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The Cowboy Complication
Cooper Staks is starting to think maybe love isn’t in the cards for him.
And it’s disappointing as hell.
His disappointment turns to misery when he crosses paths with the sweet little brunette who just breezed into Moss Creek. Isla Weber is all softness. Gentle and shy.
She’s also nearly fifteen years his junior. Way too young to see him as anything but an aging cowboy with a chip on his shoulder.
When he finds out she’s ready to settle down, he offers to help her find what she’s looking for. A man who will treat her right. A man who’s ready for a family.
A man her own age.
It’s easy to keep himself in line when they’re face to face, but through the buffer of a cell phone, Isla’s shyness melts away, leaving him on the line with a temptress doing her best to make him suffer. To make him want what he can’t have.
But the thought of seeing her with someone else is unbearable and leaves him with only one choice.
To convince Isla he can be everything she’s ever wanted.
And it’s disappointing as hell.
His disappointment turns to misery when he crosses paths with the sweet little brunette who just breezed into Moss Creek. Isla Weber is all softness. Gentle and shy.
She’s also nearly fifteen years his junior. Way too young to see him as anything but an aging cowboy with a chip on his shoulder.
When he finds out she’s ready to settle down, he offers to help her find what she’s looking for. A man who will treat her right. A man who’s ready for a family.
A man her own age.
It’s easy to keep himself in line when they’re face to face, but through the buffer of a cell phone, Isla’s shyness melts away, leaving him on the line with a temptress doing her best to make him suffer. To make him want what he can’t have.
But the thought of seeing her with someone else is unbearable and leaves him with only one choice.
To convince Isla he can be everything she’s ever wanted.
291 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2025
303 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
May 8, 2025
Every Moss Creek book is an unforgettable, feel-good HEA! Isla and Cooper’s sweet best friends-to-lovers story is no exception. Their friendship bond begins after meeting in a goat barn. Who knew goats could be matchmakers? Their love grows, but neither is willing to risk losing their friendship to take a chance on love.
Isla may be a New York transplant to the country town, but the simple life quickly appeals to her. Especially goats! I love Isla for defending the goats at all costs! She’s absolutely flirty without having a clue about what she’s doing.
Officer Cooper Staks is a nice guy. Maybe too nice. He’s reliable, helpful, and puts himself in the friend zone on purpose. And he’s very easy on the eyes. If I had to be arrested, frisked, and cuffed by a police officer, I would want Officer Staks to do the job!
You can’t help but want them to figure it all out and enjoy all that their friendship and passion could bring them. Isla deserves someone that ignites the sense of self-love that she needs. Cooper did that with his support and encouragement. In turn, she unknowingly fed his desire to protect and love.
Their text messages are the best part of the whole story. The messages are friendly at first, but they innocently take things up a notch with “personal” pictures that make it even tougher for Cooper to not pursue her romantically. The moment Isla hints at her desire for intimacy, it gets hot and steamy!
I cheered, laughed, and cried. Janice Whiteaker is a master at taking her readers through a range of emotions with the lives of her characters. It’s impossible not to get invested in these fictional characters because they’re relatable, and her writing draws you in.
Isla may be a New York transplant to the country town, but the simple life quickly appeals to her. Especially goats! I love Isla for defending the goats at all costs! She’s absolutely flirty without having a clue about what she’s doing.
Officer Cooper Staks is a nice guy. Maybe too nice. He’s reliable, helpful, and puts himself in the friend zone on purpose. And he’s very easy on the eyes. If I had to be arrested, frisked, and cuffed by a police officer, I would want Officer Staks to do the job!
You can’t help but want them to figure it all out and enjoy all that their friendship and passion could bring them. Isla deserves someone that ignites the sense of self-love that she needs. Cooper did that with his support and encouragement. In turn, she unknowingly fed his desire to protect and love.
Their text messages are the best part of the whole story. The messages are friendly at first, but they innocently take things up a notch with “personal” pictures that make it even tougher for Cooper to not pursue her romantically. The moment Isla hints at her desire for intimacy, it gets hot and steamy!
I cheered, laughed, and cried. Janice Whiteaker is a master at taking her readers through a range of emotions with the lives of her characters. It’s impossible not to get invested in these fictional characters because they’re relatable, and her writing draws you in.
May 1, 2025
Janice Whitaker has done it again with The Cowboy Complication—a heart-melting, laugh-out-loud, romance that had me completely hooked from page one. This friends-to-lovers story is everything I love in a small-town romance.
Set in Whitaker’s Moss Creek world, this interconnected standalone pulls in familiar faces, giving readers the believable sense of community that Whitaker writes so well. Plus, the heat level is high, and the chemistry is off the charts between Isla and Cooper.
The story centers around Isla and Copper who are both dealing with layers of self-doubt and fears—baggage that makes their journey toward love feel incredibly real. Watching them take a chance on love, even when it’s scary, is what gives the story such emotion and connection. Their evolution from friends to lovers is beautifully written and completely believable.
As a bonus, there are plenty of cute animals that are total scene-stealers. Whether it’s a mischievous goat or a cuddly chick, they add the perfect touch of humor and heart.
This book was impossible to put down. The pacing is perfect, the internal character conflict is genuine, and the reader can count on the Happily Ever After that Ms. Whitaker always delivers
The Cowboy Complication is a must-read.
Set in Whitaker’s Moss Creek world, this interconnected standalone pulls in familiar faces, giving readers the believable sense of community that Whitaker writes so well. Plus, the heat level is high, and the chemistry is off the charts between Isla and Cooper.
The story centers around Isla and Copper who are both dealing with layers of self-doubt and fears—baggage that makes their journey toward love feel incredibly real. Watching them take a chance on love, even when it’s scary, is what gives the story such emotion and connection. Their evolution from friends to lovers is beautifully written and completely believable.
As a bonus, there are plenty of cute animals that are total scene-stealers. Whether it’s a mischievous goat or a cuddly chick, they add the perfect touch of humor and heart.
This book was impossible to put down. The pacing is perfect, the internal character conflict is genuine, and the reader can count on the Happily Ever After that Ms. Whitaker always delivers
The Cowboy Complication is a must-read.
May 5, 2025
TITLE: The Cowboy Complication
AUTHOR: Janice Whiteaker
SERIES: The Cowboys of Moss Creek
SERIES ORDER: 10 of 11
RELEASE DATE: 04/30/2025
GENRE: Small Town Romance
RATING: ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
SPICE LEVEL: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
----
DISCLAIMER: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book had me in a chokehold!! I am absolutely obsessed with the friends-to-lovers, slow burn tropes and Janice wrote one of my favorite stories using these tropes!!
Cooper and Isla’s love story was absolute perfection! I loved watching them go from friends, to pining after one another, to taking those little steps towards their HEA! I loved how strong Isla was, and how she picked herself back up and how she went after what she wanted!
This has to be my favorite story from Janice Whiteaker and I can’t wait to see how she tops this one! I am incredibly sad that we are moving away from Moss Creek soon. I really loved this series! I know we’ll always have a portal into it with Janice moving Mariah into another series, but I wish this series could just go on for ever! lol
Thank you Janice and Julie for the advance copy!
AUTHOR: Janice Whiteaker
SERIES: The Cowboys of Moss Creek
SERIES ORDER: 10 of 11
RELEASE DATE: 04/30/2025
GENRE: Small Town Romance
RATING: ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
SPICE LEVEL: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
----
DISCLAIMER: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book had me in a chokehold!! I am absolutely obsessed with the friends-to-lovers, slow burn tropes and Janice wrote one of my favorite stories using these tropes!!
Cooper and Isla’s love story was absolute perfection! I loved watching them go from friends, to pining after one another, to taking those little steps towards their HEA! I loved how strong Isla was, and how she picked herself back up and how she went after what she wanted!
This has to be my favorite story from Janice Whiteaker and I can’t wait to see how she tops this one! I am incredibly sad that we are moving away from Moss Creek soon. I really loved this series! I know we’ll always have a portal into it with Janice moving Mariah into another series, but I wish this series could just go on for ever! lol
Thank you Janice and Julie for the advance copy!
April 30, 2025
A true friends to lovers story! Isla has left her old life behind, after getting dumped by her awful ex. Cooper is convinced that his chances for finding love and a family have dwindled away. The meet through friends and start their own friendship. At first Cooper convinces himself that he’s just teaching Isla how to drive, how to care for the goats that she loves, how to navigate a new town and an older super sassy group of friends who want to take her under their wing! Through laughs and getting to know one another they completely fall for each other but are both are convinced that the other one could never want them. Until through their constant texts they break through the wall of “just friends”. After that, Isla knows what she wants, and all bets are off as she convinces Cooper that he’s exactly the he man for her! Cooper is sure he’s not good enough but when he realizes that Isla wants him just as much as he wants her, he’s ready to go for it all- love and a future with his sweet best friend!
September 17, 2025
He falls hard
Another great installment in the series. Isla came to town after her long time ex dumped her after years of supporting him through med school. Not only did he dump her he completely destroyed her self image. Cooper always wanted a wife and family. Now pushing 40 the life and home he built for that dream seemed unobtainable until he met Isla. An immediate connection and knowing she was skittish he decided he would be her friend.
Isla liked having a friend like Cooper but despite their feelings he kept her in the friend zone. Now that she was willing to risk her heart she had to figure out how to get him out of his own way. With a little help from her group of old ladies and Gram Gram maybe she can make it happen.
It was a cute romance with two very likeable characters. Cooper was perfect book boyfriend material and Isla was a shy, insecure woman who got her mojo back.
I highly recommend this book and the whole series.
Another great installment in the series. Isla came to town after her long time ex dumped her after years of supporting him through med school. Not only did he dump her he completely destroyed her self image. Cooper always wanted a wife and family. Now pushing 40 the life and home he built for that dream seemed unobtainable until he met Isla. An immediate connection and knowing she was skittish he decided he would be her friend.
Isla liked having a friend like Cooper but despite their feelings he kept her in the friend zone. Now that she was willing to risk her heart she had to figure out how to get him out of his own way. With a little help from her group of old ladies and Gram Gram maybe she can make it happen.
It was a cute romance with two very likeable characters. Cooper was perfect book boyfriend material and Isla was a shy, insecure woman who got her mojo back.
I highly recommend this book and the whole series.
May 9, 2025
The synopsis was a bit misleading
The synopsis misrepresented how Cooper and Isla would get together stating that it would be Cooper who would do the chasing and convincing when in reality it was Isla who had to stoop to tricking him and making him intentionally jealous just for him to stake a claim on her. Pretty disappointing considering in her previous relationship Isla was also the one who did everything for her ex so it sucked that that had to be the case with Cooper as well. She basically threw herself at him and was just shy of spelling out what she wanted and yet Cooper remained the same. Still a cute story it’s just that it’s built on a false premise that knocked off the other two stars for me.
The synopsis misrepresented how Cooper and Isla would get together stating that it would be Cooper who would do the chasing and convincing when in reality it was Isla who had to stoop to tricking him and making him intentionally jealous just for him to stake a claim on her. Pretty disappointing considering in her previous relationship Isla was also the one who did everything for her ex so it sucked that that had to be the case with Cooper as well. She basically threw herself at him and was just shy of spelling out what she wanted and yet Cooper remained the same. Still a cute story it’s just that it’s built on a false premise that knocked off the other two stars for me.
May 4, 2025
Return to Moss Creek for an illegal good time.
The small town of Moss Creek is known for taking the stray ladies of the outside world and wrapping them in a big protective hug. When Isla comes to get away from a selfish ex she finds friends and family like she’s never know. She also finds goats she falls in love with along with a horse or two. When her best friend starts looking like he should be more will she be brave enough to pursue him? Will the crazy old ladies in town help her? Janice Whiteaker has written another wonderful story about friendships and love together with this cozy little town.
The small town of Moss Creek is known for taking the stray ladies of the outside world and wrapping them in a big protective hug. When Isla comes to get away from a selfish ex she finds friends and family like she’s never know. She also finds goats she falls in love with along with a horse or two. When her best friend starts looking like he should be more will she be brave enough to pursue him? Will the crazy old ladies in town help her? Janice Whiteaker has written another wonderful story about friendships and love together with this cozy little town.
May 6, 2025
just as brilliant as always
Janice is just brilliant at bringing you into the world of Moss Creek with its ordinary magic. I just love these stories and the richness of the characters. The stories are always perfectly woven together but not predictable which can’t be easy to accomplish as a writer. So sad to read she is wrapping up the series with the next book. What a lovely way to go though! Isla and Cooper are so sweet together and equally in denial and it takes forever yet doesn’t feel at all drawn out but just right. I will definitely be ordering this series to have in my home library forever. It’s a keeper!
Janice is just brilliant at bringing you into the world of Moss Creek with its ordinary magic. I just love these stories and the richness of the characters. The stories are always perfectly woven together but not predictable which can’t be easy to accomplish as a writer. So sad to read she is wrapping up the series with the next book. What a lovely way to go though! Isla and Cooper are so sweet together and equally in denial and it takes forever yet doesn’t feel at all drawn out but just right. I will definitely be ordering this series to have in my home library forever. It’s a keeper!
May 2, 2025
Copper & Isla ❤️
AMAZING BOOKS
BEAUTIFUL SERIES
10 STAR 🌟 AUTHOR
READ HER BOOKS 📚
ALL OF THEM IN ORDER YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!
I HAVE LOVED EVERY SINGLE BOOK 📖
Cooper and Isla made for each other.
Page turner. Intense and a wonderful slow burn love story unfolding in the sweetest way. Loved their journey, so glad Coopers finally got the woman his been waiting for. I can't say which book in this Moss Creek Montana series is the best because they all were unique and wonderfully written by this amazing author, Janice Whiteaker!!! Well done, you are amazing 👏
AMAZING BOOKS
BEAUTIFUL SERIES
10 STAR 🌟 AUTHOR
READ HER BOOKS 📚
ALL OF THEM IN ORDER YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!
I HAVE LOVED EVERY SINGLE BOOK 📖
Cooper and Isla made for each other.
Page turner. Intense and a wonderful slow burn love story unfolding in the sweetest way. Loved their journey, so glad Coopers finally got the woman his been waiting for. I can't say which book in this Moss Creek Montana series is the best because they all were unique and wonderfully written by this amazing author, Janice Whiteaker!!! Well done, you are amazing 👏
May 4, 2025
Isla works for her friends Evelyn and Grady.
Grady is Cooper’ friend.
Cooper is a police officer in Moss Creek.
Isla and cooper meet , when they take care of the Grady’s goats.
Their attraction and chemistry is a slow burn ( because neither one wants to lose their friendship.
I like the characters of Moss Creek , especially Gram Gram who gets Isla to be more independent
and assertive with her advice.
I like the Bridge B’s gang and their antics.
This book has humor, banter and a friend to lovers vibe.
Great Job. Janice Whiteaker !!!!
Grady is Cooper’ friend.
Cooper is a police officer in Moss Creek.
Isla and cooper meet , when they take care of the Grady’s goats.
Their attraction and chemistry is a slow burn ( because neither one wants to lose their friendship.
I like the characters of Moss Creek , especially Gram Gram who gets Isla to be more independent
and assertive with her advice.
I like the Bridge B’s gang and their antics.
This book has humor, banter and a friend to lovers vibe.
Great Job. Janice Whiteaker !!!!
May 22, 2025
Cooper and Isla
I fell hard for Cooper! I loved how attentive he was with Isla and how he focused on building a friendship when Isla didn’t seem like she was ready for more.
The slow burn was definitely a tease and I so wanted them to get together 100 times before they did! It totally worked with the story though because the friendship was so important!
I really like this series and definitely need to go back and read more of it! I love the protective cowboys and the strong leading ladies!
I fell hard for Cooper! I loved how attentive he was with Isla and how he focused on building a friendship when Isla didn’t seem like she was ready for more.
The slow burn was definitely a tease and I so wanted them to get together 100 times before they did! It totally worked with the story though because the friendship was so important!
I really like this series and definitely need to go back and read more of it! I love the protective cowboys and the strong leading ladies!
July 16, 2025
Sexy and fun!
I haven’t read any of this series yet, but I was compelled to listen to this book solely because Darren Eliker narrated it. I wasn’t lost by being dropped into book 10 at all!
Cooper and Isla take center stage. She’s young and charming, and he’s older and longing for a family. Cooper is a legitimate hero, building a home on the wild hope that the girl of his dreams would step into it. Little did he know all it took was buying baby chicks to lure sweet Isla.
Darren Eliker and Erin Mallon give their usual fabulous performances in this audio, I loved it!
I haven’t read any of this series yet, but I was compelled to listen to this book solely because Darren Eliker narrated it. I wasn’t lost by being dropped into book 10 at all!
Cooper and Isla take center stage. She’s young and charming, and he’s older and longing for a family. Cooper is a legitimate hero, building a home on the wild hope that the girl of his dreams would step into it. Little did he know all it took was buying baby chicks to lure sweet Isla.
Darren Eliker and Erin Mallon give their usual fabulous performances in this audio, I loved it!
May 1, 2025
Isla and Cooper start as friends, even though they both want more. As their friendship builds, so does their mutual attraction to each other. Isla is ready for them to become more, but Cooper is scared to lose what they have until Isla pushes him to admit what he truly wants. Along the way, they share intimate secrets and develop a deep bond that cannot be broken. Their story is beautifully written, has just the right amount of snark and tension, and the spice is just right. Enjoy!
May 1, 2025
This one is just delightful.
I loved Isla and Cooper and their road to each other. This is an age-gap, friends-to-lovers story, and it's just beautiful. I was completely immersed in the story and found myself rooting for her to get her man. Their journey from friends to lovers made me smile; it was a delightful slow burn. Janice Whiteaker writes stories that always make me sigh and smile, sometimes on the same page. I just love this series.
I loved Isla and Cooper and their road to each other. This is an age-gap, friends-to-lovers story, and it's just beautiful. I was completely immersed in the story and found myself rooting for her to get her man. Their journey from friends to lovers made me smile; it was a delightful slow burn. Janice Whiteaker writes stories that always make me sigh and smile, sometimes on the same page. I just love this series.
May 2, 2025
I received a free copy from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary review. Isla and Cooper were so much fun hiding behind their cell phones to explore what they would not explore in person, while in person, building a friendship invaluable to each of them. I loved the animals that helped bring them together and Gram-Gram’s priceless advice. The girl gang, Bridge Bs, are always a riot. A great addition to the stories from Moss Creek!
May 5, 2025
I loved Cooper and Isla – together and their individual characters. I was so excited for Cooper to get his story and it did not disappoint. Starting as friends and developing into more it was great to read their relationship develop. Cooper really let Isla be herself while encouraging all the best parts of her. It was awesome how Isla took control of the situation to get what she wanted. This was a great addition to the Moss Creek series.
May 17, 2025
I received an ARC and I'm freely reviewing.
4.6 stars. Isla and Cooper are a wonderful couple. This love story was beautiful. Cooper is the good guy that felt like he wouldn't get his own happily ever after. Isla is the sweet woman that has been hurt and taken advantage of by someone she cared for. They meet in a cute way, who doesn't love goats, the banter between them made me laugh. Honestly, this story was just so wonderfully written, I couldn't stop and didn't want it to end.
4.6 stars. Isla and Cooper are a wonderful couple. This love story was beautiful. Cooper is the good guy that felt like he wouldn't get his own happily ever after. Isla is the sweet woman that has been hurt and taken advantage of by someone she cared for. They meet in a cute way, who doesn't love goats, the banter between them made me laugh. Honestly, this story was just so wonderfully written, I couldn't stop and didn't want it to end.
May 1, 2025
lovely story
What a perfect couple! In this 10th book of Janice Whittaker’s Cowboys of Moss Creek series we get to follow along on the journey of Cooper and Isla. They are two people who feel like they are at the point where there is no real hope in each of their lives for them to find romantic partners. It is lovely watching them find each other. Great book!!
What a perfect couple! In this 10th book of Janice Whittaker’s Cowboys of Moss Creek series we get to follow along on the journey of Cooper and Isla. They are two people who feel like they are at the point where there is no real hope in each of their lives for them to find romantic partners. It is lovely watching them find each other. Great book!!
May 4, 2025
This is the 10th book in the Cowboys of Moss Creek series. It is the story of Policeman Cooper Staks and his friends’ personal assistant Isla Webber. Cooper’s dreams of love and a family are slipping away and Isla has been rejected and made to feel unattractive. They form a friendship that turns into love.
May 5, 2025
Cooper finally gets his HEA!
I thoroughly enjoyed this story for Cooper and Isla.
Cooper has been waiting for his HEA for so long, but this was definitely worth the wait.
They were meant to be for sure and they both deserved this.
Several tidbits left for the next book and also Mariah’s book, which I can’t wait to read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story for Cooper and Isla.
Cooper has been waiting for his HEA for so long, but this was definitely worth the wait.
They were meant to be for sure and they both deserved this.
Several tidbits left for the next book and also Mariah’s book, which I can’t wait to read.
May 7, 2025
Yes, Officer...
This was such a fun romance. Isla is a total doll, and big tough Cooper is just the right kind of strong, sexy, alpha man to appreciate her sweetness and her spice. I was so glad to see her come out of her embarrassment shell and stand up for what she wanted. I'm sure Cooper was as well. Really happy to visit Moss Creek again!
This was such a fun romance. Isla is a total doll, and big tough Cooper is just the right kind of strong, sexy, alpha man to appreciate her sweetness and her spice. I was so glad to see her come out of her embarrassment shell and stand up for what she wanted. I'm sure Cooper was as well. Really happy to visit Moss Creek again!
June 14, 2025
Cute story
I’m not sure how else to describe the book other than it’s a fast paced slow burn. The two main characters meet right away in the book, but the tension builds up and they don’t act on it until closer to 60%.
If you’re looking for a book with spice this one is very, very light. I’d rate it at .5 🌶️.
I’m not sure how else to describe the book other than it’s a fast paced slow burn. The two main characters meet right away in the book, but the tension builds up and they don’t act on it until closer to 60%.
If you’re looking for a book with spice this one is very, very light. I’d rate it at .5 🌶️.
June 20, 2025
I was not expecting the writing of a book I found off a tiktok video to be this good. but dang I ate this book up! This book was such a good small town romance. The characters were relatable and well written. I enjoyed the progression of the story and I think this was instant attraction done correctly!
April 30, 2025
The Cowboy Complication is a friends to lovers, age gap romance.
Isla is starting over in Moss Creek, working on a ranch. Where she meets Cooper.
Cooper is older, Police Officer and is friends with her boss.
I really enjoyed this fast paced read, I could not put it down.
Isla is starting over in Moss Creek, working on a ranch. Where she meets Cooper.
Cooper is older, Police Officer and is friends with her boss.
I really enjoyed this fast paced read, I could not put it down.
May 4, 2025
Cuddles and Cute Animals
Another great addition to Moss Creek! Cooper and Isla were perfection. I love how Cooper does anything to spend time with Isla even with cuddles and cute animals. The Bridge B*tches are always a great addition.
Another great addition to Moss Creek! Cooper and Isla were perfection. I love how Cooper does anything to spend time with Isla even with cuddles and cute animals. The Bridge B*tches are always a great addition.
May 5, 2025
It’s a very light romantic story that is perfect for a rainy afternoon. I’ve read about the main male character in a couple of the previous books in this series, so it was nice for him to finally get his happily ever after. Great story and I had fun reading it.
May 5, 2025
This is an incredible series. Each book contains a ton of heart and humor. It was great to finally read Cooper’s happily ever after. He has been patiently waiting and it was his turn! Isla was the perfect partner for him.
August 24, 2025
The Cowboy Complication
They were both lonely and looking for their Right when they met. She had been dumped by her boyfriend of almost a decade and he had not found the One. When they met, they knew but everything worked out in the end.
They were both lonely and looking for their Right when they met. She had been dumped by her boyfriend of almost a decade and he had not found the One. When they met, they knew but everything worked out in the end.
April 30, 2025
Loved the connection between Cooper and Isla from the beginning! Great addition to the series - can be read as a stand alone.
Read
May 2, 2025I read everything this author writes. Entertaining , realistic relationships between characters and good story.
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