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First Love Second Choice
***now with a bonus epilogue!***
When wedding planner Keslee gets asked on a date by her long-lost high school crush, Bryce, everything should be perfect. But Bryce mistakes Keslee for her deceased twin sister, Jadyn. And Keslee doesn’t correct him. Talk about awkward. To make matters worse, she learns they’ll be seeing a lot more of each other because Bryce is the marketing director at the venue where Keslee’s new client has chosen to get married. Keslee knows the charade can’t last much longer, and fears she’ll lose Bryce forever when she tells him the truth.
When wedding planner Keslee gets asked on a date by her long-lost high school crush, Bryce, everything should be perfect. But Bryce mistakes Keslee for her deceased twin sister, Jadyn. And Keslee doesn’t correct him. Talk about awkward. To make matters worse, she learns they’ll be seeing a lot more of each other because Bryce is the marketing director at the venue where Keslee’s new client has chosen to get married. Keslee knows the charade can’t last much longer, and fears she’ll lose Bryce forever when she tells him the truth.
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First published June 22, 2015
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About the author
Lindzee Armstrong
109 books603 followersLINDZEE ARMSTRONG is the USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty-five heartfelt romances. A RONE Award winner and two-time Whitney Award finalist, she writes stories filled with complex relationships, emotional depth, and playful humor. Fueled by Diet Dr. Pepper and fictional angst, she can win any Gilmore Girls trivia contest yet rarely remembers what she ate for breakfast. Lindzee believes every relationship has a story worth telling—and she's determined to write them all.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
May 15, 2017
Fun and sweet read with lots of great moments between Keslee and Bryce. I have to admit that when she didn't admit right away about not being her twin sister, Jayden, and the situation just kept moving forward with Bryce thinking she was Jayden, I had that sick feeling in my stomach just knowing the outcome couldn't be good. I mean, he would eventually find out she's not Jayden. But Keslee's reasoning behind not telling him had me chuckling too.
I loved the pop rocks comments she would throw out there. The first time I laughed out loud and thought how stinking cute is that? Then she said it a couple other times throughout and I just loved it.
Keslee has had a crush on Bryce since high school but doesn't want to betray her sister so she stays away from him and he very clearly has a crush on her sister Jayden so it's a smart move on her part.
What happens when years later, Bryce shows up, Jayden's gone and Keslee is still tongue tied and crushing on Bryce? Humor and disaster that's what! This was a fun novella that could be read in probably an hour or so. I happened to listen to the audiobook and it was a little under two hours. The narrator was great and did a good job between the character's voices. Granted there were only a couple character voices she had to do. The pacing was well done. With the story being a novella I really felt that the characters were well developed. I would have loved to see a little more time with their relationship because it was super cute.
Bryce was awesome. Honest, and very caring and giving. I loved that he was forgiving and realized when he made mistakes too...a pretty major mistake at one point. I loved how he knew Keslee and took time to show her and the sweet little notes...super duper cute!!!
There's not a lot of conflict in the story, just a short, sweet read with a fun twist on identical twins. There is some underlying sadness but I won't explain why...you'll just have to read to understand. If you're looking for a fun read or a fun book to listen to this one is definitely great!
Content: Squeaky clean! Sweet swoony kisses.
I snagged a digital copy from Amazon and received an audiobook from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
I loved the pop rocks comments she would throw out there. The first time I laughed out loud and thought how stinking cute is that? Then she said it a couple other times throughout and I just loved it.
Keslee has had a crush on Bryce since high school but doesn't want to betray her sister so she stays away from him and he very clearly has a crush on her sister Jayden so it's a smart move on her part.
What happens when years later, Bryce shows up, Jayden's gone and Keslee is still tongue tied and crushing on Bryce? Humor and disaster that's what! This was a fun novella that could be read in probably an hour or so. I happened to listen to the audiobook and it was a little under two hours. The narrator was great and did a good job between the character's voices. Granted there were only a couple character voices she had to do. The pacing was well done. With the story being a novella I really felt that the characters were well developed. I would have loved to see a little more time with their relationship because it was super cute.
Bryce was awesome. Honest, and very caring and giving. I loved that he was forgiving and realized when he made mistakes too...a pretty major mistake at one point. I loved how he knew Keslee and took time to show her and the sweet little notes...super duper cute!!!
There's not a lot of conflict in the story, just a short, sweet read with a fun twist on identical twins. There is some underlying sadness but I won't explain why...you'll just have to read to understand. If you're looking for a fun read or a fun book to listen to this one is definitely great!
Content: Squeaky clean! Sweet swoony kisses.
I snagged a digital copy from Amazon and received an audiobook from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
July 13, 2015
I first read this story through the Sweet & Sassy Anthology: Hidden Identities collection, but was excited to see when it was published as a standalone an epilogue was added. That's always a nice surprise.
I thought this was a cute story. I liked the angle the author took with the whole mistaken/hidden identity. I liked Keslee, I can see how she went along with things at first, but how awkward! Bryce was also a fun character. Such an interesting and unique plot idea. I really enjoyed this one. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from Ms. Armstrong.
Content: Clean
I thought this was a cute story. I liked the angle the author took with the whole mistaken/hidden identity. I liked Keslee, I can see how she went along with things at first, but how awkward! Bryce was also a fun character. Such an interesting and unique plot idea. I really enjoyed this one. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from Ms. Armstrong.
Content: Clean
June 2, 2015
Sweet and clean short story with an interesting predicament. I was so grateful the misunderstanding didn't drag on unnecessarily. A fun, easy read.
July 8, 2015
(4.5) I really enjoyed this short little clean romance. I'm not a twin, but pretty close. My sister and I are 14 months apart and high school was rough for us for that reason. I swear to this day, some people still mistake us for each other or think there's only one of us. I could completely understand how Keslee felt when she runs into her old high school crush and Bryce thinks she's her twin sister, Jadyn, who passed away two years ago, but Bryce doesn't know it and she doesn't correct his mistake.
I'm not creative, so it wouldn't work in real life, but I think it would be so much fun to be a wedding planning. Weddings are one of the most exciting days of a person's life! Keslee has a great job and when a new venue opens up, she finds herself face to face with Bryce. The way they take time to get to know one another is very fun and romantic, but it's hard to forget the past...and hard to forgive the deceit.
I really enjoyed the characters and the setting. Such a fun story and I can't wait to read more by this author!
Content: kissing (clean); nothing else of note. Clean!
*I won a copy and my thoughts are 100% my own*
I'm not creative, so it wouldn't work in real life, but I think it would be so much fun to be a wedding planning. Weddings are one of the most exciting days of a person's life! Keslee has a great job and when a new venue opens up, she finds herself face to face with Bryce. The way they take time to get to know one another is very fun and romantic, but it's hard to forget the past...and hard to forgive the deceit.
I really enjoyed the characters and the setting. Such a fun story and I can't wait to read more by this author!
Content: kissing (clean); nothing else of note. Clean!
*I won a copy and my thoughts are 100% my own*
December 14, 2016
Free on Amazon! Short story that can be read in like an hour. I didn't like the fact that the male character preferred Kelsee's sister, and he couldn't convince me that he had fallen for her.
August 24, 2019
This is a clean and sweet listen. Got a couple hours? Need something to listen to on a drive? This is a great way to spend a little bit of time. This is the story of mistaken identity. Keslee runs into an old crush, Bryce, in the grocery store about 7 years after high school. But he thinks she is her twin sister Jadyn. Keslee doesn’t correct him. Jadyn died 2 years ago and Keslee doesn’t want to talk about Jadyn’s death. He asks her out and she agrees to go but she she doesn’t tell him who she is until they are on there date. After an awkward date they find out they have to work together professionally. There is chemistry between them but there are a few issues. One) Keslee knew that while Jadyn was alive she also liked Bryce. They had a pact not to date someone they both liked. Is the pact null and void now that Jadyn is dead? Does Bryce see Kelslee for herself or is she just a replacement for Jadyn?
These are interesting issues. It made for a good book.
These are interesting issues. It made for a good book.
February 24, 2022
Super sweet, light and fluffy, although I started to tear up at the end. This plot had a lot of potential to get cringey but the author handled it pretty well. Kelsey & Bryce were adorable and their story was a cute one.
Content: Clean, kissing
Content: Clean, kissing
December 29, 2017
The premise of this story sounded cute--identical twin gets a date with her high school crush by letting him think she's her twin sister. Identical twins impersonate each other all the time right? Well, not so much when one of them is dead. Ok, it's not like Keslee got a date with her high school crush by impersonating her deceased twin on purpose. It wasn't her fault the hunky high school crush, Bryce, saw Keslee and thought she was Jadyn, but it was her fault when Keslee didn't correct him. Keslee really wanted to set him straight, but is there a good time to say "hey, I'm not Jadyn, she died 2 years ago."? Finding a good time to drop that information bomb is NEVER going to happen.
Of course Bryce runs into Keslee in the ice cream aisle of the grocery store when she's wearing her p.j.s!! That was such a real life moment because it's so true--when you run into the store in grubby clothes, without makeup you see everyone. He really didn't give her a chance in the grocery store encounter to let him know Jadyn had died. That date was so awkward I could feel it through my Kindle.
Bryce is a great guy about it and admits he didn't really give her a chance to tell him about Jadyn's death. The most awkward date ever is over and Keslee thinks life is going return to normal. She's going to back to work helping happy couples plan their dream weddings, but NO she's not, because that would be too much to hope for. There's a great new event venue opening up and guess who's in charge--yes, hunky crush Bryce, and one of Keslee's couples have to move up their wedding and have to look for a new venue!
I thought this was a fun quick read, and the characters were really likeable. This is a clean romance.
Of course Bryce runs into Keslee in the ice cream aisle of the grocery store when she's wearing her p.j.s!! That was such a real life moment because it's so true--when you run into the store in grubby clothes, without makeup you see everyone. He really didn't give her a chance in the grocery store encounter to let him know Jadyn had died. That date was so awkward I could feel it through my Kindle.
Bryce is a great guy about it and admits he didn't really give her a chance to tell him about Jadyn's death. The most awkward date ever is over and Keslee thinks life is going return to normal. She's going to back to work helping happy couples plan their dream weddings, but NO she's not, because that would be too much to hope for. There's a great new event venue opening up and guess who's in charge--yes, hunky crush Bryce, and one of Keslee's couples have to move up their wedding and have to look for a new venue!
I thought this was a fun quick read, and the characters were really likeable. This is a clean romance.
March 29, 2016
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
When wedding planner Keslee gets asked on a date by her long-lost high school crush, Bryce, everything should be perfect. But Bryce mistakes Keslee for her deceased twin sister, Jadyn. And Keslee doesn’t correct him. Talk about awkward. To make matters worse, she learns they’ll be seeing a lot more of each other because Bryce is the marketing director at the venue where Keslee’s new client has chosen to get married. Keslee knows the charade can’t last much longer, and fears she’ll lose Bryce forever when she tells him the truth.
MY TAKE
I read the original version of this when it was part of the SWEET & SASSY ANTHOLOGY: HIDDEN IDENTITIES COLLECTION. This time I listened to the audiobook. I really enjoyed the narrator and the fun way she interpreted the characters. The addition, for this version, of the epilogue was soo sweet. Loved it!
When wedding planner Keslee gets asked on a date by her long-lost high school crush, Bryce, everything should be perfect. But Bryce mistakes Keslee for her deceased twin sister, Jadyn. And Keslee doesn’t correct him. Talk about awkward. To make matters worse, she learns they’ll be seeing a lot more of each other because Bryce is the marketing director at the venue where Keslee’s new client has chosen to get married. Keslee knows the charade can’t last much longer, and fears she’ll lose Bryce forever when she tells him the truth.
MY TAKE
I read the original version of this when it was part of the SWEET & SASSY ANTHOLOGY: HIDDEN IDENTITIES COLLECTION. This time I listened to the audiobook. I really enjoyed the narrator and the fun way she interpreted the characters. The addition, for this version, of the epilogue was soo sweet. Loved it!
March 13, 2019
Biased author of the story here. :) I loved writing this novelette. I unexpectedly came up with the idea, and had so much fun seeing where that idea took me. I hope you enjoy Keslee and Bryce's journey!
July 26, 2017
I listened to this as an audiobook, in just a few days. I thought it was a great quick love story with an interesting story line. The person reading the audiobook had a nice voice and was pleasant to listen to. I would recommend this book if you're looking for a nice light love story!
February 7, 2018
Jadyn and Keslee were identical twins until Jadyn was killed in an accident two years ago. Jadyn had a read balloon tattoo behind her ear; Keslee didn't until a few weeks after Jadyn's death and she had got one to honor her sister's memory.
Bryce a friend from high school had been closer to Jadyn and had a crush on her so when he saw the tattoo, he called Keslee by Jadyn's name. This started as an inability to tell Bryce the truth, admitting the lie and then having jobs where they worked together. From lies and a mix up to more trouble First Love Second Choice is a cute story but lacks depth of emotion and the characters could have been used to tell more details to make the story full of deep emotions and feelings.
Bryce a friend from high school had been closer to Jadyn and had a crush on her so when he saw the tattoo, he called Keslee by Jadyn's name. This started as an inability to tell Bryce the truth, admitting the lie and then having jobs where they worked together. From lies and a mix up to more trouble First Love Second Choice is a cute story but lacks depth of emotion and the characters could have been used to tell more details to make the story full of deep emotions and feelings.
February 19, 2019
Totally forgot I read this one (I think it was in 2018?). Really wanted to like this one, but it just didn't suit. It's certainly a fast, easy to read in a sitting contemporary though!
August 26, 2015
You know those times when you've invested a lot of time into a book only to find out it wasn't that great and need a quick read to clear your mind and make you excited about reading again? This is that book! I read it in an hour and was so happy once I finished reading it.
I was sent this book to review and was hooked from the beginning. A wedding planner who loves ice cream and trashy reality TV? Yes, please!! The story may be short, but it has plenty of ups and downs and comes full circle and ends with a bow on top -- or should I say a red balloon? ;)
My heart broke for the main character, Keslee, who is still grieving the loss of her twin sister when she sees an old high school crush. He doesn't know her twin has died and calls her by the twin's name. Keslee tries, but fails at telling him she isn't her twin and ends up going on a date pretending to be her sister. I'll leave it up to you to find out if Keslee gets herself out of this mess!
I was sent this book to review and was hooked from the beginning. A wedding planner who loves ice cream and trashy reality TV? Yes, please!! The story may be short, but it has plenty of ups and downs and comes full circle and ends with a bow on top -- or should I say a red balloon? ;)
My heart broke for the main character, Keslee, who is still grieving the loss of her twin sister when she sees an old high school crush. He doesn't know her twin has died and calls her by the twin's name. Keslee tries, but fails at telling him she isn't her twin and ends up going on a date pretending to be her sister. I'll leave it up to you to find out if Keslee gets herself out of this mess!
Read
May 20, 2016Mistaken Identities.
Her: Her high school crush mistakes her for her twin sister whose been dead for two years.
Him: gets a bit caught up in Kesley's twin sister
Super cute.
Her: Her high school crush mistakes her for her twin sister whose been dead for two years.
Him: gets a bit caught up in Kesley's twin sister
Super cute.
April 29, 2016
Short but sweet
This novella was short but good. With the storyline it had I think I would have liked to see it turn into a full length novel but the author did a great job on this novella.
This novella was short but good. With the storyline it had I think I would have liked to see it turn into a full length novel but the author did a great job on this novella.
February 12, 2018
Mediocre Read
Very fast read, actual plot is covered in less than two pages. The rest of this book was filler. Of course if you are looking for a book to eat lunch while reading. This book might be for you.
Very fast read, actual plot is covered in less than two pages. The rest of this book was filler. Of course if you are looking for a book to eat lunch while reading. This book might be for you.
February 23, 2018
Honestly this was a cute and enjoyable read. I pretty much feel the same way about all this author’s books. Her shorter ones just don’t have much conflict or character development due to the shortness of the story hence the 3/3.5 stars
June 23, 2017
Sweet
This was a good book to read. It was a sweet and clean romance. I liked the characters and their chemistry. I only wish it was longer to read.
This was a good book to read. It was a sweet and clean romance. I liked the characters and their chemistry. I only wish it was longer to read.
November 26, 2018
My biggest problem with this story is that I never believed Bryce fell in love with Keslee. We begin the story when Keslee’s high school crush mistakes her for her dead twin Jaydyn and asks her out. So we know from the beginning that his high school crush was on Jadyn. Keslee agrees to the date but later regrets her lack of honesty and decides to tell him on the date who she is and that her sister died in an accident. She tells him early on but he insists they have dinner. Throughout the date he basically catches up on the dead twin. Awkward.
They end up working together and get to know each other. They are both nerdy so they are a better fit from what sounds like an opposite twin. Finally Bryce asks Keslee out. So I was thinking he saw and liked Keslee for who she was and this was believable. BUT when he kisses her he calls her Jadyn. No, just no. She is understandably upset. He apologized and said it was a mistake but how can it be other than he really wanted Jadyn? Had it happened before the 2 worked together that would be one thing but it happened after he got to know her.
Keslee keeps thinking about what a nice guy he is and decides to not only forgive him but date him again. 🤦♀️ The end with an epilogue of their wedding day - Cringe. For this reader, I just didn’t believe Bryce ever saw Kelee as anyone other than the replacement for Jadyn who was now impossible to have. Ick.
They end up working together and get to know each other. They are both nerdy so they are a better fit from what sounds like an opposite twin. Finally Bryce asks Keslee out. So I was thinking he saw and liked Keslee for who she was and this was believable. BUT when he kisses her he calls her Jadyn. No, just no. She is understandably upset. He apologized and said it was a mistake but how can it be other than he really wanted Jadyn? Had it happened before the 2 worked together that would be one thing but it happened after he got to know her.
Keslee keeps thinking about what a nice guy he is and decides to not only forgive him but date him again. 🤦♀️ The end with an epilogue of their wedding day - Cringe. For this reader, I just didn’t believe Bryce ever saw Kelee as anyone other than the replacement for Jadyn who was now impossible to have. Ick.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2022
Karma can be unrelenting when you break a vow with your twin...
As a nerd girl who went to high school in the 80s, the Pop Rocks analogy really resonates with me, as do the chocolate and ice cream, regardless. I love the plot twists and turns! I haven't been a wedding planner, but I have been an office coordinator and small business owner, and identify with those types of romances - where the one everyone trusts to always be in total control of everything completely loses it and breaks all her own rules, yet ends up happily living a better life than she ever dreamed possible for herself. I chose this book to help me warm up during a winter storm, and it worked very nicely. Looking forward to reading more from this author. Glad she has a few ready for me.
As a nerd girl who went to high school in the 80s, the Pop Rocks analogy really resonates with me, as do the chocolate and ice cream, regardless. I love the plot twists and turns! I haven't been a wedding planner, but I have been an office coordinator and small business owner, and identify with those types of romances - where the one everyone trusts to always be in total control of everything completely loses it and breaks all her own rules, yet ends up happily living a better life than she ever dreamed possible for herself. I chose this book to help me warm up during a winter storm, and it worked very nicely. Looking forward to reading more from this author. Glad she has a few ready for me.
February 6, 2022
This is a cute, short, sweet story which starts out as Keslee is buying ice cream in her pajamas and meets Bryce in the store. What starts out as a case of him thinking she is her twin(who died 2 years ago)and asking her out. Then she comes clean about who she is while on the date and figures she will never see him again. Then, when she ends up working with him on an upcoming wedding, he asks her out again. They go on the date and have a great time until he kisses her goodnight and accidentally calls her Jaden, which makes her feel like he only likes her as a replacement for her sister. At first she doesn't want to forgive him even when he reminds her that he forgave her for pretending to be her sister. The story ends with a happy ending.
October 11, 2019
Keslee let Bryce believe she was her more exciting twin sister Jaydn. He didn't know she died almost two years ago. Keslee had a crush on Bryce and Bryce had a crush on Jaydn, so I agree with another reviewer that it was hard at times to see if he was attracted to Keslee or saw her as Jaydn. I didn't like all the internal dialogue that went on with Keslee. It was too much and she seemed to keep putting herself down even though she is a successful wedding planner and deserves to be loved. Bryce does come to appreciate her unique qualities, but their romance is not without it's ups and downs and funny moments.
I enjoyed the narrator who had a nice voice with inflections and voice changes in all the right places.
I enjoyed the narrator who had a nice voice with inflections and voice changes in all the right places.
September 7, 2022
A great, second choice, first love story. Keslee lost her identical twin sister, Jadyn, two years before. They both had an interest in Bryce during high school. Bryce catches Keslee buying ice cream at a store but confuses her for Jadyn. A comedy of errors ensues.
The story has many sweet moments. And a few heartbreaking ones in between. Ultimately, Keslee understands Bryce's high school crush on her sister didn't stand the test of time. Definitely a HEA.
Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Happily Ever After. Page-turner. Romantic. Steamy. Tear-jerker. Twisted. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.
I received a review copy of this book from a third party. This is my honest review.
The story has many sweet moments. And a few heartbreaking ones in between. Ultimately, Keslee understands Bryce's high school crush on her sister didn't stand the test of time. Definitely a HEA.
Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Happily Ever After. Page-turner. Romantic. Steamy. Tear-jerker. Twisted. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.
I received a review copy of this book from a third party. This is my honest review.
August 21, 2017
This is another lovely read by this author i just carnt get enough of her books they are all amazing.
Keslee is a wedding planner and has never gotten over her twin sister's death jadyn. Keslee goes to the grocery shop in her pjs for some ice cream and bumps into her high school crush Bryce who thought she was her dead sister. she couldnt bring herself around to tell him she had died and when he asks her out she agree's even though she knows its wrong.
The story unfolds from there but im saying no more as you need to read it as its a beautiful story to read.
October 10, 2019
This was a fun and sweet story. I felt for Keslee's loss and indecision when it came to Bryce. Her choice to be honest despite the possibility of his negative reaction made her a stand-up person. I loved her enthusiasm for her job. Bryce accepted her initial dishonesty and forgave her. He was a sweetheart through out and honest in his feelings. The secondary characters were also enjoyable. I recommend this story, as well as the audiobook as Tiffany Williams did a wonderful job bringing this story to life.
I received this audiobook as a gift and this is my unsolicited review.
I received this audiobook as a gift and this is my unsolicited review.
June 5, 2020
Losing an identical twin would be so hard, but more so, when you felt people related to the other twin than you. I think all siblings have a complex about filling another siblings shoes, if they have passed away, and whether in fact they were the favored person, you always feel you can never equal the other's abilities.
To have a person you had crushed on, only to find that they had crushed on your twin, would also be doubly hard.
Yet, this is a couple that can work through those complex emotions, and start to see each other for who they really are.
Yes, a complex but intriguing tale!
To have a person you had crushed on, only to find that they had crushed on your twin, would also be doubly hard.
Yet, this is a couple that can work through those complex emotions, and start to see each other for who they really are.
Yes, a complex but intriguing tale!
November 3, 2017
First Love Second Choice is a sweet romance. What would you do if your past high school crush thinks you are your twin and asks you out? Keslee's twin, Jadyn, died two years ago, and she struggled with telling Bryce she was her sister, failed to do so, and went ahead and accepted the date. Will she be able to tell Bryce she isn't who he thinks she is? Will it end their relationship? I really enjoyed this story, and I highly recommend it.
November 1, 2019
First Love Second Choice was just great! Incredible story (with a rocky/ cringe-worthy start, but which thankfully didn't drag on for forever), likable characters who will have you rooting for them, and beautifully narrated! Seriously, I loved all the voices the narrator came up with, and they all felt completely different! I really loved following Keslee and Bryce's falling-for-each-other story. Completely recommended!!
February 3, 2020
Bryce and Keslee experience a case of mistaken identity, and he thinks she is her twin, Jadyn. If he confessed to liking Keslee in school to "Jadyn" the story may have gone better. Let's not forget her HUGE lie, which she conveniently forgets after his name mistake. Many of us experienced this error and it was never blown out of proportion like Keslee did. I did love the narrator, Tiffany Williams.
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