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Kiss

by Ted Dekker (Goodreads Author), Erin Healy (Goodreads Author), Pam Turlow

3.79 of 5 stars 3.79 · rating details · 4,403 ratings · 401 reviews

Let me tell you all I know for sure. My name: Shauna. I woke up in a hospital bed missing six months of my memory. In the room was my loving boyfriend � how could I have forgotten him? � my estranged father and my abusive stepmother. Everyone blames me for the tragic car accident that left me near death and my dear brother brain damaged. But what they say can’t be true � c...more

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Published January 6th 2009 by Oasis Audio

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Jan 10, 2009 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: blog-tour-book, christianfiction, forpleasure, forreview

Dekker is a master at psychological thrillers and this one is no exception. The story flowed well and I liked the result of the Dekker Healy team effort in writing this book. I loved the twists and how I wasn't really sure who was on whose side as the story progressed. The ending was perfect. There was even a touch of romance. This is one of my favorite Dekker reads. Bravo to the authors for writing a fast paced story with believable intrigue and plenty of tricks for the mind's pleasure! The spi...more

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Jan 14, 2009 Janna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One of the things I loved about Erin Healy collaborating with Ted Dekker was that it seemed to take the hard edge (gore) off the thriller aspect of The Kiss and made it a book that engaged me, drew me in, mystified me, thrilled me and I never felt like I had to "close my proverbial eyes". The Kiss has a very strong storyline that made me wonder and kept me guessing. Did Shauna really cause the accident that severely injured her brother? Was there a 3rd person in the car? After her waking up from...more

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Jan 07, 2009 Nora St Laurent rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

REVIEW: I have to say I was intimidated by the cover of this book. I
didn't want to read a blood and guts kind of story, or one so scary I
wouldn't be able to sleep at night. Don't judge this book by it's
cover.This is one exciting, action-filled story that doesn't dwell on
the gruesome. For that I'm thankful. It made the book so much more
enjoyable for me because it wasn't gorey. This novel reminds me of Ted
Dekker's books in his early years. I loved them. This story is
intriguing and fascinating as t...more

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Aug 05, 2011 Sarah (Workaday Reads) added it

Shelves: audiobook, read-in-2011, did-not-finish

I could not get into this story because I couldn't stand the main character Shauna. She was just too whiny and wimpy. I would have to describe her as the opposite of a strong independent heroine. My main example: after waking up with amnesia, she starts apologizing to everyone for what happened, even though she has no idea what did happen. How can you get behind a character like that?

I can't. And so I can't finish the book.

There does promise to be a lot of action, mystery and intrigue in the sto...more

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Feb 20, 2009 Dana rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I had never read anything by either of thsee authors before and so I really had no idea what to expect. Overall it was a decent book. Sort of like sushi: good and hard to put down, but you don't really remember eating it when you're done and are still hungry for something more.

Kiss is about a young woman, Shauna, who is the daughter of a man running for President of the United States. At the very beginning of the book Shauna is talking to her brother and phsychiatrist about confronting her fath...more

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Jan 12, 2009 Diane rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Exerpt

Let me tell you all I know for sure. My name. Shauna.
I woke up in a hospital bed missing six months of my memory. In the room was my loving boyfriend-how could I have forgotten him?-my uncle and my abusive stepmother. Everyone blames me for the tragic car accident that left me near death and my dear brother brain damaged. But what they say can’t be true-can it?

I believe the medicine is doing strange things to my memory. I’m unsure who I can trust and who I should run from. And I’m starting...more

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Feb 12, 2009 nicole rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2009, relationships

Half way through the book, I just gave up. Maybe I want it all too fast, too soon, but I hate being a reader left in the dark waiting for the very end to spotlight the plot twists and angles.

I couldn't feel for the main female character because I got tired of her vacillating. "Do I want to know?" "Do I want to forget?" If what happened to her happened to me, I'd want to remember. Far far away from the scene of the crime, but still.

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Feb 09, 2009 Darbyscloset rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Mystery Lovers

Shelves: mystery

I just finished “Kiss” by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy; this is the first book I have read by either of these authors. I have longed to read Ted’s writing for I love mystery and suspense and I understand that he combines these two elements within a Christian framework. The book “Kiss” is a mystery and does include quite a bit of suspense, with tones of religion sprinkled through out. A wealthy family is stretched to the seams by a father-daughter, love hate relationship. The father is running for P...more

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Feb 05, 2009 Jill Williamson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review by Jill Williamson

Shauna McAllister discovered something corrupt about her father’s campaign for president. She consults her brother, Rudy, and her therapist on the matter and decides to confront dear old Dad. As usual, they argue, and Shauna leaves angry.

She wakes up three months later in a hospital. Stricken with a recent-events-only amnesia, she learns that there was a car accident. Rudy has terrible mental damage. Drugs were found in Shauna’s blood, the glove compartment of her car, a...more

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Dec 20, 2008 Glenda Bixler rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-books, christian

Kiss
By Ted Dekker
& Erin Healy
Thomas Nelson
322 Pages

I love to read a book that has new paranormal “senses” included as part of the storyline! Well, Kiss by Ted Dekker & Erin Healy has definitely created an exciting one! Given the title, I won’t say anymore about that...just know that it is an intriguing addition to this wonderful book!

Shauna McAllister, the main character, has lost a major part of her memory due to a car accident. She is also wanted by the police. At the scene of the acc...more

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Feb 05, 2011 Ferree rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was shocked!
Why does Ted Dekker need a co-author? I loved "Three," and I thought "White" was unforgetable. I really respected Dekker and appreciated what he was doing for the Christian writing industry. I'm really sorry if something terrible happened to him and he needs someone to help him write a book, but these two authors did not click. They did not work well together. I really don't understand why they even tried. Why was this book published? Did the rough draft of the book get sent to th...more

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Oct 21, 2010 Lorie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Exciting, tense, interesting premise and gripping writing, which could have been fabulous. BUT the heroine is so incredibly STUPID! Every time she has a chance to act intelligently she chooses to be independent or angry instead, and gets herself and those she loves in trouble.

Premise: The daughter of a presidential candidate discovers a horrible truth about her cold and distant father, and confronts him with it. He made his money owning a huge pharmaceutical company. Immediately after the confro...more

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May 01, 2010 Elizabeth A. rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After a brief set up chapter, the story’s heroine, Shauna McAllister, is involved in a car accident that leaves her in a coma for months. Why is this relevant? Because Shauna’s father is one of the leading Presidential candidates and, prior to her accident, Shauna came upon information which, if true, would destroy everything her father has worked to create and derail his campaign.

However, after coming out of her coma Shauna finds herself suffering from amnesia; she doesn’t remember any of the p...more After a brief set up chapter, the story’s heroine, Shauna McAllister, is involved in a car accident that leaves her in a coma for months. Why is this relevant? Because Shauna’s father is one of the leading Presidential candidates and, prior to her accident, Shauna came upon information which, if true, would destroy everything her father has worked to create and derail his campaign.

However, after coming out of her coma Shauna finds herself suffering from amnesia; she doesn’t remember any of the potentially damaging information she was planning to confront her father with. Yet, during the course of trying to reconstruct her memories she has to deal with various shady characters who think she knows / remembers more than she does and who have a decided interest in her never regaining those memories. From the boyfriend she doesn’t remember, to the doctors who treated her with experimental drugs during her coma, to the uncle who seems to be a bit more than just her father’s business partner and advisor, Shauna’s every move is shadowed and she doesn’t know who to trust.

The “catch” of the story is that, as a result of her accident, Shauna discovers that she has acquired the ability to read and steal people’s memories. She first discovers this while kissing her alleged boyfriend (hence the book’s title), but later comes to learn she has to do little more than touch someone to utilize her new talent. Unfortunately this potentially interesting plot device is never fully utilized. The story twists and turns around on itself in an attempt to seem complicated, but really just spins its wheels with a main character who, even having a recent coma as an “excuse”, engages in far too many questionable – if not downright ill advised – activities.

I had heard such great things about Ted Dekker, but I was tremendously disappointed with this offering. Maybe co-author Healy had more influence on the overall tone of the book than he did and I should give one of his solo efforts another try, but this was not what I had expected.(less)

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May 13, 2009 Kleiner rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shauna McAllister learns a dark secret that could destroy everything her father has worked for, including his presidential campaign. Even though she and her father are estranged, with her father emotionally abandoning her since her mother' death, she cannot believe it is true - or will not believe it is true. Before she can find out the truth a car accident leaves Shauna's brother brain-damaged and her with amnesia. While trying to rebuild her memories, Shauna discovers she has the paranormal ab...more Shauna McAllister learns a dark secret that could destroy everything her father has worked for, including his presidential campaign. Even though she and her father are estranged, with her father emotionally abandoning her since her mother' death, she cannot believe it is true - or will not believe it is true. Before she can find out the truth a car accident leaves Shauna's brother brain-damaged and her with amnesia. While trying to rebuild her memories, Shauna discovers she has the paranormal ability to steal memories. She begins to distrust the people who are trying to control her - where she goes, who she sees, what she remembers. She attempts to uncover the truth, putting at risk her life and the lives of the few people who are trying to help her.

To prevent the reader from only getting invested in Shauna's story of amnesia and trying to regain control over her life, Dekker reminds the reader of the sinister plot that caused the tragedy by interspersing scenes with conspirators talking about her, what she remembers, and what to do next; and having anonymous text messages sent to Shauna about not trusting anyone and encouraging her to find the truth.

Dekker attempts to build suspense with fast pacing by having all the events take place within a week. While this can be a useful tool, the compressed timetable does not work in kiss, because there is rarely any reference to time. Not being aware of how quickly events are occurring, the reader does not experience the desired suspense.

Moreover, Dekker gives away the secret plot and its cast in the first few pages. In the prologue, Shauna tells her therapist that she is going to confront her father about a terrible secret she has learned about him. We learn their relationship is tenuous at best. In the next few chapters we learn she was in a car accident and has amnesia. Dekker also introduces the not-remembered boyfriend who works for her father; the trio of doctors who, with her father’s permission, have used her in a drug trial with drugs from her father’s pharmaceutical company; the uncle who is her father’s business partner; and the abusive step-mother. Almost immediately, the experienced suspense reader (or viewer) knows that Shauna’s attempt to expose the secret led to her car accident; the amnesia was induced because she survived; and all these characters are involved. The only question remains, what was the secret, which we soon learn will involve child trafficking with the introduction of the housekeeper who lost her child to the black market. Not enough suspense left to turn the page.

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Aug 14, 2011 Dan Rowling rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Here is another one of a long line of excellent novels by Ted Dekker. He did not disappoint with this installment. It's almost unbelievable how he can pump out hit after hit several books a year. While there are portions of this book that are predictable, the authors seem to throw in a twist here and there that gives the story a fresh new angle. Many people I have talked about compare Ted Dekker to Stephen King. In my book it is not even close. Ted Dekker actually knows how to write an ending to...more

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Sep 12, 2009 Heather Hamilton rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009

Although not a title that will make my top lists, the story (or at least elements of it) are intriguing enough to make me add a couple more Dekker novels to my shelves.

KISS is a modern story, in a modern setting, the mystery a stereotypical political corruption scheme. Even the main character, Shauna, attempting to solve this mystery while dealing with her amnesia is not a new storyline. The intriguing twist comes in a mysterious mental power she discovers she has. I personally think the story...more

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Dec 25, 2008 Monie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shauna McAllister wakes up from a six week coma with six months of memory loss her doctors can't explain. During her coma Shauna was on a trial mix of medications based on her DNA profile which, as she later learns, have a mysterious side effect. Faced with the reality of the accident that led to her coma Shauna turns to Wayne Spade. He's one of the few people from her inner circle that haven't turned their back on her yet she remembers nothing of their relationship before her accident.

As Shauna...more

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Feb 10, 2009 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy-friends-list

Great mystery with surprisingly a lot of lessons on forgiveness and letting go of hurtful pasts. I don't know, although it was quite fictional, some of the message that was implied throughout the book really appealed to me on a personal level in my own life/past. It's definitely not a "preachy" kind of book, nor do I believe that getting that "message" across was the author's main intention whatsoever. I did however appreciate it as something that kind of lightened the severe intensity of the ev...more

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Jan 23, 2009 Bethany rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, psych, religious, thriller

I would hope that a book co-written by a prolific author and a fiction editor would be better written and edited. The first missing word happened on page 6 of the book! This was not an auspicious beginning.

It also bothered me that despite its setting in Austin, the authors didn't do their research very well. They repeatedly referred to the area of Austin known as Westlake as "West Lake," and they said Barton Springs was somewhere other than Zilker Park. Oops.

I get that Ted Dekker writes a millio...more

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Jan 22, 2012 Jillian rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was (surprisingly) my first novel by Ted Dekker, and it did not disappoint. Above all else, this story was a thriller- set up perfectly to be viewed on the big screen in movie format. Each twist and turn keeps you guessing and wanting to know more (although, I must say I did figure out who was bad and who was good before it was revealed). Regardless of my expert sleuth skills, the book still kept me reading and wanting more. He delves into the vast and unknown reaches of the human mind, exp...more

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Feb 01, 2011 Jessica Kramer rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: christian-religious

This book by Dekkar wasn't my favorite (compared to III and House) but it was intriguing and interesting.

I was caught on the major premise that this girl had lost her memory and was able to steal other peoples. She was able to find her memory in those she could take them from. This power enabled her to basically take from a person any memory she was looking for by scanning their brain. At the end, it claims her power is so strong that she wiped a man's memory and left him in a delusional state...more

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Jan 28, 2010 Alairic rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've read a few other Ted Dekker books, and read one in which he collaborated with somebody else (House), but I feel like this one is the runt of what I've read so far. Yes. It's a good book. It's fun, and it passes time for sure. It's very Hollywood. Maybe that's the Erin Healy part of the book, but I'm not totally sure. Also, for Dekker being such a Christian author, all the references to God and the scripture in this book seem very artificial. Kind of like he put them in the last second just...more

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Mar 01, 2009 Kristi (Books and Needlepoint) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shauna awoke after being in a coma for six weeks to a nightmare that she would like to forget. She had no idea why or how she ended up in the hospital. Actually, she couldn't remember the last 6 months. She knew who she was, who her brother Rudy was, her dad Landan, "Uncle" Trent, even her evil stepmother Patrice. However, she did not know Wayne Spade, the guy who claimed to be her boyfriend. How could she have forgotten him?

After Shauna is released from the hospital, Wayne offers to stay with h...more Shauna awoke after being in a coma for six weeks to a nightmare that she would like to forget. She had no idea why or how she ended up in the hospital. Actually, she couldn't remember the last 6 months. She knew who she was, who her brother Rudy was, her dad Landan, "Uncle" Trent, even her evil stepmother Patrice. However, she did not know Wayne Spade, the guy who claimed to be her boyfriend. How could she have forgotten him?

After Shauna is released from the hospital, Wayne offers to stay with her 24/7 to help her recuperate. He works for her Uncle Trent at her father's company, McAllister MediVista, so there isn't a problem with him getting some time off. She discovers that her brother Rudy is brain-damaged due to the accident that put her in the coma. The accident that they say she caused. She had been indicted while in the coma because they had found Ecstacy in her system, and in her car, and in her apartment. She couldn't EVER remember taking drugs in her life. How could this be happening to her?

Rudy had been her father's favorite ever since he had married Patrice. She had been left for Patrice to raise and Patrice was every bit the wicked stepmother - even burning Shauna with an iron. But did her father believe her? No. He believed Patrice when she told him that Shauna just wanted to be the center of attention. This drove a wedge between Shauna and her dad, which is why she now calls him Landon.

Soon, Shauna starts remembering things - but they don't seem to be her memories. Why is she remembering things that couldn't possibly have happened to her? And can she really trust Wayne or is he trying to kill her?

The underlying theme in Kiss is that God will always love you and you don't need to fear. (Shauna keeps remembering her deceased mom telling her this.) What Shauna wants more than anything is for Landon to feel this way about her. We also get to see some family and romantic relationships develop and some family and romantic relationships fall apart. You will have to read to find out whose!
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Aug 11, 2011 Lisa Rathbun added it · review of another edition

A strange read for me. I was interested in the plot but somehow not caught up in it. The characters too didn't seem quite all there. I knew a lot about Shauna and her struggles, but she had no background or fleshed-out personality, except for the fact that her mother died and her stepmother was cruel. I know her having no history ties in with her desire to forget, but she only lost six months of her life not her whole life. Did she like pizza? jazz? working out? She just didn't seem real, but ev...more

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Dec 07, 2009 Catrina Bradley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: christian-fiction

If Shauna McAllister could only forget the past, she is sure her pain would go away. Since forgetting is impossible, she sees no choice but to confront her estranged father with the truth: about her childhood, about his pharmaceutical company, and about his campaign financing, even if it derails his goal of the Presidency and destroys any hope of reconciling with him. She longs for the father who used to love her.

On the drive home from her meeting with her father, an accident forces Shauna’s car...more

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Apr 28, 2009 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ted-dekker

Well... I love all of Ted Dekker's books, and this was no exception. It was much different than I expected, though. Much, much, much different. Because this book is coauthored, some of Ted Dekker's characteristic suspense and slam-bang action was missing. However, I really have no other complaints about that. It wasn't my all-time favortie Dekker novel but he and Erin Healey managed to create a suspenseful book that kept me hooked til the end. I'm definitely going to read the next one they write...more

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Jul 09, 2009 Abby rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Not bad. Sorry, that sounds too apathetic. I really did like it. But in holding to Dekker standards (which by all accounts are extremely high), this book is all fluff. I guess I just prefer the depth of Elyon and the complexities of the circle and of Johnny Drake (Which can be found in the books Black, Red, White, Showdown, Saint, Sinner, and soon to be released Green). As far as good, clean suspenseful-drama-thriller summer reads go, this was very enjoyable. It would make a pretty good movie. I...more

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Apr 19, 2011 Riviera rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-between-teen-and-2010

I actually didn't read this to learn life lessons or ingest Christian morality. What I got from this was a very decent, entertaining mystery story with a dip into the psychic pool, a tiny splash of romance, and a cup of "people are dying everywhere up in here."

The heroine did have her moments of Durrr, but was overall a fairly level-headed woman. She grew up in a very skewed environment, which is bound to have an effect on a person.

Most of the characters were realistic, with the exception of a f...more

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Nov 28, 2012 Ashley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: culture-united-states, fiction-mysteries, theme-christian

This IS a christian based book and shows it in a few places here and there but I feel it was done tastily and believable for those who lived in a religious homes and left it. It might get a bit preachy for some, but the heroin doesn't let it faze her. She just wonders why in the world is she randomly thinking of this stuff she gave many years ago.

I think that is what I liked about this book,besides the tension of the plot. I grew up in that kinda home and random poems, songs, and verses pop into...more

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Nov 13, 2011 Shanna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everybody

Recommended to Shanna by: A girl from work

Shelves: best-covers, fantasy, favorites, ya, paranormal

This book is a very interesting take on a new plot to the world of YA fiction. There are some hard topics discussed and things that I think would keep this more of an older YA crowd, but it is an amazing story of heartbreak, pain, rejection, and ultimitely recovery and acceptance into your own life and world.

While this story has some elements of paranormal, it stays true to life, which helps it be more believable to the reader. This is a world any of us could easily slip into and feel like we be...more

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About Ted Dekker

Ted Dekker is known for novels that combine adrenaline-laced stories with unexpected plot twists, unforgettable characters, and incredible confrontations between good and evil. Ted lives in Austin with his wife LeeAnn and their four children.

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Books by Ted Dekker

White: The Great Pursuit (The Circle, #3)

Black: The Birth of Evil (The Circle, #1)

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Quotes from Kiss

“Pain or perspective, that's the choice.'
. . .
You choose pain - you choose to fight it, deny it, bury it - then yes, the choice is always hard. But you choose perspective - embrace your history, give it credit for the better person it can make you, scars and all - the choice gets easier every time.” — 54 people liked it

“The pain was so deep and so raw. There were days I would have died just to forget. The problem was, I couldn't figure out how to get her out of my mind. How do you kill that kind of pain?” — 43 people liked it

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