NEW BOOKS ADDED TO MY BOOKSHELVES

DUKE OF MIDNIGHT BY ELIZABETH HOYT

Source: Purchased from Amazon Kindle

(Maiden Lane #6)

Genre: Historical Romance (Georgian – 1730s)

Official Blurb 

WHEN A MASKED MAN . . .

Twenty years ago Maximus Batten witnessed the brutal murders of his parents. Now the autocratic Duke of Wakefield, he spends his days ruling Parliament. But by night, disguised as the Ghost of St. Giles, he prowls the grim alleys of St. Giles, ever on the hunt for the murderer. One night he finds a fiery woman who meets him toe-to-toe-and won’t back down . . .

MEETS HIS MATCH . . .

Artemis Greaves toils as a lady’s companion, but hiding beneath the plain brown serge of her dress is the heart of a huntress. When the Ghost of St. Giles rescues her from footpads, she recognizes a kindred spirit-and is intrigued. She’s even more intrigued when she realizes who exactly the notorious Ghost is by day . . .

DESIRE IGNITES A DANGEROUS PASSION

Artemis makes a bold move: she demands that Maximus use his influence to free her imprisoned brother-or she will expose him as the Ghost. But blackmailing a powerful duke isn’t without risks. Now that she has the tiger by the tail, can she withstand his ire-or the temptation of his embrace?

I absolutely love this series and am hoping against hope that this will not be the final book!

★✩★✩★✩★✩★

LADY JENNY’S CHRISTMAS PORTRAIT BY GRACE BURROWES

Source: Purchased from Amazon Kindle

(The Duke’s Daughters #5)

Genre: Historical Romance (Regency)

Official Blurb 

A freshly wrapped Regency Christmas romance from New York Times and USA Todabestselling author Grace Burrowes.

What Lady Jenny wants for Christmas…

For Christmas, soft-spoken Lady Jenny Windham craves the freedom to pursue her artistic ambitions, though it will mean scandalizing her ducal parents and abandoning all hope of a family of her own. She confides her plans to successful artist Elijah Harrison when he’s commissioned to paint a portrait of her small nephews, because assisting Elijah will bring Jenny that much closer to her heart’s desire—won’t it?

…Will break both their hearts.

Elijah Harrison finds in his unlikely assistant not only an inspiring muse and unappreciated talent, but also a lovely and passionate woman. If Elijah supports Jenny’s career, his own professional interests will suffer, but more significantly, he will lose Jenny forever. Both Jenny and Elijah must choose between true love and a lifelong dream.

I blame Dot of La Deeta Reads for making me buy this book. She will know why!

★✩★✩★✩★✩★

HERO’S REDEMPTION BY GEORGIE LEE

Source: Gift from the author

Genre: Historical Romance (Regency)

Official Blurb 

London, 1817

Devon, the Earl of Malton, is a hero for his deeds at the Battle of Waterloo. But he suffers terrible nightmares, and drinks himself to sleep most nights. A habit he vows to break when he awakes one morning to find a woman sharing his bed, no memory of how she got there, and her angry brother at his door.

Cathleen is mortified when her wastrel brother and his greedy wife propose a blackmail scheme involving the earl, but as a penniless war widow she’s at their mercy. She goes along with the plan and sneaks into Devon’s bed one night, and ends up comforting him through a night terror.

Charmed by her beauty and kindness, Devon determines that rather than pay the blackmail, he will offer his hand in marriage to Cathleen. Although she is deeply attracted to the stoic earl, Cathleen cannot understand why Devon would want to marry her. What she doesn’t know is that Devon owes her a debt that can never fully be repaid…

I recently won a copy of Georgie Lee’s ENGAGEMENT OF CONVENIENCE but she has had problems sending me a digital copy. It would seem Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk do not speak the same language! Ms Lee has kindly sent me a PDF copy of this novella with apologies for the delay. 

★✩★✩★✩★✩★

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NEW BOOKS ADDED TO MY BOOKSHELVES

GABRIEL BY GRACE BURROWES 

Source: Bought from Amazon Kindle

(Lonely Lords #5)

Genre: Historical Romance

Official Blurb 

Gabriel North has spent two years allowing his family to believe him dead, while he assumes the identity of a hardworking steward on the neglected Three Springs estate.

When Gabriel falls in love with Polonaise Hunt, cook at Three Springs, he realizes that until he solves the mystery of who tried repeatedly to kill him, he cannot ask any woman to share his life.

Gabriel resumes his proper identity as Marquis of Hesketh, only to find that Polonaise has also resumed her calling, that of talented portrait artist, and she’s been commissioned to paint Gabriel’s heir.

While Gabriel tries to untangle the mystery of his attempted murder, he finds Polonaise has been keeping secrets of her own. She can capture Gabriel’s likeness on canvas, but can he capture her heart?

★✩★✩★✩★✩★

THE ELUSIVE WIFE BY CALLIE HUTTON

Source: Bought from Amazon Kindle

Genre: Historical Romance (Regency)

Official Blurb 

Jason Cavendish, the Earl of Coventry, is trying to discreetly locate his unwanted and abandoned bride among London society to request an annulment. However, he doesn’t remember what she looks like because he was blind drunk at his arranged wedding and hasn’t seen her since. The fascinating Lady Olivia has captured the Earl’s attention. Newly arrived from the country to stay with her school friend for the Season, she is appalled to discover that her husband, Lord Coventry, doesn’t even recognize her. She’s not about to tell the arrogant arse that she is his wife. Instead, she flirts with him by night and has her modiste send her mounting bills to him by day. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned… Too bad this woman finds her husband nearly irresistible.

★✩★✩★✩★✩★

THE SPY WORE BLUE BY SHAN GALEN

Source: Bought from Amazon Kindle

(Lord and Lady Spy #1.5)

Genre: Historical Romance (Regency)

Official Blurb 

An exciting new novella in the popular Lord and Lady Spy series. Blue, an elite spy, tracks an assassin to Naples and the theater where his estranged wife performs. As he falls in love with his Helena again, Blue races to apprehend the assassin before he destroys them both.

★✩★✩★✩★✩★

SCANDAL IN THE NIGHT BY ELIZABETH ESSEX

Source: Won in a Giveaway

(The Reckless Brides #3)

Genre: Historical Romance (Regency)

Official Blurb 

When the Reckless Brides set their sights on England’s eligible bachelors, nothing can stop them. But when they are strangers in a strange land, anything can happen…

The Spy Who Loved Her

Assuming a false identity as a prim and proper governess, the bold and beautiful Cat Rowan thinks she has finally escaped the wild misadventures of her past—and the wickedly handsome spy who seduced her in India. Imagine her surprise when her employer introduces his brother: the very same cad who destroyed her heart!

The One Who Got Away

The Honorable Thomas Jellicoe cannot believe his eyes when he sees his beloved Cat—the Scottish beauty who nearly jeopardized his mission in India. Disguised as a horse trader from the bazaars of the Punjab, the British spy risked his life for one night of passion in her arms. But here and now—breaking all rules of decorum—one heated kiss ignites a flurry of gunfire. For their enemies have followed them home. And love is the greatest danger of all…

★✩★✩★✩★✩★

This is a historical biography but it sounded really interesting.

THE LADY PENELOPE: THE LOST TALE OF LOVE AND POLITICS IN THE COURT OF ELIZABETH 1 BY SALLY VARLOW

Source: Bought from Amazon Kindle

Official Blurb 

Penelope Devereux was the brightest star who ever shone in the court of Queen Elizabeth I in 16th-century England, and this biography challenges the usual historians’ view that she was merely a footnote to famous men’s lives. The questions explored include: What political significance did she hold with her brother, Essex, and the Queen? Why did Essex name her as a major player in the coup that cost him his head, and how did she walk free? What was she doing having secret meetings with the most hunted Jesuit priest in England? Most important of all, if Mary Boleyn was her great-grandmother, was King Henry VIII her great-grandfather? Her life touched on every great event of the age—the execution of Mary Queen of Scots, the defeat of the Spanish Armada, the arrival of King James, and the Gunpowder Plot. She also knew many of the celebrated artistic figures of the day, including William Shakespeare. She was the most beautiful woman of her generation and muse to countless poets and musicians, yet she died in disgrace—a widow, outcast from court, and stripped of all her titles. Set against the character of Queen Elizabeth I and the staged pageantry of her Court, this dramatic and ultimately tragic story will have immediate appeal to all lovers of historical biographies.

★✩★✩★✩★✩★

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MY AUTO-BUY BOOKS FOR SEPTEMBER 2013

GABRIEL: LORD OF REGRETS BY GRACE BURROWES

(Lonely Lords #5)

Genre: Historical Romance

Official Blurb 

Gabriel North has spent two years allowing his family to believe him dead, while he assumes the identity of a hardworking steward on the neglected Three Springs estate.

When Gabriel falls in love with Polonaise Hunt, cook at Three Springs, he realizes that until he solves the mystery of who tried repeatedly to kill him, he cannot ask any woman to share his life.

Gabriel resumes his proper identity as Marquis of Hesketh, only to find that Polonaise has also resumed her calling, that of talented portrait artist, and she’s been commissioned to paint Gabriel’s heir.

While Gabriel tries to untangle the mystery of his attempted murder, he finds Polonaise has been keeping secrets of her own. She can capture Gabriel’s likeness on canvas, but can he capture her heart?

(Expected date of publication – Kindle: 3 September 2013) 

★✩★✩★✩★

THE UNTAMED MACKENZIE BY JENNIFER ASHLEY

(Highland Pleasures #5.5)

Genre: Historical Romance

Official Blurb 

A WOMAN OF BREEDING MEETS A MAN OF NO STANDING… 

To redeem her family’s disgraced name, Lady Louisa Scranton has decided to acquire a proper husband. He needs to be a man of fortune and highly respectable in order to restore both her family’s lost wealth and reputation. She enters the Marriage Mart with all flags flying, determined to find the right bachelor.

But Louisa’s hopes are dashed when the Bishop of Hargate drops dead at her feet—and she is shockingly accused of murder! Soon, Louisa’s so-called friends begin shunning her, because the company of a suspected killer is never desirable in polite society.

The problem comes to the ears of Detective Inspector Lloyd Fellows, by-blow of the decadent Scottish Mackenzie family and an inspector for Scotland Yard. He has shared two passionate kisses with Lady Louisa–and vows to clear her name. For not only does he know she’s innocent, he recognizes he’s falling for the lovely lady.

Fellows is Louisa’s only hope of restoring her family’s honor—and it is he alone who intrigues Louisa in a way that may be even more scandalous than murder…

[INCLUDES A PREVIEW OF THE UPCOMING NOVEL THE WICKED DEEDS OF DANIEL MACKENZIE]

(Expected date of publication – Kindle: 10 September 2013 ) 

★✩★✩★✩★

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NEW BOOKS ADDED TO MY BOOKSHELVES

These two July auto-buy books have been added to my bookshelves

The following three books were all Kindle freebies from Amazon.

(MacGregor Trilogy #1)

Genre: Historical Romance

Official Blurb 

HIS FAMILY OR HIS HEART–ONE OF THEM WILL BE BETRAYED…

Ian MacGregor is wooing a woman who’s wrong for him in every way. As the new Earl of Balfour, though, he must marry an English heiress to repair the family fortunes.

But in his intended’s penniless chaperone, Augusta, Ian is finding everything he’s ever wanted in a wife.

★✩★✩★✩★✩★

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Official Blurb 

Ellie Montgomery’s beloved hotel is going up for auction. She must cater to the highest bidder, or she’ll lose her family legacy, her dreams, and the only life she’s ever known.

Carter Stratton plans to be the highest bidder, payback for how the Montgomery family treated him and Ellie’s long-ago rejection. Bent on revenge, he’ll accept nothing less than her complete surrender, body and soul.

When his intent for revenge turns into seduction, Carter must decide whether he wants a chance to even the score, or a second chance with the woman he never stopped loving.

★✩★✩★✩★✩★

Genre: Historical Romance

Official Blurb 

Claire Tremaine, the widowed Marchioness of Derebourne, wears leather breeches, trains horses and helps the damaged ones find their lost spirit.

Chastain Warren, the Earl of Kensington, Chase to his friends, isn’t pleased when he learns he’s inherited the title of Marquess of Derebourne. Having recently lost his beloved wife and unborn child, the last thing he wants is to be attracted to Derebourne’s widow, but he is. This woman who wears breeches isn’t anything like the ladies he’s waltzed with in the ballrooms of London.

It doesn’t take Claire long to realize she wants this man, and when he resists, she comes up with a plan she calls The Training of a Marquess and works her horse whispering magic on Chase.

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NEW BOOKS ADDED TO MY BOOKSHELVES

These auto-buy books for July have been added to my bookshelves.

(Published 2 July 2013)

(Published 2 July 2013)

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MY AUTO-BUY BOOKS FOR JULY 2013

I’m really enjoying Christina Brooke’s MINISTRY OF MARRIAGE series and the men of the Westruther family now take centre stage.

(Ministry of Marriage #4)

Genre: Historical Romance

(Expected date of publication 2 July 2013)

Official Blurb 

When he was bad, he was so very, very good…

London’s Ultimate Bad Boy…

Physically reckless, irrepressibly roguish, and poised on the brink of ruin, Jonathon Westruther, Earl of Davenport, returns from the dead only to throw himself into dissipation. Until he meets his worst nightmare: a straitlaced former schoolteacher he can’t get out of his head. He resolves to seduce the delightful Miss Hilary deVere by fair means or foul. But when his past returns to endanger Hilary, he must protect her at all costs…

Meets England’s Most Proper Miss

Dismissed from her post at a ladies’ academy because of prejudice against her uncouth family, Hilary will do anything to avoid going back to live with her loutish brothers. She longs for a London season to show the world a deVere can behave with utmost decorum and to find a respectable husband. Everything about Lord Davenport appalls her, but desperation makes strange bedfellows. To get to London, Hilary strikes a bargain with the devilish Davenport, confident that she’s immune to his charm. But as she discovers surprising depths beneath his rakish surface, this infamous scoundrel becomes more temptation than even the most proper lady can withstand…

★✩★✩★✩★

(Lonely Lords #4)

Genre: Historical Romance

(Expected date of publication 2 July 2013)

Official Blurb 

Beckman Haddonfield is ready to live again…

Beckman finally emerges from the shadow of his wife’s death by agreeing to restore a family estate…and embarking on a dalliance with the quiet, mysterious housekeeper who resides there. But she is not who she seems…

Riveting and refreshing, Beckman is an unforgettable story about love’s power to overcome grief and guilt. Award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes’s gorgeous writing and lush Regency world will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

★✩★✩★✩★

I enjoyed Manda Collins’s UGLY DUCKLINGS series and I’m looking forward to this new one. 

(Wicked Widows #1)

Genre: Historical Romance

(Expected date of publication 30 July 2013)

Official Blurb 

Even in London society—where everyone knows what you did last season—you never know who’s next in line to walk down the aisle…

TRUE LOVE IS OFTEN FOUND

With her whirlwind social life in London, Lady Isabella Wharton has little interest in the customs of the country. But when her godmother asks her to pay a visit to her bachelor grandson in Yorkshire, Isabella can’t refuse. It behooves her to please the old dowager, since she harbors one of Isabella’s most scandalous secrets. So off she goes to see the newly-titled—and notoriously rustic—Duke of Ormond…

WHERE YOU LEAST EXPECT IT

Trevor Carey doesn’t care about what goes on behind ballroom doors. He is content with the simple life—and isn’t ashamed to admit it to a society flirt like Lady Isabella. But the country air brings out a different side of Isabella—one full of longing and passion. Can her sophistication be hiding a desire for love? When a blackmailer from the city arrives to threaten Isabella, Trevor will shield her from harm—even travel to London. Can the duke tackle the ton on Isabella’s behalf …and manage to keep her all to himself?

★✩★✩★✩★

I’m a big fan of Nicola Cornick and loved her SCANDALOUS WOMEN OF THE TON series. I’m also partial to hunky highlanders in kilts, so this new series is sure to be a winner with me.

(Scottish Brides #1)

Genre: Historical Romance

(Expected date of publication 30 July 2013)

Official Blurb 

An Indecent Proposal!

Lady Lucy MacMorlan may have forsworn men and marriage, but that doesn’t mean she won’t agree to profit from writing love letters for her brother’s friends – letters that become increasingly racy as her fame grows. That is, until she deliberately ruins the betrothal of a notorious laird, Robert, Marquis of Methven.

Past centuries of bloodshed have left the Methven and MacMorlan families bitter enemies and Robert is furious that Lady Lucy’s letters have cost him the bride he needs so urgently to save his ancestral clan lands. Now he makes Lucy a shocking proposal; in return for his silence she must become his wife and provide him with the heir he needs. It is an inconvenient marriage of convenience but can the rugged laird and the bluestocking beauty fight against the power of love?

Scottish Brides – Where Regency elegance meets Highland passion!

★✩★✩★✩★

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NEW BOOKS ADDED TO MY BOOKSHELVES

This auto-buy book for June has now been added to my bookshelves.

★✩★✩★✩★✩★

I have not read any of Jess Michaels’s books but this free Kindle download seemed the perfect opportunity to check out a new-to-me author. I loved the tongue-in-cheek “Product Warnings” as well!

(Mistress Matchmaker #1)

Genre: Historical Erotic Romance

Official Blurb 

An innocent lady’s education could be a gentleman’s wicked seduction.

Lysandra Keates is running out of options. Her father is dead, her mother is ill, and her efforts to find respectable employment have ended in failure. With her small savings bleeding away, she swallows her pride—and her terror—and turns to Vivien Manning, an infamous courtesan, to match her with a wealthy protector.

For years, Viscount Andrew Callis has lived a monastic existence at his country estate, hardening his body against the snobbish, lazy young man he once was, hardening his heart against grief over the deaths of his wife and infant son. When Vivien asks him to spend one month training a young woman in the ways of a mistress, his mind resists…but his body responds with an ache he thought long dead.

As Andrew begins his gentle tutelage, he finds himself falling under the spell of Lysandra’s innocent charms. And as they give in to the powerful hunger, the last thing Andrew ever expected, or wanted, forms between them. An emotional connection that could carry them well past the training period—if only Andrew can open his heart to the possibility of love.

Product Warnings
Includes training in all kinds of sexual positions and delights, as well as an emotional romance. May produce swooning.

★✩★✩★✩★✩★

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MY AUTO-BUY BOOKS FOR JUNE 2013

(Lonely Lords #3)

Official Blurb 

Ethan Grey’s life was shattered…

Estranged from his family, widowed after an unhappy marriage, and weary from fighting his troubled past, Ethan Grey now has a chance for redemption. His son’s beautiful and remarkable governess might help him battle his ghosts, but it’s been a long time since he let himself get close to anyone.

Alice Portman has more in common with Ethan than she can comfortably admit. For now, she’s satisfied with helping him rebuild his life and family. But the dangerous past is about to catch up with them both.

An unforgettable Regency tale of two wounded people who get another chance at love. Award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes’s extraordinary writing will immerse you in a Regency world unlike any you’ve experienced.

★✩★✩★✩★

I became hooked on this series after reading the first book DARIUS. 

(Expected date of publication 4 June 2013)

(Ugly Ducklings #3.5)

Official Blurb 

The beautiful Miss Amelia Snow is not accustomed to being snubbed by the gentlemen of the ton. But when her mother dies unexpectedly, forcing Amelia to take employment as companion to a wealthy cit’s daughter, she quickly learns to play down her looks or risk losing her position. When her employers, the Smithsons, decide to throw a country house party, she is determined to fade into the background. But how can she when the Smithson’s guest of honor is Lord Quentin Fortescue, the childhood friend who stole her heart?

Younger son, Lord Quentin Fortescue, is far more interested in his host’s cotton mills in the north than he is in courting the man’s dim-witted daughter. But it’s the girl’s companion who makes him look twice. Years ago, Miss Amelia Snowe rejected his proposal without a backward glance. Quentin has molded himself into just the sort of man she’d have wanted back then, but is Amelia still the smug beauty who broke his heart? And can either of them risk their newfound positions to indulge the fiery attraction that burns between them? 

★✩★✩★✩★

It will be interesting to see how Ms Collins redeems Amelia Snow, the arch-nemesis of the “Ugly Ducklings”, Cecily, Juliet and Madeline.

(Expected date of publication 18 June 2013)

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NEW REVIEW OF DARIUS BY GRACE BURROWES

Lonely Lords #1

Setting : Regency England

Official Blurb

Desperate, penniless, and shunned by his wealthy father, Darius Lindsey begins offering himself secretly to jaded society ladies. He hangs onto his last shreds of honor, but he’s losing ground financially each month.

That is until the aging Lord William Longstreet makes Darius an offer he can’t refuse: get the Lord’s pretty young wife-of-convenience, Lady Vivian, pregnant discreetly, and he will earn enough money to never want again. But problems lie ahead when the stunning Vivian captures his heart, and his clients refuse to let him go. Can Darius untangle himself without scandal and offer himself to Vivian heart and soul?

★✩★✩★✩

I started reading this book with some trepidation given the story premise, but I was totally captivated by this beautifully crafted and emotionally satisfying tale of love and redemption.

The time had come to ransom his soul back from hell.

Ms Burrowes took a risk with a hero who, to put it in his own words, was crassly bought and paid for, a stud to service a highbred filly, a cicisbeo in the most vulgar, unflattering sense. But for me that risk definitely paid off because it is Darius’s very flaws that make following his journey to regaining his honour and self-respect so much more satisfying. He’s a good and noble man at heart:

…it struck her like a thunderclap that Darius had prostituted himself to provide for John and the collection of castoffs that formed the staff at Averett Hill. There was nothing, nothing Darius would not do to protect his loved ones.

and truly deserves his happy ending.

I was a biddable, unpaid nurse-companion in an ugly dress. I am not… I am not the woman I am supposed to be, unless I am with you. I had no courage. I had no fortitude. I had no trust. I was nobody’s mother, nobody’s lioness, nobody’s lover.”

I adore Vivian. She’s kind, honest, intelligent and a genuine lady. I loved watching her blossom into the woman she’s meant to be – confident, courageous, passionate and a wonderful mother. Most of all I love her for seeing what a truly wonderful man Darius is.

He was just a man, she was just a woman, and it would be… just sex.

One of the highlights of the book is the slow-building romance between Darius and Vivian. It makes their falling in love seem natural and inevitable. There are so many things I love about the relationship – Darius’s flirting and teasing, Vivian’s delightful innocence, the passion and their overwhelming love for each other.

The secondary characters certainly add depth the story. There’s Vivian’s kindly and astute husband, Lord Longstreet, Thurgood Ainsworthy, Vivian’s avaricious step-father and Lady Cowell and Lady Milne (I would hesitate to use the word Lady in connection with them!), those harpies who make Darius’s life such a misery. I’m happy to report that both the harpies and Ainsworthy get their just desserts.

I can’t end this review without mentioning the scenes with Darius and the baby.  They’re so moving and heart-warming.

If you are looking for a story with unforgettable characters and a love story that touches the heart, look no further than this book.

VERDICT: FANTASTIC! LOVED IT!

RATING:  5/5 Stars

SENSUALITY RATING: HOT

Read April 2013

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NEW BOOKS ADDED TO MY BOOKSHELVES

Lonely Lords #1

Desperate, penniless, and shunned by his wealthy father, Darius Lindsey begins offering himself secretly to jaded society ladies. He hangs onto his last shreds of honor, but he’s losing ground financially each month.

That is until the aging Lord William Longstreet makes Darius an offer he can’t refuse: get the Lord’s pretty young wife-of-convenience, Lady Vivian, pregnant discreetly, and he will earn enough money to never want again. But problems lie ahead when the stunning Vivian captures his heart, and his clients refuse to let him go. Can Darius untangle himself without scandal and offer himself to Vivian heart and soul?

 

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