The Prelude by KaSonndra Leigh **Review*** @KaSonndraLeigh @tale_of_reviews



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Review:

I saw the warning about being over 17, so you know I forged ahead like a chubby kid in a candy store. The Prelude was very different in a slow start. When you begin take note of all the hints and when the reveal comes it will be far more potent! The story and plot were very well thought out and planned in a fabulous way.
When you meet Erin Angelo during a very traumatic event you must pay attention!  All of the background and how she gets to Italy is what shapes her. She has chosen the career in design based on her sort of own self punishment. She has closed off another career path. VERY interesting. She has demons that we are lucky enough to be witness to. Enter Alek Dostov, the sexy Maestro who has hired Erin to design the wardrobe for his symphony.DON’T  think “typical”when you meet him. He is a complete mystery! His Mother is evil and his background and childhood are incredibly important to understand who he has become.
It does take a while for Erin and Alek, begin an “arrangement” just use each other for sex. Normally I would be like “ok blah blah” this was like “It is about freakin time” In between all of this you are thrown into the inner workings of a fashion design house and a musical company. Erin’s assistant is one of the reveals and she “discovers” herself. That is kind of funny, I admit I did enjoy that one. I have to ask the author whether I was supposed to laugh about it or not.
I enjoyed the entire book. I can’t even complain about the beginning being slow because of the 3 reveals. I really enjoyed it mostly because of the plot and reveals. Now I am stumped because I can’t say anymore without giving something away. Overall, it was a great and powerful love story. I know for sure there is can and should be a sequel. Too many rich characters to waste. I want more of Erin and Alek!

Music, passion, betrayal and forbidden love spun together in one of the most romantic cities in the world.

This novel contains sexual situations and mature language. It is intended for an audience at 17+ years of age.

5 star blog  booksteam blog  book

 

About the Author

 KayLeighB&WAuthorPic

Meet your word sculptress…

Author of the Lost Immortals Saga and the Path Seekers Series. I’m also a mother, blogger, reader, gardener, home renovator, and a slayer of undead Egyptian mummies in Tomb Raider. I believe in karma, coffee, and seriously wish that the producers of Xena would bring my favorite show ever back.

Strange things about me: Everything. I am weird, odd, unusual, and generally tend to make people think I swooped down from another planet. I don’t know. Maybe I did. Who knows? I’m also a member of the #zombiesurvivalcrew on twitter. So if you need protection from the upcoming apocalypse, don’t hesitate to call on us.

I was born in the race-car city of Charlotte, NC, and now live in the City of Alchemy and Medicine, NC, when I’m not hanging out in Bardonia (Lost Immortals). Most of my characters are based on people that I’ve met throughout my travels and adventures. People tend to stop and start conversations with me as if I’ve known them my entire life. Does this freak me out? Not really. My mom says that one day I’ll get kidnapped by one of them. I told her that if it weren’t for these lovely people then I wouldn’t be able to create the stories that I do.

Find KaSonndra Online:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Tour Schedule HERE  

The Prelude by KaSonndra Leigh **Spotlight*** @KaSonndraLeigh


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Synopsis:

After finishing design school six months ago, Erin Angelo left her tragic past behind in the States and started a new life in Milan, Italy. Burying the grief, silencing her demons, and living a life without any real attachments has worked well for her so far. But when Erin secures her first real job as a budding clothing designer, her controlled world is shaken to its core by the mysteriously sexy director of the local symphony.

Alek Dostov is a man who knows what he wants and how to get it. He’s successful, hot, the son of a millionaire, and women all over the world flock to see one of his performances. For Alek, Erin represents the ultimate challenge: sexy, smart, and unaffected by his charms…or so she thinks. Just like Erin, Alek avoids attachments that leave him emotionally vulnerable. But unlike Erin, his pursuit of all things pleasurable is ruthless.

Knowing how wary they both are concerning any kind of committed relationship, Alek finds a way to pursue Erin, satisfying the intense attraction between them without sacrificing the freedom they both enjoy. Sometimes the deepest passion brings out the darkest emotions. And Erin finds herself completely unprepared for the forbidden world of the young maestro and his truths and even his secrets, as she struggles to deal with her own.

Music, passion, betrayal and forbidden love spun together in one of the most romantic cities in the world.

This novel contains sexual situations and mature language. It is intended for an audience at 17+ years of age.

 Excerpt:

I’m walking in a daze.

I think I’m going to pass out. Whoa! What just happened out there? The most gorgeous, successful, beautifully arrogant man ever just kissed my hand. My best friend, Selene is going to hate me for being so lucky. I can’t wait to tell her.

“Alright, chill out, Cinderella.” I walk through my door and let all the pretense, aka Miss Control USA, go flying out the window. I hop right up in the middle of my living room floor and start doing my hot damn dance.

So, yeah, Alek’s statement about the prelude freaked me out for a second. The word reminded me of something Jada used to say. His line was just the tiniest bit corny, too. But I meant what I said when I told him I thought his words were cute. He can say anything with that accent and get away with it.

I glance at my watch. 10p.m. It’s too early to call Selene. She works as a bartender in Florence. Sometimes her nights don’t end until around 2am.

I sniff the contract Alek gave me. His scent still lingers on the paper, reminding me of the day I first experienced the scent of his cologne. That was the day I fell on my butt, and he offered me his jacket to cover my body. He’s a true gentleman. Well, maybe a little.

So what if the gesture came after I had bolted for the door because he was looking me up and down at first. I feel myself forgiving his neglect to inform me of his true identity. He’s yet to explain himself. I consider agreeing to meet him for dinner just so he can tell me why he led me to believe he was an assistant.

I shower and throw on my Betty Boop sleeping shirt, a pair of booties, and then try to bring my racing thoughts back under control. Heading to my bedroom, I lie down on the bed and pull out a romance novel Selene let me borrow.

She thinks I’m destined to become either a nun or a homicidal maniac. Her reasoning being that no normal person goes without sex as long as I have done. Selene’s boyfriend and my old design lab partner from school, Christopher, even chimed in to help drill the thought into me one day when the two of them visited. I study the book in my hands.

This just doesn’t seem right. Erin Angelo is pulling out a romance novel and actually considering reading it. Now I know something’s wrong with me.

 

About the Author

KayLeighB&WAuthorPic

Meet your word sculptress…

Author of the Lost Immortals Saga and the Path Seekers Series. I’m also a mother, blogger, reader, gardener, home renovator, and a slayer of undead Egyptian mummies in Tomb Raider. I believe in karma, coffee, and seriously wish that the producers of Xena would bring my favorite show ever back.

Strange things about me: Everything. I am weird, odd, unusual, and generally tend to make people think I swooped down from another planet. I don’t know. Maybe I did. Who knows? I’m also a member of the #zombiesurvivalcrew on twitter. So if you need protection from the upcoming apocalypse, don’t hesitate to call on us.

I was born in the race-car city of Charlotte, NC, and now live in the City of Alchemy and Medicine, NC, when I’m not hanging out in Bardonia (Lost Immortals). Most of my characters are based on people that I’ve met throughout my travels and adventures. People tend to stop and start conversations with me as if I’ve known them my entire life. Does this freak me out? Not really. My mom says that one day I’ll get kidnapped by one of them. I told her that if it weren’t for these lovely people then I wouldn’t be able to create the stories that I do.

Find KaSonndra Online:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

 

Tour Schedule HERE  

The Magic Warble by Victoria Simcox @Victoria Simcox **Spotlight**


The Magic Warble

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Dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals, and an evil queen all these and more can be found in The Magic Warble, an enchanting tale of adventure and friendship.

Twelve-year-old Kristina Kingsly feels like the most unpopular girl in her school. The kids all tease her, and she never seems to fit in. But when Kristina receives an unusual Christmas gift, she suddenly finds herself magically transported to the land of Bernovem, home of dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals and the evil Queen Sentiz.

In Bernovem, Kristina not only fits in, she’s honored as ”the chosen one”, the only one who can release the land from Queen Sentiz’s control. But it s not as simple as it seems. To save Bernovem, she must place the gift she was given, the famous ”Magic Warble,” in its final resting place. And she must travel through the deep forest, climb a treacherous mountain, and risk capture by the queen s ”zelbocks” before she reaches her destination. Guided by her new fairy friends, Clover and Looper and by Prince Werrien, a teenage boy, as well as an assortment of other characters, Kristina sets off on a perilous journey that not only tests her strength but her heart.

The Black Shard

The Black Shard
by Victoria Simcox 

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Kristina’s stay at summer horse camp is horrible to say the least, and it’s all because Hester and Davina are there as well, making her life miserable. When Hester’s cruel prank goes terribly wrong, it’s actually what sends the three girls back to the magical land of Bernovem. In Bernovem, Kristina is very excited to see her former friend, Prince Werrien. When he invites her to sail with him on his ship to his homeland Tezerel, putting it simply, Kristina can’t refuse. Reunited with her gnome, dwarf, animal, fairy friends … and best of all, Werrien, things seem like they couldn’t get any better for Kristina. But when Werrien becomes fascinated with an unusual seeing stone, the “Black Shard,” Kristina is haunted by a ghostlike old hag. Struggling against suspicion, guilt, illness, and ultimately the one who wants to possess her soul, Kristina will see it’s in her weakest moment that she will encounter more strength than she has ever known.

About this author
Victoria Simcox
Victoria, known as Vicki, was born in 1966, in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, to an Austrian immigrant mother, and a Dutch immigrant father. She has one older sister, Jeannette. When Vicki was 7, she moved with her family to British Columbia. In her early twenties Vicki moved to Western Washington and now resides in Marysville WA. She has been married to her husband Russ, for nineteen years and they have three children; Toby, who is fifteen, Kristina, thirteen, and William, eight. She has home schooled her children for the past nine years, and she also teaches elementary school art. Vicki’s other family members are, a Chihuahua, named Pipsy, two cats, Frodo, and Fritz, and two parakeets, Charlie, and Paulie. She did have a pet rat named Raymond when she started writing The Magic Warble, but sad to say, he has since passed away of old age. Vicki enjoys writing, painting watercolors, watching movies, hanging out with her family, and chauffeuring her kids around to their many activities. Her favorite author is C.S. Lewis, and one of her fondest memories is when she was twelve. She would sit at the kitchen table and read The Chronicles of Narnia to her mother while she cooked dinner. These magical stories were very dear to Vicki and she remembers wishing, If only I could go to Narnia like Lucy and Susan. Vicki hopes that maybe, she can touch someone with her story in a similar way.

Spring Fever Blog Tour featured Author: Francine LaSala


Tracee Ford, The Smart Mouth Writer's avatarTracee Ford

Happy evening all! Francine LaSala is our featured author this evening. Thank you so much Francine for participating in this blog tour! Enjoy the read everyone!

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Title: The Girl, the Gold Tooth & Everything and Rita Hayworth’s Shoes

Author: Francine LaSala

Genre: Women’s Fiction / Humor / Magical realism

Website: http://www.francinelasala.com

Blog: Francine LaSala’s Clippings In The Shed (clippingsintheshed.wordpress.com)

Social Media connections:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/francinelasala

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Francine-LaSala-Author/223109337705912

Blog: http://clippingsintheshed.wordpress.com/

Website: www.francinelasala.com

The “Joy Jar” Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/318621974904272/

Buy Rita Hayworth’s Shoes: viewBook.at/B007ZHVB1I

Buy The Girl, the Gold Tooth & Everything: viewBook.at/B009NF9VQ2

Release Date: Both books available now

 

Reviews:

“Like hanging out with your funniest friend over a glass of champagne, Rita Hayworth’s Shoes is both hilarious and thought-provoking. LaSala knows how to combine humor and romance for a story the reader can jump inside and enjoy.”

NY Times bestselling author Patti Callahan Henry

The Girl, The…

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Salvaged (Daddy’s Girls) by Chelsea Camaron @ChelseaCamaron @sageadderley


 

Salvaged (Daddy’s Girls) by Chelsea Camaron

 

Book Description:
Brayden and Maggie have been dating for four years. Maggie is ready and expecting an engagement ring. Brayden has a past full of weaknesses and mistakes he can’t seem to shake. As he slowly loses everything, he also loses Maggie. As his world unravels, can he find the strength to shake his inner demons? Does he have it in him to face the ghosts of his past? Can Maggie overcome his deceptions? Will they find a way to love and trust again?

*This book intended for adult audiences due to the language and sexual content.

About the Author:

Chelsea Camaron has a love for old muscle cars and Harley Davidson motorcycles. She currently resides in Southern Louisiana with her husband and two children. She was born and raised in Coastal North Carolina and her heart is always Carolina day dreaming. Her love for reading has sparked a new love for writing with a few projects currently in the works.
Find Chelsea

 

Where To Buy: 

Restore My Heart by Chelsea Camaron @ChelseaCamaron @sageadderley


Bad Boy, Ryder Davenport comes into Dina Fowlers life in the middle of her own personal hell. Still coming to terms with the death of her parents, she pushes everyone away. When she trusts the wrong man, putting her in a bad relationship she felt she couldn’t escape, Ryder comes along. Enjoying his play boy ways, fast cars, motorcycles and a new woman in his bed nightly, Ryder had no thoughts of settling down. That is, until he sees the damage a man can do when he meets a very broken Dina. He changes in hopes of one day being enough for her. But, can she ever feel safe with a man again? Ryder has restored hundreds of classic cars, can he restore Dina’s heart?

About the Author:
Chelsea Camaron has a love for old muscle cars and Harley Davidson motorcycles. She currently resides in Southern Louisiana with her husband and two children. She was born and raised in Coastal North Carolina and her heart is always Carolina day dreaming. Her love for reading has sparked a new love for writing with a few projects currently in the works.
Find Chelsea
Author Links:
Where To Buy

Remember The Stars by Natalie-Nicole Bates @BatesNatalie


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Title: Remember The Stars

Author: Natalie-Nicole Bates

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Blitz Host: Lady Amber’s Tours

 

 

Excerpt:2

“Remy,” she said his name. Where did she know that name from? It wasn’t common. Think, Leah, think. Then it hit her—hard.

She remembered exactly who Remy Moreland was.

He was in the newspaper years earlier. Her mother had shown her a copy. Remy Moreland was involved in a fatal street race. His Porsche had been split in two, killing him and a young woman in another car.

Remy Moreland was dead.

But if he was dead, what was he doing here, alive, and with her?

Sweat broke out on the back of her neck and her vision clouded. This was someone’s idea of an evil, evil joke. She had to get out. She had to find her way home.

Standing, she grabbed the edge of the deck for support. “I have to get out of here,” she mumbled and stumbled her way around the desk.

He grabbed her around the waist. “You can’t go back out there. It’s dangerous.”

She sunk her open palms against his chest and struggled to get out of his grip. “Get off of me, you malevolent freak! You’re dead! You’ve been dead for years!” she blurted.

Immediately, he let go and jumped back from her as if he had been stung.

“What are you talking about? He demanded.

She backed away, ready to make a run for the front door. But the confused mix of anger and disbelief in his contorted expression stopped her.

How could he not know he was dead?

“It was years ago, Remy. You had an accident. It was in the newspaper.”

He tilted his head, his blue eyes huge.  “Do I look dead to you?”

Well, he was pale, his blue eyes ethereal. She hesitated, and then spoke. “Now that you mention it…”

“You bitch!” he snapped.

The force of his voice caused her to flinch and she raised her fingers to her throbbing temples. All she wanted at that moment was to get out of this man’s sight and find her way home.

“I’m not dead,” he stated ominously.

“Okay, you’re not dead,” she conceded as she rubbed circles on her temples.

He took a step closer. “As a matter of fact, right now I am languishing across town in a nursing home. I eat through a tube in my belly and piss into a catheter bag. I remain nothing but an emaciated, contorted version of the man I once was.”

She closed her eyes. This can’t be happening, this can’t be happening. None of this was real.

When she opened her eyes, he was in front of her, a macabre grin creasing his handsome features. He lifted a brow. “So, what did you do?”

“Do? What are you talking about?”

“To get here. You know my situation, so what’s yours?”

He wasn’t making any sense. She turned away from him, left the office and began to walk the long hallway to the front door, but he followed her closely.

“Let me guess,” he provoked.  “You look like a murder-suicide kind of girl. You’re not wearing a wedding ring, so I’m assuming you shot your boyfriend in the head and then offed yourself in some spectacular way—like jumping off a balcony and splattering on the ground. How could you have known you would wind up here?” he chuckled unpleasantly.

She stopped cold. How could he say such a horrible thing? She turned back to him only to find him mere inches from her. “You’re horrible. You don’t even know me, but you’ve resorted to participating in some sort of evil joke on me. I just want to go home…or wake up.”

“Your life as you know it is over, Leah.”

“What are saying, Remy? That I’m dead?”

“You’re not dead…not quite. This is limbo…purgatory…the first circle of Hell. The most wretched place on earth where you are sent to atone for your sins.”

 

Links:

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5241593.Natalie_Nicole_Bates

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Natalie-Nicole-Bates/e/B0071MP0DC/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1365403118&sr=8-1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BatesNatalie

Blog: http://natalienicolebates.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Natalie-Nicole-Bates/352610728138768?ref=ts&fref=ts

 

Remember The Stars by Natalie-Nicole Bates @BatesNatalie


 

 

Title: Remember The Stars

Author: Natalie-Nicole Bates

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Blitz Host: Lady Amber’s Tours

 

 

 

Excerpts:

1
Barefoot, she crossed the dark street and began making her way in the direction of the police station. If she remembered correctly, it was three blocks away. A chill rose on her skin as she tried to remain focused. She concentrated on taking one agonizing footstep in front of the other.

When she crossed over the first street, she stopped to rest beneath a street light. Leaning up against the side of a brick house, she took notice of how eerily quiet her surroundings were. The only sound was her own breathing. There simply was nothing, and no one. Was she truly alone? She wondered.

She shook off the intrusive thought. Of course she wasn’t alone. Remy Moreland was real. Well, the late Remy Moreland was sort of real.  Maybe surreal was a better word.

He had spun some tale of purgatory, of languishing between life and death. Then a thought struck her like a blow from above.

What if he was telling the truth?

 

 

 

 

Remember The Stars by Natalie-Nicole Bates @BatesNatalie


Title: Remember The Stars

Author: Natalie-Nicole Bates

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Blitz Host: Lady Amber’s Tours

Book Description:
For Leah Rhodes life as she knows it has just changed forever.
Waking in a gutter in the dark surroundings of her distant past, a familiar man stands out in her confusion.
But Remy Moreland has been dead for years.
It soon becomes apparent to Leah that both she and Remy are trapped in a hell of their own making.
Can one night together not only lead to the way out, but to love as well?

Author Bio:
Natalie-Nicole Bates is a book reviewer and author.

Her passions in life include books and hockey along with Victorian and Edwardian era photography and antique poison bottles. Natalie contributes her uncharacteristic love of hockey to being born in Russia.

She currently resides in the UK where she is working on her next book and adding to her collection of 19th century post-mortem photos.

Links:

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5241593.Natalie_Nicole_Bates

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Natalie-Nicole-Bates/e/B0071MP0DC/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1365403118&sr=8-1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BatesNatalie

Blog: http://natalienicolebates.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Natalie-Nicole-Bates/352610728138768?ref=ts&fref=ts

Finding Lucas by Samantha Stroh Bailey (@perfectpen) ***giveaway***


99 Cent E-BOOK SALE for Valentine's Weekend @traciebanister

CELEBRATE 1 year since Finding Lucas was published ENTER to win a copy 

Well I need to brag about this book. I think I need to disclose that it was first a comedy,then it was pure chick lit. Jaime is my beloved main character and she was a hoot! The real star of the book is not really any one person but the idea of a “different kind of family“. The not-so-perfect couple Derek and Jaime open the book with a 5 year anniversary vacation. To be honest I felt bad for Jaime, she was in a five-year relationship with a complete and total moron! When they first started dating he was normal and outgoing and then his job, a promotion, and money went to his head. The way the author describes him is so funny. (I want a celeb who can play Derek, but who??) He has more products, cremes and clothing than a Hollywood star. She has been feeling something off, lacking in every area, and the non-existent sex life is wrecking poor daytime talk show producer Jaime. The things Derek says are so funny like “Jaime please hand me those Gucci loafers, and Jaime did you see my Armani suit?” The things Jaime thinks are also funny. BUT, yeah there is a but Jaime’s family is the real star of the book. I can not ruin it but I will say that her sister who is 18 Rachel is a typical girl, you can’t help but adore her. Her mom who is never Mom but Leah, and her live-in lover Katie are so warm, outgoing and crazy they will make you laugh out loud. Then there is her Dad, David (never called David, always Dad) who is remarried to Maureen, Mo. The four of them get along and accept each other so well and their dialogue is like wear a diaper sort of dialogue.

The supporting cast is Lucy,Hanna, Eva (the b****) co-worker and Sue who is not there log and is replaced by Andrew. So the premise is that Jaime gets a life, uses her tv show to find her long-lost love Lucas, meets and moves in with a couple Amy and Chris (that is big diaper wearing event!) When Hanna takes in Jaime, I think his lines are too funny and for sure a high light!

So I pretty much can’t say enough good things about this one. I think Rachel can be the next book! I really think characters like these should be embraced. I think the world needs and wants more Leah and Kate. I wish I could go to live with them for a while. Maybe they open a retreat where we get colonics and massages while cleansing our auras. Wishful thinking I guess. Maybe I can get my wish it doesn’t hurt to ask.

 Goodreads Page 

Amazon page PLEASE go like it

BUY the book

Twitter @perfectpen

Authors blog

My favorite quotes:

At lunch, Derek had said, “That one is going places.” Yeah, straight to hell with my heel in her ass.

Give her a break. Jamie, did you guys have a good time in Montreal?” “Sure.” No need to mention that the best part was the shower head. I have a bad feeling that my family has a cache of sex toys hidden in their houses and would have no problem giving me a detailed demonstration.

===
“I’m staying at Hanna’s. Did you know she has a 60 inch TV? And coffee. So, I’ll be okay. I feel like I’m inside the television. Have you ever seen one?” I think I’m a little drunk. “Have you been drinking? You sound like you’ve been drinking.

===

Even though it’s free, there is no way I want anyone from high school (crusty Claire, especially) to see my name on this reunion website. So I use her name instead. I type in Claire Howard, list her job as a stripper, and explain that she’s recently gotten out of prison after a prostitution arrest. Hee hee, this is fun. I add that she has four children from different fathers and is living in a rent by the minute hotel in Crack Town.

===
It’s all sparkling clean because Hanna’s never cooked a meal in her life. The most useful tool in her kitchen is the phone.

===

Because if they are, then what’s the problem? This is their business, and they obviously enjoy it, so who are you to tell them what to do?” “But they’re porn stars.” Now it’s Andrew’s turn to shrug. “So?”

Silence. “Han, are you there?” I ask. Then I hear the laughter. “Oh, Jaim, ow, my stomach, that hurts, that’s so, ha ha, so funny. How do you get yourself in these situations? Ever since you broke up with Derek, your life has been crazy.”

“You must be so nervous.” I clutch the phone tighter in my hand. “So nervous that I’m almost sick. I’ve put so much energy into wanting him that I’m afraid I’ll be disappointed. And what if he sees me and doesn’t want me? What if he doesn’t even remember me?”

“Sure. Like he’s going to want anything to do with me after this.” “You never know. And it’s time you did something out of the ordinary, you know? Aren’t you tired of being safe all the time?” “Safe is easy.”

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