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Sunshine and Happiness #2
Lovers, Losers, and You
How can you lose one dream and still find another?
Owen King is a lonely history teacher who wants to be braver. So when Owen learns about the deceased brother he never met, he breaks free of his safety net and risks answers. Despite his loving, adopted family, Owen wonders if there are missing pieces inside of him. Visiting the seaside town of Ocean Vista, where his brother lived and died, will be no vacation.
Andrew Teagan wants to be a winner. After being dumped by his last boyfriend, Andrew is through letting others dictate his life. To prove that dreams are possible, he’s going after his ambitions full force. Having signed on for a cooking reality show, Andrew’s ready to make his small café into a sizzling success.
When Andrew aids Owen on the beach, what starts off as an act of kindness turns into a hot temptation. But can a sweet budding romance survive when the time comes for Owen to leave town? Both men must learn to trust each other if their love will conquer the miles between them.
Owen King is a lonely history teacher who wants to be braver. So when Owen learns about the deceased brother he never met, he breaks free of his safety net and risks answers. Despite his loving, adopted family, Owen wonders if there are missing pieces inside of him. Visiting the seaside town of Ocean Vista, where his brother lived and died, will be no vacation.
Andrew Teagan wants to be a winner. After being dumped by his last boyfriend, Andrew is through letting others dictate his life. To prove that dreams are possible, he’s going after his ambitions full force. Having signed on for a cooking reality show, Andrew’s ready to make his small café into a sizzling success.
When Andrew aids Owen on the beach, what starts off as an act of kindness turns into a hot temptation. But can a sweet budding romance survive when the time comes for Owen to leave town? Both men must learn to trust each other if their love will conquer the miles between them.
220 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2015
10 people are currently reading
257 people want to read
About the author
Skylar M. Cates
30 books298 followersSkylar M. Cates loves a good romance. She is happy to drink coffee, curl up with a good book, and not move all day. Her novels feature strong and passionate men. Skylar loves to craft stories where realistic characters are challenged with emotional situations. Although lately the laundry room is the farthest place she has visited, Skylar loves to chat with folks from all around the globe.
Please feel free to follow Skylar on other social media.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
February 11, 2017
This series is quickly becoming my drug of choice.
I need more!
While this book could probably be read as a standalone, I don't recommend it. Andrew has almost no page time in book 1, and Owen has none at all, but understanding the connection between them and the secondary characters is integral to the story.
You'll be missing out if you skip
The first book is hella angsty. I cried buckets of tears and ran out of tissues.
Lovers, Losers and You is more upbeat. It's still meaningful and deep, but it's more about comfort and healing than pain and loss.
When Andrew finds Owen sleeping on the beach, he gives Owen some aloe and offers to stay. Owen and Andrew meet again ... and again. They connect in a profound way, but Owen doesn't live in Florida, and Andrew can't abandon his café.
Both Owen and Andrew are all about their families. Owen's parents and special needs little sister are wonderful, but Andrew's mom is negative and drags Andrew down. Andrew is a sort of surrogate parent to his teenage sister, the surly Kayla, and brother, the enthusiastic, eager Tobey.
Andrew's dream is to renovate his café, so when he gets a chance to be on a cook-off reality show, he jumps at the chance.
Never fear. The reality show competition doesn't take over the plot.
There's so much more here: Owen's fear of having to sign a "morality" clause at the private school where he teaches; Andrew's concern for his siblings as his alcoholic, dysfunctional stepfather tries to make amends once again; and Owen grieving for a brother he never knew.
We also revisit with Cole and Ian from book 1. I could not stop grinning over their snuggles and lingering glances.
But melancholy hangs over Marc, Tomas, and River. Tomas and Marc can't get their shit together, and Marc's anger issues are worse than ever. River is just lost, yearning for a man who will never come back.
We also meet the young and impulsive Morgan, who loses his joy and zest for life following a tragic incident.
But this is what made my heart sing: Andrew and Owen are like two halves of a soul.
All angst in this story is external to their relationship. These two are solid. They have phenomenal chemistry and a passion equal to none.
Owen and Andrew are not shy. Indeed, lithe, beautiful Andrew is quite the powerhouse in bed. I loved the Skype sessions and pure, unadulterated WANT.
These men talk and kiss and make love. They trust and hope and BELIEVE.
Skylar M. Cates has quickly become an auto-read for me because she mixes sexy and sweet so damn well.
Listen up, authors: The two aren't mutually exclusive. You can have heart-stopping romance AND filthy, delicious sex.
This book ended much too soon. Cates has two more books planned in this series, and the third one can't come quickly enough!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for a tender, steamy read!
I need more!
While this book could probably be read as a standalone, I don't recommend it. Andrew has almost no page time in book 1, and Owen has none at all, but understanding the connection between them and the secondary characters is integral to the story.
You'll be missing out if you skip
The first book is hella angsty. I cried buckets of tears and ran out of tissues.
Lovers, Losers and You is more upbeat. It's still meaningful and deep, but it's more about comfort and healing than pain and loss.
When Andrew finds Owen sleeping on the beach, he gives Owen some aloe and offers to stay. Owen and Andrew meet again ... and again. They connect in a profound way, but Owen doesn't live in Florida, and Andrew can't abandon his café.
Both Owen and Andrew are all about their families. Owen's parents and special needs little sister are wonderful, but Andrew's mom is negative and drags Andrew down. Andrew is a sort of surrogate parent to his teenage sister, the surly Kayla, and brother, the enthusiastic, eager Tobey.
Andrew's dream is to renovate his café, so when he gets a chance to be on a cook-off reality show, he jumps at the chance.
Never fear. The reality show competition doesn't take over the plot.
There's so much more here: Owen's fear of having to sign a "morality" clause at the private school where he teaches; Andrew's concern for his siblings as his alcoholic, dysfunctional stepfather tries to make amends once again; and Owen grieving for a brother he never knew.
We also revisit with Cole and Ian from book 1. I could not stop grinning over their snuggles and lingering glances.
But melancholy hangs over Marc, Tomas, and River. Tomas and Marc can't get their shit together, and Marc's anger issues are worse than ever. River is just lost, yearning for a man who will never come back.
We also meet the young and impulsive Morgan, who loses his joy and zest for life following a tragic incident.
But this is what made my heart sing: Andrew and Owen are like two halves of a soul.
All angst in this story is external to their relationship. These two are solid. They have phenomenal chemistry and a passion equal to none.
It was the kind of kiss to sigh over. To long for. It was the kind of kiss you missed before you ever received it. The kind you never wanted to be over.
Owen and Andrew are not shy. Indeed, lithe, beautiful Andrew is quite the powerhouse in bed. I loved the Skype sessions and pure, unadulterated WANT.
These men talk and kiss and make love. They trust and hope and BELIEVE.
Skylar M. Cates has quickly become an auto-read for me because she mixes sexy and sweet so damn well.
Listen up, authors: The two aren't mutually exclusive. You can have heart-stopping romance AND filthy, delicious sex.
This book ended much too soon. Cates has two more books planned in this series, and the third one can't come quickly enough!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for a tender, steamy read!
October 6, 2015
Solid 4 star read.
I don't think I liked this one as much as the first one, not sure why. But I definitely liked it.
Both reads in this story have been slower paced reads. Which is nice for a change.
I like that there isn't a lot of relationship angst.
I feel like this one COULD be read as a standalone but I don't recommend it. There are a lot of secondary characters and I feel like the story and characters really build with each book.
I'm really curious about some of the secondary characters and can't wait to read their books and hear their stories.
Great character and relationship development. Moderate to high steam factor. Lower angst. Definitely recommend this series!
I don't think I liked this one as much as the first one, not sure why. But I definitely liked it.
Both reads in this story have been slower paced reads. Which is nice for a change.
I like that there isn't a lot of relationship angst.
I feel like this one COULD be read as a standalone but I don't recommend it. There are a lot of secondary characters and I feel like the story and characters really build with each book.
I'm really curious about some of the secondary characters and can't wait to read their books and hear their stories.
Great character and relationship development. Moderate to high steam factor. Lower angst. Definitely recommend this series!
September 4, 2015
*4.5 stars*
Here for you was one of my favorite books this year. Scratch that, it was one of my all time favorite MM books and a category of its own. So, the bar was set high and I was excited and wary at the same time about the second book. I'm happy to report that Skylar M.Cates did not disappoint.
Lovers, Losers and You is exactly how the second installment of the series should be. Sweet, full of romance and steam. So very hopeful but with this undercurrent melancholy that never goes away.
We met Andrew in the first book. He is the owner of the café where the gang used to hang around. Despite family problems and his mother always trying to discourage him, Andrew thinks positively and dreams big. That's why he decides to take part in a reality cooking competition.
Owen is a teacher. He came to Ocean Vista to know more about the brother he 'll never get to meet. He has a wonderful family and a job to go back to. And then he meets Andrew.
Their connection is special and can't be ignored. It's not love yet, but it's not just lust. They only have two weeks together but it's enough to know they want more. I loved the fact that these two fought to be together. They never gave up on each other despite the turmoil around them; difficult decisions regarding Owen's job, people comparing him to Brendan all the time, Andrew's troubled teenage siblings and the distance on top of it all...it would be so easy to push each other away. But they never do.
“And I won’t lie to you, even if I lie to myself. I’m confused and fucked-up a lot of the time. But not about you. You’re the bright light, the sunlight. When everything else is so difficult, you’re what I crave.”
There is also passion and steam. Just because their relationship is so sweet, it doesn't mean that the sex can't be intense. And believe me, intense it was. Extra points for the steamy Skype sessions!
I have to say that the show's detailed description made me feel like I was watching Top Chef! Without taking too much space, it totally put me in the spirit of the competition and left me rooting for Andrew's team!
One of the things I loved in Here for you, was the sense of brotherhood in this group of friends. As expected, things are not going well for the Ocean Vista gang.
Marc is angrier than ever and fights with everyone. His friendship(?) with Tommy is at crossroads. I think this book prepares us for their story, since it's the first time we gain some insight into their relationship.
River broke my heart. He is so detached and nowhere near healed. I cannot wait for his story.
But, I was happy to see the overenthusiastic Cole and Ian trying to keep him grounded, going so strong.
Like I said, there is always this undercurrent melancholy, but how realistic would this story be without it? And above all, this is a love story. Owen comes to Ocean Vista to connect with his past and Andrew tries to create a better future for him and his family. What they got was so much more.
This is a series very close to my heart and I can't wait for the next installment. I highly recommend it. If you decide to give it a go, I would strongly advise you to start with the first book of the series, Here For You.
*Review crossposted on Reviews by Jessewave. ARC kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Here for you was one of my favorite books this year. Scratch that, it was one of my all time favorite MM books and a category of its own. So, the bar was set high and I was excited and wary at the same time about the second book. I'm happy to report that Skylar M.Cates did not disappoint.
Lovers, Losers and You is exactly how the second installment of the series should be. Sweet, full of romance and steam. So very hopeful but with this undercurrent melancholy that never goes away.
We met Andrew in the first book. He is the owner of the café where the gang used to hang around. Despite family problems and his mother always trying to discourage him, Andrew thinks positively and dreams big. That's why he decides to take part in a reality cooking competition.
Owen is a teacher. He came to Ocean Vista to know more about the brother he 'll never get to meet. He has a wonderful family and a job to go back to. And then he meets Andrew.
Their connection is special and can't be ignored. It's not love yet, but it's not just lust. They only have two weeks together but it's enough to know they want more. I loved the fact that these two fought to be together. They never gave up on each other despite the turmoil around them; difficult decisions regarding Owen's job, people comparing him to Brendan all the time, Andrew's troubled teenage siblings and the distance on top of it all...it would be so easy to push each other away. But they never do.
“And I won’t lie to you, even if I lie to myself. I’m confused and fucked-up a lot of the time. But not about you. You’re the bright light, the sunlight. When everything else is so difficult, you’re what I crave.”
There is also passion and steam. Just because their relationship is so sweet, it doesn't mean that the sex can't be intense. And believe me, intense it was. Extra points for the steamy Skype sessions!
I have to say that the show's detailed description made me feel like I was watching Top Chef! Without taking too much space, it totally put me in the spirit of the competition and left me rooting for Andrew's team!
One of the things I loved in Here for you, was the sense of brotherhood in this group of friends. As expected, things are not going well for the Ocean Vista gang.
Marc is angrier than ever and fights with everyone. His friendship(?) with Tommy is at crossroads. I think this book prepares us for their story, since it's the first time we gain some insight into their relationship.
River broke my heart. He is so detached and nowhere near healed. I cannot wait for his story.
But, I was happy to see the overenthusiastic Cole and Ian trying to keep him grounded, going so strong.
Like I said, there is always this undercurrent melancholy, but how realistic would this story be without it? And above all, this is a love story. Owen comes to Ocean Vista to connect with his past and Andrew tries to create a better future for him and his family. What they got was so much more.
This is a series very close to my heart and I can't wait for the next installment. I highly recommend it. If you decide to give it a go, I would strongly advise you to start with the first book of the series, Here For You.
*Review crossposted on Reviews by Jessewave. ARC kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
September 1, 2015
The perfect balm after the turmoil of the first book... And steadily preparing us for Tomas & Marc's story.
I have to say, these boys were so sweet together. I loved this. Another winner from Skylar. (But I never had any doubts)
I have to say, these boys were so sweet together. I loved this. Another winner from Skylar. (But I never had any doubts)
August 31, 2015
Loved this so much!
Review to come.
Review to come.
April 9, 2021
I received an ARC from GRR and this is my honest review.
Solid 4 stars!
loved this book more than book 1.
it had:
- Owen: the history teacher who is cute, sweet and al around wholesome
- Andrew who is more than he appears.
- Less angst and heartache.
- Sweet MCs that worked so much together.
- sexy, steamy scenes.
- great HEA
Overall, the book held my attention much better. I loved the couple and I loved seeing all of the characters together.
The conversation is still a little but stilted and awkward at times, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment.
Solid 4 stars!
loved this book more than book 1.
it had:
- Owen: the history teacher who is cute, sweet and al around wholesome
- Andrew who is more than he appears.
- Less angst and heartache.
- Sweet MCs that worked so much together.
- sexy, steamy scenes.
- great HEA
Overall, the book held my attention much better. I loved the couple and I loved seeing all of the characters together.
The conversation is still a little but stilted and awkward at times, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment.
October 10, 2015
2.75 stars
My GR friends are going to disown me, but this was NOT as good as I thought it was going to be. Not nearly as good as the first.
It was too sweet, too perfect. Way too insta-lovey for my taste.
"It's weird, right? As if there's a force out there that keeps bringing us together."
"One thing studying history taught me is when to fight those forces and when to surrender to the inevitable."
......and this is all before they're an official couple or have even slept together.
Andrew and Owen had zero angst within their relationship. And while that's not necessarily a bad thing, they didn't fight once, they didn't argue. People, they didn't even DISAGREE - not once!!! Jesus Christ, Ms. Cates, you gotta give me a little something here.
But the angst, oh boy, there's a lot of angst. It's just all external. Everyone else who lives in that damn house is a fucked up mess. Tomas and Marc. River and Morgan. And then there's Andrew's whole family. It's like Cates sucked ALL of the angst from the relationship and just plopped it right the fuck in every other character's face. It's called balance - let's learn to use it next time. It was exhausting!
I will not be reading Marc and Tomas's story. Why? Because everything in book 2 hinted that Marc is one big pile of martyr. Tomas is good. He deserves a good life. He deserves better than me. I just can't do the martyr bullshit. River and Morgan - that story I'll read.
I'm so upset about this! Everyone else loved this one. I don't know what happened here. But it wasn't anything good.
My GR friends are going to disown me, but this was NOT as good as I thought it was going to be. Not nearly as good as the first.
It was too sweet, too perfect. Way too insta-lovey for my taste.
"It's weird, right? As if there's a force out there that keeps bringing us together."
"One thing studying history taught me is when to fight those forces and when to surrender to the inevitable."
......and this is all before they're an official couple or have even slept together.
Andrew and Owen had zero angst within their relationship. And while that's not necessarily a bad thing, they didn't fight once, they didn't argue. People, they didn't even DISAGREE - not once!!! Jesus Christ, Ms. Cates, you gotta give me a little something here.
But the angst, oh boy, there's a lot of angst. It's just all external. Everyone else who lives in that damn house is a fucked up mess. Tomas and Marc. River and Morgan. And then there's Andrew's whole family. It's like Cates sucked ALL of the angst from the relationship and just plopped it right the fuck in every other character's face. It's called balance - let's learn to use it next time. It was exhausting!
I will not be reading Marc and Tomas's story. Why? Because everything in book 2 hinted that Marc is one big pile of martyr. Tomas is good. He deserves a good life. He deserves better than me. I just can't do the martyr bullshit. River and Morgan - that story I'll read.
I'm so upset about this! Everyone else loved this one. I don't know what happened here. But it wasn't anything good.
August 7, 2016
4.25 stars
To me, this was a book about family. About the family you're born into, the family you're adopted into, and the family that you create. I had mixed feelings about the previous book in this series (Here For You) but one thing I did love about it was the family of friends that Cole put together and I was very eager to read the stories of the other friends.
Of the two stories, this is definitely my favourite. The two MCs, Andrew and Owen, are just plain good guys. Like really good guys. Guys who are devoted to their families. I'm a sucker for men who take care of or spend a lot of time with their younger siblings, and both of these guys do. One other thing I liked was that their romance felt very much like a real life romance to me. The way they met and how their relationship progressed just seemed completely realistic to me.
I also loved seeing the rest of the group of friends and learning a little more about them, especially Marc. I will be eagerly awaiting the next books in the series!
p.s. The cooking reality show part of this was a lot of fun and now all I can think about is those chocolate chip cookies with a brownie inside. Mmm!!!
To me, this was a book about family. About the family you're born into, the family you're adopted into, and the family that you create. I had mixed feelings about the previous book in this series (Here For You) but one thing I did love about it was the family of friends that Cole put together and I was very eager to read the stories of the other friends.
Of the two stories, this is definitely my favourite. The two MCs, Andrew and Owen, are just plain good guys. Like really good guys. Guys who are devoted to their families. I'm a sucker for men who take care of or spend a lot of time with their younger siblings, and both of these guys do. One other thing I liked was that their romance felt very much like a real life romance to me. The way they met and how their relationship progressed just seemed completely realistic to me.
I also loved seeing the rest of the group of friends and learning a little more about them, especially Marc. I will be eagerly awaiting the next books in the series!
p.s. The cooking reality show part of this was a lot of fun and now all I can think about is those chocolate chip cookies with a brownie inside. Mmm!!!
March 2, 2017
It's been just over 2 years since I read the first book in this series and I remember seriously loving it. I stayed up half the night to read it. I can't say I feel the same about this one. It was an okay read.
This book is Andrew and Owen's story. Andrew is one of the guys who lives in the house with Cole (who moved out at the end of book #1), River, Tomas, Marc, Brendan, who was in the first book but has now been replaced by Sandy and if you want to know why read the book of course;)
Owen is Brendan's brother and he's come to Ocean Vista to escape his own problems as we as find out more about the brother he'll never know. To me this all had the potential to add up to a really good story. Sadly it didn't.
I enjoyed the part about Andrew entering the reality TV cooking show. But once that was over things began to seriously drag for me and it was due mostly to the parent factor.
I get that for very different reasons both Andrew and Owen have really strong family ties...I really, really got that way before the end of the book, I felt like this point had been well and truly pounded into my brain. In fact I did an count and there were in fact '69' references to just Owen's 'mama' in this book...this does not include anything to do with his biological mother, Andrew's mother or any other mother who may have wandered through and '68' references to his 'daddy'. I'm glad Owen had loving and supportive family truly I am but I honestly did not need them to be front and center in this story for me to get the point...and can I just say this is the first and hopefully the only time that I will ever complain about awesome parents. But it was just too much.
Sadly Andrew's family didn't feel like they were far behind when it came to page time and that was...depressing to say the least because his 'mama' seriously needs some counselling. Ok, I think I've belabored that point sufficiently...my point is simply that too much page time for the parents spoiled the story for me...well, that and I just didn't really feel the love between Owen and Andrew and even this was due largely because of the parent factor.
I felt an occasional spark...maybe saw a little glimmer from time to time but just about the time it started to really gel for me...the parents got dragged back out. So, while I did enjoy the first part of the book and Owen and Andrew, a bit. I just didn't fully get into the story and while I don't really feel like I needed to read this one in order to get into the next one, I'm still glad that I took the time to read Andrew and Owen's story. It was nice just not awesome for me.
This book is Andrew and Owen's story. Andrew is one of the guys who lives in the house with Cole (who moved out at the end of book #1), River, Tomas, Marc, Brendan, who was in the first book but has now been replaced by Sandy and if you want to know why read the book of course;)
Owen is Brendan's brother and he's come to Ocean Vista to escape his own problems as we as find out more about the brother he'll never know. To me this all had the potential to add up to a really good story. Sadly it didn't.
I enjoyed the part about Andrew entering the reality TV cooking show. But once that was over things began to seriously drag for me and it was due mostly to the parent factor.
I get that for very different reasons both Andrew and Owen have really strong family ties...I really, really got that way before the end of the book, I felt like this point had been well and truly pounded into my brain. In fact I did an count and there were in fact '69' references to just Owen's 'mama' in this book...this does not include anything to do with his biological mother, Andrew's mother or any other mother who may have wandered through and '68' references to his 'daddy'. I'm glad Owen had loving and supportive family truly I am but I honestly did not need them to be front and center in this story for me to get the point...and can I just say this is the first and hopefully the only time that I will ever complain about awesome parents. But it was just too much.
Sadly Andrew's family didn't feel like they were far behind when it came to page time and that was...depressing to say the least because his 'mama' seriously needs some counselling. Ok, I think I've belabored that point sufficiently...my point is simply that too much page time for the parents spoiled the story for me...well, that and I just didn't really feel the love between Owen and Andrew and even this was due largely because of the parent factor.
I felt an occasional spark...maybe saw a little glimmer from time to time but just about the time it started to really gel for me...the parents got dragged back out. So, while I did enjoy the first part of the book and Owen and Andrew, a bit. I just didn't fully get into the story and while I don't really feel like I needed to read this one in order to get into the next one, I'm still glad that I took the time to read Andrew and Owen's story. It was nice just not awesome for me.
March 18, 2016
Imagine to go away a few weeks and fall in love in a strange city.
The day to go back to your already set up life comes and what to do?
Say goodbye? Try a long distance relationship? Change your entire life style for someone who you just meet?
Andrew and Owen have a difficult situation here but they will find the final decision in a natural way~ beautiful book that make you think about the LOVE factor in life.
Is still a bit sad all the Brendan past issues around all the characters but the time will help them.
I NEED NOW Tomas and Mark book! Omg what’s going on with them??? Happy to know is out this month! Yeah!!
The day to go back to your already set up life comes and what to do?
Say goodbye? Try a long distance relationship? Change your entire life style for someone who you just meet?
Andrew and Owen have a difficult situation here but they will find the final decision in a natural way~ beautiful book that make you think about the LOVE factor in life.
Is still a bit sad all the Brendan past issues around all the characters but the time will help them.
I NEED NOW Tomas and Mark book! Omg what’s going on with them??? Happy to know is out this month! Yeah!!
July 27, 2019
Neuigkeiten aus der WG
Als der adoptierte Geschichtslehrer Owen King endlich die Einladung von Cole, dem besten Freund seines verstorbenen Bruders Brendan annimmt und nach Ocean Vista fährt, ahnt er nicht, dass er dort seine große Liebe findet.
Andrew Teagan besitzt ein kleines Café. Zufällig fällt ihm am Strand Owen auf, der eingeschlafen ist und einen üblen Sonnenbrand hat. Erst am nächsten Tag findet er heraus, dass Owen Brendans unbekannter Bruder ist. Zwischen den beiden funkt es gewaltig und Owen bleibt während der gesamten Ferien in dem Küstenort.
Auch diese Story aus Ocean Vista hat mir gefallen. Nach dem tödlichen Unfall von Brendon ist nichts mehr wie es war. Seine Mitbewohner vermissen den lebensfrohen Freund. So bedeutet Owens Besuch auch traurige Erinnerungen. So nach und nach erfährt man mehr über Owens Vergangenheit und warum er adoptiert wurde. Doch nicht nur er hat familiäre Probleme, auch Andrew kann davon ein Lied singen. Die beiden Männer verstehen sich blendend und daraus entsteht eine überzeugende Liebesgeschichte.
Ich freue mich schon auf die nächsten Übersetzungen der Serie, schließlich gibt es noch einige WG-Bewohner, Marc, Tomas und River, die noch einsam sind.
Mein Dank geht an den Cursed Verlag für das erhaltene Rezensionsexemplar
Als der adoptierte Geschichtslehrer Owen King endlich die Einladung von Cole, dem besten Freund seines verstorbenen Bruders Brendan annimmt und nach Ocean Vista fährt, ahnt er nicht, dass er dort seine große Liebe findet.
Andrew Teagan besitzt ein kleines Café. Zufällig fällt ihm am Strand Owen auf, der eingeschlafen ist und einen üblen Sonnenbrand hat. Erst am nächsten Tag findet er heraus, dass Owen Brendans unbekannter Bruder ist. Zwischen den beiden funkt es gewaltig und Owen bleibt während der gesamten Ferien in dem Küstenort.
Auch diese Story aus Ocean Vista hat mir gefallen. Nach dem tödlichen Unfall von Brendon ist nichts mehr wie es war. Seine Mitbewohner vermissen den lebensfrohen Freund. So bedeutet Owens Besuch auch traurige Erinnerungen. So nach und nach erfährt man mehr über Owens Vergangenheit und warum er adoptiert wurde. Doch nicht nur er hat familiäre Probleme, auch Andrew kann davon ein Lied singen. Die beiden Männer verstehen sich blendend und daraus entsteht eine überzeugende Liebesgeschichte.
Ich freue mich schon auf die nächsten Übersetzungen der Serie, schließlich gibt es noch einige WG-Bewohner, Marc, Tomas und River, die noch einsam sind.
Mein Dank geht an den Cursed Verlag für das erhaltene Rezensionsexemplar
May 8, 2019
Darum geht's:
Owen King wurde als Säugling zur Adoption weggegeben und hat erst herausgefunden, dass er einen Bruder hatte, als dieser kurz vorher bei einem Unfall ums Leben gekommen war. Nun will Owen zumindest die Freunde und WG-Mitbewohner seines verstorbenen Bruders Brendan kennenlernen. Über die Ferien fährt er deshalb nach Ocean Vista. Am Strand trifft er zufällig den Cafebesitzer Andrew und bei beiden ist es Liebe auf den ersten Blick.
Meine Meinung dazu gibt’s hier
Owen King wurde als Säugling zur Adoption weggegeben und hat erst herausgefunden, dass er einen Bruder hatte, als dieser kurz vorher bei einem Unfall ums Leben gekommen war. Nun will Owen zumindest die Freunde und WG-Mitbewohner seines verstorbenen Bruders Brendan kennenlernen. Über die Ferien fährt er deshalb nach Ocean Vista. Am Strand trifft er zufällig den Cafebesitzer Andrew und bei beiden ist es Liebe auf den ersten Blick.
Meine Meinung dazu gibt’s hier
October 3, 2015
Sigh, thinking about this book 2 days after I finished reading it, the first thing that comes to mind is Tomas and Marc, and what a great set-up this was for their story, which comes next and I CANT FUCKING WAIT FOR! Ok, now that I got my frustration out of the way by having a well deserved temper tantrum, I can say I'm so excited for the next book!
Lovers, Losers and You is a sweet book, maybe too sweet for me...let me explain. I wanted some angst, and I got it, but not through the main characters. The angst was mostly due to Tomas and Marc, which is why I love them so much, and Owen's dead brother Brandon. And let's mention River as well, because that dude is drowning in angst and misery, and I know his story will slay me open and I'll be happy for it. But.... Owen and Andrew's relationship is angst-free and pretty much insta-love; I'm allergic to insta-love myself, and I was so damn happy we got to see the other characters interact a lot, because it took the focus away from Andrew and Owen and allowed me to stop short of breaking into hives. Really, this book skated the line between "sweet and gooey" and "cheesy/diabetes", when it came to the relationship between Owen and Andrew.
I loved the setting, it made me think of Cupcake Wars and Chopped, the culinary shows I used to watch on the food network. It was entertaining, complete with the studio drama we see when we watch these types of shows.
Now lets get back to me whimpering in misery because I NEED Marc and Tomas's story right now!
Lovers, Losers and You is a sweet book, maybe too sweet for me...let me explain. I wanted some angst, and I got it, but not through the main characters. The angst was mostly due to Tomas and Marc, which is why I love them so much, and Owen's dead brother Brandon. And let's mention River as well, because that dude is drowning in angst and misery, and I know his story will slay me open and I'll be happy for it. But.... Owen and Andrew's relationship is angst-free and pretty much insta-love; I'm allergic to insta-love myself, and I was so damn happy we got to see the other characters interact a lot, because it took the focus away from Andrew and Owen and allowed me to stop short of breaking into hives. Really, this book skated the line between "sweet and gooey" and "cheesy/diabetes", when it came to the relationship between Owen and Andrew.
I loved the setting, it made me think of Cupcake Wars and Chopped, the culinary shows I used to watch on the food network. It was entertaining, complete with the studio drama we see when we watch these types of shows.
Now lets get back to me whimpering in misery because I NEED Marc and Tomas's story right now!
August 9, 2016
Owen and Andrew were way too freaking sweet. The chemistry between them was instant and, with all of the drama going on around them, it was nice to have them be the calm in the storm. Definitely on to Marc and Tomas' story!!!
September 14, 2015
4.5 Stars
Review to come.
Review to come.
January 31, 2016
BR with Trisha! ♥
November 30, 2015
I liked this one better than the first one. The guys were sweet and I liked the cooking show parts. Curious about other guys who've been introduced also so I will read the next book once it's out.
July 21, 2018
I liked the first one and I am sure I will read the others in this series as well but I have to confess, this story was not what I was waiting for.
But I liked it - this story was sweet and their romance was Great. I loved that both of them did not doubt each other
I really liked this one and I am looking forward to the next one
But I liked it - this story was sweet and their romance was Great. I loved that both of them did not doubt each other
I really liked this one and I am looking forward to the next one
April 13, 2021
this was better then the first imo.. i enjoyed these characters and the writing got better. i liked it a lot and cant wait for the 3rd.
dnf
September 17, 2018I'm really not interested in reading on, sorry book!
September 17, 2015
Review can be read at It's About The Book
4.5 stars
Skylar Cates did it again with this one. I loved it. Her fabulous characters and mix of sweet and sexy make her books pretty much an auto read for me. This series is about a house full of guys who for their own reasons have found a family with each other. Something they were lacking otherwise. After finishing the first book I knew I HAD to read the next one. Each book follows a new couple but there are so many story lines going you really need to read these in order.
The story starts back up with the guys transitioning from Cole moving out of the house and Andrew moving in after his break up with the Ex. Andrew wasn’t friends with all the guys before he moved in so he understands the grief the others must be feeling, but doesn’t feel it as heavily as the others do. That made this book lighter than book one. There’s some relief from the grief. There were some teary eye moments for me when the secondary story lines took over but it wasn’t as heavy as Here With You. Andrew owns a cafe and decides to enter a reality cooking contest. That should be his focus but he meets an adorable sunburned man named Owen on the beach one day and there’s definitely an attraction. Andrew thinks Owen is in town on vacation. Owen is really there to finally face his brother’s death and learn about the man he was but that’s not the sort of thing you bring up with a stranger you’re strangely so strongly attracted to. They’re from different states and don’t really have time for relationships so they try to keep it friendly knowing it can’t go anywhere. Of course they lose that battle and things get serious pretty quickly despite it being impossible for them to be together without someone giving up what means most to them.
Owen and Andrew were so damn sweet together. Super sexy too. They’re both really good and honest guys who never meant to fall in love with each other. Andrew has had quite a few disappointments in throughout his young life. Once he was able to do something about it, he decided if he wanted something, to go after it and get it. Owen grew up with a well off family who loved and supported him. Finding his birth family was something that he was always curious about. Andrew gets mixed up in that but in the best way possible. They’re there for each other. To enjoy each other for as long as they have together. I liked that these two were always totally honest with each other. There were no games or guilt. No whining about how it would be over soon. They just put all of themselves into what they found with each other. It was really quite beautiful in that summer romance sort of way.
Normally all that sweetness might not be for me but the secondary story lines were heavier. Andrew and his actual family, not the guys, issues were a constant issue. I like how that part of the story subtly makes your realize why Andrew Is the way he is while completely endearing you to him for being who he is. Poor River is such a mess. He barely has any page time but when he does he leaves his mark on your heart because he’s so broken and devastated by his loss. Marc and Tomas just flat out break my heart. I love and hate every page they’re on because I know they’re hurting but I want to know everything about them and their history. Their story is the one I want the most. I can’t wrap my head around how two men could love each other that much but put such a distance between themselves. All while living under the same roof. Their pain and frustration is palpable. I NEED to know why?!?!
So book 2 is lighter and sweeter as far as the MCs romance but all the heaviness is still there lurking. This gave the book a really good balance. I get the guys falling in love. The hot meaningful smexy but I also get the depth I need to really get into a book. To feel something more. Some of the guys still have a long way to go to heal. Not just from the tragedy but from their pasts. Finding happiness is something I want so badly for these guys while reading this story. I think that’s what makes me love this author’s books so much. I’m totally invested in her characters. I laugh. I cry. I swoon. She can just make magic happen for the romance book lover in me. Hopefully the next book is Marc and Tomas but she set up River’s story so well in this book so I’d be happy to read that one soon too.
4.5 stars
Skylar Cates did it again with this one. I loved it. Her fabulous characters and mix of sweet and sexy make her books pretty much an auto read for me. This series is about a house full of guys who for their own reasons have found a family with each other. Something they were lacking otherwise. After finishing the first book I knew I HAD to read the next one. Each book follows a new couple but there are so many story lines going you really need to read these in order.
The story starts back up with the guys transitioning from Cole moving out of the house and Andrew moving in after his break up with the Ex. Andrew wasn’t friends with all the guys before he moved in so he understands the grief the others must be feeling, but doesn’t feel it as heavily as the others do. That made this book lighter than book one. There’s some relief from the grief. There were some teary eye moments for me when the secondary story lines took over but it wasn’t as heavy as Here With You. Andrew owns a cafe and decides to enter a reality cooking contest. That should be his focus but he meets an adorable sunburned man named Owen on the beach one day and there’s definitely an attraction. Andrew thinks Owen is in town on vacation. Owen is really there to finally face his brother’s death and learn about the man he was but that’s not the sort of thing you bring up with a stranger you’re strangely so strongly attracted to. They’re from different states and don’t really have time for relationships so they try to keep it friendly knowing it can’t go anywhere. Of course they lose that battle and things get serious pretty quickly despite it being impossible for them to be together without someone giving up what means most to them.
Owen and Andrew were so damn sweet together. Super sexy too. They’re both really good and honest guys who never meant to fall in love with each other. Andrew has had quite a few disappointments in throughout his young life. Once he was able to do something about it, he decided if he wanted something, to go after it and get it. Owen grew up with a well off family who loved and supported him. Finding his birth family was something that he was always curious about. Andrew gets mixed up in that but in the best way possible. They’re there for each other. To enjoy each other for as long as they have together. I liked that these two were always totally honest with each other. There were no games or guilt. No whining about how it would be over soon. They just put all of themselves into what they found with each other. It was really quite beautiful in that summer romance sort of way.
Normally all that sweetness might not be for me but the secondary story lines were heavier. Andrew and his actual family, not the guys, issues were a constant issue. I like how that part of the story subtly makes your realize why Andrew Is the way he is while completely endearing you to him for being who he is. Poor River is such a mess. He barely has any page time but when he does he leaves his mark on your heart because he’s so broken and devastated by his loss. Marc and Tomas just flat out break my heart. I love and hate every page they’re on because I know they’re hurting but I want to know everything about them and their history. Their story is the one I want the most. I can’t wrap my head around how two men could love each other that much but put such a distance between themselves. All while living under the same roof. Their pain and frustration is palpable. I NEED to know why?!?!
So book 2 is lighter and sweeter as far as the MCs romance but all the heaviness is still there lurking. This gave the book a really good balance. I get the guys falling in love. The hot meaningful smexy but I also get the depth I need to really get into a book. To feel something more. Some of the guys still have a long way to go to heal. Not just from the tragedy but from their pasts. Finding happiness is something I want so badly for these guys while reading this story. I think that’s what makes me love this author’s books so much. I’m totally invested in her characters. I laugh. I cry. I swoon. She can just make magic happen for the romance book lover in me. Hopefully the next book is Marc and Tomas but she set up River’s story so well in this book so I’d be happy to read that one soon too.
Read
March 28, 2016We met Owen in book one as the brother of the housemate who passed away, Brendan. Owen never had the chance to meet his brother but through letters from Cole, Brendan’s house mate and friend he learns bits and pieces. When a morality clause shows up in Owen’s life and makes him question his employment, he takes a strip to the small Florida beach town of Ocean Vista to finally take Cole up on his offer to visit and learn more about Brendan.
Here in Florida he could find out a few things about his brother. He loved his family, but a part of him wondered about who he was. Most of all, he could sort out what to do about St. James Academy and their new contract while he was away.
We met Andrew in book one as well, being the handsome but relationship troubled owner of the local cafe where Cole liked to get his coffee and deny his attraction to Ian. Andrew is now the housemate replacement for Cole, now that Cole has moved out to live with his boyfriend, Ian. The housemates are still in turmoil and grieving over the loss of Brendan and the new editions of Andrew and Sandy. But that can't get Andrew down, because has an opportunity to compete in a reality show, Café Battles that will not only get his small business, The Busy Day Café, recognition but win a small chunk of change that can change his life.
When a chance encounter on the beach brings Owen and Andrew together, things start getting good.
I liked that Andrew didn’t recognize Owen how the rest of the house did when they first meet him, as the second coming of Brendan. I felt awful for Owen as the “family” asked and compared him to the dead brother her never knew, though I got it – they wanted a piece of their friend back – but it felt disrespectful at the same time. I was thankful that Andrew saw Owen and took him for the man standing in front of him, not as the ghost of Brendan.
“I just came by at the right moment.” “Kindness is more than chance.”
Owen’s self-discovery through finding Andrew was lovely to read and Andrew’s view on the world with Owen by his side was breathtaking. These two were amazing together and I loved watching them fall quickly in love. I ached for them with the decisions they had to make and I cheered with each victory that arrived because of it.
What I also love about this and what I love about series where each book features a different couple YET implores upon side characters to strengthen the series, was more of Ian and Cole and more of Marc and Tomas.
*whistles*
Marc and Tomas are going to hurt my poor romantic heart and hurt it so damn good. Oh and um, I am behind with reading so I really hope that my dear sweet, yet sexy Morgan realizes who saved him… the man who smells of leather and oranges… the man on the motorcycle who is brooding over Brendan’s death and OMG! They better get a damn book because I need it. It has to be those two, HAS TO BE!
… how lucky it was that he’d run into him again, almost as if their paths had been destined to entwine once more.
Back to Owen and Andrew. The men were sexy and sweeter than Andrew’s brownie centered cookies. There was not a thing I disliked about the growth of their relationship or the intimacy they developed so fierce and quick. I adored them and how strongly they felt about their family and I fell in love with them as they fell in love with each other.
Lovers, Losers and You was a sweet as pie romance with a side of sexy and an amazing gaggle of friends who need me to read their stories. It’s a story about life leading you toward your destiny and leaning on that one person for the strength to grab it by the lapels and run with it.
March 5, 2017
Closer to 3.5 overall. Way too sweet and insta-lovey for my taste, and the dialogue felt kind of stilted or unnatural at times. Even a pinch of angst or misunderstanding would've helped. I knew that was the case from reading other reviews, but I just love the characters in this series so I had to persevere.
I absolutely can't wait to read the two books! I've been dying to know Marc and Tomas's/River's stories! Plus, meeting Morgan was delightful :)
I absolutely can't wait to read the two books! I've been dying to know Marc and Tomas's/River's stories! Plus, meeting Morgan was delightful :)
September 24, 2015
In book one we met Andrew as a replacement in the house after Brendan died. He owns his own café, has a brother and a sister who live nearby and a mother who relies too heavily on him. He’s just gotten out of a relationship where his boyfriend begrudged him the time he spent at work and he’s recently been accepted to a reality-TV cooking show for a chance to win some money to help his café grow.
Owen is Brendan’s half-brother, but the two never got to meet. Cole was conversing with Owen via mail and finally managed to convince Owen to come meet the family that Brendan created with the guys from the house. He teaches at the private school he attended as a child, but is questioning his current contract as a morality clause has been suddenly tacked on. He is also a dedicated big brother to his special needs sister who still lives at home, near his school.
In a flurry of co-incidences, Owen and Andrew meet without knowing they share a connection through Cole first at the beach, later at a bar and finally at the house. They had a spark of attraction at first on the beach, shared a kiss at the bar and then finally admitted to wanting something more even though they know their time together may be very short.
Their relationship moves from simmering to sizzling very quickly as they realize just how easy it is to be with one another. They just click. They know the distance is going to be a problem but they resolve to work things out.
In the end, after an intense week together and several weeks of doing things at a distance, they have to decide where their priorities lie and what can they live without?
**
In contrast to book one, this book has almost no angst – at least not about the two men coming together. They move from “just met” to “can’t live without one another” rapidly, but also in a way that seems really organic and authentic.
There is a bit of drama surrounding Brendan’s family and Owen looking similar to Brendan. The cooking show adds some tension, but doesn’t overwhelm the plot. The morality clause ends up being almost a non-issue.
In the end this is a story of two men falling in love over a week and agreeing to take a chance on that love. It was simple and sweet and sometimes sexy, but low on angst.
There are a lot of seeds being placed for future books: Morgan and River; Tomas and Marc – both couples I hope to see in future books- and we get to spend a bit more time with Ian and Cole being ridiculously cute and in love.
I always enjoy Skylar Cates’ writing style, it is smooth, crisp and effortless. Her characters are well-developed and three-dimensional. She has a way of making the reader feel deeply, it’s her forte, and she excels at that in this story.
Fans of the series and the author won’t be disappointed with this book, and I think it does well as a stand-alone, too.
I highly recommend this book, series and author. I give it 4.5 of 5 stars, subtracting only a bit because I’d have liked to see the couple together when not under the stress of the cooking show or under the tension of the impending board meeting.
Owen is Brendan’s half-brother, but the two never got to meet. Cole was conversing with Owen via mail and finally managed to convince Owen to come meet the family that Brendan created with the guys from the house. He teaches at the private school he attended as a child, but is questioning his current contract as a morality clause has been suddenly tacked on. He is also a dedicated big brother to his special needs sister who still lives at home, near his school.
In a flurry of co-incidences, Owen and Andrew meet without knowing they share a connection through Cole first at the beach, later at a bar and finally at the house. They had a spark of attraction at first on the beach, shared a kiss at the bar and then finally admitted to wanting something more even though they know their time together may be very short.
Their relationship moves from simmering to sizzling very quickly as they realize just how easy it is to be with one another. They just click. They know the distance is going to be a problem but they resolve to work things out.
In the end, after an intense week together and several weeks of doing things at a distance, they have to decide where their priorities lie and what can they live without?
**
In contrast to book one, this book has almost no angst – at least not about the two men coming together. They move from “just met” to “can’t live without one another” rapidly, but also in a way that seems really organic and authentic.
There is a bit of drama surrounding Brendan’s family and Owen looking similar to Brendan. The cooking show adds some tension, but doesn’t overwhelm the plot. The morality clause ends up being almost a non-issue.
In the end this is a story of two men falling in love over a week and agreeing to take a chance on that love. It was simple and sweet and sometimes sexy, but low on angst.
There are a lot of seeds being placed for future books: Morgan and River; Tomas and Marc – both couples I hope to see in future books- and we get to spend a bit more time with Ian and Cole being ridiculously cute and in love.
I always enjoy Skylar Cates’ writing style, it is smooth, crisp and effortless. Her characters are well-developed and three-dimensional. She has a way of making the reader feel deeply, it’s her forte, and she excels at that in this story.
Fans of the series and the author won’t be disappointed with this book, and I think it does well as a stand-alone, too.
I highly recommend this book, series and author. I give it 4.5 of 5 stars, subtracting only a bit because I’d have liked to see the couple together when not under the stress of the cooking show or under the tension of the impending board meeting.
February 29, 2016
3.5 I felt the same affection for these characters that I had in book 1. This story was more of a recovery book although there were parts that still were heart breaking to read. I thought that the choice in MCs was a little odd considering others had generated more of my interest in the previous book but as everything played out and things in the background progressed, I understood why some of them needed to wait for their own book.
I liked these MCs although they aren't my favorite of them, and I really liked them together. They made a really solid couple and that was nice to see. I never found myself thinking they were simply HFN, it was definitely a HEA. There was family drama but it wasn't centered on the MCs or their life choices so I think that's why it worked for me as opposed to annoying me. The cooking show aspect was really fun too.
The one niggle that I had was that towards the end, I started skimming the sex scenes. I can't put my finger on why. They seemed written well enough so maybe it was just because there seemed to be so many of them and I wanted them talking and doing other coupley things with their clothes on.
I can't wait for the next book although I can already tell it's going to be another hard one but what I'm really looking forward to the most is River and Mason's story. I hope that one is being written as I type.
I liked these MCs although they aren't my favorite of them, and I really liked them together. They made a really solid couple and that was nice to see. I never found myself thinking they were simply HFN, it was definitely a HEA. There was family drama but it wasn't centered on the MCs or their life choices so I think that's why it worked for me as opposed to annoying me. The cooking show aspect was really fun too.
The one niggle that I had was that towards the end, I started skimming the sex scenes. I can't put my finger on why. They seemed written well enough so maybe it was just because there seemed to be so many of them and I wanted them talking and doing other coupley things with their clothes on.
I can't wait for the next book although I can already tell it's going to be another hard one but what I'm really looking forward to the most is River and Mason's story. I hope that one is being written as I type.
March 15, 2016
Just finished the second book in this series. I think I liked this one even better than the first. Owen was so genuine when he comes to town to help feel close to a brother he never met. Owen was adopted and has a great family but he finds another family with all of Brendans friends. He meet and falls for Andrew. Andrew is so great, he is full of hope and dedication. Really enjoyed this story and the cooking show was a good addition to the story. Their chemistry is off the charts as are the love scenes in this one. There is conflict and we get to catch up with the other men who still miss their friend a great deal. You have to read this series for yourself and find out that the story is the backdrop to this and the sex fits great into it. On to book 3 and hope Tomas and Marc's story is just as wonderful. also cant wait for Angel to have his HEA as well. Reviewed by Jodi Marinich from Alpha Book Club .
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August 20, 2016In Queue
*ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Jaime from Alpha Book Club
and Gay Book Reviews
*ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Jaime from Alpha Book Club
and Gay Book Reviews
February 10, 2016
I'm interested to see what happens with the other housemates so I will carry on in the hope that the characterizations, plot devices and overall writing improve. I was hoping for more with this book. I found it silly and incredibly boring.
March 26, 2024
History teacher Owen King takes a well-earned break from Georgia to meet up with friends of his estranged dead brother, Brendan. He gets to know one of Brendan’s friends, Andrew Teagan, who owns and runs a small cafe in the Key West area in Florida. Owen is not out at his private school and they’ve asked him to sign a morality clause in his new contract. Andrew is keen to compete in a reality tv cooking show but isn’t receiving much support from his dysfunctional family. After a tentative start, both men find the support they need in each other as they face down their own challenges.
I went into this blind and really loved it, so I’ll definitely be chasing up the rest of the series! It’s the 2nd in the Sunshine & Happiness series so it contains big spoilers if, like me, you haven’t read Here for You (the very angsty first book). I was initially a little bit at sea with all the characters that had been introduced in Here For You but quickly adapted here. I thought this had really satisfying levels of angst, chemistry and cuteness. Both Owen and Andrew are thoroughly decent guys: neither played any games, failed to communicate, or had “the big disagreement”. The secondary characters all have their own stories going on and I can’t wait to read their stories next! Voice actor Hugh Bradley had an appropriately youthful voice and I really liked his narration style!!
I went into this blind and really loved it, so I’ll definitely be chasing up the rest of the series! It’s the 2nd in the Sunshine & Happiness series so it contains big spoilers if, like me, you haven’t read Here for You (the very angsty first book). I was initially a little bit at sea with all the characters that had been introduced in Here For You but quickly adapted here. I thought this had really satisfying levels of angst, chemistry and cuteness. Both Owen and Andrew are thoroughly decent guys: neither played any games, failed to communicate, or had “the big disagreement”. The secondary characters all have their own stories going on and I can’t wait to read their stories next! Voice actor Hugh Bradley had an appropriately youthful voice and I really liked his narration style!!
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