To celebrate Earth Day, Addison Albright has agreed to let me giveaway an ebook copy of her short story Cow Pie Bingo. Cow Pie Bingo was published on April 10, 2010 by Smashwords. The story will be available in most formats, and the winner can choose which format they prefer.
Here's the blurb:
Evan lets a co-worker talk him into working a kissing booth at a charity fair. Not quite sure what to expect, he certainly doesn't count on meeting Gary, or kissing him, considering his past. Kissing is what he ends up doing, though, along with playing cow pie bingo for a good cause. Will Gary end up being more than a six-ticket ride?
You can find out more about Cow Pie Bingo and read an excerpt on Addison's website.
Contest Rules (Borrowed and modified from Stumbling Over Chaos <3<3):
* To enter, leave a comment stating that you are entering the contest. Contest closes Midnight EST on April 29.
* If you share this contest (on Facebook, Goodreads, you blog, etc. I'll give you an extra entry for each medium you use, up to three extra entries.
* You must leave a valid email address with your comment. If you don't include an email address in your post or on your Google Profile, Chris's Blog Gnomes will turn your post into kitty litter for the Chaos Cat.
* Winners will be selected by random number.
* If a winner doesn’t respond to my congratulations email within 48 hours, I will select another winner.
* If you win, please respect the author’s intellectual property and don’t make copies of the ebook for anyone else.
* This contest is open worldwide!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Interview with Carol Lynne
Carol Lynne is one of my favorite authors. She writes a lot of lighthearted, easy read books. It's nice to be able to relax with one of her books and not have a lot of angst or confusion. This month, she's the featured author over at the M/M Romance group on Goodreads.com After talking to her a couple times over here, I asked her if she would mind doing an interview about her writing and specifically, her Cattle Valley series. So, here is the interview with Carol Lynne!
General Writing Questions
The Dancing Dove: What was it like when your first book was published?
Carol Lynne: Incredibly scary. Writing my first book, Branded by Gold, was a fluke. I did it because I was bored and out of stuff to read. I had absolutely no idea how much that single book would change the direction of my life.
TDD: What made you decide to write M/M romance?
CL: When I wrote Branded by Gold (M/M/F), I realized I much preferred writing the relationship between the two men. The next two books I wrote, Gio's Dream and Sex with Lex, gave me a chance to explore that side of writing. It wasn't hard to decide that's the direction I wanted to take. Besides, I can't stand the terms used for female girly parts.
TDD: How often do you write?
CL: Writing is my full-time job, and I take it incredibly seriously. I usually write 12 hours per day, seven days a week.
TDD: Is there a certain place you like to write? The beach, the library, a comfy spot on the couch?
CL: I write in my comfortable chair in the family room most of the time. I do spend a great deal of time writing on my covered deck when the weather permits.
TDD: Have any writers heavily influenced your writing style?
CL: Hard question. My style is pretty much my own, I think. I write the way I like to read, simple. LOL I am incredibly inspired by authors in this genre. Sometimes I read stories and fall more in love with the structure of words on the page than the actual story.
TDD: Are you "out" about what you write to friend/family/neighbors/etc.?
CL: Yes, for the most part. I mean, all my friends and family know what I write. This year I finally came out to my children's school teachers and principal. That was quite a big issue because both of my daughters attend Catholic school. I'm not sure what they say behind my back, but they've all been incredibly supportive to my face. LOL
Cattle Valley Questions
TDD: Where did you get the idea for Cattle Valley?
CL: I wanted a setting where being gay was the norm so I could focus on the characters and their stories. I came up with the idea out of necessity but soon found Cattle Valley to be so much more than I'd hoped. I get emails all the time from people who wish such a town existed. I've actually had several emails from people who truly believed it did. I think the Cattle Valley website goes a long way in making it seem real, although, damn, I wish there was a town with so many hunks.
TDD: Is the setting based off a real location?
CL: Nope. When I decided to create the town, I sat down and drew up a blueprint. I charted store locations, the park and municipal buildings. I wanted to make sure Deb's Diner was always across the street from the Sheriff's station, so it seemed like the easiest way to remember it.
TDD: How many books do you have planned for Cattle Valley?
CL: Right now, I have agreed to write installments through June of 2011. That should put me right around 25 for the series, but it could easily go beyond. It depends on the readership. I don't want to bore people, and I don't want to “jump the shark” like one of my favorite series, Happy Days did.
TDD: Do you have a favorite couple from your Cattle Valley series?
CL: Ooh, that's a hard one. I have favorite characters, definitely. Rio is my muse for this series. Originally it was Nate, of course, but the more I wrote Rio's character, the more I fell in love with him. I also have a crush on Kyle. His love story with Gill was one of my favorites to write.
TDD: You've got such a variety of characters in the series, how do you manage to keep them all straight?
CL: I have an incredibly long character sheet. When I add a new character, I add him to the sheet along with as much information as I can at that time. I update the sheet as I go along. There have been several character screw-ups along the way. I almost swallowed my tongue when I realized I had two Ryan's in Cattle Valley, but I finally gave myself a break. In a town the size of Cattle Valley there is bound to be more than one person with a particular name. Still, it is a sore spot for me. LOL
TDD: Care to share anything about the next Cattle Valley book?
CL: The next book is Neil's Guardian Angel. I will tell you that Neil and Ben will get a lot of help from Garron and Sonny from the Good-time Boys series.
Carol Lynne's novel Firehouse Heat is the sixteenth installment in the Cattle Valley series. It was release on April 12,2010. You can find out more about this series on the Cattle Valley website. This is Ms. Lynne's 50th novel with Total-e-Bound Publishing.
General Writing Questions
The Dancing Dove: What was it like when your first book was published?
Carol Lynne: Incredibly scary. Writing my first book, Branded by Gold, was a fluke. I did it because I was bored and out of stuff to read. I had absolutely no idea how much that single book would change the direction of my life.
TDD: What made you decide to write M/M romance?
CL: When I wrote Branded by Gold (M/M/F), I realized I much preferred writing the relationship between the two men. The next two books I wrote, Gio's Dream and Sex with Lex, gave me a chance to explore that side of writing. It wasn't hard to decide that's the direction I wanted to take. Besides, I can't stand the terms used for female girly parts.
TDD: How often do you write?
CL: Writing is my full-time job, and I take it incredibly seriously. I usually write 12 hours per day, seven days a week.
TDD: Is there a certain place you like to write? The beach, the library, a comfy spot on the couch?
CL: I write in my comfortable chair in the family room most of the time. I do spend a great deal of time writing on my covered deck when the weather permits.
TDD: Have any writers heavily influenced your writing style?
CL: Hard question. My style is pretty much my own, I think. I write the way I like to read, simple. LOL I am incredibly inspired by authors in this genre. Sometimes I read stories and fall more in love with the structure of words on the page than the actual story.
TDD: Are you "out" about what you write to friend/family/neighbors/etc.?
CL: Yes, for the most part. I mean, all my friends and family know what I write. This year I finally came out to my children's school teachers and principal. That was quite a big issue because both of my daughters attend Catholic school. I'm not sure what they say behind my back, but they've all been incredibly supportive to my face. LOL
Cattle Valley Questions
TDD: Where did you get the idea for Cattle Valley?
CL: I wanted a setting where being gay was the norm so I could focus on the characters and their stories. I came up with the idea out of necessity but soon found Cattle Valley to be so much more than I'd hoped. I get emails all the time from people who wish such a town existed. I've actually had several emails from people who truly believed it did. I think the Cattle Valley website goes a long way in making it seem real, although, damn, I wish there was a town with so many hunks.
TDD: Is the setting based off a real location?
CL: Nope. When I decided to create the town, I sat down and drew up a blueprint. I charted store locations, the park and municipal buildings. I wanted to make sure Deb's Diner was always across the street from the Sheriff's station, so it seemed like the easiest way to remember it.
TDD: How many books do you have planned for Cattle Valley?
CL: Right now, I have agreed to write installments through June of 2011. That should put me right around 25 for the series, but it could easily go beyond. It depends on the readership. I don't want to bore people, and I don't want to “jump the shark” like one of my favorite series, Happy Days did.
TDD: Do you have a favorite couple from your Cattle Valley series?
CL: Ooh, that's a hard one. I have favorite characters, definitely. Rio is my muse for this series. Originally it was Nate, of course, but the more I wrote Rio's character, the more I fell in love with him. I also have a crush on Kyle. His love story with Gill was one of my favorites to write.
TDD: You've got such a variety of characters in the series, how do you manage to keep them all straight?
CL: I have an incredibly long character sheet. When I add a new character, I add him to the sheet along with as much information as I can at that time. I update the sheet as I go along. There have been several character screw-ups along the way. I almost swallowed my tongue when I realized I had two Ryan's in Cattle Valley, but I finally gave myself a break. In a town the size of Cattle Valley there is bound to be more than one person with a particular name. Still, it is a sore spot for me. LOL
TDD: Care to share anything about the next Cattle Valley book?
CL: The next book is Neil's Guardian Angel. I will tell you that Neil and Ben will get a lot of help from Garron and Sonny from the Good-time Boys series.
Carol Lynne's novel Firehouse Heat is the sixteenth installment in the Cattle Valley series. It was release on April 12,2010. You can find out more about this series on the Cattle Valley website. This is Ms. Lynne's 50th novel with Total-e-Bound Publishing.
Special Delivery Winner
Congratulations to Cecile for winning the Special Delivery giveaway! I will be in touch with you soon with your free copy. =)
Keep an eye out for a few giveaways today and tomorrow to celebrate Earth Day! Also look out for an interview with Carol Lynne. =)
Keep an eye out for a few giveaways today and tomorrow to celebrate Earth Day! Also look out for an interview with Carol Lynne. =)
Friday, April 16, 2010
Heaven
Title: Heaven
Author: Jet Mykles
Series: Heaven Sent
Rating: 3/5 stars
Review:
Desperate to save his family's hotel, the Weiss Strande, Tyler and his best friend sink their hopes and what's left of their money into a new venture: a nightclub at the hotel. The White Room must succeed, or the hotel will go under. Against all hope, they manage to sign the mega-popular rock group Heaven Sent to play the grand opening. Already a huge fan of the group, Tyler couldn't be more excited to welcome them to his hotel. He's not at all prepared for the bomb of lust that hits him when he's finally face-to-face with the painfully gorgeous lead singer, Johnnie Heaven. Johnnie's probably the most beautiful person he's ever seen, but Tyler is straight. He's feeling a misguided form of hero worship, right? When Johnnie invites Tyler to his room to play video games, their shared passion, Tyler jumps at the chance. He and Johnnie have a great time with the games, but Tyler soon discovers that Johnnie aims to introduce Tyler to a whole new level of game play…
I'm really disappointed in the novel. It was highly recommend by a few friends, but ultimately it left a bad taste in my mouth. Johnnie was way too pushy. He pushed Tyler into doing things that he didn't want and wasn't ready for, yet he insisted that he knew best. Then Tyler magically ended up falling in love with Johnnie. It made me think of Stockholm syndrome.
The characters were perfect and they didn't really have any flaws. Johnnie was the classic rockstar who is perfect in everyway and manages to fall in love with one of his fans. That seemed a little cliché, but it wasn't enough for me to stop reading. None of the characters were really developed, I don't really care about them, nor do they seem realistic to me. The side characters were barely even touched.
Mykle's writing was error free, and there weren't any typos or continuality errors that threw me out of the book. I just wish she had developed her characters a little bit more and added some more plot. The "I'm not gay" plot gets old, quickly. Also, who the hell has sex during their father's wake? That's just rude, demeaning and disrespectful.
I'm not sure I'd recommend this, unless you enjoy books where not much goes on. It was really hard for me to get into this, but who knows, maybe you'll love it.
** Warning ** This novel contains sex scenes and may not be appropriate for readers under than age of 18.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Dreamspinner iPad Giveaway!
To celebrate the release of Dreamspinner’s eBooks being added to the iBookstore this summer, Dreamspinner Press is giving away an iPad in a random drawing. Every $10 you spend at Dreamspinner's website between April 15 and May 15 automatically enters your name in the drawing. The more you spend, the more times you’ll be entered. A winner will be drawn at random and announced on May 24.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
Book Giveaway - Special Delivery
Heidi Cullinan has allowed me to offer up a PDF copy of her novel, Special Delivery for giveaway! Special Delivery was published on February 15, 2010 by Dreamspinner Press. It is her second novel published by Dreamspinner Press and I'm am excited to be able to offer it as a giveaway.
Here's a plot summary:
Sam Keller knows he’ll never find the excitement he craves in Middleton, Iowa—not while he’s busting his ass in nursing school and paying rent by slaving away in a pharmacy stockroom. But before his mother died, he promised her he’d grow up to be a good man, so he needs a stable career and a good husband, not a dead-end job and empty sex.
Then Sam meets Mitch Tedsoe, an independent trucker who makes a delivery to a shop across the alley. Innocent flirting quickly leads to an affair, and when Mitch offers to take Sam on a road trip west, Sam jumps at the chance for adventure with his fantasy man... but Mitch also comes with a past. A threesome with the other man in Mitch’s life would have been just another kinky ride, but somewhere between the Mississippi River and the Colorado Rockies, Sam falls in love.
But can a relationship born out of escape and indulgence become something that lasts? Will a fantasy man be willing to settle down into reality, or is the adventure and excitement Sam finds with Mitch just another stop on a delivery man’s journey? For better or for worse, eventually Sam is going to discover the answer, because no matter how far away he travels, eventually all roads lead home.
You can read an excerpt at Dreamspinner's website.
Contest Rules (Borrowed and modified from Stumbling Over Chaos <3<3):
* To enter, leave a comment stating that you are entering the contest. Contest closes Midnight EST on April 19.
* If you share this contest (on Facebook, Goodreads, you blog, etc. I'll give you an extra entry for each medium you use, up to three extra entries.
* Winners will be selected by random number.
* You must leave a valid email address with your comment.
* If a winner doesn’t respond to my congratulations email within 48 hours, I will select another winner.
* If you win, please respect the author’s intellectual property and don’t make copies of the ebook for anyone else.
* This contest is open worldwide!
Here's a plot summary:
Sam Keller knows he’ll never find the excitement he craves in Middleton, Iowa—not while he’s busting his ass in nursing school and paying rent by slaving away in a pharmacy stockroom. But before his mother died, he promised her he’d grow up to be a good man, so he needs a stable career and a good husband, not a dead-end job and empty sex.
Then Sam meets Mitch Tedsoe, an independent trucker who makes a delivery to a shop across the alley. Innocent flirting quickly leads to an affair, and when Mitch offers to take Sam on a road trip west, Sam jumps at the chance for adventure with his fantasy man... but Mitch also comes with a past. A threesome with the other man in Mitch’s life would have been just another kinky ride, but somewhere between the Mississippi River and the Colorado Rockies, Sam falls in love.
But can a relationship born out of escape and indulgence become something that lasts? Will a fantasy man be willing to settle down into reality, or is the adventure and excitement Sam finds with Mitch just another stop on a delivery man’s journey? For better or for worse, eventually Sam is going to discover the answer, because no matter how far away he travels, eventually all roads lead home.
You can read an excerpt at Dreamspinner's website.
Contest Rules (Borrowed and modified from Stumbling Over Chaos <3<3):
* To enter, leave a comment stating that you are entering the contest. Contest closes Midnight EST on April 19.
* If you share this contest (on Facebook, Goodreads, you blog, etc. I'll give you an extra entry for each medium you use, up to three extra entries.
* Winners will be selected by random number.
* You must leave a valid email address with your comment.
* If a winner doesn’t respond to my congratulations email within 48 hours, I will select another winner.
* If you win, please respect the author’s intellectual property and don’t make copies of the ebook for anyone else.
* This contest is open worldwide!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Vote for Goodreads to win a Webby!
Hey guys! Goodreads has been nominated for a Webby! The Webby's have been called "The internet's highest honor." Goodreads is competing in the Social Networking category against tops sites Twitter, Digg, Bakespace and Cute as Hell!
Head on over to the Webby site and cast your vote for Goodreads! Voting ends on April 29, so hurry!
http://webby.aol.com/
Don't forget to pass the message along!
(I know I'm posting a lot today, I don't do this every day, I promise!)
Head on over to the Webby site and cast your vote for Goodreads! Voting ends on April 29, so hurry!
http://webby.aol.com/
Don't forget to pass the message along!
(I know I'm posting a lot today, I don't do this every day, I promise!)
Book Giveaway - Son of a Gun
Chris at Stumbling Over Chaos is at it again! She has a new giveaway up for Son of a Gun by A.M. Riley! Head on over there before April 21 at 7PM CDT for your chance to win!
Plot Summary:
Politics, drugs, and secrets from the past collide in the town of Boerne, Texas, and end in a chase across the Devil’s Backbone.
Stefan Sanchez’s number one reason to leave Texas was closeted deputy Chet Blain. When Stefan returns for the funeral of his best friend, he is confronted by painful memories, Chet’s recriminations, and a hunky Secret Service agent who seems determined to make Stefan’s business his business.
Plot Summary:
Politics, drugs, and secrets from the past collide in the town of Boerne, Texas, and end in a chase across the Devil’s Backbone.
Stefan Sanchez’s number one reason to leave Texas was closeted deputy Chet Blain. When Stefan returns for the funeral of his best friend, he is confronted by painful memories, Chet’s recriminations, and a hunky Secret Service agent who seems determined to make Stefan’s business his business.
A to Z - Review
Title: A to Z
Author: Marie Sexton
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Series: N/A
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Review:
Zach Mitchell has been running A to Z video store for years. It's not exactly his dream job, but it's the only job he knows. When his new landlord Tom pays him a visit, he feels an attraction towards the man. But the only person who can see how bad Tom really is, is Zach's new employee - Angelo Green.
The plot of this novel differed from most romance novels. In most romances, we only get the story of the two main characters falling in love - often at first sight. This novel doesn't have the two characters fall in love instantly - rather, Zach is attracted to another man way before him and Angelo even really meet. It's refreshing to see Zach and Angelo's relationship evolve from that of friends and coworkers to a full fledged relationship, with all the bumps and pot holes in between.
I also enjoyed how Angelo wasn't the perfect lover. He came with a past and many problems along with it. Their relationship isn't happy-go-lucky and the two actually have to work to keep is going, much like a real relationship. The way Sexton describe Angelo and had him speak and act got on my nerves. She says in the novel that he's 27, however during the reading he felt more like he was 16. He had immature traits like a teenager, and certainly spoke and reacted like one.
I took a few points off my rating because of the shifting POV and tenses. I absolutely hated reading from Angelo's perspective. Normally I enjoy getting both sides of the story, but this time it got on my nerves. Angelo's POV was set in present tense, rather than past tense like Zach's was. The sentences were also choppy and made me feel like I was talking with a sixteen-year-old who was trying to act tough. The shifting narrative really kicked me out of the book. Zach's POV is easily flowing and had me absorbed in the novel, but when Angelo's came along it kicked me back out.
Overall I still enjoyed this book. If you've read Sexton's preview novel, Promises, you'll most likely enjoy this one too. As a bonus for fans, Jared and Matt from Promises appear in the novel for a little while. I would definitely recommend this novel to romance lovers, especially ones looking for a change from the normal formula romances. I'm certainly glad I took the time to read this one.
** Warning ** This novel contains sex scenes and may not be appropriate for readers under than age of 18.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Book Giveaway - The Prayer Waltz
Chris over at Stumbling Over Chaos is once again doing a giveaway! This time it's for the M/M romance novel, The Prayer Waltz by KZ Snow. The Prayer Waltz was published by Dreamspinner Press on March 10, 2010. Head on over there and get your entry in before 7PM CDT on April 19!
Plot Summary:
For eight months, the peculiar circumstances surrounding the sudden death of Steven Brandwein’s lover, an enigmatic ex-priest, have weighted his mourning with mystery. Desperate for emotional closure, Steve makes a journey he’s put off for years: he travels to the town that was once an integral part of his late lover’s life. Steve hopes his pilgrimage will help him better understand Frank, serve as a final farewell, and allow him to move on.
His visit to St. Jerome’s Church one snowy, silent night proves more consequential than he’d ever anticipated. Evan McAllister, an unassuming man still grieving over the death of his son, befriends Steve. As their bond grows, they both make startling discoveries – not the least of which, for Steve, is that he’s ready to love again.
Plot Summary:
For eight months, the peculiar circumstances surrounding the sudden death of Steven Brandwein’s lover, an enigmatic ex-priest, have weighted his mourning with mystery. Desperate for emotional closure, Steve makes a journey he’s put off for years: he travels to the town that was once an integral part of his late lover’s life. Steve hopes his pilgrimage will help him better understand Frank, serve as a final farewell, and allow him to move on.
His visit to St. Jerome’s Church one snowy, silent night proves more consequential than he’d ever anticipated. Evan McAllister, an unassuming man still grieving over the death of his son, befriends Steve. As their bond grows, they both make startling discoveries – not the least of which, for Steve, is that he’s ready to love again.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Promises
Title: Promises
Author: Marie Sexton
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Series: N/A
Rating: 5/5 stars
Review:
I can't even begin to describe this one so I'm "borrowing" Dreamspinner's summary…
Jared Thomas has lived his whole life in the small mountain town of Coda, Colorado. He can't imagine living anywhere else. Unfortunately, the only other gay man in town is twice his age and used to be his teacher, so Jared is resigned to spending his life alone.
Until Matt Richards walks into his life, that is. Matt has just been hired by the Coda Police Department, and he and Jared immediately become friends. Matt claims he is straight, but for Jared, having a sexy friend like Matt is way too tempting. Facing Matt’s affair with a local woman, his disapproving family, and harassment from Matt’s co-workers, Jared fears they'll never find a way to be together—if he can even convince Matt to try.
This is one of the best novels I've read in a long time. The plot kept me reading and wondering how everything worked out. There were a couple small plot twists I didn't see coming and kept things interesting. I loved seeing the way Jared and Matt's relationship developed through out the novel. I like how Sexton had a great balance of plot vs. sex. Her novel was first and foremost a romance novel, not a porno and I'm grateful for that.
Sexton did an excellent job with her characters. Both Matt and Jared were realistic and likeable characters that I kept wanting to know more about. Even the side characters like Brian and Lizzy were fleshed out and interesting. The only character I was really disappointed about not being developed was Matt's mother. I would've liked to have seen a little more of her personality.
I also have to say that I loved the cover for this novel. It gives a sweet and romantic feeling and isn't all about showing half-naked guys. It really fits how the characters love nature and bike riding and adds emphasis to the fact that this isn't primarily an erotica novel.
I highly recommend this novel to romance lovers. You really get to see their relationship develop and evolve over time.
** Warning ** This novel contains sex scenes and may not be appropriate for readers under than age of 18.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Custom Ride
Title: Custom Ride
Author: K.A. Mitchel
Series: N/A
Rating: 3/5 stars
Review:
Ryan doesn't normally do random hook ups. But when he hooks up with Jeff in a bar during Gay Pride Week, he discovers he wants more. But Jeff isn't out, and Ryan isn't interested in going back into the closet again.
First thing I didn't like was the lack of a lot of plot. 90% of this story was sex, sex, sex. There was a little bit of plot, but it could've been fleshed out a lot more. I wanted to see how their relationship evolved and developed over time. Instead, once they finally start working things out, the story ends. It was really disappointing.
Also, there is no way in hell two six foot plus guys are going to be able to have sex in the back seat of a Camaro. I drive a '94 Camaro and I can barely fit in the backseat by myself and I'm only 5'11.
K.A. Mitchell's writing is flawless though. She kept me interested and wanting to read more. Everything was well written and grammatically correct. I've love the way Mitchell describes everything so that you can picture it.
I recommend this story for people who enjoy erotic romance without a whole lot of plot. If you prefer a lot of plot and less sex, this story certainly isn't for you.
** Warning ** This novel contains sex scenes and may not be appropriate for readers under the age of 18.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Help an M/M Book Win Big!
Jane Seville's M/M novel, Zero at the Bone, has made it to the championship round of the DA BWAHA Tournament 2010. The book has beaten out tons of straight romances, including the NY Times Bestseller, Catching Fire.
It'd be much appreciated if all of my wonderful followers out there voted and asked their friends to vote! Please post this on your own blog, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Xanga, etc.
Click here to go vote!
It'd be much appreciated if all of my wonderful followers out there voted and asked their friends to vote! Please post this on your own blog, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Xanga, etc.
Click here to go vote!
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