#Holiday

Gifts of the (Covid-19) Season

No Matter What You Celebrate.png

For most of my adulthood, I’ve had a vision of the holidays. Picture this: Sitting in front of a fireplace, looking out of a large (well-insulated) picture window as it snows. On the coffee table is a bowl of popcorn, my mug of hot chocolate (overloaded with marshmallows), and my book. My partner and I spend days on end reading, snuggled with each other, our dogs, and our favorite comfy throws.

What’s your holiday fantasy?

We’ve gotten close in some years, but the days have always been so hectic. As odd as it sounds, this year we’re going to finally do it. The odd and fragile year has give us the gift of time. The gifts of a slower pace and opportunity to focus on our true priorities. Health, happiness, serenity, and love. Oh—and there’s a snow storm coming.

We’re taking advantage of these gifts. I wish you the same.

A #Holiday #Recipe with Author Whitley Cox

Please join me in welcoming Whitley Cox to the LAM blog! Whitley Cox - Contemporary Erotic Romance -For the Curious Kink in all of Us.

~~~~~~~~~~

Love and Eating -what the holidays are all about!

#Holiday #love #Recipe #passion #power #thedarkanddamagedheartsseries #january292017

Cranberry Bliss Bars – BETTER THAN STARBUCKS! And cheaper too!

For years I would make it a sinful habit to treat myself at least once a week to a cranberry bliss bar and a chai tea latte with egg nog, because they’re only around for a short time, so the belly needs to stock up. But then I decided to try and make my own, that way I could eat a whole pan if I wanted to, and in the comfort of my own home (in the dark in a corner with crumbs all over my face…you get the picture). And voila, I found the perfect recipe that mimics the original, if not improves upon it. Now I just have to figure out how to copy their chai lattes with egg nog and I never have to leave my house again!

Recipe

Cranberry Bliss Bars

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (325 for a glass or dark pan). Prepare a 10x15 by lining it with parchment paper or use a non-stick spray.
  2. BARS: With an electric mixer, beat together softened butter and sugars 3-5 minutes until light; gently blend in eggs and orange extract (don't overbeat eggs). Add the flour, baking powder, and ginger and beat briefly. Add the cranberries and chips, stirring just until incorporated.
  3. Spread thick batter in prepared 10x15 pan. Bake 350 for 20-24 minutes until light brown AT EDGES and a skewer tests clean. Don't overbake or your bars will be dry. Let it cool completely. NOTE: If you use a 9x13 pan, the bars will be thicker and will take 26-28 minutes.
  4. FROSTING: Blend cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add orange extract and confectioners sugar and beat until frosting is fluffy and spreadable (adding 1 t. milk if needed). Spread evenly over COOLED bars.
  5. GARNISH: Use a zester to remove rind from an orange; sprinkle zest over frosted bars. Chop 1/3 cup Craisins coarsely; sprinkle over frosted bars.
  6. DRIZZLE: Mix white chocolate and oil in a glass measuring cup. Microwave 1 minute; stirring every 15 seconds until melted. Use a fork or whisk to drizzle the white chocolate diagonally across the bars.
  7. Allow one hour for the white chocolate to set before cutting. **To make signature Starbuck triangles, cut into 20 large squares (5 cuts by 4 cuts with the knife). Then cut each square in half diagonally to create triangles.

Ingredients

·       BARS

  • 1cup butter (2 sticks, very soft)
  • 1cup brown sugar (some cooks reduce this to 2/3 cup)
  • 13cup granulated sugar
  • 3large eggs
  • 2teaspoons orange extract or 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2cups flour
  • 12teaspoons baking powder
  • 1teaspoon ground ginger
  • 34cup craisins (dried cranberries)
  • 34cup white chocolate chips

·       FROSTING

  • 3ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 2tablespoons butter, softened
  • 3cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1teaspoon orange extract (or vanilla)

·       TOPPING

  • 13cup craisins, chopped
  • 1 -2tablespoon grated orange rind
  • 13cup white chocolate chips
  • 12teaspoon canola oil

wc-lpp-ddh-part1-750x1125Love, Passion and Power: Part 1

The Dark and Damaged Hearts Series Book 1

January 29, 2017

Blurb

Her was her new beginning; she was his undoing.

When personal trainer Kendra Black saw millionaire Justin Williams walk through her door all she saw was money and a practiced swagger. A man who's used to getting what he wants, especially when it comes to women. But Kendra is startled to realize that there is more to Justin than meets the eye, he’s kind and funny and brilliant, and she wants him, desperately. Unable to resist Kendra or her fiery spirit and zest for life, right from the start, Justin pursues her, only her troubled childhood holds her back. She’s been running from love for so long, she doesn’t know how to stop and let it catch up.

Elated when Kendra finally gives into their attraction, Justin jumps in with both feet, only his hectic and demanding life continues to interfere, and Kendra’s past comes creeping back and the two are tested. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionate and physical adventure, Justin discovers Kendra’s secrets and fears while exploring and uncovering his own wild and dark desires.

Excerpt

I turned my head around as I continued up the path and his smile was adorably cocky, shit-eating and amused beyond words. So I quickly spun back around to face the path, wondering if I should give him the satisfaction of playing into his comment and questioning it or if I should play my own game and ignore him, let him sweat -I’m not one for head games!

“What the hell did that mean!?” I asked, stopping in my tracks and facing him.

“Relax,” he said. Smile not leaving his eyes or his lips as he gently placed his hands on my shoulders to ground me, “I’m not asking you to marry me right now. But I KNOW for a fact that I am going to marry you. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted and I’ll wait until you’re ready and feel the same, but I WILL make you my wife, Kendra Black.” He shrugged again and smiled that adorable triumphant grin that made my heart melt and leap and spin and dance.

A small smile crept its way on to my face no matter how hard I tried to fight it, damn he was handsome. “Now get moving and stop fretting. I can see by that wrinkle between your brows that you’re worrying. Please don’t.” He turned me around by my shoulders and smacked my butt again until I started hiking. My mind reeling and going in all directions about what he’d just said. And maybe, just maybe, if I’m being 100% honest, thinking of bridal gowns, honeymoon destinations and flowers.

Buy Links -Currently available for pre-order

Amazon

B&N

Kobo

Books2Read

Author Bio

author-picBorn and raised on the West Coast of Canada and married to her high school sweetheart, with a spirited toddler and a fluffy dog. Whitley spends her days making food that gets thrown on the floor, vacuuming Cheerios out from under the couch and making sure that the dog food doesn't end up in the air conditioner. But when nap time comes and it's not quite wine o'clock, Whitley sits down, avoids the pile of laundry on the couch, and writes.

A lover of all things decadent; wine, cheese, chocolate and spicy erotic romance, Whitley brings the humorous side of sex, the ridiculous side of relationships and the suspense of every day life into her stories. With mommy wars, body issues, threesomes and role playing, these books have everything we need to satisfy the curious kink in all of us.

Social Links

Facebook

Blog

@WhitleyCoxBooks

Website

 

#Holiday #Recipe with Author DW Adler

img_1305Please join me in welcoming DW Adler to the Living After Midnight blog. He's sharing a recipe with us!


In honour of my Irish main character, I present a holiday treat from Ireland!

Porter Cake (from olums.ie/recipies/porter-cake/)

INGREDIENTS:

450g / 1lb Odlums Cream Plain Flour Pinch of Salt 1 level teaspoon Baking Powder 1 level teaspoon Mixed Spice 225g / 8oz Sugar 225g / 8oz Butter 450g / 1lb Sultanas 125g / 4oz Candied Peel 300ml / 1/2 pint Guinness (Porter) 2 Eggs (beaten)

METHOD:

Preheat oven 180°C/350°F Line a 20cm/8″ round cake tin with greaseproof paper. Sieve the flour, salt, baking powder and mixed spice into a bowl and add the sugar. Rub in the butter and add the fruit and mix. Add the porter to the beaten eggs and add to fruit mixture. Mix well. Transfer to the prepared tin and bake for approximately 2 hours. Place on a low shelf position in the oven.

NOTES: Check cake after an hour and if it is browning too quickly, cover with a double layer of greaseproof paper until baked.

Title: The Spring of Seduction (Shelter from the Winter series Book 1)img_1303 Genre: Paranormal LGBTQS romance/erotica

Book Blurb: Brijit McRaith has been on the run for centuries. Pursued by her mad creator for most of her years as a vampire, she has finally found peace and sanctuary in her native Ireland. But a modern world on the brink of war has caught up with her and after decades of quiet, Brijit finds herself on the run again. To add to her personal chaos, she becomes smitten with mortal Kelly O'Donnell, and Brijit’s initial plans to lay low fall by the wayside. With an uncertain future ahead of her, can Brijit protect her newfound love from a world on the edge of destroying itself?

This book contains scenes of explicit erotica and is meant for readers 18 years of age or older.

Excerpt: Brijit reached up and put her hand behind Kelly’s head, intertwining her fingers with curly locks of dark red hair. “You feel it too, don’t you?”

Kelly’s breathing quickened and her cheeks burned red as Brijit’s touch made her body tense with conflicting emotions. Her eyes closed halfway and the fear started to morph into something resembling ecstasy. “Uh huh,” she murmured.

“What have you been doing to me all evening? I can’t think straight when you look at me.”

Brijit stroked Kelly’s hair, pulled her hand away and pushed her fingers back through the strands, starting at her temples and ending at the back of her head. Her fingertips pressed into Kelly’s scalp with the slightest of pressure, which excited the nerves in her skin. “I’m not doing anything. I don’t do vampire mind tricks. I feel this connection with you…it’s rare that it’s this strong. There haven’t been many over the centuries that make me feel like this.”

Kelly looked into the green eyes and felt the fear and terror turn to waves of want and lust. She brought her hands to Brijit’s face, feeling the soft yet strong skin so very cold beneath her fingertips. Brijit smiled and leaned in slowly. Her lips found Kelly’s. Slowly, she brushed by them.

Kelly felt her breathing quicken as the vampire teased her, their mouths hovering near each other. Finally she moved in closer, craving the touch of Brijit’s lips. She pressed into them gently and felt their softness meet her own in a kiss that was gentle yet tentative at the same time…

Buy links: From my publisher, eXtasy Books: http://www.extasybooks.com/dw-adler/ Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/D.-W.-Adler/e/B00BFFUUJU Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/dwadler Apple iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-spring-of-seduction/id621488293?mt=11 Kobo: htteps://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-spring-of-seduction

Author Bio: DW Adler ("Call me Don") was born and raised in beautiful Nova Scotia, img_1304Canada. After receiving a degree in psychology and an almost-minor in Irish Studies, he learned how to fix computers. He now sweats profusely in Florida where he does IT support for a living when he's not writing. Don counts such authors as Anne Rice, JRR Tolkien, and Edgar Allan Poe, as well as a love for Irish/Celtic myth and folklore as his influences. He loves to read sci-fi, fantasy, post-apocalyptic, and anything having to do with vampires. Other than sipping tea and writing, Don dabbles in computer animation and graphic design, is a doting father to his little girl, and a loving husband. He is constantly plotting how to get back home to Nova Scotia and flees there whenever the sight of snow becomes a necessity. No, he will not fix your computer.

Author Links: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/D.-W.-Adler/e/B00BFFUUJU/ Website: http://www.dw-adler.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdlerDW Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dw.adler.5 Google+: https://google.com/+DWAdler

 

Mistletoe Hop: Naughty All the Way

banner-mistletoe-hop-2016

Have you been a naughty author or a nice author? Which is more fun?

Is there ever a year where we are completely naughty or nice? I've never had one. In fact, I can't even decide which was the higher percentage this year. After all I didn't finish Wolves, my work in progress. That's clearly naughty, isn't it? But I did finish and publish After Midnight. It's a novella, prequel to my novel House of the Rising Son. It sheds some light on the mothers of Cheyenne's children.

Nice, right?

On the other hand, I entered Nanowrimo--National Novel Writing Month--but I did not "win". So that was naughty. But I'm much closer to finishing a novel that has been on my mind recently. Totally nice.

I suppose that means I've been naughty AND nice. As for which is more fun for me...I'm an author who writes about sexy, rebellious, incubus rock stars. What do you think?  #naughtyalltheway

~~~~~~

OOOH! A HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY!

Interested? Sign up for my newsletter here to be eligible to win a free copy of After Midnight! 

~~~~~

 

After Midnight

Prequel to House of the Rising Son

Living After Midnight Series

Genre: Urban Fantasy (LGBT)

Improbable love. Impossible life. Immeasurable danger.

Jewell’s stepfather thinks she’s worthless. She agrees. When she looks in the mirror she sees an overweight, overemotional, overeating mess who can’t keep her fangs to herself.

Ria hails from a family of old world vamps who'd be happy to share their wealth with her, if only she’d fall in line. Fat chance, especially since being in that line includes not being gay.

Being in love is easy for Ria and Jewell—the young vampires belong together like vodka and tomato juice. Adding Cheyenne, a talented and sexy incubus, to their union is the hot sauce in their Bloody Mary. The only problem? Vampires and incubi are mortal enemies.

Despite the odds Ria, Jewell and Cheyenne find their way to happiness. But Jewell is hiding a huge secret, one that defies the laws of procreation: She’s going to have a baby.

While she tries to figure out how to break the unbelievable news to her lovers, a horror from Jewell’s past slithers into her present, forcing choices no one should have to make.

Will it be love or death? Happiness or safety? She has until dawn to decide...and it's already After Midnight.

~~

Excerpt:

The choice between staying in on a Saturday night to clean and going to see Cheyenne at his first real gig hadn’t been a complicated decision. He was a world-class rocker who could play the guitar like a fiend and had a voice that made you feel…everything. Or made you horny. And fuck if she didn’t love him. Damn incubus.

She reached across him and caressed Jewell’s side. Jewell’s eyes opened and she stared expressionless at the ceiling, hyper-alert to danger. It always took a few moments after resurrecting for her to remember where she was and who was with her, but since moving into their new home it seemed to take even longer.

Ria sighed. She’d do anything if it would help Jewell feel safe enough to die each dawn and awaken peacefully. “All is well, Babydoll. It’s just me. Time to rise and twinkle with the stars.”

“Already?” Jewell scrunched her eyes and blinked as if trying to focus them.

Cheyenne lay his head on the soft swell of Jewell’s belly. “Didn’t we just go to bed?”

Ria kissed his back and licked a slow trail down his spine. “Hours ago. Did we tucker out the poor little sex demon?”

“Not hardly, dead girl.”

She grabbed a fistful of his hair and turned him to face her. “That’s undead girl, thank you.” She bit his lower lip and let it drag between her teeth. “Show us what you’ve got left.”

~~

You can find After Midnight at Amazon

About Trevann

Trevann Rogers writes urban fantasy and LGBT paranormal romances. Her books include HOUSE OF THE RISING SON and its prequel novella, AFTER MIDNIGHT. Trevann's stories incorporate an unquenchable addiction to music and her love for vampires, Weres, incubi and rock stars. Like these elusive creatures, Trevann learned long ago that sometimes being yourself means Living After Midnight.

You can find Trevann online at:

www.trevannrogers.com

www.facebook.com/trevannr

www.pinterest.com/trevannr

Twitter: @TrevannRogers

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Click here to check out the other Mistletoe blogs!

Decadent Decem-brr Reads: A bay window, a fireplace, hot chocolate, and snow.

image1 You're eligible to enter a Rafflecopter giveaway

Looking for a way to battle the chilly weather? Follow the Decem-brr Reads Blog Hop! Oh--and get a chance to win a #Kindle and other goodies, too! #Giveaway

I love the cold weather, mostly because it's much easier for me to find ways to get warm than have to get cooler when it's too hot.  I even love snow. Two of my longstanding fantasies have been to Christmas shop in the snow, or sit in front of a fire at a ski lodge and watch the snow.

While Christmas shopping there are no slick roads or sidewalks, its not too cold, the lights are festive, people are pleasant. I see myself with a few beautifully wrapped gifts, heading to a quaint coffee shop where I sit in a window seat and sip hot chocolate while enjoying the view.

At various times in my life I have gotten one or two of these elements together but never more than that. In reality, if it is snowing I’m staying at home where it’s safe. If it’s cold I’m wearing too many articles of outerwear to be comfortable indoors. If I order hot chocolate, it’s either too weak or so hot it takes an hour to be cool enough to drink it. And if it’s Christmas, well, often people are not at their cheeriest.

As for my ski lodge fantasy, I’d never been to one or even had an experience remotely similar. Until this month. I lived out both of my fantasies at the Trapp Family Lodge in Vermont.

The weather was pleasant as we left home and the roads were clear. The morning after we arrived, we woke to a nice snow. There was not much on the ground but it was falling in nice big flakes. Later that morning we spent several hours in the town of Stowe. The snow was still falling but it was warm enough that I was only wearing a sweater and scarf as outerwear. That meant that I could spend time in stores without breaking into a heat rash or knocking over half the merchandise with a bulky coat. We shopped for a few hours, walking in the snow and enjoying the holiday decorations. The morning ended perfectly with an early lunch in a cute little diner.

By the time we were back at the lodge, there was quite a bit of snow on the ground but the roads were clear. (They really want those skiers and snowboarders to be able to get to the slopes.). The lodge has numerous cross-country trails so we were able to sit by the fire and watch the snow and other people having fun skiing.

In a single weekend I was able to bring two of my fantasies into reality. All the pieces fell into place even though they were not the original plan. Now my goal is to achieve the same feeling at home. All I need is bay window, a fireplace, hot chocolate and snow.

OOOH! ANOTHER HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY!

Interested? Sign up for my newsletter here to be eligible to win a free copy of After Midnight! 

~~~~~

on-sale-99-at-amazon-comAfter Midnight

Prequel to House of the Rising Son

Living After Midnight Series

Genre: Urban Fantasy (LGBT)

Improbable love. Impossible life. Immeasurable danger.

Jewell’s stepfather thinks she’s worthless. She agrees. When she looks in the mirror she sees an overweight, overemotional, overeating mess who can’t keep her fangs to herself.

Ria hails from a family of old world vamps who'd be happy to share their wealth with her, if only she’d fall in line. Fat chance, especially since being in that line includes not being gay.

Being in love is easy for Ria and Jewell—the young vampires belong together like vodka and tomato juice. Adding Cheyenne, a talented and sexy incubus, to their union is the hot sauce in their Bloody Mary. The only problem? Vampires and incubi are mortal enemies.

Despite the odds Ria, Jewell and Cheyenne find their way to happiness. But Jewell is hiding a huge secret, one that defies the laws of procreation: She’s going to have a baby.

While she tries to figure out how to break the unbelievable news to her lovers, a horror from Jewell’s past slithers into her present, forcing choices no one should have to make.

Will it be love or death? Happiness or safety? She has until dawn to decide...and it's already After Midnight.

~~

Excerpt:

The choice between staying in on a Saturday night to clean and going to see Cheyenne at his first real gig hadn’t been a complicated decision. He was a world-class rocker who could play the guitar like a fiend and had a voice that made you feel…everything. Or made you horny. And fuck if she didn’t love him. Damn incubus.

She reached across him and caressed Jewell’s side. Jewell’s eyes opened and she stared expressionless at the ceiling, hyper-alert to danger. It always took a few moments after resurrecting for her to remember where she was and who was with her, but since moving into their new home it seemed to take even longer.

Ria sighed. She’d do anything if it would help Jewell feel safe enough to die each dawn and awaken peacefully. “All is well, Babydoll. It’s just me. Time to rise and twinkle with the stars.”

“Already?” Jewell scrunched her eyes and blinked as if trying to focus them.

Cheyenne lay his head on the soft swell of Jewell’s belly. “Didn’t we just go to bed?”

Ria kissed his back and licked a slow trail down his spine. “Hours ago. Did we tucker out the poor little sex demon?”

“Not hardly, dead girl.”

She grabbed a fistful of his hair and turned him to face her. “That’s undead girl, thank you.” She bit his lower lip and let it drag between her teeth. “Show us what you’ve got left.”

~~

You can find After Midnight at Amazon

About Trevann

Trevann Rogers writes urban fantasy and LGBT paranormal romances. Her books include HOUSE OF THE RISING SON and its prequel novella, AFTER MIDNIGHT. Trevann's stories incorporate an unquenchable addiction to music and her love for vampires, Weres, incubi and rock stars. Like these elusive creatures, Trevann learned long ago that sometimes being yourself means Living After Midnight.

You can find Trevann online at:

www.trevannrogers.com

www.facebook.com/trevannr

www.pinterest.com/trevannr

Twitter: @TrevannRogers

Decadent Reads (spicey or erotic Romance). Check out the other blogs!

Tina Gayle Shares a #Holiday #Recipe and Marketing Exec’s Widow #99cents

Please join me in welcoming Tina Gayle to the LAM blog! holidayromancerecipes-1My uncle used to make this cobbler all the time when he wanted to offer us a treat. A confirmed bachelor, he wanted something quick and easy.

Quick Peach Cobbler

1 large can of peaches

3/4 c. sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 box of vanilla wafers

1/4 cup of butter

Preheat the oven to 350. Pour can peaches, sugar, and cinnamon in a casserole dish large enough to hold everything I use the 2quart size. After stirring these items together, then add most of the box of vanilla wafers, set enough aside to pull on top. Once you have the wafers arranged on top, slice the butter in to small pieces and set on top of the wafers. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

Serve with ice cream or whipping cream.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Four women... One fatal car wreck... Everyone's lives changed...

romance with strong women fiction elements

tg-ewc-mewidow-432x648Blurb --- "Marketing Exec’s Widow” Letting go and rebuilding a life comes at a price.

Having come to terms with losing her husband, Jennifer is ready to move on, but she faces opposition from her friends, in-laws, and brother-in-la. He see himself as her future husband. None of them know of Jen’s marital problems and she is afraid of their reaction when they learn she has a date for Friday night? Hagan Chaney is not anything like Craig. He tempts Jen into the future but is she willing to give love another chance after the heartache she faced the 1st time around?

Excerpt –

Friday night, sitting at a booth in a nice, romantic restaurant, Jen silently wished she could enjoy the subdued atmosphere, and order a rib eye steak. Instead, her hands shook and her stomach churned with doubt. The survival skills she’d learned after becoming a real estate agent demanded a calm, composed front, but she couldn’t pull it off.

Hell, who was she fooling?

After ten years without a date, what made her believe she could do this again? She stared at the menu. Could she even swallow a bite of beef? And if not, what should she order?

She lifted her gaze to the drop-dead gorgeous man on the other side of the table. Hagan Cheney, a Greek god incarnated, had strawberry blond hair glowing like gold around his head. Wide shoulders and strong arms were encased in a hunter-green cashmere sweater. Apollo himself wouldn’t look any better.

Why in heaven’s name did he ask her on a date?

And why did she care?

She had no plans other than a casual dinner for two.

He glanced up, and a pretty-boy grin crossed his lips. The twinkle in his hazel eyes softened the square line of his jaw. “So have you decided what you want?”

Heat simmered low in her belly. Oh, yeah, answering that question the wrong way could get her into a world of trouble.

Tempted by wicked ideas, Jen blinked and stared at the menu. She’d do better if he didn’t know the wild directions of her brainwaves. “I’m not sure I can eat. I haven’t been this nervous since my first date with Craig.”

Ah, shit, I wasn’t supposed to mention him. Fire burned her cheeks. Her gaze jumped to Hagan’s befuddled expression.

“Craig?” Hagan lowered his menu.

Purchase Links

Amazon    |  All Romance Ebooks   |  B&N     |  Kobo    | Apple  | Smashword

tinagaylephoto-899x1024Bio

An author with over 30 books, Tina Gayle writes in a number of different genres: Romantic contemporary (as Tina Gayle) and Erotic Romance. Her books range from contemporary, paranormal to mystery and suspense

As an indie author, she has worked hard to have a social presence and reach her readers. You can visit her website and read the 1st chapter of any of her books. Or you can download a free ebook and join her newsletter group.

http://www.tinagayle.net//newsletter.html

Find Tina Gayle everywhere

Home - www.tinagayle.net

Blog - www.tinagayle.blogspot.com

Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/AuthorTinaGayle

Goodread - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1641826.Tina_Gayle

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