Blog — Page 4

Wonderful and Terrifying

1 Sep 2014

I left the bed carefully so I wouldn’t wake her up. I was on a mission of great importance. Really fucking vital you might say.

I found my reading glasses and my mobile and texted Lowell. Have condoms delivered to Donadea residence ASAP. This is an URGENT matter. -I Everley

My assistant was quirky but he did everything I asked without question. I had no qualms making requests to him for anything. I could count the non-family members I trusted implicitly on one hand, and Lowell Brinkley was on that list.

My mobile buzzed. What kind do you want? -Lowell Brinkley, Administrative Assistant to Mr. Ivan Everley, Lord Rothvale XIII

I rolled my eyes at the ridiculously absurd signature he attached to his messages and realized the part about him never questioning me wasn’t quite true. The kind that will cover my cock. -I Everley

I silenced my mobile and studied Gabrielle sleeping in my bed. It was all I wanted to do right now, to look at her. She had mesmerized me from our first meeting up until this very second. What we had done here together last night was something I’d never forget. Being with her was also an experience unlike anything I’d ever had with a woman. There had been many women, and I’d enjoyed a lot of sex over the years, before and after my disastrous marriage. I could say for certain that not one of those women was anything like Gabrielle.

just a finger

I drew my fingertip over her cheekbone and moved a bit of hair that had fallen over her face back behind her ear. She stirred a little but didn’t wake up or open her eyes.

I settled back into the bed beside her and got comfortable. I thought about the idea of what being with her last night had meant to me.

Somehow, it felt wonderful and terrifying both at the same time.

~*~

Click cover to pre-order now!

Priceless Moments

29 Aug 2014

I realized I’ve been remiss on sharing teasers from Priceless like I usually do when I’m about to release a book. Enjoy this one where our Gaby and Ivan are finally talking civilly for the first time. *I think they are adorable*

~ *~

“YOU liked this last night so I hope another blueberry mojito is okay.” I held out the glass to her as I came up behind where she was waiting for me opposite the dance floor. The fact she was waiting for me at all and not fleeing was a nice place to start, I thought wryly.

She accepted the drink and took a sip. “Oh, that’s strong, but it’s good. Thank you.”

“A pleasure of course.” I tipped my head, wanting to show her I did possess some manners even if she’d never really witnessed it from me. I could tell she was a complicated woman, but it was the fact she was a total mystery that captivated me more. I needed to peel away her layers and discover her secrets one by one until there weren’t any more to know. She drove me to wanting to know everything.

Her eyes flicked down and away from me.

My eyes on her stayed put.

I finally had her semi-alone, and since she wasn’t running for the moment I needed to get my fill of looking. The warm summer breeze fluttered her gauzy lavender dress and pressed it against the definition of her legs and breasts. Intoxicatingly female. She was also a woman very finely made.

Her hair moved too. I wished she would look at me so I could see what was in her eyes. Eyes were sometimes all you needed to see to know how a person felt about you.

I was still trying very much to understand her motives. Why she had been so connected at the gala, and why she kept running from me now.

I hadn’t been very successful so far but there was one thing I was dead sure about her. Gabrielle Hargreave was really struggling with our attraction. And there was one between us for sure. Right now, I could feel the heat coming off her as strong as it had the first time we’d met in that back gallery hallway.

“This whole thing is priceless you know,” I said, “you being Brynne’s friend I was supposed to meet and ask to have a look at my paintings.”

She smiled and lifted her eyes but the smile didn’t reach them. “Yeah, pretty much in agreement with you there.”

“Why does it make you sad, Gabrielle, because I’m not. I wanted to see you again after the gala. I tried to find you.”

“I’m not sad,” she said softly.

“You are. I see can see it in your eyes. But you don’t have to be.” I brushed a strand of hair back and tucked it behind her ear.

She froze when I touched her, a current of energy snapping between us.

She held my eyes this time and told me. “I’m so ashamed of my behavior with you at the gala. That’s the honest truth, Ivan. If that night had never happened then I imagine our first meeting would have gone down differently.”

So she felt shame for her reaction to me in that storage closet. I didn’t like that because shame had nothing to do with it. She’d done nothing shameful by being with me. That left me with one conclusion as to why she was ashamed. Somebody had hurt her badly in the past and taught her to feel that way.

I didn’t like that, either.

“Let’s walk.” I held out my arm. “The lake is pretty at night with the moon shining.”

She eyed me and weighed her decision, standing there mouthwateringly gorgeous with her dress moving softly in the night breeze, holding her drink with both hands.

“It’s okay, I’m completely calm and mellow right now. At your suggestion I’ve been reading up on my notes from Being a Human 101.”

She laughed softly, transferred her glass to one hand and took my arm with the other. “I hope it helps.”

“It probably won’t, but I’m sure you’ll tell me when I need to brush up on the main points.”

“It is pretty out here. You were so right,” she said, looking up at the full moon making the night quite bright for the late hour.

“In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous,” I quoted.

“Aristotle, right?” she asked flashing a small smile.

I nodded and brought a hand to the back of her neck to steady her as we walked the footpath toward the lake.

“I had to study the classics at university much to my dismay.”

“And you hated it?”

“It just didn’t interest me at the time, but there is value in it I suppose. Like this lake at night with the moon shining overhead.”

She looked out at the view and studied it, still allowing my hand to rest on her neck. “It is something of the marvelous, Ivan.”

“I know.”

She didn’t even realize I was referring to her … and not the view of the lake.

~*~

Coming September 12th in ebook and paperback

Preorders.

Keeping Calm Are We?

13 Aug 2014

keep-calm-raine-has-books-coming I read about the story behind the poster and was absolutely fascinated by the rich history involved in its creation. In 1939 the posters were commissioned as WWII propaganda to bolster the public during the dark days of wartime hardships coming to Britain. Fifty years later a bookshop owner found one in a box purchased at auction and loved it so much she had it framed and displayed in her store. I found a cool YouTube about the history of The Keep Calm and Carry On poster that you can watch here –> VIDEO It’s just three minutes and will make you feel good. Trust me.

From its discovery in the bookshop in 1991 the poster grew into the phenomenon we have today where you can generate your own poster at Keep Calm-O-Matic and share it on social media with all of your friends, to tons of merchandise you can wear, drink coffee from, write with, write on, hide your trinkets in, and many, many more uses.

So what did I do? I got on The Keep Calm-O-Matic and started making posters. LOL Especially since I have FIVE new books releasing in the next months I thought I’d start with something snarky. Yes, I am a busy woman writing lots of books and just thought I’d let you know what’s on its way –> UP and COMING

Calm? How in the heck can I keep calm or even be calm? I’ve got way too many books to write!

*leaves*

Algo raro y precioso

24 Jun 2014

Me complace anunciaros que, por fin, voy a publicar mis libros en español, y lo haré por mi cuenta.

Comenzaré con Algo raro y precioso, la cuarta entrega de El Affaire Blackstone.

No ha sido fácil tomar la decisión de autopublicarme para mis lectores de habla hispana, pero sí sé que esta es la decisión correcta.

Por fortuna, he sido bendecida con grandes amistades que me ayudan a estar en contacto con mis fans en este idioma y me echan una mano a la hora de poder concretar este sueño. Así que después de esperar casi un año, de que mis seguidores me escribieran todos los días diciéndome que querían leer este libro en español, puedo anunciaros que podréis conocer el desenlace de la historia de Ethan y Brynne.

Todos mis libros anteriores están siendo traducidos al español (si no lo han sido ya), y los que publique en el futuro serán publicados en este idioma a su debido tiempo; no volveréis a tener que esperar un año para leer una de mis novelas en vuestra preciosa lengua. (Sí, tengo en cuenta todo lo que me contáis en vuestros correos electrónicos).

Mis libros están ahora en las capaces manos de la traductora más maravillosa del mundo. Vive en España y está a punto de empezar a trabajar con Cherry Girl, que verá la luz en otoño (el otoño del hemisferio norte). Algo raro y precioso estará a la venta el día 25 de julio de 2014 y ya se encuentra en preventa en las principales plataformas, tanto en versión digital como en papel.

Espero que leáis y saboreéis de mis libros en español cuando estos vean la luz y que disfrutéis de todos y cada uno de ellos en vuestro hermoso y romántico idioma.

Mi más profundo cariño,

xxoo R

Putting It All Into Perspective

31 May 2014

I want you to think of Ivan sticking it to social media with this sword. *grin*

I have been very remiss. I know, and I am sorry. I try my best to get a blog post up monthly and am constantly reminded that I haven’t done one when I look forlornly at the last post I made on February 28^th, the day that Rare and Precious Things released.

We have now come to the final day of May and if I want to get in under the three-month window it’s today or nothing. So, why have I been absent?

Pretty much because I’ve not felt very social. Real life took precedence and I was where I needed and wanted to be during my father’s illness and eventual passing on the 8^th of April. I just didn’t have anything interesting or fun to talk about and so I took the time to reflect on lots of aspects of my life in general and I think it has been a good thing for me, and my family.

What are you talking about, Raine? Why so cryptic?

Social media is the backbone of my business, but in the past three years since I have been really active on Facebook and Twitter (let’s not even mention Pinterest, Instagram and Goodreads) it has changed as much as Indie Publishing has, consuming hours and hours of my productive days to where I can no longer manage it all with an effective use of my time. I have tried, and yet, feel like I’m treading water wearing a suit of armor. I used to spend more hours writing than I spent on social media. Not anymore. I…socialize a lot, and if I’m honest, too much. Visiting my fan page and book discussion groups, sharing any book-related or signing-event news, posting stupid pictures that make me laugh, sharing book releases for author friends and acquaintances, while knowing full well it would take an apocalyptic event to ensure me some reading time of someone else’s book for enjoyment. Too much socializing I fear. I do all of that socializing and get stressed about word counts and writing deadlines, and I’ve come to the conclusion that it just isn’t very fun, and no way to live my life.

Don’t panic and think I am deleting my accounts on Facebook and Twitter because I won’t be. I need them to do business, but I don’t need them to be happy and live my life or to write new books. I wrote three books before I ever had a Facebook account, and I miss that innocent time very much. I wish I could go back to it, but I know I can’t. Real life doesn’t work that way. It is hard work all of the time and you do it because you love it, and cannot imagine doing anything else. Writing was my escape and entertainment when nobody much knew who I was or that I had even published a book. I want to find that feeling again.

Another example is how much I enjoy traveling to meet fans and new readers. I love visiting new places and talking about my books to people who want to meet me. I love seeing my peers and catching up with them. I just got back from the RT Convention in New Orleans and had a very wonderful and productive trip. I love traveling…BUT…I love my family more. I’d rather be at home with them and writing new books for my fans to enjoy, than trying to absorb the miasma of whatever is trending on social media. And let’s face it, a lot of that miasma is drama-laced tabs on who is doing what, and to whom, and whatever. Mostly just useless crap that didn’t enrich my life even a tiny bit while I was looking at it. Trust me, at my age, I need things that will enrich my life. LOL

I’ll still be checking in on my pages at least once a day, you’ll still see posts from me that relate to my books, and I’m sure I’ll still share a funny when something crosses my path that gives me a kick, but mostly I will be getting back to the basics of where I started with this whole writer thing. Less Social Media = More Books From Raine pretty much sums everything up.

If you want to keep up with what is going on in Raine Miller World you can do that in a few ways. I am soooo blessed to have the help of some wonderful people who pimp the hell out of my stuff and keep me organized. They know who they are and how much I love them.

1) Sign up for my NEWSLETTER <– here. I promise you won’t be inundated with postings. I will only send one when I have a new book or link for pre-order or purchase. Think no more than once every OTHER month.

2) Sign up for this BLOG by filling out the form on the right sidebar –> ALL POSTS BY EMAIL. Anything important will always be posted to my blog on a monthly basis.

3) Join the Raine Miller Romance Readers group on Facebook for daily fan fun and news, plus read-a-longs of my books. The amazing ladies who run it know everything that is going on with me and my books and can probably answer any question you might have.

4) Follow me on Twitter @Raine_Miller and on Goodreads. Everything important gets posted there too, now that I have figured them out. *You should know it wasn’t at all easy for this old woman to figure out* 😛

5) Use the CONTACT button for email if you want to message me. I will always reply. Or snail mail. If you want to send me your books to be signed, I have a PO Box listed for mailing to me. I will sign your books and pay the postage for return. I’ll even throw in some swag because I thank you for reading and loving my books. You can also buy signed books directly from me using the SIGNED BOOKS tab if you want something and are not able to attend a signing event in person.

To quote a simple, but happy man:

“And that’s all I have to say about that.”

-Forrest Gump

Blessings, et al

xxoo R

Baby is Born!

28 Feb 2014

Good morning!

And on that note…

PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DO NOT SPOIL THE SURPRISE OF BABY BLACKSTONE IN YOUR REVIEW OR COMMENTS.

(this request is made with tremendous love and respect, but I am dead serious–picture an Ethan Blackstone hard stare as you read this)

Here is a beautiful video made by The Book Avenue of the top ten moments for you to enjoy. Thank you, Cris!!!

Top Ten Moments from Rare and Precious Things

I am happy to deliver Rare and Precious Things to the world today. This is the fourth book in The Blackstone Affair series. Is it the final book for Ethan and Brynne? For now it is. Will I write any more books about them? It’s possible, but not in the foreseeable future. My plans are to move on to some of the other characters that have been introduced along the way. Ivan and Gaby need to have their story told next. Those two are always getting “lost” together, and it’s time for people to know what’s going on there.

I’ve also introduced a new character in this book that will be getting a whole series–Dillon Carrington–so watch out for news on him. There is a ‘dark horse’ in the book, who may, in time, get a book, too. The jury is still out on him, but let’s just say that his story has been swirling around in my head since I penned Naked over a year ago. You will know who I am talking about when you read. And then, there is still Neil and Elaina, from Cherry Girl, who have some things to be resolved in their future, plus her brother, Ian Morrison, will get his story told eventually. So, as you can see, I have my work cut out for me.

Some questions people have been asking:

1) Will Rare and Precious Things be produced in audio? Yes. I am working on an audio version with my agency for production. It won’t be tomorrow, but hopefully in a month or so.

2) When will the book be on Kobo? That’s a very good question, and I cannot say for sure. Their time frame is stalled at the moment. We must be patient.

3) When will it be translated into Spanish? I am working on trying to get a translation rights deal done with Spain for Rare and Precious Things and Cherry Girl. When I have a definite on that, I will share. The good news is, once we have agreed upon the translation, it doesn’t take too long for the book to be translated. About one month.

4) What about paperbacks from other vendors besides Amazon? The orders have been placed, but a wider distribution will take a few weeks to be showing up on sites like Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million.

Love to all, and blessings upon you and yours.

xxoo R

Smoke and Mirrors~

20 Feb 2014

“My wife will never agree,” I told him, picturing how I’d left her in bed after crying herself to sleep. Drained and exhausted, and very emotional from the argument with her mother. That insensitive cow was on my last nerve too. I stubbed out my ciggie and lit another.

“Make her agree, Blackstone.”

“I know you care for nothing but the success of your campaign, Senator, not even what’s happened to your son, but I don’t give a maiden queen’s first fuck about your politics, or your rapist son.”

I’d give Oakley points for laying it all out on the line. He wasted nothing on words. Just went straight to the issue in that tonal American accent of his that seemed almost devoid of humanity. “Don’t you think it’s better to be a couple of indiscreet teenagers who had a lapse in judgment years ago, and who’ve put it firmly behind them, than to worry about extortion should their shameful secret be brought to light? If they are still friends, then no crime ever occurred. Simple insurance, Blackstone. I think you should care very much.”

As much as I hated to admit it, Oakley’s ‘insurance’ scheme was really very clever. But the cleverness of it wouldn’t help Brynne. It would hurt her. “I care about the welfare of my pregnant wife, who was made ill tonight by this whole shitstorm blowing up in media. And that, Senator, is not going to help you one iota. I can’t make her go and see him. She won’t do it.”

He responded with, “Within the week, please,” and cut the line. I stared at my mobile, sure the number he’d called from was already deactivated. The tingle of fear scratched its way down my spine. I lit another Djarum and filled my lungs. I didn’t know how to fix this problem, and it had grown exponentially in the matter of hours. The US presidential election was propelling this one. How in the goddamn shitting hell did one fight that monstrous beast?

So I got up and left my office. I went to sit outside on the balcony, where I started smoking in earnest. One ciggie after the other, until I was high from the pumping nicotine that fueled the addiction I couldn’t deny.

The smoke drifted away on the cool nighttime breeze in lazy, wafting swirls. I had a flash of longing that my problems could magically do the same. Wishful thinking. Real life never worked that way. My hand was being forced in this. Sometimes my experience with poker was a curse…because I knew the odds here. I could see when folding was the only option.

It wouldn’t help Brynne to bring her into Oakley’s circle, but I feared it was already too late for that.

***

Rare and Precious Things coming February 28th

#Blackstone4 on Twitter @Raine_Miller

***

xxoo R

Brynne the Model~

4 Feb 2014

vintageBrynne Brynne the model. Yes, we mustn’t forget this is how Ethan discovered his American girl in the first place. And the particular type of modeling she does? …Well, let’s say has caused some bumps along the way for these two–especially him.

With Rare and Precious Things just 23 days out, here is another teaser for you. Ethan and Brynne are at a cocktail party, at the home of Marco Carvaletti, while honeymooning in Italy. Marco is one of Brynne’s photographers, and Ethan…well, he isn’t so keen about the party, but he goes anyway.

xxoo R

***

“BELLA, you look magnificent, the glow in your cheeks, everything, is utter perfection.” Marco, kissed me on both cheeks as was custom, then held me at arm’s length for a thorough perusal. “Lovely dress. I can see that marriage and motherhood is agreeing with you, darling.”

I felt Ethan’s hand at my back soften and relax at Marco’s friendly, but appropriate greeting. Maybe he’d get over his paranoia that Marco was trying to bag me every time he photographed me. Ethan just didn’t understand that Marco wasn’t like that at all. He was a professional photographer doing a job with me, and nothing more. Well, nothing more than a working, platonic friendship. He’d always been kind to me, and I liked working with Marco Carvaletti very much. I hoped Ethan could see it here tonight as we all interacted.

“It is, Marco, and I don’t think I could be any happier.” I leaned into Ethan, nudging him to speak up.

“Mr. Carvaletti, thank you for the invitation. We’ve been looking forward to this all day.” Ethan lied smoothly, offering his hand, playing the social gentleman to perfection, which he was well skilled at. I guess he did it out of love for me. I knew he didn’t want to be here anymore than he wanted me modeling. I mouthed a thank you only visible to him. He kissed me on the cheek and whispered in my ear, “Don’t forget about Simba, baby.” Then he wandered off to get drinks for us.

Marco took me on a tour of his elegantly restored 17^th century villa as I marveled at all of the art. He had a whole room set up as a gallery of his photographs. There were a couple of me in there. One where I sat in a formal chair with one knee up, strategically placed, my expression far away and pensive. The other pose was a side view recreation of a vintage Ziegfeld Follies girl with a feather boa and some satin pumps. It was one of the first portraits I posed for and I really thought it was nicely choreographed.

“It is a beautiful piece, bella. I knew when we did that series you had the gift.” Marco stood behind me admiring the image he had created with me as the subject.

“I was so nervous posing, but you made me laugh when you told me to imagine Iggy Pop in a dress.” I shrugged. “That broke the ice and I was fine after that.”

“That one works for me every time, bella.”

“Well, Iggy Pop in a dress is funny, so good job, Marco.” We laughed together and made our way back to the main gathering.

Where was Ethan with my drink? I scanned the room for sight of him, but didn’t see his tall form standing out among the crowd anywhere. And I needed water.

“He is talking to Carolina and Rogelio, my friends,” Marco said, correctly reading my quest to find Ethan. “I believe they have discovered they are acquainted already.”

Really? Ethan knew people at this party? I suppose it wasn’t as bad as he’d predicted it would be after all. Couldn’t wait to bust him about his whining to come here.

“Oh, well that’s great. I look forward to meeting them. But first, I need to get some water. I’m really thirsty after spending a long time swimming in the ocean today. Must be all the salt.”

“Come with me, bella, I will take care of you.”

***

Honeymoon Dating

20 Jan 2014

Mr. and Mrs. Blackstone have a “date” on their honeymoon.

~***~

“What are we doing on the beach?” I asked, as he led me along the cool sand under my bare feet.

“Having our date. Trust me, baby. This is something I have all planned out for us.”

“I bet you do. I am well aware that when you say date you really mean sex—”

My words were lost as we rounded a turn in the beach path and came out onto the shore. The waves lapped at the sand with the soothing sounds of water moving against earth. A sliver of moon glowed up over the water, but the real beauty was the many glass jars lit up with tea lights set out on the soft sand of the beach. What seemed like hundreds of them flickering away around a pallet of blankets and pillows. Off to one side, sat a bucket of iced drinks and what appeared to be little dessert cakes on a tray with some fresh fruit.

“It’s beautiful, Ethan.” I could hardly speak as I realized what he’d done. “How did you do…all of this?”

He led us onto the blankets and drew me down to sit beside him. “It was my idea,” he began, “but I needed some help to pull it off. Franco got it organized while we were at the party.”

I looked around behind us, imaging if the caretaker for our villa was lurking in the dark hoping for a glimpse.

“I know what you’re thinking, but you don’t have to worry, baby, Franco is not in the bushes watching, trust me.”

I laughed nervously. “Well, if Franco is in the bushes somewhere, I am predicting he’s gonna get one hell of a show.”

“Now that’s what I like to hear. My girl accepting the idea of a hot beach shag,” he whispered teasingly against my ear, his tongue flicking out for a lick along the shell. “You like my surprise.”

My body came instantly alive, needing him so badly. Ethan could get me hot with just the simplest look or touch. He reached up and worked on the messy knot holding up my hair and unpinned it. He was getting good at figuring out my hair. It made me smile to watch him as he found the pins and pulled them, knowing how he’d be fisting my hair in handfuls and using it to dominate when we were deep into the sex.

“You’re smiling,” he murmured as he worked over my hair.

“I just love to watch you doing simple things.”

My hair fell free. “This is not a simple thing to me,” he whispered, fingering through the tangled length with both hands. His gaze grew smoky as he focused on my lips. “It’s everything.”

~***~

Rare and Precious Things is coming February 28th.

Preorder here: Blackstone Affair BOOK 4

Twitter Hashtags #RareAndPreciousThings #Blackstone4

Fun interaction and news about all of my books found below

The Blackstone Affair Fan Page on Facebook

Wedding Night for the Blackstones

8 Jan 2014

Teaser no 3 collage

At the end of Eyes Wide Open, Ethan and Brynne were about to embark upon their wedding night. Here’s a little tease for you to enjoy from the upcoming fourth installment in my Blackstone Affair series–Rare and Precious Things.

Twitter Hashtags #RareAndPreciousThings #Blackstone4

****

We both stood there panting, our faces so close, but yet, not touching; him in his tux with the purple brocade vest, me in my vintage inspired lace wedding dress, the sexual tension crackling in the air between us like a raging electrical storm about to go nuclear.

I told Ethan what I wanted.

“I n-need to get ready for you,” I managed on a shaky breath, hoping he understood this was something important to me.

He swallowed hard, making his Adam’s apple flex at his throat. “All right,” he said slowly. “I’ll do the same.”

I looked back to where the glow from the en suite bathroom showed me the way. “Where will you go?” I asked him, feeling slightly guilty about kicking him out, even if for just a short while.

“The adjoining bedroom is also very nice.” He gestured toward a door in the wall to the left of the bed. “These old manor houses always had lord and lady connecting bedrooms so they could meet up for the real important, private stuff that happened in the night.” He drew a finger across the low neckline of my bodice, moving especially slow over the swell of my breasts sitting against the lace of my gown.

“Oh? The important private stuff you say.”

“Undoubtedly, baby. The shagging…is…very…very…very…important.” He gave me soft, seductive kisses between each of the words.

“Which room are we in right now? Lord’s or lady’s?” I asked breathlessly.

He shrugged. “No idea. Don’t care either. I shag and sleep wherever my lady is, and I always will. Pick a room, Mrs. Blackstone.”

I sighed with need and forced myself to take a step backward, creating some distance between our bodies. “Okay…how does this room in fifteen minutes sound?” I stepped backward again, moving closer toward the bathroom door, my eyes never leaving his blues as they tracked my movements.

Those same beautiful blue eyes also glittered at me with all the shuttered heat of a man who would be ravishing me very soon. Please, and thank you.

He gave me the serious Ethan-stare, the one I’d seen many times and was well familiar with—the one raw with male prowess…and the overpowering sexual dominance.

“Like fifteen minutes too fucking long, my beauty.”

****

Rare and Precious Things publishing everywhere February 28, 2014.

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