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The Coven (Sweep, #2), by Cate Tiernan

The Coven (Sweep, #2), by Cate Tiernan on Goodreads

Release Date: March 22nd, 2007 (1st published on 2001)
Age Group: Young Adult
Publisher: Puffin
Overall: 5 Monkeys
Interest: Series
Categories: Paranormal, Witchcraft, Religions, Wicca, Family Issues
Other Titles Reviewed in TCM: Book of Shadows (Sweep, #1)
Challenge: 100 Books in a Year
Read in March 2011


Summary from Goodreads:
Cal, now Morgan's boyfriend, helps her accept the truth: Wicca is in Morgan's blood. As Morgan learns more about Wicca, she realizes that she needs to find out more about her parentage. The answers are there, but she doesn't know how to find them.

My Opinion:

Another great Sweep book! 

In this one, Morgan learns more about herself and her heritage, about why she's such a strong witch. Her character is beautifully written, a shy and insecure girl who turns into a powerful witch when in circles.

I loved the relationship between the characters; Cal, Morgan, Bree, Selene, they were all amazing. Morgan's friends are completely believable, Cate does an amazing job of giving each of them their own personality, and that is a hard thing to do!

There's so much going on, it keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time! Definitely a book worth reading!

It's such a short/quick read, that I don't have much else to say, because I don't want to ruin it for those of you who want to read it. 

You can now buy bind-ups of these books, they come three books per bind-up, meaning the first three books, that were first published individually, are now one bind-up, and so on.

I'm now reading Blood Witch (Sweep, #3), and I'm loving it! Boy drama, BFF drama, so much drama!!! Amazing series!
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WOW #19: The Mephisto Covenant, Witchlanders, The Magnolia League and Wrapped

Waiting on: The Mephisto Covenant (The Mephisto Covenant, #1), by Trinity Faegen

Expected publication date: September 27th, 2011

Publisher: Egmont USA

Summary from Goodreads:
Sasha is desperate to find out who murdered her father. When getting the answer means pledging her soul to Eryx, she unlocks a secret that puts her in grave danger—Sasha is Anabo, a daughter of Eve, and Eryx’s biggest threat.

A son of Hell, immortal, and bound to Earth forever, Jax looks for redemption in the Mephisto Covenant—God’s promise he will find
peace in the love of an Anabo. After a thousand years, he’s finally found the girl he’s been searching for: Sasha.

With the threat of Eryx looming, Jax has to keep Sasha safe and
win her over. But can he? Will Sasha love him and give up her mortal life?
I saw this book in a previous WoW on some other blog, and the cover just captured me. And then the summary took over. Forbidden love? Bring it!

Waiting on: Witchlanders, by Lena Coakley

Expected publication date: August 30th, 2011

Publisher: Atheneum (Simon and Schuster)

Summary from Goodreads:
High in their mountain covens, red witches pray to the Goddess, protecting the Witchlands by throwing the bones and foretelling the future. It’s all a fake.
At least, that’s what Ryder thinks. He doubts the witches really deserve their tithes—one quarter of all the crops his village can produce. And even if they can predict the future, what danger is there to foretell, now that his people’s old enemy, the Baen, has been defeated?
But when a terrifying new magic threatens both his village and the coven, Ryder must confront the beautiful and silent witch who holds all the secrets. Everything he’s ever believed about witches, the Baen, magic and about himself will change, when he discovers that the prophecies he’s always scorned—
Are about him.
Magic! Witches and the Goddess! I need to read this book. 


Waiting on: The Magnolia League (The Magnolia League, #1), by Katie Crouch

Expected publication date: May 3rd, 2011

Publisher: Poppy (Hachette Book Group)

Summary from Goodreads:
After the death of her free-spirited mother, sixteen-year-old Alex Lee must leave her home in northern California to live with her wealthy grandmother in Savannah, Georgia. By birth, Alex is a rightful, if unwilling, member of the Magnolia League, Savannah's long-standing debutante society. She quickly discovers that the Magnolias have made a pact with a legendary hoodoo family, the Buzzards. The Magnolias enjoy youth, beauty and power. But at what price?

As in her popular adult novels, Crouch's poignant and humorous voice shines in this seductively atmospheric story about girls growing up in a magical Southern city.
High societies and hoodoo magic make me want to have this book in my life now. Also, the cover's gorgeous! 

Waiting on: Wrapped, by Jennifer Bradbury

Expected publication date: May 24th, 2011

Publisher: Atheneum (Simon and Schuster)

Summary from Goodreads:
Agnes Wilkins is standing in front of an Egyptian mummy, about to make the first cut into the wrappings, about to unlock ancient (and not-so-ancient) history. Maybe you think this girl is wearing a pith helmet with antique dust swirling around her.
Maybe you think she is a young Egyptologist who has arrived in Cairo on camelback.
Maybe she would like to think that too. Agnes Wilkins dreams of adventures that reach beyond the garden walls, but reality for a seventeen-year-old debutante in 1815 London does not allow for camels—or dust, even. No, Agnes can only see a mummy when she is wearing a new silk gown and standing on the verdant lawns of Lord Showalter’s estate, with chaperones fussing about and strolling sitar players straining to create an exotic “atmosphere” for the first party of the season. An unwrapping.
This is the start of it all, Agnes’s debut season, the pretty girl parade that offers only ever-shrinking options: home, husband, and high society. It’s also the start of something else, because the mummy Agnes unwraps isn’t just a mummy. It’s a host for a secret that could unravel a new destiny—unleashing mystery, an international intrigue, and possibly a curse in the bargain.
Get wrapped up in the adventure . . . but keep your wits about you, dear Agnes.
The pitch for this book is "Veronica Mars meets Jane Austen". Two things I love. And it's got mummys and mystery. I want this book.
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Why Do YOU Blog?

A couple of days ago, Kristi from The Story Siren posted an entry about Bloggers and Authors. It opened a discussion to all of us about whether Blogging is a such a good way of promoting books.

To us, the bloggers, or at least, to some of us; blogging about books is a way to share our love of reading with others all over the world. I fell in love with book blogging because I had no one who felt the same way I do about books near me. Discovering the Book Blogging Community, to me, has been a life changing experience. Without it, I wouldn't know all I know now about the YA Book-world and its authors, I wouldn't have bloggish friends and I wouldn't be in touch -and wouldn't have built a friendly relationship- with my favourite authors.

I blog because I love it. I love sharing my passion for books with the world, and I'm not afraid to say it for fear of being catalogued Nerd or Bookwork or something worse. I squeal in bookstores when I see a book that I didn't know had been published in my country, and I don't care if anyone's around to watch me, but I will do a happy dance.

I don't blog to be Internet Famous, I don't even care about my follower count (but I do love all of my followers!), and I certainly am not after free books or swag. When I started blogging, I didn't even know you could get free books. And considering I'm an international blogger, I still don't get any. I  may have gotten three books for review last year. Whenever I get a request to review a book, I get excited and honoured to have been taken into consideration by the author/publisher. Because it tells me I must be doing something right. It tells me that the time I spend reading, and blogging and writing is worth it. People actually hear what I have to say. 

People hear what you have to say. You don't have to be scared or feel sad because you don't have many followers and your post won't be read by many. If it's read by just one person, feel happy about it. I do.

And about blogs being a tool for Authors to promote their books, that's exactly what they are to them! We give their books free publicity in exchange for nothing. But it's also a way for us to connect, let them know we love what they're doing, learn what they're up to, etc. etc. etc.

A blog can sell a book, four books, a dozen, but it doesn't matter, and it shouldn't be our primary goal. Let the publicists/agents/booksellers/publishers do that instead. Let us spread our love for the book. It's like a contagious disease: I love it, tell you to buy it; you buy it, tell someone else to buy it; and so on and on forever.

Why do YOU blog?
xo,
Ella
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The Dark Divine (The Dark Divine, #1), by Bree Despain

Spanish Cover
The Dark Divine by Bree Despain on Goodreads

Release Date: December 22nd, 2009, USA - October 13th, 2010, Spain
Age Group: Young Adult
Publisher: Egmont USA, USA - Ediciones B, Spain
Pages: 310 (Spanish Edition)
Overall: 4 Monkeys
Source: Bought - Paperback
Interest: Series
Other Titles in the Series: The Lost Saint (The Dark Divine, #2)
Read in March 2011


Summary from Goodreads:
A Prodigal Son

A Dangerous Love

A Deadly Secret


Grace Divine—daughter of the local pastor—always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared and her brother Jude came home covered in his own blood.

Now that Daniel's returned, Grace must choose between her growing attraction to him and her loyalty to her brother.

As Grace gets closer to Daniel, she learns the truth about that mysterious night and how to save the ones she loves, but it might cost her the one thing she cherishes most: her soul.
My Opinion:

It took me a while to get into this book. I'd read half of it when I felt that spark I love feeling when I'm reading. The spark that tells me, "This is an awesome book!" It took a while for me to sense it, but in the end, I wasn't disappointed.
The Dark Divine's pace is slow-ish at first, but the ending, OH MY the ending... I need answers, and I need them now!

The relationship between Grace and Daniel is beautifully written, not rushed or forced, which is what I love about book romances. Both characters are great, Grace always doing the right thing, and Daniel... well, trying to stay away but failing miserably. 

Grace's family is very religious, and I cannot imagine it any other way. It made a lot of the things that were happening make much more sense and in the end, when it came to saving souls, you could understand the character's actions a whole lot better. 

Bree's writing is amazing. Like I said, it was a bit too slow for me at first, but then I got everything I'd been waiting for at the end. All the drama, action, love and suspense condensed in the last five chapters. 

Things are not what they seem in this book, and as hard as you try to guess what the outcome will be, you won't be right every time.

-----------------

Does anyone else think the cover had nothing to do with the book? I mean, I love it and I'd definitely have picked the book up in bookstore just because of it, if I hadn't know what the book was about; but I just feel it's there to distract us from the real topic of the book, and nothing more. I don't know if I'm making any sense... 


xo,
Ella
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IMM #6 - Vlog #1!

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Tips for New (and not so New) Bloggers #2: Content and Commenting

Hi everyone! *waves to new followers* 

This is the second installment of my Tips/Tutorials feature I started to help new bloggers out there. 
In three days, The Clock Monkey will turn two (yay!). I learned a few things along the way, tips I'd like to share with you. Because we all start somewhere, right?

Some of these tips are my own, some I learned elsewhere and am just sharing with you (you'll find the link to the source in the bottom of the post if that's the case).

So, today I'd like to talk about Content, Comments and Commenting to get more Readership. 

When we publish a new post, we all want to see if someone's commenting on it. We visit our blogs often to see if there's a new comment. Because we spent our time writing it, and we'd love to hear people's opinions on it. But when you're a new blogger, your follower base can be small, and maybe you don't get as many visits as you'd like. Even if you have as many followers as I do, that doesn't mean many of them will read your post. 
Let's say that out of ten followers, one reads your blog on a regular basis. So if you have twenty, thirty followers, chances are, only a small percentage will take the time to read your blog.

Because, let's be honest, we follow blogs because we're atractted to them, because of the layout, a contest, some content we liked. But we rarely go back to it until after quite a while. 

I follow a LOT of blogs, and I try to visit them as much as I can, but to tell the truth, I have a select few I go to more than anything. Perhaps you do too.

And then there's the thing about originality. Everyone's practically posting the same thing, so your followers are most likely to go to their preferred blog first, instead of yours, or maybe you are that preferred blog.

When I first started, all I cared about was posting what was the "It" topic at the moment, but then I came to realise, if you have a blog with good content, it doesn't matter if your follower count is small or if you don't get many comments. People will still read your post at some point (I get comments on older posts from time to time) and they'll like that you shared something original and yours, rather than something copied off of another blog.

So if you're reading a book that was published in 2008 and you want to review it, go ahead! It's your blog, isn't it? You might get a few comments from people who've read the book and want to tell you if they liked it or hated it.

Now, someone's commented on your post. Hooray! What I suggest is that you answer to the comment. I've just installed Intense Debate to do just that. Build a relationship with your readers. Let them know you care about their opinions too. Do that, and they might come back.

Also, comment on as many blogs as you can, and leave your blog's URL in the comment, asking politely if they'd be so kind as to stop by your blog. But don't be a pain in the butt. Just do it once on every blog, otherwise you'll scare the blogger away. When someone asks me to do that, I do and I sometimes follow too, if I liked the content of the blog. 

Be grateful for those ten, fifteen, 200 followers you have! Some bloggers spend years with as little as 30.

Another thing I wanted to talk about is Word Verification (we'll call it WV from here on). Don't you just hate that? I didn't know I had it on until just now, when I installed Intense Debate!

When you're a new blogger with a small readership, you really don't need WV. It just gets in the way and it can be annoying. Some people unfollow blogs because they're tired of having to decipher that little crooked word to leave you a short comment. You should only use WV when you get a lot of spam. Tell your followers that that is the case, and they'll understand. I did it for a while; I put a little message on the  Blogger Comment widget saying that I was using the WV because of that. Spammers rarely take the trouble of deciphering the WV.

I hope this helped, and that you slowly but steadily, build a larger readership.
xo,
Ella
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2011 lexus is 350 f sport

2011 Lexus IS 350 F-Sport » 2011 Lexus IS 350 F-Sport Front View

The new Lexus IS 350 F Sport 2011 is the newest offering in Lexus IS Sport

2011 Lexus IS 350 F-Sport. The F Sport accessories

2011 Lexus sport

2011 Lexus sport

2011 Lexus IS 350 F Sport Front 580x435 wallpaper The Lexus IS 350 AWD model

2011 Lexus IS 350 F Sport Front 580x435 wallpaper The Lexus IS 350 AWD model

Lexus IS 350 F Sport 2011

Lexus IS 350 F Sport 2011

2011 Lexus IS 350 F Sport. Lexus has announced MSRP changes to its 2011

2011 Lexus IS 350 F Sport. Lexus has announced MSRP changes to its 2011

 Lexus released to help announce changes to the 2011 IS250/350 F-Sport

Lexus released to help announce changes to the 2011 IS250/350 F-Sport

2011 Lexus IS 350 F Sport 580x435 wallpaper Lexus is expanding choices in

2011 Lexus IS 350 F Sport 580x435 wallpaper Lexus is expanding choices in

Is the 2011 Lexus IS 350 F Sport the ?uestlove of the automotive world?

Is the 2011 Lexus IS 350 F Sport the ?uestlove of the automotive world?

Picture 2011 Lexus IS 350 F Sport 02 588x450 2011 Lexus IS 350 F Sport

Picture 2011 Lexus IS 350 F Sport 02 588x450 2011 Lexus IS 350 F Sport

2011 Lexus IS 350 F side

2011 Lexus IS 350 F side

2011 Lexus IS 350 F Sport Wheels View New 2011 Lexus IS 350 F Sport

2011 Lexus IS 350 F Sport Wheels View New 2011 Lexus IS 350 F Sport

The 2011 Lexus lineup offers an F Sport package for the IS 250 and IS 350.

The 2011 Lexus lineup offers an F Sport package for the IS 250 and IS 350.

New from Lexus in 2011 is an IS350 model with an upgraded F-Sport Package

New from Lexus in 2011 is an IS350 model with an upgraded F-Sport Package

Lexus-IS-350-F-Sport-2011-1

Lexus-IS-350-F-Sport-2011-1

Tags : 2011 IS 350C F-Sport, 2011 Lexus, 2011 Lexus IS 350 F Sport,

Tags : 2011 IS 350C F-Sport, 2011 Lexus, 2011 Lexus IS 350 F Sport,

2011 Lexus IS 350 F Sport

2011 Lexus IS 350 F Sport

2011 Lexus IS 350 F Sport – Hi-res. Images

2011 Lexus IS 350 F Sport – Hi-res. Images

2011 Lexus IS 350C F Sport Priced

2011 Lexus IS 350C F Sport Priced
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WOW #18: Karma, by Cathy Ostlere

Waiting on: Karma, by Cathy Ostlere

Expected publication date: March 31st, 2011

Publisher: Razorbill

Summary from Goodreads:
On October 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi is gunned down by two Sikh bodyguards. The murder sparks riots in Delhi and for three days Sikh families are targeted and killed in retribution for the Prime Minister’s death. It is into this chaos that sixteen-year-old Maya and her Sikh father, Amar, arrive from their home in Canada. India’s political instability is the backdrop and catalyst for Maya’s awakening to the world. KARMA is the story of how a young woman, straddling two cultures and enduring personal loss, learns forgiveness, acceptance and love.
How beautiful is that cover? And this is a book written in free verse. I've never read a book in free verse before! 
India has always intrigued me, it's definitely a place I wish to go some day in the future. I really want to read this book!
And guess what? You can win a copy on Goodreads
But there's more! Author Cathy Ostlere will be here on TCM soon! :D  Keep your eyes open!
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2011 bmw 5 series long wheelbase

2011 BMW 5 Series The Longer Wheelbase

2011 BMW 5 Series The Longer Wheelbase

2011 BMW 5 Series Long Wheelbase Exclusive for Chinese Market

2011 BMW 5 Series Long Wheelbase Exclusive for Chinese Market

2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase from Side View Picture2

2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase from Side View Picture2

The new BMW 5 Series Sedan has won Silver in the 2011 Design Award

The new BMW 5 Series Sedan has won Silver in the 2011 Design Award

2011 BMW 5 Series Long Wheelbase - Dashboard

2011 BMW 5 Series Long Wheelbase - Dashboard

The 2011 BMW 5 Series Long-Wheelbase has been launched in China

The 2011 BMW 5 Series Long-Wheelbase has been launched in China

2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase from Side View Picture

2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase from Side View Picture

The 5 Series LWB sedan is almost identical to the “regular”

The 5 Series LWB sedan is almost identical to the “regular”

"2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase – In China" Photo Gallery

"2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase – In China" Photo Gallery

BMW AUTO CAR : 2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase

BMW AUTO CAR : 2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase

BMW AUTO CAR : 2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase

BMW AUTO CAR : 2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase

BMW AUTO CAR : 2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase

BMW AUTO CAR : 2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase

BMW AUTO CAR : 2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase 2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase BMW AUTO CAR : 2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase

BMW AUTO CAR : 2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase 2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase BMW AUTO CAR : 2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase

BMW AUTO CAR : 2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase

BMW AUTO CAR : 2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase

2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase - speed. Inside: a clear direction towards

2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase - speed. Inside: a clear direction towards

BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase 2011 Features

BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase 2011 Features

 2011 BMW 5 Series Long-Wheelbase especially from the rear seat,

2011 BMW 5 Series Long-Wheelbase especially from the rear seat,

Picture 2011 BMW 5 Series Long Wheelbase 01 588x450 2011 BMW 5 Series Long

Picture 2011 BMW 5 Series Long Wheelbase 01 588x450 2011 BMW 5 Series Long

BMW AUTO CAR : 2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase

BMW AUTO CAR : 2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase

Picture 2011 BMW 5 Series Long Wheelbase 02 588x450 2011 BMW 5 Series Long

Picture 2011 BMW 5 Series Long Wheelbase 02 588x450 2011 BMW 5 Series Long
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Beautiful Chaos: The Summary!!!

Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small Southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home, strangeand impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena’s Claiming. Even Lena’s family of powerful Supernaturals is affected – and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What – or who – will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin?

For Ethan, the chaos is a frightening but welcome distraction. He’s being haunted in his dreams again, but this time it isn’t by Lena – and whatever is haunting him is following him out of his dreams and into his everyday life. Even worse, Ethan is gradually losing pieces of himself – forgetting names, phone numbers, even memories. He doesn’t know why, and most days he’s too afraid to ask.

Sometimes there isn’t just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there’s no going back. And this time there won’t be a happy ending. 
I know, Jake. OMG.
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opel gtc 2011

2011 Opel GTC. Cumartesi, Eylül 11th, 2010. Opel will offer a new compact

2011 Opel GTC. Cumartesi, Eylül 11th, 2010. Opel will offer a new compact

The reveal”s exciting light show highlighted the GTC Concept´s signature

The reveal”s exciting light show highlighted the GTC Concept´s signature

2011 Opel GTC Paris - Top Speed

2011 Opel GTC Paris - Top Speed

2011 Opel GTC Paris1 2011 Opel GTC Paris. Based on the 2010 Opel Astra,

2011 Opel GTC Paris1 2011 Opel GTC Paris. Based on the 2010 Opel Astra,

MK6 VXR Sneek Peek! - Page 2 - Astra Sport and Astra Owners Club - Mk1 | Mk2

MK6 VXR Sneek Peek! - Page 2 - Astra Sport and Astra Owners Club - Mk1 | Mk2

Supported by a dramatic light show, the Opel GTC Concept (Gran Turismo

Supported by a dramatic light show, the Opel GTC Concept (Gran Turismo

German manufacturer Opel has the initial central cinema of Vauxhall/Opel GTC

German manufacturer Opel has the initial central cinema of Vauxhall/Opel GTC

2011 Opel GTC video;

2011 Opel GTC video;

2010 Opel Astra GTC coupe

2010 Opel Astra GTC coupe

Opel GTC Paris Previews 2011 Astra 3-Door, 213kW On Tap

Opel GTC Paris Previews 2011 Astra 3-Door, 213kW On Tap

SPY VIDEO: 2011 Opel Astra GTC and GTC Turbo, Could Rival VW Scirocco

SPY VIDEO: 2011 Opel Astra GTC and GTC Turbo, Could Rival VW Scirocco

Opel GTC Paris Concept

Opel GTC Paris Concept

Opel GTC. 2011

Opel GTC. 2011

opel astra gtc 2011

opel astra gtc 2011

SPY VIDEO: 2011 Opel Astra GTC and GTC Turbo, Could Rival VW Scirocco

SPY VIDEO: 2011 Opel Astra GTC and GTC Turbo, Could Rival VW Scirocco

Opel GTC 2010

Opel GTC 2010

The Opel Astra GTC reach the market around in the summer of 2011.

The Opel Astra GTC reach the market around in the summer of 2011.

Dropping off the coversvfrom its GTC Paris concept car, Opel has just

Dropping off the coversvfrom its GTC Paris concept car, Opel has just

Opel GTC Paris 2011 Interior View

Opel GTC Paris 2011 Interior View

 the three-door Opel / Vauxhall Astra GTC while out and about in Germany.

the three-door Opel / Vauxhall Astra GTC while out and about in Germany.
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