Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

New Release Review

King of the Titans by J.K. Jones: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

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Revenge.

Resentment. Malevolence. Desire. It wraps around him like a familiar cloak.

Like a second skin. Years of war hardened his heart into something unfathomable. For centuries he knew nothing but retribution and the ruthlessness of death and decay. His clan lost the war. They were decimated, their way of life stripped and sold to the highest bidder.

Now he finally has a chance to take back everything he lost.

To kill the King of Titans, assassin Julian White pretends to be a courtesan.

Falling in love with Lucious Rex, the man that tortured and killed his family is an unfortunate complication.

King of the Titans
By J.K. Jones

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

The moment the arctic demon stepped near; a thrill ran down his spine. It was so sharp and sudden he nearly buckled. His knife weighed heavily in his pockets, and his hands itched to thumb the blade and plunge it into the demon’s neck. Yet amid his blinding hatred, something else settled inside him, a spark, quick and strident, something profound.

Ocean-blue eyes made him dizzy as if he were swimming in warm sun-lit currents before being pulled under. That face, he knew that face. For many years, Julian had meditated on it. The night that had brought hellfire and destruction right to his doorstep.

I will set you free. The day he’d taken pity on the worthless Þrælar had been his undoing. They’d been friends once. Julian stopped that thought before it could begin before it could even form and spiral into a well of self-loathing and despair. He went to bed soon after, his mind in disarray. What exactly did the demon want? Why go through all the trouble to scent him and mark his territory if all he wanted to was talk? None of it made sense.

Julian tossed restlessly throughout the night. In the morning, he awoke groggy and disgruntled, wishing he could close the curtains and go back to sleep. The threat of Madame Zelina barging into his room forced him to get up. No matter what, he wasn’t going to incur her wrath. He dressed simply, putting on some pants and his signature coat.

He tied his hair into a low bun, then went downstairs. Madame Zelina stood near the bar, her dress bright red with vines weaving up and down the hem.

I love fantasy when it’s well done, and this was really well done. Classic enemies to lovers. Basically the humans had ruled and treated the wolves like scum for years to the point of rape, torture, and starvation.

Julian (a human) years ago as a boy hears screams in his father’s house night after night and eventually plucks up courage to investigate. He finds a wolf (in human form) bound, starving, and tortured. He doesn’t find out until he’s an adult that his own father was raping the wolf as well.

Julian takes pity on him, lets the wolf go assuming he will escape, but instead the wolf frees other captive wolves and they slaughter the humans and eventually some years later take over and rule.

Now the wolves are in charge but they descend to the same levels of depravity as the humans once were at, except the King–the wolf Julian released all those years ago–doesn’t like what his wolves have become.

The world building, the writing, is amazing and that earns four stars all on its own.

The plot is tight and moves along at a good pace and the last betrayal was well set up and something I didn’t see.

My problem is the ending. They have an enforced three year separation which is never properly justified and then in the last few paragraphs the King sends for Julian and they have maybe three sentences worth of I love yous.

That isn’t enough for me.

After all that death, bloodloss, execution, murder and death I want to wallow in a happy ending. I want declarations of love and devotion that go on for days, and I didn’t get that.

But that’s me. It was a good book, I just wanted another chapter of smoochiness!

4 pieces of eye candy

J.K Jones is a University Graduate with a B.A in Sociology, also a TESOL certificate for teaching English as a Second Language. Literature is in my veins and the words pour out of my blood. Message me privately to join the mailing list. I like my artys with a bit of fartsy. I love Sundays spend drinking massive amounts of coffee and lingering over whichever book I am currently enthralled with. Favorite movies: American Beauty. Duh. What can I say? It’s a classic. Favorite place: The fort I built in my basement which my mom forced me to take down. Favorite food: Cheetos. Puffs. I don’t know what everything is crazy about the crunchy ones are crap.

Connect with Susi:
Website: www.jkjonesauthor.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/j.kjonesauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jkjones9/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/meandmrsjkjones/


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Waiting for Ru (Unfinished Business Book 4) by Barbara Elsborg: New Release Review with Giveaway

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Ruari Byrne may not have had an easy life, but now he’s determined to live in the present, not his past. Trouble is, it’s hard to be independent when you’ve no money and no qualifications. All Ru knows is horses, and when he finds out that his beloved Joni and Cookie are off to auction, his heart is in his throat. How can he protect them if he can’t even look after himself?

Jasim bin Rajhi hadn’t intended to buy two working mares; the horses in his rarefied life are expensive polo ponies, but there’s something that intrigues him about the guileless young man who’s so concerned for their welfare. They might be worlds apart in every way, but Jasim doesn’t want this to be the last time he sees Ru. It can’t be, because Ru might just be the one he’s been waiting for.

Reunited at Jasim’s polo grounds, the pair bond over lives lived in darkness and secrecy. But there’s a truth about Jasim that should make Ru bolt like his beloved horses. Jasim knows he should let Ru go for his own safety, and yet it feels like happiness might be within their grasp. Can they overcome their pasts to trust in a future, or will Jasim’s obligations forever have a hold on him?

Warning: contains references to past abuse and paid-for sex (In a different book), physical violence and abduction. There is one oblique reference to suicide. But no horses were seriously harmed in the making of this tale 🙂

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

There is much of this book that I loved. But…there are parts that left me wanting. I will say you must read A Long Way Back to understand what happened to Ru and his brother. You could glean it all from this book, but reading the other will add to the story.

What I loved. Ru. Ru not accepting his parents. Ru feeling almost torn about his aunt and uncle. His love of horses and his crow Bela. I really loved that the other main character, Jasim, was Saudi. Definitely an underrepresented nationality in the book world.

What I didn’t love. That Ru is just going about life without any help. I’m sorry, but after going through what he did for 12 years, and to come out fairly unscathed without any therapy at all is a bit much. AND that Ru is fairly sociable, he is funny and witty. How did he become that way when for 12 years he only had a mentally ill aunt and an abusive uncle to speak to? Too much unresolved there. And I get that he is not only a virgin, but had very little physical contact and has no issue with that now.

Back to the story!

I was afraid that reading about polo would be boring. But it really wasn’t. My knowledge of polo is seeing pictures of the royal family on horses and the scene in Pretty Woman when they run on the field to fix the divots. There’s quite a bit more to it than that. Teehee

Jasim wasn’t nearly as cold as he thought he was. Stand offish, yes. But you could see the teddy bear underneath that was dying to come out. Unfortunately, as a Saudi Prince who is a Muslim, he lived in the closet. He feared his family would kill him if they found out he was gay. Which is an actual fear. I just can’t imagine and it breaks my heart that it is really that was in Saudi Arabi. Because of that, I really didn’t see how Jasim and Ru would get their happily ever after. Never fear, readers.

There’s quite a bit more story in there involving the polo team, Jasim’s family, the other polo grooms- including one who has it out for Ru, and we check in with Ru’s brother and his boyfriend Tay.

It’s an excellent story that was interesting and heartbreaking and exciting. My issues with Ru not getting help aside, this is a great finish (I think?) to the series.

4 pieces of eye candy

One commenter on this post will win an ebook from Barbara Elsborg’s backlist. 🙂

Hide Your Love Away (IF I FELL Series Book 1) by Mia Kerick: New Release Review

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Too young.
Too damaged.
Too close to Cole’s enormous secret for comfort.

Rough and tumble Edgewater University maintenance man Colton Ledger should keep his distance from the sleek and snarky college junior who has caught his attention. After all, Timmy is half his age, not to mention that Cole has a secret life he can’t afford to reveal. So why is he compelled to undermine the young man’s cocky game and lure him into his private life?

As the product of an unwanted late-life pregnancy, Timmy Hale has been emotionally shattered by a loveless upbringing. After years of desperate attempts to garner attention from his apathetic parents fail, young adult Timmy changes course. He hides his feelings of vulnerability behind meaningless sex, endless partying, and a big, bad attitude. Until Cole comes along…

When trouble finds Timmy in the form of a dangerous and relentless stalker, Cole must decide if Timmy is worth the risk of coming clean about the confidence he’s obliged to keep, as Timmy weighs the potential havoc falling in love could wreak on his heart.

Hide Your Love Away is Book One in the IF I FELL Series.

Age Gap, Hurt/Comfort, Keeping Secrets, Opposites Attract, College Setting Adult Contemporary MM Romance.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Sorry, this book is a big nope for me. Unrealistic, repetitive language, did I mention unrealistic?

Timmy is the oops baby and 5th child. According to him- and trust me, he tells you often- his parents don’t care about him. That’s my first unrealistic thing. A couple who has 4 kids on purpose and has a 5th by accident, I don’t think they would ignore him. But apparently they did. To say he has daddy issues is putting it mildly. Because he does always go back to complaining about his father and rarely his mother.

Anyway…

Cole is the maintenance person for several dorms at the college. He works that job to get reduced tuition. Logical. No logical is that previously he was a construction worker and fully funded his son’s life and his ex’s life. She didn’t work! At all! A construction worker paying for 2 households? He bought her a house. Come on.

Timmy also has a stalker. A one night stand from April (it’s now August) who didn’t try to contact him at all until school started again. Then threatens him all of the time IN FRONT OF OTHER PEOPLE. Sorry, ridiculous.

This story had zero redeeming qualities for me. I know this author has several books out and I know I have read at least one. I was hoping the writing would get better, but sadly it hasn’t. Ooof. Get a brutal editor.

2 pieces of eye candy

Charles: Learning to Love by Con Riley: Release Day Review

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Opposites attract in this low-angst romance filled with British snark and humour.

Life should be a breeze for a playboy like Charles Heppel. As the third son of an earl, he lives for the moment, partying and playing. Settling down isn’t for him. Not when London is full of beautiful men who he hasn’t one-and-done yet.

To escape his family’s nagging, Charles applies for a temp job that matches his playful skill set. A role in a Cornish classroom could be his until the summer, if Charles meets two conditions: he must move in with the headmaster’s best friend, and teach him to be happy.

Living with Hugo should be awkward. Charles is a free spirit, but Hugo’s a man of faith, with morals. A man who almost took holy orders before disaster changed his direction. Only far from being a chore, Charles finds that making Hugo happy soon becomes his passion.

Together, they share physical and emotional first times. Ones that change Charles, touching his soul. He wants Hugo for longer than they have left, but learning to love with his heart, not just his body, will take a leap of faith from Charles — in himself as well as Hugo.

New from Con Riley, Charles: Learning to Love is the first novel in a series based at Glynn Harber, a very special boarding school set in England’s glorious Cornwall.

♥ This shared-world series starts with Charles and Hugo, but each book follows a different couple in their own standalone novel, with a fulfilling happily ever after.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

I’ve read a few books now by Con Riley. They are always enjoyable reads that aren’t too angsty but still tell a good story. I haven’t read the previous series that introduced Charles, but I think I will.

I almost immediately feel in love with Charles, third son to an Earl, he has no real responsibilities related to his heritage, but his one brother is always trying to get him involved.

While on an interview at his dream school, Charles meets Hugo, AKA Holy Hotness. He isn’t an official padre, but some of the older children respect his as such. Hugo’s best friend Luke is the headmaster at the school and is letting Hugo stay there while he recovers from a serious injury and figures out his new path- since he has given up becoming a minister.

Charles makes Luke smile and laugh and they are incredibly attracted to each other. Even though Luke has little experience, Charles has plenty for both.

They are really adorable with each other. And not in a cheesy super cute way. They just kind of fell into being a couple quickly because it is what they were meant to be. There was no judgement between them with their worst insecurities, but they still held some back.

This is a sweet story of two men becoming who they are meant to be- together, with some sexy times that don’t take over the story at all.

4 pieces of eye candy

Bennet, Pride Before The Fall (Love, Austen, Book 3) by Anyta Sunday: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

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“I want someone to want me for who I am. No changing my appearance or philosophies or principles. I need a partner to be proud of me—in public and beyond—and proud of themselves.”
“Think you’ll find it?”

~ ~ ~

Bennet had always dreamed of love. Of finding his Mr. Right.
Hell, he’d even settle for Mr. Righteous.
Who he won’t fall for, not ever? Mr. Downright Pride-less.

~ ~ ~

It’s Pride and Prejudice, complete with scumbaggery, anguished declaration of desire, meddling villagers, Karaoke, Scrabble, and Pride.

Bennet, Pride Before The Fall

Love, Austen, Book 3

By Anyta Sunday

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

“I’ve yet to see what’s so compelling about him,” Caroline said. “Other than how punctual he is. But walking in this weather? Really. You should have seen him, like a soaked mop with all that wet hair around his face.”

“Walking does seem questionable.”

“Did you see his boots outside? Mud up to the knees.”

“He seems careful with his appearance. I can only assume that this meeting of yours means a lot to him.”

“More than catching a cold? Ridiculous. He should have borrowed a car.”

“He doesn’t have one?”

“Refuses to get one, I heard. Some nonsense about the environment. All this looking down on other people and their choices. Their beliefs are never as good as his own . . .” Caroline was quiet for a moment. Bennet squared his shoulders to walk in, but she continued, “Doesn’t that change your opinion of him?”

“My opinion of him is as it always was.”

Another short pause followed. Then Caroline, in that enthusiastic tone of hers, “Of course, I am interested in helping him with his party thing. I hate to see anyone struggling to fit in around the village, and my financial support will make this doable. I suppose I can encourage a few people to take part.”

“There’s a reason you’re the local queen.”

“Oh, stop it.” She giggled, not sounding like she wanted Darcy to stop at all. “I’m hardly a queen. I simply do my bit to make Cubworthy the best it can be.”

“Do you think a Pride event will help the village?”

Caroline made no immediate answer, and Bennet’s patience reached its end. He would not let Darcy ruin his chances for Caroline’s support.

He strode into the room.

Caroline gave a short nod of approval. Darcy offered a slower, lingering look. Again, he jerked his gaze away. “That coffee must be almost done.”

Caroline sprang up and sashayed into the kitchen.

Darcy had taken Bennet’s former place at the table; Bennet’s phone still rested there.

“Bennet, you were telling me what you do for a living,” Caroline called over.

“I’m a freelance editor of gay romance novels.” He stared deliberately at Darcy.

Darcy stared back. “Is there much work in that?”

“More than I can manage.”

“Kiwi writers?” Caroline asked.

“From all around the world, but Kiwi authors too.”

Silence followed his statement. The rain continued, a ceaseless drum over the roof and windowpanes.

The moment their coffees touched the table, his phone vibrated. Caroline’s, too.

“Oh, dear.”

Bennet resisted the cringey urge to lunge for his phone.

“What’s wrong?” Darcy asked.

“You should join the community message board,” Caroline said. “It’s a wonderful tool, don’t you agree, Bennet?”

“Yes. Full of very accurate news and fun family facts.”

Darcy’s lips curled and he slid Bennet’s phone toward him.

“There’s been a flash flood,” Caroline said. “The river has broken its banks. All bridges in and out of Cubworthy are out of use.”

Bennet lurched to his feet. Lyon. “I have to get home.”

“It’s not flooded the village. Your brother will be fine. The school bus didn’t pick up the Cubworthy kids today.” Caroline grimaced. “Looks like you’re stuck out here for a day or two.”

“Perhaps you own a dingy? I can row over.”

Darcy took the news easily and served them all coffee from the carafe. He met Bennet’s eyes as he poured into his china cup. “My advice for boating during a flood? Don’t.”

“Lyon is all alone.”

“From what I’ve seen of your brother, he doesn’t follow guidance anyway.”

Bennet closed his eyes briefly. “God. He’s marooned in a village full of shearers!”

Caroline and Darcy looked at him inquisitively.

“Never mind.” He waved the thought away with a hand. “Caroline. Would you put up with me until it’s safe to cross back into the village?”

“Well.” She touched her scarf, eyes flashing to Darcy. “I absolutely would welcome you to stay here. If I had any spare rooms. As it is, I’m sleeping in the living room during the renovations.”

Bennet searched in vain for another option. The nearest inn was practically in Port Rātapu. He didn’t want to be that far from Lyon. Farms this side of the river were few and far between. Not another one for miles. It’d be a cold trek without a horse, and still no guarantee he’d be welcome.

He drummed his fingers over his thigh.

There was no other option. His gaze locked with Darcy’s.

“I suppose that means I’m at your mercy.”

I am really loving these retellings of classic novels. But the best part is- you don’t need to know the original story. The updated retellings stand quite well on their own and I can’t wait for more.

This time, the retelling is of Pride and Prejudice. And I doubt many have read the story, I bet many have seen the movie(s). And we have all fallen a little bit in love with Mr Darcy.

Instead of Mr Darcy, we have Darcy, a widowed father of adult children we met briefly in previous books. And Bennet who returned home to the tiny village he grew up in to raise his brother after his parents died.

Bennet is not only out and proud, but so is his 15 year old brother. And because he is trying so hard to do right by him, he won’t back down from that pride and he won’t settle for less than true love with someone else as proud.

I absolutely loved the relationship between Bennet and his brother Lyon. Lyon, a typical 15 year old with the added weight of being an orphan and being gay. Throughout the book we saw their relationship blossom and grow as much as we say Bennet and Darcy’s relationship grow.

Of course there are friends and gossipy villagers and shearers who came in for sheep shearing season (ha! say that 5 times fast!). There is a side story with Bennet’s best friend which helps him see different kinds of love, different kinds of happily ever after.

Slow burn, romantic, very little sex on page and positively swoony. Loved it.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

I’m a big, BIG fan of slow-burn romances. I love to read and write stories with characters who slowly fall in love.

Some of my favorite tropes to read and write are: Enemies to Lovers, Friends to Lovers, Clueless Guys, Bisexual, Pansexual, Demisexual, Oblivious MCs, Everyone (Else) Can See It, Slow Burn, Love Has No Boundaries.

I write a variety of stories, Contemporary MM Romances with a good dollop of emotion, Contemporary lighthearted MM Romances, and even a splash of fantasy.

My books have been translated into German, Italian, French, Spanish, and Thai.

Contact: http://www.anytasunday.com/about-anyta/
Sign up for Anyta’s newsletter and receive a free e-book:
http://www.anytasunday.com/newsletter-free-e-book/

Contact Anyta:
Join my Facebook group to chat all things Slow Burn Romance:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SlowBurnSundays/

You can also find me here: www.anytasunday.com

For information about new releases and freebies, follow me on BookBub:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/anyta-sunday

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Summer Kisses (Kiss Me Book 2) by Charlie Novak: RB, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

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Aaron’s Plan
Then:
1. Get a better job
2. Learn more skills
3. Get money for restaurant
4. Don’t fall in love with Josh

Now:
1. Finesse menu
2. Stop being angry at Josh
3. Swear less (Ben’s idea)
4. Stop wanting to kiss Josh
5. Get Michelin stars
6. Stop being in love with Josh

Josh’s Plan
Then:
1. Start new job
2. Try not to burn out
3. Don’t fall in love with Aaron
4. Seriously. Don’t. It will only end badly…

Now:
1. Survive the summer
2. Get a new job?
3. Don’t get involved with Aaron again
4. Don’t think about kissing him
5. Don’t think about his smile
6. Don’t think about how much you still love him

Summer Kisses is a 78,000-word contemporary MM romance featuring two chefs with a complicated history, clashing egos, cheese toasties, and two summers that will change everything. It is part of the Kiss Me series and can be read as a standalone.

Content Warning: This novel contains mentions of drug use and issues of alcohol abuse.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

Aaron POV

Ten minutes later we staggered out of the shop, weighed down with several bags.

“Shall we go back?” Josh asked.

“You just want to try your new grape drink,” I said with a wry smile.

“There’s nothing wrong with grape.” Josh nudged me playfully as we walked along Goose Gate. “You keep saying I whine about mushrooms, but I’ve never heard someone bitch so much about a drink flavour.”

I shrugged and grinned. “Do as I say, not as I do.”

“Fuck off.”

“I can if you want, but I’m taking the dumpling stuff with me.”

“Remind me why I like you again?”

“I didn’t think you did.”

“That’s true. I don’t,” Josh said. His smile was so wide it made my chest ache, a storm of emotions threatening to overtake me. Why had we resisted this for all those years?

We dragged everything back to the flat, and I left Josh to unpack while I made a quick trip to the Tesco Express around the corner to grab some chicken. When I got back, Josh slid the orange-flavoured Charmander drink across to me.

“Where do we start?” he asked.

“First,” I said, cracking the tab and taking a long sip. It was sweet and not quite what I’d been expecting, but in a good way. “We need music.”

I grabbed my phone, hooking it up to the old Bluetooth speaker that perched on the edge of one of the shelves. I grinned, putting my playlist on shuffle, and waiting to see Josh’s reaction when the first song came on. I’d always had eclectic musical taste, from death metal to chart-topping pop, but I thought most people associated me more with the former.

Josh stared at me as the familiar beat line of “Shake It Off” kicked in, his mouth falling open. “Seriously? Taylor Swift?”

I shrugged, taking another sip of my drink. “Don’t diss Taylor. She’s awesome.”

“You know,” he said, leaning in to give me a kiss, “every time I think I’ve got you figured out, you surprise me.”

Since discovering Charlie Novak, her books are an auto-read for me. Funny, snarky, sexy with interesting characters who aren’t cookie cutter style.

This is book 2 (easily a stand alone) and I did really enjoy it. We met Josh and Aaron is book 1- they are chefs where Patrick is a pastry chef. Seeing the friendship between Aaron and Patrick even more was a delight.

The book goes back in time to when Josh and Aaron first met and wanna be chefs in London. Their flame burned bright and fast and came to a crashing halt one night. That was when all of Aaron’s secrets came to light.

They didn’t see each other for a while and are faced with each other again in a new restaurant. Cooking together. Over the span of several years, we see the animosity between them. But really, they just wanted each other.

Aaron was a total jerk during those years. Josh pretty much saved his life by walking away and Aaron treated him like crap. Yanno, until THAT NIGHT.

They can’t keep their hands off of each other now. But they never really talked about what all went down before. Instead, they just had more sex. And honestly, I almost think there was too much sex in the book. That’s saying something for me. I would have liked to see them mature more together, grow together. Which they do, but so.much.sex.

This story was a little different from previous with the alcohol abuse and drug use. Although that part of the story was told well and compassionately. And mixing angst with snark is one of my favorite things. But I needed more. They went from boiling hot to ice cold to boiling hot again. No gradual rise in temperature.

I still highly recommend. I love books set in restaurants that really show the reality of working back of the house. And I REALLY want Ben’s story…

4 pieces of eye candy

Charlie lives in England with her husband and a dachshund named Biscuit. She spends most of her days wrangling other people’s words in her day job and then trying to force her own onto the page in the evening.

She loves cute stories with a healthy dollop of fluff, plenty of delicious sex, and happily ever afters — because the world needs more of them. Charlie also believes that loves comes in all shapes and sizes.

Charlie has very little spare time, but what she does have she fills with cooking, pole-dancing, reading and ice-hockey. She also thinks that everyone should have at least one favourite dinosaur…

Connect with Charlie:

Website: https://charlienovak.com/
Newsletter https://charlienovak.com/newsletter-sign-up/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/charlienovakauthor/
Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/charlie-novak
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Instagram https://www.instagram.com/charlienwrites/
Facebook Group, Charlie’s Angels https://www.facebook.com/groups/charlienovaksangels/

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