Leylah Attar

MOTI ON THE WATER by LEYLAH ATTAR

August 13, 2019

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A Greek family. An Indian family. A summer wedding on the Aegean coast…

Meet Moti Ferreira—spectacularly jinxed from the day she’s born.

Saddled with an eccentric mother, she stumbles upon the one man who holds the key to her freedom—the best man at her cousin’s upcoming wedding.

All Moti has to do is overcome her fear of water, board a yacht to the Greek Isles, seduce the dreamy Nikos Manolas, and survive two weeks at sea with her oddball family.

The only obstacle Moti doesn’t see coming is Alexandros Veronis, the onboard chef and star witness to her awkward mishaps. He transforms onions into chocolate and aroma into nostalgia. Day by day, his alchemy works its magic on Moti. But she’s not the only one falling under his spell. Everyone has a secret, growing round and ripe at Chef Alex’s table. When the masks fall off, they spill out one by one, and everything blows up in their faces.

Now Moti’s truth is exposed, and worse, she’s hooked on more than Alex’s midnight snacks. But this time, screwing up could be the best thing she’s ever done…

MY REVIEW:

What to expect when Leylah Attar writes a romance set in Greece? A light, funny romantic comedy that provides the perfect summer escape!

Moti (pronounced “Mo-thi”, NOT the dreaded “Mo-tee”) has always been the obedient daughter of a fairly traditional Indian family. She only seeks her mother’s approval, so it seems as if she has met her soulmate when she boards a wedding cruise aboard a privately-chartered yacht in the Greek islands.

“Growing up, all Isabelle and I heard was, “You have to marry an Indian fellow. Marriage is hard enough without having to gap cultural differences. Make your life easier, and ours too. Marry an Indian fellow.”

Indian fellow.
Indian fellow.

What they’d neglected to tell us was the footnote, the loophole, the asterisk: “Marry an Indian fellow unless you land a gazillionaire. Then marry him.”

This book is very funny, warm, yet sexy all at the same time. There are lots of family shenanigans that I think almost everyone can relate to. Added to that is the gorgeous Grecian setting and the fantastic descriptions of Greek cuisine and cooking. Chef Alex shines though right from the start, and the chemistry between Moti and Alex was perfect.

It is incredible that the author of ’53 Letters for My Lover’ and ‘Mists of the Serengeti’ can pen such a sunny, lighthearted romance. If you’ve ever traveled to Greece you will recognize some of the places and if you haven’t, then you will definitely put Greece at the top of your bucket list. ‘Moti on the Water’ was an unexpectedly fun romance with lots of heart and soul. From the gorgeous cover to the lovely formatting, this book was a breezy modern romance from beginning to end, with a swoony hero and beautiful backdrops.

“To men who pluck stars instead of flowers.”

(ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.)

GIVEAWAY:

Enter to win my paperback Advanced Reading Copy of Moti on the Water!

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Review and Giveaway of Mists of the Serengeti by Leylah Attar

February 1, 2017

Leylah Attar’s MISTS OF THE SERENGETI is here!
Check out this standalone contemporary romance/women’s fiction, and don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

Once in Africa, I kissed a king…

“And just like that, in an old red barn at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, I discovered the elusive magic I had only ever glimpsed between the pages of great love stories. It fluttered around me like a newborn butterfly and settled in a corner of my heart. I held my breath, afraid to exhale for fear it would slip out, never to be found again.”

When a bomb explodes in a mall in East Africa, its aftershocks send two strangers on a collision course that neither one sees coming.

Jack Warden, a divorced coffee farmer in Tanzania, loses his only daughter. An ocean away, in the English countryside, Rodel Emerson loses her only sibling.

Two ordinary people, bound by a tragic afternoon, set out to achieve the extraordinary, as they make three stops to rescue three children across the vast plains of the Serengeti—children who are worth more dead than alive.

But even if they beat the odds, another challenge looms at the end of the line. Can they survive yet another loss—this time of a love that’s bound to slip through their fingers, like the mists that dissipate in the light of the sun?

“Sometimes you come across a rainbow story—one that spans your heart. You might not be able to grasp it or hold on to it, but you can never be sorry for the color and magic it brought.”

A blend of romance and women’s fiction, Mists of The Serengeti is inspired by true events and contains emotional triggers, including the death of a child. Not recommended for sensitive readers. Standalone, contemporary fiction.

♥ Buy the Book ♥

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“Sometimes you come across a rainbow story—one that spans your heart. You might not be able to grasp it or hold on to it, but you can never be sorry for the color and magic it brought.”

What a beautiful journey! ‘Mists of the Serengeti’ is a lush story set against the harsh reality of the wilds of Africa. Ro and Jack are brought together by a terrible tragedy. Jack has been left bitter and empty; Ro is grief-stricken but still has the ability to laugh and relate to other human beings. I will admit I was a little reluctant to dive into this story, knowing it begins with a horrible event but I was immediately and completely captivated by these characters.

“I caught a glimpse of his soul. So many pieces of him had been fed to the lions. And as dark and bitter as it had turned him, he was a gladiator for standing where I would have surely fallen.”

The African backdrop is almost like another character in this book – harsh, stunning and dangerous. The descriptions of the land, its inhabitants and its wildlife are magical. I was literally lost in the pages of this story! Leylah Attar remains one of my favorite writers and I have devoured everything she has written. ‘Mists of the Serengeti’ is a gorgeous and uplifting story filled with romance, love, life and tears. Don’t miss it!!

“My greatest loss had led to my greatest love. Hearts were broken, and hearts were healed. Lives were lost, and lives were saved.”

“You missed a spot,” I said, pointing out the smudges on the glass.

“They’re not smudges,” he said. “They’re Lily’s fingerprints. She was eating chocolate that day. When we got to the mall, my phone rang. She came around to my side and put her hand here. Like this…” He hovered his fingertips over the marks. “One, two, three, four, five. See? Five perfect little chocolate prints. I haven’t washed them since. Every time I look out of the window, I see Lily there, holding her palm to the glass, making faces at me.”

Whenever Jack spoke of Lily, his entire profile softened. In those moments, his innately captivating presence was like a flame, kindled from within. For a second, I was completely jealous, because I had never lived in someone’s heart like that. And I wanted to. I wanted to make someone, someday, glow like that when they thought of me.

As Jack put the hose away, I realized that it wasn’t true. I didn’t want someone, someday. I wanted now. Today. And I wanted it with Jack.

No matter how many reasons I gave myself not to, I was falling for Jack Warden, more and more, with each passing day.

Leylah Attar’s Release Day Giveaway

Leylah Attar writes stories about love – shaken, stirred, and served with a twist.Sometimes she disappears into the black hole of the internet, but can usually be enticed out with chocolate. Leylah is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance/women’s fiction.

Blog Tour + Review & Giveaway: THE PAPER SWAN by LEYLAH ATTAR

August 12, 2015

♥ Buy the Book ♥

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They say it takes 21 days to form a habit.

They lie.

For 21 days she held on.

But on Day 22, she would have given anything for the sweet slumber of death.

Because on Day 22, she realizes that her only way out means certain death for one of the two men she loves.

A haunting tale of passion, loss, and redemption, The Paper Swan is a darkly intense yet heartwarming love story, textured with grit, intrigue, and suspense. Please note: This is NOT a love triangle.

A full-length, standalone novel, intended for mature audiences due to violence, sex and language. Subject matter may be disturbing for some readers.

review-1

After I read 53 LETTERS FOR MY LOVER, I fell in love with Leylah Attar’s writing. It is rich, mature, and lush. I couldn’t wait until her newest book and was completely intrigued by the synopsis for THE PAPER SWAN. Not much of the plot is given away, for good reason. There is not much I can add to the stellar reviews for this book, other than to say that Ms. Attar has a unique voice and an incredible gift with words. Nothing prepared me for the emotions that I felt while reading The Paper Swan. The characters, the plot, the epilogue – all perfect, unique and gloriously realized.

I like a good dark read as much as I love a sexy contemporary romance and this book actually blends these two genres together. My attention has been wandering as of late and I have struggled to finish a lot of the books I have been reading. However, I read The Paper Swan from cover to cover (do Kindles even have “covers”?) and basically ignored real life until I finished this magnificent story. I don’t know how to describe this story other than to say everyone has some redeeming quality, no matter how evil they act, and those whom you think are above criticism might have skeletons in their closet and may not be what they seem.

The story is filled with tons of suprising twists, along with a stunning story of survival, redemption and forgiveness Nothing can prepare you for this story or for the depth of emotion you will feel. The dialogue is witty and intelligent and the heroine is smart and loving and very capable.

Without giving too much away, this is a story about love, passion, family, hate, revenge and survival. And devotion.

“We are stars with flaws that still sparkle and shine. We always strive, always want, always have more questions than answers, but there are moments like these, full of magic and contentment, when souls get a glimpse of the divine and quite simply, lose their breath.”

The Paper Swan is one of the most unique books I’ve ever read. Based on the synopsis, I went into thinking I was getting one thing, but was surprised with what this book was actually about. There is much more I want to say about this book, but it’s hard to without giving anything away. This is just one of those books that it’s better to go into blind. The fact that you don’t know what to expect makes The Paper Swan even better.

I will say that The Paper Swan is an incredibly written book with tons of plot twists and smart characters, The story spans a good amount of time and that adds a richness to the relationship between the two main protagonists.

This book is captivating, intense, sexy and funny all in one book. I am still thinking about The Paper Swan weeks after I finished. Simply put, The Paper Swan was absolutely amazing. I can’t recommend it highly enough. 5 fantastic stars!!!

(ARC provided by the author in return for an honest review.)

Leylah Attar writes stories about love – shaken, stirred and served with a twist. When she’s not writing, she can be found pursuing her other passions: photography, food, family and travel. Sometimes she disappears into the black hole of the internet, but can usually be enticed out with chocolate.

Author Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest

Leylah Attar’s THE PAPER SWAN Release Week Giveaway

Release Day Blitz, Excerpt + Giveaway: THE PAPER SWAN by LEYLAH ATTAR

August 4, 2015

Happy Release Day to Leylah Attar and her new book THE PAPER SWAN! Enjoy a sneak peek into the book below and make sure to enter the giveaway! This is a MUST READ to add to your TBR!

♥ Buy the Book ♥

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They say it takes 21 days to form a habit.

They lie.

For 21 days she held on.

But on Day 22, she would have given anything for the sweet slumber of death.

Because on Day 22, she realizes that her only way out means certain death for one of the two men she loves.

A haunting tale of passion, loss, and redemption, The Paper Swan is a darkly intense yet heartwarming love story, textured with grit, intrigue, and suspense. Please note: This is NOT a love triangle.

A full-length, standalone novel, intended for mature audiences due to violence, sex and language. Subject matter may be disturbing for some readers.

Author Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest

Leylah Attar’s THE PAPER SWAN Release Week Giveaway

Cover Reveal: The Paper Swan by Leylah Attar

July 8, 2015

We are so excited to be sharing the cover for Leylah Attar’s newest novel releasing on August 4th – THE PAPER SWAN! Exciting, mysterious, unique and sexy, The Paper Swan is one of our most anticipated reads of 2015. Add it to your TBR!

They say it takes 21 days to form a habit.

They lie.

For 21 days she held on.

But on Day 22, she would have given anything for the sweet slumber of death.

Because on Day 22, she realizes that her only way out means certain death for one of the two men she loves.

A haunting tale of passion, loss, and redemption, The Paper Swan is a darkly intense yet heartwarming love story, textured with grit, intrigue, and suspense. Please note: This is NOT a love triangle.

A full-length, standalone novel, intended for mature audiences due to violence, sex and language. Subject matter may be disturbing for some readers.

Cover Designed by Hang Le

Author Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest

Leylah Attar’s One Year Celebration Giveaway – 53 LETTERS FOR MY LOVER

June 20, 2015

Fun Facts about 53 Letters:

The original novel had a different ending, and was written a collection of letters that Shayda leaves behind for Troy.
The emails in the epilogue are real.
The book was released on the same day as Troy and Shayda’s birthday. This year they turn 53! Happy Birthday, SC + BB!
53 Letters For My Lover was inspired by the following music video:

“He Said/She Said” with Shayda and Troy:

Shayda’s quotes from 53 Letters For My Lover , and Troy’s quotes from the companion short story, From His Lips.

The first time they meet:

Shayda:

Dusty sneakers, grey sweatpants…and then—the most startling pair of blue eyes. They reminded me of the cut outs I had saved in my wish book, of the places I wanted to visit. Blue like the water that surrounds the islands in the South Pacific. I felt like I had been picked off the pavement and plopped smack dab in the middle of it. I floated there for a while, suspended in its endless horizons as it held me for long, still seconds.

Troy:

“Here you go.” I knelt beside her. That’s when I first saw her face.

At the time, I was completely clueless about just how significant that moment was, how it would derail both our lives, because at the time I was just an ordinary guy looking at an ordinary girl on a quiet, shaded street. That’s how a lot of things start, don’t they? Our most profound experiences, our greatest adventures. When we’re just looking. Because if we knew that we were really at the beginning of miracles and plagues, and slayings and resurrections, we might retreat. But not knowing, I kept looking. And so did she.

Except she didn’t just look at me, she looked into me. As if she saw a place there that she’d always wanted to go, and it stunned her that it actually existed.

The moment when everything changed:

Shayda:

For a moment, I fought against the disarming tenderness of a stranger, the shame of being caught in a moment of weakness. Then his arms circled my waist, pulling me away from the door, from whatever heartache he had witnessed in my reflection. The fight drained out of me. I turned into the shelter of his embrace, and he, not knowing, not asking, took me in.

Something changed in that instant. For me. For him. Like when the sun and moon align and day turns to night. They finally see each other’s faces and hang, transfixed, even as their eclipse throws everything else into darkness. For those fleeting moments, everything made sense—the pattern behind the random trajectory of life, the infinite order beneath chaos.

Troy:

For a while, she just stood there, like a deer that knows it’s been caught in the hunter’s cross hairs. Then she bolted.

I seized her before she could escape, pinning her against the glass, my hand over hers, so I could anchor her, keep her from getting swept away.

Hey. It’s okay.

She made a small, choking sound when I pulled her away from the sliding door. My arms went around her and her cheek found my chest. And just like that, something fell into place.

All of my wild, crazy exuberance fit perfectly in the quiet crevices of her dreams. It was as if all my life, I had been running towards this moment, this diamond sharp clarity of being and belonging, this strange, intriguing girl with her rose breath and her broken wings.

The point of no return:

Shayda:

“Three days.” I drop my chin to his chest. “I haven’t thought beyond that.”

“Three days, huh?”

I squeal as he puts one hand under my knees and picks me up.

“We better get going then. You, my dear, have a lot to make up for.” He grins and carries me out of his office.

Troy:

I had three days to get her to face the truth—that she loved me, that she wouldn’t be here if it hadn’t left a gaping hole in her heart, that the only reason she wouldn’t admit it was because she was scared, because it would destroy everything safe and familiar and predictable in her world.

I didn’t care anymore. She would go through hell, but I’d be there to catch her. All I had to do was crush her defenses, lead a seventy-two hour assault on her senses and walk away with her heart in my hand. She would have no choice but to follow.

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This is not your typical love story.
It’s not so black and white. Lines are crossed.
Walls are smashed. Good becomes bad.
Bad becomes very, very good.

Shayda Hijazi—the perfect wife, the perfect mother, the perfect daughter. For thirty-three years, she has played by the rules, swallowing secrets, burying dreams and doing whatever it takes to anchor her family. Shayda Hijazi is about to come face to face with the one thing that can rip it all apart, the one thing her heart has always been denied: Love.

Troy Heathgate—untamed, exhilarating, dangerous—a man who does exactly as he pleases. Life bends to his will. Until he comes across the one thing he would give it all up for, but can never have.

Born on the same day in opposite corners of the world, their lives collide. And nothing is ever the same again.

Spanning three decades, 53 Letters for My Lover is a fiercely sensual, emotional ride to the heart of an epic, forbidden love that defies it all—an intimate exploration of love, loyalty, passion, betrayal, and the human journey for hope, happiness and redemption.

♥ Buy the Book ♥

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Troy Heathgate has it all – brains, brawn and the kind of smile that just begs a ribbon. Everything but the woman he loves. But now he’s back and determined to possess her. There’s just one catch – she’s married to another man.

This short story (90 pages) contains spoilers. It is meant to be read after the full length novel, 53 Letters For My Lover. For readers who want more from the hero’s point of view. From His Lips (53 Letters #1.5)expands on some of the crucial scenes, and includes a few new ones.

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REVIEW, EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY: 53 LETTERS FOR MY LOVER by LEYLAH ATTAR

November 8, 2014

Synopsis

This is not your typical love story.  It’s not so black and white. Lines are crossed.  Walls are smashed. Good becomes bad.  Bad becomes very, very good.  Shayda Hijazi—the perfect wife, the perfect mother, the perfect daughter. For thirty-three years, she has played by the rules, swallowing secrets, burying dreams and doing whatever it takes to anchor her family. Shayda Hijazi is about to come face to face with the one thing that can rip it all apart, the one thing her heart has always been denied: Love.  Troy Heathgate—untamed, exhilarating, dangerous—a man who does exactly as he pleases. Life bends to his will. Until he comes across the one thing he would give it all up for, but can never have.  Born on the same day in opposite corners of the world, their lives collide. And nothing is ever the same again.   Spanning three decades, 53 Letters for My Lover is a fiercely sensual, emotional ride to the heart of an epic, forbidden love that defies it all—an intimate exploration of love, loyalty, passion, betrayal, and the human journey for hope, happiness and redemption.  ”Sexy, intense fiction isn’t afraid to step out of the box.”   Contemporary women’s fiction: Ages 18+

My Review:

5 GLORIOUS STARS!!!

53 Letters for My Lover is one of those rare books that sweeps you off your feet, transports you to another world, and truly touches your soul. Leylah Attar absolutely blew me away with this wonderfully sexy, bittersweet tale of 2 people who seem to be destined to be together, yet spend years apart.

Shayda is an obedient wife and daughter, married to a damaged man to whom she is fiercely loyal. Their story is in itself raw and heartbreaking. She meets Troy, the sexy, brilliant man who she believes she can never truly have.

“Dusty sneakers, grey sweatpants…and then—the most startling pair of blue eyes. They reminded me of the cut outs I had saved in my wish book, of the places I wanted to visit. Blue like the water that surrounds the islands in the South Pacific. I felt like I had been picked off the pavement and plopped smack dab in the middle of it. I floated there for a while, suspended in its endless horizons as it held me for long, still seconds.”

Troy is mesmerized by her exotic beauty and captivated by her innocence and naiveté. These two begin a dance that spans decades and is gloriously and deliriously sexy and heartbreaking at the same time. I understood why Shayda could not let herself go and truly be happy but at the same time, I could not believe that these two could ever be apart from one another. Shayda is bound by her sense of honor and loyalty to her family, but is slowly suffocating under the weight of her obligations. Troy makes her truly feel alive for the first time in her life.

“You have to stop running from the things that scare you, Shayda.” He fixes those dreamy eyes on me, “The only way to feel truly alive is to start living fearlessly.”

I read this book in one sitting and was dying for more! Lucky for me, the author has written a companion novel from Troy’s POV!! Leylah Attar is a magnificent storyteller. My heart was pounding, I had tears in my eyes, I laughed and I could not stop reading. Don’t miss 53 Letters For My Lover. It is easily one of my favorite books this year.

“Your the one thing that centers my soul. I may circle the whole world, but you’ll always be home, Beetroot.”

Excerpt

The doorbell rings. Repeatedly. Followed by loud thumping on the door.
“Coming, coming! Now what did you what forget?” I swing the door open.
My heart screeches to a slamming halt. “Troy.” I turn pale. “You…you shouldn’t be here.”
“No?” He storms past me into the house. “Where should I be, Shayda? Waiting by the phone? Staking out your office? Checking my email? Where the fuck, Shayda?” His fist slams into the console table, so ‘fuck’ is an obscure, jarring thud, like some censored song on the radio.
“I changed my mind.”
“You changed your mind. Just like that?” He starts pacing the hallway. “And when were you were planning to tell me exactly? When, Shayda?”
“I made a mistake.” My voice quivers. “I got caught up in the moment. We were alone, we were away. It was…it was all an illusion.”
“An illusion?” He pulls me hard against him. Our bodies collide, knocking the breath out of me. “Is this an illusion?”
His lips assault mine.
“And this?” His hand slides under my dress, claiming my thigh.
“What about this, Shayda?” He pushes my panties aside and slides two fingers inside.
“Tell me, Shayda. Tell me this is all in my head.” He shoves me against the door and deepens his strokes. “Tell me this is nothing.” He rubs his fingers on my neck, leaving the unmistakable trail of my reaction.
“This is you, Shayda.” His finger slips inside my mouth. “Your taste, your smell, your skin, your touch.” He grabs me by the hair and pulls my head back. “Tell me you’re not real, Shayda. Tell me!”
I feel the gathump gathump of his heart. Our breath comes in short, shallow gasps. His eyes darken, black holes pushing sky blue irises to the edges of raw emotion. Hunger. Anger. Love. Pain.

Buy Links

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53 Letters for Your Lover has a companion novella in Troy’s POV titled From His Lips

53 Letters for My Lover
From His Lips

Author Bio and Links

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Leylah Attar’s Breast Cancer Awareness Promo & Giveaway

October 29, 2014

Join the fight…

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, $1 from each sale of 53 Letters for My Lover, from October 1st to 31st 2014, will go directly to Susan G. Komen for The Cure.

What you can do to join the fight:

Educate yourself about early detection, diagnosis and treatment.

Create an Early Detection Plan and invite others to do the same.
The best way to fight breast cancer is to have a plan that helps you detect the disease in its early stages. Use the Early Detection Plan to receive reminders for breast self-exams, and schedule your clinical breast exams and mammograms based on your age and health history.

Make your own donation.
This month, you will have the opportunity to support many retailers involved with the cause. In addition to giving indirectly by shopping, you can also make your own contribution to your favorite charity. Use an independent charity-rating site such as Charity Navigator to find out about your charity’s perfomance, how much of your money actually goes toward the cause, how much is used for administrative fees etc.

Volunteer, fundraise, discuss, promote!
Get involved with your favorite local charity. Use your social media to educate and raise awareness.

Look after your body, mind and soul!
Reduce your stress and boost your happy chemicals by eating healthy, getting active and enjoying the great outdoors. Curling up with your favorite book boyfriends is also a good way to go!

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MOTI ON THE WATER by LEYLAH ATTAR

ABOUT THE BOOK:

MY REVIEW:

GIVEAWAY:

Review and Giveaway of Mists of the Serengeti by Leylah Attar

Blog Tour + Review & Giveaway: THE PAPER SWAN by LEYLAH ATTAR

Release Day Blitz, Excerpt + Giveaway: THE PAPER SWAN by LEYLAH ATTAR

Cover Reveal: The Paper Swan by Leylah Attar

Leylah Attar’s One Year Celebration Giveaway – 53 LETTERS FOR MY LOVER

REVIEW, EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY: 53 LETTERS FOR MY LOVER by LEYLAH ATTAR

Leylah Attar’s Breast Cancer Awareness Promo & Giveaway

Join the fight…

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

MY REVIEW:

GIVEAWAY:

Join the fight…

What you can do to join the fight:

Archives

Find us on GoodReads

Grab our Button

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