The Faberge Entanglement by Lesley Meryn and Elle Brookes

October 20, 2015 By 9 Comments

BookCover_TheFabergeEntanglement

The Faberge Entanglement by Lesley Meryn and Elle Brookes
Publisher: Self Published
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full (306 pgs)
Heat: Spicy
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Poppy

Sabinne ‘Saber’ Darrieux’s father, the billionaire CEO of Frontenac Global Security has been kidnapped. His ransom is not cash in a numbered offshore account, or a briefcase of Bearer Bonds but something utterly unique, incredibly valuable, and until recently, hidden away from the world.

The kidnapper seems to know Saber very well, and knows that the next day, through her work as an elite translator she will be in the same location as the Object. She must steal the Object and deliver it to the kidnapper to ransom her father.

Adrian Steele, a British Intelligence agent has just come off of two harrowing missions. Upon returning to London for a well-earned rest, he learns that his friend and fellow agent, has been murdered in Moscow, but not before he made use of a unique Object as a mobile ‘drop site’ for the valuable intelligence he was carrying.

The drop site is traveling from Moscow to England. Steele insists on completing the mission to honor the death of his friend, Gerry Cornell.
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At an ultra-chic quasi-diplomatic gathering in a mansion in Windsor, England, Saber and Steele meet and find themselves faced with a powerful, undeniable attraction. But at the moment, this compelling attraction is very inconvenient.

In reality they are at the mansion to check out the security arrangements — for their own reasons — to steal the Object, a Fabergé egg worth thirty million dollars. But who will get to the egg first?

Fabergé eggs are very famous for their unique surprises. Saber and Steele are about to be very surprised, indeed.

And when Saber clashes with Steele; more than sparks will explode!

Fun, quirky and intense, TheFaberge Entanglement is an interesting change from most romantic suspense novels.

I really enjoyed Saber…she’s smart and has some very interesting friends. The book opens in a very light-hearted manner with one of those friends at an…interesting theater show. Though things certainly do intensify over time, thankfully some of that light-heartedness remains. Be warned, though, this does start a little slowly and takes a little time to pick up the pace, but hang in there. It’s worth it!

Steele is pretty amazing and definitely a hottie. I do have to question how quickly things started to get physical (like the bone-melting kiss at their first meet), but in some way I can’t blame Saber for her reaction to the man because he’s yummy!

The storyline was good, though there are a pretty large number of characters to keep track of and the strange, short chapters that move us rapidly from one point-of-view to another made that a little difficult for me.

The strength of this story is in its two main characters. They are three-dimensional, unique and both strong and fun. Even the secondary characters were well drawn, and they are all what really kept me reading. I wonder (hope?) that we see them again. Maybe Saber and Steele should start their own outfit … because I’d definitely read about them again!

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

A Wicked Truth by Joyce Proell

October 5, 2015 By 13 Comments

BookCover_AWickedTruth

A Wicked Truth by Joyce Proell
Publisher: Champagne Books
Genre: Historical, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full (305 pgs)
Heat: Sweet
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Poppy

The wedding date is set, and life is magical for Doyle Flanagan and Cady Delafield. Then, honor bound to repay an old debt, Doyle agrees to help an old friend find her sister. As he searches for the girl, painful memories surface, stunning Cady when she discovers facts about Doyle’s hidden past.

Now mired in tragedy, can they overcome the turmoil with a fateful decision that changes their future forever?

Looking for an interesting historical mystery with a side of sweet romance? This is definitely the book for you.

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Cady and Doyle are a deeply devoted couple, engaged when we meet them and obviously utterly smitten with one another. However, secrets surface and problems arise that affect their relationship so all is not roses and sweetness.

There is a very light inspirational tone to this story, but nothing terribly overt or preachy, meaning I think this would appeal to all who enjoy the historical romance/mystery genre. And, honestly, it was quite refreshing to read a book that was all about the story and less about how many ways can we get the couple into bed.

The mystery is about white slavery of a sort, and a prostitution ring. The villains are horrible and my heart broke for the first victim we meet, right at the start. The author’s voice and ability is clear and descriptive, and I felt as if I was right in the room with her. My hands ached to help her and it definitely set up the story in a strong manner.

There were a few places where the story is a bit draggy. After that incredibly intense prologue, we meet Cady and Doyle and while it was wonderful to see them and, of course, we readers need the introduction, it rather put the brakes on the forward movement. The first chapter or two were a bit slow, but once the investigation really started, things got moving again and it was all about turning pages to see what happens.

The author has a rich appreciation for the time and her voice is clear and interesting. She is very good at putting the reader right into the story as opposed to “telling” it, and while this was the first of her books I’ve read, it likely won’t be the last.

Again, fans of historical mysteries with a taste of romance should enjoy this book immensely. Definitely recommended!

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Fairest of the Faire by Susabelle Kelmer

September 23, 2015 By 9 Comments

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The Fairest of the Faire by Susabelle Kelmer
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full (296 pgs)
Heat: Spicy
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Poppy

Schoolteacher Connie Meyers is suddenly a young widow, her husband killed in a horrific car accident. Heartbroken to find out he had gambled away everything they had, she moves to her sister-in-law’s Midwest home to rebuild her life. A trip to the local Renaissance Faire with her nieces leads to a summer job as a costumed storyteller.

Avowed bad boy and fair performer Gage Younglood is infatuated with Connie at first sight. Despite his deliberately commitment-free life, and Connie’s don’t-touch-me attitude, he soon has her in his arms, realizing quickly she is also in his heart.
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When she is threatened by her late husband’s bookie, he steps into the role of protector, his fate forever sealed with hers.

Not your average contemporary romance!

I’m a Ren Faire fan, so was excited to review this book.  It was such fun to see behind the scenes a bit, with a strong cast of secondary characters. They really made the book.

Connie, honestly, is a bit too good to be true.  Her husband cheated on her, sired a baby with the other woman, drove her into the depths of debt (with a bookie, no less) and she’s still just a sweetheart.  Gabe, on the other hand, wasn’t a guy I like at first.  He’s a player, and makes no bones about it.  And the last thing Connie needs is another player…

Susabelle Kelmer does a great job tossing the reader head first into the story and her characters are so well created.  I’m a big fan of character driven stories, and this certainly fits the bill.  It was delightful to watch Gabe change into a man I could admire (and Connie could trust and love).  I also enjoyed seeing Connie take back control of her life and get a bit of a backbone.  And the touch of suspense was both a surprise and a neat twist to help make this a little more than just a romance.

For a well-written book with plenty of emotions, fun and some action, you should give The Fairest of the Faire a try. I’m glad I did.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Shadows by Stella Barcelona

August 19, 2015 By 7 Comments

BookCover_Shadows

Shadows by Stella Barcelona
Publisher: Self
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full (398 pgs)
Heat level: Spicy
Rated: 5 stars
Review by Poppy

Cataclysm. Now. Run.

A cryptic, urgent text message turns the peaceful life Skye Barrows has created for herself and her sister into chaos. She must follow her father’s instructions to the letter, but Sebastian Connelly is blocking her way. Telling Sebastian what she must do is not an option.

What He Doesn’t Know Will Get Them All Killed

When a prison break in the midst of a security system upgrade threatens to destroy the reputation of Sebastian’s company, Black Raven Private Security Contractors, he goes on the hunt for escaped prisoner Richard Barrows – a delusional and paranoid computer software genius.
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Sebastian’s mission: find Richard Barrows and return him to prison, but stonewalled by Skye, who refuses to give him answers, and with the added complication of her special needs sister, Sebastian finds himself always a step or two behind vicious killers.

Nothing About This Case is Normal

For Sebastian, it should be simple, but this case will test him in ways he never imagined. As probing interrogation becomes urgent protection, the search for Barrows forces Sebastian and Skye into a murky world of shadows and illusions.

Terrifyingly possible, Shadows is romantic suspense on steroids. It starts with a bang and never slows down.

Not for the faint of heart, but definitely for fans of the genre, this book was just amazing. The characters are so real, well-developed and rounded. All unique, with their own sets of characteristics and flaws. No cookie cutters here! Even the secondary characters were interesting and integral to the plot.

It’s hard to rave about the book without giving spoilers, but the author has serious writing chops. So much description that you’re thrust into the story, but it’s not intrusive, so reading is more like watching a movie … so smooth you don’t remember you’re in a book. She doesn’t miss the little details that matter, but do keep in mind this descriptive ability also occurs during the more violent scenes as well, so they can be pretty graphic and gruesome.

There is plenty of heat and sexual tension between Sebastian and Skye as well, and when it culminates in sex, it nearly blew my head off… lots of build up and tension there as well.

Seriously, I’m so impressed with this author and have gone back to buy Deceived. If that is as solid a read as this one, she’ll have earned a spot on my auto-buy list, and that’s not an easy place to land.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

A Thin Slice of Heaven by pm terrell

July 15, 2015 By 7 Comments

BookCover_AThinSliceOfHeaven

A Thin Slice of Heaven by pm Terrell
Publisher: Drake Valley Press
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full (322 pgs)
Heat: Spicy
Rated: 4.5 stars
Review by Poppy

She had arranged to meet her husband in Northern Ireland for a second honeymoon, but when Charleigh arrives at the remote castle, she receives a message that he won’t be coming—and that he’s leaving her for another woman. Stranded for the weekend by a snow storm that has blocked all access to the castle, she finds herself three thousand miles from home in a country she knows nothing about. She is soon joined by Sean Bracken, the great-grandson of Laird Bracken, the original owner of the castle, and she finds herself falling quickly and madly in love with him. There’s just one problem: he’s dead. As the castle begins to come alive with secrets from centuries past, she finds herself trapped between parallel worlds. Caught up in a mass haunting, she can no longer recognize the line between the living and the dead. Now she’s discovering that her appearance there wasn’t by accident—and is more sinister than she ever suspected.

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What a fascinating book, and nothing like I expected.

I’ve read one other book by this author, so expected rich descriptions and well-rounded, three dimensional characters, which I certainly go here as well. I feel as if I could go to Ireland and know exactly where every square foot of this setting would be. The sights, sounds, smells and more are all well written here.

I loved the character of Charleigh, though I have to admit she took to having a ghost around a lot more readily than I would have! She’s having a rough time on her trip to Ireland, supposedly a second honeymoon after twenty years of marriage, only to be dumped via text by her philandering husband. Later, when I find out she’s known about his cheating for years and years and stayed with him, though, I did lose a bit of respect. Still, aside from that, she’s an admirable, older, less than perfectly formed heroine.

Sean is pretty awesome. He’s handsome and unbelievably crazy about Charleigh. There were a few times at the start where I was a bit overwhelmed by his attentions to her, considering we believed they’d only just met, but even so — sexy, Irish guy (er, ghost) … who could resist?

When things start to get odd, Charleigh is incredibly strong. I’m not sure what I’d have done in her place, but I wouldn’t have minded the attentions of Sean! Honestly, the hardest part about writing this review is not including spoilers, so let me simply say this: if you like romance with a surprising, paranormal twist … if you enjoy reading a book that seems to be one thing and then becomes something entirely different, the type of book you want to go back and read again the moment you finish because the twist blows your mind and you need to see where the clues were planted, then this is the book for you. While it had the occasional hiccup for me, I still very much liked it. Technically perfect, quite enjoyable and delightfully different, A Thin Slice of Heaven cemented my admiration for the author and ensures I’ll be picking up future releases.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Lone Rider by BJ Daniels

June 18, 2015 By Leave a Comment

LoneRider

Lone Rider by BJ Daniels
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full (320 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Poppy

A cowgirl at heart, Bo Hamilton does her best thinking in wide-open spaces. So when money goes missing from the family foundation, Bo rides into the Crazy Mountains to figure things out. But a killer hiding among the sawtooth ridges takes her captive and isn’t planning on ever letting her go.
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Bo’s disappearance gets folks thinking she’s the guilty one who’s run off with the money, but Jace Calder would bet his ranch that she’s innocent. Not that he has any reason to trust the beautiful, spoiled senator’s daughter. Still, Jace is going after Bo and bringing her home to face the truth. But in the wild, rugged Crazy Mountains, he finds Bo at the mercy of a suspected murderer. Jace is her only hope, and he’s about to find out what they’re both made of.

This was my first foray into a BJ Daniels novel, and it’s part of The Montana Hamiltons series. Although well written and exciting, it was clear from the first page that I was missing previous information about the numerous characters and storylines. I was intrigued enough, though, to go back and find out more about previous installments

The blurb made me feel as if the main characters were going to be Bo and Jace — and while they are the couple who get their HEA, their story had no greater preference given than the ones between Jace’s sister, Emily and her new beau, Alex (who I loved!), Sarah and Russell, or Buckmaster and Angelina. Honestly, they all seemed to have the same number of pages allotted to their stories. There’s a pretty significant ongoing storyline going on here as well about Sarah and her mysterious return from the dead, along with the mystery of Emily’s stalker. It almost made Bo’s kidnapping a bit dull!

I zipped through the book quickly, because there is so much happening. I wanted to find out more and more and more and so kept turning pages! Honestly, though, I was most invested in the new relationship with Alex and Emily … more so than Jace and Bo. I’m hoping that the next book is theirs–I’ll snap it right up!

The author has a way with wordsmithing. I was never bored or confused or kicked out of the story due to odd phrasing or confusing description. She kept the pace galloping forward and while I wouldn’t say it was edge-of-your-seat, exactly, the tension seldom lets up. I can’t fault her skill in the least.

I suppose ultimately I felt frustrated at having missed book one. This book just didn’t stand alone as strongly as I would have liked. However, it definitely caught my interest enough that I’m off to find book one and catch up so that I can be first in line for the next in the series. I recommend the book and the author … I just also recommend that you start at the beginning. You won’t regret it!

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

One Night in Edinburgh by Charlotte Howard

January 27, 2015 By 13 Comments

Cover_OneNightInEdinburgh

One Night in Edinburgh by Charlotte Howard
Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing
Length: Short Story (75 pgs)
Genre: Contemporary
Other: M/F, toys
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Review by Poppy

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Definitely hot, and technically clean, One Night in Edinburgh is a perfect read to get your motor revving.

This is my first book by the author, and I was very impressed by her skill. Her prose is well-constructed, descriptive (::: fans self :::) and easy to read. We get an immediate feel for both characters and I loved that we start with Chloe’s fear of flying. It was a great way to get to know her!

Ethan is hot, hot, hot as any good hero in an erotic romance should be. He certainly knows how to satisfy his woman and takes many opportunities to do so, in many varied and titillating places. I’m surprised Chloe could walk by the next morning (and wouldn’t have minded changing places with her a time or two, or three).

The only thing that I wasn’t fond of in the story was the ending. They’ve known each other for a day…hardly time enough to make significant, life-altering decisions based on your feelings for another person. I was crazy about the plot up until then, but just couldn’t stretch my ability to believe far enough to find the ending completely credible.

That said, I have no other complaints. Writing was both technically and aesthetically pleasing, editing was solid, plot was strong, and there was no shortage of heat. So if you’re looking for a book that will make you reach for a fan, a cold glass of water or an Ethan of your own, grab a copy.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Seven Days and Six Worst-Case Scenarios by Leslie Huggans

January 22, 2015 By 7 Comments

BookCover_SevenDaysAndSixWorstCaseScenarios

Seven Days and Six Worst-Case Scenarios by Leslie Huggans
Publisher: Self
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery
Length: Full (271 pgs)
Rated: 4.5 stars
Review by Poppy

Mix dry wit with a juicy corpse and let it simmer over a red hot romance to serve up a wicked comedy.

Curious, quirky, crisis consultant Victoria Douglas needs a vacation, and to learn to keep her sassy mouth shut. Instead, she’s gunning a stolen SUV up a mountain with beer cans and bug spray as her only weapons in a fight for survival. She and her investigative reporter friend, Julie Tran, have landed in a Caribbean vacation crap-sandwich bursting with murder, narcotics, and one gorgeous piece of man-flesh.
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College flame, Alex Marshall, professed his love and disappeared without a trace. Twelve years later he materializes at Victoria’s resort on St. Kitts and he’s got more charm and sex appeal than ever. Tingling lady bits and long-buried feelings aside, Victoria discovers she and Julie are at the center of a criminal conspiracy that stretches across two continents. They’ve got one chance to prove their innocence before competing nefarious factions feed them to the fish…or worse. Victoria has to decide just how far she is willing to go to save her life and mend her heart.

Full of fun, quirky characters and a solidly plotted mystery, with a taste of romance, Seven Days and Six Worst-Case Scenarios has something for nearly every reader.

Taking a vacation with your best friend should be simple and pleasant enough, but Victoria manages to get herself in trouble nearly from the start. She attempts to stop someone from escaping police custody and puts herself in direct opposition to the head crime boss in the area who sets out to punish her. Add in an old flame, Alex, plus Mr. X and his monkey and you have an edge of your seat thriller with the added bonus of humor and sexiness.

I’m such a sucker for stories with characters outside the norm, and this story doesn’t disappoint. Sometimes, though, so much attention is paid to them that the mystery portion of the plot gets a bit neglected. Not so, here. The romance isn’t quite as strong a part of the story, but it really isn’t meant to be the focus, so it never bothered me that it took a bit of a back seat to the rest.

Victoria is both funny and sometimes irritating. For every few times she made me laugh, I’d have a moment where I wanted to smack her. She’s sassy and irreverent, but so much fun to read about. Yes, the plot was very good, but it was the characters that kept me reading and will have me coming back for more.

The book was packed with so much, though, the wrap up felt just a tiny bit rushed. Nothing that ruined things or made me dislike the book. But really, it was the only downside to what was otherwise just a fun, intriguing, solidly written mystery with romantic elements. I really, utterly enjoyed it and can’t wait for more from the author, especially if we revisit these folks again!

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Through His Eyes by Deborah Camp

January 9, 2015 By 6 Comments

BookCover_ThroughHisEyes

Through His Eyes by Deborah Camp
Publisher: Self
Genre: Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Full (302 pgs)
Heat: Hot
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Poppy

Someone is stalking women and murdering them in Key West.

Psychics Levi Wolfe and Trudy Tucker join forces to help identify the murderer and stop him. Levi can channel the deceased victims and Trudy can tap into the mind of the killer. As a psychic detective team, they’re formidable. As lovers, they discover that they’re insatiable.

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Because if Trudy can see through the killer’s eyes, can the killer see her?

I really loved the premise of this story! I’m a huge sucker for psychic detectives, so I grabbed this immediately and couldn’t wait to dive in.

I liked our main characters well enough as the book progressed, though they weren’t easy to like right off the bat. Trudy seemed a little uptight at first. She has a lot of responsibility and reasons to be the way she is, so it made sense the more I got to know her and she really dislikes Levi from the get go. Levi was your typical alpha male: arrogant, so hot women from miles around wanted to rip of their clothes for him, confident and occasionally irritating but in a manner that mostly came across as charming.

The mystery was decent, though I did figure out the villain who was creepy enough to be satisfying in this type of book. Along with loving psychic detectives, I adore creepy serial killers in my books. This one fits the bill and then some, and I loved being able to climb instead his crazy head via his connection with Trudy.

The only real draw back for me was the constant sex. From the start the characters are thinking about sex, talking about sex or having sex constantly. I have no issue with sex in books, but in a romantic suspense, the romance and suspense should be more evenly balanced, and here the sex frequently completely smothered the mystery. I wouldn’t call this erotic romance as the sex is all pretty kink-free (the descriptions don’t lack, though, and there’s plenty of dirty talk), so if you’re a fan of sweeter romance, this won’t be for you.

Also, be prepared–this is book one of a series, and this book does not wrap up the relationship between Trudy and Levi. Good thing there’s another book in the series!

All in all, though, I really did enjoy the book. Had the sex been a little less plentiful and the mystery given a little more page time, the rating for this book would have been higher.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Citadel of Fire by Matthew Wolf

December 11, 2014 By 2 Comments

MEDIA KIT CoverArt_Citadel_ebook2

Citadel of Fire by Matthew Wolf
Publisher: Self
Genre: Fantasy (YA)
Length: Full (562 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rated 4.5 stars
Review by Poppy

Seventeen-year old Gray is descended from a legendary hero known as a Ronin and haunted by his forgotten past. He returns home to a wizards’ keep, unaware he is now labeled a murderous traitor for killing his best friend.

Now he must cross a dangerous desert full of thieves, mythical beasts, and other magical unknowns, all to return to a home that may be his demise. At the same time, a poisonous evil seeks to convert the world to their dark mantra, “strength is life, weakness death.”

Gray may have hero’s blood in his veins, but how can one kill a belief?

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I didn’t know this was the second book in a series when I picked it up, and I admit to being confused for a bit because the action here starts right off the bat. We meet several groups of people in the first few chapters and learn about things that were clearly important to the story (like the “spark” and the ronin and more) that were a little too ambiguous for me to get immediately. However, I hung in there and got a big payoff.

The characters were so amazing and well drawn, the writing crisp and descriptive but never dull and the plot solid. The author skillfully wove in information tidbit by tidbit and kept me reading and longing for more. I didn’t realize, at first, that Gray is the lead here, because there are other characters given just as much space. I like Gray though, and he’s the reason I have every intention of going back and reading book one to catch up. He’s an interesting anomaly, as is the woman he meets near the beginning, Faye, who I really, really liked. I don’t think I was supposed to like her quite so much, but her self-confidence, smart mouth and swagger really spoke to me.

There’s a touch of LOTR here. At first, when he mentions the nine kings, I felt that was a deliberate nod to Tolkien and his nine kings (who ultimately became the ring wraiths). I wasn’t sure if I should be irritated or not, but honestly aside from their number, they are nothing like those LOTR kings.

It was interesting to watch the author merge all the various groups of people together and see how they were able to overcome much to work against defeating a common foe. The author truly created amazing characters who were real, flawed and unique, and although the plot was certainly gripping, it was those characters who kept me completely invested in the story and turning pages.

I have little negative to say here, other than the fact this didn’t stand alone as strongly as one might hope. But that doesn’t matter … book one is out there and just asking to be added to my library. Then I’ll be all caught up and waiting for the next in the series very eagerly.

I highly recommend this book (and the first) to any reader who loves epic fantasy. There is so much depth here and truly great writing. I’m never certain what to expect from self-published works but this one was clean, well written and worth every penny. It’s a book I’ll want to read more than once, as I’m certain I missed things here that will only add to the richness of the story.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,
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