I just have to finish a couple of books left over from November first!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dec 02, 2023 @ 17:22:48
I’ve got reviewing hangovers to deal with but need to get a DSP book read myself soon! I’ll look forward to you joining in later in the month!
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Dec 02, 2023 @ 21:14:14
I can imagine the hangovers after a big hosting month, it can take a bit to ‘catch up, catch your breath’.
Thanks again – you all did such a wonderful job.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dec 03, 2023 @ 18:19:51
Thank you ever so much!
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Dec 01, 2023 @ 21:42:16
I definitely have two on my schedule, one next week and the other the week after, but I might be able to sneak another one in. I forgot about this event!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dec 02, 2023 @ 17:23:13
Fantastic! I did remind everyone about this quite late this year, sorry!
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Dec 02, 2023 @ 17:30:18
Yeah, I totally forgot about it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dec 02, 2023 @ 09:36:29
Here’s my second, really hope my DSD picks up from here 🙂
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/386eadcf-3632-4dfd-8dda-9d3b21935029
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dec 02, 2023 @ 17:25:36
Oh dear, and a bit of a worry as that’s one of my four to read, though I don’t mind political content in books myself. It is difficult finding the odd bit of “of its time” xenophobia, isn’t it, a bit too common in mid-century novels. Probably why I have to temper my reading with more modern social justice books!
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Dec 03, 2023 @ 08:10:03
If I were reading a political thriller (which I do sometimes) having a character make frequent statements about their political views would make sense. In a “comedy of errors” where the focus is allegedly on the characters’ amorous (mis)adventures, constant poliical proselytising felt out of place. It’s not what was ‘on the box’ as it were.
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Dean Street December - the Main Post - All the Vintage Ladies
Dec 02, 2023 @ 17:06:09
Dec 03, 2023 @ 18:57:43
Third time lucky – Moray Dalton gets my Dean Street December 2023 back on track with a solid winner.
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/9a88413e-1c7a-429e-874e-d16d0cc8dcf4
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dec 04, 2023 @ 09:52:34
Excellent, I’m so pleased!
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Dec 03, 2023 @ 20:15:30
Dec 05, 2023 @ 11:25:23
Here’s my book (4 out of) 5 🙂
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/d612cbf1-1d1b-4f17-bb01-ba04b2768844
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dec 05, 2023 @ 12:47:14
A good review. It seems odd to me that I skate over the misogyny you’re finding, as I’m usually very alive to it but I’ve checked back on my reviews and nothing!
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Dec 05, 2023 @ 20:09:18
My takes do tend to be somewhat idiotsyncratic 😊
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Dec 06, 2023 @ 09:53:49
Well I look out for misogyny etc with the best of them, but I think these are so soothing and lulling it washes over me!
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Dec 05, 2023 @ 12:20:54
I do have ONE Dean Street Press book, but I’m really not into it – some Elvis Presley mystery novel from 2002.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dec 05, 2023 @ 12:47:49
Oh, that’s a bit odd! I usually stick to the Furrowed Middlebrow imprint though have had the odd foray into other bits …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dec 05, 2023 @ 16:44:05
I know… they sent it to me unsolicited with a couple others.
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Dec 07, 2023 @ 15:14:54
Here’s my book 6 review, another fun Travers outing
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/7ad41dbd-3b07-44f4-9339-7e9383748cff
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Dec 07, 2023 @ 21:44:02
Well done! I have captured all six so far and really appreciate you posting the links in the comments as it makes it a lot easier to make sure I’ve rounded everything up!
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Dec 08, 2023 @ 09:34:43
I’ve just reviewed A Footman for the Peacock by Rachel Ferguson. A very odd book, but I think I enjoyed it!
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Dec 08, 2023 @ 10:30:34
Thank you for taking part and facing this known oddity!
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Book Review: The Draycott Murder Mystery (1928) by Molly Thynne #DeanStreetDecember – Literary Potpourri
Dec 08, 2023 @ 10:42:14
Dec 09, 2023 @ 02:31:50
My first for the month a Patricia Wentworth: Who Pays the Piper?
Link: https://reesewarner.blogspot.com/2023/12/patricia-wentworths-who-pays-piper.html
Thanks for hosting!
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Dec 09, 2023 @ 16:23:58
Excellent, thank you for taking part!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dec 09, 2023 @ 09:53:02
Not sure if you got my 7th, which I LOVED, but here’s my eighth, which I didn’t
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/2c930dba-6b9b-4683-bfee-eda394c9e22f
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dec 09, 2023 @ 16:26:14
No, that’s weird, I can’t see a comment for your seventh one. Can you let me have the link again so I can add it in. Sorry this wasn’t such a good one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dec 09, 2023 @ 23:30:20
Here’s my seventh, a real winner
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/72af6223-a3c2-4d46-bd13-9b43f47812dc
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dec 10, 2023 @ 08:59:49
Excellent – I’ve avoided that one because it’s got a dog in it, funnily enough. My review of Love Comes Home should go up today and I did find we differed in our opinion of it!
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Dec 10, 2023 @ 10:16:11
You don’t like dogs? In that case, DEFINITELY avoid “Because of Sam”, there are MANY dogs in it😊 . None in my book 9, “Glittering Prizes” by Brian Flynn
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/afa3f172-1dd7-4f0e-92d7-d2067396223a
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Dec 10, 2023 @ 17:44:26
I love dogs but something horrible inevitably happens to dogs in books which I find very upsetting! Adding your Flynn now. And I’ve actually done my own review for my own project now!
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Dec 10, 2023 @ 18:05:12
You’ll be pleased to know that no serious harm comes to ANY dog in “Because of Sam” – a happy ending for the eponymous Lab is pivotal to the story 😀
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Dec 10, 2023 @ 21:19:27
Ah, that’s good to know then. You can never be sure (or you can often be sure!) which is why my reviews often mention what happens to the animal if I do happen to read one with one in it!
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Dec 10, 2023 @ 14:02:13
Thoughts about The Fair Miss Fortune: https://enterenchanted.com/dean-street-december-the-fair-miss-fortune/
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Dec 10, 2023 @ 21:24:35
A very fair review!
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Dec 23, 2023 @ 21:11:53
And I did read Miss Mole – didn’t manage a full blog post, but here is my StoryGraph review. https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/10cf583d-cf07-4002-a009-656e399e3083
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Dec 24, 2023 @ 12:39:41
Excellent stuff: your read it, it’s recorded here!
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Dec 24, 2023 @ 16:00:22
Oops, I think I sent the wrong link. This is my review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/ab87e893-2d90-460a-8d6b-6867ac61d938
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Dec 24, 2023 @ 17:36:35
Updated now, thank you!
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Book review - Molly Clavering - "Love Comes Home"
Dec 10, 2023 @ 17:30:34
Dec 11, 2023 @ 06:35:17
Here’s my heavily-redacted 10th 😁
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/2daeb934-49ba-490d-b51f-56ba2dcf630b
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Dec 11, 2023 @ 08:42:49
Gosh, a very interesting viewpoint. Looking back at my review I took it as a study of a certain kind of person with whom she seemed familiar and the clash of the ancient and modern. But I subscribe to the Death of the Author theory, so I tend to separate author and book and that also allows for the reader to create the book as they read it.
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Dec 11, 2023 @ 16:45:08
The fact that SO MANY of Stevenson’s books have ‘positive’ characters, protagonists and “heroes” who espouse similar views and act on them (and are applauded for doing so) makes it harder for me to believe she was not at least partly in sympathy with them. My take on books is often an unusual one, but in the case of this book, it seems many readers read it similarly, which was a nice change. 🙂
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Dec 11, 2023 @ 17:41:54
I’m not arguing with you there. I haven’t actually read all of the Highland-y ones, I think there’s a whole wodge that are all inter-related, aren’t there. You can certainly see some uncomfortable behaviour here in the attitude to the law and the servile nature of the servant class.
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November 2023 Reading Wrap Up – Literary Potpourri
Dec 11, 2023 @ 10:08:44
Dec 11, 2023 @ 15:55:32
Here are my first two books for Dean Street December, both Stella Gibbons. Thanks for hosting – especially straight after the November challenge.
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Dec 11, 2023 @ 17:48:12
Wonderful, thank you. And thanks, it feels a bit less fraught than NonFicNov (though Ioved co-hosting that) as it’s more of a known quantity!
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“Orange is red brought nearer to humanity by yellow.” (Wassily Kandinsky) | madame bibi lophile recommends
Dec 12, 2023 @ 10:52:01
Dec 12, 2023 @ 11:06:57
Here’s my review Liz, thank you for hosting! https://madamebibilophilerecommends.co.uk/2023/12/12/orange-is-red-brought-nearer-to-humanity-by-yellow-wassily-kandinsky/
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Dec 12, 2023 @ 11:45:28
Thank you for taking part! I’ve added your link and saved your review as this is one I haven’t read yet!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dec 13, 2023 @ 03:49:23
Here’s my elevenses 🙂
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/ae0b6120-a3af-47b2-8736-585c5bb58c29
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Dec 13, 2023 @ 06:11:09
Excellent although I fear I’ve missed some?
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Dec 13, 2023 @ 09:48:26
Odd, I muat have missed Nr 1
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/ed95bdb2-3eef-4e56-8d77-d6e9259339bf
and Nr 5.
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/d612cbf1-1d1b-4f17-bb01-ba04b2768844
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dec 14, 2023 @ 22:19:21
I had these two already.
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Dec 13, 2023 @ 09:50:34
Sorry, it was 4 I missed, not 5
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/c607cc34-e126-4d15-9524-ee069303cd15
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Dec 14, 2023 @ 22:19:10
I’m confused now as I had this one, too.
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Dec 14, 2023 @ 03:11:00
My dozenth was a doozy!
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/4c687a2f-a9f2-4460-a8f5-16adf699d3a5
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Dec 14, 2023 @ 22:22:08
I’ve got twelve for you now so I think all is well and I’m up to date!
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Review 2282: #DeanStreetDecember! Company in the Evening – whatmeread
Dec 14, 2023 @ 16:38:08
Dec 14, 2023 @ 16:39:21
Here’s one for you, Company in the Evening by Ursula Orange: https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2023/12/14/review-2282-deanstreetdecember-company-in-the-evening/
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Dec 14, 2023 @ 22:23:42
Wonderful, thank you! One I’ve not read yet myself!
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Dec 14, 2023 @ 22:47:42
It’s a good one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dec 15, 2023 @ 11:47:12
My 14th, Brian Flynn delivering again:
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/db48e431-63a6-476f-a52e-ea089879c5b3
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dec 15, 2023 @ 11:50:11
Got it, thanks – you’re nearly through your pile! What was your thirteenth, though?
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Dec 15, 2023 @ 16:43:13
Book review - Susan Scarlett - "Babbacombe's"
Dec 16, 2023 @ 09:01:20
Book review - D. E. Stevenson - "The Tall Stranger"
Dec 19, 2023 @ 08:00:28
Book Review: It Might Lead Anywhere (1946) by E. R. Punshon #DeanStreetDecember – Literary Potpourri
Dec 19, 2023 @ 09:18:05
Dec 21, 2023 @ 17:02:16
Here’s another book review for the event: Because of Sam by Molly Clavering: https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2023/12/21/review-2286-deanstreetdecember-because-of-sam/
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Dec 21, 2023 @ 21:57:52
Wonderful, thank you! We’re over 40 reviews now!
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Dec 21, 2023 @ 22:09:47
That’s great!
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Book review - Susan Scarlett - "Sally-Ann"
Dec 21, 2023 @ 21:54:34
Dec 22, 2023 @ 07:11:06
Dec 22, 2023 @ 07:12:05
Very late to the party, but bringing it home with a corker of a story from Elizabeth Eliot – Cecil.
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Dec 22, 2023 @ 08:19:17
Not late at all – I only published one of mine late last night! Thank you so much for taking part! And yes, this is an excellent one, isn’t it.
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Dec 22, 2023 @ 09:42:04
Very excellent 😅 I’ve now ordered 3 of Eliot’s other books at work.
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Dec 23, 2023 @ 18:59:16
Hooray! I can confirm they are all good and I’m glad you can get hold of them!
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Book Review: Young Mrs Savage (1948) by D. E. Stevenson #DeanStreetDecember – Literary Potpourri
Dec 23, 2023 @ 07:37:09
Dec 23, 2023 @ 22:03:57
Here’s my review of A Pink Front Door by Stella Gibbons:
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dec 24, 2023 @ 12:41:30
Excellent, well done, and I’m glad you enjoyed it! I loved that one, too!
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Dec 26, 2023 @ 04:02:28
Dec 31, 2023 @ 05:20:50
Here is my last one. Happy New Year!
The Annam Jewel by Patricia Wentworth
https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-annam-jewel-by-patricia-wentworth.html
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Dec 31, 2023 @ 17:52:40
Wonderful, thank you! Happy New Year to you, too!
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Reading and Blog Reflections 2023 – Literary Potpourri
Dec 31, 2023 @ 10:02:52
Book review - Elizabeth Fair - "Bramton Wick"
Dec 31, 2023 @ 18:14:46
Dean Street December 2023 round up
Jan 01, 2024 @ 14:09:34
Feb 01, 2024 @ 05:03:46