Archive for January, 2022

Sparks rekindled…… Montana Reunion by Jen Gilroy

Posted: January 31, 2022 in Contemporary Romance, Excerpt, giveaways
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On Tour with Prism Book Tours
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Montana Reunion
By Jen Gilroy
Clean Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 244 Pages
January 25, 2022 by Harlequin Heartwarming

An unexpected reunion
Sparks familiar feelings!

Beth Flanagan became a mother when she took in her best friend’s daughter. Spending the summer at the Montana camp where she and her friend had made such wonderful memories was meant to create a much-needed bond. But Beth didn’t anticipate Zach Carter, the boy who’d stolen her heart, to be in charge. Nor did she anticipate how quickly their feelings would reignite–though Beth vows to not fall for him again!

(Affiliate links included.)
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UK readers: the e-book is not available but the paperback is available via The Book Depository

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Enjoy this peek inside:

“I might not have dated in a while, but I haven’t forgotten how to do it.”

“It’s not…” Beth stopped. This was the best time she’d had in ages, and she wouldn’t say anything to spoil it. Besides, date was only a word.

And maybe she’d forgotten how to have a good time. The thought ricocheted through her and she pressed her free hand to her chest. She’d been so focused on Ellie and her job that her life had gotten smaller, almost without her realizing it. Joy was right. Beth did need to get out more, and perhaps it was the same for Zach.

However, tonight’s good time wasn’t about the restaurant, the food or even the dancing. Like when they were teenagers, it was about Zach. Despite the intervening years, there was still a connection between them. So, date or not, what might happen if Beth took a chance and explored it?

 

Excerpted from Montana Reunion by Jen Gilroy, Copyright © 2022 by Jen Gilroy. Published by Harlequin Heartwarming.

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About the Author

Photo credit: Robin Spencer, Spencer Studio

Jen Gilroy writes sweet romance and uplifting women’s fiction—warm, feel-good stories to bring readers’ hearts home. A Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® finalist and shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Joan Hessayon award, she lives in small-town Ontario, Canada with her husband, teenage daughter and floppy-eared rescue hound. She loves reading, ice cream, ballet and paddling her purple kayak.

 

Tour Schedule


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Tour Giveaway

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One winner will receive a signed print copy of Montana Reunion by Jen Gilroy (Open to US, UK, and Canada).

Ends February 9, 2022


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Out Of Temper ~ A Bean To Bar Mystery by Amber Royer

Posted: January 30, 2022 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
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Out Of Temper

A Bean To Bar Mystery

by Amber Royer

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Out of Temper (Bean to Bar Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
‎Golden Tip Press (February 1, 2022)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 264 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1952854121
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1952854125
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09MBQ1186

Felicity Koerber’s bean to bar chocolate shop on Galveston’s historic Strand has been the scene of two murders – both of which she has been instrumental in helping solve. So when she gets invited to demo her chocolate skills aboard a cruise ship sailing out of the local port, she’s excited at the chance to get away from the shop long enough to regain her equilibrium. She even brings her best friend along, and makes plans for time at the spa. But when she gets on board, she finds out that she’s been booked for a mystery-themed cruise, and said best friend, Autumn, has to finally deal with the real reasons she quit writing mysteries. Only – if that wasn’t stressful enough – it doesn’t take long before there’s a real murder on the cruise, and someone Felicity knows becomes the prime suspect. When said suspect asks her for help, she can’t exactly say no, can she?

 

Felicity finds herself surrounded by cruise goers who all had connections to the victim – and finds that both Logan (her business partner, whom she recently kissed) and Arlo (the cop who was once Felicity’s first boyfriend, before she moved away from Galveston) are dealing with the case until more official help can arrive. How will Felicity survive the ensuing awkwardness?

 

One thing that helps: the retired police dog turned therapy dog she meets on board. Satchmo helps Felicity deal with being back on the water after tragedy in her past – and also helps her uncover a vital clue to the case. Can Felicity unmask the killer and keep a friend from being framed before all the suspects leave the ship?

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Autumn and I are sitting at a table with plates of appetizers and cups of rum punch by the time Logan finally catches up to us. He’s ditched his usual pilot’s jacket and tee combo for a red Hawaiian shirt with pineapples and gold flamingos on it – and shorts.

I snuff back a laugh. It’s more startling than funny. I never thought I’d see him wearing shorts. He looks good in them – just different. We changed for the party, so now Autumn is wearing a sparkly dress with a long strand of pearls. Which makes Logan’s clothes look doubly casual.

“Nice shirt,” Autumn says, gesturing at Logan with her cup.

“Thanks,” he says. Logan’s green eyes sparkle with good humor. There’s a smile on his generous lips that softens his usual demeanor, despite his perfect posture and strong jaw. “It’s nice to be on vacation for once.”

“We’re still here to work,” I remind them, even though we’re currently in the middle of a party. The atrium is several levels tall, ringed by the balconies of some of the staterooms, and decorated with palm trees and tropical greenery – which I’m almost sure is all fake.

The tables are scattered throughout the space, and more people are standing in random areas, having conversation with strangers, seeming to sort themselves by costume choices. Not everyone here has dressed for the event – but most have.

A guy wearing a white jacket and a bow tie leads the way over to our table, flanked by a girl in a deerstalker hat with pigtail braids peeking out from the flaps and a guy wearing an old-fashioned suit and an obviously fake curly-edged mustache.

Bow Tie Guy gestures at the three of us. “You have to take pictures with us.”  Then he points at Logan. “Especially you.”

Logan looks taken aback. “Me?  Why?”

“Because you’re supposed to be Magnum P.I., right?  I need you to complete my costume.”

Logan blinks. “What?”

Autumn says, “It’s a costume party. Arlo is here somewhere, dressed as Columbo. This guy is supposed to be one of Humphrey Bogart’s characters–”

“Actually,” Bow Tie Guy interrupts, “I’m Rick, from Magnum. He was the bar owner – and he went through a Bogart phase. Which is why I need Magnum to complete my photos. I’ll be sticking with you for the whole party.”

Which is just a little too meta, right?  I giggle nervously. “How long is this party?”

The girl points to Autumn, “So obviously you’re Miss Fisher.”

Autumn hadn’t intended to dress in character, but she still looks pleased. “It’s the vintage jewelry, right?  I do give off a 1920s vibe.”

Then the girl points to me. “But I’m not sure who you are.”

I start to say I didn’t come in costume, but before I can the fake-mustached Hercule Poirot says, “I have deduced it with my little gray cells. Unassuming blouse and plain black pants. Hair pulled up, so it looks short without having to cut it. You, my dear, must be Jessica Fletcher.”

 

About Amber Royer

Amber Royer writes the CHOCOVERSE comic telenovela-style foodie-inspired space opera series, and the BEAN TO BAR MYSTERIES. She is also the author of STORY LIKE A JOURNALIST: A WORKBOOK FOR NOVELISTS, which boils down her writing knowledge into an actionable plan involving over 100 worksheets to build a comprehensive story plan for your novel. She blogs about creative writing techniques and all things chocolate at www.amberroyer.com. She also teaches creative writing and is an author coach. If you are very nice to her, she might make you cupcakes.  Chocolate cupcakes, of course.

Author Links: Website / Blog / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube

 Twitter / Amazon / Goodreads

Purchase Links: 

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

Apple Books

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January 24 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

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January 25 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE

January 25 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

January 26 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – GUEST POST

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February 1 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

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Frozen In Motion ~ A Callie Cassidy Mystery by Lori Roberts Herbst

Posted: January 28, 2022 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
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Frozen In Motion

A Callie Cassidy Mystery

by Lori Roberts Herbst

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Frozen in Motion (Callie Cassidy Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Colorado
Number of Pages ~275
More info to come including Amazon and GoodReads Links
A murder at the local hockey rink leaves photographer Callie Cassidy nursing a few injuries of her own, but that won’t stop her from trying to catch the killer—before someone else gets iced…

 

When hockey coach Renata Sanchez asks for Callie’s help exposing her ex-husband’s nefarious activities, Callie hesitates. After all, Renata’s brother, Detective Raul Sanchez, has been known to bristle at Callie’s interference. But with her own second-chance romance on rocky turf and her best friend’s engagement to a man Callie doesn’t entirely trust, she could use the distraction of an investigation.

 

Before she can even begin her research, a confrontation involving the ex, Renata, and Raul erupts right outside Sundance Studio. Then later in the day, the ex-husband literally drops dead and falls from the hockey arena catwalk—landing with a thud on top of Callie. Renata immediately takes the top spot on the suspect list, with Raul’s name not far behind. With time running out to save her friends, Callie enlists the help of her inquisitive cat and her loyal golden retriever to develop a picture of the true culprit.

 

About Lori Roberts Herbst

Lori Roberts Herbst is the author of the Callie Cassidy Mystery series. Her debut novel, Suitable for Framing, won first place in the Murder and Mayhem category at the 2020 Chanticleer International Book Awards. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and serves as secretary of the North Dallas chapter. She is also a member of the national Guppy chapter and Mystery Writers of America. A former educator, Lori spent much of her life writing, editing, and psychoanalyzing. Through thirty years of teaching journalism, advising newspaper and yearbook staffs, instructing budding photographers, and counseling teenagers, she still managed to hang on to a modicum of sanity. Then she retired and assumed her third career: author.

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Goodreads / BookBub

Purchase Links on Amazon:

FROZEN IN MOTION

DOUBLE EXPOSURE (book 2)

SUITABLE FOR FRAMING (book 1)

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GIVEAWAY

I have one eBook copy to give away.

Just answer this question:

Are you a dog or a cat person?

Giveaway ends January 30th.

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 24 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

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January 25 – Baroness’ Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

January 25 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – GUEST POST

January 26 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 26 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

January 26 – My Journey Back – CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 27 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 27 – Ascroft, eh? – GUEST POST

January 27 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

January 28 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

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January 29 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

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January 29 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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Sometimes The Truth Is Uglier……. The Liars Beneath by Heather Van Fleet

Posted: January 27, 2022 in giveaways, Romance, suspense, YA
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The Liars Beneath
Heather Van Fleet
Publication date: January 27th 2022
Genres: Thriller, Young Adult

A romantically dark YA thriller set in the backdrop of Iowa’s suspenseful farmlands.

After a tragic accident ends her best friend’s life, 17-year-old Becca Thompson succumbs to grief the only way she knows how: by wallowing in it. She’s a fragment of the person she once was—far too broken to enjoy the summer before her senior year. But when Ben McCain, her best friend’s older brother, returns home, Becca must face her new reality head on.

She isn’t interested in Ben’s games, especially since he abandoned his sister during the months leading up to her death. But when he begs for her help in uncovering the truth about what really happened the night of his sister’s death, Becca finds herself agreeing, hoping to clear up rumors swirling in the wake of her best friend’s accident.

An unhinged ex-boyfriend, secret bucket lists, and garage parties in the place Becca calls home soon lead her to the answers she’s so desperate to unveil. But nobody is being honest, not even Ben. And the closer Becca gets to the truth—and to Ben—the more danger seems to surround her.

Clearing her best friend’s name was all she wanted to do, but Becca is quickly realizing that the truth she craves might be uglier than the lies her best friend kept.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

It was almost midnight when I heard the knock against my window. Three soft and consecutive thuds, all of which match the beat of my heart. Why he chose that way to get my attention instead of texting, is a mystery. The kind of mystery I was way too amped up to question.

I wasn’t excited in the sense that I like him and want to spend time with him or anything. At least that’s what I told my racing heart when I first saw his smile from the other side of the glass. He’d been crouched on his belly on the roof of our porch like a stealthy spy, and the sight was something I’d never forget.

I’d thrown a hoodie on over the Tee I’m dressed in, pairing it with some denim cutoffs. Then I tossed my hair up into a messy bun and slid on some cherry Chapstick—but only because my lips were chapped. That’s it. No other reason whatsoever.

Once my Docs were on, I slid out my window and met him head on, the two of us jumping the five feet off the low hanging roof. I’d giggled uncontrollably when he landed on his butt instead of his feet, and he’d nearly pulled me down with him when he tried grabbing my laces. That would be the last time I’d ever not tie my boots.

“Guess what?” he whispered when we started to walk away from the house. “I researched your family tree today and found out that you, Becca, are the biggest sap.” He ended that statement with a tap to my nose. My freaking nose, for God’s sake.

He’d booped me.

My response—one which had been paired with a hard thump to his equally as hard abdomen: “You’re so dumb, you planted a dogwood tree and expected a litter of puppies.”

We both laughed at how stupid we sounded, yet at the same time it felt good to just be goofy. Or dare I say, normal. Though that word—normal—was a bit of a stretch when it came to the two of us anymore.

After that, Ben took my hand like it was the most natural thing in the world and proceeded to lead me to where we are now: the middle of the cornfield.

I trail my fingers over the silky corn stalks, marveling at their height and the way the midnight moon reflects off the green color. Nothing about this spot eases my frazzled nerves, of course. It doesn’t give me peace of mind like it once had when I’d come out here with Rose either. It’s kind of like the alcove in that sense—a spot tainted by a bad memory, despite the many good memories trying to override it.

Ben moves closer, our shoulders brushing.

“What are you thinking about?” he asks.

“Stuff.” That no longer matters. A time and a place and a memory that’s long past.

“Rose said you guys used to hang out here a lot.”

I shrugged one shoulder, unwilling to indulge in what happened the last time she and I had been out here. It’s not a huge thing, smoking weed and all, but for some reason, I don’t want Ben to know that it’d been my bucket list item, not Rose’s. It shows my age—how I’d been so young and inexperienced.

Not that I care what he thinks.

“It’s nice,” he continues. “Quiet too. I can see why you liked it.”

“We did some of our best thinking out here.” Thinking that was more along the lines of Rose smoking joints, while I stood by to keep watch.

“Hmm.” He nods, kicks the toe of his foot into the dirt. “I’m gonna go to that party on Saturday,” he tells me out of the blue.

I frown. “You think that’s smart after beating up Adam like you did?”

“Yup.”

“Why?”

“Because Adam’s gonna be there.” He looks away, but I don’t miss the flex of his jaw—not even in the dark. “I don’t trust the guy.”

I turn him around by the shoulders, forcing him to stand in front of me. “What’s there not to trust, exactly?”

“Lots of things.”

“Like what?”

“I’ve got facts that need exploring.” His lips purse.

“Yeah.” I roll my eyes. “Because you’re suddenly a detective now. I forgot.”

Adam wouldn’t hurt a puppy, let alone be behind Rose’s death. He used to talk big, but his love for my best friend was endless. Without a doubt, I know that’s who her secret boyfriend was. I just don’t get why they never went public.

“I’m more of a private eye, actually.” He covers one eye and curls the corner of his upper lip, making an argh noise.

“That’s a pirate, not a private eye, dork.”

“Either way, they’re both sneaky, right?”

I sigh, wondering if he’s always been this weird. Cocky, a smartass, and a huge instigator—that’s Ben. Not funny.

 

Author Heather Van Fleet:

Heather Van Fleet is a stay-at-home-mom turned book boyfriend connoisseur. She’s married to her high school sweetheart, a mom to three girls, and in her spare time you can find her with her head buried in her Kindle, guzzling down copious amounts of coffee.

Heather graduated from Black Hawk College in 2003 and currently writes Adult contemporary romance. She is published through Sourcebooks Casablanca with her Reckless Hearts series and Bookouture with her Red Dragon series.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest


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The Prisoner Of Paradise by Rob Samborn ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Posted: January 26, 2022 in giveaways, thriller
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The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn Banner

The Prisoner of Paradise

by Rob Samborn

January 24 – February 18, 2022 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn

The world’s largest oil painting. A 400-year-old murder. A disembodied whisper: “Amore mio.” My love.

Nick and Julia O’Connor’s dream trip to Venice collapses when a haunting voice reaches out to Nick from Tintoretto’s Paradise, a monumental depiction of Heaven. Convinced his delusions are the result of a concussion, Julia insists her husband see a doctor, though Nick is adamant the voice was real.

Blacking out in the museum, Nick flashes back to a life as a 16th century Venetian peasant swordsman. He recalls precisely who the voice belongs to: Isabella Scalfini, a married aristocrat he was tasked to seduce but with whom he instead found true love. A love stolen from them hundreds of years prior.

She implores Nick to liberate her from a powerful order of religious vigilantes who judge and sentence souls to the canvas for eternity. Releasing Isabella also means unleashing thousands of other imprisoned souls, all of which the order claims are evil.

As infatuation with a possible hallucination clouds his commitment to a present-day wife, Nick’s past self takes over. Wracked with guilt, he can no longer allow Isabella to remain tormented, despite the consequences. He must right an age-old wrong – destroy the painting and free his soul mate. But the order will eradicate anyone who threatens their ethereal prison and their control over Venice.

Book Details:

Genre: Thriller

Published by: TouchPoint Press Publication Date: November 30th 2021 Number of Pages: 333 ISBN: 1952816890 (ISBN-13: 9781952816895) Series: The Paradise Series, #1

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

The flood of questions never left Nick’s lips. Large hands wrenched him up by his armpits. A hushed voice spoke in his ear. “Come with us. Quietly.” The grip tightened. Nick twisted his head to his sides. Bernardo led him away, staring straight ahead. Another security guard in a navy-blue suit flanked him. The man was about Nick’s age, with a close-cropped beard and light brown hair pulled into a tight ponytail—and considerably heftier than Bernardo. “Dante,” said Bernardo to the guard, “please notify—” Nick whipped his arms from Bernardo’s hold. Twisting, he whacked Dante’s earpiece, jamming the device into the large man’s head. Then he shouldered him into the nearest wall. Appalled gasps rose from the remaining tourists. Bernardo grabbed Nick from behind. Nick’s elbow blasted backward, landing with a shattering blow in the man’s ribs. Dante dug his finger into his ear and pulled the piece out. He flicked it at Nick, poised to attack. Confident he was quicker, Nick ducked, popped up, and discharged a quick snap of his fist. Blood from the brawny guard’s nose sprayed across the polished marble wall. Museum patrons, many holding cell phones, cameras, and tablets, backed up, giving the fight a wide berth. Nick clocked Bernardo. His wide tungsten wedding ring connected with the man’s jaw. Bernardo stumbled, falling to the floor. Nick sprinted for the exit and down the hall, tossing the hat and scarf as he ran. Bursting through the Palazzo doors, he descended the Giants’ Staircase three steps at a time but slipped on the courtyard’s stone surface and crashed on his back. A jolt to his tailbone rang up his spine. He rolled onto his side and checked the staircase. Bernardo and Dante loomed at the top. The two men hustled down, their dark jackets flowing behind them. Tiny gravel pebbles burrowed into Nick’s palms as he scrambled up. He darted for the main entrance, disregarding what felt like a sledgehammer pounding his lower back with every step. “Arrestatelo!” Bernardo called out. Two uniformed guards rushed to block the front gate. Nick stormed ahead. The guards braced themselves. Nick plowed into the larger one, his speed and weight bowling the man over. The smaller guard dove for Nick, wrapping a firm hold around his ankle. He pitched forward and fell to the ground. “Fuck.” Nick kicked his free foot out. It hit the man’s cheek with a sickening crunch. A bloody tooth flew out and skipped across the ground. The guard’s grip loosened. Nick clambered to his feet and bolted for the entrance. He dodged a college-aged tourist, jumped the turnstile, and sprinted for St. Mark’s Square. A large woman in a neon pink shirt with a matching visor shouted at him. She pulled her young daughter to her as Nick ran by, almost knocking them down. He regretted the bedlam he was causing, but what choice did he have? Pigeons flew upward in alarm as he made his way through the golden, late afternoon light of the square. He glanced over his shoulder. Bernardo and Dante closed in, thirty feet away. Nick’s throbbing back screamed for attention, but he upped his speed and crossed into an alley in the corner of the piazza. He reached the other side, raced through the passageway between buildings, and entered a narrow street. He shuffled into a group of revelers who had overflowed from a crowded wine bar. Shimmying through the people, he spotted a small bridge over the next canal. Nick dashed across it and made another right, which led him to yet another alley. Stagnant, rank air engulfed him. “Son of a bitch.” A dead-end. Illegible graffiti covered the walls. Even in the moment, the vandalism pissed Nick off. A steel door was the only possible exit. The rusty knob didn’t budge. Nick pivoted back toward the alley entrance. His pursuers cast long shadows that extended to Nick’s sneakers. Despite their broken posture as they fought to catch their breath, their expressions championed triumph. Dante wiped the blood from his nose with a grin. “You were warned more than once.” Bernardo’s voice echoed off the walls. Unsure how he’d escape, Nick retreated until he bumped against the door. The men advanced. Each pulled a silver short sword from a concealed holster beneath their suit jackets. Fear and desperation caused Nick’s heart to pound so violently, he thought he heard it. But the blood churning through him generated a stronger urge: revenge. And he could only do right by Isabella if he survived this mess. Bernardo lunged. Though burly and one-armed, his movements were lithe. Nick dropped low as the sword whizzed over his head. Dante positioned his weapon high and brought it down, slicing through Nick’s shirt and into his forearm. Nick hollered as the pain seared through him. He charged Dante, who raised his sword again. Nick caught his hand and body-checked him into the brick wall. Nick sensed Bernardo behind him and rotated, barely avoiding the blade slicing for his back. Planting his foot, Nick went for the sword. His hands clenched around Bernardo’s, and they struggled for control of the hilt. Nick spat in his eyes and wrested the weapon away. With the last of his wavering strength, he slipped behind Bernardo and brought the sword to the man’s armpit under his one arm. “Drop it,” he said to Dante, who had his back to the alley’s end. Dante scowled but let his weapon fall with an echoing clang. “Now kick it over here and lay down. On your stomach. Arms out.” Dante did as instructed. “Get next to him,” Nick ordered Bernardo with a shove. “Flat.” Bernardo followed suit. Retrieving Dante’s weapon, Nick kept watch on their forms. His opponents counterbalanced the stare, studying his every move. Nick wrapped his fingers around the hilts. Holding swords felt good. Natural. He flourished them simultaneously and grinned, unaware he had that skill. Nick had a peculiar sensation, not that of anger but distinct determination. His mind played through potential outcomes, and one came into focus: he imagined rushing the men, and with raised blades, he hacked their bodies—first their faces, then their necks and torsos. Their warm blood drenched his skin. The scene gave him a surge of foul power. He teetered from the unfamiliarity of it and shook his head to clear the image. No. Nick wasn’t a murderer. Instead, he turned and raced for the alley entrance, tossing the swords away in disgust. His heart sank as he heard the two men getting to their feet. Rounding the corner, Nick ran under an archway connecting two buildings. He angled for the building wall, stepped on a brick edge, and jumped up, catching an exposed pipe ten feet up. As footsteps approached, he swung and kicked, striking a direct hit into Bernardo’s face. Bernardo toppled into Dante, the two landing hard on the ground. Nick dropped from the pipe and sprinted in the other direction, his torn shirtsleeve flapping off his bloodied arm. *** Excerpt from The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn. Copyright 2021 by Rob Samborn. Reproduced with permission from Rob Samborn. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:
Rob Samborn

In addition to being a novelist, Rob Samborn is a screenwriter, entrepreneur and avid traveler. He’s been to forty countries, lived in five of them (including Italy) and studied nine languages. As a restless spirit who can’t remember the last time he was bored, Rob is on a quest to explore the intricacies of our world and try his hand at a multitude of crafts; he’s also an accomplished artist and musician, as well as a budding furniture maker. A native New Yorker who lived in Los Angeles for twenty years, he now makes his home in Denver with his wife, daughter and dog.

Catch Up With Rob Samborn: RobSamborn.com Goodreads BookBub – @rsamborn LinkedIn Instagram – @robsamborn Twitter – @RobSamborn Facebook – @RobSambornAuthor TikTok – @robsamborn

 

 

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Damaged Grump ~ An Enemies To Lovers Romance by Nicole Snow

Posted: January 25, 2022 in Contemporary Romance, giveaways
Tags: , ,
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Damaged Grump: An Enemies to Lovers Romance
Nicole Snow
Publication date: January 21st 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Wall Street Journal bestselling author Nicole Snow returns with a hysterical office romance where the grumpiest boss claims the good girl and loses his scorched heart.

Our meet cute was one big sip of ugly.
He pushed my hell-no buttons, wearing an indestructible smirk.
I offended his warped morals in front of his starry-eyed minions.
Then I got my sweet reward for doing the right thing.
I found out I’d be calling Roland Osprey “boss.”

A filthy rich tabloid king. Emphasis on filthy.
A gorgeous villain who sold his soul—if he ever had one.
A tyrant who stole my sensitive, uplifting music magazine.
Welcome to my bait and switch.

Apparently, disasters come in threes.
His perfect vests that leave me delirious.
The way he stares at my lips—painted for torment with an arsenal of lipstick.
Our shared love for sad songs that makes me cry.
So does the big fat secret assignment he drops on my head.

I hate that he has a good cause.
I wish I could hate the wicked ways he makes me feel divine.
When my guard slips, I’m in free fall.
One all-consuming kiss in an alley seals our epic mistake.
How many times can one damaged grump make me sing the blues?
How do you ever fall out of love with the bad guy?

Full-length enemies-to-lovers romance doused in biting words and sizzling slow-burn tension. The worst boss ever finds his missing piece in the woman who loathes him—and an unlikely Happily Ever After worth all the lumps to the heart.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

It’s ten a.m.

I was supposed to meet Roland fifteen minutes ago, and I’m still slumming around in a t-shirt and panties.

“Just a minu—ULP!” I yell, tumbling out of bed.

Legs, meet sheets.

Legs, get intimately acquainted with sheets.

Legs, dump me face-first on the floor when I try standing with the sheets tangled around my calves.

Yep, I basically just hog-tied myself.

I go down hard, groaning as another knock rattles the door. This time, it’s firmer.

“Callie? Are you all right in there?” Roland’s voice drifts through the thick wood.

Oh, boy.

“M’fine,” I mumble into the pillow that fell with me, thankfully cushioning my head smacking the floor. “Just tripped. Give me a sec.”

He doesn’t say anything, but his silence whispers skepticism.

Who could blame him?

I fight off the sheets, totter to my feet, and dump the bedding back on the mattress before snagging a pair of running shorts from the suitcase I’d left open in the corner easy chair.

Hopping on one foot, then the other, I shimmy into them, yanking them up over my hips. Then I stagger to the door and pull it open with my arms moving faster than my brain.

Eep.

One look at the bosshole makes me realize what a disheveled mess I am.

We’re talking oversized shirt falling off one shoulder, hanging down just long enough to hide my tiny shorts. Bedhead hair sticking up like a cactus—I’m surprised I don’t scare him—and I don’t even want to know what I look like without my makeup.

Especially not after sleeping with my face smooshed in a pillow.

He’s my total opposite.

How predicable.

Even dressed down, he looks so cool and collected and put together that he’d wreck a GQ model.

He’s just wearing a t-shirt and a pair of jeans with thick-soled black workmen’s boots—but it’s a designer shirt, designer jeans, designer boots in fine leather.

The dark-grey shirt clings to his chest like it’s painted on, pouring over his beastly pecs and dipping down sculpted abs in ridged patterns.

God. Even the stitching on the short sleeves strains against the rock-hard cut of his biceps like it’s struggling to hold them in.

Dark, faded jeans hang low on his hips in the right and oh-so-wrong way, held in place by a leather belt that just barely keeps them from dipping down to pure sin.

A little lower, and I know they’d reveal the narrow V of his pelvis.

The fit hints at the power between his legs, from his thighs underneath to a piece of him I dare not imagine.

Not if I want to keep my last worn thread of sanity.

 

Author Nicole Snow:

Nicole Snow is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author. She found her love of writing by hashing out love scenes on lunch breaks and plotting her great escape from boardrooms. Her work roared onto the indie romance scene in 2014 with her Grizzlies MC series.

Since then Snow aims for the very best in growly, heart-of-gold alpha heroes, unbelievable suspense, and swoon storms aplenty. With over a million books sold, she lives for the joy of making two people fight with every bit of their soul for a Happily Ever After.

Current fan favorites include her Enguard Protectors series, accidental love novels, plus long beloved MC romance thrillers like the Grizzlies and Deadly Pistols.

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Nothing Left To Lose by A J Wills ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Posted: January 24, 2022 in giveaways
Tags:
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Nothing Left To Lose
A.J. Wills
Publication date: January 10th 2022
Genres: Adult, Psychological Thriller

When you’ve lost everything – revenge is all that’s left…

After securing the convictions of two violent murderers for a horrific and brutal attack on a pensioner in his own home, Henry’s wife, Abi should be celebrating.

With the nation watching, it was her biggest test as a criminal lawyer.

But someone’s not happy.

First, there’s the hooded stranger who follows her home in the dead of night.

Then comes the attack on her car and a death threat in an anonymous hand-delivered letter.

Someone’s trying to scare them.

Someone wants revenge.

And they’ll stop at nothing until they’ve brought the couple to their knees – and exacted a deadly retribution…

Nothing Left To Lose is an electrifying psychological thriller from the No. 1 bestselling author of his Wife’s Sister.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Where the hell is she?

It’s gone half nine and a niggle of worry rumbles in my gut. A vision of Abi on a hospital trolley flashes through my mind. I shove it away. I’m being silly. Worrying unnecessarily. I’m sure she’s fine.

I snatch up my phone and hit the redial button, willing her to answer, hoping for a slurred apology and the sound of music thumping in the background. At least I would know she was safe.

I listen to a long hiss-filled silence, the blood gushing through my ears.

A click.

Her voice.

And for a split second, I dare to believe I’m through.

‘Abi?’

‘You’ve reached Abigail Pilkington-Hutton. I can’t take your call right now but leave a message.’

I slump in my chair and pinch the bridge of my nose as I ring off, my heart beating a little faster and a little harder. A kaleidoscope of images of my wife’s body dumped by the side of the road, bleeding, lifeless, her eyes staring blankly, spiral through my head.

Stop it.

I refuse to be that husband. She’s perfectly capable of looking after herself. She’s not a child. And yet, I can’t help but worry.

Of course, the lasagne’s ruined. A fiery blast stings my face as I flip open the oven door. I step back to let the curls of steam rush towards the ceiling and peer inside despondently at the charred remains. Shavings of Parmesan cheese are blackened beyond salvation and crusty tracks of meat sauce have bubbled up and hardened over the sides of the ceramic dish. It’s as good as cremated, even though I turned the heat down hours ago.

I slam the door shut. Wasting good food irks me, especially when I’ve put effort into cooking. It’s not as if it’s one of those vile cardboard-tasting ready meals, straight out of a packet. It’s an authentic Italian recipe from a dusty old cookbook I picked up in a secondhand bookstore in town. I used a pinch of rosemary and cubes of pan-fried pancetta for the ragu and a sprinkling of nutmeg in the bechamel sauce. A surprise treat to celebrate the end of Abi’s trial.

I’ve lost count of the number of evenings and weekends she’s given up working on the case. The missed bedtime stories with the girls. The hours going through witness statements “one more time”. After everything she’s sacrificed over the last couple of months, I thought tonight we could spend some time together.

But she’s not come home and her phone’s off.

Author A J Wills:

AJ Wills is the number one Kindle bestselling author of multiple psychological thrillers.

He was a journalist for 20 years and also ran the communications department at a national charity in the UK.

He has been writing full time since March 2021 and runs the small independent publishing company, Cherry Tree Publishing, with his wife, AJ McDine, a fellow thriller author.

“I’ve always loved thrillers, but psychological thrillers hold a special interest for me because they’re about the scary, insane, disturbing things that happen to ordinary people – and we can all relate to them on some level,” he said.

He lives in Kent in the UK with wife, Amanda, their two teenage sons and two cats.

You can find out more about him by visiting his website: ajwillsauthor.com

Or contact him directly at adrian@ajwillsauthor.com

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Doolittle ~ Devil’s Fury MC by Harley Wylde ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Posted: January 24, 2022 in Contemporary Romance, giveaways, suspense
Tags: , , ,
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Doolittle
Harley Wylde
(Devil’s Fury MC)
Published by: Changeling Press
Publication date: January 21st 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense

Minnie — The Reckless Kings told me it was pointless to pine after Satyr. I kept offering myself to him, hoping he’d see me as something more. I was a fool. All that man will ever see when he looks at me is a club girl. I’ll always be trash in his eyes. So when the President offers me a chance at a new life, I grab on with both hands. It might mean living with yet another club — the Devil’s Fury — but once I meet Doolittle, my entire world turns upside down. I’d thought myself in love with Satyr, but I was so very wrong. Doesn’t matter. Same situation, different man. I might be starting my life over, but Doolittle knows what I am, what I’ve been… and he’ll never want someone like me as his old lady.

Doolittle — Beast asked a favor and I gladly agreed. I have no problem with a woman who wants a fresh start. Before I even met Minnie, I’d offered to let her work at my clinic. I don’t know what I expected. But the stunning woman who shows up leaves me tripping over myself. I’ve never met anyone like her before, and the instant connection between us is startling. Just one problem. Well, three. The first is Meredith. The girl won’t take no for an answer and is determined I’ll be hers. The second is that Minnie feels unworthy of being mine. I’ll just have to prove her wrong. The third I never saw coming, and it just might change everything.

WARNING: Doolittle is part of the Devil’s Fury MC romance series and contains bad language, violence, and adult situations. You’ll also find entirely too many adorable animals, no cheating, and a guaranteed happily-ever-after.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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Enjoy this peek inside:

In the last three months, I’d been with Satyr a handful of times. I’d been coming here less and less. If it weren’t for Brick requesting my presence tonight, I probably wouldn’t have come. When he’d asked me to join him for a drink, I hadn’t been able to say no.

Brick reached out and grabbed my hand. “I know this isn’t how you wanted things to end. We were all hoping Satyr would pull his head out of his ass.”

“You’ve all been warning me for a while now. Everyone knew he’d never want me as more than easy pussy. It was stupid for me to think he might change his mind.”

“Minnie, he’s my brother and I have to side with him, but… I think he’s missing out on something special with you. It’s been clear from the beginning you’re different from most of the women who come here.” Brick patted my hand. “Which is why Beast would like to run an idea by you. Head on back to his office. He’s expecting you.”

I stood and went down the back hall and knocked on the President’s door. I’d wondered why he was here on a party night. Ever since he’d claimed Lyssa, he’d started heading home when things heated up at the clubhouse. I couldn’t blame him. His wife was wonderful.

“Come in,” he barked.

I opened the door and stepped inside, leaving it open so no one would get the wrong idea. He sighed and rubbed at his eyes.

“Brick said you wanted to see me,” I said.

He nodded. “I know things haven’t worked out well for you here. You plan on staying in town?”

I shrugged a shoulder. “I have a job and an apartment, but… I really don’t want to see Satyr around town if I can avoid it. There’s nothing holding me here. My job isn’t exactly fabulous.”

“I heard you have some experience with animals,” he said.

“The human variety or the furred type?” I asked.

He smirked. “Probably both, but I meant the kind with feathers, fur, or scales.”

“I do. I worked in the kennels at a boarding place during high school. I mostly dealt with dogs and cats though.”

“There’s someone with the Devil’s Fury arriving here tonight. He’s bringing a puppy for the kids. Someone tossed it into a sack and tried to drown it. Goes by the name of Doolittle.” I wasn’t sure what that had to do with me. Was he asking me to pet sit whenever he went out of town? I must have looked as confused as I felt because he smiled and leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his desk. “The Devil’s Fury are down in Georgia. Doolittle isn’t just one of their patched members, but he’s also a veterinarian. Owns a local practice. I mentioned your situation to him, and he’d like to help.”

“Help how?” I asked.

“Meet with him and hear him out. He’d like to hire you to work in the kennels at his clinic, but also to help with the animals he takes home. He has an entire sunroom filled with all sorts of critters that need attention. Sound like something that might interest you?”

I nodded. “It does. Not sure trading one club for another is the smartest idea though.”

“You wouldn’t be a club whore there, Minnie. It’s a fresh start for you. No one in town will know your past, except the Devil’s Fury officers and Doolittle. None of them are going to say a damn word to anyone. Even though some of their other members have been here a time or two, I know you didn’t spend time with them. I doubt they’d remember seeing you here. Just think about it.”

Author Harley Wylde:

Harley Wylde is the International Bestselling Author of the Dixie Reapers MC, Devil’s Boneyard MC, and Hades Abyss MC series.
When Harley’s writing, her motto is the hotter the better — off the charts sex, commanding men, and the women who can’t deny them. If you want men who talk dirty, are sexy as hell, and take what they want, then you’ve come to the right place. She doesn’t shy away from the dangers and nastiness in the world, bringing those realities to the pages of her books, but always gives her characters a happily-ever-after and makes sure the bad guys get what they deserve.

The times Harley isn’t writing, she’s thinking up naughty things to do to her husband, drinking copious amounts of Starbucks, and reading. She loves to read and devours a book a day, sometimes more. She’s also fond of TV shows and movies from the 1980’s, as well as paranormal shows from the 1990’s to today, even though she’d much rather be reading or writing.

You can find out more about Harley or enter her monthly giveaway on her website. Be sure to join her newsletter while you’re there to learn more about discounts, signing events, and other goodies!

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French Ghost ~ A Paris Ghost Writer Mystery by Corinne LaBalme

Posted: January 23, 2022 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
Tags: ,
1

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French Ghost

A Paris Ghost Writer Mystery

by Corinne LaBalme

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French Ghost (Paris Ghost Writer Series)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Paris
Wild Rose Press (January 10, 2022)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1509239197
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1509239191
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09KK62XR1

Ghost-writer Melody Layne is stranded in Paris when the over-sexed but unloved French movie star who hired her to produce his memoir accidentally drowns before the interviews begin. It’s a major financial relief when his enigmatic Spanish son re-hires her, but the seductive Carlos Ortega is strangely silent about his reasons for funding a feel-good bio about a father that he clearly despised. There’s enough amour in the air for Melody to ignore this apparent paradox… at least until she uncovers a hidden cache of death threats addressed to the actor. For the French police, the sexy, secretive Spaniard – and sole heir to the actor’s immense fortune – is suddenly a prime murder suspect. Can Melody’s research into the Ghosts of Carlos-Past be enough to save her lover from prison?

About Corinne LaBalme

My first jobs after college (incredibly useful art history degree) were in the New York fashion industry (modeling, working for designers). When I gave up on my Greenwich Village walk-up (after realizing that I couldn’t bear to smoosh the cockroaches in my shower because they were a ‘family’), I cut out to Paris where I became Fashion Editor for the English language magazine PASSION.

I subsequently wrote and edited the gourmet destination guide LA BELLE FRANCE for fifteen years while freelancing for the NEW YORK TIMES Travel section, various in-flight magazines, and guide books (GAULT MILLAU, VIRGIN, ZAGAT). From 2011 – 2012, I wrote screenplays for the PBS travel series CUISINE CULTURE.

The cinema figures in FRENCH GHOST are loosely based on stars I’ve interviewed (and been groped by); the restaurateurs in Book 2 (FRENCH TOAST) are drawn from the lovely, often impractical, chefs I met through LA BELLE FRANCE.

I suspect that Book 3 will toss Melody Layne into the cut-throat Paris fashion scene. May the Gods of Ghosting have mercy on her soul…

Author Links: Website / Twitter / Instagram 

Purchase Link: Amazon

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 17 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 18 – Ascroft, eh?– AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 18 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 19 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

January 20 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 21 – I Read What You Write – GUEST POST 

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Secrets lurking in the shadows….. Spindrifts by A-M Mawhiney

Posted: January 22, 2022 in Dystopian, giveaways, YA
Tags: , ,
15

Spindrifts
A-M Mawhiney
Publication date: November 24th 2021
Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult

Racism, climate change, and violence are in the past. The new world values respect and collaboration with others. But are there secrets lurking in the shadows of the Land of Hope? What truth about the past is being covered up?

When fifteen-year-old Fania returns from Immersion, she is shattered to learn that the next phase of her education is at home with Alicia, her granny. She had hoped for something far grander that would prepare her for an important role with the Earth Project. Their two strong personalities clash as Fania begins to learn more about the past and her family’s role in it.

As Fania grows in confidence and power, she starts to wonder exactly what secrets Alicia is keeping in her underground lab. After Fania discovers the truth, she finds her calling: one that has the power to change everything.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

~~~~~

Enjoy this peek inside:

Fania’s Journal: An excerpt from Spindrifts by A-M Mawhiney © 2021

I’m supposed to write in my journal every day. Sure. Like that’s the best use of my time. They said it’d be a private place to think, but I’ve wondered about that. I can think in my head without writing my thoughts. Just in case, I always use my disconnected tablet for the real journal, encrypted with three protective codes and in a language I developed myself. I know this might be over the top, but I’ve felt better knowing no one can read my actual journal. So, people can read how excited I am about my apprenticeship, but privately I’m totally dissed. I really want to learn about people From Away, and instead I’m apprenticing with Granny, my great-grandmother, who’s spent most of her life close to home in her research laboratory, two miles down an ancient mine shaft. It used to be where they studied mysteries of the universe! How the heck did that work?

I’ve always loved Granny. I’ve felt as though we’ve had a special relationship, and I’ve missed spending time with her. I just never thought they’d give me a responsibility so far removed from what I really want to be doing.

Ezma told me I’ve many skills and a strong aptitude for analytical thinking. I know what that means. It means sitting in an underground lab every day for the rest of my life. I guess I wasn’t very good at hiding my feelings because Ezma felt she had to remind me what Granny does is very important. Then she asked me a curious question.

“Do you know what she does?”

Well, of course I do! I explained, “Granny is the researcher who found the serum. She said it was a fluke.”

That comment made Ezma laugh, hysterically almost. “Well, Fania, you’ll find there’s a lot you can learn from Alicia. I hope you’ll keep an open mind.”

When I boarded the transport to head home after two years at Immersion, my patch reminded me to change my timer back to the village’s schedule. The health patch is a misnomer; it’s actually an up-to-date example of bio-merged nanotechnology. This latest gen’s so far advanced compared to the primitive models my grandparents used when they were young—those things they wore on their wrists. Now the healer implants the technology at birth where it merges with our brainwaves. It has reciprocal transformational capabilities, but I’ve been told there are limitations so it can’t change the basic personality or natural abilities of anyone. The patch transmits and receives communications, monitors personal health data, and provides all my reading materials. Everyone in our territory has them, so far as I know.

Author A-M Mawhiney:

A-M Mawhiney was deeply moved by the events of 2020 and the cries from advocates fighting for equity and justice for people living precarious lives because of structural barriers and discrimination. As a former social worker and academic she has spent her career seeking ways to improve lives of marginalized learners through inclusive education for all students. Mawhiney has hope for a better future for us all. Her vision of what this might look like inspired her to write Spindrifts.

Anne-Marie lives in Sudbury, Ontario, in the territory of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek in the Robinson-Huron Treaty Area, with Dave McGill and their canine companion, Charlie.

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