Adriana Kraft

When it's time to heat things up...

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“Have a Good Day…” #MFRWHooks #HolidayStory #PreOrder

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Some couples get a “Meet Cute” guaranteed to make your heart swoon. Cliff and Carol have a rougher beginning…

Welcome to Book Hooks, a weekly sampler by author members of Marketing for Romance Writers. Click on the links at the end to travel to this week’s excerpts!

A Reluctant Santa, by Adriana Kraft
Release Date: December 2, 2022
Publisher: Extasy Books
Word Count: 12,698
Genre: Erotic Romance, Mature Heroine, Holiday Story
Heat Level: 3 flames

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Pre-order at Amazon

REVIEW

5 Stars

“Loved it. This was a fun book with a great storyline.  Carol and Cliff had super hot chemistry that made this even better. They made for a steamy story. It’s a definite must read!

BLURB

Is it ever too late to find happiness?

They’re in their fifties. Grief-stricken (her) and battle scarred (him) from their previous loves, they don’t want to risk more heartbreak, ever. They’ll have to take it slow, talk it through, test the waters carefully. Can they make it happen at this speed, get it done in a short story, and reap the benefits of sizzling sex at their age? Why not?

EXCERPT

Set Up: Carol’s best friend, Sue, has invited them both for lunch…

“Damn!” Sue looked at Carol, then at Cliff. “Sorry, I have to run. There’s a crisis at work that apparently only I can solve. Enjoy your lunch. My treat.”

Carol shook her head as Sue scurried off, thrust a handful of bills at the cashier, and exited the restaurant.

Cliff’s soft chuckle redirected her attention. His short salt and pepper beard framed an inquisitive smile.

“I’m surprised Sue stayed as long as she did. You’ve known her much longer than I have. Is she always so obvious?”

“That’s Sue.” Carol absently brushed hair away from her eye. “What you see is what you get. A big heart, and too often more than a bit pushy. But the truest, dearest friend I’ve ever had.”

Cliff nodded. “That’s special. She left before the waiter came back to take our orders. Wonder how much she paid them! Do you want to stay? I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry.” He gave her a sheepish smile. “Besides, sharing a meal that’s already been paid for with an attractive woman who seems as skeptical about this process as me might be an opportunity not to be missed.”

Carol’s breath caught—but she didn’t want to look that interested. She shrugged. “Why not? So you don’t do the so-called blind date adventure often?”

“Never. Until Sue twisted my arm so hard I thought it would break. By the way, I should add, I’m not disappointed I came. You do seem intriguing, and what is there to lose? We have a free meal to share, and who knows what we might discover.

“Sure. We can always walk away and say nice meeting you, have a good day.”

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Did our newest characters read this article? Sex and the over-fifty crowd #MidLifeHeroine #EroticRomance

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For starters, Mr. Kraft and I, who write together under our pen name, are older than fifty. You can bet that as we’ve aged, we’ve learned as much as we can about sexual health in the over-fifty crowd. I’ve said elsewhere that writing these stories keeps us young, and I’ll stand by that. But this article from AARP – tweeted by Ageless Sexuality Advocate Joan Price – pulled together things even I didn’t know about the health benefits of sex after fifty: ”10 Surprising Health Benefits of Sex After 50”

So even though Cliff and Carol, our Reluctant Santa and his paramour (yes, they do get it done), may not have read the article, we wonder if something about turning fifty drove them to abandon their dedication to the single life and find a partner.

Here are just a few things I learned – some of which I’d guessed, but it’s nice to see them confirmed.

“Regular romps with your partner are linked to a lower risk of heart problems.” Maybe that’s why Mr. Kraft, in spite of having a heart attack three decades ago and a triple bypass fifteen years back, now has a heart as healthy as any other male in his age cohort, regardless of heart history. I’ll add that there’s a vast amount of strength training, aerobic exercise, and healthy eating involved in addition.

Regular sexual activity (with or without a partner) boosts immunity. Who knew? It strengthens the pelvic floor (makes sense), an issue of particular concern for aging women. It reduces the risk of prostate cancer. It relieves pain – via the endorphins it releases. It reduces stress and improves sleep (all of which is likely related to the benefit for heart health).

Perhaps not surprisingly, given this wide range of benefits, regular sexual activity also increases life expectancy. Lest thinking about aging bodies getting it on disgusts you (and here’s hoping any such disgust decreases as you age!), here’s what’s happening elsewhere in the world: “In Ikaria, Greece — one of the regions of the world where people live significantly longer than average — more than 80 percent of people ages 65 to 100 are having sex.”

So we hope if you’re fifty or over, that you’re as eager as we are to think about fifty-year-olds having sex, and that you’ll enjoy our characters as they muddle through their awkward beginning. And we hope if you’re somewhat (or a LOT) younger than fifty, that you’ll keep an open mind and never give up on both the pleasure and the benefits that come with a healthy sex life.

Release Date: December 2, 2022

Publisher: Extasy Books

Word Count: 12,698

Genre: Erotic Romance, Mature Heroine, Holiday Story

Heat Level: 3 flames

 

BLURB

Is it ever too late to find happiness?

They’re in their fifties. Grief-stricken (her) and battle scarred (him) from their previous loves, they don’t want to risk more heartbreak, ever. They’ll have to take it slow, talk it through, test the waters carefully. Can they make it happen at this speed, get it done in a short story, and reap the benefits of sizzling sex at their age? Why not?

BUY LINK

Available for Pre-order at Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLSB5DKS/

 

Pre-Order at Amazon! A Reluctant Santa ~ Stocking Stuffer, coming Dec. 2 #MatureHeroine #EroticRomance #HolidayStory #MFRWHooks

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Welcome to Book Hooks, a weekly sampler by author members of Marketing for Romance Writers. Click on the links at the end to travel to this week’s excerpts!

A Reluctant Santa, by Adriana Kraft
Release Date: December 2, 2022
Publisher: Extasy Books
Word Count: 12,698
Genre: Erotic Romance, Mature Heroine, Holiday Story
Heat Level: 3 flames

Pre-order at Amazon

BLURB

Is it ever too late to find happiness?

They’re in their fifties. Grief-stricken (her) and battle scarred (him) from their previous loves, they don’t want to risk more heartbreak, ever. They’ll have to take it slow, talk it through, test the waters carefully. Can they make it happen at this speed, get it done in a short story, and reap the benefits of sizzling sex at their age? Why not?

EXCERPT

Set Up ~ they’re in Carol’s living room after an evening ice skating. Time for a serious conversation.

“Well, anyway—I’m afraid…” Carol paused. “To be honest, I’m probably afraid on a number of levels, but let’s stay focused at the moment on sex…that is what we’re talking about. We don’t need to beat around the bush.”

Cliff pulled back in obvious surprise.

What had she done now? Had she totally blown it? “If this goes the way I expect or at least hope, you’ll find out I have no bush to beat around.” She felt her face flush—that must have been the wine talking.

His broad smile was nearly blinding. He reached over and slid his hand down her arm, which immediately sent a tingle down her spine. “So what are you saying?”

“I don’t want to get an STD. Guess that’s sort of a bottom line.”

“Ah.”

“And I don’t trust condoms—for anything.” She blinked. “I need to explain. When Harry and I started having sex, we were sophomores in college. We didn’t talk about marriage, but we knew we were being safe. I was on the pill and he used condoms. So Cassidy was the result of a broken condom and a pill that apparently didn’t work. In many ways we weren’t ready for marriage, but we decided to keep the baby and move forward with our lives come hell or high water. It wasn’t a moral decision—I know others sometimes have to make different choices. We married, and my degree was delayed, but really we had no regrets. As you might expect, neither of us trusted condoms or the pill after that. We became very adept at oral and anal sex, pretty much until we were ready to enlarge our family. That’s probably more than you needed to know.”

His expression softening, Cliff met her gaze. “No, I’m glad you shared that much. Nothing is simple for either of us. Intimacy certainly isn’t. So what do you want? What will make you comfortable?”

“I’m thinking, if we advance…to a next step, which it feels like we both want to, we can play around with all things oral and anal, if you like. But I won’t be comfortable with you penetrating my hairless pussy”—she threw him a mischievous glance—“until we’re both tested for STDs.” She paused. “Are you still with me?”

“I sure am. One step at a time.”

“I think we’re already moving beyond baby steps.”

Cliff grinned. “I think you’re right.”

“Hope this isn’t too logical and practical for you. Trust me, I won’t always be so logical and practical, which is another reason why we need some ground rules up front.”

“I agree. I assume that while we’re exploring each other, we will be exclusive.”

“Of course.” She frowned. “I didn’t even think about it—I just assumed it, too.”

“Perfect. One relationship at a time is hard enough for me. It’s been over a year since I was with anyone sexually.” He looked at her with an expression she couldn’t read. “Is it logical and practical, then, to seal this pact with a kiss?”

PRE-ORDER AT AMAZON

https://www.amazon.com/Reluctant-Santa-Adriana-Kraft-ebook/dp/B0BLSB5DKS/

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#NewRelease: The Necromancer’s Heart, by Robin Harper @Suntail7 #LGBTQIA+ #fantasy #booklover #bookblogger

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Title: The Necromancer’s Heart

Author: Robin Harper

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: 11/16/2022

Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 21300

Genre: Paranormal, LGBTQIA+, fantasy, supernatural, gay, first love, HFN

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Description

Mortimer’s life is set in stone. That is until he takes the reins and rejects his crown and his namesake. Striking out on his own, he discovers a whole new world and a whole new him. But even with all of the newness, falling in love is still his greatest dream.

Then he meets Galen. He never planned on falling for a man who stands for everything he’s not. Now he just has to deal with the significance of his birthright.

Excerpt

The Necromancer’s Heart
Robin Harper © 2022
All Rights Reserved

I fell into a hole.

I know, stellar move there. I was such a graceful individual. So graceful that I’d not only fallen into a hole, but I managed to sprain my ankle. Hopefully. I couldn’t tell for sure, but based on how painful it was, and how I could literally put no weight on the joint, I was betting it was broken. Only a fool would fall into a hole and break his ankle and thus remove any hope he had of getting out of said hole.

“Help!? Anyone up there?” I called out again for what seemed like the hundredth time. The sun had gradually been crawling along the sky so I knew I had to have been here for some hours, thank the living dead that night hadn’t fallen yet.

Alas, with no sign of passers-by or any fellow travelers that might take a moment of their day to aid me, I might have to think about this pit with its dirt and worms as my bed for the night.

And hope no wolves come for a snack.

Perhaps I should have stayed home and done as I was told. Those fairy tale stories made running away from a great destiny seem simple, and easy. I guessed reality must ever grind down on the mortals of the world to remind them they are but prisoners to fate on its plane of existence.

“Please! Someone! Anyone–help!” I cried again, despair thick in my voice. No one would hear me; what was the point? I was about to slump back against the dirt walls of my pit when a shadow danced along the side–and did the wind rustle the grass? Or was that the stepping of light feet? I eagerly pressed myself up against the side of the hole where I saw the shadow milling about. “Hey! Hey down here! Please help me!”

My hopes were dashed when two furry ears and a face of white whiskers greeted me. The accompanying ‘Maow’ crushed my heart.

“Oh, hello, adorable.” The cat was striped, black and white contrasting in defined lines across its face. The white whiskers wiggled as it ‘maow’ed’ down at me again, and I smiled despite my despair.

Cats always had an affinity for death and those of us who worked with it.

“Hey, sweetie—do you have a master? Hm? Someone who can pull me out of this pit? Anyone nearby to hear your small meows?”

“Maow!” the critter called down while its striped tail swayed behind it.

I sighed, “No, I suppose you don’t…”

The cat gave a trill and wandered away. My shoulders slumped as I took in my earthy prison. I guess I’d better make myself comfortable for the night, and try to find a stick or something as a weapon… Maybe one of the tree roots was hard enough to use as a blunt force weapon…

While I was hopping over to the other side of my dirty sanctuary the cadence of someone yelling echoed down the pit. Faint—but most assuredly a human’s voice.

Oh, praise the Dead!

“Hello! Over here! Please help me!” I bellowed, attempting to make my voice go as far as possible.

“Blasted pet–what are you doing? Stop tripping me!” Did the cat find help? Was that something a cat could do?

Not possible. But despite possibilities and probabilities, a petite black and white striped head with whiskers and big fluffy ears popped up again and gave me a friendly “Maow,” while its tail swished. I smirked, awkwardly because now I heard heavier, human footsteps approaching. And while that should spell my freedom from this forsaken hole, it meant interacting with another person.

I wanted out of this pit, of course, but my social graces were rusty to say the least. The mere idea of speaking and interacting with another person was a daunting task now. Hopefully it was some old man who would offer me a ride in the back of his potato wagon so that we didn’t have to speak so much while he took me to the nearest town…

The figure that appeared beside the striped kitty was not that of an old man. Oh no, I would never be that lucky. No, my fate was cruel and instead of some crotchety old man with beady, pale grey eyes and scruff for hair, a pair of golden-brown eyes met mine, a solid frame, square jawline. Skin that had been kissed by a thousand suns, thick, dark hair…and a furrow formed between two fine eyebrows as he startled at seeing someone very much alive in this hole.

Purchase

NineStar Press | Books2Read

Meet the Author

Robin Harper is a bisexual, polyamorous witch who lives with her husband and two sweet ginger cats in the cold northern state of Minnesota. She finds joy in creating stories about love, and healing, as well as weaving ghost tales and supernatural encounters. She is also an avid reader, an optician during the day, and a lover of coloring books.

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#NewRelease Love, Lorena, by @AuthorIvyLJames #LGBTQIA+ #Giveaway

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Title: Love, Lorena

Author: Ivy L. James

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: 10/18/2022

Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex

Pairing: Female/Female

Length: 57950

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy, LGBTQIA+, contemporary, lesbian, bisexual, light romance, royalty, matchmaker, arranged/forced marriage, modern fairy tale, flirting, interracial/intercultural, pets, family drama

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Description

Lorena García Fernández has built her matchmaking company, “Love, Lorena,” from the ground up, but her parents refuse to acknowledge the business as legitimate. Hoping to impress them, she travels to Ìovoria to find Crown Prince Callum a match. However, when Callum unexpectedly abdicates, his wild sister, Rosamund, becomes the crown princess and Lorena’s new client.

Lorena knows “Rowdy Rosamund” from the news headlines, but as she helps the princess, she learns there’s more to Rose than her public persona. The two women grow closer with each date Lorena sets up for the crown princess, and Lorena finds herself falling for Rose.

With only a month to find the perfect match, each failure increases the pressure to succeed. How will Lorena choose between her duty and her heart?

Excerpt

Love, Lorena
Ivy L. James © 2022
All Rights Reserved

In her rural Virginia office, Lorena García Fernández bypassed the usual salacious story about the Ìovorian princess and snipped out the article about her business trip. The blades of her scissors slid through the newspaper in long, clean lines, perfectly even on every side. Although she sometimes wondered why Westmoreland County still used physical newspapers, she had to admit it was handy now.

She set the article in its frame and glanced at the front door to see if her second-in-command had arrived. No sign of her, but then again, it wasn’t even seven o’clock yet. Cool early-morning sunlight streamed through the windows and glass door. Lorena straightened the clipping, pressed the back of the frame into place, and double-checked how it looked from the front. Flawless. She rose from her chair and hung the article on the wall between two testimonials, neat and level.

Her ginger cat, Amado, rubbed against her ankles before hopping onto the desk, his tail twitching impishly. He wove between two photos of Lorena in Ìovoria—one selfie set in rolling green hills, one in the ancient capital city—and leapt onto the windowsill, where he settled to chirp at a bird.

The lock clicked, and the bell over the front door jingled. In walked Lorena’s best friend and vice president, Natascha Barclave, juggling her purse and several binders overflowing with papers. Her mouse-brown curls were pulled into a french braid but already frizzing around the edges of her freckled face. She reached out with one full hand and flipped the CLOSED sign to OPEN with her pinkie finger. “I’m here, I’m here. And it may not look like it, but I’m fully prepared for the Johnson intake interview at ten.”

“Are those my Wallace-Díaz notes?” Lorena took the binders and set them safely on the welcome desk. “What the hell did you do to them?”

“Chill. Everything’s still in there. It’s just a little, um, messier.” Natascha dropped her purse onto the desk chair. They did their quick secret handshake and bumped fists before getting back to business. “I took Casey Bright home, too, and ran the numbers. We should set her up with Allie Masterson. They were a 90 percent match in the algorithm, and I think they’d get along well.”

Lorena flipped through the Bright binder and found the printout of the results. Promising indeed. “Okay, let’s talk first-date options after my eight o’clock review with Eve Ebron.”

Her work cell rang atop her desk. Lorena snatched up the phone and pressed it to her ear. “Thank you for calling Love, Lorena. This is Lorena. How can I help you?”

“Good morning, love!” The two familiar, Ìovorian-brogued voices sounded far away: Teague and Ailsa Duglass on speakerphone. The two thirtysomething aristocrats talked over each other before Ailsa shushed Teague and asked Lorena, “How’s your first day back in the office? Is the jet lag bad?”

“Not too bad, but I will say I already miss Ìovoria.” She leaned against the desk. “How are y’all?”

“Enjoying the honeymoon you planned for us.” Teague’s smile shone through his voice.

“Thank you again for everything you did, bringing us together,” Ailsa said. “It was all straight out of a fairy tale. I never thought I had a perfect match, but you found him.”

“Think you’ll find that someone special of your own soon?” Teague asked.

Lorena’s throat closed, but she tossed out a blasé “Nah. My to-do list is long enough.” As if she couldn’t be bothered, as if she’d hardly considered it at all. As if her own parents’ brutal divorce hadn’t convinced her long ago love wasn’t in the cards for her. Not now, not ever.

“Not to worry, we won’t hold you up. You’ve plenty of clients to help, I’m sure.” Ailsa paused meaningfully. “We wanted to let you know a little something special is coming your way soon.”

A thank-you card, maybe? If Lorena was lucky, it would include a hefty tip. Running an international matchmaking company wasn’t cheap. “You didn’t have to do that. Thank you.”

“No, thank you,” Ailsa corrected her. “I’ve never been happier in my life. You have a gift, you know?”

Lorena’s heart warmed. Nothing felt as good as a satisfied customer.

Purchase

NineStar Press | Books2Read

Meet the Author

Ivy L. James wrote her first story on Post-it notes as a child. Since then, she has graduated to regular paper and enjoys writing inclusive, heartwarming romance as a way to counterbalance the negativity in the world. She lives in Maryland with her partner and their corgi, cat, and two snakes.

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New Release: His Proposition, by Maggie Blackbird @BlackbirdMaggie #BookGiveaway #BookTour #MFRWAuthor #Romance

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I’m not usually a fan of the “he has to marry to keep his inheritance” trope, but I am a fan of Maggie Blackbird. His Proposition pulled me in immediately, and I could not put it down. Fresh, original, characters worth caring for, all sensitively woven into a plot that rises above the prejudices and stereotypes that are so rife in our western culture. You won’t want to miss this compelling story.

His
Proposition

by
Maggie Blackbird

Genre:
Contemporary Romance

Her biggest dream’s offered on a platter,

but the clincher is, she has to marry a perfect stranger.

When her employer offers the no-nonsense Shannon Nadjiwon the position of chauffeuring Séamus Daugherty, she jumps at the chance. To work for one of Toronto’s most powerful families means she can make her biggest dream of owning a fleet of limos come true, something her female relations tooling away at her Ojibway community want badly for her, and she won’t let them down.

His reckless need for speed cost Séamus Daugherty his license. If he doesn’t marry,as demanded by his overbearing father, he will lose not only his lucrative job with the family business —the only positive aspect in Séamus’ gilded cage life—but everything Daugherty.

The unpretentious and gorgeous Shannon will make the perfect bride, and Séamus is ready to strike a deal with her. One that will ensure he keeps everything he holds dear if she puts a wedding ring on her finger. However, they face three big obstacles: His family, her family, and a marriage neither truly wants, leaving both wondering if the sizzling sexual chemistry and cozy rapport they share is enough to create a happily ever after.

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EXCERPT

“I see…” Well, what was she supposed to do? She couldn’t throw her life down the toilet because she felt sorry for a client. “Look, I feel bad about the predicament you’re in, but I’m your driver—”

“A driver whom I asked to marry me.” His gaze had turned to steel. Even his brows slanted inward.

“I can’t…” She coughed. “I can’t marry you. We don’t even know each other.”

“That’s because you won’t allow me the chance to know you.” He settled both hands on the table. “Allow me to get to know you. I can provide you with what you truly desire—your own town car for clients. Your own business.”

“Where are we going to get married? This place is a tourist resort.” Okay, what she’d said was dumb, but that was about all she was capable of uttering right now.

“Banff. I can procure a ring for you at a local jewelry proprietor. It’s simply a matter of visiting the town hall to obtain a marriage license.”

He was truly and utterly serious. She sagged in her chair and set both palms on her temples.

“Goodness, Shannon.” He chortled. “You look as if I asked you to rob a bank with me when I simply asked for your hand in marriage.”

Hearing her name on his lips again left a velvet-like tingling sensation on her skin. She glanced up. He continued to sit with both hands on the table, simply staring.

“Marriage is a serious commitment—”

“I think I know how serious of a commitment marriage is.” He finally lifted his filled glass and sat back. From the way he moved, he must have crossed his legs. His elbow rested on the arm of the chair. “There has never been divorce in my family, otherwise I think my mother would have left my father ages ago.”

“Is this why your father is strict about who you’ll marry?”

He grinned while sipping from his glass. “No. He prefers to keep with tradition. Every son and daughter of a Daugherty marries into another family from old money.”

“Then I think he’d have our marriage annulled,” Shannon pointed out—anything to stop this crazy conversation from going a step further.

“Never.” Séamus’ grin vanished. “He wouldn’t do anything to smear the Daugherty name. As I said—there has never been divorce in our family. Annulment isn’t an option, either. We are Irish Catholic.”

“You have a strong faith?” This took Shannon by surprise.

Séamus flicked his hand. “I attend Mass when I’m obliged.”

Well, his beliefs weren’t any of her business. No doubt his father ordered Séamus to attend service for special holidays and such. He was correct in one respect, though—his family’s outlook was from over a century ago.

“Now… I offered you your own business. What do you say? Yes?” He took another sip from his glass.

He was so nonchalant about everything. Maybe it came from being stinking wealthy and having whatever he wanted at his fingertips.

“Your father wouldn’t approve. I’m not Irish. I’m not Catholic. I’m not from this old money you speak about. I never even attended university. I’m Ojibway and from the rez. I follow the teachings of the Seven Grandfathers.”

“No, he wouldn’t approve, but I think you are perfect.”

“Perfect?” She shifted in the chair. “How?”

“You’re everything I would want to marry.” He motioned at the attendant. “Let’s eat first. We can discuss this further on the balcony.”

An Ojibway from Northwestern Ontario, Maggie resides in the country with her husband and their fur babies, two beautiful Alaskan Malamutes. When she’s not writing, she can be found pulling weeds in the flower beds, mowing the huge lawn, walking the Mals deep in the bush, teeing up a ball at the golf course, fishing in the boat for walleye, or sitting on the deck at her sister’s house, making more wonderful memories with the people she loves most.

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