Friday, February 28, 2014

Review Roundup


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Forgiving Maximo Rothman


compelling characters weaved into the plot.   It is an engaging and original read.  4 stars.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Children's Book Review Roundup



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Whispering Wings Whispering Wings

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Whispering Wings is Jayne Peters' second children's book. It is a gently told story, reminding us that we all need to practice our virtues, especially when faced with everyday challenges. With a pocket full of caterpillars, join Nick on his journey to spread the virtues to his family members, and most importantly, himself!
MRS MOMMY BOOKNERD'S REVIEW:  I am such a fan of Peters' books.  The story is not only a mind expanding, wonderful adventure, but the pictures are also gorgeously illustrated. My kids love getting lost in the worlds that Peters creates.  5 stars

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18773853 Ziggersnout

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A picture book for early readers (ages 5-8). A story of a little boy learning to skate who, with the help of his friends, finds the drive within himself to persevere even when things get tough.
MRS MOMMY BOOKNERD'S REVIEW:  My son is a huge hockey fan and ate this book up. He learned the valuable lesson that hard work and perseverance pays off in the end.  I think you have a winning book when you blend a great story with great characters and valuable lessons. 4 stars

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18621805 The Poodle Tales: Book Nine: The Modeling Poo (The Poodle Tales #9)

This gorgeous silver bowed poodle who loves to play dress up is soon to become..."The Modeling Poo!"












MRS MOMMY BOOKNERD'S REVIEW:  This a cute story about setting out and reaching goals, but also about being generous and giving back. 3.5 stars

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If You Were Me and Lived in...India: A Child's Introduction to Cultures Around the World

Overview

Let's travel to India! Land of bright colors and delicious spices, If You Were Me and Lived in...India, takes young readers on a road trip to learn about this interesting place.
Children will learn how to say mommy and daddy, what type of currency is used, games that youngsters play and a lot of interesting facts about the beautiful land of India.
If You Were Me and Lived in...India adds this ethnically diverse country to the growing, award winning series that is out to cover the entire globe, teaching children about culture and customs all over the world.
The ForeWord Review, Clarion Review gave "If You Were Me and Lived in...Kenya" a coveted five star ranking. The first book in the series, If You Were Me and Lived in...Mexico" received the Pinnacle Award for Best in Children's Nonfiction 2012.
MRS MOMMY BOOKNERD'S REVIEW:  What a great all encompassing book for kids on India.  My son is constantly asking me about places all over the world, so this book was right up his alley.  It has great info in a way that is easy for kids to understand.  I can't wait to share the other books in the series with my sons.  4 stars
  
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Leo is bored, wishing there was more magic in life. He gets a big surprise when a mysterious wizard appears and sweeps him away on an incredible whirlwind tour of the animal kingdom! Join the fun as they witness some amazing animal powers at work, from chameleon camouflage to sticky gecko feet, and visit beautiful habitats from the frozen Antarctic to the mighty mountains of the Himalayas.After this exciting adventure you'll have to agree with the wizard that life has a special magic all of its own!






MRS MOMMY BOOKNERD'S REVIEW:  WOW, this story is WONDERFUL!  I adored the rhyming verse and the beautiful illustrations.  This is such a magical adventure, with factual and fun animal facts.  My kids went bananas for this book and it is one that we have read over and over and over again!  This is a book all kids need for their home library.  5 stars!

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To Daddy, From MacOverview

Can paper airplanes carry messages to Heaven? Mac hopes so. And he hopes even more that his dad will send a reply in return.











MRS MOMMY BOOKNERD'S REVIEW: A very heartwarming and touching story about a young boy who lost his father.  The moral of the story is that Daddy loves him no matter where he may go.  This book would be great to help s child deal with the loss of a parent.  4 stars


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20564234Have you ever been told, "Stop horsing around?" Well, with this amazing book about horses, you can horse around all you want! HORSES: Fun Facts and Amazing Photos of Animals in Nature (Amazing Animal Kingdom Series) is an entertaining and enjoyable book for young horse enthusiasts. This science based story is filled with all kinds of information about horses. Step into the past and read about horses in the medieval times. Travel to the farm and see what was expected of horses there. Stop by the tracks and watch the horses in action.

HORSES: Fun Facts and Amazing Photos of Animals in Nature (Amazing Animal Kingdom Series) is a fantastic book for children of any age. It is the ideal book for young readers but also perfect for parents or teachers who read to children. This children's story is not only fun to read, it is also educational. This remarkable book is exclusively structured for young readers. Its small paragraphs and simple sentence structure, makes this children's story a must have for fellow horse lovers. It has easy-to-read words, lower level vocabulary and context clues. HORSES: Fun Facts and Amazing Photos of Animals in Nature (Amazing Animal Kingdom Series) has factual information marketed in an entertaining manner. As your children enjoy the story, they may not even realize that they are learning! 

Reading to children can help broaden their vocabulary and comprehension skills. Encourage children to read and be responsible for broadening their minds.



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You have seen them in the zoo and at the aquarium but how much do you really know about them? In this kid-friendly report packed with fun facts and humor, you will uncover amazing facts about every ones favorite ocean animal cute, curious, playful, and intelligent dolphin! These marine mammals come in all different shapes and sizes and live all over the world in both saltwater and freshwater habitats! 

Learn about the many kinds of dolphins; the way in which dolphins play, hunt, and communicate; the birth and development of a baby dolphin and tons more! Did you know that dolphins are some of the smartest animals in the world? That's right! No wonder they're so fascinating! From the clever games they play to their fascinating method of finding objects in the water, there is no end to the awesome things these sea creatures can do! 

Impress your friends, family, and even your teacher with everything you learn about dolphins in this fun-filled report. How high can a dolphin jump? What do you call a baby dolphin? What kinds of food do dolphins enjoy? How can a dolphins whistle help its friends know where it is? Find the answers to these question sand many many more!


MRS MOMMY BOOKNERD'S DOUBLE REVIEW:  I love Emma Child and her books.  They are filled with awesome animal facts and colorful, vibrant pictures.  All her books are 5 stars!

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BUY THE BOOKS!!!!


Monday, February 24, 2014

Highlight: Cider Brook (Swift River Valley #3) by Carla Neggers

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Unlikely partners bound by circumstance…or by fate? 

Being rescued by a good-looking, bad-boy firefighter isn't how Samantha Bennett expected to start her stay in Knights Bridge, Massachusetts. Now she has everyone's attention—especially that of Justin Sloan, her rescuer, who wants to know why she was camped out in an abandoned old New England cider mill. 

Samantha is a treasure hunter who has returned to Knights Bridge to solve a 300-year-old mystery and salvage her good name. Justin remembers her well. He's the one who alerted her late mentor to her iffy past and got her fired. But just because he doesn't trust her doesn't mean he can resist her. Samantha is daring, determined, seized by wanderlust—everything that strong, stoic Justin never knew he wanted. Until now…



Carla NeggersCarla Neggers has been spinning stories ever since she climbed a tree with pad and pen at age eleven. Now she is the New York Times bestselling author of almost 70 novels, with millions of books sold in over 30 countries. Her popular Sharpe & Donovan romantic suspense series featuring FBI agents Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan launched with Saint’s Gate in 2011 and has been praised as “a breathtaking reading experience” (Providence Journal) and “gripping and suspenseful” (Nashua Telegraph). In 2012, her Swift River Valley series debuted with Secrets of the Lost Summer, which garnered a starred review from Booklist and a Top Pick from RT Book Reviews and shot onto the New York Times, USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. 

Growing up in rural Massachusetts with a Dutch father, a Southern mother and six brothers and sisters, Carla developed an eye for detail and a love of a good story. Her imagination, curiosity and sense of adventure are key to creating the complex relationships, fast-paced plots and deep sense of place in her books. 

When she isn’t writing, Carla loves to travel, hike, garden and spend time with family and friends. She and her husband, Joe, are frequent travelers to Ireland and divide their time between Boston and their hilltop home in Vermont, not far from Quechee Gorge. 

Please visit Carla at her website: http://www.carlaneggers.com



Friday, February 21, 2014

Highlight: Dare 2 Change by Omar A. Jarvis

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If you could achieve success without change, within your current life, you'd already be successful wouldn't you? People often want something for nothing. They want to work for a year, and be rich for a lifetime, diet for a month, and be skinny for years, work hard for a season, and become CEO. But the path to success...requires a life style change!

Dare 2 Change is a philosophy for implementing positive change into your life and preparing yourself for a breakthrough to success using documented proven methods and strategies from top psychologist and therapist. Proven techniques and philosophy in small bite size chunks with easy to follow steps, tips, including quizzes and necessary self-assessment activities to help navigate you through the process of change. There are two things that motivate people to make dramatic changes in their lives; inspiration and desperation. 

Dare 2 Change is a book with a message. A message that is inspirational, motivational, and encouraging. In such a way that it leads the reader to see that change is imperative and success is possible; that one can overcome and use adversity as building blocks in life. Tips derived from life experiences and presented in a way that is engaging, uplifting and educational for all in ages particularly for young adults.



Omar A. JarvisOmar Jarvis is a motivational speaker, a commendable substance abuse counselor, founder of Divine Inspirational Motivation, a website that motivates many on a daily basis and author of Dare 2 Change and Dare 2 Succeed (coming soon). He is also a creditable member of Toastmasters International and enjoys speaking to others to inspire.

Along with facing family, social, and economic struggles at age 17, Omar was expelled from school and sent to Job Corps where he also was also discharged due to his reckless behavior.He found himself back home to the streets dealing drugs, using drugs, and a few jail sentences in which a felony conviction caused a breakthrough.

Through reading every thing he could get his hands on and self education, Omar some made drastic changes in his life for the better. He learned some techniques and strategies that he eagerly shared with family and friends. During his progression he was still faced with adversities but learned to use it as stepping blocks instead of defeat. He lost his mother to cancer, all 3 of his aunts, one uncle, a brother to the penitentiary.

Understanding the struggles of the streets, Omar soon found his purpose and went to school at Argus Community (ACT-I) to receive his credentials as a Alcohol Substance Abuse Counselor. He has recently began attending The Berry Bible Institute after restoring his relationship with GOD. Omar enjoys to speaks with both the general youth and at risk youth, motivating them, teaching them that they are back bone to our nation. That they can change the future of this society with their well being and courageous minds. Omar acknowledges that as adults and role models we must get control of this. We must motivate and inspire our youth with positivity. We must teach them responsibility, goal setting and and spark their minds to be career driven.

Omar Jarvis was born and raised in Pamlico County, North Carolina but resides in Bronx, New York where he continues to works as Alcohol Substance Abuse Counselor, responsible for providing confidential addictions counselling, education and support to individuals, families and the community and for promoting healthy lifestyles and healthy choices.



Amy's Review Roundup


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About the book:  This is the story of Gwendolyn David who is the most,I repeat the most awesome philanthropist, dating divalicious, sexy goddess, Pulitzer Prize winning career driven woman extraordinaire! Well to be quite honest, future Pulitzer Prize winner and yet to have a boyfriend, dating diva and barely making ends meet to throw good money away(hey! student loan takes a toll on a person!)… But that is beside the point… Back to the blurb... 

This is a peek into the exciting life and times of...wait for it... The one... The only... give it up for … Gwendolyn David! Seriously! If you ask her,She is a role model for women all over the world and for men to bow down and say “We are not worthy!” before such excellence. So does she become the next Woodward and Bernstein while lassoing in her Prince Charming? 

In all honesty, this is a story of Gwendolyn David, who is narcissistic, absolutely mental, slightly dizzy single woman in NYC with secret superhero tendencies (hey in all honesty, doesn’t all women? The do it all, multi-tasking super femme!) And her mad escapades until she meets her stumbling block - an equally narcissistic sardonic character and both cannot seem to stop insulting and trading barbs with each other! You want to know more about these crazy yet absolutely lovable characters? Read the book to find out.

Amy's Review:  This book was a fun, quick read.  Gwendolyn Davis is a very ditzy women in NYC who has yet to ever have a boyfriend.  This book follows her on her journey in search of her Prince Charming.  She has 2 princes’ to choose from – Daniel and Dr. Mark.  She goes out on a limb and risks her life to impress them – some laugh out loud moments. 

I give this new author a 4 star review and I loved how this book flowed, loved her writing style, loved the laugh out loud moments.  This is a great Chick Lit read.  Reminds me of the author Sophie Kinsella.






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About the book:  Becca secretly lusts after Brent, Claire's boyfriend--then Claire makes Becca an offer about Brent that she can't resist.


Becca's in high school, but she hasn't been on the same page as her best friends since just before the start of middle school and she doesn't know exactly how things got so different. Not different in some edgy, gritty, she's-a-rebel way. More of a Yes-she's-a-dork way. Which makes it all the more amazing that while other friendships have crashed and burned all around them the four of girls have managed to stay Best Friends Forever. She doesn't need to share in her friends' spotlight. Becca's happy to follow along in the shadows, as long as she's not totally cast aside.

She's definitely not ready for guys. In fact, she just wants to skip right over high school and jump straight to twenty-two. By then she figures she will have gotten through her first date, first kiss, passed her driver's test, taken the SATs, filled out all those college applications, somehow survived living in a dorm and gotten her college degree without all the anxiety and drama.

Instead, just after silently deciding to not even think about guys and concentrate on school work for the next four years, she is instantly mesmerized by Brent, a seriously great-looking senior who also happens to have a long-time girlfriend, Claire. Not one to be the "other woman," Becca imagines creative ways for Claire to be out of Brent's life. 

Meanwhile, Becca forms a strictly friends-only relationship with Colt. Becca and Colt turn out be good partners when it comes to studying, taking pictures for the school newspaper and working on a term paper together. But when one day Claire makes an offer about Brent that Becca can't resist, that changes everything.
Amy's Review:  I have read a few Ann Herrick books and she did not let me down with this book.  There were quite a few laugh out loud moments in the beginning of the book, which grabbed me.   The funny or laughable moments in the book made it a quick and light read, even though it addressed some tough issues such as fitting in with friends, boys, high shool, etc.  I especially liked the character, Becca, who at one point decides to take on school work and forget about boys and drama.  But then Brent and Colt come into her life.  I give this book a 4 star review as the author did a great job with the “teen” issues of fitting it, etc. and I liked the twists and turns it took with Brent and Colt. 


BUY THE BOOKS:



Thursday, February 20, 2014

Highlight: We Will Survive: True Stories of Encouragement, Inspiration, and the Power of Song by Gloria Gaynor, Sue Carswell

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Gloria Gaynor’s #1 hit single “I Will Survive” debuted in 1978 to overwhelming success. Shortly thereafter, the single went double platinum and over three decades later still strikes a chord among men and women everywhere.

Over the years, the disco legend has received thousands of personal messages from adoring fans whose lives have been transformed by this timeless song. Their remarkable stories reveal that ”I Will Survive” has reached people from all walks of life and touched their lives in thousands of unique ways. From individuals triumphing over illness to those suffering from the painful loss of a loved one to others piecing their lives together after bearing witness to national tragedy, “I Will Survive” has become an emotional anthem for them and for millions of Gaynor’s adoring fans around the world.

In We Will Survive, Gloria shares forty of these inspirational, true stories about survivors of all kinds—individuals who have found comfort, hope, and courage through the power of this one song.



Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Blog Tour: Bangkok Transit by Eva Fejos via Fictionella




This book is such an interesting journey.  There are numerous characters that leave you feeling many emotions because they all have a distinct and unqiue stories and voices.  There will something for everyone. You will be transported emotionally because like the cover of the book reads....Bankok Transit is about love, overcoming sorrow and finding happiness.  3.5 stars


Bangkok Transit

Blurb
Bangkok: a sizzling, all-embracing, exotic city where the past and the present intertwine. It’s a place where anything can happen… and anything really does happen. The paths of seven people cross in this metropolis. Seven seekers, for whom this city might be a final destination. Or perhaps it is only the start of a new journey? A successful businessman; a celebrated supermodel; a man who is forever the outsider; a young mother who suddenly loses everything; a talented surgeon, who could not give the woman he loved all that she desired; a brothel’s madam; and a charming young woman adopted at birth. Why these seven? Why did they come to Bangkok now, at the same time? Do chance encounters truly exist?
Excerpt
‘Lian left in a stupor. The sign at the exit told her that she had visited the Erawan shrine. She was eager to have dinner, but to get to her hotel, she had to first cross a multi-lane road, and she was still unfamiliar with left-side traffic. She positioned herself beside a local family who was also attempting to cross and fell into step with them when they set forth. But as she was running, she tripped, her ankle turned, and she was caught off guard by a sudden impact from an unexpected direction, hardly a moment after she heard the rumbling sound foreboding danger.

She lay there on the pavement, hit by a tuk-tuk, and didn’t know if she would survive this accident; she felt she was at the ends of the Earth, where there might not be any hospitals, and if there were, who knows what kind of places they might be.

People spoke to her in Thai, but she didn’t understand a word. They gestured for her to get up quickly so nothing would hit her.

“But I’ve already been hit!” she cried in English.

“Come, let me help you,” she heard someone say, in English, finally. She looked up gratefully as a pair of hands reached under her arms and assisted her as she stood up. “Don’t you know that in this city the strongest always has the right of way? Come on. Can you walk?” asked the unfamiliar man, supporting her. Lian saw him for the first time only now: a European-looking man with gray hair and light eyes stood next to her. She tried to put weight on her injured foot and ascertained that perhaps there was nothing seriously wrong, apart from the sprain. The tuk-tuk driver involved in the accident had already sped off. “Show me where it hurts,” the man said.

“My ankle,” she said, pointing to her left foot. “But I’ll probably live.”

“If you can make it to the corner, there’s a cafĂ© where we can sit and I can look at your foot.”

“Are you a doctor?”

“No. But perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to establish if you need one at all, no? Look, if you don’t want me to check your foot, I can wait with you until your boyfriend or father arrives to take you home.”

“Then you’ll have to wait a long time!” Lian said, laughing.

“Why? Come on, lean on my arm,” offered the man.

Lian wasn’t sure why, but she slowly began to relax.

“Because my father is in New York.”

“Alright, but I’m sure there’s someone who can take you home. If there isn’t, that’s good news for me, because I’d be glad to help you.”

“Okay,” she answered, and cautiously tried walking with her left foot. It hurt, but she thought that if something were broken or she had any sort of serious injury, it would probably hurt much worse. She looked down at her foot and saw that her flip-flop was dangling by a single strap. She also noticed that the top of her foot was bloody and her thigh was throbbing in the spot where the tuk-tuk had hit her. What a strange city! You never know what direction a vehicle will come at you unexpectedly.

In the meantime, they arrived at the Starbucks Coffee terrace. Lian hobbled up the steps with the man’s help. Interestingly, she suddenly felt at home just by being in a Starbucks and even knew what kind of coffee she would order, just as if she were in New York.

The man gently guided her to one of the tables and went off to obtain the beverages. While he was gone, Lian inspected her foot. The outside of her left ankle was swollen and seemed to have turned a blackish shade. Damn. Just her luck! She might have to be stuck inside her hotel room for days.

“Here’s your coffee,” the man said, returning to the table. He sat down and leaned toward Lian’s foot, propped up on a chair. “Doesn’t look too pretty, but perhaps you’re not badly hurt… If you take a day off tomorrow, you’ll get better quicker.”

This was the first time Lian got a good look at the man. He seemed to be about sixtyish, dressed in sporty clothes. He was muscular and perhaps a bit overweight, but she wouldn’t have called him fat. There was something unusual about him, something exciting… perhaps his eyes. She took a sip of her coffee.

“So tell me: where did you learn how to speak English so well?” he asked.

“New York.”

“And… what were you doing there? Visiting your father?”

“I live in New York,” Lian answered. “I’m American. This is my first time in Thailand.”

“How extraordinary,” the man blurted out, “I somehow sensed that you were different from the others, even though this place is not lacking in exotic faces. If you don’t mind me saying…” he said, looking at Lian apologetically.

She smiled.

“It’s okay. Lots of people think I’m a local, and they’re bewildered when I tell them I can’t understand their language. But I didn’t think my punishment would be to get hit by them, so soon after I arrived.”

“So why did you come here?” the man asked.

Lian looked straight into his eyes and felt that he already knew the answer. She didn’t understand why this impression had rippled through her, but it made her shiver suddenly. She didn’t know if she wanted to tell him the truth, but she didn’t want to lie either.’
Eva Fejos
About the Author
Eva Fejos is a Hungarian women’s fiction author of thirteen bestselling novels, including her debut Bangkok Transit, which reached the top of the bestseller list within one month of its publication in 2008. Eva was a journalist for one of the largest Hungarian women's magazines, Nok Lapja (Women's Journal), from 2001 until 2012. She is the recipient of both the Award for Quality Journalism and the Award for Excellence. In 2013, Eva created her own publishing house in Hungary, Erawan Publishing. In addition to publishing Bangkok Transit in English translation and two new novels of her own, she launched some of her favorite authors’ books to her readers in Hungarian translation. Eva is very fond of traveling, and her many experiences give a personal touch to her exciting, exotic novels. She lives in Budapest where she is working on her next novel.

Connect with Eva;Website
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Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Highlight: Etched on Me by Jenn Crowell

Etched on Me

On the surface, sixteen-year-old Lesley Holloway is just another bright new student at Hawthorn Hill, a posh all-girl's prep school north of London. Little do her classmates know that she recently ran away from home, where her father had spent years sexually abusing her. Nor does anyone know that she's secretly cutting herself as a coping mechanism...until the day she goes too far and ends up in the hospital. 

Lesley spends the next two years in and out of psychiatric facilities, where she overcomes her traumatic memories and finds the support of a surrogate family. Eventually completing university and earning her degree, she is a social services success story, until she becomes unexpectedly pregnant in her early twenties. Despite the overwhelming odds she has overcome, the same team that saved her as an adolescent will now question whether Lesley is fit to be a mother. And so she embarks upon her biggest battle yet: the fight for her unborn daughter.


About Jenn

Color headshot of novelist Jenn Crowell
Photo credit: Hedy Bartleson
website for author:  http://jenncrowell.com/
Born and raised in rural Pennsylvania, Jenn Crowell found herself the subject of international media attention (including a New York Times photographer documenting her high school graduation) when she signed a two-book contract with Putnam in the spring of 1996, a few weeks shy of her eighteenth birthday.
Her first novel, Necessary Madness, was released to wide critical acclaim the following year, with publicity tours of the US, UK, Italy, and Australia. Following her college graduation (sans NYT), Crowell published Letting the Body Lead in 2002. She then ventured into screenwriting, joining a select group of young independent filmmakers as a 2003 IFP Market Emerging Narrative nominee (for her screenplay adaptation of Necessary Madness) and a 2004 Berlin Film Festival Talent Campus Fellow.
Never one to work by a traditional timetable, she earned her MFA in 2011, fifteen years after signing that first contract. She now lives near Portland, Oregon with her husband, young daughter, and two spoiled longhaired dachshunds. Her latest novel, Etched On Me, was published by Washington Square Press in February 2014.

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