ARC Review: Because of Sydney by T.A. Foster

Because of Sydney is a spin-off from T.A. Foster's Kissing Eden Series. Fans of the series will recognize the main character Mason, who is Grey's uncle. While new readers can certainly pick this one up and read it as a standalone, I think it is best read following the Kissing Eden series. There is a lot between Grey and Mason that is just briefly touched on here, and I think it is best to have that knowledge while reading this one so as not to feel as though part of Mason's backstory is missing or glossed over. 

Mason Lachlan is used to knowing what he wants and getting it no matter what. He is set to develop a new resort in one of the biggest land deals Padre has ever seen. But when he meets the young reporter Sydney Paige, he quickly becomes the focus of her story. Mason hates reporters, and he knows that Sydney could end up ruining his deal if she pushes too much. Yet he can't help but be drawn to her despite knowing just how badly things could go if he pursues her. Sydney needs this job, and she will do whatever it takes to get in good with her boss. But when the lines start to blur, she finds herself torn between her job and Mason. Can Mason and Sydney find a way to explore what is between them while also being successful, or will their feelings get in the way and destroy everything that they have each been working for? 

If I am being honest, it was hard for me to get into this book. I had read the Kissing Eden series, so I always expected Mason to end up with Taylor. I felt like the author had started to develop that connection and that while it needed work, it was something that could have turned into such a great relationship. So for me, it was hard for me to like or support Sydney from the start. Not that she wasn't likable, although she did have her moments, but I just felt invested in Taylor and Mason. Because of that, I really feel like I was at a disadvantage to accept these two. Mason's reason for breaking up with Taylor is that he could tell she was looking for more and he didn't want any commitment, yet he immediately gets into a relationship here with Sydney. I felt like he should have been able to own up to his feelings, and the fact that he just apparently didn't want a future with Taylor. That wasn't at all a part of his reasons for dumping her, considering that he said that he liked her and they had a good time together but that he was just looking for casual fun. Mason was more wishy washy here than I had seen him before, and it didn't fit with the same guy from Kissing Eden. While I enjoyed seeing him developing a relationship with Eden and Grey and how they were becoming closer as a family, I didn't like it in regards to Sydney. One minute he is pushing her away and the next he was pulling her closer. It happened on several occasions, and I just didn't care for it. How he could go from wanting a one night stand and basically daring her to follow through on it, to wanting her to spend the night, bringing her breakfast in the morning and inviting her on a trip within a matter of hours was beyond me. And this is all the first day they met! Sydney for the most part was likable, yet she also was pushy and fit the description of the typical annoying reporter. Getting in people's business and not really caring what it takes as long as she gets her story. She got emotionally involved, and then would react to things accordingly. Because of that her communication skills with Mason were lacking and she did some really immature things. I thought Mason was a part of the communication issues as well, but Sydney's actions were worse to me. 

While this is a standalone story, there is a lot to Mason's background when it comes to his family and I felt like that wasn't as well developed here as it could have been. The reader doesn't really find anything out until about 70% of the way through this book, and even then it felt brief and not thoroughly explored. I think that readers that are looking for depth and want to really see more into Mason and why he is the way he is should start with Kissing Eden in order to really get the full picture. I wanted that to be a bit more explored here, especially for those that are just getting to know Mason. While Because of Sydney doesn't end on a cliffhanger, the ending was rushed and abrupt and things were left open for more. I'm not sure if the author has plans to write more for these characters, but it definitely felt like that was her intention. The storyline with Sydney's sister was also left open, so i'm sure something is in the works. Honestly, I am not sure that I will continue reading about these characters as the last few books have just been okay for me. While I loved the beginning of the Kissing Eden series and some of Foster's other books, the last few haven't been my favorites. I might give the new ones a shot just to find out what happens with everyone, but I am not sure that I would have started this series if I would have known how things will play out.

**ARC Provided by Mark My Words Book Publicity**

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ARC Review: Red Lines by T.A. Foster

When I first got the chance to review Red Lines by T.A. Foster I couldn't wait. I thought that this book was a standalone as it was never mentioned anywhere that this book was actually a sequel to Finding Haven. Luckily I had already read Finding Haven, or I think I would have been a bit lost when it came to the relationship between Evan and Haven. If you haven't already read Finding Haven, I would definitely recommend starting there before you read Red Lines. While I was excited to see more of Haven and Evan after learning this was a sequel, I was left feeling pretty ho hum about the whole thing and this wasn't what I was expecting at all.

Red Lines picks up after the events of Finding Haven with Evan and Haven back together after their break-up. Though both Evan and Haven are happy to be back together, they quickly realize that leaving Perry Island will change things between them. Evan is headed to Hollywood after landing the lead role in the film version of Red Lines, the famous book series. Haven is staying at Evan's place in Austin, Texas while she pursues a career writing songs for a record label and for Evan's famous singer friend Carly. While Evan and Haven might be back together, they will have to face the distance between them as well as the pressures of the media and the constant speculation on Evan's personal life. Will the love Evan and Haven share be enough to survive their careers?

I was glad that Evan and Haven were back together in this book, but I felt like their relationship just didn't have the same feel as before. I know that they were facing completely different issues this time around, but it just felt like it had lost it's sparkle. Evan was off in Hollywood filming, and I was glad that he was faithful to Haven. He didn't seem to ever be tempted, and I was really glad that he never went there. But he also didn't really seem to think about what his role would put Haven through, and I felt like he never really discussed everything that would entail for her. She didn't know the business like he did, and I felt like that should have been his responsibility. I also thought that it was really soon after their reconciliation, and I wish we had seen more of these two together first. Haven was still the same and I thought she was easy to like. I wanted to see more of her with Evan and them settling into life together. I understood why she didn't want to rush things between them, and I really admired that about her. She could have easily taken everything that Evan was offering, but I was glad that she stayed true to herself. These two still had chemistry, and I felt it when they were around one another. But I really missed the connection between them this time around, and I didn't feel quite the same level of heat as before.

I also thought that there were a lot of things that were brought up only to be dropped, and a lot of other opportunities that were missed. I really expected Emmy to make things difficult on Evan after the way she was in the first book, and she did have her super flirty moments that I thought would lead to ulterior motives. But they never went anywhere, and I just found it unrealistic. I also didn't like that Evan's housekeeper Marta was pretty rude to Haven and that was dropped even after Haven said something to Evan. What was the point or her being bitchy if it was never dealt with? Same thing went for his new manager/agent. He pretty much accused Haven of horrible things and then it just went away with Evan's promise to deal with him. I just felt like the conflicts in this story weren't really dealt with. Drama would happen and then it all just disappeared. It really made this book seem to have been drug out for no reason, and I am honestly not really sure why there was even a second book. While it was nice to see more of these characters, I felt like this could have easily been done in a novella or and extended epilogue to Finding Haven. I just didn't understand the point of this book really when nothing seemed to really happen and there was very little story advancement. I think if you liked Finding Haven that you might give this one a shot, and that readers will enjoy more of Evan and Haven. But this one just missed the mark for me, and it didn't really seem to add much to Evan and Haven's story.

**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**

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ARC Review: A Very Grey Christmas by T.A. Foster

A Very Grey Christmas is the third story in the Kissing Eden Series by T.A. Foster. I will admit that while I was excited to get more of Eden and Grey, I was a bit worried after reading Loving Eden. I felt like it was missing the spark of the first book and just wasn't what I had come to know and love about these two. I also have kind of a love hate relationship with Christmas stories and novellas, so this one had me a bit nervous. I have to say though, that I really enjoyed this one! It felt like the first book in this series only with a ton of holiday spirit added! This book isn't a standalone and should be read in order, so if you haven't read these already you are going to want to start with Kissing Eden. 

As Eden and Grey approach their first Christmas together, they are facing spending it in different states. While Eden knows that she needs to return home to spend it with her parents, she feels torn about being in a separate state than Grey. To Eden's family, Christmas has always been important. Which is why she doesn't understand how it isn't a big deal to Grey. Eden tries to convince Grey to come home with her, but with so much work going on he can't leave Padre. But with them being so far apart, they both soon feel the distance and Eden realizes that all she wants for Christmas is Grey.

I love Eden and Grey. I felt like in Loving Eden that these two just didn't seem to have the same connection as before. But they had that back and more in this story. These two were back to what I had loved so much about them, and I could really see just how far these two had come. They loved one another so much, and it was great to see them living their lives together. I loved getting more of them and seeing some of their HEA play out in their real lives after everything. They had a stronger connection than ever before, and I felt like they were also even hotter together if that is possible! I loved seeing the sweet and sexy with these two.

Overall, this was a great addition to this series. This was everything I had been missing from the last book, and I liked seeing the continuation of their relationship. Eden and Grey have always stuck with me, but after this story they have solidified themselves as some of my all time favorite characters. I highly recommend this series, and if you are a fan of these two you will not want to miss this one! This gave me exactly what I had been hoping for with Eden and Grey, and just the right amount of holiday cheer to get me in the spirit of the season!

**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**

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ARC Review: Written in the Sand by T.A. Foster and Mary-Kathryn Craft

I really loved the cover of this book, and I have to come to enjoy T.A. Fosters books after having read quite a few now. So when I first saw Written in the Sand, I knew I wanted to read this one. Written in the Sand is written by T.A. Foster and Mary-Kathryn Craft, and this is the first that I have read of Mary-Kathryn Craft's work. While this one had a lot of promise, I felt like this book just fell flat for me. I had quite a few issues with it and although it had its good moments, for the most part it just wasn't what I had been hoping for or expecting.

Best friends Maggie and Blair head to an island for the summer before beginning their new lives. They are determined to have their last summer together be the best it can, but both of them start to feel a bit bored after a month on the island. Then they meet cousins Justyn and Reid and everything changes. Both girls make a pact to keep things casual with no entanglements, but soon they are both developing real feelings. What happens when summer ends and everything you though you wanted suddenly isn't what you want anymore?

I liked all the characters in this story, but I didn't really feel connected to them. Reid and Justyn were great and they were just your normal good guys. But there really wasn't much about them that stood out as far as being anything really different or unique. Same for Blair and Maggie. They were sweet girls that had a great friendship, but I didn't find myself relating to them. All four of them seemed to have moments of immaturity, and at times they felt as though they were younger than their actual ages. I felt like there was some chemistry and attraction between each couple, but everything felt a bit rushed and forced to me.

I think my biggest problem was that there was so much push and pull with all of the characters, that it just didn't ever really seem to come together for me. Even when it looked like things were finally on track, something would happen to derail everything again. It just got too drawn out for me, and irritated me to the point that I lost interest. I also thought that it was weird how all the way through the book the girls and the guys would often refer to Blair and Maggie as "The Blonde" or "The Brunette". It just felt strange and I wasn't sure why they kept doing it. It almost felt like they couldn't remember the name of who they were thinking about or referring to. While I liked the idea of this book, it just never quite delivered for me. It was a mostly enjoyable read, and I think it was nice to get a good beach story as we head into cold weather. But this book was predictable and just felt like so many other NA stories already out there only not as well executed. If you are looking for a NA story that you can just relax and read without much depth or emotion, this one might be something you would enjoy. But those looking for something different or with a fresh take on the genre might not want to read this one.

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ARC Review: Loving Eden by T.A. Foster

Loving Eden is the sequel to Kissing Eden by T.A. Foster and continues the story of Grey and Eden. I was excited to get more of these two after reading the first book and was really looking forward to catching up on where they were. While I did like this book, it wasn't as good as the first in my opinion. This one just felt like it was missing something and didn't pack quite the same punch that the first story did.

After returning home for awhile, Eden decides to pack up her life and move back to Texas to be with Grey. She intends to move in with him and continue to get the hotel that his grandfather left him back on its feet and better than ever. She sets out on a cross country trip alone, to be with the man she loves. When she arrives things are going well between her and Grey, until a stranger threatens all of their plans. As Grey and Eden try to navigate the changes in their lives, they struggle more than ever before with how to deal with life and their relationship together. Can they get through all the obstacles that life throws their way, or will it be too much for them to handle and drive them apart?

I really liked Eden and Grey in the first book, and they were both still really great in this one as well. I felt like Grey had a lot of mood swings in this book, and that he seemed to doubt Eden at times. He wasn't the same as I remembered and wasn't sure whey he seemed to run so hot and cold with her. Eden was great in this book as well, and I love how smart and independent she is. She was determined to do what she needed to and didn't listen to what others thought that she should do. I was glad that she was able to stand on her own two feet, even while being in a committed relationship. It was great to see such a strong female character. These two still had chemistry between them, and I still could tell what a great couple they made.

My biggest issue with this book though was that it just felt like something was off between Eden and Grey. They didn't seem to have that undeniable connection that I felt in the first book, and while they were great together at times it didn't feel consistent to me. There seemed to be a disconnect between the two of them and it almost seemed like they weren't together or were on the verge of breaking up. I just wanted to shake Grey and tell him to get over himself, because it really felt like most of the blame landed on his shoulders. I wish that these two would have been more on the same page and that they would have tackled their problems together rather than doing things separately. I think that it was nice to get to see these characters again and how their future was unfolding though. It just wasn't everything that I had been hoping for with these two. I definitely recommend reading Kissing Eden before starting Loving Eden as I think you need to see how they began before where they are at the start of this book. I will look for more from T.A. Foster in the future.

**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**

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ARC Review: Fly by T.A. Foster

I have become a huge fan of T.A. Foster's after having read several of her books now. She always delivers a sweet story that I know will leave me feeling happy and satisfied with the outcome. I can honestly say though that I have been super excited ever since I first heard about Fly, because there is just something sexy about a pilot! I ended up really enjoying this book, and it is definitely one of my favorites of T.A. Foster's to date. 

Skye Stephens is a workaholic who just had all the credit for a job well done taken from her. When her work friend suggests that they go and get a drink to get over it, Skye is at first reluctant but ends up agreeing. When her friend winds up sick and stands her up though, a sexy stranger swoops in a rescues her. They immediately hit it off and end up deciding to spend the night together. At first, the night seems to be typical for fighter pilot Ben "Bolt" Hardcastle. But when they find out that neither of them has a condom they end up spending the night just hanging out together. Ben is used to one night only, but with Skye he finds himself wanting more. They end up seeing each other more and more as both of them feel a connection unlike anything they have felt before. But Skye has a rule that she doesn't sleep with anyone until they have been together for at least a month, and she isn't convinced that Ben will wait around that long. Ben finds himself unable to stay away though, and soon he is actually thinking about a future with just one girl as long as it is Skye. But with his 6 month deployment coming up, can they really have any kind of future together when their relationship is so new?

I really liked Ben. He was sexy and sweet, and I really thought that he was great for Skye. He loosened her up and showed her how to really live and not just work all the time. I loved that even when he screwed up he wasn't afraid to admit that he had made a mistake and do what it took to show Skye that he wanted her. He waited for her, and he showed that their relationship was about more than just sex. I also really liked what a great friend he was and that he looked out for his friend's girl because he wasn't around anymore. I thought that he was really more than met the eye, and it was good to see him start to really allow himself to be happy and hope for the future with Skye. Skye was smart and dedicated, but she definitely worked too hard. She had been used to putting everything into her career and it was really great to see her start to enjoy life with Ben. I thought that they were perfect for each other, and I loved that they had the chemistry but also the everyday sweetness to them as well. I liked that they were playful and fun together, and it was really cute to see them on their dates and enjoying each other's company.

Overall, this book was definitely another winner from T.A. Foster. I enjoyed it a lot and I think it was definitely one of my favorites of hers. Ben and Skye were so fun to read about, but I also really enjoyed Ben's Friends as well! I especially loved Hollywood and I really liked the banter between those two. If you haven't read anything by T.A. Foster, you are really missing out. I love her writing style, and she always delivers a solid and entertaining story. Fly was no exception and I would absolutely recommend it if you are looking for a sweet and sexy contemporary read. I can't wait to see what T.A. Foster comes up with next.

**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**

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ARC Review: Finding Haven by T.A. Foster

After reading a few of T.A. Foster's books, I have become a fan of hers so I was really excited when I saw that she had a new book coming out. Finding Haven really intrigued me with its cover and blurb, and I couldn't wait to get to know the movie star Evan. This book was good and enjoyable, but it wasn't my favorite book of hers. I really liked the characters, and I thought that the story was good but it just fell a bit short for me.

After his girlfriend's picture with another man ends up all over celebrity magazines, movie star Evan Carlson decides to leave town and hide out for awhile. He drives until he reaches Perry Island. He decides to stay the summer and blend in with the locals that don't seem to recognize him or care who he is. When he overhears a pretty girl in need of a new employee at the local store, he volunteers to help out for the summer. Evan is intrigued by Haven, and finds himself wanting to get to know Haven better. He tells her that he is a writer and she shares some of the lyrics that she has written with him and tells him that she wants to be a songwriter. Evan and Haven embark on a summer romance, but the more time that goes on the bigger Evan's web of lies gets. What happens when his ex-girlfriend and his real life track him down, and the truth about who he is comes out?

I liked Evan and Haven. I understood Evan's actions and why he didn't tell everyone who he was, but the longer things went on with Haven and the closer he got to her it stopped making sense to me. Haven was open with him, and shared so much of herself so it just didn't make sense to me why he wouldn't feel like he could tell her who he was. The truth always comes out, and I think that it would have been much better if he would have told her and dealt with the consequences rather than her randomly finding out from others. I did like Evan though, and he was really sweet with Haven. He was patient with her, and I thought that he really cared about her. Haven was interesting to me, and I really liked that she was so passionate about writing songs. I liked her with Evan and thought that they made a great pair. She seemed to really understand him, and things were so easy between them. I thought that they had great chemistry together and fit well as a couple.

I did think that this book had some slow moments though, especially the beginning. I didn't really understand why she was messing around with Travis and constantly saying that it was the last time for them to fool around only to do it again. It confused me because she said she had no feelings for him like that, and yet it went on for awhile. I also thought that it took a bit long for her and Evan to really even meet. It took me awhile to get into the story because of that, and I kept wanting to put the book down. I am glad that I stuck with it though, because it did start to pick up after about 20% of the way in. Evan and Haven were cute together, and I enjoyed this light and easy read. I definitely recommend checking out T.A. Foster's books if you haven't already read anything by her, and I think a lot of New Adult fans will like this one. For me though, it wasn't as good as some of her previous books. I will definitely still be looking for more from her in the future though, and her book London Falling is one of my absolute favorites.

**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**

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ARC Review: Kissing Eden by T.A. Foster

Kissing Eden by T.A. Foster was a book that I really enjoyed reading. This one was light and easy, and a quick read that I had fun reading. I have really become a fan of T.A. Foster, because she has such a great writing style that I instantly become invested in. I always find her characters to be likable and real, and her books always have a great flow to them. This book is the perfect beach/vacation read, or one for when you just want to lose yourself for a few hours. I can't wait to read more from T.A. Foster in the future.

Eden Brady has just been broken up with by her boyfriend Brett three days before spring break. They were supposed to be headed to South Padre Island in Texas together, but now Eden is on her own. She decides to take advantage of the ticket her parents bought her for Christmas for the trip and go by herself. Her trip gets started in the worst way possible though when her plane is overbooked and her luggage gets lost. Then she arrives and Brett has stolen her room reservation and is with another girl. She ends up staying at a run down hotel and instantly gets off on the wrong foot with the handsome but surly man at the desk. Eden assumes that he is the handy man, but soon finds out that Grey actually inherited the place from his grandfather. He is trying to fix the place up and figure out what to do with his future. Eden offers to help him out, and as they begin spending more time together their feelings and attraction become impossible to fight. But what happens when the week is over and Eden is set to return to North Carolina? Can they possibly have anything more than a spring break fling?

I really liked Grey. He instantly was able to draw my attention, and I liked that he was more than just his moody first impression. He was a great guy that was honest and sweet, even if he at times handled things badly. It was great to see him start to let his walls down with Eden's help, and I loved watching him work on his own issues. I felt so bad for Eden! She had the absolute worst luck and I couldn't believe what a jerk Brett was to her. It was great to see her meet Grey and realize just how bad things had been with Brett. I liked that Eden was brave enough to go on the trip by herself, not many people would be able to do that especially after going through everything that she had. I also really liked how she was pretty laid back and was able to just roll with the punches. She didn't let the bad stuff get her down, and she made friends along the way. I really liked her character and thought that she would be a girl that I would hang out with. Her and Grey were just really believable and real characters that I liked a lot. I thought that they had great chemistry from the start, but they also were really great for each other and I liked them together.

Overall, I thought that this was a really enjoyable and sweet read. T.A. Foster always writes books that are enjoyable all the way through and leave you happy. Kissing Eden was no exception, and I thought that this one was really refreshing and cute. It had a great flow, and the pacing was fast and kept me interested. The one criticism I had with this book though is that the relationship did progress rather quickly. Because it was over spring break and they hadn't ever met before it was pretty much insta-love in about a week. But honestly with Grey and Eden it really didn't seem forced or unbelievable. It was just a little rushed for my liking. I really did find this one entertaining though, and I am really glad that I read it. I would recommend this book to fans of the New Adult genre, especially those looking for a quick and light read. If you haven't read anything by T.A. Foster, I highly recommend giving her books a shot. I have really come to like her, and I look forward to seeing what else she comes up with.

**ARC provided by Inkslinger PR**

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ARC Review: London Falling by T.A. Foster

I will admit that this gorgeous cover is originally what drew me in and made me want to read this book. I absolutely loved London Falling and had so much fun reading this story. This book was unique and different from any other New Adult books that I have read, and I found the story really refreshing. This is definitely a feel good story that was really adorable and left me smiling. I can't wait to read more from T.A. Foster after reading this book. I found this book almost impossible to put down and didn't stop reading until I had devoured every last page.

London is a senior and only needs one more class to graduate. Her communications class is taught by a professor who is known for being a bit different and unconventional. In order for London to take the next step towards moving to LA to achieve her dream of becoming an actress, she must first get an A and graduate. When her professor assigns the class the task of proving if a reality show is real or staged with the help of a partner, London will do anything to make sure that they get an A. London gets assigned Beau as a partner and they get the reality TV show Love Match. Love Match centers around a man or woman who sets out on several over the top dates with multiple people in order to find love. Beau and London decide that they will fake date to prove the show is made up and keep a record of their experiences through a blog that students and their professor can see. But after a few dates, they are beginning to develop feelings for each other. They can't fight their attraction to each other and the connection they are forming is too strong to ignore. They decide to date for real, but hide it from everyone and pretend that they are still fake dating in order to continue with the project and not risk their grade in the class. But when things get more serious, they must decide if a relationship together is worth risking everything for.

I really liked Beau. He was fun and carefree, and really adventurous. I liked how he was able to really bring London out of her shell and help her to experience life. He was sweet and sexy and I thought that he was just a really great guy. He was so normal and felt really real to me. I liked that he was out to have a good time and really enjoy himself without taking things too seriously. London was great also. She was dedicated and determined. At first she was a bit uptight and seemed to be pretty single minded when it came to her life. But soon after meeting Beau she really started to open up and there was a whole other side that Beau was able to bring out in her. It was really nice to see her transition as the book progressed. Beau and London were so different from each other, but they really proved that opposites do attract. They worked so well together and seemed really natural to me. They also had a ton of chemistry and I really enjoyed how they went from being partners to friends to falling in love.

Overall, this book completely exceeded my expectations and really blew me away. I loved Beau and London and their entire story. This book is addictive and as much of a guilty pleasure as the reality show that they reference. I was sad to finish this book because I just wasn't ready to be done with Beau and London. I also really liked the secondary characters in this story and thought that they were all really interesting and entertaining as well. I especially loved London's friend Nina and London's brother Austin. I would love to see more of those two as well as the rest of London's brothers. To me, this book had everything that I look for in an entertaining book and I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a light and fun read. Fans of the Bachelor and Bachelorette will really love this book, but I think that this is one that pretty much anyone can enjoy. Beau and London's story is one that I won't soon forget, and I can't wait to go back and reread it. I look forward to reading more from T.A. Foster in the future.

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