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This list is for those super angsty, tear-jerker type of category romances. The ones that really put the heroine and/or the hero through the emotional wringer. Most of those are Harlequins/Mills and Boon books from their various lines, including the acquired Silhouette brand. However, any category romance is welcome here (ex. Candlelight Ecstasy).
Here's the definition of category romance if anyone is unsure: short, usually no more than 200 pages, or about 55,000 words. The books are published in clearly delineated lines, with a certain number of books published in each line every month. In many cases, the books are numbered sequentially within the line
Here's the definition of category romance if anyone is unsure: short, usually no more than 200 pages, or about 55,000 words. The books are published in clearly delineated lines, with a certain number of books published in each line every month. In many cases, the books are numbered sequentially within the line
Score
A book’s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.
| 1 |
The Unwanted Wife (Unwanted, #1)
by
Natasha Anders (Goodreads Author)
3.77 avg rating — 57,007 ratings
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| 2 |
The Ultimate Betrayal
by
3.70 avg rating — 3,605 ratings
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| 3 |
Gold Ring of Betrayal
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3.68 avg rating — 3,003 ratings
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| 4 |
Bond of Hatred
by
3.84 avg rating — 3,037 ratings
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| 5 |
The Price of a Bride
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3.74 avg rating — 2,546 ratings
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| 6 |
Sarah's Child (Spencer-Nyle Co, #1)
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3.68 avg rating — 7,700 ratings
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| 7 |
The Spaniard's Marriage Bargain (The Marriage Bargain, #1)
by
Abby Green (Goodreads Author)
3.87 avg rating — 2,088 ratings
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| 8 |
The Unfaithful Wife
by
3.53 avg rating — 2,345 ratings
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| 9 |
After the Music
by
3.95 avg rating — 2,586 ratings
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| 10 |
The Billionaire's Pregnant Mistress
by
Lucy Monroe (Goodreads Author)
3.63 avg rating — 4,336 ratings
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| 11 |
A Husband's Regret (Unwanted, #2)
by
Natasha Anders (Goodreads Author)
3.58 avg rating — 17,635 ratings
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| 12 |
The Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress (Anetakis Tycoons, #1)
by
Maya Banks (Goodreads Author)
3.77 avg rating — 7,096 ratings
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| 13 |
The Greek's Christmas Baby (Kouros Brothers Duo, #2; Greek Tycoons, #3)
by
Lucy Monroe (Goodreads Author)
3.93 avg rating — 2,845 ratings
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| 14 |
Ishbel's Party
by
3.66 avg rating — 246 ratings
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| 15 |
A Perfect Marriage
by
3.28 avg rating — 1,193 ratings
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| 16 |
To the Ends of the Earth
by
Elizabeth Lowell (Goodreads Author)
3.78 avg rating — 2,475 ratings
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| 17 |
The Loving Trap
by
3.47 avg rating — 237 ratings
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| 18 |
A Lost Love
by
Carole Mortimer (Goodreads Author)
3.90 avg rating — 890 ratings
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| 19 |
Song of the Waves
by
3.78 avg rating — 344 ratings
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| 20 |
Rage to Possess
by
Jayne Bauling (Goodreads Author)
3.02 avg rating — 228 ratings
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| 21 |
Marriage Meltdown
by
3.59 avg rating — 1,642 ratings
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| 22 |
Crescendo (Harlequin Presents, #451)
by
3.68 avg rating — 594 ratings
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| 23 |
Bittersweet Passion
by
3.33 avg rating — 548 ratings
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| 24 |
A Savage Betrayal (This Time, Forever, #1)
by
3.51 avg rating — 2,106 ratings
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| 25 |
Mistress of the Groom
by
3.69 avg rating — 1,178 ratings
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| 26 |
Response
by
3.20 avg rating — 631 ratings
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| 27 |
Fire and Rain (MacKenzie-Blackthorn #2)
by
Elizabeth Lowell (Goodreads Author)
3.82 avg rating — 1,331 ratings
score: 840,
and
9 people voted
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| 28 |
The Scorsolini Marriage Bargain
by
Lucy Monroe (Goodreads Author)
3.87 avg rating — 2,308 ratings
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| 29 |
Sale Or Return Bride
by
Sarah Morgan (Goodreads Author)
3.83 avg rating — 2,001 ratings
score: 804,
and
9 people voted
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| 30 |
The Last Grand Passion
by
2.61 avg rating — 166 ratings
score: 796,
and
9 people voted
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| 31 |
Smoke in the Wind
by
3.17 avg rating — 406 ratings
score: 790,
and
9 people voted
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| 32 |
The Highest Stakes of All
by
3.20 avg rating — 404 ratings
score: 771,
and
9 people voted
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| 33 |
The Sweet Gum Tree
by
4.25 avg rating — 31,279 ratings
score: 756,
and
8 people voted
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| 34 |
The Bad Penny
by
3.59 avg rating — 254 ratings
score: 731,
and
8 people voted
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| 35 |
Mansion for My Love
by
2.96 avg rating — 387 ratings
score: 701,
and
8 people voted
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| 35 |
The Second Mrs Adams
by
Sandra Marton (Goodreads Author)
3.61 avg rating — 376 ratings
score: 701,
and
8 people voted
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| 37 |
A Kingdom of Dreams (Westmoreland, #1)
by
4.20 avg rating — 56,137 ratings
score: 689,
and
8 people voted
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| 38 |
Duncan's Bride (Patterson-Cannon Family #1)
by
3.94 avg rating — 9,299 ratings
score: 657,
and
8 people voted
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| 39 |
The Heart Breaker (Rocky Mountain, #2)
by
Nicole Jordan (Goodreads Author)
3.65 avg rating — 1,081 ratings
score: 627,
and
7 people voted
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| 40 |
Fearless (Long, Tall Texans, #34)
by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3,771 ratings
score: 624,
and
7 people voted
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| 41 |
A Past Revenge
by
Carole Mortimer (Goodreads Author)
3.75 avg rating — 900 ratings
score: 605,
and
8 people voted
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| 42 |
Winter Heart
by
3.45 avg rating — 447 ratings
score: 592,
and
8 people voted
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| 43 |
Granite Man (MacKenzie-Blackthorn #4)
by
Elizabeth Lowell (Goodreads Author)
3.89 avg rating — 1,309 ratings
score: 568,
and
6 people voted
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| 44 |
The Markonos Bride
by
3.77 avg rating — 1,220 ratings
score: 555,
and
7 people voted
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| 45 |
Savage Destiny
by
3.32 avg rating — 384 ratings
score: 546,
and
7 people voted
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| 46 |
In Name Only
by
3.09 avg rating — 355 ratings
score: 530,
and
7 people voted
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| 47 |
After the Night
by
4.05 avg rating — 27,101 ratings
score: 515,
and
6 people voted
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| 48 |
Love's Choices
by
3.04 avg rating — 308 ratings
score: 507,
and
6 people voted
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| 49 |
Another Life
by
2.71 avg rating — 58 ratings
score: 505,
and
6 people voted
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| 50 |
Loveplay
by
3.72 avg rating — 552 ratings
score: 502,
and
6 people voted
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| 51 |
Saved from Sin
by
3.28 avg rating — 319 ratings
score: 462,
and
6 people voted
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| 52 |
Dark Fire (McCalls, #2)
by
Elizabeth Lowell (Goodreads Author)
3.75 avg rating — 918 ratings
score: 456,
and
5 people voted
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| 53 |
The Perfect Hope (Inn Boonsboro Trilogy, #3)
by
Nora Roberts (Goodreads Author)
4.20 avg rating — 51,711 ratings
score: 452,
and
5 people voted
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| 54 |
Lawless (Long, Tall Texans #22)
by
4.09 avg rating — 5,436 ratings
score: 444,
and
5 people voted
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| 55 |
All That Glitters
by
3.08 avg rating — 3,077 ratings
score: 441,
and
5 people voted
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| 56 |
Something Less Than Love
by
2.92 avg rating — 100 ratings
score: 434,
and
5 people voted
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| 57 |
Regan's Pride (Long, Tall Texans, #11)
by
3.94 avg rating — 1,701 ratings
score: 424,
and
5 people voted
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| 58 |
Mistress to Her Husband
by
3.36 avg rating — 589 ratings
score: 421,
and
5 people voted
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| 59 |
The Purchased Wife
by
3.69 avg rating — 1,215 ratings
score: 419,
and
6 people voted
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| 60 |
Outsider (Long, Tall Texans #30)
by
3.98 avg rating — 3,296 ratings
score: 414,
and
5 people voted
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| 61 |
The Last Mercenary (Soldiers of Fortune, #6)
by
4.11 avg rating — 1,602 ratings
score: 409,
and
5 people voted
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| 62 |
Executive Lady
by
2.95 avg rating — 76 ratings
score: 404,
and
5 people voted
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| 63 |
Love Song for a Raven
by
Elizabeth Lowell (Goodreads Author)
3.84 avg rating — 991 ratings
score: 371,
and
4 people voted
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| 64 |
Kiss an Angel
by
Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Goodreads Author)
4.17 avg rating — 69,549 ratings
score: 367,
and
4 people voted
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| 65 |
Echo in the Valley
by
3.31 avg rating — 175 ratings
score: 355,
and
5 people voted
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| 66 |
Blue Fire
by
2.78 avg rating — 54 ratings
score: 352,
and
4 people voted
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| 67 |
Tainted Love
by
3.78 avg rating — 301 ratings
score: 348,
and
4 people voted
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| 68 |
Season of Shadows
by
3.11 avg rating — 221 ratings
score: 343,
and
5 people voted
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| 68 |
The Secret Pool
by
4.20 avg rating — 576 ratings
score: 343,
and
4 people voted
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| 70 |
Raul's Revenge
by
3.39 avg rating — 713 ratings
score: 340,
and
5 people voted
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| 71 |
The Wayward Bride
by
3.52 avg rating — 128 ratings
score: 334,
and
4 people voted
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| 72 |
Slave to Love
by
3.32 avg rating — 909 ratings
score: 332,
and
5 people voted
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| 73 |
The Sicilian's Defiant Mistress
by
Jane Porter (Goodreads Author)
3.33 avg rating — 419 ratings
score: 323,
and
4 people voted
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| 74 |
Blind Obsession
by
3.34 avg rating — 368 ratings
score: 322,
and
5 people voted
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| 74 |
Silver Lady
by
2.92 avg rating — 142 ratings
score: 322,
and
4 people voted
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| 76 |
Dark Night Dawning
by
3.36 avg rating — 160 ratings
score: 317,
and
4 people voted
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| 77 |
Craving Jamie
by
3.22 avg rating — 147 ratings
score: 315,
and
5 people voted
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| 78 |
The Frenchman's Captive Wife
by
3.42 avg rating — 377 ratings
score: 313,
and
4 people voted
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| 79 |
Deserving of His Diamonds?
by
3.46 avg rating — 828 ratings
score: 308,
and
4 people voted
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| 80 |
Purchased for Revenge
by
3.25 avg rating — 510 ratings
score: 293,
and
3 people voted
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| 81 |
The Innocent's Dark Seduction
by
3.44 avg rating — 511 ratings
score: 292,
and
3 people voted
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| 82 |
The Italian's Suitable Wife
by
Lucy Monroe (Goodreads Author)
3.70 avg rating — 1,630 ratings
score: 289,
and
3 people voted
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| 83 |
The Fourth Child (Family Matters #3)
by
C.J. Carmichael (Goodreads Author)
3.62 avg rating — 2,177 ratings
score: 288,
and
3 people voted
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| 84 |
The Ugly Duchess (Fairy Tales, #4)
by
Eloisa James (Goodreads Author)
3.66 avg rating — 15,292 ratings
score: 285,
and
3 people voted
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| 85 |
Private Arrangements
by
Sherry Thomas (Goodreads Author)
3.80 avg rating — 10,087 ratings
score: 284,
and
3 people voted
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| 86 |
Try to Remember
by
3.78 avg rating — 160 ratings
score: 279,
and
4 people voted
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| 87 |
The Best Man's Baby (Red River, #2)
by
Victoria James (Goodreads Author)
3.88 avg rating — 2,801 ratings
score: 276,
and
3 people voted
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| 88 |
The Odds Against
by
2.55 avg rating — 199 ratings
score: 272,
and
4 people voted
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| 89 |
The Cost Of Her Innocence
by
3.42 avg rating — 611 ratings
score: 269,
and
4 people voted
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| 90 |
Princess
by
3.65 avg rating — 140 ratings
score: 264,
and
4 people voted
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| 91 |
Baby of Shame
by
3.47 avg rating — 1,283 ratings
score: 250,
and
3 people voted
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| 92 |
Vows of the Heart
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3.56 avg rating — 187 ratings
score: 240,
and
3 people voted
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| 92 |
Set the stars on fire
by
2.93 avg rating — 69 ratings
score: 240,
and
3 people voted
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| 94 |
An Independent Wife
by
3.26 avg rating — 3,578 ratings
score: 234,
and
3 people voted
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| 95 |
Devil in Disguise
by
3.61 avg rating — 265 ratings
score: 232,
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3 people voted
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| 96 |
Broken Destiny
by
3.57 avg rating — 168 ratings
score: 230,
and
3 people voted
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| 96 |
The Society Wife
by
3.42 avg rating — 375 ratings
score: 230,
and
3 people voted
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| 98 |
The Cutting Edge
by
3.49 avg rating — 3,300 ratings
score: 228,
and
3 people voted
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| 99 |
Hard To Get
by
Carole Mortimer (Goodreads Author)
3.14 avg rating — 176 ratings
score: 226,
and
3 people voted
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| 100 |
Savage Atonement
by
3.10 avg rating — 205 ratings
score: 223,
and
3 people voted
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KatieV
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Comments Showing 1-8 of 8 (8 new)
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Preeti wrote: "love your list Katie!these are my fav kind of books.. i love to roll in angst :p
i have added almost 50 i think...will add more soon. :)"
Yay! Thanks so much. Unfortunately I only recently created a shelf to track the angsty/tearjerker types and now I can't remember the titles.
Yay! Thanks so much. Unfortunately I only ..."i knoww!! even i thought of some shelves recently n can kick myself for not doing so earlier :p
The Unwanted Wife is not a Harlequin published book. It is written like one though. Kiss an Angel isn't either.
Was slightly confused if non-Harlequin/Mills&Boon/Silhouette books were allowed or not, so thought I'd mention these.
:-)
Anyone can add books to this list.
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these are my fav kind of books.. i love to roll in angst :p
i have added almost 50 i think...will add more soon. :)