The Long and Short of e-books...

Today I'm presenting an observation:

Have you noticed the trend of very short e-book stories? A few years ago, there were indeed a few novella length e-books, but check just about any electronic publisher today and you will find several e-books that are well under fifty pages in length. I once read one for review that was all of three pages!

Why the trend? Do they want to tap the new reader market? Or, are readers not willing to sit down and invest the time in a longer length story? Go to just about any electronic publisher’s page and check out their submissions. Many are looking for short stories with particular themes – Halloween, Christmas, etc and are actively seeking new authors to submit. Even many of the bestselling authors crank out these short stories.

Do these sell well? (If there are any publishers lurking out there, I’d love an answer to that)

Do readers really snap up these short stories enough so that it is profitable for publishers? (Readers, have you purchased e-books that are short in length?)

I know with the influx of these shorter stories, Terrie has had to create sections for Naughty Nibbles at RRT Erotic (definitely the most popular of the shorter stories. Get your sex quick and to the point) and also at Romance Reviews Today (just called Nibbles there).

Are the short stories the trend for the future of our reading? I guess it’s “stayed tuned and find out.”

Posted by Patti

Spotlight Review...Be Still My Vampire Heart by Kerrelyn Sparks

BE STILL MY VAMPIRE HEART - Kerrelyn Sparks
Love At Stake, Book 3
Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-111844-9
April 2007
Paranormal Romance

New York and London, England - Present Day

CIA agent and member of the Stake-Out team run by Sean Whelan, psychic Emma Wallace does a little slaying on the side. She has good reasons for doing this without the knowledge of her fellow team members or her boss. They might try to stop her, and that she won't allow. The evil vampires killed her parents, and Emma vows to avenge them. One night while she is patrolling Central Park, Emma runs into a very handsome Scotsman named Angus MacKay. He's very appealing and yet there's something about him that Emma can't quite put her finger on. Is he a vampire? Why is he here telling her no more slaying? How did he know? So many questions that Emma needs answered. She sets a trap to catch Angus and learns much more than she wanted to know. If what Angus says is true, then there are two types of vampires: the Malcontents, evil vampires who are killing humans and drinking their blood, and then there are Angus and his kind who drink from bottles and are eradicating the Malcontents every chance they get. Still, can she trust Angus?

Angus MacKay has fought the Malcontents for centuries, too many to count. He has watched his children grow old and die while he continues to live as a vampire. Angus doesn't regret his friend, Roman Draganesti, changing him, but it does get lonely. When Angus learns there's a slayer, he vows to stop him at all costs. That is, until he learns the slayer is a woman. Emma Wallace is a warrior like him, and the first time he meets her, Angus is smitten. Everything about Emma fascinates him, and his body awakens whenever he's near her. He begs her to stop slaying lest she be killed, but Emma is a stubborn wench and tries to end Angus's life a couple of times before he has a chance to convince her that he is different from the monsters she's dispatched. Angus sets out to prove to Emma that he is trustworthy in the hopes of becoming not only her friend, but possibly something more. However, he wonders if he stands a chance when he learns of her reasons for killing the vampires. How can he compete with revenge?

Unfortunately, Emma's thirst for revenge isn't the only thing Angus has to worry about. He has another problem...Katya, a bloodthirsty vampire who thinks Angus belongs to her. It isn't long before Angus's and Emma's lives are in danger from Katya and others who want the slayer dead and Angus, too. Will Angus be able to protect Emma from those who seek to kill them both?

BE STILL MY VAMPIRE HEART is a fast-paced adventure that readers will devour. Angus MacKay with his kilt, his claymore, and his sexy Scottish accent will melt women's hearts everywhere. He's been knighted, killed more men than he cares to remember, and is one lonely man. When Emma comes into his life, Angus is whole. Complete. In Emma he sees a kindred spirit and understands what motivates her to slay. But Angus would die before he let anything happen to Emma, and just about does. Emma didn't witness her parents' deaths at the hands of the vampires, but being a psychic, she saw it all in her mind, and heard every scream and plea. She will kill them all. Then Angus comes into her life, explains a few things, and suddenly Emma is questioning what's truth and what's false. Her boss, Sean Whelan, says that all vampires are evil and that they've kidnapped his daughter, Shanna, and are holding her against her will. Emma soon learns that Sean's view is warped and wonders what could have happened to make him hate vampires so. Angus and Emma's relationship moves quickly, and Emma is frightened by the intensity of her feelings for Angus. Is she setting herself up for a major fall? Secondary characters include characters from past books, Roman and Shanna, Connor, Ian, and a few new faces that fill in the blanks and add back story. However, the main focus is Emma and Angus and their tale. And what a tale it is.

The third book in Kerrelyn Sparks's Love at Stake series, BE STILL MY VAMPIRE HEART will captivate readers just as the other two stories did.

Sinclair Reid

Ask Five with....Marly Mathews!!!

Today I have an author that I'm sure many readers haven't heard of, but one who you certainly will in the very near future.

Marly Mathews!

How can you not like stories filled with fantasy, paranormal, set in Scotland, vampires, faerie princess. I think Marly put everything but the kitchen sink in Twilight's Kiss. :) Plus, she writes historicals.

Sit back and meet...Marly Mathews!

1.What is the title of your latest release and what’s it about?

The title of my latest release is Twilight’s Kiss. It’s a fantasy paranormal romance set in Scotland, present day. The hero is a cursed vampire and the heroine is a faerie princess, who moonlights as a Huntress of Hell. Her alter ego is a romance writer…so it was pretty fun to write. The hero is a Scottish lord. He’s over three hundred years old, so he’s been around for a while. LOL It’s available in ebook format from The Wild Rose Press and it’s also available in trade size paperback.

It’s listed on both Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

I also have a historical out with New Concepts Publishing, titled I’ll Be Yours. This is an adventure romance on the High Seas. They were released within a month of each other so I consider I’ll Be Yours to be a fairly recent release as well.



2. What is the hardest part of writing?

I’m a panster and I love to write, the hardest part I suppose is when I’m writing one book and the ideas for another book suddenly pop into my head. It’s very annoying. LOL It forces me to take time out of writing that project so I can jot down the ideas for the ‘new’ project, then it’s back to the current one again. Sometimes, I find myself juggling a couple of books at any given time, which can be a blessing and a curse.


.


3. Do you get goose bumps seeing your name on a book cover?

I get a thrill, I suppose. But I do like to see the title of my book with my name on the cover…so it’s just not all about me. It gives you a sense of accomplishment. Which is very nice.



4. What do you do for fun in your spare time?

What spare time? LOL

Seriously though, I read, I watch T.V. and movies. Listening to music is a favorite pastime, baking. And, my Yorkies are always up for some playtime. J They are little bundles of energy…which is good because at least I get some activity out of it. As a writer I do spend a lot of time sitting in front of a computer screen, whether it’s writing, sending emails, doing chats, taking part in our online RWA chapter activities, RWA Online, or numerous other online business. So it’s good to take a break and get out of the chair once in a while. :)


5. What’s coming up in the near future for you?

Only good things, I hope. I’ve recently signed another contract with The Wild Rose Press for my fantasy paranormal romance, My Lady Knight of Avalon. It’s a time travel romance, since it starts off in present day, and the heroine and the hero time travel back to the golden age of Camelot in order to save the future.

Here is the blurb,

My Lady Knight Of Avalon by Marly Mathews

She was King Arthur’s daughter. Once known as Princess Mary Pendragon, fifteen hundred year old immortal warrior witch, Molly Pendleton is on a quest to stop time from unraveling into a dark and terrible future. With Merlin’s help she will time travel back to the golden age of Camelot and come face to face with someone from her future. He was the grandchild of her best friend. Collin Remington never dreamt that magic flowed through his veins or that he would become a knight of King Arthur’s court. With evil quickly taking the upper hand in King Arthur’s realm, Molly and Collin must fight against time itself. Will their love be enough to save the future?

I’m also an author in The Legacy of the Brooch series at The Wild Rose Press as well. I’ll be writing the last book in the series, tentatively titled Journey’s End for the faery rose line. Readers can expect some magic in this last installment of the series. It will have an early 2008 release date.

I have several other writing projects in the cooker so to speak, so check my website and blog for updates!
http://www.marlymathews.com/

http://www.marlymathews.blogspot.com/


Thanks so much for the interview, Patti!

The SUGAR DADDY giveaway winner is........

..........Jackietoo!!!!!

Congrats, Jackie! Email Patti at fisc40pa@aol.com with your full name and address where I can mail your book to.


*********

If you like Lisa Kleypas, then you might enjoy Jill Shalvis. Here's what Amy has to say about SMART AND SEXY:



SMART AND SEXY – Jill Shalvis
Sky High Air Series, Book 1
Brava
ISBN-10: 0-7582-1445-6
ISBN-13: 978-0-7582-1445-4
April 2007
Contemporary Romance

Mammoth Mountain, Utah; Cabo and Baja, Mexico – Present Day

If Bailey Sinclair’s husband Alan hadn’t already been killed, she’d murder him herself for getting her into this mess. Forced to hijack Noah Fisher’s private plane so she can get to Mammoth Mountain to search one of her dead husband’s posh resorts for money he’d stolen from his investors, Bailey can only groan at the hell she’s landed in now. If she doesn’t find that money, she’s good as dead; and if she talks or goes to the police with this problem, she’s just as dead. So now, scared and alone, Bailey holds Noah at gunpoint -- really a fat Bic pen -- and forces him to get her out of Dodge.

All Noah had anticipated on a trip to the mountains was a lot of relaxation, maybe a beer, some skiing, and a ski bunny of his own. He’s been under a lot of stress lately and is only just starting to psychologically recover from a plane crash in Baja in which the woman he was dating died. That he’d been the pilot of that plane as well was a tough load to carry around on one’s shoulders. It’s just Noah’s luck to be the victim of a “hijacking,” and even more laughable is the fact that his captor is the very woman he has been lusting after for a while, Bailey Sinclair. It’s obvious she’s hiding something, and despite his hackles rising at being ordered to do something without reason, Noah is here for the long haul. Oh, and the gun she’s pointing at him has a lot to do with it, too.

Upon arriving at Mammoth Mountain, it quickly becomes obvious that there are some heavily-muscled goons after Bailey, but she’s still not offering any excuses as to why. It becomes a high-speed chase on a snow-covered mountain, and Noah and Bailey only have their wits and her harebrained plan to find whatever it is she’s looking for. She’s still not talking, and Noah is only now envisioning ways for revenge when he finds out she held him up with nothing more than a pen. Overtaken by a woman -- with a pen! Things really start to heat up when shock and stress overtake Bailey and she succumbs to a bit of frostbite. The only place for them to hide out now is the cabin Noah rented for his trip, and while he had plans for any ski bunny he could find, Bailey takes center stage as his fantasy come true. Now if he can just get her out of her frozen, wet clothing and warmed up...

The first in a new series, Sky High Air, Jill Shalvis excels yet again by thrilling, titillating, and enchanting in a way only she can do. A long-time fan of her work, I knew I was in for an exciting ride when I started reading SMART AND SEXY. The title is an apt description of both the book and the hero and heroine, Noah and Bailey. There is more than meets the eye with Bailey Sinclair; a widow who has always been painted as arm candy for her rich player husband, Bailey pines for what she does best -- teaching. You’d never know she thrives in the classroom by the classy, cool persona she puts on for the public. But Noah, despite his lust for her perfect butt and the legs that support that tush, knows that Bailey is a lot more than fluff and designer clothes. Other than the fact that she hijacked him -- with a pen! -- Bailey has always been sweet and seemed to have more conscience than Alan Sinclair ever gave her credit for. So, SMART AND SEXY is testament to the old adage, “never judge a book by its cover,” but it also oozes sexual tension, ultra-high romance, and blows away the Richter scale for suspense and danger.

Get in on the bottom rung with Jill Shalvis’s Sky High Air series and be sure to check out SMART AND SEXY, new this month from Brava. STRONG AND SEXY will be out in December of 2007 -- that’s....over...seven....long....months....away!

Amy Cunningham

The Reader's Corner

Name: STACY A.

What are you currently reading?

"THE SECRET' BY RHONDA BYRNE & "HUNTERS: HEART & SOUL" BY SHILOH WALKER

What is your favorite romance genre (contemporary, historical, paranormal, etc) to read?

I LIKE TO SHIFT, BUT PRIMARILY I GO FOR HISTORICALS

Do you have a "to be read" pile and if so, how many book are approximately on it?

MY TBR PILE IS EMBARRASSINGLY LARGE - 50-100 WOULD BE A GOOD GUESS

If you could sit down and have lunch with five authors, dead or alive, which five would you like to be sitting there with you?

STEPHEN KING, JUDITH MCNAUGHT, SUZANNE BROCKMANN, JANET EVANOVICH, NORA ROBERTS AS JD ROBB

Name a book (and its author) that you’ve read recently that went on your keeper shelf.

MEGAN HART'S "DIRTY"

Note: Don't forget to post and enter for a shot at SUGAR DADDY. See below for more details.

A Perfect Ten...IF YOU DESIRE

IF YOU DESIRE – Kresley Cole
The McKerrick Brothers Trilogy, Book 2
A Perfect 10
Pocket Books
ISBN: 978-1416503606
April 2007
Historical Romance

London, England and Scotland - 1856

Jane is in grave danger. It’s the only line the message contained and the only words that could make Hugh MacCarrick rush to London. He’s loved Jane Weyland since his youth and even though they shared a special bond at one time, he always knew she was too beautiful, too vibrant, and way too good for a lowly Scotsman lacking wealth and social status. What’s more, he and his two brothers are under a curse, making it impossible for them to wed and have families. So instead, Hugh began working for Jane’s father and in the ten years since he last saw Jane, he has become wealthy and one of England’s deadliest assassins.

Jane’s father has now ensured that Hugh will come to London. Weyland knows that Hugh will give his life to protect Jane from Davis Gray, an English agent turned rogue who is bent on revenge. Gray seeks to destroy both Weyland and Hugh by killing Jane. But Hugh will never let that happen, and Weyland believes the best way for Hugh to protect Jane is to marry her and take her away to a secret hiding place while other agents hunt down Gray. Hugh reluctantly agrees, but to a marriage in name only. He would never put Jane in more jeopardy because of his family’s curse, and although he is now a rich man, Hugh is not the husband for Jane. She deserves a man who can fit into society, not a brooding loner without social graces. After the threat to Jane has passed, they will terminate the marriage. However, the only thing more difficult than being separated from the woman he loves is being near her, and Hugh wonders how he will find a way to walk away from her as he did ten years ago.

Hugh MacCarrick spoiled Jane for other men years ago. From the moment she saw him as an adolescent she knew he was the right man for her. Each year when the MacCarrick brothers would arrive at their summer home, which bordered her family’s country estate, the two spent all their time together. They were inseparable and as Jane grew older, she worked diligently each summer to tempt Hugh. And while he never acted on her blatant invitations, Jane fully expected to marry him Instead, he left when she was sixteen and never came back. So why after ten years and countless tears, when Jane has finally decided to move on with her life and marry the Earl of Whiting, has Hugh MacCarrick come back into her life? And how can she marry him? She can hardly believe her usually indulgent father is practically forcing her to do it. Jane knows that when there is no more danger Hugh will abandon her again and this time she will never be able to mend her broken heart.

I had forgotten just how good a storyteller Kresley Cole is until I began reading IF YOU DESIRE, the second book in a trilogy about three Scottish brothers. They are cursed men, doomed never to know the happiness of a wife and family. So instead they live in the shadows of society, helping to protect England and its inhabitants by secretly performing the unsavory and unspeakable tasks that would horrify most people.

IF YOU DESIRE centers on Hugh MacCarrick, a deadly assassin with a conscience and a huge capacity to love. It’s these dichotomies that make him such a fascinating character. At odds with his dangerous persona, which is well earned, is his deep love for Jane. No matter how hard he tries to hide his feelings for her, they shine through. I loved the way he loved Jane, and the lengths he would go to for her, not only to protect her but to please her as well. And yet Hugh never comes across as weak or a pushover for Jane. On the contrary, if you like super masculine heroes, Hugh’s your man. He’s a dark, brooding character who is incredibly sexy and alluring. And pairing Jane with Hugh makes for another dynamic dichotomy. On the surface, they appear complete opposites in personalities and interests. Jane is often an impetuous whirlwind of gaiety, flitting from social event to social event with her large group of female cousins. However, like Hugh, she has substance, fortitude, vulnerabilities, and is also capable of great emotion. The sexual tension between these two strong characters is keenly felt by the reader, as is the sheer intensity of their relationship. But with all the inner and outer conflicts these two are facing, it’s no wonder. Suspense, action, and high drama are wrapped around the sizzling romance in IF YOU DESIRE, making it a highly entertaining read. I could not put the book down and I was sorry to see it end and say goodbye to these memorable, well-drawn characters. It also left me with the compulsion to immediately read the first book in the trilogy, IF YOU DARE (reissued in paperback March 2007), about Hugh’s brother Courtland, and make a mental note to read the last book, IF YOU DECEIVE (May 2007), about Ethan, the eldest brother, as soon as it comes out next month. It is for these many reasons I am awarding IF YOU DESIRE RRT’s highest honor, a Perfect 10.

Sandra Brill

Your Favorite Vacation and a Giveaway!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I am back from vacation! Went to the coast and had tons of fun. Took pictures (the one above is one I took) and played around a lot. LOL, I did manage to read 1 1/2 books on vacation. LOL
Vacations are nice and when the view is even better...ROMANTIC...well, it makes it even better. I love going to the coast, with the beautiful views and the fresh air. I wish I could live there, but alas, I'm tied to where I'm living at currently.

On this thought, what is your favorite vacation? Post your thoughts and you're entered into a very special contest....

You will win a copy of the hardcover book by Lisa Kleypas called SUGAR DADDY!




You can read an excerpt at Lisa's site by clicking here

I will draw the winner on Wednesday night (25th) at 11pm eastern time!

Live chat with Karen Kelley on Saturday night!

From our own RRT hostess Minx:

Join us tomorrow night as we talk with Karen Kelley and discuss her latest book, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE SEXY KIND. Chat will be held at Romance Reviews Today on April 21, at 9:00pm (EST) Karen has offered to give away two copies of her book too so mark yours calendars!

You can access the chat by clicking this link ---> chat link

(PS, don't forget we did an interview with Karen Kelley the end of March. Click here to read more about Karen and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE SEXY KIND.)

The Reader's Corner with the RRT Reviewers!

Name: Isabelle Spencer


What are you currently reading?

Review books. Specifially, Artifactual by Alessa Brio and Rose and Thorn by Kate Hill.

What is your favorite romance genre (contemporary, historical, paranormal, etc) to read?

Erotic romances, paranormal, fantasy and especially male/male romances.


Do you have a "to be read" pile and if so, how many book are approximately on it?

Yes about 75 in print and 50 in eform.

If you could sit down and have lunch with five authors, dead or alive, which five would you like to be sitting there with you?

Sean Michael, Angela Knight, Kate Steele, Willa Okati & Barbara Cartland because I want to see her reaction to everyone else.


Name a book (and its author) that you've read recently that went on your keeper shelf.

Dragon's Quest by Lena Austin, Natural Disaster by Chris Owen & Antonia's Bargain by Kate Pearce.

The Reader's Corner with the RRT Reviewers!

Name: Carol Carter

What are you currently reading?

SAFE HARBOR by Christine Feehan --- WOW!!!!
Another PERFECT TEN!!!

What is your favorite romance genre?

Historical (Medieval and Regency, then any period)

Do you have a “to be read” pile and if so, how many book are approximately on it?

Yes, I do -- and I have
HUNDREDS in it. Everytime I get to a bookstore I buy my favorite authors. Pretty soon I'll be buying the whole
historical section ...

If you could sit down and have lunch with five authors, dead or alive, which five would you like to be sitting there with you?

Celeste DeBlasis(deceased) Loved her Swann Saga, Christine Feehan - super lady, Lauren Royal,
Sarah McKerrigan - (formerly Glynnis Campbell), Geralyn Dawson, Lorraine Heath -- Six, but since
one is not possible, I added another ...

Name a book (and its author) that you’ve read recently that went on your keeper shelf.

SAFE HARBOR by Christine Feehan -(A June 2007 release date) A Drake Sister tale - Jonas and Hanna's story -
one of the most emotional reads - many parts had me in tears. I don't know how she can continue turning out such
great stories, one after the other - and still not fast enough for her fans ...
and one I just finished by a new-to-me-author. Both had me glued to the pages
until I could finish. LOVE, LIES, and a DOUBLE SHOT OF DECEPTION by
Lois Winston - (A June 2007 release date) - a suspense filled tale that kept me glued to the book.

The Reader's Corner with the RRT Reviewers!

Name: Lisa Baca

What are you currently reading?

For review: THE MOVING WATER, For myself: American Gospel

What is your favorite romance genre (contemporary, historical, paranormal, etc) to read?

Paranormal, scifi, then contemporary.

Do you have a "to be read" pile and if so, how many book are approximately on it?
Literally?

Hundreds, maybe a thousand!

If you could sit down and have lunch with five authors, dead or alive, which five would you like to be sitting there with you?

Rosemary Laurey, Jo Beverly, Austin Tappan Wright, Jane Austen, Laura Esquivel, Marion Zimmer Bradley

Name a book (and its author) that you've read recently that went on your keeper shelf.

WITCHLING by Yasmine Galenorn

The Reader's Corner with the RRT Reviewers!

Name: Jane Bowers

What are you currently reading?

I just finished reading an advance copy of DON'T SCREAM by Wendy Corsi Staub, who also writes as Wendy Markham. DON'T SCREAM is not a romance; it's a scary novel about four sorority sisters whose inaction comes back to haunt them ten years later. Check out Diana's review of it in RRT's May issue. Also, I'm almost done with a lovely Regency romance I'm reading for review. It's called A COUSINLY CONNEXION by Sheila Simonson. I hope to get my review in for the April 10 update.

What is your favorite romance genre (contemporary, historical, paranormal, etc) to read?

That's both an easy and a hard question to answer. Traditional Regencies are my comfort reads. That was easy. :) However, I also love other historicals, both European (especially set in the UK) and American frontier. I'm pickier about contemporary romances.

Do you have a “to be read” pile and if so, how many book are approximately on it?

Oh, my, do I! The pile is well over 500. I have a whole wall of shelves, all at least two books deep, some three. Trouble is the TBRs are mixed up with my keepers, which is stupid, I know, but who ever thought the books would multiply so fast; they are now completely out of my control. (I'm not going to mention the old library paperbacks in a storage shed and under my bed.)

If you could sit down and have lunch with five authors, dead or alive, which five would you like to be sitting there with you?

Wow, what a scary idea. I'd probably be so overwhelmed I'd sit there like an idiot. You see, I have a wretched memory. I once went to a conference & sat next to an author I'd read once and whose book I recalled enjoying very much. When I mentioned that, she asked what I'd liked about it. Now, if I could have had a moment or the book in hand, I could have answered her, but I panicked. However, I've met a few local authors I'd like to see again, lovely women, talented writers: Brenda Novak, Patty Berg, Christine Feehan, Candace Hern. I suppose my idol is Mary Jo Putney who was the second author I discovered who made a romance reader of me. The other was Georgette Heyer. Wouldn't a lunch with G. Heyer, MJ Putney, C. Hern, Jane Austen, and Barbara Metzger be a dream?

Name a book (and its author) that you’ve read recently that went on your keeper shelf.

Did you ever meet a person with whom you made an immediate connection? Someone with whom you had a rapport, whom you felt comfortable with right off and knew you'd to see again? I felt that way about a debut book called A RATHER LOVELY INHERITANCE by C.A. Belmond. It's a contemporary novel set in France and England. It has a touch of suspense, a touch of romance, and I found it hard to explain its attraction. It's neither a passionate work nor a thriller. It's merely a "rather lovely" book -- with interesting and likable characters -- that resonated with me. I don't know if everyone would feel the same, but it's a book I'll want to pick up again -- like a visit with a new old friend.

The Reader's Corner with the RRT Reviewers!

This week, the blog mistress is on vacation, so the blog is going to be filled with The Reader's Corner featuring the reviewers of Romance Reviews Today.

Read about what the reviewers are reading!




Name: Anthonette

What are you currently reading?

Shadow Touch by Marjorie Liu

What is your favorite romance genre (contemporary, historical, paranormal, etc) to read?

Paranormal romance is my favorite genre. There is just something about vampires that I am obsessed with! I never knew blood-suckers could be so sexy!

Do you have a “to be read” pile and if so, how many book are approximately on it?

No, I don't keep a 'to be read' pile. I love the excitement of finding new books when I have time to read them right away. I get a kick out of researching and finding out what others thought of the book and then reading it immediately...


If you could sit down and have lunch with five authors, dead or alive, which five would you like to be sitting there with you?

I would love to have a girlfriend's lunch with Christine Feehan, Jude Deveraux, J.R. Ward, Beatrice Small, Christina Dodd and Judy Bloom (hey, she got me through my teenage years!)


Name a book (and its author) that you’ve read recently that went on your keeper shelf.

Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward. I was so far behind the game on this series, but I caught up in about 5 days! These books are truly addictive!

Ask Five with...Kim Amburn!!!

I just love hearing about – and reading – new authors. For my interview this time, I have a brand new author for all of us to get to know. After this interview, I bet we’ll all be rushing to buy her book!
PS…the release date is April 15th and you can buy it at Triskelion.

Come and get to know…Kim Amburn!

1. What is the title of your release and what’s it about?

Dreams is a romantic suspense ebook offered by Triskelion Publishing in April 2007. As a child, Cassie Lane dreamed of the future but, after her father's death, her mother insisted she stop. After years of ignoring the dreams, they finally stopped and Cassie worked hard to earn her mother's love. She majored in her mother's choice of career, bought a house close to her mother's and dated a man her mother picked out. Her only rebellions were to work at a bank instead of her mother's accounting firm and to make friends with the new, shy loan officer, Alice, at the bank - a woman her mother looked down on for marrying the "wrong" kind of man.

After years of blocking the gift, however, one dream breaks through and Cassie foresees her own death. She must find out who wants her dead and why, but her mother refuses to help her, rejecting the possibility of Cassie's gift. She can't turn to her one friend, Alice, who has secrets of her own to keep.

Once the block crumbles, the dreams continue and Cassie has to decide whether to embrace her abilities or continue to ignore them, as commanded by her mother. She's let others control her life for so long, however, she's not sure what it is she wants.

Micah Owens moves to Taylor's Valley to buy the marina and turn it into a successful business, determined to fulfill his mother's dreams for him. His divorce and life in the Army had broken her heart but she died before he could make things right. When the purchase of the marina wipes out his life savings, Cassie hires him to help her identify her killer. The closer they come to uncovering the secrets of her past, the closer the two grow, but secrets have a way of wanting to stay buried...and burying with them anyone who tries to uncover them.


2. Can you tell us a little about "The Call" when you found you were going to be published?

Actually, it was an email. I had given up on getting Dreams published when I found out that a newly RWA recognized publisher, Triskelion Publishing, was looking for romantic suspense. After a query letter, I sent them my manuscript. Several days later I signed onto my email and saw one from the editor I'd submitted to. Thinking it was just another rejection, I opened the email and read the words 'I recently read you story and loved it. We would like to offer you a contract.' I screamed out loud and scared the dog to death.

3. What advice can you give someone who is thinking of becoming a writer?

Sit your butt in the chair and write. I heard this when I started but it's easy to get distracted by all the other stuff that goes with writing - the email loops, the chapter meetings, the conferences. All those things are important, but if you don't have a story, they don't mean much.

4. What do you do for fun in your spare time?

Read and play with my kids!

5. What can we expect from you in the near future? (I mean books, lol)

I'm shopping another romantic suspense, tentatively titled, Suburban Secrets, where a divorced housewife desperate for money takes a job with a private investigator uncovering suburban secrets and stumbles across a dead body, a missing socialite and the love of her life.

Thanks, Kim!

You can visit with Kim at her blog and pick up her book at Triskelion!

Authors, if you're interested in being interviewed, please email me (Patti) at fisc40pa@aol.com and put Ask Five interview in the subject header. I won't guarantee a slot, but I will try to get you in.
Readers, if you're interested in being part of The Reader's Corner, you can email me at the same address and put Reader's Corner in the subject line.

Spotlight Review on...COMING UNDONE

Note: This coming Friday night we will be having a chat with Stephanie Tyler in the RRT Chatroom. Click here to access the chat.
It begins at 9:30pm Eastern Time.



COMING UNDONE – Stephanie Tyler
Harlequin Blaze #315
ISBN-13: 978-0-373-79319-8
ISBN-10: 0-373-79319-7
April 2007
Contemporary Series Romance

Daytona Beach, Florida – Present Day

Helping a friend to revive her love life, former professional surfer Carly Winters wrote up a list of sexual fantasies that could be played out between couples. She later learns she accidentally faxed the list to the wrong place when a handsome hunk lands on her doorstep and wants to know why she’s sending pornographic letters to a navy SEAL top-secret fax machine. Carly is embarrassed, to say the least, but when her visiting parents “catch” her talking to the stranger, it suddenly presents a solution to one of her problems. Or, maybe adds to it.

Jonathon “Hunt” Huntington is curious about the woman who sent the naughty fax and even more intrigued when he meets Carly. When she proposes that he act as her escort to her sister’s wedding festivities to foil her matchmaking mother, it gives Hunt an excuse to get to know Carly better. But in exchange, he asks her to teach him how to surf. Alas, he doesn’t know of her fear of getting back on the surfboard…

Bring together two people who are going through an emotional time, throw in an electric attraction, and you have COMING UNDONE. Carly suffered a horrific injury a year ago while surfing that left emotional scars long past her recovery from the physical ones. Hunt, too, has scars from his past as he recently was involved in an incident in which fellow employees were hurt and he’s feeling guilty despite being exonerated. Both Carly and Hunt have to heal before they can let go and learn to love. To compound their inner turmoil, outside problems threaten to rip their lives apart. Carly's sister’s upcoming marriage has stressed her out, and Hunt’s brother is back in town with unsettling news for Hunt.

COMING UNDONE is Stephanie Tyler’s first Harlequin Blaze, and what an excellent job she has done bringing to life two characters who have to learn how to battle their problems. Carly has traveled extensively the past several years on the professional surfing circuit, never settling down until now, while Hunt naturally travels as part of his SEAL job. Now they are kindling a romance that hints of permanency. But will they take the next step to make it last? With steamy love scenes that rise hot and fast between Hunt and Carly, you will be reaching for a fan to cool you down.

A winner all the way, COMING UNDONE is an unforgettable story -- from the memorable characters and the scorching sensuality to the realization that you can’t always control what happens in your life. If you only had one Blaze to pick up during the month of April, then make it COMING UNDONE.

Patti Fischer

The Reader's Corner

Name: Kim H

What are you currently reading?

Naked Truth by Amy Fetzer

What is your favorite romance genre (contemporary, historical, paranormal, etc) to read?

Contemporary

Do you have a to be read pile and if so, how many book are approximately on it?

50

If you could sit down and have lunch with five authors, dead or alive, which five would you like to be sitting there with you?

Vicki Lewis Thompson, Leslie Kelly, Alison Kent, William Shakesphere, Stephen King

Name a book (and its author) that you’ve read recently that went on your keeper shelf.

The Heartbreaker by Carly Phillips


*******

Also, be sure join me in the chat room this coming Friday (Yes, Friday the 13th!) at 9:30PM EST (6:30PM PST) when we chat with Stephanie Tyler, the new Blaze author. Her new book is Coming Undone and is out NOW.

Bookmark the chat room: RRT Chatroom

New Reviews up at RRT Erotic!

RRTErotic - Issue 7, Volume 1 - April 6, 2007

www.rrterotic.com

RRT Erotic announces Best Erotic Books of 2006

* Best Erotic Novel - LOVING LIES - Lora Leigh - Samhain

* Best Erotic Contemporary - LOVING LIES - Lora Leigh - Samhain
* Best Erotic Romantic Suspense - BLUE VELVET - Christy Poff - Whiskey
Creek Press - Torrid
* Best Erotic Paranormal Romance - LOUP GAROU - Mandy M.Roth - Samhain
* Best Erotic Science Fiction Romance - SHEREM - Lil Gibson - Venus
Press
* Best Erotic Fantasy Romance - ALMOST HUMAN - Cat Marsters - Ellora's
Cave
* Best Gay/Lesbian Romance - THE HIGHWAYMAN - Emily Veinglory -
Cobblestone Press
* Best Erotic Short Story/Novella - NEVER LEAVE ME - Cat Marsters -
Changeling Press

* In this issue we've got 44 new reviews for your enjoyment. (Quick
List of new
reviews)

* Congratulations to the March Contest Winners: Linda H., Cynthia P.,
Debbie E. & Cathy M.


* Enter this month's drawing for a chance to win books!

Thanks for visiting RRTErotic!

Terrie Figueroa

Owner/Webmistress

www.romrevtoday.com

Romance Reviews Today

www.rrterotic.com

RRTErotic

Single Titles (101 plus pages)

Anthology

A PIRATE'S TREASURE - Teresa Wayne/ Jaden Sinclair/ Cara North/ Ann Cory -
The Caribbean - Past & Present - Maggie - Mixed Genre

ELLORA'S CAVEMEN: SEASONS OF SEDUCTION, VOLUME 1 - D. Devlin, L. Feisty, A.
James, S. Quinn, D. Rossetti, J. Strong - Lori - Mixed Genre

Contemporary Romance

A MATCH MADE IN MONTANA - Layla Chase - Russelton, MT - Jennifer

BRANDED BY GOLD - Carol Lynne - Men in Love, Book 1 - New Mexico & Kansas
City, MO - Present Day - Lori

DEAL OF A LIFETIME - Barbara Huffert - New York City, NY & Pittsburgh, PA -
Jennifer

DIVINE ATTRACTION - Tonya Ramagos - Mississippi - Ann

GOOD MORNING, BEAUTIFUL - Katelyn Hughes - Shandling, NC & Ashland, ME -
Jennifer

GROUNDED - Rose Middleton - Melbourne, Australia - Jennifer

Futuristic Romance

DAWN OF THE ALPHA - Lacey Savage - Vieux Orleans - Earth - Philippa

Gay - Lesbian Romance

ANYTHING FOR A BYLINE - Sean Michael - A Velvet Glove Tale - Present Day -
Nickole - Contemporary Romance

BAD CASE OF LOVING YOU - Laney Cairo - London, England - Present Day -
Nickole - Contemporary Romance

FIRST STEPS - Sean Michaels - Juneau, Alaska - Isabelle - Contemporary
Romance

Historical Romance

BEDDING THE BEAST - Doreen DeSalvo - 1881 - Pennsylvania - Ariel

Paranormal Romance

HALLOWEEN HEARTS - Veronica Wilde - Supernatural Seduction series - Somerset
- Present Day - Courtney

INTO THE DARKNESS - Delilah Devlin - New Orleans, LA - Present Day -
Sinclair

Romantic Suspense

HIS BARE OBSESSION - Lacey Thorn - Bare Love, Book 1 - Legacy - Present Day
- Philippa

Science Fiction Romance

GENESIS - Kaitlyn O'Connor - US and onboard a Sheloni spaceship - Lori

Short Stories (51 to 100 pages)

Contemporary Romance

DARK LUST - S.L. Carpenter - Exotica - Jennifer

I, DOMINA - Lanna Morris - Australia - Isabelle - Erotica

LEAVE ME BREATHLESS - Trista Ann Michaels - Virginia & Florida - Isabelle

Fantasy Romance

GAME OVER - Sahara Kelly - Tower of Chaos - Jennifer

Futuristic Romance

DEVARIAN PLEASURE-SLAVE - Sierra DaFoe - Devarian, Book 4 - Planet Kasmalia
& Porto V - Future - Nickole

Gay/Lesbian Romance

ASAD'S MATE - Jade Buchanan - The Felidae, Book 2 -Aboard the Felidae
warship, The Shahnaz and Felid - Lori - Sci Fi Romance

DRAGON'S QUEST - Lena Austin - Dragon's Egg, Book 3 - Honalee - Present Day
- Isabelle - Fantasy Romance - Short Story

Paranormal Romance

DRAGONFIRE - Sherrill Quinn - Beastmaster series - Los Angeles, CA - Present
Day - Sinclair
FIREBREATHER - Marie Harte - Beastmaster series - Near
Nashville, Warren, NC - Present Day - Sinclair

Spotlight Review on... Ellora's Cavemen: Seasons of Seduction, Vol 1

ELLORA’S CAVEMEN: SEASONS OF SEDUCTION, VOLUME 1 – D. Devlin, L. Feisty, A. James, S. Quinn, D. Rossetti, J. Strong
Ellora's Cave
ISBN: 978-1-41991-015-9
April 2007
Erotic Anthology with historical, contemporary and paranormal tales - M/M and ménage
Rated E-rotic

Her Lance-Alot - Delilah Devlin
England - 1154 AD

Lady Margaret du Bary has just been wed by decree of the king. If he thinks that she’s going to suffer the attentions of the loutish, ill-mannered brute that he picked for her, he’s sadly mistaken. It doesn’t matter how pleasing to the eye Lord Roland becomes after a good scrubbing, the marriage will never work!

Oh my, well, I’ll just have to say that it’s fortuitous that in this instance Lady Margaret is wrong. This marriage is indeed headed towards a very happily-ever-after.

Dance of the Plain Jane - Lillian Feisty
San Diego, California - Present Day

Jane Holliday is shy and demure, not at all the kind of woman to go after what she wants. Unless of course the fates throw the man of her dreams into her path when she’s feeling her most confident, which is while belly dancing at her part time job. There’s just something about exotic music, and the look in Michael Sky’s eyes, that dares Jane to show him just what he’s missing.

Can Jane the engineer and Michael the Navy SEAL come together for a dance that will last a lifetime? Never doubt the power of an intelligent woman and a determined man when they find something worth fighting for.

Club Vamp - Allyson James
Manhattan, New York - Present Day

Master vampire Kenelm has been searching for the woman who will have the ability to bring him back to full power. When he spots Helena Girard, he instantly recognizes her as the one, his hope, his love. There’s just a couple of complications: Adam Chase, Kenelm’s lover; and the guardians, fighters who will stop at nothing to deny Kenelm the right to claim Helena.

Filled with action and a trio whose chemistry will singe your fingers, Club Vamp is a thoroughly enjoyable short story.

Choosing Madison - Sherrill Quinn
Earth and aboard the Reivas fleet’s flagship

When Madison Marquette’s best friend Julie told her stories of alien princesses and places where women are mated to two men, not just one, she thought that Julie had a great imagination. She never dreamed that the stories were true, until Gaelen Brecca and Leax Ilan show up to bring Julie home. When Julie asks her to attend her wedding on Reivas, Madison decides to go for the gusto. But she has to wonder, if Julie really is a princess, then are the stories of love between three people true too? Well, there can’t be any harm in getting to know Gaelen and Leax better can there? After all, it’s not like they’re going to bond with an earth woman, right?

Oh my, Madison is a very blessed woman, a single gal couldn’t get much luckier then being claimed by Gaelen and Leax. Yum.

Come Howling - Denise Rossetti
An unspecified city - Present Day

Maeve O’Brien is an accountant, a really good one too. Unfortunately, the curse she was born with (Maeve’s a banshee) precludes working in public and people tend to react badly to a crazy woman howling in their face about the death of someone close to them. The only cure? Love with the right man, someone who’s not mortal. Yeah, like there’s a lot of men that meet that qualification running around. Luc Kaminski can’t believe how attracted he is to Maeve, if only there could be something between them, but she’s not going to want someone like him, or could she?

Highly imaginative (just wait ‘til you read about Luc’s relatives), this story is a great read, as well as a fun and sexy romp.

Lyrael’s Sacrifice - Jory Strong
The base of the forbidden mountains - sometime in the past

When Lyrael dreams of a shape changing panther, she knows that she’s next to be sacrificed to the Djinn, a magical race that must be appeased if her people, the Azurra, are to be saved. Asrafil is the Djinn prince who will test Lyrael, and if she passes, she’ll join him in the Djinn city to live as his beloved. No man could desire a woman more than Asrafil, who yearns for Lyrael, but can she pass the tests to become his wife, or will Lyrael’s sacrifice be in vain?

Full of magic and mysticism, this short story is both intriguing and entertaining.

Once again Ellora’s Cave has brought together six extremely talented authors to create a tantalizing anthology with something for every taste. Don’t miss this fabulous collection of short stories guaranteed to please. Buy your copy of SEASONS OF SEDUCTION VOLUME 1 today.

Lori Ann

Ask Five with...CLAIRE CROSS!!!

This time, we have the fabulous Claire Cross (aka Claire Delacroix) as our blog guest. Claire is witty, smart and a very nice person to chat with. She has a book out in April that looks very good. (I love the dog on the cover! LOL)

She was gracious enough to agree to an interview. Meet Claire!


1. What is the title of your latest release and what’s it about?

My April release is the fourth and final book in the Coxwell series, called ALL OR NOTHING (by Claire Cross). It's the book of bad boy Zach Coxwell, the youngest of the siblings and the most prone to trouble. I not only wanted to write Zach's story but I wanted to give him an HEA, something that required his growing up a bit. I decided to give him a challenge he couldn't resist - a woman who apparently could resist his charm and one he couldn't make smile. Jen has a lot of reasons to be serious, but the two of them manage to find a middle ground that works for both of them. I had a lot of fun writing this book and hope readers enjoy it too. There's more info at http://www.clairecross.com/current.html

2. How do you stay motivated?

I love telling stories. Whatever story I'm currently writing motivates me to get back to it and write the next bit. Then there are all the story ideas, waiting impatiently for their chance, that push me to keep going. I think you have to love writing and love storytelling to be a published writer - that passion keeps bringing you back to the publishing game. I'm happiest when I'm writing, so my family also pushes me back toward my office when I take a break!


3. Which authors have influenced you over the years, whether for their writing or for their friendships?

Oh, I've read and loved so many authors' works. I read incessantly as a kid, everything from Agatha Christie mysteries to THE LORD OF THE RINGS to the dictionary. These days I read a lot of non-fiction, for research as well as personal interest, and I particularly like fiction that surprises me. Lionel Shriver's WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN was one of the books in recent years that really shook me up. I'm fortunate to have several very close friends who are writers, not all of whom are published writers, and we can have detailed conversations about characterization, plotting and publishing.

4. What is the hardest part of writing?

Writing is the easy part. Publishing is a challenge - that's partly because it's a business and writers tend to think of their writing as a passion, not necessarily in business terms. The other challenge of publishing is that as a writer, you're not right in the thick of things. As one writer acquaintance of mine says "there's no water cooler you can hang around to find out what's happening." You don't always know what's being discussed in the publisher's office, much less how that's going to affect you and your work. Changes tend to happen suddenly, maybe without any warning, and many authors find that difficult to deal with. You do get used to it, in time: the trick is to control what you can (i.e. by making the book as good as it can be) and try to forget about the rest!

5. What can readers expect from you in the near future as far as books?

I have two new trilogies in the works, although neither will begin before 2008. One is a series of contemporary fantasy romances featuring dragon shape-shifters and the women who love them - the first book in the "Dragonfyre" series will be out from NAL in February 2008. That series will be published under the name Deborah Cooke - you can find out more at www.deborahcooke.com.

I also have a future-set trilogy of fantasy romances coming from Tor, featuring fallen angel heroes in a post-Apocalyptic society. "The Prometheus Project" is a Claire Delacroix series and will begin with FALLEN in October 2008. There's more info on that at www.delacroix.net
I'm working on several different contemporary romance/women's fiction projects for Claire Cross, but it's not clear yet which one will be released next. Watch my blog
http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/Boards/index.php?automodule=blog&blogid=89&
or my Yahoo Groups listserve (chestwick@yahoogroups.com) for updates on all of my upcoming work.


Thank you, Claire!

You can learn more about Claire by visiting her website!

Contests at RRT and RRTE!

Do you like contests? Don't forget to check them out at Romance Reviews Today and RRTErotic!

Romance Reviews Today Contest page

RRT Erotic Contest page

(Terrie is in the process of updating the page for the April contests)

I promise a contest will be coming shortly here on the blog! Stay tuned!

The Reader's Corner!

Name: Debora Hosey

What are you currently reading?

Tess Gerritsen/THE SINNER

What is your favorite romance genre (contemporary, historical, paranormal, etc) to read?
Oh, my, I have to choose?! I love everything romance...but probably
Regency historicals, category romance, and paranormals are my
favorite...but no, don't limit me...tomorrow I'll be into romance suspense
or contemporaries!

Do you have a “to be read” pile and if so, how many book are approximately on it?

Oh, Lordy, do I have a TBR pile?! Yes! I have hundreds of every type of
romance novel...you never know when you might be snowed in! Not that we
get all that much snow in Delaware...

If you could sit down and have lunch with five authors, dead or alive,which five would you like to be sitting there with you?

It goes without saying that I'd LOVE to have a chat with Jane Austen, but
I'm not including her in my list because I have so many living favorite
authors!

1. Jo Beverley 2. Sandra Marton 3. Susan Mallery 4. Mary Balogh 5. Nicole Byrd

Name a book (and its author) that you’ve read recently that went on your keeper shelf.

THE HOURGLASS by Barbara Metzger--a wonderful hero, and a fine blend of
the paranormal with the Regency...but I've loved everything Ms. Metzger's
done from way back when she wrote traditional Reg

Spotlight Review...Take Me Tonight by Roxanne St. Claire

TAKE ME TONIGHT - Roxanne St. Claire
Bullet Catchers, Book 3
Pocket Star
ISBN-13: 978-1-4165-2186-0
ISBN-10: 1-4165-2186-0
April 2007
Romantic Suspense

Boston, Massachusetts - Present Day

As a member of the Bullet Catchers, an elite security firm headed by Lucy Sharpe, Johnny Christiano owes his life to Lucy. He is trustworthy, loyal and never questions her authority. Now he is going to face his toughest assignment, guarding Lucy's niece, Sage Valentine, as she tries to find out if her roommate, Keisha Kingston, really committed suicide. Guarding Sage won't be the problem, but Johnny doesn't know the relationship between Sage and Lucy, and is sure this assignment will be a quick in and out job.

Sage is an investigative reporter, and after her Aunt Lucy refuses to help her, this merely slows her down a little bit. The supposed suicide of Keisha seems to start with www.takemetonight.com, a web site for women who want a pretend kidnapping and to pick their own rescuer from the men available. As Johnny first finds Sage, she has signed up and is about to get "kidnapped" and hopes to interview someone who knew something about Keisha. Sage is about to meet a rescuer who puts all the others to shame.

While Johnny tries to protect Sage, and she is determined to investigate every aspect of Keisha's life, they are inexorably drawn together in every way, especially sexually. Well, with a hunk like Johnny who has secrets in his life, but can cook like a dream, what do you expect?

Roxanne St. Claire has outdone herself in TAKE ME TONIGHT by ratcheting up the suspense and action of the Bullet Catcher series. With quick-paced writing and twists and turns behind every corner, Ms. St. Claire has pulled out all the stops, and you actually have to put TAKE ME TONIGHT down every once in awhile just to catch your breath.

There are enough secondary characters involved to run the gamut from creepy to beautiful. Among them are the members of the Snow Bunnies, a dance team for the local Boston basketball team, and Alonzo Garron, a doctor who gave Sage important information for a story, and then lost his high-ranking hospital job. Then there are Glenda and Julian Hewitt who are in charge of the dance team, and everything Glenda does with the team is mysterious and weird.

TAKE ME TONIGHT is a dark and suspenseful thriller with plenty of sexual tension. There are two other Bullet Catcher books, KILL ME TONIGHT and THRILL ME TO DEATH, each of which is a treat to read. This month, meet Sage and Johnny, a man and a woman who overcome trials and tribulations to reach a successful ending.

Carolyn Crisher

Romance Reviews Today's Best Books of 2006!

ROMANCE REVIEWS TODAY ANNOUNCES THE BEST BOOKS OF 2006

(Voted on by the reviewers)



*** Best Overall Book of 2006 - LOVER AWAKENED - J.R. Ward ***

* Best Contemporary Romance 2006 - TROUBLE IN HIGH HEELS - Christina
Dodd
* Best Fantasy 2006 - THE DREAM THIEF - Shana Abe
* Best Fantasy Romance 2006 - SWORD OF DARKNESS - Kinley MacGregor
* Best Contemporary Fiction 2006 - FLIRTING WITH FORTY - Jane Porter
* Best Non - Fiction 2006 - A YEAR IN THE WORLD - Frances Mayes
* Best Historical Romance 2006 - DEVIL IN WINTER - Lisa Kleypas
* Best Mystery - Suspense 2006 - FINAL TRUTH - Mariah Stewart
* Best Paranormal Romance 2006 - LOVER AWAKENED - J.R. Ward
* Best Romantic Comedy 2006 - REALITY CHECK - Elisa Adams
* Best Romantic Mystery - Suspense 2006 - INTO THE STORM - Suzanne
Brockman
* Best Series Romance 2006 - ENEMY HUSBAND - Nina Bruhns
* Best Young Adult 2006 - I AM SO JINXED - Naomi Nash
* Best Short Story/Novella - THE MICHAELANGLO BLUES - J.Morgan

Have you read any of them?

Have you read one of RRT's Best Books of 2006?
	Yes
	No
	Not sure
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