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Silver Sparks

3.54 of 5 stars 3.54 · rating details · 97 ratings · 29 reviews

The Larkin sisters are used to hearing whispers behind their backs. Being raised by hippie parents in the small resort town of Barringer’s Pass, Colorado, they were always considered oddballs, and for a while, they did everything they could to earn the name. But now, older and wiser, they're discovering that it's not so great to be the wild child, and are struggling to ear...more

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Published (first published November 29th 2011)

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61st out of 63 books — 23 voters

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Dec 27, 2011 Saly rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: cops-law-enforcement-security

I didn't enjoy it as much as the other books by this author, mainly because I found the hero's sixteen year old sister and nosy reporter TSTL(too stupid to live) and their childish antics spoiled the book for me.

The heroine has had a wild past, growing up in a commune, wild teenage years but she has worked hard to overcome them when she punches a lecherous wealthy celebrity it all comes clashing down because money speaks and the guy she punched is dangerous and possibly a killer, as her rescuer...more

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May 05, 2012 Shxrxn rated it 5 of 5 stars

News flash, buddy: women aren’t playthings put on earth to stroke your feeble male ego!
- Maggie
You can’t seriously expect me to tell people that I’m actually dating that scum-sucking piece of garbage!
- Maggie
They can’t hurt me with what this town already knows and has discussed to death.
- Zoe
If he thinks I’m going to crawl in a corner and lick my wounds, he’s in for a surprise.
You have a right to a life of your own.
I’m saying I made some questionable choices, the same as you. All either of us ca...more

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Nov 23, 2011 Krystal rated it 4 of 5 stars

Looking for a great romance for Christmas? This book has romance, intrigue, and action. Maggie, the main character, is surprisingly patient. Her patience runs out when Rafe DeLuca pushes her too far, insulting the Larkin sisters and touching her inappropriately. What she isn't counting on is that Rafe may be a little more unhinged than she first thought...he might be a murderer. Now that Maggie is in danger, she needs to watch her every step. Cal, a cop, protects Maggie; he has a personal reason...more

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Nov 23, 2011 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Maggie Larkin was trying her hardest to put up with reality, rich snob, Rafe de Luca but he touched her butt one too many times. Plus, Rafe’s comment about the Larkin sisters has made Maggie see red. The next thing Maggie is giving Rafe a bloody nose.

Cal Drummond was watching Rafe. He knew what Maggie was going to do before she did it but he was too late to stop her. Cal makes his way to Maggie and rushes her out of the bar before the paparazzi get to her. Cal has been tracking Rafe for a while...more

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Oct 04, 2012 Ada rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is my first Starr Ambrose book and I have to say I enjoyed it more than I expected. Given that it was a mystery as well as a romance, I didn't know what to expect. But I think the characters in the book were exceptional which made it highly entertaining for me.

The book features our heroine, Maggie Larkin, a long time resident of Barringer's Pass, Colorado. She had an unorthodox childhood which lead to a not-so wonderful reputation which she and her sisters, Zoe and Sophie, are trying to liv...more

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May 12, 2012 Shh I'm reading! rated it 1 of 5 stars

The one thing that can absolutely kill a book for me is the characters and this book had some awful ones. Cal, the hero is a cop, and I know this because the author made sure to reference it as much as possible. Other than that he was like dishwater to me: dull and cloudy. I don't have a clear sense of any dimensions to him beyond being a cop with a traumatic past. He didn't seem remotely connected to either his last living sister or even Maggie. Incidently, I found both Maggie and Cal's sister...more

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Nov 30, 2011 SOS Aloha rated it 4 of 5 stars

SILVER SPARKS shines as a contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and laugh out loud fun. Starr Ambrose tackles several relevant contemporary issues - public idols, tabloid journalism, and personal revenge - while allowing the hero and heroine to have some fun along the way. Ambrose skillfully brings together opposite personalities - straight laced cop and wild child - only to find that they complement each other. Add the gorgeous backdrop of a ski resort for a fast paced action adventure.

SILV...more

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Dec 02, 2011 Vanessa Booke rated it 4 of 5 stars

I found Silver Sparks by Starr Ambrose a fast and fun read. If you're a fan of romance with a hint of mystery than I definitely recommend this one. This is a great contemporary romance and I loved the chemistry between Maggie and Cal. It was a nice build up between them. I loved that although Cal was kinda the "knight in shinning armor" trying to save her, Maggie was still tough enough to take care of herself. I really liked the premise of this book because I really haven't read anything like it...more

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Dec 19, 2011 Marquetta (LoveToReadForFun) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemp-rom, for-review

Local girl, Maggie Larkin, isn't impressed by reality-star Rafe DeLuca's advances. She expresses her distaste by punching him in the face. With that one action, Maggie unleashes a firestorm of paparazzi and reports on her front lawn. Being a reformed wild child, Maggie has worked hard to put her past behind her. But her impulsive act has put her in the spotlight and possibly made her a target of a serial killer.

Cal Drummond doesn't come from a traditional family. Growing up in a foster homes, hi...more Local girl, Maggie Larkin, isn't impressed by reality-star Rafe DeLuca's advances. She expresses her distaste by punching him in the face. With that one action, Maggie unleashes a firestorm of paparazzi and reports on her front lawn. Being a reformed wild child, Maggie has worked hard to put her past behind her. But her impulsive act has put her in the spotlight and possibly made her a target of a serial killer.

Cal Drummond doesn't come from a traditional family. Growing up in a foster homes, his mother was more concerned about meeting the next great husband instead of being a mother to her kids. When Cal's half-sister Julie is murdered, it becomes Cal's duty to find her killer. Cal ends up in Barringer's Pass, protecting a feisty a feisty red-head from the man he is determined to bring down.

Silver Sparks gets off to a great start. I immediately liked Maggie. She is impulsive and spunky and she doesn't take anyone's shit. She has worked to live down her wild child reputation and all of her hard work has been ruined thanks to Rafe DeLuca. Cal comes to Maggie's rescue and tries to keep her out of harms way. But Maggie isn't having it. She has worked hard to have a successful business and respectful reputation and she is not going to cater to Rafe DeLuca. Maggie has a lot of spark and her personality is in constant conflict with what Cal wants her to do.

The romance build-up between Cal and Maggie was slow and steady. They didn't immediately fall into bed. I don't even think they liked each other at first. They constantly butted heads; Cal being controlling and Maggie being impulsive. There were times where both Maggie's impulsiveness and Cal's need to control everything worked my nerves. It took awhile for them to compromise and meet each other halfway.

Cal is on leave while he is pursuing Rafe so his business in B-Pass is not in official capacity. That being said, it seemed like he was telling everyone he encountered that he suspected Rafe of murder. I'm like, what a way to stay on the down low. I am thinking that if you are pursuing a rich, high-profile murder suspect who has money and lawyers at his disposal, you wouldn't want to let on that you suspect him of committing a crime. Cal and Maggie and whoever else involved would constantly talk about their suspicions and plans out in the open! What happened to being stealth?

I enjoyed Silver Sparks until the halfway point. The story moved at a fast pace. There was some light, funny moments and I enjoyed the budding friendship/romance between Cal and Maggie. But soon the murder aspect of the book started to wear thin and I started to get frustrated with the characters and their actions, one in particular - Rafe's sister Amber. The appearance of Cal's half-sister, Amber, didn't help matters. Yes, Amber's character is 16, with no one to turn to and she's angry. And because of this, why would you tell a 16 year old girl who's in mourning that you know who killed her sister?!?!? That I really, really didn't understand. So the rest of the book is spent chasing after Amber as she goes off half-cocked, trying to trap Rafe. We are supposed to believe that Cal is a good, by the book cop but I questioned his actions throughout most of the book.

It's hard for me to rate this book because there were some aspects that I enjoyed. The serial killer plot line wasn't that difficult to figure out. At times I felt that it took away from the romance since this book is categorized as romance. Silver Sparks is the first book in the Larkin Sister's trilogy and I am looking forward to reading the next book, featuring Zoe. It makes me wonder if the next two books will have a crime subplot or will it be strictly romance.

All in all, Silver Sparks was an okay read for me. I had some issues with it but the issues won't deter me from reading the next book in the series.

C-(less)

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Jan 17, 2012 E_bookpushers rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed, arc, contemporary, suspense, romance

Review was posted at www.thebookpushers.com on 17 Jan 11.
Publisher: Pocket Books
Publish Date: Out now
How I got this book: From the publisher

The Larkin sisters are used to hearing whispers behind their backs. Being raised by hippie parents in the small resort town of Barringer’s Pass, Colorado, they were always considered oddballs, and for a while, they did everything they could to earn the name. But now, older and wiser, they’re discovering that it’s not so great to be the wild child, and are st...more Review was posted at www.thebookpushers.com on 17 Jan 11.
Publisher: Pocket Books
Publish Date: Out now
How I got this book: From the publisher

The Larkin sisters are used to hearing whispers behind their backs. Being raised by hippie parents in the small resort town of Barringer’s Pass, Colorado, they were always considered oddballs, and for a while, they did everything they could to earn the name. But now, older and wiser, they’re discovering that it’s not so great to be the wild child, and are struggling to earn a new place for themselves in town.

When Maggie Larkin resists the come-ons of a sleazy actor in town to shoot a film, she pisses off more than a pretty boy and his manager. Turns out that Rafe DeLuca isn’t just a movie star…he’s possibly a killer, and Maggie’s landed herself in more trouble than she could imagine. Enter Cal Drummond, cop extraordinaire, who’s been trailing DeLuca himself for weeks, convinced that his recently murdered sister is one of Rafe’s victims. He’s determined not to let another woman be victimized by the dangerous Rafe, and if that means sticking like glue to Maggie, so be it.

Maggie and Cal seem like perfect opposites, but as we all know…opposites attract!
This blurb came from Goodreads.

When we were offered this book to review I read the blurb and it seemed pretty interesting so I accepted the request. I happen to have a soft spot for characters who are trying to redeem themselves or to distance themselves from their less then stellar behavior in the past. I also liked the thought of a murder mystery and a grieving bound to be overprotective cop. Unfortunately after finishing Silver Sparks I still haven’t decided if I liked the book or not.

I enjoyed seeing the bonds between Maggie and her two sisters along with the relationship between Cal and surviving much younger sister. Each was determined to protect the others and willing to do anything to get revenge on Rafe. But some aspects of the family ties didn’t ring consistent. Maggie mentions that her reputation was an attempt to live up to what people were saying because of her hippie parents, yet she never demonstrated any sense of resentment or strain with her parents when she visited them later in the book. I found that odd because on other occasions she was hurt and humiliated by that same reputation. One of Maggie’s two sisters, Sophie, was raised completely separately so she never painted with the same reputation yet when her professional and personal world fell apart due to the influence of Rafe and his family’s money Sophie didn’t have any reaction except anger and a determination to help expose Rafe for what he was.

As characters Maggie and Cal remained pretty consistent. I could certainly see the personality trait that made Maggie decide to live up to her reputation. I liked seeing how she didn’t just completely flip a switch and become a completely different person when she decided to live respectably. Cal was certainly fixated on Rafe and determined to bring his sister’s killer to justice but based on his behavior I kept thinking that his sister was killed years ago instead of within a month or so. Unfortunately I never connected with either Maggie or Cal so I was never sucked into what they were experiencing. I actually found Cal’s sister more interesting.

Ms Ambrose employed some interesting twists in the murder mystery portion of Silver Sparks but I thought some of the things that happened were a bit too coincidental and tied the threads up too nicely in the later portion of the book. Due to my background reading murder mysteries I personally enjoy getting clues along the way and then having the “aha” moment when the puzzle fits into place.

I give Silver Sparks a C.

(less)

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Jan 19, 2012 Margaret rated it 4 of 5 stars

First book in the Larkin sister trilogy, Maggie, Zoe and Sophie. A fun read and at times you have some hilarious scenes.

This book about eldest sister Maggie. At the Alpine Sky Resort in Barringer's pass, Colorado, She decks reality TV star Rafe DeLuca of Trust found Brats when he tries to get her to make out with him. When his bodyguard pulls a gun, Cal Drummond manages to get her out of there but not before the paparazzi gets the whole scene. Cal is a cop on leave from Oklahoma PD, he believes...more

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Dec 01, 2011 Kati rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads, contemporary, own-hardcopy, books-i-own, 2011-reviews, books-with-reviews

***original review posted at Romancing Rakes***

Take one fiery redhead who broke the nose of a stuck up trust fund playboy, an out of town cop on leave pursuing the murderer of his estranged sister and a rich playboy who may or may not be behind the attacks on the aforementioned redhead and you've got a recipe for a laugh out loud, 'oh my gosh, what?!', slightly sexy and dangerous read.

Maggie Larkin, former wild child, owns and runs a reputable store that sells things that only the rich and famou...more ***original review posted at Romancing Rakes***

Take one fiery redhead who broke the nose of a stuck up trust fund playboy, an out of town cop on leave pursuing the murderer of his estranged sister and a rich playboy who may or may not be behind the attacks on the aforementioned redhead and you've got a recipe for a laugh out loud, 'oh my gosh, what?!', slightly sexy and dangerous read.

Maggie Larkin, former wild child, owns and runs a reputable store that sells things that only the rich and famous would buy because it looks cool in their home. She doesn't take too kindly to being grabbed by playboy Rafe de Luca and punches him in the nose. Enter cop on leave, Cal Drummond who has been pursuing the killer of his sister. He helps her out of a jam once things go down and warns her that the De Lucas would make her life a living hell.

Being headstrong, Maggie doesn't back down. Even with the threat of her name smeared by the tabloids, stories of a bad break up and jealousy over Rafe, she keeps on chugging through thinking that scandal isn't all that bad. But as things escalate and get dangerous, Maggie realizes that maybe Cal was right. She should take precaution. Between almost getting strangled, a truck driving through the window of her store and her sister (the one who has been living a normal life and not under the Larkin spotlight) not getting a research assistant position due to her association with Maggie, everything is starting to look bad on the De Lucas.

From the first time Cal sees Maggie defend herself against Rafe to her resisting his help in finding out if the De Lucas are behind everything bad happening to her, there's a growing attraction that he can't afford to have to this reckless fiery redhead.

It seems like the sleepy little town of Barringer's Pass has some connection or other to the De Lucas. No one in wants to cross them and soon business goes down for Maggie. She must join forces with Cal and a reporter bent on exposing Rafe for who he really is and show the world that Rafe de Luca is not just partying trust fund brat but a killer and rapist. Before time runs out, Maggie and Cal must prove that the De Luca family is covering up something and they both must keep Cal's sister from being Rafe's next victim.

FAVORITE QUOTE:
"Maggie hesitated, censoring the first words that came to mind, such as smart, stubborn, bossy, arrogant and sexy as sin. She gave an involuntary jerk. Where had that last one come from?"

OVERALL: This is my first Starr Ambrose book and let me just say that I will be reading another one. To me, Maggie was such a great character. She was sassy, witty, funny and willing to stand up for herself even if it meant having the most powerful family in her town threaten her within an inch of her life. Cal on the other hand, was a by the books kind of guy. He's always alert, always prepared should anything happen. It's mostly due to the fact that he's a cop. Duh. Ms. Ambrose writes a well balanced story of laugh out loud moments paired with dangerous, heart pounding action. I must say that I sure as heck didn't see that coming at the end. I might just have to surrender my Nancy Drew sleuth card. *sigh*

***review copy provided by J.Gruenspecht at Pocket Books***(less)

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Dec 02, 2011 Nikki Brandyberry rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Decking the infamous Rafe DeLuca in the face for putting his hands on her isn’t the most impulsive thing Maggie has ever done. It is however, probably the most dangerous. Raised by a hippie mom and notoriously naughty Maggie has worked hard to get her reputation back after her carefree teenage days. Now a hardworking store owner, Maggie can’t stand when people bring up her and her sisters pasts. After her fight with Rafe though, her past is all over the news and she is reliving the pain of those...more
Decking the infamous Rafe DeLuca in the face for putting his hands on her isn’t the most impulsive thing Maggie has ever done. It is however, probably the most dangerous. Raised by a hippie mom and notoriously naughty Maggie has worked hard to get her reputation back after her carefree teenage days. Now a hardworking store owner, Maggie can’t stand when people bring up her and her sisters pasts. After her fight with Rafe though, her past is all over the news and she is reliving the pain of those rumors all over again.

Cal is on leave from his police department in Oklahoma because he has been tracking De Luca for months. Girls that date him seemingly disappear into thin air, including his baby sister. Except they found her, throat cut and thrown by the side of the road like trash. Now DeLuca has his sights set on Maggie for threatening his playboy reputation and Cal feels responsible for her safety. Battling memories of his own, Cal needs to figure out how to keep Maggie from getting into more trouble now that she’s set in motion a chain of events that can’t be stopped.

Silver Sparks is a light hearted contemporary romance with just a dash of romantic suspense. I wouldn’t call it gritty in the least. Ambrose writes with a real day feel and her characters are well rounded and at times hilariously funny. Maggie Larkin is such an example. She is completely hard headed and her witty comebacks were incredibly funny. I had to laugh at her stonewalling Cal at every turn. Even when faced with outright danger the woman was still defying his every suggestion. I had to admire her tenacity in a way. Her ability to stand firm even after being attacked and having strange occurrences happen around her and lies told to newspapers about her daily. On the other hand I thought she was incredibly stupid. Just shut your mouth already, geez. Let Cal handle it. Things wouldn’t have gone nearly as far as they did had she actually listened to him just a little bit at the beginning.

Saying Maggie was reckless was one thing but at times I did agree that Cal was way controlling. I think it must stem from being a policeman and having to watch someone he knew make some of the same mistakes Maggie was making. I got that. Obviously he thought that by trying to control the situation he could keep Maggie safe. From my own life I know, the more someone tries to control me, the more rebellious I become. This was definitely the case with Maggie and Cal.

While their romance was slow to start, once they realized their feelings weren’t going to be repressed, it really got going. Ambrose is excellent at the love scenes without making it erotic. Skilled writing in the love making scenes are a must with any good romance and Ambrose has it down pat. I felt their connection as if it were my own and I appreciated the level of writing I get from her.

While the suspense aspect could have been played up much much more what we are given is somewhat suspenseful. I didn’t really see the end coming at all. Could it have been better in that aspect? Yes. But what is there is well wrote in an easy flowing way. I wanted more in the suspense category then what I was given overall. It seemed tied up way to neat. I like things a bit messier.

Silver Sparks is the first in the Larkin sisters trilogy. We meet both of the other sisters, Zoe and Sophie and I am really looking forward to continuing this connection with the next book!

I give Silver Sparks by Starr Ambrose by 4 stars!(less)

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Apr 11, 2012 Lady Lioness rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-rita-nominee, genre-contemporary-romance, genre-romantic-suspense, read-april-2012

I wanted to write up a proper review, but my brain is fried hard-core. Therefore, I leave you with the oh so helpful notes that this is really romantic-suspense light and as soon as I was done, I checked to see if the next book was out yet.

Oh!

Also, for the life of me, I could not get into Our Little Secret. I thought Silver Sparks was way better.

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Dec 03, 2011 AnneOK rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads

A superb beginning to a new series set in the mountains of Colorado by Starr Ambrose. Romance and suspense surround three sisters who are trying to live down their rather "lively" past. Fun to read book that I recommend to those who enjoy light romantic suspense.

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Mar 26, 2012 Amy Denim rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reading-romances-challenge, rita-winners-and-nominees-2012

This book was like watching a Romantic Comedy Suspense movie in my head. Totally the kind of movie I love to go see. I liked all the characters, the fun if slightly predictable story lines and how the pages just kept turning, even at 3 o'clock in the morning.

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Mar 29, 2012 Tillie rated it 4 of 5 stars

A light read in the Romance Genre. Interesting story line and lots of suspense. Good ending that leaves things open for more books in this series to include the other sisters.

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Jul 16, 2012 Jude Bown rated it 4 of 5 stars

Loved the impulsive Maggie and how she kept Cal on his toes and in a dither.

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May 02, 2012 Romance Writers of America added it

Shelves: 2012-rita-finalists

2012 RITA finalist in the Contemporary Single Title category

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Mar 05, 2012 Cindy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

Good mystery and romance will be reading the next in the series!

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Jan 08, 2012 Sabrina rated it 5 of 5 stars

loved it....

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Feb 25, 2012 Aileen added it

Loved it. As always it was a light and funny read. I enjoy Starr Ambrose and this was another winner.

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Dec 01, 2011 Bea rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 100-book-in-a-year-reading-challeng, bea-s-book-nook, read-in-2011, reviews, romance

review to come

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Jul 30, 2012 Fanci Padilla rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Smart, funny, sexy, suspenseful

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Jul 31, 2012 Laura added it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance

Good suspense romance. Liked the commune life aspect.

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Oct 18, 2012 Terri Molina rated it 4 of 5 stars

great story.

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Aug 04, 2012 Lyndi marked it as dnf

Shelves: dnf-hated-the-heroine

*sigh* Another TSTL female lead.

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Dec 01, 2011 Jill rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romantic-suspense

3.5 stars

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May 17, 2013 Kastia marked it as to-read

May 14, 2013 Mags rated it 4 of 5 stars

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