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Review: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

Review of The Duke and I, a regency era romance set in 1813 London by Julia Quinn.

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Synopsis

After two seasons of minimal success on the marriage mart, Daphne Bridgerton is uncertain if she will ever meet a man she can marry. Then she meets Simon Basset, newly minted Duke of Hastings.

Simon was rejected by his father for having a stutter as a child. Because of this, he is determined never to marry or have children to carry on the family line. He suggests to Daphne that they pretend to be courting. Hopefully, this will keep the Ambitious Mamas of marriageable-aged daughters from bothering him and make her more attractive to potential suitors.

However, Simon is increasingly attracted to Daphne, and Daphne cares more and more for Simon. And after they are found in a compromising position in a garden, Daphne’s elder brother demands they marry. Simon eventually agrees, but his constant dedication to spite his father comes between them. Can Daphne defeat Simon’s hatred of his father?

Review

The Duke and I is the first of Julia Quinn’s novels about the Bridgerton siblings. It tells the love story of how Daphne, the eldest Bridgerton daughter and fourth Bridgerton child. It is also the inspiration for the first season of Netflix’s fantastic new show: Bridgerton.

The first half of the story almost seemed like a different book to the second half. I think the author may have used the first half to set the scene for the rest of the series. She introduced the large and lively Bridgerton family masterfully. Aside from some serious physical attraction, the relationship between Simon and Daphne didn’t develop much. This made the kissing in the garden scene feel a bit sudden.

The chemistry between Simon and Daphne was beautiful. I just couldn’t help falling in love with them as a couple. I liked how they have vastly different backstories but still have a connection and common purpose. And the banter between them was fun and adorable.

“Sir! Sir!”

With great reluctance, he dragged his eyes up to her face. Which was, of course, delightful in and of itself, but it was difficult to picture her seduction when she was scowling at him.

“Were you listening to me?”

“Of course,” he lied.

“You weren’t.”

“No,” he admitted.

A sound came from the back of her throat that sounded suspiciously like a growl. “Then why,” she ground out, “did you say you were?”

He shrugged. “I thought it was what you wanted to hear.”

Daphne is such an amazing young woman. She’s intelligent, friendly, and clear-headed. She has a sly sense of humour and a fantastic grasp on how to deal with men. I loved how she wasn’t afraid to interfere in things that affected her even though the men tried to exclude her.

Some parts of the story were repeated a bit often. These include the fact that Simon’s stutter is brought on by stress and anger and that Daphne is from a large and loving family with overbearing brothers. It keeps things consistent, but gets a bit overdone.

The Controversial Scene

About 80% of the way through The Duke and I, there is a controversial, potentially triggering scene. Some people would say that Daphne raped Simon. I’m not so sure – it’s very much more complicated than that.

Because of his problems with his father, Simon has decided that he will never have children. So before agreeing to marry Daphne, he tells her that he cannot have children. Daphne takes this to mean that there is something physically wrong with him and because she’s so innocent, she doesn’t notice the little thing he does to ensure that she will never conceive.

Two weeks into their marriage, Daphne puts two and two together and realises what Simon has been doing. They fight about it, and after a failed reconciliation, Simon gets very drunk. After a short nap, they have some apparently mutually consensual sexy times that becomes less mutually consensual at the end. Simon (understandably) becomes very angry and leaves.

I’m not going to get into the debate of who was right or wrong. However, I didn’t like the way it was delt with in the story. Simon and Daphne separate for a time, but come back together fairly easily.

Neither of them acknowledges their mistakes or apologises to the other. There’s very little discussion afterwards, and what discussion they have is centred around having children, not the issues they’ve had. I find it difficult to believe that a couple could get over something so major so easily.

Conclusion

Have you read The Duke and I? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.

If you haven’t, you can buy it at Book Depository (they have free international shipping!) or Waterstones (free delivery on UK orders over £25, will ship internationally).

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Review: Tangled in Time by Barbara Longley

Review of Tangled in Time, time-travelling romance set in Ireland by Barbara Longley.

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Synopsis

Regan MacCarthy is in Ireland for a break from her exhausting life. While trying to return her ability to see ghosts, she meets a gorgeous man who refuses to accept his death. Fáelán is a 3rd century warrior who was cursed by the faerie princess Morrigan. He is doomed to live in the Fae realm, invisible to most humans, until he falls so deeply in love he would sacrifice his life.

To this end, Fáelán spends the following weeks showing Regan around Ireland, longing for the solstice when the realms meet and he can touch her. Once Regan and Fáelán have fallen for each other, Morrigan steals him back into the void. With the help of Morrign’s daughter, Regan travels back in time to the 3rd century to prevent the curse and save Fáelán’s life.

Review

This book is called “Tangled in Time,” which gave me the impression that the characters get tangled up in time. But having read it, I think it’s time itself that gets tangled. Regan goes back in time, changes things, and returns. Fáelán both lives through time in the normal linear manner and jumps straight from the 3rd century to the 21st.

There’s a good amount of scientific explanations behind the alternate realms/dimensions. However, once time-travel gets involved in the second half of the book, the scientific explanations become a bit complicated – I had to think through it a bit to understand it.

I found how quickly Regan and Fáelán fell in love unconvincing. I know that Fáelán was desperate to fall in love (with anyone) to break his curse, but Regan had no such motivation. It seems even more unconvincing when early on in their relationship, there are scenes like this:

“Enough.” Her dismissive assumptions nearly chocked him. Fall in love with Regan MacCarthy? Impossible. She’d insulted him in the worst possible way, accusing him of deluding himself with faerie tales as if he were a laddie of but a handful of winters. Cursing his fate, he was sorely tempted to return to his island to wait a hundred years or so afore seeking out another woman who might see him.

I loved how Regan kept thinking of (and referring to) Fáelán as a “boasty ghosty.” That phrase made me giggle every time. Boasty ghosty.

Fáelán felt more real as the real as the book progressed. When we first meet him, he seems simple and two-dimensional. By the time he’s fallen madly in love, we have learned so much about him that he has become a really believable person with both good and bad qualities. However, this occurs so gradually that I didn’t notice it until I had almost finished to book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. However, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who didn’t enjoy science in high-school or who gets their knickers in a twist over magic.

Conclusion

Have you read Tangled in Time? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.

If you haven’t, you can buy it at Book Depository (they have free international shipping!).

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Review: Highland Lover by Hannah Howell

Review of Highland Lover by Hannah Howell, an historical romance novel set in medieval Scotland.

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Synopsis

Alana Murray is kidnapped and is imprisoned in a very dark hole with Gregor MacFingal Cameron. After a trying escape, Alana becomes fevered and Gregor has to find a safe shelter and nurse her back to health. In her delirium, she reveals more about herself than she had wanted to, including that she was searching for her sister, Keira.

Once she’s recovered, the two of them set off to find her sister, whose home just happens to be in the same direction as Gregor’s family. When they reach Gregor’s home, they are both stunned to find Mavis, the woman Gregor had courted, and her father already there and claiming that they were betrothed.

In the meantime, Gregor has realised which woman he wants to marry but he doesn’t want to speak of his feelings to Alana until he has dealt with Mavis. This has left Alana hurt and unsure if she can trust him.

Review

Highland Lover has to be the worst book I have read by this author. While the first half had action, it was unoriginal. Once they arrived at the monastery, there were all these references to Keira’s story that made no sense and kind of overshadowed Alana and Gregor for a bit. I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t as good as Hannah Howell’s other books.

It seemed a bit strange that the cabin Gregor found to hide in immediately after the escape was so safe for so long. Why would such a nice cottage be so convenient? Surely the Gowans would have known that it was there and checked it for their runaways.

The fact that the cottage had a sturdy wooden door should have alerted him to the possibility that this was no mere cottar’s hut, he realized. Opening one of the thick shutters on one of the three windows, he found glass panes, a true luxury. Although the mattress upon the bed was stuffed with straw, it was thick and clean. A poor man would have taken such a fine mattress with him. Gregor then recalled how the cottage was tucked deep within the woods with no area cleared for farming or the raising of animals. He began to think he had stumbled upon some laird’s retreat, perhaps even a place where he housed his lemans out of sight and reach of his wife. It was pure luck that the man was between lovers at the moment, Gregor mused.

I loved the way Artan and Lucas were so protective over Alana, and how Gregor responded to their behaviour. It was so entertaining but realistic. I can easily imagine protective elder brothers from any era acting the same way over the man who beds their little sister.

By the end of the book, I found myself with quite a disliking for Gregor. I can understand why he didn’t tell Alana about Mavis (after all, he justifies himself repeatedly). But then it turns out that he has two illegitimate sons that he never so much as thought about while he was with Alana.

Conclusion

Have you read Highland Lover? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.

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Review: The Tartan MP3 Player by C. A. Szarek

Review of The Tartan MP3 Player by C. A. Szarek, a time-travelling historical romance set in 17th century Scotland.

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Synopsis

Claire McGowan finds herself running naked along a cold beach. At first, she thinks she is having a particularly vivid dream, but when she meets Duncan MacLeod it becomes apparent that she is in the Scottish Highlands in the 1600s.

Duncan’s brother, Alex, was captured by the Fae King Fillan six months earlier. Since then, Duncan has been searching for the Faery Stones so that he can enter the Fae Realm and rescue Alex. Now, he has found a strange woman who looks to have come through the very same Stones that he has been looking for. He takes her in, hoping that she knows something that will help him.

After a week of fighting to keep their attraction to each other under control, Duncan insists that they marry. By the time they find the stones and begin their attempt to save Alex, both Duncan and Claire are struggling with their feelings and eminent separation.

Review

The Tartan MP3 Player looks a lot like it started as Outlander fanfiction, especially at the start. A woman is transported back in time through stones where she marries a man that she then falls in love with and stays in the past for. Very Outlander. However, the style is very different and as the story progresses the fantasy element comes out more, the differences become more obvious.

Usually, I don’t like books with a lot of magic or a strong fantasy element. However, the way it was dealt with in this book was quite believable and I found that it didn’t feel strange or unusual. The author managed to weave the Faery world and the real world together in a very convincing manner.

“The Fae might be in stories, but they’re very real, Claire.”

She scoffed, and the water shifted in the tub with her movements, splashing against the side of the tub.

“Ye’ve come through time, yet ye doubt?”

Claire paused, her green eyes boring into him. “True. I was still hoping this is all a dream.”

Duncan smirked. “Nay, lass.”

“So the Fae are real?” Her tone was a combination of curiosity and disbelief.

“Aye, and they hold my brother captive.”

There were a couple of erotic scenes in the middle of the book that were excessively explicit. It wouldn’t have been too hard to tone them down a notch. We don’t need to know that much!

I wonder why Alana, the Fae Princess that Alex married, didn’t leave the Fae realm earlier, perhaps when she first married, or when she had Angus. Of course, if she had there would be no story and this book would be absolutely rubbish. Perhaps she loved the Fae and didn’t want to leave them, but she obviously loves her son and husband.

The writing style is a bit abrupt. There are a lot of short sentences and one-line paragraphs that make it feel jumpy or startling (I’m not entirely sure what word would best convey what I’m thinking). There are also a couple of bits where the author explains things that happened earlier, which seems a bit amateurish.

Despite the above comments (most of which appear to be negative), I got hooked into this book, read it several times in a row, and want to read the other books in the series.

Conclusion

Have you read The Tartan MP3 Player? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.

If you haven’t, it can be bought at the following stores:

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Review: Highland Hearts by Hannah Howell

Review of Highland Hearts, an historical romance by Hannah Howell set in medieval Scotland

Highland Hearts by Hannah Howell cover
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Synopsis

Moments after Tessa Delgado frees Sir Revan Halyard from her uncle’s dungeon, Revan kidnaps her. Revan suspects that Tessa’s uncle is involved in a plot to overthrow King James II and she just happens to have the information that he needs. Suddenly they are on the run, trying to reach the King before Uncle Thurkettle and the treacherous Douglases can track them down.

Forced together, Revan and Tessa find themselves increasingly attracted to each other and before long have begun a “no strings attached” affair. This is complicated when Tessa’s other uncle, Sir Silvio Delgado Comyn, demands that Revan marry her. Knowing how Revan feels about the land and money she has inherited, Tessa determines that she must find a way to release him despite how much she has come to love him.

Review

Highland Hearts was fast-paced with lots of action. Revan and Tessa are constantly running from some sort of danger or trying to get their various bits of information to the king. Even once they’ve passed their information on, they quickly uncover more information, making their flight to the king even more urgent.

These two have sex far too soon for my liking. I get that they’ve been alone in a cave together for days on end and there is this immediate connection between them. However, it is the 15th century and Tessa is an obviously virtuous young woman. There is no way they would have done anything like this so quickly in real life.

Despite all the trouble she was in, she knew sleep would come quickly. It was just weighting her body when she felt Revan slip under the blanket and lay down beside her. Wide-eyed with shock, suddenly alert, she turned to stare at his broad back.

“What are you doing?” she squeaked.

“Going to sleep.”

“Ye canna sleep here.”

“’Tis the only place to sleep there is. Wheesht, I am too weary to bother with some fool lass’s outrage. I am also too weary to be any threat to any female. So ye can just calm yourself down and go to sleep.”

It was interesting to see how the characters dealt with Tessa having money while Revan had none. Usually the man has the money while the woman may have a small dowry (and not much more). Revan seems to be the only one who sees any problem with him not having any money to contribute to his potential marriage.

Conclusion

Have you read Highland Hearts? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.

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Review: Highland Sinner by Hannah Howell

Review of Highland Sinner, historical romance set in 15th century Scotland by Hannah Howell

Highland Sinner by Hannah Howell cover
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Synopsis

Women are being brutally murdered and butchered. Sir Tormand Murray has had affairs with all of them. Before long, rumours are circulating that he is responsible for the deaths and Tormand’s life is threatened by fearful locals intent on justice. His friend, Simon, soon arrives to investigate.

With more women dying and no leads to follow, Simon and Tormand meet with Morainn, a young woman who has visions. Morainn agrees to help but doing so quickly lands her in danger from the killers, and she moves to Tormand’s house so that his relatives can protect them.

Tormand fights his attraction to Morainn, fearing what she means for his future. However, constantly being in the same house makes it impossible to avoid her, and before long he finds himself trying to woo her.

Review

Highland Sinner is just as much mystery as it is romance. Who is murdering all these women? Why are they framing Tormand? Will Morainn ever find out where Walin came from? The ‘Tormand and Morainn relationship’ storyline seems to be secondary to the mystery a lot of the time.

I was pleased by how Tormand had already started getting over his “leaping from one bed to another like some demented toad” before meeting Morainn. There are too many books out there already where the hero acts horribly at the beginning and the heroine changes him.

I absolutely loved Tormand’s relationship with his family. They obviously care for each other and would do anything to save Tormand from suffering. Yet, there’s constant complaining about each other and teasing among them (especially about Tormand’s reputation and attempts to woo Morainn).

I didn’t like how much the relationship between Tormand and Morainn was analysed. There are way too many instances where Tormand ponders his feelings and future, or Morainn weighs the consequences of becoming his lover. It’s an effective way of showing how their relationship progresses, but it feels overdone.

Conclusion

Have you read Highland Sinner? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? What about other books by Hannah Howell? Let me know in the comments.

If you haven’t, it can be bought at Book Depository (they have free worldwide shipping!).

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Review: Once Tempted by Elizabeth Boyle

Review of Once Tempted, a regency era romance by Elizabeth Boyle

Once Tempted by Elizabeth Boyle cover

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Synopsis

Olivia Sutton was deceived by and fell in love with a man who really only wanted her to tell him where a treasure called “The King’s Ransom” is hidden. She escapes and goes into hiding, having been wrongly accused of murder. Years later, the man who ruined her life returns from the grave and Olivia goes to confront him.

Turns out it’s not the same man, but his cousin. Robert is on a mission for the crown to find The King’s Ransom to fund the ongoing war against Napoleon for the Iberian Peninsular. To this end, he takes Olivia with him to Portugal.

While there, the truth about the man that Olivia was accused of murdering comes out, and as much as he might resist it, Robert falls in love with her. They join the war, look for the treasure, and finally deal with the ghosts that have been following them for seven years.

Review

Once Tempted was different and entertaining. It was good to see a heroine who participated in a major event that happened. Many books set in this period completely brush over or ignore the wars going on at the time. However, in this book, the wars are integral to the plot and we see the characters participating in them.

Some things seemed quite implausible. Olivia’s code breaking abilities is one (she deciphered a document that had stumped the rest of the world for centuries). The fact the Robert and his cousin look so identical is another. It’s all just too convenient to be believable.

It was interesting how the villain doesn’t show up until the end. The effects of his actions are felt throughout the book, and he is mentioned regularly. However, we are led to believe that he died years ago (even the heroine is surprised when he appears).

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It wasn’t spectacular, but I enjoyed it. The hero was hunky, the heroine was spunky, and the pair of them had great banter. There were all the typical barriers to their relationship and near misses that might have resulted in death before they could get together.

Conclusion

Have you read Once Tempted? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.

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Review: Three Weeks with Lady X by Eloisa James

Review of Three Weeks with Lady X, Historical Romance set in late 18th century England by Eloisa James

Three Weeks With Lady X by Eloisa James cover

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Synopsis

Thorn Dautry is the highly ambitious, very rich, illegitimate son of the duke of Villiers. In an attempt to dilute the effects of illegitimacy (at least for his future children), Thorn determines to marry the well-born Laetitia Rainsford (aka Lala). Knowing that Lala’s mother won’t allow the marriage unless he can impress her, Thorn buys a country house and hires Lady Xenobia India St. Clair to renovate it.

India is familiar with Lady Rainsford and knows that it will take more than a fancy house to get her to agree to the marriage. In addition to fixing up his house, India attempts to correct his manners. As they spend more time together and their relationship becomes increasingly heated, Thorn tries to set India up with his best friend, Vander.

Review

Three Weeks with Lady X has less romance in it than one would expect from a romance novel, particularly towards the beginning. While Thorn and India are physically attracted to each other, they both work towards fixing the other’s relationship with other people. Unfortunately, the author uses quite a few modern idioms and euphemisms that don’t fit the setting and also make the story seem more sexual than romantic.

I liked India. She is independent and a free thinker. Despite her obvious strength, we see her brought low towards the end when Thorn is unwell. This made her seem much more real than if she had been unaffected by Thorn’s injuries.

Right from the beginning, Thorn and India’s relationship is prickly and heated. They disagree on just about everything, while still managing to become friends and care for each other. This is particularly brought out by the stuff that was left in the house when the previous owner died. Additionally, the dialogue between the two of them was always entertaining.

“Those pictures are exaggerations. You do know that, don’t you, India?”

She scowled at him. “The matter is irrelevant.”

“It’s not irrelevant, because you’re about to marry. During my years at Eton, I saw hoards of men starkers. I can tell you this, India; whoever you marry will not compare to Feather.”

India felt, irrationally, that she should defend her future husband. “You don’t know that,” she objected. “I’m sure he will be … everything that a man should be.”

Thorns grin was making that hot and muddled feeling spread all over her body. “It’s really irrelevant,” she repeated crossly.

“Maybe before you decide on the man, I should take him for a dip in the horse pond and take a discreet glance. It would be awful if you went to your wedding night with images of Feather in mind, only to discover your beloved is the size of a thimble.”

“He won’t be!”

“How would you know? I would feel terrible if a book I owned corrupted you and consequently you never enjoyed your marital life.”

Compared to Thorn’s relationship with India, his relationship with Lala is subdued. Lala is quiet, timid, and a bit afraid of Thorn. She seems quite drippy and obviously believes that she is an idiot. I liked how Lala became more sure of herself around the doctor; she was clearly interested in his work and acted intelligently once she had someone treating her like she was smart.

I was disappointed that Vander didn’t get a HEA. Thorn and India (predictably) ended up together. Lala found someone that she loved. Vander is the only person who gets caught up in this complex web of relationships that doesn’t get together with the love of his life.

Conclusion

Have you read Three Weeks with Lady X? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.

If you haven’t, it can be bought at Book Depository (they have free worldwide shipping!).

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Review: Bride of Lochbarr by Margaret Moore

Review of Bride of Lochbarr, an historical romance set in medieval Scotland by Margaret Moore

Bride of Lochbarr by Margaret Moore cover (review by the Travelling Book Nerd)
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Synopsis

Marianne’s brother has demanded that she live with him on his new lands in Scotland while he arranges a marriage for her with an old, senile, but rich Scotsman. While she’s working on an escape, the son of a local chieftain interferes and “rescues” her.

This ruins her reputation in the eyes of her fellow Normans and Marianne demands that Adair marry her. He reluctantly complies, and their marriage gets off to a rocky start. Whispers about Adair’s behaviour and suitability as future leader of the clan eventually force his father to step-in and get the relationship back on track.

They don’t get to spend much time being happy together before his father dies. Adair’s rise to leadership is marred by an overthrow planned by his brother and cousin.

Review

Bride of Lochbarr was a good book. I would recommend it for anyone who likes romances set in Scotland or the middle ages. It uses a standard romance formula with several twists that make it unique, such as the damsel-in-destress turning the hero away.

Marianne and Adair were so perfect for each other. They had an initial misunderstanding but once they sorted it out, I think their relationship was stronger for it. They try better to communicate with each other and once they spend more time together, they really come to like and trust one another. By the end, they are able to work through issues together, not just issues between them but also issues with the clan.

I enjoyed the clashes between the Scots and Normans/English, and the differences in culture. The Scots are clearly resentful of the Normans, and the Normans don’t like anything to do with the Scots’ way of life.

 “It’s uisge beatha – the water of life. We Scots make it, and it’s better than wine.”

She curled her lip at that fulsome praise for the horrific beverage.

“I should have guessed you wouldn’t appreciate that, either,” he muttered as he went back to his task.

“Your drink is terrible, and anyone who appreciates good wine would think so, too.”

I liked how Marianne didn’t let her prejudices against Scots get in the way of endearing herself to the clan. She sees that for good or for bad, she is stuck in Scotland and there is nothing to be gained by acting superior and disdainful.

The baddies of the story are varied and generally well explained. Cormag is just plain evil and I hold no qualms about hating him; I was pleased when he died. Lachlann was an unlikely baddie, but he wasn’t really bad, just weak. Nicholas is bad at the beginning but turns good by the end.

The ending felt a little cut short. It was leading up to a huge showdown between Adair and Lachlann, maybe a battle. Instead, the rebels surrender. The tension was released a wee bit quickly, leaving me feeling mildly dissatisfied.

Conclusion

Have you read Bride of Lochbarr by Margaret Moore? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.

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