Magical Nannies, Tessa Bailey, & More
Jan. 29th, 2026 04:30 pmHow to Tame a Wild Rogue
RECOMMENDED: How to Tame a Wild Rogue by Julie Anne Long is $1.99! This made our Best of Reviews 2023 list at number five. There are also many of Long’s books ons ale, including book one, Perils of Pleasure, in her Pennyroyal Green series. Lara gave this a Squee grade:
This book made me swoon IRL. Reading it was a fever dream and not just because of the sex scenes. I was so immersed in it that the real world and its troubles didn’t even occur to me for the duration of the book. (I am anxious by nature, so this is a feat.)
In USA Today bestselling author Julie Anne Long’s thrilling new romance in the Palace of Rogues series, an infamous privateer’s limits are put to the test when he’s trapped during a raging tempest with a prickly female at the Grand Palace on the Thames.
He clawed his way up from the gutters of St. Giles to the top of a shadowy empire. Feared and fearsome, battered and brilliant, nothing shocks Lorcan St. Leger—not even the discovery of an aristocratic woman escaping out a window near the London docks on the eve of the storm of the decade. They find shelter at a boarding house called the Grand Palace on the Thames—only to find greater dangers await inside.
Desperate, destitute, and jilted, Lady Daphne Worth knows the clock is ticking on her last chance to save herself and her family: an offer of a loveless marriage. But while the storm rages and roads flood, she and the rogue who rescued her must pose as husband and wife in order to share the only available suite.
Crackling enmity gives way to incendiary desire—and certain heartbreak: Lorcan is everything she never dreamed she’d wanted, but he can never be what she needs. But risk is child’s play to St. Leger. And if the stakes are a lifetime of loving and being loved by Daphne, he’ll move any mountain, confront any old nemesis, to turn “never” into forever.
The Nanny’s Handbook to Magic and Managing Difficult Dukes
The Nanny’s Handbook to Magic and Managing Difficult Dukes by Amy Rose Bennett is $1.99! This is book one in the Parasol Academy series, which is historical fantasy romance.
Mary Poppins meets Bridgerton in a feel-good blend of cozy fantasy magic, historical romance, humor, and Victorian era charm, as a recent graduate of the Parasol Academy for Exceptional Nannies and Governesses finds her supernatural abilities are little help when it comes to falling for the shy, mysterious inventor who happens to be her employer . . .
For readers of Heather Fawcett, Allison Saft, Katherine Arden, Freya Marske, and Olivia Atwater’s Regency Faerie Tales series.
Emmeline Chase, 25-year-old widow and new alumna, may be more high-spirited than the Academy would like. Few graduates, however, could turn a mismanaged teleportation onto a duke’s rooftop into an offer of employment. But Emmeline’s circumstances, along with her desperation to support her bankrupt, incarcerated father, have made her dauntless. Which seems the primary qualification to work for expert horologist Xavier Mason, Duke of St. Lawrence, and manage his three rambunctious wards. Yet Emmeline soon discovers that the nobleman’s heart-melting voice and captivating mind present an entirely different sort of trouble. She cannot risk losing her license by fraternizing with her employer . . .
Xavier’s wards have sent two nannies packing in a month thanks to frogs, firecrackers, and general mayhem. In addition, Xavier’s professional reputation is on the line. He’s already considered odd, with his talking raven companion and his fascination with timekeeping instead of pleasure-chasing with his peers. Charming, vivacious Emmeline seems intrigued with his quirks—but Xavier must have absolute peace to design London’s “King of Clocks” for Westminster Palace before the competition closes. Emmeline can no doubt restore order. As long as he doesn’t fall under her spell . . .
Yet, with a possible saboteur in their midst, and the attraction flaring between them threatening to become a deliciously disastrous distraction, a touch of magic may be required . . .
Fangirl Down
Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey is $1.99! This is book one in the Big Shots series and features a golfer, which we don’t often see in sports romance. I think I remember Elyse reading and liking this one (Elyse, please correct me if I’m wrong!). Apologies if this is an expiring KDD.
Wells Whitaker was once golf’s hottest rising star, but lately, all he has to show for his “promising” career is a killer hangover, a collection of broken clubs, and one remaining supporter. No matter how bad he plays, the beautiful, sunny redhead is always on the sidelines. He curses, she cheers. He scowls, she smiles. But when Wells quits in a blaze of glory and his fangirl finally goes home, he knows he made the greatest mistake of his life.
Josephine Doyle believed in the gorgeous, grumpy golfer, even when he didn’t believe in himself. Yet after he throws in the towel, she begins to wonder if her faith was misplaced. Then a determined Wells shows up at her door with a wild proposal: be his new caddy, help him turn his game around, and split the prize money. And considering Josephine’s professional and personal life is in shambles, she could really use the cash…
As they travel together, spending days on the green and nights in neighboring hotel rooms, sparks fly. Before long, they’re inseparable, Wells starts winning again, and Josephine is surprised to find a sweet, thoughtful guy underneath his gruff, growly exterior. This hot man wants to brush her hair, feed her snacks, and take bubble baths together? Is this real life? But Wells is technically her boss and an athlete falling for his fangirl would be ridiculous… right?
The Off-Limits Rule
The Off-Limits Rule by Sarah Adams is $1.99! This is a contemporary romance between a single and her brother’s best friend. There’s also some forced proximity.
From the New York Times bestselling author of Practice Makes Perfect comes an expanded edition of The Off-Limits Rule—a heartwarming romance about new love and fresh beginnings, with a never-before-seen chapter.
Rules are made to be broken—especially for love, right?
Lucy Marshall has hit rock bottom. After failing to succeed as a single mom in Atlanta, she’s back home and moving in with her older brother, Drew. Reconnecting with her support system is the right thing to do, but Lucy can’t help but feel like a failure. Her four-year-old son deserves the world, and all she can give him is a spare bedroom. But Drew is the sweetest uncle, and some quality time might be exactly what they both need to start fresh. That is until she meets Cooper, her brother’s incredibly hot best friend.
When Drew senses something between the two of them, he puts his foot down on any shenanigans. According to him, Cooper is everything Lucy should stay away flirtatious, adventurous, and especially noncommittal. But Lucy has been getting the opposite impression so far; Cooper is a genuinely great guy, and she’s starting to catch real feelings.
Her whole life, Lucy has tried to do everything right, and look where that’s gotten her—so what if she were to try something wrong?
Jimmy Neutron: Fan Fiction: Unique Methods
Jan. 29th, 2026 09:16 amFandom: Jimmy Neutron
Ship: Judy Neutron x King Goobot x Hugh Neutron
Rating: G for General Audiences
Length: 246 words
Notes: Also written for
Summary: Ooblar questions his brother’s methods when it comes to getting the DNA regenerator.
( Story )
The Rec League: In Case of Emergency…
Jan. 29th, 2026 09:00 am
Shout out to the commenters in our latest Whatcha Reading post!
There were some great comments about “In Case of Emergency…Break Glass” books and a request for a post. We’re always happy to run requests like these!
We ran a similar post in 2020, so we did our best not to duplicate suggestions.
Sarah: In 2020, I mentioned the Call of Crows series, ( A | BN | K | G | AB | Au ) and that I always keep them with me should I need to soothe everything with heaping doses of rage. Wow, was my rage a lot different then.
Right now, my rage is endless and my balance is precarious. I’m doing the delicate monitoring of staying informed while also protecting my brain from that which will harm me.
The titles I have in my “break glass in case of emergency” stack aren’t out yet (I’m sorry) but with a new Veronica Speedwell ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) and a new Murderbot ( A | BN | K | AB ) in the next few months, a re-read of both series seems alluring.
However, my pick isn’t one thing, it’s a category: Magazines. Check out the digital magazines at your library because they have just about everything, from craft to gossip, travel to poetry – birds and horses and art and food. You’ll likely find library access to magazines in Libby/OverDrive, Flipster, PressReader, or another app to which your library has offered access.
When my brain cannot book, magazines are perfect.
Elyse: I am struggling so hard right now, and this kind of stress amplifies my autoimmune issues which sucks. I’m navigating that space of not being immediately in-your-face with the news while still being informed.
Right now I just don’t have the mental capacity to sit down and read a book. All my juice is being used up at work and when I’m not at work I have to recharge. I’m watching a lot of hockey because my brain is capable of the mental work of “did the biscuit go in the basket” and that’s about it.When I’m not watching hockey, I’m listening to audio books but I’m being careful in my selection. I’ve been listening to a lot of Terry Pratchett. Prachett’s books are satire, and funny, and blistering on point without ever feeling dark. His heroes are mostly ordinary people who Do The Right Thing even when it’s hard, but they aren’t gleaming Paladins of virtue. He also points out that evil is often overwhelmingly stupid. I can’t help but wonder what he would be writing were he still with us, and I’m sure whatever it was would be hopeful while also cutting in its accuracy.
Pratchett had a lot of books, so if you don’t know where to start, the very first book is The Color of Magic. ( A | BN | K | G | AB | Au | Scribd ) There are several sub-series though, and my two favorites are the City Watch Series which begins with Guards! Guards! ( A | K | G | AB | Au ) And the Granny Weatherwax series which starts with Equal Rites. ( A | BN | K | AB )
If you have read all the Pratchett books, then I recommend listening to/reading Nine Goblins by T. Kingfisher which is very similar in humor and tone.
I’ve been knitting while I listen to audio books and working on Melt the Ice hats as well as some homebrew anti-ice socks.
Lara: At the moment my emergency book is anything written by KJ Charles. Presently, I’m rereading Slippery Creatures and it’s great! The writing is sharp and vivid, and the story is immersive. When I read it, the real world temporarily disappears and I’m at peace.Amanda: For a brain break, I’ve been diving into a lot of webtoons, primarily through sites like Webtoons and Manta. You can marathon a series or just check in to read a chapter a day. There are tons of free options, so there’s often no monetary obligation to give one a try.
Tangentially, I’ve found that organizing my giant To Read/Reading webtoon library has been particularly soothing. I used Manga Baka to do that.
I’m not typically a re-reader, but I do make an exception for the following books:
- The Bride by Julie Garwood ( A | BN | K | G | AB )
- Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas
- Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones ( A | BN | K | G | AB )
Kiki: In shitty times, I like to return to a big series so that I don’t have to think about what my next book is going to be. Combine that with the way I’ve come to rely on historical romance in the last few years and I recommend the Mackenzie series by Jennifer Ashley, which starts with The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) though I’m particularly fond of A Rogue Meets a Scandalous Lady. ( A | BN | K | AB )
In the same vein, Jo Goodman’s westerns, especially In Want of a Wife. Like the Mackenzie series, there are a good number of them, and they are absolutely immersive.
Final suggestion: audiobook everything. I can’t focus on physical/ebooks right now, but I can put on some noise cancelling headphones and crochet or paint or cross-stitch or cook and that helps soothe the pressure that is non-stop building in my chest.
Take good care of each other, y’all.
What are your “Break Glass” books? Tell us in the comments!
Daily Happiness
Jan. 28th, 2026 06:31 pm2. Speaking of which, Carla is currently on the plane and should be home in a few hours.
3. The city sent around a post card the other day about food waste bins and I almost didn't read it because we're already good about putting all our scraps in there and not the trash but I'm glad I did because they've changed the rules and allow biodegradable bags now! When the law first went into effect a couple years ago, they said no bags were allowed in the bin, which makes it a pain to collect scraps, because we have to wash the container that's in the house frequently. I kept forgetting to order bags for it, but finally did so today, so I'm excited about less frequent bin washing.
4. All my blood tests the other day came back with good results, so I don't have to do it again for six months. I don't actually mind getting blood drawn, but having to do so on a certain day of the week just always makes getting it done inconvenient if something else crops up.
5. Tuxie!

Erin Reads: Pet Shop of Horrors, Collector’s Edition (volume 2, chapters 7-8)
Jan. 28th, 2026 07:16 pmContinued liveblog as I read Seven Seas’ new print edition of PSOH, and make sporadic comparisons to the original Tokyopop translation.
I’m posting the individual reactions on Mastodon and Bluesky, then rounding them up in the blog. Previous roundups in my PSOH fandom tag. You can pick up the books with my affiliate links here. (I now have Collector’s Edition 1-4 on my shelf!)
Only 2 chapters this post. I got a little long-winded. It’ll probably happen again.

[ SECRET POST #6963 ]
Jan. 28th, 2026 06:32 pm⌈ Secret Post #6963 ⌋
Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.
01.

( More! )
Notes:
Secrets Left to Post: 01 pages, 17 secrets from Secret Submission Post #994.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.
Links: Nail Polish, Owls, & More
Jan. 28th, 2026 07:00 pm
Welcome back!
How have we all done with the snowfall? We got about two feet and my partner broke our shovel trying to break up some ice. And of course, all the local places are sold out of shovels. Fingers crossed our online order arrives before the next snow forecast.
Also, I finally read by first Cate C. Wells. Katie, who participated in the After Dark quarterly recs, gave me some suggestions on where to finally start and I did it.
The Tyrant Alpha’s Rejected Mate was a lot of fun!
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This link is from Elizabeth S! We Need Diverse Books has launched a new initiative to help fight book bans.
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Bonkers Romance has a new kickstarter in the works for Bluebeard retellings. It’s due to launch in a little over two months. You can sign up to be notified of the launch here.
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This link is from Bransler in the SBTB podcast patreon discord! If you’re a nail polish fan, Atomic Polish is running a fundraiser. All proceeds of their new shade ICE Out will be donated to the Immigrant Rapid Response Fund.
I own a few bottles of Atomic Polish shades and I definitely recommend them.
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I enjoyed this short video about a man who helps take care of the Snowy Owl population at Logan Airport. As someone who lives in the area, I had no clue we had so many Snowy Owls!
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Don’t forget to share what cool or interesting things you’ve seen, read, or listened to this week! And if you have anything you think we’d like to post on a future Wednesday Links, send it my way!
Original: Fanfic: human memory
Jan. 28th, 2026 12:51 pmFandom: Original
Rating: T
Length: 100 words
Content notes: non-specific references to nonfictional massacres
Author notes: The bones of this story came to me as a mental image, ( … )
( Read more... )
Paranormal Romance, Ilona Andrews, & More
Jan. 28th, 2026 04:30 pmTourist Season
Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver is $1.99! This is book one in a new series. It came out last year and I mentioned it on Hide Your Wallet. I do love Weaver’s blend of dark humor and romance, but often find the pacing to be a bit lopsided in her romances. What do you think?
Welcome to Cape Carnage! Visit Once, Stay Forever.
Cape Carnage is a seaside town of colorful houses, quirky shops, and an unusually high body count. But with tourists comes trouble, and Harper Starling won’t let anyone ruin her picture-perfect home. A skilled gardener with killer instincts, Harper protects her sanctuary at any cost—especially for her aging mentor with a fading memory.
Troublesome tourists don’t check out of Carnage. They compost beneath Harper’s award-winning flowerbeds. But Nolan Rhodes isn’t your average tourist. Devilishly handsome, disarmingly charming, and skilled with a blade, Nolan is relentless in the pursuit of revenge. On every anniversary of the hit-and-run accident that fractured his life, Nolan slays another target. And he’s saved the best for last: the undeniably beautiful Harper Starling.
The problem? Harper isn’t the monster he expected. And she won’t go down without a fight. When an amateur true crime investigator comes to Cape Carnage on the trail of a long-lost serial killer, Harper and Nolan strike an uneasy truce. If Nolan helps Harper protect her town, she’ll keep quiet about his hunting habits . . . for now. But their alliance soon spirals into obsession, one that threatens to shatter every secret in Carnage—including their fragile love.
Tourist Season is a darkly funny, slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance where destruction and desire are balanced on the edge of a blade—and where love is the most dangerous battleground of all.
On the Edge
On the Edge by Ilona Andrews is $1.99! This is the first book in The Edge urban fantasy series and, I think, it’s the only series I haven’t read by Andrews. As usual for Andrews, the world building is great, though some readers said it took them longer to connect with the characters than in Andrews other series.
Rose Drayton lives on the Edge, between the world of the Broken (where people drive cars, shop at Wal-Mart, and magic is a fairy tale) and the Weird (where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny). Only Edgers like Rose can easily travel from one world to the next, but they never truly belong in either.
Rose thought if she practiced her magic, she could build a better life for herself. But things didn’t turn out how she planned, and now she works a minimum wage, off the books job in the Broken just to survive. Then Declan Camarine, a blueblood noble straight out of the deepest part of the Weird, comes into her life, determined to have her (and her power).
But when a terrible danger invades the Edge from the Weird, a flood of creatures hungry for magic, Declan and Rose must work together to destroy them—or they’ll devour the Edge and everyone in it.
Never Been Shipped
Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson is $1.99! This came out last summer. It features a band reunion on a cruise ship. I’ve heard good things about Thompson’s romances!
A band reunion may be enough to change two musicians’ tune on love in this electric romance from USA Today bestselling author Alicia Thompson.
Micah’s relationship to music is complicated. As teenagers, her band took off after being featured on a popular TV show, but the group barely released their sophomore album before breaking up. Now, over a decade later, the band is reuniting for one more performance on a themed cruise, and Micah is determined to learn from her past mistakes — no losing herself in the music, and no losing her heart along the way.
John misses playing in a band, and mostly he misses Micah, who’d been his best friend until the music stopped. Back then, he didn’t take the lead, either in his guitar parts or while he sat back and watched her date another bandmate. John’s never been one to rock the boat, but he’s faced with another chance now that this cruise has brought music — and Micah — back in his life.
Onboard, Micah can’t help but see John with brand new eyes, and John’s feelings only intensify as the discordant band’s tension grows to a breaking point. With five days at sea, there’s a ticking clock on anything that might develop between them, and they’ll have to decide if their relationship is destined to be more than a one-hit wonder.
Do Your Worst
Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan is $2.99! Lara was middling on this paranormal romance and gave it a C-. I enjoyed Danan’s contemporaries so I remember looking forward to this one. Did you read it?
Riley Rhodes finally has the chance to turn her family’s knack for the supernatural into a legitimate business when she’s hired to break the curse on an infamous Scottish castle. Used to working alone in her alienating occupation, she’s pleasantly surprised to meet a handsome stranger upon arrival—until he tries to get her fired.
Fresh off a professional scandal, Clark Edgeware can’t allow a self-proclaimed “curse breaker” to threaten his last chance for redemption. After he fails to get Riley kicked off his survey site, he vows to avoid her. Unfortunately for him, she vows to get even.
Riley expects the curse to do her dirty work by driving Clark away, but instead, they keep finding themselves in close proximity. Too close. Turns out, the only thing they do better than fight is fool around. If they’re not careful, by the end of all this, more than the castle will end up in ruins.
SCAM ALERT: There is no Smart Bitches Strategic Partnerships
Jan. 28th, 2026 03:18 pm
Dr. Bruce Gleason forwarded me a truly enraging email. It’s allegedly from me.
Spoiler: it’s not.
You might have seen or perhaps received a marketing pitch filled with AI-written and deeply florid compliments to your writing and your book.
I’ve received a few and have been trying to track down who actually sent it (mine was sent on behalf of a library in Charlotte which disavowed all knowledge of this person – more on that soon).
But this one just about sent me over the side of my desk chair:
Subject: Partnership inquiry: Editorial collaboration for Cold War Cadence
Dear Dr. Gleason,
I am reaching out from Smart Bitches, Trashy Books (SBTB) because we’ve identified Cold War Cadence as a remarkable work that aligns with our community’s interest in European history, military life, and the preservation of historic moments. In an increasingly crowded market, we look for partners who provide the kind of “vivid recollections” and exacting detail that our audience of frequent readers discusses and treasures.
Rather than a standard review request, I am proposing an editorial partnership for your release schedule. In the current publishing landscape, where digital discovery is shifting, having your work anchored on a twenty-year-old authority site like ours provides a significant advantage. We offer a permanent digital presence that ensures your memoir of Berlin from 1988–1991 remains discoverable to our readers, specifically highlighting the unique role of army bandsmen and the “historic ghosts” of the city you so effectively describe.
I have a comprehensive Partnership Brief ready for you that details how we reach our community of over 500,000 monthly readers and our podcast to create what we call the “SBTB Bump.” This brief outlines how we connect our high-trust community with your work, providing the validation of our recognized platform and the sustained reader engagement generated through our newsletters and digital features.
We have identified your writing as a standout that aligns with our audience of dedicated readers who value rigorous historical research and entertaining travelogues. Would you like me to send the partnership brief over for you to review?
Best regards,
Smart Bitches Strategic Partnerships | Smart Bitches, Trashy Books Website: smartbitchestrashybooks.com
I am re-printing the email in full for two reasons:
- If anyone else receives this email, and they google, they will (I hope) find this post where I say again, THIS IS NOT US.
- WHAT IS THIS CRAP.
- One more time: THIS IS A SCAM. THIS IS NOT FROM SBTB.
This is such trash. I have no idea who is behind this, but it’s so similar to other scam email messages I’ve seen that I presume it’s based with the same group of scammers. I wish everlasting diarrhea upon them.
What’s weird is that there IS in fact a “SBTB bump” in that the books we feature in reviews, on sale posts, and Whatcha Reading or Hide Your Wallet posts often do get a bump in sales. Our bi-weekly bestseller list is generated from what sales data we have through affiliate links. But again, this is not from us.HOWEVER. If YOU are a military historian or a music historian, you may be interested in Dr. Gleason’s books.
Dr. Gleason is the author of Cold War Cadence: A Military Musician’s Berlin Memoir, 1988-1991 and Sound the Trumpets, Beat the Drums: Horse-Mounted Bands of the US Army, 1820-1940.
Thanks to Dr. Gleason for alerting me. If you’ve received an email like this that purports to be from SBTB, please forward it to me at sarah @ smartbitchestrashybooks DOTTY com.
PLEASE share this in your communities if you think someone there might be targeted by this balderdash. Thank you.
S.W.A.T.: Fan Fiction: Second Chance At Love
Jan. 28th, 2026 07:48 amRating: PG-13
Warnings: No Warnings Apply
Fandom: S.W.A.T.
Relationships: Donovan Rocker/Molly Hicks
Tags: Established Relationship
Summary: Donny was enjoying his second chance at love.
Word Count: 1,260
Stuff We Like: Crafting and Reading in the Dark
Jan. 28th, 2026 07:01 amIt’s time for another edition of Stuff We Like!
This month: we have a request from LittyN about crafting in dark or low light environments, particularly the car!
Take a look:
Want to see? Just click that image above or click right here, and come shop with us!
And if you’d like to browse some more, we have a complete Stuff We Like archive, including past Gift Guides and other posts of our favorite items.
Daily Happiness
Jan. 27th, 2026 07:01 pm2. I worked from home today, partly because I was expecting a large package, but partly because I didn't really have any need to go into the office. I think I'm going to do the same tomorrow.
3. The package I was expecting today was a new CD rack for the garage. Carla has a nice stereo system out there (including a turntable, though she hasn't gotten hardcore into collecting vinyl and is still mostly into CDs) and she's been building up her CD collection again after we sold off a lot of them years ago. Sometime last year I bought a new CD rack in the same style as the one we'd had in the house (which we also moved out to the garage), but when I went to order a third one now, they're completely discontinued! D: I really would have preferred to have everything matching, but we settled on one that's at least somewhat similar (light wood). I was expecting to have to put it together but it came completely assembled, so all I had to do was get it out of the box and set it upright. Nice!
4. I love when they sleep with all their limbs together like that. So cozy!

[ SECRET POST #6962 ]
Jan. 27th, 2026 06:50 pm⌈ Secret Post #6962 ⌋
Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.
01.

( More! )
Notes:
Secrets Left to Post: 01 pages, 24 secrets from Secret Submission Post #994.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.



