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Razorblade Tears
Razorblade Tears: A Novel | S. A. Cosby
A black father and a white father join forces on a crusade for revenge against the people who murdered their gay sons, by the award-winning author of Blacktop Wasteland Ike Randolph has been out of jail for fifteen years, with not so much as a speeding ticket in all that time. But a black man with cops at the door knows to be afraid. The last thing he expects to hear is that his son Isiah has been murdered, along with Isiahs white husband Derek. Isiah was a gay black man in the American South; Ike couldnt bring himself to attend his sons wedding. Isiah was a man Ike never understood. A boy he was never there for the way he should have been. Dereks father Buddy Lee is also suffering. Hed barely spoken to his son in five years; he was as ashamed of Derek for being gay as Derek was ashamed his father was a criminal. Buddy Lee still has contacts in the underworld, though, and he wants to know who killed his boy. Ike and Buddy Lee, two ex-cons with little else in common other than a criminal past and a love for their dead sons, band together in their desperate desire for revenge. In their quest to do better for their sons in death than they did in life, alpha-males Ike and Buddy Lee will confront their own prejudices, about each other and their sons, as they rain down vengeance upon those who hurt their boys. Provocative and fast-paced, Razorblade Tears is a story of bloody retribution, heartfelt change - and maybe even redemption.
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Bookpearl
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This little device is a game changer! Operation book database loading in 3. 2. 1….

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Bookpearl
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Recovery has found me rereading this to refresh my memory and I must say it‘s even better the second time around. I always try to have 3-4 books in rotation…a physical book, audio and ebook.

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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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“That was the thing about violence. When you went looking for it you definitely were going to find it. It just wouldn't be at a time of your own choosing. It jumped up and splattered your nice new boots before you were really ready.”

I love this author, but his books have some very #gruesome scenes! 🩸

#WickedWhispers

Eggs Perfect 😱🩸😳 2mo
67 likes1 comment
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Zuhkeeyah
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Pickpick

An interesting mix of remorse, revenge, grief, and hatred propelled this plot forward. Ike and Buddy Lee are an unlikely duo of justice considering how much baggage and prejudices they carried into their hunt for the murderers of Isiah and Derek.

I finished my June #authoramonth a little bit late, but very glad I read this book. I‘ll definitely check out Cosby‘s backlist. @Soubhiville

5feet.of.fury All his books are so good! I loved this one, it was so gritty & violent but still had a lot of heart. 4mo
15 likes1 comment
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WorldsOkayestStepMom
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Pickpick

Loved this book. It was gritty and raw, but very well done!

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brushlo
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Pickpick

should be a action movie. great revenge story with well developed characters. loved the lgbtq themes.

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vlwelser
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Pickpick

This was quite excellent. I highly recommend. It's a mystery/thriller. A couple of ex cons set out to solve their sons' murders.

#AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 5mo
45 likes1 comment
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vonnie862
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Pickpick

This was an intense read!
Two fathers trying to avenge the deaths of their sons...I was not sure what to expect from this book so I was surprised on how much I enjoyed it despite all of the violence. It really brought the issues on how people view and treat the LGBTQ+ community and what it means to love your children no matter what. This was my first Cosby book and it won't be my last. 4.5 ⭐️

#authoramonth @Soubhiville

39 likes1 stack add
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Texreader
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Pickpick

Two fathers, one black one white, hope to come to terms with the fact that their sons married one another by finding and taking revenge against their killer. So much tension, this is way more than a murder mystery but a fast-moving thriller. I struggled to put it down until I was finished. This is another author I‘m very glad I met through #authoramonth. @Soubhiville

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Melismatic
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Panpan

I‘m thinking this author isn‘t for me. I‘ve heard so many good things going into it, but there was so little detail or world building here and I feel like the writing really suffered because of it. The theme of accepting and “righting” your mistakes, especially when it comes to racism & bigotry, is valid to be sure. But this felt like it was written like a 90s action film starring caricatures of real people. #AuthorAMonth

Melismatic I wanted to root for Ike & Buddy Lee but they somehow also didn‘t feel like good guys. Plus the plot had so little conflict. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 5mo
dabbe #fanofthepan! 🤩🤩🤩 5mo
TieDyeDude I enjoyed it for most of the reasons you didn't 😅 It felt exactly like a 80s/90s revenge thriller: cookie-cutter small Southern town, stereotypical towns people, enemies-become-begrudged allies, gritty, violent action. For me, even though everything was so cliché, Cosby's strong writing kept it from being boring. 5mo
See All 6 Comments
Melismatic @TieDyeDude lol I get that! I definitely think I want it to be somethings it‘s not, so…prob safe bet the author isn‘t for me 😳 5mo
TieDyeDude I've only read this and All the Sinners Bleed, but based on those, you're probably right 😁 5mo
Texreader @TieDyeDude excellent description 5mo
29 likes6 comments
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Megabooks
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Pickpick

While I‘ve enjoyed the two Cosby books I‘ve read so far this month, the violence is so extreme it sacrifices character development and the feelings I have about them. I was rooting for Ike and Buddy Lee, but I didn‘t feel I knew them.

Two fathers have lost their married sons to a gruesome double murder. They must avenge their deaths while grappling with conflicted feelings about their sons‘ queerness and regrets.

MallenNC I‘ve read this one and All the Sinners Bleed. I really like his writing but the violence level is tough to handle. 5mo
Jas16 This one read a little too much like an action movie for me. 5mo
BarbaraBB I agree. I liked it but a little too much action to my taste too. 5mo
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mjtwo I agree. It was a good story but I am not inclined to read any more of his books due to the level of violence. And I do not usually think of myself as squeamish. 5mo
Megabooks @MallenNC @mjtwo his books are very dark and violent! I like the writing, but I think I‘m going to stop at two this month. 5mo
Megabooks @Jas16 @BarbaraBB it definitely gave me Tarantino vibes. Dark action movie with underdeveloped characters. 5mo
MallenNC @Megabooks The crime in All the Sinners Bleed was disturbing but I thought the violence on the page was a little less than this one. Or maybe I was just prepared for it. I don‘t think I could read too many in the same month though. 5mo
Megabooks @MallenNC agree re: all sinners. That crime was super disturbing!!! 5mo
CatMS Yes Cosby's books are violent but that is the purpose as our country has become with daily mass shootings. However I still like all his books and look forward to his next. Another author you should try is Stephen Mack Jones whose protagonist is a half black half Mexican man in Mexicantown in Detroit. August Snow is trying to improve his neighborhood by renovating one house at a time while fighting crime perpetrated on his friends and neighborhood. 5mo
81 likes1 stack add9 comments
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CatLass007
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Pickpick

#AuthorAMonth #ReadAway2024 This book packs a wallop! If you like stories about love, friendship, family, hatred, and acceptance, with lots of action and mystery, then I highly recommend Razorblade Tears.

DieAReader 🥳Awesome! 5mo
64 likes1 comment
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Texreader
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This was a well-deserved confrontation by the deceased boy‘s father about the preacher‘s sermon at the funeral

#authoramonth @Soubhiville

Soubhiville Heartbreaking moment. 5mo
Sharpeipup Such a good book 5mo
39 likes2 comments
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Texreader
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My next ebook for #authoramonth @Soubhiville

44 likes1 stack add
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Melismatic
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On to the next! A pick for #AuthorAMonth

Soubhiville Yay! 5mo
32 likes2 comments
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IndoorDame
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Mehso-so

This was a real page turner (or whatever the audio equivalent of that is) and I tore through it in 2 days. I definitely wasn‘t the target audience. I really couldn‘t handle the graphic nature of the violence or the sheer amount of it. Not all of the representation was positive, but I‘m still glad it was there, and the overall message was a positive one so I definitely appreciate getting that out there in the world. #authoramonth @Soubhiville

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IndoorDame
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So far S. A. Cosby is gorier than I like, so I doubt he‘ll become one of my new go to authors, but there are a lot of things I do like about this including some incredible one-liners. #aam @Soubhiville

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Yenya1954
Pickpick

Two young gay men, one black and one white are murdered. Neither father was accepting of the lifestyles of their married sons. The fathers unite while seeking justice for their sons. The novel is full of violence in this novel but I liked it. Much of the violence was a bit over the top but love is love and the color of one‘s skin shouldn‘t matter, I gave this book a 4.25/5

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plemmdog
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Pickpick

I don‘t read much crime fiction. I picked this for my book club, based on glowing reviews. While I found the friendship between Ike and Buddy Lee slightly implausible and the hard-core violence was over-the-top, this ultimately won me over, even though I saw where it was headed early. I guess I‘m a sucker for any work with a message of unity, or calling out hypocrisy whenever you see it. And yes, Sam Elliott should play Buddy Lee in the movie.

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Leniverse
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Pickpick

This was exactly as good as I thought it would be.
Grief. Guilt. Wasted opportunities. Redemption through personal growth and vengeance. Great one liners.

Ok, it was a bit over the top with the action movie villains, but whatever, I loved it. I even got really emotional at the end.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Loved this one! 9mo
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swynn
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Pickpick

(2021) It's a noir thriller about two fathers of murdered gay sons, who never accepted their sons while they were alive, but come together to avenge their deaths. It's a gut-wrenching mix of introspection and violence about two flawed men who become better men while being very bad men. I liked it much.

Leftcoastzen Great review! I need to get to this one 9mo
swynn @Leftcoastzen Hope you like it as well as I did! 9mo
41 likes1 stack add2 comments
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CleverGirl
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Pickpick

SO good! This would make a really compelling tv series. The characters are fantastic.

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CleverGirl
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On to the next one! Recommended by Jessica. As a reminder to anyone who might read this, I‘m just trying to keep track for myself. It‘s ok if you don‘t know who Jessica is 😀 At some point in the future, it might jog my memory.

Bookwormjillk I agree with Jessica. Great book. 10mo
CleverGirl @Bookwormjillk it was SO good! 10/10 10mo
5 likes2 comments
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Texreader
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Ebook on sale for limited time

#authoramonth @Soubhiville

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Deblovestoread
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For those participating in #AuthorAMonth and those looking for an outstanding read Amazon has the kindle version of the tagged book for $2.99 in the US

@Soubhiville

KadaGul @Soubhiville Thank 🙏 you for sharing 11mo
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CatLass007 That‘s great! Thanks for the info. I wonder if they‘ll put it on sale in Audible? I will take a look. 11mo
tpixie Thx!!! 11mo
RebelReader Good book! 11mo
Bookwormjillk This was such a great book! 11mo
Bklover Thank you!! 11mo
TheSpineView Thanks! 11mo
Amiable Oh, this book was fabulous! 11mo
Julsmarshall This book was amazing! 11mo
66 likes1 stack add15 comments
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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Not exactly a highway, but a phenomenal book!

#NewYearNewBooks
#HighwayCvr

💔📚

Eggs Well played 👏🏻👏🏻 11mo
perfectsinner Loved this one 11mo
Suet624 So good. 11mo
70 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Smoores101
Mehso-so

My very first full audiobook. Had an injury with my eye that made reading challenging. But I still found this story enjoyable even if it was a different topic than I usually go for and even tho it was a different method than I was used to.

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Bookwormjillk
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On the fourth day of Christmas…

This was my favorite book of April. Once I started I couldn‘t stop. Stressful in a good way.

#12BooksofChristmas

Andrew65 Sounds excellent. 11mo
45 likes1 comment
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Kappadeemom
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This book wrecked me….💔

5feet.of.fury So good & so heart wrenching 11mo
35 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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DHill
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I just discovered this author and I‘m plowing through everything I can get. Gritty, smart, moody and the audios are so - well - narrated.

ItsAnotherJen This was very good! 1y
Sleepswithbooks So good!!! 1y
53 likes2 comments
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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Two fathers are #upinarms seeking revenge for the murder of their sons. 💔💔

I love this author!

#Idiominsight

marleed Me too - so raw and real - and heartbreaking 1y
ElizaMarie This was such a great book :) Enjoy! 1y
Eggs Great choice 👏🏻👏🏻 1y
See All 7 Comments
Bookpearl I love S.A. Cosby! 1y
TieDyeDude I would be interested in reading more from him. I found this to be a little... cliché at times, but it was also easy to get caught up in and a fun ride. 1y
perfectsinner Loved that book 1y
Eggs 🩷💙🩷 1y
70 likes7 comments
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Soubhiville
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AllDebooks Great selection of books 😊 1y
Soubhiville @AllDebooks I‘m going to post some more when I get home from my long weekend with friends. 🙂 1y
35 likes2 comments
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CollapsingLibrary
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Pickpick

A crime/mystery novel about 2 homophobic men with criminal backgrounds set out to serve their version of justice to the person that killed their gay sons and are forced to face their past along the way. Different than most of the books I read, it was refreshing and I highly enjoyed it. It was part of my #BlindBook series and while I got the color scheme right, the theme couldn‘t have been more off 😂

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Sharpeipup
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“But if all this has taught me one thing, it‘s that it ain‘t about me and what I get. It‘s about letting people be who they are. And being who you are shouldn‘t be a goddamn death sentence.“

A powerful story brimming with tension.

5feet.of.fury So good! Loved the character development 1y
Sharpeipup @5feet.of.fury I just finished it and I feel emotionally wrecked. 1y
35 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Murphytall
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Pickpick

This book was an incredible read. The characters are rich, the dialogue is mesmerizing and did I mention the character work?! This story touches on so many rich topics from a variety of viewpoints. The author does an incredible job of keeping the reader engaged in the story. I am already reading his next book.

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Nalbuque
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Pickpick

Oh just a book abt grown men growing up. Honestly, I liked this. It is definitely a book marketed for the straights, and I found myself kinda rolling my eyes a coupla time, but it‘s good. I dno if it‘ll change any “conservative” mind, but I do appreciate the representation and all the intersections this covers. I do wish the women/gays were better written but… they‘re there! So…yay? Anyhoo, if you like action and reformed main characters go for it

Reggie There used to be this podcast Get Booked by Book Riot and they always had these holiday recommendation shows where a woman would say my brother doesn‘t believe in feminism and they would recommend a book about feminism written by a man because they believe he would take it more serious. This book gave me those vibes. I liked it a lot. 1y
15 likes1 comment
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AnnieMcC
Pickpick

Excellent book although I had to skim a few of the more violent sections. I would highly recommend. . . tough and emotionally gripping. I ended up rooting for two very flawed characters as they fought their way through racism and homophobia, including within themselves.

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5feet.of.fury
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Pickpick

I finished this in a day & it was not light reading by any stretch. My heart was in my throat half the time, I could not put it down. What a phenomenal book! So much emotion, so much action.

#lmpbc

Bookwormjillk I agree. This one has my heart racing. 1y
42 likes1 comment
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5feet.of.fury
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#lmpbc @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @Bookwormjillk @ElizaMarie

I feel like I got the perfect timing, Juneteenth & Pride month for this read.

ElizaMarie Yes!!! And love this set up you have going here. 1y
5feet.of.fury @ElizaMarie it is very nice except all my neighbors are outside screaming at eachother for some reason 😂 1y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Loved this one!! I just ordered his new one 🖤 1y
See All 8 Comments
MyNamesParadise It‘s on my never ending TBR list! 1y
5feet.of.fury @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks it‘s my first of his! It‘s outstanding so far! 1y
5feet.of.fury @MyNamesParadise 📚📚📚 I know that feeling. It‘s quite captivating so far! 1y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @5feet.of.fury I want to read his backlist! 1y
5feet.of.fury @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I tore through this one and just went and placed Libby holds for All the Sinners Bleed & 1y
52 likes8 comments
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RyanMHoward
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Pickpick

RAZORBLADE TEARS by S.A. Cosby

Two fathers, one black, one white, seek revenge together after their only sons, who were married to one another, are murdered. They also confront their shame for not accepting or supporting their sons while they were alive.

So begins a fast-paced, brutal Odyssey full of just as much emotion as there is violence. It‘s a powerful read, both viscerally and insightfully, with real character arcs and a riveting story.

MrT Just ordered this because of your post. Thank you. 2y
Sleepswithbooks Such a good story!! 2y
SamAnne I‘ve read two of his novels and want to read is first book that was just released—or is about to be released. His novels are fast and furious reads! Hope they get TV or film adaptations. (edited) 2y
RyanMHoward @MrT awesome! I hope you enjoy it. 2y
45 likes1 stack add4 comments
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ElizaMarie
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Pickpick

Wow. So this book had so much action, love, pain, loss, etc. I enjoyed it. I ended up reading a huge chunk of it on a day off (just had to keep going and see what would happen next). Great pick @BeckyWithGoodBooks (you truly have “good“ books).

#LMPBC #GroupM
@5feet.of.fury
@BookWormJillK

(goofy JuJuB after he had chased the cat and was trying to breathe! - look at his janky teeth)

Bookwormjillk I read most of this one in one sitting too. We've had some good books this round. 2y
ElizaMarie @Bookwormjillk this is my first time doing a #LMPBC and I really am digging it! 2y
31 likes1 stack add2 comments
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ElizaMarie
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Found out I have to go into work tomorrow for some training :( I am already so hooked I was looking 👀 forward to reading this more :(

#LMPBC #GroupM

@5feet.of.fury @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @Bookwormjillk

5feet.of.fury Your pen is so cute! 2y
ElizaMarie @5feet.of.fury awe thanks!!! 2y
28 likes2 comments
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Bookwormjillk
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Pickpick

Wow, this book was STRESSFUL. I liked it, but my heart was racing by the end.

#LMPBC

I can‘t get to the post office until Wednesday, but I promise I will mail it priority.

AmyG It would make a great action movie! 2y
Bookwormjillk @AmyG yes, I‘m surprised it isn‘t one yet 2y
ElizaMarie Awe if it's that good, I will probably finish it quickly! Don't have to mail it a priority. 2y
See All 6 Comments
Suet624 He did a great job with this book. 2y
ElizaMarie I got it!!!
2y
65 likes6 comments
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kimmypete1
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Pickpick

Damn. What a book.

Traci1 I loved this one. How was the audio narration? 2y
kimmypete1 @Traci1 it was fantastic! Between the narration and the story I couldn‘t put it down. 2y
21 likes2 comments
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gram0204
Pickpick

What an amazing book. Touches on racism, LGBTQIA, love, revenge (hate) and family. I enjoyed the entire story! Highly recommend. It‘s both heartwarming and violent! You find you‘re rooting for two men in their grief, acceptance, violence and friendship!

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BeckyWithTheGoodBooks
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Pickpick

The homophobia, casual racism, and violence are hard to stomach, but I ultimately enjoyed this crime novel centered around two men seeking vigilante justice for their murdered sons. Ike and Buddy Lee are an unlikely pair, but I found myself rooting for them as the story moved forward. Buddy Lee in particular made me laugh out loud with his quips. Cosby‘s writing is superb and I‘ll read his other novels just to savor it some more. A solid 3.5⭐️

Bookwormjillk Got this today. Thanks! 2y
BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @Bookwormjillk Great! I apologize for the delay. My household got sick, so a little behind on life. 😀 2y
Bookwormjillk @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks no worries! I‘ve been out of town so it was perfect timing actually. 2y
22 likes4 comments
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BBooks
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Recommendation from booktuber and it did not disappoint. 📚🎧