BITTERSWEET by Kimberly Loth

December 26, 2015 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

BITTERSWEET by Kimberly LothBittersweet by Kimberly Loth
Published by Createspace Independent Pub on 3/14/15
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 200
Source: Publisher
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ReviewedbyDani

Every Sunday Savannah Ray gets an email from her dead dad. She doesn’t know how the emails work but she’s finally ready to start looking for answers. To find those answers she has to go to the one place she swore she’d never set foot in after he died—Haunted Valley, the amusement park. Once there and on the hunt for answers she is distracted by the charming Dallas and falls hard for him. When the answers she finds aren’t what she expected and Dallas betrays her, Savannah must make a choice—succumb to the insanity that destroyed her father or find the strength to rise above it.

“Every Sunday Savannah Ray gets an email from her dead dad” Because that’s not creepy at all. Savannah’s dad took his life two years ago on a rollercoaster ride and since that moment she’s stayed away from something they both loved: amusement parks. When the summer of her 18th birthday comes, she still feels numb, her dads death left her empty. So her mother decides to send her to work at her uncle’s amusement park, hoping Savannah will learn about responsibility and maturity. But Savannah doesn’t want anything to do with her uncle and doesn’t care about her mother’s wishes. All she care about is her passion for European chocolates and not breaking the connection with her father that somehow is keeping his promise with sending her emails every Sunday. It sounds like a good premise, right? How is she going to deal with her father’s death? Where are the emails coming from? Wrong!
The synopsis leads you to think that she is going to the amusement park to find who’s behind those emails when actually she doesn’t want to know it because she’s afraid it’ll stop. Its not a mystery which is what I was hoping for you find out who’s sending those emails in the beginning of the book. I wanted to like this book because of the premise but I was left feeling pretty disappointed. It was hard for me to like Savannah she was mean and she whined a lot. This isn’t a book I would reread or recommend to my friends.

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ENCHANTMENT LAKE by Margi Preus

December 26, 2015 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

ENCHANTMENT LAKE by Margi PreusEnchantment Lake by Margi Preus
Published by Univ of Minnesota Press on 3/15/15
Genres: Mystery & Detective, Young Adult
Pages: 200
Source: Publisher
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ReviewedbyDani

A disturbing call from her great aunts Astrid and Jeannette sends seventeen-year-old Francie far from her new home in New York into a tangle of mysteries. Ditching an audition in a Manhattan theater, Francie travels to a remote lake in the northwoods where her aunts’ neighbors are “dropping like flies” from strange accidents. But are they accidents?

On the shores of Enchantment Lake in the woods of northern Minnesota, something ominous is afoot, and as Francie begins to investigate, the mysteries multiply: a poisoned hot dish, a puzzling confession, eerie noises in the bog, and a legendary treasure that is said to be under enchantment—or is that under Enchantment, as in under the lake? At the center of everything is a suddenly booming business in cabin sales and a road not everyone wants built.

To a somewhat reluctant northwoods Nancy Drew, the intrigue proves irresistible, especially when it draws her closer to the mysteries at the heart of her own life: What happened to her father? Who and where is her mother? Who is she, and where does her heart lie—in the bustle of New York City or the deep woods of Minnesota? With its gripping story, romantic spirit, and a sly dash of modern-day trouble (evil realtors and other invasive species), Enchantment Lake will fascinate readers, providing precisely the charm that Margi Preus’s readers have come to expect.

17 year old Francie is not a detective. She only played one on TV. Although her aunts Astrid and Jeannette have started a rumor, and now everyone on the lake where they live thinks that Francie is a big shot NY detective. After getting a strange call from her aunts saying they’re in danger, Francie ditches an audition, hops on a plane and heads to Enchantment Lake to make sure  her aunts are okay. When her aunts tell her about all the things that have been happening on the lake, Francie thinks they have lost their minds. When one of their neighbor’s ends up dead from  “suicide”, Astrid and Jeannette don’t believe that for one second. They think he was murdered, and they want Francie to find out who the killer is before Astrid and Jeannette are next. Francie decides to help. She starts talking to people and asking questions and starts piecing things together. For a girl who’s not a real detective, she sure does a good job at it.

I really liked Francie. She was a great main character. She’s so strong and definitely determined to keep her aunts alive and save Enchantment Lake.
I fell in love with this book from the beginning. I love a good mystery book. I would recommend this book especially if you’re a fan of mysteries!

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BURN FOR BURN by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

December 21, 2015 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

BURN FOR BURN by Jenny Han and Siobhan VivianBurn for Burn by Jenny Han, Siobhan Vivian
Series: Burn for Burn #1
Published by Simon and Schuster on 8/6/13
Genres: Contemporary, Fantasy & Magic, Young Adult
Pages: 384
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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ReviewedbyDani

Postcard-perfect Jar Island is home to charming tourist shops, pristine beaches, amazing oceanfront homes—and three girls secretly plotting revenge.

KAT is sick and tired of being bullied by her former best friend.

LILLIA has always looked out for her little sister, so when she discovers that one of her guy friends has been secretly hooking up with her, she’s going to put a stop to it.

MARY is perpetually haunted by a traumatic event from years past, and the boy who’s responsible has yet to get what’s coming to him.

None of the girls can act on their revenge fantasies alone without being suspected. But together…anything is possible.

With an alliance in place, there will be no more “I wish I’d said…” or “If I could go back and do things differently...” These girls will show Jar Island that revenge is a dish best enjoyed together.

The sweet smell of revenge is in the air! I loved this book I couldn’t put it down. I loved the plot and the characters. Mary, Kat, and Lillia all have different personalities but it was so fun to see them come together and how these different personalities came together because of one common goal. We get to learn more about each girl through their POVs I felt connected to each girl but I like Kat more than Mary and Lillia. Honestly I think I liked this book because of the acts of revenge. Who doesn’t like a good revenge plot? I can honestly say the revenge plots were pretty good and the targets had no idea what was coming. The only thing I had a problem with was the ending I’m not entirely sure what was happening. I felt like a Carrie vibe going on but it was just weird and hard to describe. I would read the rest of the series, I ended up loving this book more than I originally thought I would.

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VAMPIRE SOUL (EMMA’S SAGA) by Shay Roberts

December 21, 2015 by 1 Comment

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

VAMPIRE SOUL (EMMA’S SAGA) by Shay RobertsVampire Soul by Shay Roberts
Series: Heartblaze #1
Published by Snowfire Press on 11/9/15
Genres: Paranormal, Supernatural, Young Adult
Pages: 282
Source: Publisher
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ReviewedbyDani

In your past life you were a legendary figure in a passionate relationship with a vampire. Now your enemies from that past have found you, determined to make you pay a terrible price for a life you lived more than 200 years ago!

EMMA RUE is an eager college freshman. For reasons she cannot understand, she attacks her professor in front of her stunned classmates. Desperate for answers, Emma goes to a psychiatrist who uses hypnotic regression to explore her troubled childhood. But when the regression goes too far, back into her past life, a remarkable revelation emerges that shatters Emma's world. Suddenly on the run from powerful forces, Emma seeks out a shadowy figure from her past life...

JULIAN ST. FLEUR, the 18th-century vampire who transformed Emma's soul. The beautiful and enigmatic Julian holds the key to Emma's past, but will he help her? Two hundred years of loneliness have twisted him into a wicked creature and his reunion with Emma is unlike anything she had ever imagined. As Julian draws Emma into his heinous world, her only salvation may be...

STEFAN HILDEBRAND, a werewolf with legendary combat skills who is posing as a fellow student. Stefan's feelings for Emma are real, but his powerful masters have ordered him to kill her! As the mystery of Emma's past unravels, Stefan must make a choice, sacrifice Emma or listen to his heart.

Who do you trust, Julian or Stefan? Or do you go your own way?
How will you survive in a paranormal world unlike anything you have ever imagined?
Hop onto this emotional roller coaster and brace yourself for a stunning climax!

When I first started this book I wasn’t sure if I liked it or if I’d be able to finish it. I was kind of confused especially with the four POVs but I figured it out quick. In the four POVs we meet Emma, Julian, Stefan, and Cynthia, we also get to see flashbacks of Cassandra which is Emma’s past life. This book had so many elements I liked I finished it in one sitting. Its like you’re on a ride with all of the characters. Emma was on a mission to find out about her past life and who she really is, Julian is a vampire who has been waiting for Emma, Stefan is a werewolf who has been ordered to kill Emma, and Cynthia is a ghost on a mission to get something back from Emma. Its all so crazy and fast paced and everyone is coming for Emma but the thing is she doesn’t remember everything from her past life as Cassandra, so why does she have so many enemies? I loved the risk Emma took to find out about her past life she was a brave and strong heroine. I also loved the other characters and getting to see their connection in this mystery was amazing. The ending blew me away! It ended in a cliff hanger and the first thought I had when I finished was “Wow! I need the sequel now!” I would recommend this book to my friends and anyone who likes paranormal books!

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EXCLUSIVE AUDIO CLIP from DARK HEART OF MAGIC
by Jennifer Estep

December 13, 2015 by

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

EXCLUSIVE AUDIO CLIP from DARK HEART OF MAGIC by Jennifer EstepDark Heart of Magic by Jennifer Estep
Series: Black Blade #2
Published by Kensington Books Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Paranormal, Young Adult
Source: Publisher
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ReviewedbyDani

As a thief, I stick to the shadows as much as possible. But when the head of the Sinclair Family picks me to compete in the Tournament of Blades, there’s no escaping the spotlight—or the danger. Even though he’s my competition, Devon Sinclair thinks I have the best shot of winning what’s supposed to be a friendly contest. But when the competitors start having mysterious “accidents”, it looks like someone will do anything to win—no matter who they hurt.As if I didn’t have enough to worry about, mobster Victor Draconi is plotting against Devon and the rest of my friends, and someone’s going around Cloudburst Falls murdering monsters. One thing’s for sure. Sometimes, humans can be more monstrous than anything else …

This book was so good! Dark Heart of Magic is one of my favorites this year! So much goes down in this book!  I felt like I wasn’t reading fast enough.  Guys things happen so fast in this book! The Tournament of Blades is going on and Lila has been chosen to be in it and someone is going around killing monsters. I can’t say how much I Loved this book!! I felt like I was there and I needed a sword as well.  Also, the mystery aspect didn’t hurt.  I love my mysteries. We also learn a lot about some of the characters that made my jaw drop, but it was all good. I’m happy with the way Devon & Lila’s romance has progressed (I ship it) and they are in an optimal spot going into the conclusion.  I loved this book and I think everyone should read it.  I’d read it again in a heartbeat!  So go buy it and read it, and if you haven’t read the first book in the series Cold Burn of Magic pick it up and marathon them both! I need the third book in my hands NOW!  I feel like there’s a hole in my heart haha. Dark Heart of Magic is definitely a must read! Ms. Estep, please keep the Black Blade series coming!

Check out this Exclusive Audible Clip from DARK HEART OF MAGIC by Jennifer Estep

Thank you to the fine people at Audible for sharing this with us!! Purchase at Audible.com.

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NEXIS by A. L. Davroe

December 5, 2015 by

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

NEXIS by A. L. DavroeNexis by A. L. Davroe
Series: Tricksters #1
Genres: Dystopian, Fantasy & Magic, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Source: Publisher
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ReviewedbyDani

In the domed city of Evanescence, appearance is everything. A Natural Born among genetically altered Aristocrats, all Ella ever wanted was to be like everyone else. Augmented, sparkling, and perfect. Then...the crash. Devastated by her father's death and struggling with her new physical limitations, Ella is terrified to learn she is not just alone, but little more than a prisoner.

Her only escape is to lose herself in Nexis, the hugely popular virtual reality game her father created. In Nexis she meets Guster, a senior player who guides Ella through the strange and compelling new world she now inhabits. He offers Ella guidance, friendship...and something more. Something that allows her to forget about the "real" world and makes her feel whole again. But when their separate worlds collide, Ella will have to choose between love and survival. Because Nexis isn’t quite the game everyone thinks it is.

And it’s been waiting for Ella.

Nexis follows Ella. Her father just created a virtual reality world in the future that they live in. The virtual reality is called Nexis. In Nexis you can create a virtual character and be whoever you want and do whatever you want. The only catch is that you can only play for six hours and then you have to take a break. The game literally kicks you out after six hours and won’t let you log back on for another eighteen. (Just imagine if Twitter did that, I’d die!)

After creating the game Ella’s father, wins an award and the two of them end up being part of the Aristocracy. However, later that night Ella’s father is killed. Ella survives, though she lost her legs and finds herself alone in a room. All she has is her robot whom she’s known all her life. Therefore she decides to play Nexis for once. In Nexis Ella meets Gus and I just love the connection those two had. Nexis follows Ella’s adventures and discoveries while she’s in the game, and outside the game.

Ella was an amazing character. Despite her loss, she managed to stay strong and fight for herself. I definitely felt for her. I think that my favorite character was definitely Gus. He was just so caring and sweet towards Ella and he showed her what love really is. The two of them were absolutely perfect together.

I loved the idea of Nexis. I also really loved the world that Davroe has created.  Nexis is worth the read. I definitely can’t wait to see what happens in book two. I just hope the wait isn’t too long, because I need more of Gus and Ella and their next adventure!

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CLEO by Lucy Coats

December 5, 2015 by

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

CLEO by Lucy CoatsCleo by Lucy Coats
Published by Orchard Books on 05/07/15
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Historical, Mythology, Young Adult
Source: Publisher
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ReviewedbyDani

Cleo’s precious mother is dead – and it isn’t an accident! The Pharaoh’s illegitimate daughter must flee the royal palace at Alexandria or be killed too. As her evil half-sisters finally usurp the throne, Cleo finds sanctuary within the sacred temple of Isis, where four years later she becomes initiated into the top-secret Sisters of the Living Knot. But now Isis’s power is failing, Egypt itself is in danger, and the teenage Cleo must prove her loyalty to her goddess by returning to the Alexandria she hates. Her task is to seek out the hidden map which is the key to returning Isis’s power – on pain of death. But will she be able to evade her horrible sisters and sneak into the secret archives of the Brotherhood of Embalmers? And will she rediscover dreamy Khai, the über-hot Librarian boy she met as she fled Alexandria years before? Cleo’s powerful destiny is about to unfold….

Gorgeous and evocative, Cleo imagines the life of the teenage Cleopatra before she became the icon we all think we know.

At the beginning, I didn’t like the book very much. I thought Cleo was a bit of a whiner. The evil sisters also begin rather one dimensional, ‘bad because they’re evil and want to rule’ and might as well have been the same person.


It got better towards the middle. The plot spices up. Cleo is under constant threat and those closest to her are far from safe. Her relationship with Charm, her slave, also made me warm up to her over time. Even the one dimensional villains developed a little and started to separate out. I felt that Cleo grew as a character. She stops asking ‘why’ and starts taking action. The scenes where she faces her sisters in political power struggles were among my favorite in the book, as we got to see Cleo take a few risks and stand up against evil. The main problem I had with this book was the setting (Egypt). It just didn’t feel like you were there. Or at least I couldn’t picture it. I wanted to breathe the desert air hahaha. Cleo was an okay book but I don’t think I’d read a sequel.

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FORGET ME NOT by Megan Tayte

December 5, 2015 by

I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

FORGET ME NOT by Megan TayteForget Me Not by Megan Tayte
Series: The Ceruleans #2
Published by Heaven Afire on 02/20/15
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Paranormal, Romance
Pages: 338
Source: Author
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ReviewedbyDani

IN THE FACE OF DEATH, SHE MUST PROTECT THOSE SHE LOVES.

The Ceruleans: mere mortals infused with power over life and death. Five books; one question: If the might of the heavens were in your hands, would you be sinner or saint?

Death is stalking Scarlett Blake. As if the encroaching darkness in her head wasn’t enough, she’s become disturbingly accident prone. Falling off a cliff isn’t ideal when all you want is as much time as possible to live, to love.

Her fate is horrifying. Unbearable. And inescapable. No one can save Scarlett from The End that’s looming. Not Jude, the Cerulean who is intent on Claiming her. Not Luke, the boy who is intent on loving her.

The clock is ticking, louder with every heartbeat. Now Scarlett must decide how best to protect the people she loves. Will she trust in Jude and the life-after-death he promises? Will she stand against the Fallen, who have her sister captive? Will she carry the burden of her death alone – every headache, every hallucination, every wrenching, aching emotion?

And when the clock falls silent, when the darkness eclipses the light, will Scarlett fight for life? Or will she have no choice but to surrender?

Forget Me Not is the second book in the Ceruleans series and I liked it more than the first book, only because we get to learn more about the ceruleans and Sienna, Scarlett’s sister.  Its fast paced, more painful, and deals with death but also has mystery and a sweet romance.

I liked how Scarlett is unwavering to not let her imminent death stop her from enjoying her time left. I really like Luke a lot in this book, he really loves Scarlett and is willing to do anything for her but is not a pushover. I also like Cara as she adds humor to the book.

 

My favorite thing about this book was when Scarlett got to learn more about Sienna through her diary and learning more about Scarlett’s fate.This book has a bigger cliff-hanger than the last book. The Ceruleans is becoming one of my favorite series. I can’t wait to read the next two books in the series. I would definitely recommend this series! It’s on Kindle Unlimited and the first book is Death Wish so check it out!
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MOONLANDS by Steven Savile

December 5, 2015 by

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

MOONLANDS by Steven SavileMoonlands by Steven Savile
Published by BadPress on 3/6/15
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Paranormal, Young Adult
Pages: 485
Source: Publisher
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ReviewedbyDani

Ashley Hawthorne thinks of herself as the Cuckoo Girl. No matter where she is it feels like she doesn’t quite belong.

Everything changes when her eccentric aunt, Elspeth Grimm, leaves her the key to a safety deposit box in a bank that was destroyed during the Blitz. That box contains the first part of her true inheritance: an umbrella, a battered old notebook, a pair of aviator’s goggles and a locket. Each of these gifts is a unique part of who she really is.

Elspeth is a Grimm, a descendent of the brothers who purged this world of monsters by trapping them within the Concord. She is the Oracle. A keeper of all the knowledge we have amassed about the creatures of the Fae and other worlds. And someone intent on destroying the Concord has murdered her!

When Ashley looks through the goggles that night she sees curious creatures on the roof of the house across the street watching her. To the naked eye they look like crows but they are not. It is the first glimpse of the other place—the place where she will finally belong.
The journal is crammed full of things, but there’s no actual writing in it. Ash decides she’s going to use the book as a journal, and begins the first entry: My name is Ashley Hawthorne. The ink fades so she writes it again. My name is Ashley Hawthorne. Again the ink fades. She tries again and again until the ink scratches out an entirely different first line: That is not who you are!

Moonlands is about Ashley Hawthorne who lives in London but feels like she doesn’t quite belong. She feels this even more after she attends the reading of her eccentric aunt’s will in which she is named as a beneficiary.  She is being given the key to a safety deposit box. As she sets out to discover the contents of the box other people are watching her and some aren’t human!
Blackwater Blaze is an alpha wolf sent with four members of his pack from the Moorlands on a deadly mission to kill Ashley. His approach from the moongate is met by unexpected opposition, his pack members are all killed and he is given a warning and a message. He starts to suspect treachery is afoot with him a tool in its execution. Should he complete his mission or fight for what he knows is right?

 

Many of the characters were interesting and if you enjoy urban fantasy, werewolves and magic then you will definitely enjoy picking up this book. It was fast-paced, interesting and it did keep me turning the page to find out more. Overall I think this book was pretty good. Which means you guys should check it out.
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THE EMPATH by Erica Crouch

December 5, 2015 by

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

THE EMPATH by Erica CrouchThe Empath by Erica Crouch
Series: Lost Locket of Lahari
Published by Patchwork Press on 10/14
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Young Adult
Pages: 98
Source: Publisher
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ReviewedbyDani

In a Victorian society fascinated by spiritualists, something wicked sinks its claws in from the other side. Odessa is a psychic; her mother, the Great Madame Elena, is a fraud. After a séance goes terribly wrong and a woman ends up dead, an evil force slips into the land of the living.Though Odessa and her mother try to outpace the rumors spreading, they can't escape the danger that has taken residence within Odessa herself. When Odessa is shouldered with the responsibility of the Great Madame Elena’s business, she starts to lose control of the spirit world, and she can’t afford to make another mistake. Asked to open the door to the other side again, Odessa witnesses a brutal murder that hints at black magic and is faced with a choice: risk her life for freedom from her mother, or go on living a life of servitude. If she goes into a trance again, will she be able to maintain control?

Odessa is a psychic. Odessa’s mom, The Great Madame Elena, doesn’t truly have the gift to talk to spirits like Odessa does. She keeps Odessa around to “help” , so she can keep making money telling people their futures. One night at a séance, something goes horribly wrong. Odessa stops what was happening. As Odessa and her mom try to outrun all the rumors from that night, they finally find a nice town to stop in. After that night, Odessa wants to stick to only palm and tarot readings. Then an extremely wealthy family asks to have a séance. Odessa tries to protest, but her mother tells her that if she earns enough money, she will let her go. Reluctantly, she agrees, and hopes that maybe she can finally be free. Odessa arrives for the séance. Warren, Theresa, Benjamin… She really wants to help them. But there is something really wrong that she can’t see initially.

I liked Odessa she knows how to make the best of troubling and uncomfortable situations, she has very real concerns and desires, and she’s clever. I enjoyed seeing how she would handle different situations, and she made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion.

The rest of the characters were well-developed, especially for such a short book which made every single page of this story enjoyable to read. The story was intriguing, and it had that familiar but different feeling about it that I thought was enjoyable. It was a wonderful take on magic and death. I would recommend this book to anyone who is into magic and psychics. The book is also short kind of like a novella so it’s easy to just breeze through.

 

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