Attack of the Vampire Snowmen by Benny Alano

Attack of the Vampire Snowmen by Benny Alano

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


With only a few days before the big night, Santa Claus is kidnapped by an army of vampire snowmen; it's up to Laidenn, Claus' only dark elf-in-training, to enlist the help of the living dead elves to defeat the snowmen and bring Claus back.

~~~~

I am more than willing to read a Christmas story that detours from the path of "normal" if it is well written. I was intrigued by the idea of vampire snowmen and was willing to read this story with my sense of humor well prepared to be assaulted. Assaulted it was and then some. Vampire elves I can deal with. Vampire snowmen okay. Dark elves no problem, but when I started reading about zombie elves and Santa Flaws it was just too much. The story was not well written, it is definitely not something that I would want any child of mine to read, and it was not even something that I would recommend to adults. The most imaginative part of the story was the fact that there were vampires and zombies, which could have been fun if it was not so stupid! The author did not use his imagination to write this story beyond the creation of the characters. Don't waste your time, even if you picked this up free like I did.



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The Santa Society by Kristine McCord

The Santa Society by Kristine McCord

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Magic. Myth. Miracles.

They say there is truth in legends.

Last Christmas, Erin came home to be with her dying mother. It's been a year, and Erin can't move on. It's a good thing a behemoth dog named Klaus and Reason-the-handsome-realtor are about to change all that.

When Reason's efforts to help Erin sell her mother's house turn into a series of fiascos, Erin finds herself falling in love with him despite the quirky chaos that follows him. But Reason is more than he seems, and soon Erin is immersed in the clandestine world of the Santa Society, a centuries old secret organization that protects the truth behind Christmas.

~~~


This book started a little slow for me but evolved into a fantastic Christmas romance. I loved the story and all of the twists. Definitely a wonderful Christmas read!!



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***Kindle edition

Bah, Humbug! (A Christmas Street, #1) by Heather Horrocks

Bah, Humbug! by Heather Horrocks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Lexi Anderson is an up-and-coming, Martha Stewart-type TV hostess whose two kids love the Jared Strong adventure novels, which happen to be written by their new neighbor, Kyle Miller.
For the first time in his writing career, Kyle has writer's block - until he sees the snowman on his lawn and realizes this is the perfect place for his villain to hide the weapon. He digs into the snowman to discover two things: the weapon fits int he body just under the head, and the snowman was supposed to be the back drop for Lexi's next show.

From this improbable beginning comes friendship. Can there be more for a woman who is afraid to get close again and a man who has shadows from his childhood?

Families join together and hearts are healed as this couple goes walking in a winter wonderland.

~~~



This was a heartwarming Christmas romance. I see that the author has a couple of cozy mysteries that I will check out as well. Quick, sweet read to put you in the Christmas mood.



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***Kindle Edition

Once Upon a Christmas Carol by Pamela Fryer

Once Upon a Christmas Carol by Pamela Fryer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Trey Janssen only wants to settle his late mother's affairs and get back to San Francisco, but he finds himself trapped in the town Christmas literally threw up on when he's arrested for drunk driving—right after a Dickens in the Park actor proclaims he'll be visited by three spirits.

The ghost from his past turns out to be Celia Brown, the innocent Girl Next Door he deflowered before leaving town on a football scholarship. Now he's hoping for a repeat or two of that night, because pretty Celia Brown has something all the nameless, faceless, one-night-stands of his wild pro-athlete lifestyle didn't—but it will take ghost number two and ghost number three to show him exactly what that something is.

Warning: Once Upon a Christmas Carol will make you crave eggnog, sugar cookies, and a kiss from your sweetie under the mistletoe. If you’re a fan of Janet Evanovich, Stephanie Bond and Nancy Warren, you won’t want to miss Pamela Fryer’s magical romances set in the mountain town of Welcome, California.

~~~

Very enjoyable Christmas Carol romance. Enjoyable characters and writing that kept me wanting to read. Will definitely look up more books by this author.



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***Kindle Edition

Jack: The Tale of Frost by Tony Bertauski

Jack: The Tale of Frost by Tony Bertauski

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Sura is sixteen years old when she meets Mr. Frost. He’s very short and very fat and he likes his room very, very cold. Some might say inhumanly cold. His first name isn’t Jack, she’s told. And that’s all she needed to know.

Mr. Frost’s love for Christmas is over-the-top and slightly psychotic. And why not? He’s made billions of dollars off the holiday he invented. Or so he claims. Rumor is he’s an elven, but that’s silly. Elven aren’t real. And if they were, they wouldn’t live in South Carolina. They wouldn’t hide in a tower and go to the basement to make…things.

Nonetheless, Sura will work for this odd little recluse. Frost Plantation is where she’ll meet the love of her life. It’s where she’ll finally feel like she belongs somewhere. And it’s where she’ll meet someone fatter, balder and stranger than Mr. Frost. It’s where she’ll meet Jack.

~~~~~



This is going to be a very hard review to write. I have been eagerly anticipating this book every since I read Claus: Legend of the Fat Man earlier this year. Claus was easily one of my favorite reads of the year, so I was expecting a lot from this book. Sadly I did not quite find what I was hoping for. Where Claus had amazing world building with so much detail that I was totally immersed in the story, I felt that Jack lacked those exact things. I was able to fill in some gaps because I had read Claus (which in my opinion is a necessity before you read Jack) but I just did not feel like I was being drawn in like I had been while reading Claus. I don't feel like I really got to know any of the characters well enough to connect to them. I almost feel like I was just getting a glimpse into Mr. Frost's life, whereas I wanted to be a part of it. I wanted to get to know May, Templeton, Jonah, Joe and Sura. I wanted to be a part of Frost's plan, not just see the end result of it. I wanted more! This will not deter me from reading the next installment -- Frosty: Journey of a Snowman, but I do hope that Tony gives us more of what I so loved about Claus -- all those wonderful little details that made me believe that the world that he created on the North Pole could exist and could be the basis for our modern day beliefs in Santa Claus.



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***Kindle edition

Claus: Legend of the Fat Man by Tony Bertauski

Claus: Legend of the Fat Man by Tony Bertauski

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Christmas story you never heard.

In the early 1800s, Nicholas, Jessica and Jon Santa attempt the first human trek to the North Pole and stumble upon an ancient race of people left over from the Ice Age. They are short, fat and hairy. They slide across the ice on scaly soles and carve their homes in the ice that floats on the Arctic Ocean. The elven are adapted to life in the extreme cold. They are as wise as they are ancient.

Their scientific advancements have yielded great inventions -- time-stopping devices and gravitational spheres that build living snowmen and genetically-modified reindeer that leap great distances. They’ve even unlocked the secrets to aging. For 40,000 years, they have lived in peace.

Until now.

An elven known as The Cold One has divided his people. He’s tired of their seclusion and wants to conquer the world. Only one elven stands between The Cold
One and total chaos. He’s white-bearded and red-coated. The Santa family will help him stop The Cold One. They will come to the aid of a legendary elven
known as...Claus.

~~~~~

Absolutely loved this story of the origins of Santa Claus. What a unique story that was fun to read. Loved all of the little details that eventually lead to explaining all of the 'magic' of Santa Claus. Really looking forward to the author's next foray to the North Pole.



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***Kindle edition

The Santa Exclusive by Brent Boswell

The Santa Exclusive by Brent Boswell

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Ran Anderson is a self-destructive, thirty-something journalist who believes gift giving at Christmas is a massive waste of resources. He loathes Santa for spearheading such widespread fiscal irresponsibility, especially considering the dismal state of the world’s economy. So when invited to conduct an exclusive, face-to-face interview with Claus just before the Holidays, Ran is eager to stump Santa by asking some very hard-hitting and even unpopular questions—but it turns out—Santa is eager to respond.
~~~~~


The description of the book is very misleading. I was looking for a Scrooge type book about a Christmas miracle, but ending up getting a Public Service Announcement with a lot of preaching.

The book starts out introducing us to a Scrooge like character -- an alcoholic reporter. After a visit from a mysterious janitor the reporter dies, begs God for another chance and ends up at the North Pole talking to Santa Clause. He then proceeds to 'interview' Santa which ends up being a combination of a PSA and a lot of preaching about what God wants us to be.

While I did find a few points made by the author to be relevant to society's current state -- a call for people to respect the President regardless of rather they voted for him or not and a call for reform to begin at home with better parenting, overall I found the tone of the book to be too preachy for my interest.

I found the whole mix of God and Santa to be odd and felt that the purpose of the book was to allow the author to preach and try to convert his readers to his way of thinking about religion. Not what I am looking for in a Christmas story.



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**Kindle Edition

The Quiet Little Woman: Tilly's Christmas, Rosa's Tale : Three Enchanting Christmas Stories by Louisa May Alcott, C. Michael Dudash (Illustrator), Stephen W. Hines (Introduction)

The Quiet Little Woman: Tilly's Christmas, Rosa's Tale : Three Enchanting Christmas Stories by Louisa May Alcott

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Introducing a newly discovered original Christmas story from Louisa May Alcott -- the beloved author who has entertained generations of readers with Little Women, Little Men, and other enchanting tales.The Quiet Little Woman is about a lonely orphan girl named Patty, whose only desire is for a family to love her. Her tender story will warm the hearts of readers young and old alike. Two bonus stories -- Tilly's Christmas and Rosa's Tale -- are included in this exquisite edition. The message of hope and love makes this book an ideal Christmas gift, sure to become a family tradition and treasured keepsake.

~~~

This is a lovely short book with 3 stories written by Louisa May Alcott. The first 2 stories were very touching stories about the lives and hardships of 2 different girls and how their own Christmas miracles affected their lives. Both quite enjoyable stories which will bring a tear to your eyes.

The third story I did not really enjoy. It is about a chance encounter between a girl, and a horse who is endowed with the power of speech for one hour at midnight on Christmas Eve. We hear the story of the horses life.

I enjoyed reading the editor's notes and about the author sections in the back of the book almost as much as the stories.

Overall a wonderful, sweet read well worth the couple of hours it took to read.



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A Midnight Clear by Katherine Paterson

A Midnight Clear by Katherine Paterson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Each Christmas, Katherine Paterson wrote a story for her pastor husband's congregation to illuminate the true meaning of the holiday season. The twelve included here present a vision of hope and peace harking back to that first Christmas over two thousand years ago. A Midnight Clear is the perfect holiday gift for friends, families, and church congregations to read aloud and share through the Christmas season and beyond.

~~~

Some sweet Christmas stories. My favorite was probably Exultate Jubilate, a story about a Scroogie father who encounters a poor soul on Christmas Eve.

Quick read with nothing too memorable but an okay read.



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Naughty or Nice? by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Carly Phillips, Kathryn Smith, Patricia Ryan

Naughty or Nice? by Sherrilyn Kenyon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Sometimes being naughty is far more satisfying than being nice--and the best lovers know that desire is a gift to enjoy together. Four of today's hottest romance authors are gathered here with stories designed to arouse your imagination, titillate your senses--and leave you breathless . . .

Naughty or Nice?

Sherrilyn Kenyon heats up an office where two coworkers decide to spend the holidays together--only to find themselves surrendering completely to forbidden passion . . .

Carly Phillips explores a "mistletoe moment" when a no-nonsense lawyer intent on seducing her boss meets his twin instead--and gives him a scintillating kiss that leaves him begging for more . . .

Patricia Ryan surprises a cynical P.I., who meets the kind of woman he never wanted--until she takes him on a journey of rapturous pleasure . . .

Kathryn Smith teases a pair of Regency lovers who once shared a night of white-hot passion with the temptation to forgo propriety for something scandalous and irresistible . . .

~~~


Read for the BookObsessed Christmas in July Readathon.

I always forget how much I love romances as I don't read pure romance very often. I enjoy all 4 stories in this anthology.

My favorite was Love Bytes by Sherrilyn Kenyon --- It was a really cute romance about two people who work together and have a crush on each other without the other knowing it.

My last favorite was Santa, Baby by Patricia Ryan simply because it was unlikely. The author does a good job describing Kat's past and personality both of which would make it very improbable that she would declare her love for Jack the day after meeting him. Other than that it was a fun romance.

Overall a fun day of Christmas romance in July!!



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Unwrapped by Nina Bangs, Claudia Dain, Shirl Henke

Unwrapped by Nina Bangs

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


For every woman who has better plans than sitting on Santa's lap, who fantasizes about washboard abs instead of a bowl full of jelly--here are hot and happy love stories for the holiday season.

~~~



This was a great Christmas romance read. All three stories were well written with lots of fun, romance and even a little steamy action. Perfect for a last holiday read.





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Wolfsbane and Mistletoe by Charlaine Harris, Toni L.P. Kelner , Kat Richardson, Alan Gordon, Carrie Vaughn , Patricia Briggs , Dana Stabenow , Nancy Pickard, Karen Chance, Keri Arthur, Rob Thurman

Wolfsbane and Mistletoe by Charlaine Harris

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The editors of "Many Bloody Returns" deliver the perfect howl-iday gift, with new tales from Patricia Briggs, Carrie Vaughn, and many more.

"New York Times" bestselling authors Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs, Keri Arthur, and Carrie Vaughn—along with eleven other masters of the genre—offer all-new stories on werewolves and the holidays, a fresh variation on the concept that worked so well with birthdays and vampires in "Many Bloody Returns."

The holidays can bring out the beast in anyone. They are particularly hard for lycanthropes. Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner have harvested the scariest, funniest and saddest werewolf tales by an outstanding pack of authors, best read by the light of a full moon with a silver bullet close at hand.

Whether wolfing down a holiday feast (use your imagination) or craving some hair of the dog on New Year's morning, the werewolves in these frighteningly original stories will surprise, delight, amuse, and scare the pants off readers who love a little wolfsbane with their mistletoe.

~~~

Very much enjoyed this anthology of Christmas werewolf stories. Of course with the line up of authors here I am not surprised. There were some great takes on Santa -- From Santa Claws(an evil werewolf hunting monster) to Santa (the Saint of many things, including werewolves (poor Rudolph though). A few vampires and lots of different weres made these stories wonderfully entertaining!



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All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire (Love at Stake #5) by Kerrelyn Sparks

All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Toni Davis's Christmas wish list

1. Springing my best friend from the psych ward.

2. Living somewhere that doesn't have coffins in the basement. Occupied coffins.

3. Finding Mr. Right. Please make him tall, dark, handsome, and alive.

This Christmas isn't so merry for Toni. Her best friend's been locked up in a mental hospital ever since she told the police she was attacked by vampires, and the only way for Toni to get her out is to prove that bloodsuckers really do exist. So she's taken a job as a bodyguard for the Undead, but she gets more than she bargained for, especially when she meets Ian MacPhie, a Scottish rascal looking for Ms. Right.

Although Ian's nearly five centuries old, he looks and acts like a twenty-seven-year-old hunk.

How can a dead man be so damn sexy? Could Mr. Wrong be Mr. Right? One forbidden kiss could lead to an eternity of passion—and all it takes is one moment under the mistletoe . . .

~~~


Really enjoyed this story of Ian and Toni. I enjoyed meeting the new and improved Ian and watching him fall in love with Toni. I was especially pleased that this book did not contain the usual angst of the two main characters not realizing that they were in love, or finding some annoying reason whey they could not be in love. No kidnapping of the main characters by an evil nemesis to have to be rescued. Nice romance for the holidays!!



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Sugarplums and Scandal (Love at Stake #2.5) by Lori Avocato, Dana Cameron, Mary Dahiem, Suzanne Macpherson, Cait London, Kerrelyn Sparks, Mary Daheim

Sugarplums and Scandal by Lori Avocato

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


SUGARPLUMS AND SCANDAL brings together the best of romance and mystery in one delightful collection of Christmas tales. In the expert hands of six of Avon's best storytellers, the holiday season takes on an air of love and scandalous surprises Filled with Christmas miracles, romance, and suspense, this will make the perfect gift for both romance and mystery fans. Each author brings their own unique voice and characters to the collection, as well as their fan followings.

All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth - Lori Avocato

The Lords of Misrule - Dana Cameron

The Ghost of Christmas Passed - Mary Daheim

Partners in Crime - Cait London

Holly Go Lightly - Suzanne Macpherson

A Very Vampy Christmas - Kerrelyn Sparks
~~~

Originally I was only planning on reading Kerrelyn Sparks Love at Stake story -- A Very Vampy Christmas, but since it is December I decided to go ahead and get in the Christmas mood with a little Holiday reading.

I have to say that I was not too impressed with the first 3 stories in the book. It was very apparent that the characters in the stories were from series that I have not read and that caused the short stories hard to follow. I really felt like I had missed a lot and jumped into the stories in the middle of something.

However the book was redeemed by the last 3 stories. I quite enjoyed the stories by Cait London, Suzanne Macpherson and Kerrelyn Sparks. They all read great as stand alone stories and had interesting story lines and likable characters.



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The Twelve Quickies of Christmas - Volume 1 by Ashleigh Raine, Lora Leigh, Shiloh Walker, Kate Douglas, Rachel Bo, R. Casteel

The Twelve Quickies of Christmas - Volume 1 by Ashleigh Raine

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


These novellas are love stories with very explicit sex scenes.

Angel in Moonlight by Ashleigh Raine
Lita is a Polgaran Pleasure Godess and she’s been given the privilege of living among humans to learn and exerience strong human emotion. She mets Ben, a man deeply retreated within himself. Lita’s love gives Ben healing, but she must leave him or she will be forced to remain earthbound forever.

Make Me Believe by Shiloh Walker
Chelly’s worst nightmare arrived with the court notice that her ex-husband wanted custody of their son. Chelly so desperately wanted the man she had dreamed of since she was a child to become real and to protect her and her son. To her shock, Nikolai is real and he’s the supreme elf of a very northern region.

Just a Little Magic by Kate Douglas
On Christmas Eve, Beth is shocked to find a man dressed in red velvet stumbling off her roof. Seems Dominc Claus has received his pink-slip and is his cousin Nick has relieved him of all Santa duties. Dom owns Rudolph Toys and is happy that he can devote his time to making toys. But it’s not just toys for children that Dom makes, as Beth is about to learn.

Ringing in the Season by Rachel Bo
Feeling disenchanted with her marriage of 17 years, Traci is happily surprised by the unusual treasure hunt her husband Rick has prepared for her. One that takes her on an erotic journey down memory lane, and to her ultimate treasure.

The Toymaker by R. Casteel
Samantha, widowed with two small children on the Missouri frontier, struggles to survive through the harsh winter. When she gives the small toymaker named, Claudius, shelter from a storm, little miracles begin to happen.

August Heat (Men of August) by Lora Leigh
Marly, Sarah and Heather want something very special for Christmas. Since they married Cade, Brock and Sam, they’ve noticed that the brothers have been healing and the nightmares have stopped. It’s time that each brother learns that they can make their own families now

~~~



I did not read the first story in this book 'August Heat' because I have not read any of the previous August brothers books so felt no need to read the conclusion to their story.

I did read the rest of the stories and have a couple of favorites.

'Make Me Believe' was probably my favorite. A wonderfully sweet Christmas story about love and acceptance.

'Just a Little Magic' was such a fun read. Loved the characters.








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Mistletoe Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery #1) by Leslie Meier

Mistletoe Murder by Leslie Meier

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


As if baking holiday cookies, knitting a sweater for her husband’s gift, and making her daughter’s angel costume for the church pageant weren’t enough things for Lucy Stone’s busy Christmas schedule, she’s also working nights at the famous mail-order company Country Cousins. But when she discovers Sam Miller, its very wealthy founder, dead in his car from an apparent suicide, the sleuth in her knows something just doesn’t smell right.

Taking time out from her hectic holiday life to find out what really happened, her investigation leads to a backlog of secrets as long as Santa’s Christmas Eve route. Lucy is convinced that someone murdered Sam Miller. But who and why? With each harrowing twist she uncovers in this bizarre case, another shocking revelation is exposed. Now, as Christmas draws near and Lucy gets dangerously closer to the truth, she’s about to receive a present from Santa she didn’t ask for–a killer who won’t be satisfied until everyone on his shopping list is dead, including Lucy herself…

~~~

Very much enjoyed this cute cozy mystery. Love that it is set in a small town as I can relate to a lot of the descriptions and happenings living in a rural area. I like the characters and the mystery itself was interesting enough to keep me reading. Will definitely be continuing with this series.



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Jingle Bell Rock by Lori Foster and other various authors

Jingle Bell Rock by Lori Foster

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


They're big, they're bad, and they're everywhere -- Brava's national bestselling anthologies continue to delight devoted fans across the country, and the franchise that began with All Through the Night now brings a whole new meaning to the idea of Christmas ecstasy. Featuring a six-pack of top-notch, bestselling romance writers, Jingle Bell Rock will be the next best thing to eggnog to celebrate Christmas cheer.

Skip the mistletoe -- you won't need it after you indulge in these six tempting tales of romance filled with the sort of naughty-but-oh-so-nice men who make the season so bright it's downright hot...


He Sees You When You're Sleeping
Lori Foster
What Booker Dean wants for Christmas isn't under the tree, it's right next door. Frances Kennedy is everything Booker desires...and the gift he has planned for her involves a lot of delicious unwrapping...


All She Wants for Christmas
Janelle Denison
When sexy pediatrician Matthew Carlton plays Santa, pulling Faith Roberts onto his lap, he has no idea what's on her Christmas wish list...or how much he'll enjoy fulfilling every bit of it...


Turning Up the Heat
Susan Donovan
Being stood up on Christmas Eve is bad enough, but now Valerie's furnace is broken, too. Good thing that sexy repairman is available to raise the temperature dramatically...


Baby, It's Cold Outside
Donna Kauffman
It's been ten years since Susanna York left Jace Morgan. Now, as fate reunites them during a holiday snowstorm, they'll have plenty of time to discover that distance only sharperns certain hungers...


A Blue Christmas
Alison Kent
Thomas "Blue" Miller never expected to see Jessie Buchanan on his Christmas tree farm again. But now that she's here, he's ready to show her exactly what she's been missing...


The Nutcracker Sweet
Nancy Warren
Co-workers Daniel and Tara couldn't hate each other more. So when they end up as Secret Santa partners, it's a perfect chance for revenge and a dare that just may ignite the steamiest night of their lives...

Very enjoyable anthology of Christmas romance. Definitely a bit steamy, sometimes a bit unrealistic, often a bit of fun. I always enjoy a good anthology and even though I always say that I don't read 'romance', I really seem to enjoy it when I do.

~~~~



While some of the stories seem to be parts of series they all seem to be able to stand alone as well. Normally I am anal about reading series in order, but it did not bother me to read these particular stories.



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