Blog Tour (Review): Finding My Forever by Heidi McLaughlin

Welcome to my stop in the Finding My Forever by Heidi McLaughlin Blog Tour, hosted by Love N Books :D! Read my review and enter the giveaway at the bottom of the post.

Title: Finding My Forever

 

Author: Heidi McLaughlin

 

Series: The Beaumont Series #3

 

Expected Publication Date: December 30, 2013

Pre-order begins: 12/16/13 – Amazon only

 

Genre: New Adult

 

Synopsis:

Everywhere I look, my friends are settling down - marriage, children, white picket fences; but not me. Marriage isn't in the cards for me. I’m a ladies man.

A rock star.

I was born and raised in the industry.
I love everything about my life, especially the attention from the women that my status brings me.

Women find me. I don’t chase. I know what they want and they know I’ll deliver.

But after one look, one touch, one night...

now I’m the one doing the chasing.

I need to find a way to show her that I’m serious, that I can change.

I need to find a way to show her that I can love her fully, and only her.

I need to find a way to show her that she’s my forever.

 

 

Add Finding My Forever by Heidi McLaughlin to your TBR Pile----->Goodreads

 

 Pre-Order Finding My Forever:

Amazon (Kindle)  ~  Amazon (Paperback)

 

 

 My Thoughts:

  I have no doubt she’ll satisfy my hunger. She’ll quench my thirst. Then I can move on. I can get her out of my system and go about my business.

Heidi McLaughlin definitely threw me by surprise with Jenna and Jimmy's story! Right from the first book in the Beaumont Series I fell in love with all of Heidi's characters, because they are well developed. We get totally different stories in each book with each couple and this is what I absolutely loved about the Beaumont Series. I never got bored of reading about these characters. I was excited to know that Jenna and Jimmy were getting their own story, and that Heidi paired them off together with a HEA :D!

I know one thing’s for sure: I need to keep myself from falling in love with Jimmy Davis because he’s nothing but pure heartbreak waiting to happen.

In Finding My Forever Heidi throws in domestic abuse with Jenna's character. As we all already knew from the previous book that she had been married to a guy that enjoyed abusing her both physically and mentally. My first thought before reading her POV was "she is probably going to be mentally broken from her relationship with her husband" but I was wrong. Once I started reading from her POV I saw the strong women she became after going through such a horrible experience. There are a few times that she shows a little bit of weakness, but she puts herself back together. I just feel in love with her character because she's strong and doesn't let her own troubles and doubts come in the way of her happiness.

This woman can rock my world with just one look. She’s dangerous and if I’m not careful, she’ll break my heart.

I want to present you all to Jimmy Freaking Davis or as all his fans know him, JD :D! In the previous books I thought that Jimmy was just a womanizer that was never going to be able to settle for just one women, because he loves living the rock star life. Heck, I even thought he was a little immature. Heidi McLaughlin sure proved me wrong and made me fall in love with Jimmy. I love all of my Beaumont Boys, but there is just something about Jimmy that made me fall for him. He is just the perfect balance when it comes to dirty and sweet. His character is also mature in the way he thinks about the situations he experiences in the story. I just fell in love with Jimmy Davis because you get both the dirty hot and sweet with his character.

He’s holding on for dear life and as much as I want to hold on with him, I’m afraid.
I know I’m not the best man out there, but I look at you and you make me want to be better.

Jenna and Jimmy's relationship happened at the spur of the moment. I am not kidding. But this is what I loved about their relationship, because even if they just acted without thinking about the consequences it turned out to be one of the most beautiful relationships. As we all know Jimmy doesn't do relationships because of what his ex-girlfriend did to him. That really ruined his thoughts about anything having to do about love and being in a relationship. Jenna doesn't mind being a relationship, but she doesn't trust Jimmy because of his womanizer relationship. Their relationship doesn't start off as any normal relationship. They have a one-night stand and try to be friends but that is just awkward for the both of them. Once Jenna decides to give Jimmy a chance he does everything in his power to prove to her that he would do anything to gain her trust and believe that he wants a stable relationship with her. Of course Heidi throws a few twists and shock surprises that will test their relationship. 

"Jenna has it all. She’s my home.”

Finding My Forever by Heidi McLaughlin is so different from the other two books in the series. Heidi throws in mystery, domestic abuse, and twists that will have your jaw dropping to the floor with the shock. You will find yourself saying "what the hell just happened," because I usually believe I know what will happen next in the story, but that was not the case with Finding My Forever. Jenna and Jimmy's relationship is by far one of my favorites from the Beaumont Series, because it is so different from what I have read. Know I am left wondering what will come next? I want more of these stories from Heidi McLaughlin, because all of her characters are mature, unique, and memorable.

Final Verdict: 4.5 Stars

 

About Heidi:

Heidi is the author of USA Today, Kobo, Digital Book World, Amazon and Barnes & Noble Bestselling series, The Beaumont Series.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell and two Parakeets.

During the day Heidi is behind a desk talking about Land Use. At night, she's writing one of the many stories planned for release or sitting courtside during either daughter's basketball games.

 

Find Heidi McLaughlin:

Website  ~  Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Pinterest  ~  Instagram  ~  Goodreads

 

 

 

OkayCreations – Cover designer

Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook

Brandyn Farrell – Cover model

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Pinterest

Scott Hoover - Photographer

Website  ~  Facebook  ~  Twitter

 

 

KBT Readers 2013 Book Favorites Winners!

The votes are in and I was surprised to see that there were a few ties in some categories. I decided to show the top 3 winners in each category, because that is much easier. Congrats to all the authors and their books and thank you all for voting :D! Can't wait to do this again next year.

Favorite Book Cover:

 

 First Place

Broken by Kelly Elliott

Second Place (There was a tie)

Escaping Reality by Lisa Renee Jones

My Today by HJ Bellus

Fiance By Friday by Catherine Bybee

 

Third Place

Real by Katy Evans

Favorite Book:

 

First Place

Title: Broken

Author: Kelly Elliott

Series: Broken #1

Publication Date: November 19, 2013

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

 

Synopsis:

Layton Morris and his brother Mike grew up not knowing what it would be like to live in a normal home. With no running water or electricity in their home, no parents around to protect them, they quickly learned how to survive and depend only on each other.

When a tragic accident takes Mike away from Layton, and the only other person that he ever let into his heart walked away from him, leaving his heart shattered, Layton focuses all of his time and energy into the ranch he and his brother dreamed of. He makes a vow to himself to never let love in again. The last thing Layton needed or wanted was more heartache.

Whitley Reynolds grew up in a privileged home in upstate New York. When she landed the star football player in high school no one was surprised, not even Whitley. She dreamed of a life with Roger living in New York City and happily followed him there.

The first time Roger hit her for arguing with him about a dinner party, she forgave him. The more it happened, the further Whitley withdrew from her friends and family. One fateful day things go to far. Whitley makes a promise to herself and finds the courage to do the one thing she thought she’d never be able to do.

Fleeing with her best friend Courtney, Whitley was determined to put her past behind her and start a new life in the small town of Llano, Texas, where no one would ever find out about her past.

Will they both ever learn to trust and love again, or will their pasts come back to haunt them, keeping them both alone and…

Broken.

 Second Place

Title: Brie Embraces the Heart of Submission

Author: Red Phoenix

Series: After Graduation #1-8

Publication Date: October 27, 2013

Genre: Erotica Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

On the night of graduation, Brie Bennett offered her collar to the man who’d won her devotion during her time at the Submissive Training Center.

So begins the seductive sequel to Brie Learns the Art of Submission...

The intimate encounters Brie enjoys with her new Master are hot and deliciously challenging. On the flipside, despite her newly acquired skills, she discovers that being a sub also requires maturity, intelligence and willing sacrifice.

Her Master has a tragic past that he has kept hidden. She is unaware that someone is waiting in the wings, plotting to return and rip his world apart. Brie has troubles of her own, including an obsessive Dom who won’t let her go, parents who refuse to accept her new lifestyle, and a film that is struggling to see the light of day.

Brie’s journey with her Master brings both sweet ecstasy and unbearable pain. Friendships deepen and love grows, even as her life begins to crumble around her. To survive, Brie will need the strength of a love that binds her securely—heart and soul.

Third Place

Title: My Today

Author: HJ Bellus

Series: My Way #2

Publication Date: September 24, 2013

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

 

Synopsis:

Lacey’s Story…
Covering up pain is easy. It’s keeping it tucked away that’s hard. I’ve always needed the cover of tattoos to hide the nasty past that leached its way into me, tainting me beneath my skin. Not the shiny, trendy tats, but the ugly broken kind, meant to keep the world at bay. If they weren’t enough, then my piercings, foul mouth and crazy hair usually did the trick. Life had taught me to never follow the rules, because when you do, you get burned.
That philosophy served its purpose, until I met someone who turned my life upside down. Milly, the little hoochie, stormed into my life and changed everything with her undying faith in me, her love and her shitty coffee concoctions. I found a family in Milly, and her sexy farm boy, Cree. She accepted me without hesitation, and never ran from the dark and dangerous secrets that I harbored. My new family loved me unconditionally, with their showers of sprinkles and impromptu dance parties.
My life was perfectly imperfect until Tripp and his crazy-ass ideas of princesses. Our relationship is what most would describe as fuel meeting fire. We were both hell bent on burning each other to the ground. Tripp, fresh out of rehab, moved in with Milly and Cree to try and make a new life for himself. Tripp, the sexy as hell, charismatic beast, soon became one of my best friends. We shared our love of ice cream and tattoos as we blazed our own path that could only lead to a beautiful train wreck. The only question left is, will we set the countryside ablaze with our hot tempers and foul mouths, or will we paint our own happy ending filled with all the gushy shit normal people crave?

Favorite Book Boyfriends Girl:

 

First Place 

Whitley from Broken by Kelly Elliott

 

Second Place

Lacey from My Today by HJ Bellus

Third Place

Eva from Undeniable by Madeline Sheehan

Best Kiss:

First Place

Lacey & Tripp from My Today by HJ Bellus

Second Place

Eva & Duece from Undeniable by Madeline Sheehan

Third Place

Celeste & Adrian from Everything I've Never Had by Lynetta Halat

Favorite Couple: 

 

First Place

Whitley & Layton from Broken by Kelly Elliott

 

Second Place

 Lacey & Tripp from My Today by HJ Bellus

 

Third Place

 Roni & Lucas from Hot Buttered Yum by Kim Law

 

 

Favorite Debut Author:

First Place

HJ Bellus - My Now & Forever

 Synopsis:

Whose parents abandon them in a trashy trailer when they are five years old? Oh Yeah! Mine do!

Hey Hoochies! I'm Milly, and I am tired of taking kicks to the gut. A broken family, an asshole husband and the loss of loved ones have left me crying Uncle, and declaring a serious case of the Fuck-Its!

I had my heart broken, stomped on and shattered before I ever started on my journey to find my little piece of happiness. With a bucket list, a '66 Ford and wild dreams, I set out on an adventure that changed my life forever. Follow me on my journey that resurrected my inner badass.

I found my soul sista from another mista, and opened my dream shop along the way. Just when I gave up on finding true love, a pirate and a princess swept me off my ever lovin' feet and filled my world with sprinkles, mac n’ cheese and the courage to live again. They forced my fragile heart to trust and love without fear.

Truth is, nobody’s past stays hidden forever. It’s an invisible monster waiting to attack and destroy. It has the capability to ruin everything you’ve worked to set right. All it takes is one final blow to the gut to end everything.

Second Place

Katy Evans - Real

Synopsis:

A fallen boxer.
A woman with a broken dream.
A competition…

He even makes me forget my name. One night was all it took, and I forgot everything and anything except the sexy fighter in the ring who sets my mind ablaze and my body on fire with wanting…

Remington Tate is the strongest, most confusing man I’ve ever met in my life.

He’s the star of the dangerous underground fighting circuit, and I’m drawn to him as I’ve never been drawn to anything in my life. I forget who I am, what I want, with just one look from him. When he’s near, I need to remind myself that I am strong–but he is stronger. And now it’s my job to keep his body working like a perfect machine, his taut muscles primed and ready to break the bones of his next opponents . . .

But the one he’s most threatening to, now, is me.

I want him. I want him without fear. Without reservations.

If only I knew for sure what it is that he wants from me?

Third Place

Scarlett Dawn - King Hall 

Synopsis:

 A fresh, meaty, sink-your-teeth-in-and-hold-on-tight new adult fantasy series kicks off with King Hall…

King Hall — where the Mysticals go to learn their craft, get their degrees, and transition into adulthood. And where four new Rulers will rise and meet their destinies.

Lily Ruckler is adept at one thing:  survival.  Born a Mystical hybrid, her mere existence is forbidden, but her nightmare is only about to start. Fluke, happenstance, and a deep personal loss finds Lily deeply entrenched with those who would destroy her simply for existing — The Mystical Kings.  Being named future Queen of the Shifters shoves Lily into the spotlight, making her one of the most visible Mysticals in the world. But with risk comes a certain solace — her burgeoning friendships with the other three Prodigies: a wicked Vampire, a wild-child Mage, and a playboy Elemental. Backed by their faith and trust, Lily begins to relax into her new life.

Then chaos erupts as the fragile peace between Commoners and Mysticals is broken, and suddenly Lily realises the greatest threat was never from within, and her fear takes on a new name: the revolution.

Favorite Secondary Character:

 

First Place

Courtney from Broken by Kelly Elliott

 

Second Place

Lacey from My Now & Forever by HJ Bellus

 

Third Place

Mrs. Rylander from Hot Butter Yum by Kim Law 

Favorite Book Boyfriend:

First Place

Remy from Real by Katy Evans

 

Second Place

Kellan from Reckless by S.C. Stephens

 

Third Place

Tripp from My Today by HJ Bellus

 

Thank you for voting and congratulations to all the authors :D! I will be choosing winners for the giveaway next week. I will also be posting my favorites of 2013 tomorrow :D!

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Ultimate Betrayal by Lacey Leigh

The Ultimate Betrayal

About the Author:

Lacey Leigh is a stay at home mother of three. Her children

are very active in school activities and keep her really busy 

but she still finds time to put her stories out there for 

everyone to enjoy.

Lacey's husband is medically retired from US ARMY. Though

she hates that he had to leave the job he loved so much she 

is glad to have him home with her children and herself. 

Lacey's books are written for ADULT audiences ONLY. All audiences are encouraged to 

read the warning in the front of the book BEFORE purchasing/reading any of Lacey's work. 

Lacey does NOT wish to offend ANYONE by her writing. She only wants to write for those 

who enjoy the work she does.

About the Novel:

Rainey lived with her father (Martin Tucker) and sister (Mariah Tucker) in a small podunk town in Alabama known as Covington. Her mother was killed in a horrific car accident when she was seven years old.

Rainey was in love with a wonderful man that treats her with respect and kindness. Everyone including her father was against their relationship at first because of the age difference between them. They were happy together until she moved away to college. The case concerning her mother’s murder was reopened, and she was betrayed by the people she should have been able to trust above anyone else.

Does Rainey and Jake’s relationship survive all the pain and hurt that they are destined to endure? Will her mother’s murder be solved? Will their love overcome…

The Ultimate Betrayal?

The Cover!

For your chance to win 1 of 10 handmade book 

thongs for The Ultimate Betrayal, enter the 

rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Blog Tour (Review + Deleted Scene) & Giveaway: Quintessentially Q by Pepper Winters

Welcome to my stop in the Quintessentially Q by Pepper Winters Blog Tour, hosted by As the Pages Turn :D! Read my 5 star review, read a deleted scene, and enter the giveaway at the bottom of the post. Don't forget to follow the blog tour for more reviews, deleted scenes, interviews, and excerpts HERE.

 

 

Title:  Quintessentially Q

 

Author: Pepper Winters

 

Series: Monsters in the Dark #2

 

Release Date: December 15, 2013

 

Genre: Erotic/ Dark Contemporary Romance

 

Source: e-ARC provided by author for blog tour, in exchange for my honest thoughts and review.

 

Synopsis:

“All my life, I battled with the knowledge I was twisted… fucked up to want something so deliciously dark—wrong on so many levels. But then slave fifty-eight entered my world. Hissing, fighting, with a core of iron, she showed me an existence where two wrongs make a right."

Tess is Q’s completely. Q is Tess’s irrevocably. But now, they must learn the boundaries of their unconventional relationship, while Tess seeks vengeance on the men who sold her. Q made a blood-oath to deliver their corpses at Tess’s feet, and that’s just what he’ll do.

He may be a monster, but he’s Tess’s monster.

Add Quintessentially Q by Pepper Winters to your TBR Pile---> Goodreads

 

 

Purchase Quintessentially Q by Pepper Winters:

Amazon (US)  ~  Amazon (UK)  ~  B&N  ~  Smashwords  ~  Create Space

My Thoughts:

 

I would sacrifice myself for her.

OH. MY. FUCKING. Q MERCER!!!! You know how there are books in a series where you think it should have just been a stand alone, because the second book did no meet your expectations- characters get annoying, the plot is just lacking, etc- and you are afraid to read the next book in the series? Let me just tell you that is not the case with Quintessentially Q! Right from the very beginning I was sucked back into the dark, intense, and twisted romance of Tess and Q. I seriously don't know how I'm going to write this review without SPOILING the entire story! If you haven't read Tears of Tess by Pepper Winters DO NOT read my review, because it may CONTAIN some SPOILERS.

 

***CAUTION: When it comes to Pepper Winter's writing I can't never and never plan on holding back. This women has me worshiping her dark, twisted, gut-wrenching, and sadistic writing. I never would have thought that I would find bliss in reading such dark twisted romance.***

 

My reality was something I could no longer endure as I'd dirtied it, torn it to smithereens, and filled my soul with corruption.

In Quintessentially Q, Tess has returned to Q and has made a blood oath to be strong to handle anything Q has in mind for her. I loved that Tess has finally embraced the dark and sadistic sexual pleasure Q offers her, because she has always wanted to be in that kind of relationship. I always loved Tess's character from the first book, and I grew to love her and respect her even more. In the story we get to see how Tess gets broken down into being a shell of herself when she is taken away, but in the process we get to see a different side of her that is connected to Q's monster. Tess has her own monster in the dark that she releases after the horrific experience she goes through. I was surprised to see this side of her, and it just broke me a little to read about it. I will admit that I just felt like slapping the hell out of her in a few chapters in the story, because she just gives up and builds so many brick walls to keep the guilt away of what she has done, and in the process it affects her relationship with Q. But there is still a flicker of the strong women she used to be.

I no longer owned my body- the beast inside did.

Q FUCKING MERCER! In Quintessentially Q we get to see two sides of Q, the monster he has locked deep within and the sweet and caring side that he never thought he was capable of. Q has always unleashed the beast inside him with Tess, but we have never seen the full force of what happens when the beast is completely unleashed. When Tess is taken away from him he knows he must loose himself to the blood lust of the monster deep within him, because there is not other way he can get her back. I know I shouldn't be saying this...but I found myself swooning over and submitting all over to Q's monster. What the hell right? He goes on a killing spree to find out where Tess is, and I'm fucking falling for Q Mercer. I guess I loved that Q would go through hell and back to get back the women that belongs to him (Lucky Tess). But we also get to see the sweet and caring side of Q. How could I not want to fall in love and submit to Q? I loved both the monster and the man. I also fucking cried in a few parts in the story, because my heart just shattered and bleed for Q.

We broke each other, and the only way to stay whole was to entwine ourselves, gluing the jagged parts, stitching our souls into one.

Q and Tess relationship in the beginning of the story starts out dark, hot, submissive, and dominant. But once Tess gets taken away from Q their relationship is put to a test and the boundaries they set for each other and their relationship are shattered. Remember how I said I felt like slapping the hell out of Tess, and that my heart bleed for Q? This is what made the story gut-wrenching and had me pulling my hair. Now, Pepper Winters throws a twist that I WAS NOT FUCKING EXPECTING! Seriously at the end you will never imagine-fuck I never imagined-what he would do to prove how much he loves Tess by doing something that will break and damage him in the process, while it saves her and their relationship.

We were effectively trapped, imprisoned just like his beloved birds.

Quintessentially Q by Pepper Winters exceeded and went beyond my expectations for a second installment in a series. I stayed up until 5 a.m. to finish this book, because I just couldn't put it down. Good thing I read this on my kindle or else I would have ripped some pages in the process of trying to turn them as fast as I possibly could. Quintessentially Q by Pepper Winters is intense, dark, twisted, sadistic, shocking, and gut-wrenching. Pepper Winters has set the bar in the Dark Erotic Romance genre, hell, for all I care she invited the Dark Intense Twisted Romance genre with Quintessentially Q. Whenever I'm looking to get a fix for a dark romance I know what author I will be stalking and begging to release a new book. Quintessentially Q is going on my Favorite Reads of 2013, Favorite Reads of All-Time, and the Monsters in the Dark Series (both books) are going on my Favorite Series, Favorite Dark Romance Reads, and Favorite Book Covers. Now I can't wait to read the conclusion to Tess and Q's story in Twisted Together :D!

 Final Verdict: 5 Stars

Deleted Snippet #1:

The more I opened the eyes where Tess was concerned the more I saw. I had an affinity with languages and slowly I grew to know Tess’s. That thought stopped me short. Had she come to read me as much as I grew to read her? Were we both screaming the truth and we just couldn’t understand each other?

About the Author:

 Pepper Winters wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero the better and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex… her books have sex.

She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby (who speaks French—hot!) who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends. She loves to hear from her readers so hit her up at pepperwinters@gmail.com

Find Pepper Winters:

Blog  ~  Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Pinterest  ~  Goodreads

 

  

Find out about the first and third installment in the Monsters in the Dark Series by Pepper Winters below.

Title: Tears of Tess

 

Author: Pepper Winters

 

Series: Tears of Tess #1

 

Publication Date: September 6, 2013

 

Genre: Erotic/ Dark Contemporary Romance

 

Source: e-arc was provided by author for blog tour, in exchange for my honest thoughts and review.

 

Synopsis:

A New Adult Dark Contemporary Romance, not suitable for people sensitive to grief, slavery, and nonconsensual sex. A story about finding love in the strangest of places, a will of iron that grows from necessity, and forgiveness that may not be enough.

“My life was complete. Happy, content, everything neat and perfect.
Then it all changed.
I was sold.”

Tess Snow has everything she ever wanted: one more semester before a career in property development, a loving boyfriend, and a future dazzling bright with possibility.

For their two year anniversary, Brax surprises Tess with a romantic trip to Mexico. Sandy beaches, delicious cocktails, and soul-connecting sex set the mood for a wonderful holiday. With a full heart, and looking forward to a passion filled week, Tess is on top of the world.

But lusty paradise is shattered.

Kidnapped. Drugged. Stolen. Tess is forced into a world full of darkness and terror.

Captive and alone with no savior, no lover, no faith, no future, Tess evolves from terrified girl to fierce fighter. But no matter her strength, it can’t save her from the horror of being sold.

Can Brax find Tess before she’s broken and ruined, or will Tess’s new owner change her life forever?

 

Add Tears of Tess by Pepper Winters to your TBR Pile--->Goodreads 

 

 

Buy Tears of Tess by Pepper Winters:

Amazon  ~  B&N  ~  Kobo  ~  Smashwords

 

 

Title: Twisted Together

 

Author:  Pepper Winters

 

Series: Monsters in the Dark #3

 

Expected Publication Date: Early 2014

 

Genre: Erotic/ Dark Contemporary Romance
 

Synopsis: 

“After battling through hell, I brought my esclave back from the brink of ruin. I sacrificed everything—my heart, my mind, my very desires to bring her back to life. And for a while, I thought it broke me, that I’d never be the same. But slowly the beast is growing bolder, and it’s finally time to show Tess how beautiful the dark can be.”

Q gave everything to bring Tess back. In return, he expects nothing less. Tess may have leashed and tamed him, but he’s still a monster inside. 

Add Twisted Together by Pepper Winters to your TBR Pile---->Goodreads

 

 

Blog Tour Giveaway:

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My Giveaway: 

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