New Release Spotlight: “Two Steps Forward, A Titus Ray Thriller” by Luana Ehrlich

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Can CIA spy thrillers be exciting, thrilling, and clean? Yes! Luana Ehrlich does it again.

Two Steps Forward

CIA operative Titus Ray expects the unexpected. 
Just not this time.

Just not this way.

Just not on his honeymoon.

An unexpected encounter in Morocco . . .
Titus and Nikki begin their new life together in a church ceremony in Norman, Oklahoma and immediately fly to Marrakesh, Morocco for their honeymoon. Then, the unexpected happens, and Titus has an encounter with Jihadi terrorist Baran Asan.

An unexpected discovery in Israel . . .
Cutting their honeymoon short, Titus and Nikki head over to Israel to search for their foster child’s grandmother, but then an unexpected discovery leads to a second sighting of Baran Asan and reveals disturbing news about a planned assassination in Iraq.

An unexpected assassination in Iraq . . .
With time running out, the Agency sends Titus to Baghdad to prevent the assassination of the Iraqi Prime Minister. But is he really the assassin’s target? Could it be someone else?

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Book VI in the Titus Ray Thriller Series is a spellbinding adventure of the unexpected, where Titus learns to rely on his fledgling faith, confront his past failures, and embrace a new life with Nikki Saxon Ray.

What People Are Saying About Titus Ray Thrillers

“The characters are very well-developed and believable. I enjoyed the way the author described Titus Ray’s internal struggles and character flaws creating a very authentic main character. The story was action-packed and one is left wondering how the author could be so knowledgeable of the CIA and the work of their covert operatives.”

“Excellent read full of action and intrigue, with a dash of soul mixed in for good measure.”

“A fast paced story line full of cliffhangers, conspiracy and romance!”

“I’m definitely hooked on this series. Much suspense, twists and turns.”

” I recommend these books for all who enjoy good clean fiction, especially involving current events in the world. I like the development of the characters and their relationship.”

Purchase this international fast-paced thriller TODAY! Amazon

About the Author

LuanaLuana Ehrlich is the author of the award-winning Titus Ray Thriller Series, featuring CIA intelligence officer Titus Ray. Her novels are clean reads with intriguing plots, fascinating characters, jaw-dropping twists, and occasional touches of heart-warming romance.

Luana developed her passion for spy thrillers and mystery novels at an early age, but she didn’t begin writing her series of Titus Ray Thrillers until her husband retired from the ministry. Now, she writes from an undisclosed location, trying to avoid the torture of mundane housework, grocery shopping, and golf stories. However, she occasionally comes out of hiding to visit with her two grandsons or to enjoy a Starbucks caramel macchiato.

Besides being an award-winning author, Luana is a freelance writer, minister’s wife, and former missionary. She and her husband are long-time residents of Norman, Oklahoma. She’s also lived in Indiana, Illinois, New Mexico, Texas, and Michigan, and for several years, she and her husband were missionaries in Costa Rica and Venezuela.

In addition to being an avid reader, Luana is also a news fanatic, following events around the world on a daily basis, particularly the Middle East. She loves to hear from her readers! Contact her through email, Author@LuanaEhrlich.com.

To learn more about Luana, visit her websites: www.LuanaEhrlich.com and www.TitusRayThrillers.com.

Readers are invited to sign up for the Titus Ray Thriller newsletter and receive a free book at LuanaEhrlich.com.

New Release Spotlight: “In Over Her Head,”A Sweet, Sassy Teen Romance from Krysten Lindsay Hager

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One of my favorite YA and Teen Fiction authors has a new book! Krysten Lindsay Hager’s stories will bring you back to middle and high school, but in a good way. They’re funny, quirky, and oh so true to life.

Over Her Head

About the Book

Cecily wants a big life, but can she handle it?

Cecily feels like she has it all: great best friends, the beginnings of a career as a model/actress, and she’s dating her favorite singer, Andrew Holiday. Just when it seems like all her dreams are coming true, everything comes crashing down when a photo of Andrew with another girl appears online. He swears nothing happened, but Cecily is crushed. She feels like she lost two of the people closest to her.

Was her perfect relationship real, or was she in over her head?

Purchase In Over Her Head

About the Author

Krysten Lindsay Hager

Who knew all those embarrassing, cringe-y moments in middle school and high school could turn into a career? And who would have thought that daydreaming in math class would pay off down the road?

​Krysten Lindsay Hager writes about friendship, self-esteem, fitting in, frenemies, crushes, fame, first loves, and values. She is the author of True ColorsBest Friends…Forever?Next Door to a Star,  Landry in LikeCompeting with the Star (The Star Series: Book 2), Dating the It Guy, and Can Dreams Come True.

Her debut novel, True Colors, won the Readers Favorite award for best preteen book and the Dayton Book Expo Bestseller Award for childen/teens. Competing with the Star is a Readers’ Favorite Book Award Finalist.  Krysten’s work has been featured in USA TodayThe Flint Journal, the Grand Haven Tribune, the Beavercreek Current, the Bellbrook TimesSpringfield News-SunGrand Blanc ViewDayton Daily News and on Living Dayton. ​

Krysten is also a member of AlzAuthors, the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer’s and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Two of her books, Dating the It Guy and Competing With the Star, have a dementia subplot, helping to explain the disease to teens.

 Connect with Krysten Lindsay Hager

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AlzAuthors Publishes its 2nd Anthology “Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiving Stories: 47 Authors Share Their Inspiring Personal Experiences”

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As World Alzheimer’s Month begins I’m pleased to announce that AlzAuthors has published its second anthology, Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiving Stories: 47 Authors Share Their Inspiring Personal Experiences, Vol. 2.

I am a founding member and manager of this organization, the global community of authors writing about their personal Alzheimer’s and dementia experiences to light the way for others. My novel, Blue Hydrangeas, an Alzheimer’s love story, is one of 200+ titles featured on our website AlzAuthors.com. The stories included in this volume represent the writings published on the website from June 2017 through May 2018.

1566344163.pngThis collection of stories is a labor of love. The stories are personal and enlightening, poignant and hopeful. The six daughters of dementia who manage the organization and its editorial team assembled them with great care and love and released them into the world in a convenient book form to provide a soft-landing spot for those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia and those who care for them.

One of the more beautiful aspects of this book is that its authors are not famous. They’re not celebrities. They’re ordinary people who have lived with dementia as caregivers or as persons with dementia, and opted to share their stories. They’ve “walked the walk” and offer loads of wisdom.

We are grateful to our Special Projects Editor Jay Artale for all of her hard work and patience in designing and formatting  this book. We could not have brought it to life without her.

We are also grateful to our authors, those who are included in this volume and those who have written for our blog. Writing such deeply personal stories is also a labor of love, requiring courage and fortitude. We applaud your strength and selflessness.  AlzAuthors would not exist without you.

The book is available in Kindle format on Amazon.  Purchase Anthology Volume 2  now for the introductory price of 1.99. Don’t delay. The price will rise to its regular price of 4.99 over the next week or so. Paperback and audiobook versions are planned for future releases.

AlzAuthors, a 501 (c) (3) organization, features a new book or blog each week. With authors now spanning the globe, the site includes memoirs, novels, caregiving guides, books for children and young adults, and more, all written by those who have experience with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

AlzAuthors was created in 2015 after I connected online with Ohio author Jean Lee (Alzheimer’s Daughter), and Montana author Vicki Tapia (Somebody Stole My Iron: A Family Memoir of Dementia) and realized we could fill a need for overwhelmed caregivers by vetting books and blogs about the diseases. Since then, Kathryn Harrison from Ontario, Canada (Weeds in Nana’s Garden), Ann Campanella from North Carolina (Motherhood Lost and Found), and Irene Olson from Washington State (Requiem for the Status Quo) have joined our all-volunteer management team.

Our goal is to help dementia caregivers and others find quality resources that will provide knowledge, support, understanding, and comfort during what is often a difficult and stressful time.

Sharing our stories makes us strong.

For more information about AlzAuthors visit AlzAuthors.com.

New Release Spotlight: “Numbered,” Dystopian Fiction from Crissi Langwell

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This week’s new release comes from fellow AlzAuthor Crissy Langwell, who writes  magical realism, women’s, young adult, and literary fiction. Her novel Come Here, Cupcake is a featured AlzAuthors book. This new book looks fascinating! Would you want to know your “expiration date?”

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With only 100 days to live, they didn’t mean to fall in love…

The year is 2050, and technology has advanced so that people know the cause and exact date of their natural death, a number that’s shown on a digital display fused to the back of every person’s neck. In their final one hundred days, people are required to give up everything and spend their final three months in a spa-like facility for the dying that meets all their needs until they expire.

Noelle Edison has known she’s going to die of a heart attack since she was a teenager. It’s why she’s spent every day eating healthy and exercising, trying to reverse her fate. She’s lived in near solitude most of her adult life and is ready to spend her final days alone at River’s End.

Ryder Jamison’s battle with lung cancer is not the only thing that plagues him as he nears his expiration. The number of people who have failed him have increased over the years, especially his own parents. But when his symptoms disappear within days of checking in to River’s End, he realizes he’s been lied to in more ways than one.

Destined to die on the same day, Noelle and Ryder strive to avoid connection with anyone, but can’t escape their growing attraction to each other. Amid their unexpected, end-of-life romance, they discover a secret about their numbers that changes everything. Soon, they’re in a fight for their lives, as well as a fight to save the rest of the world from

Purchase Numbered Now

About the Author

crissi-langwellCrissi Langwell is the author of 10 books across several genres. Her passion is the story of the underdog, and her novels include stories of homeless teens, determined heroines, family issues, free spirits and more. She writes literary fiction, magical realism, women’s fiction, and young adult. Beyond writing, Crissi is an avid bookworm and a weight training wannabe. She pulls her inspiration from the ocean, and breathes freely among redwoods. She lives in Northern California with her husband and their blended family of three kids.

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New Release Spotlight: “The Privateer of San Madrid,” Historical Romance by Danielle Thorne

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There’s a bounty on his head… 

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Captain Julius Bertrand isn’t a pirate anymore, but someone wants him out of the way. Distracted by an avaricious girl he could never love and the beautiful Kate O’Connell who doesn’t need him, Bertrand tries to untangle the web of mysterious cargo someone in the New World wants to keep a secret. 

Kate O’Connell arrives in San Madrid determined to put her past behind her. Assisting her physician father shouldn’t be too scandalous if she can mind her tongue and temper, but it seems all of the women on the island see her as less than suitable for their company. When tragedy strikes, she must forgive them all and put her best foot forward, even if that means rubbing shoulders with the one man who captivates her heart and imagination. 

Bertrand’s pirating past returns with the explosive force of a sweeping broadside, and he finds he must sacrifice everything his respectable life has brought him in order to save what matters most.

Purchase The Privateer of San Madrid now!

About the Author

Danielle ThorneDanielle Thorne is the author of classic romance and adventure in several genres. She loves Jane Austen, pirates, beaches, cookies, cats, dogs, and long naps. She does not like phone calls or sushi. A graduate of BYU-Idaho, Danielle saw early work published by Arts and Prose Magazine, Mississippi Crow, The Nantahala Review, StorySouth, and… you get the idea. Besides writing, she’s edited for both Solstice and Desert Breeze Publishing. Her growing blog, The Balanced Writer, focuses on writing, life, and the pursuit of peace and happiness. Currently, Danielle freelances as a non-fiction author while waiting to hear from readers like you through her website. During free time, which means when Netflix is down, she combs through feedback and offers virtual hugs for reviews. Her next historical romance is coming soon.

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The Balanced Writer

New Release Spotlight: “Secrets Never Die,” Romantic Suspense by Laurie Lewis

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This week’s new release is written by my AlzAuthors colleague Laurie Lewis. Laurie is a prolific author, giving us romance, women’s, historical, and general fiction. Her  award-winning novel The Dragons of Alsace Farm is a featured AlzAuthors book.

img_4032About Laurie’s New Book

Tallie Brown’s life has never made sense. Raised in isolation by her mother, Julia, Tallie was dragged suddenly and without explanation from one third-world outpost to another until life normalized seven years ago when Julia took a position on a mountaintop in the Pacific northwest. But when Julia unexpectedly dies, Tallie uncovers clues suggesting that Julia had a secret life.

Journalistic phenom Jackson James is still recovering from the devastating mistake that flatlined his promising career. Now he’s paying the price, working as the editor of a syrupy community rag in a posh D.C. suburb. But when the very man who destroyed him drops a tantalizing lead about a potential D.C. scandal, the reporter sees his chance for redemption and sets off to chase the story.

Jackson’s investigation leads him to Cutler’s Ridge, a dying Virginia coal town, and directly into the path of the mysterious and beautiful Tallie. As these two mistrustful loners follow their leads, their stories begin to intertwine until they reach an alarming conclusion – something terrible happened in Cutler’s Ridge. As they doggedly pursue the story, the town’s cold reception spirals into threats and danger, proving that there are those who will stop at nothing to keep the past hidden forever –because secrets never die.

Purchase Secrets Never Die Now!

About the Author

Laurie LewisLaurie (L.C.) Lewis knows that wherever life takes her, she will always be a Marylander at heart–a weather-whining lover of crabs, American history, and the sea. She admits to being craft-challenged, particularly lethal with a glue gun, and a devotee of sappy movies. Therapists have been chasing her down to diagnose her multiple personality syndrome, since she writes under three names–historical fiction as L.C. Lewis, romance and women’s fiction as Laurie Lewis, and general fiction as Laurie L.C. Lewis. Laurie was honored to win the 2017 RONE Award for Inspirational Romance. She also has been an IndieBRAG Medallion Honoree, and a New Apple Literary Medallion winner. She has twice been named a Whitney Awards finalist, and a USA Best Books Award finalist.

Connect with Laurie Lewis

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New Release Spotlight: “Mermaid’s Song” and “Mermaid’s Heart,” Paranormal Academy Romances from Stacy Claflin

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Stacy Claflin is at it again with a new series and two books already out there.

Book One: Mermaid’s Song

Mermaids Song

I live a double life—and it’s about to tangle me in its net.

I’m Marra Ayers, a mermaid pretending to be human. Or at least, I was. It’s over now that my uncle died, making my dad the new king of Valora. My parents are dragging me away from the life I love to our undersea kingdom. And to make matters worse, everybody hates us.

My parents send me straight to the Dark Sea Academy, where the building is creepy and the students are worse. The dean pairs me with a student to show me the ropes.

I get stuck with Bash, who’s one wrong move from being expelled, and showing me around is his latest punishment. He’s as gorgeous as he is arrogant. And an incredible guitarist, as it turns out. Not that it matters. We can’t stand each other, and when my orientation is over, we’ll go our separate ways. Good riddance.

Whispers and glares greet me at every turn, and the most popular girl has it out for me. My first night, she tries to kill me. Then, bloodied and bruised, I run into Bash. And this time, he actually seems to care…

He keeps looking at me with concern in his eyes while giving me this crooked smirk. Kind of makes me forget how irritating he is. Almost makes me forget all my problems.

But I can’t let myself get side-tracked by him. I won’t.

If I’m to survive the academy, I need to focus on staying alive. Unfortunately, that means relying on Bash—and he’s a distraction that could very well cost me everything.

Purchase Mermaid’s Song Now

Book Two: Mermaid’s Heart

Note: This is the second part of the Dark Sea Academy trilogy, and if you haven’t read Mermaid’s Song, you’ll want to do that first. The following description contains spoilers for the first book. 

Mermaids Heart
What’s the point of being a princess if the whole kingdom hates you?

Being a royal should make my life easier, but it only compounds my problems. When my father, the new King of Valora, succeeded the beloved King Tiberius, many of his subjects believed he killed my uncle just to gain the throne. His new policies only make the people hate him more.

Just my luck, they transfer their loathing onto me.

Even my best friend and my boyfriend aren’t enough of a buffer, and I’m continually fending off verbal, and sometimes physical, attacks.

That’s when my powers start growing…

When no one at the academy can—or will—help me learn about my new abilities, I begin to research them on my own. Modern answers seem to be entwined with a terrifying ancient legend.

If the lore is true, my destiny is far more tragic than my present problems. And I don’t know if I can change it.

Or if I should even try.

Purchase Mermaid’s Heart Now

About the Author

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I’m Stacy Claflin, a two-time USA Today bestselling author who has published sixty books at the time of this writing. I’ve always been an avid reader and a writer. When I was a teenager, I was always in the middle of reading at least five books at a time. Not only could I keep up with each storyline, but I also never needed a bookmark! These days, I’m lucky to remember why I went into the kitchen. There’s more to me than writing and reading. I’m the mom of two smart and hilarious boys that I educate from home. I love hiking and being active outdoors. There isn’t anything better than spending time with family and friends! I also enjoy watching a wide range of shows, such as SupernaturalReignThe Walking Dead, HavenPretty Little LiarsStranger ThingsDexterDesignated Survivor, and Glitch. I’m also obsessed with true crime podcasts and taking online courses to improve my writing craft.

I’m a thyroid cancer survivor. I’ve been cancer free since 2008. Get your thyroid checked!

Connect with Stacy Claflin

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New Release Spotlight: “Meet Me at Half Court,” Young Adult Sports Fiction by Julie L. Spencer

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I’m a sucker for YA sports fiction ever since I wrote Swim Season. Having the inside scoop as a swim mom inspired me to write about these varsity athletes who give their all to their sport. In a few weeks varsity season will be upon us and the athletes will be back in their games (or meets.) Until then, enjoy this new novel from Julie L. Spencer.

All’s fair in love and sports… until her boyfriend comes home.

Basketball was Christine’s ticket from high school to college and her dream of becoming a scientist. The cocky new kid at school was getting in her way, and into her heart.

Dylan knew his snarky new tutor was smart, gorgeous and a great basketball player. He just didn’t realize she had a boyfriend, until after he kissed her.

Now he has a choice, play fair and wait for Eddie to screw up? Or fight to win back Christine’s heart?

Purchase Meet Me at Half Court now!

 

About the Author

Julie SpencerJulie L. Spencer lives in the central Michigan area with her husband and teenagers. She has a very full life managing a conservation district office, writing grant proposals & book reviews, and chasing after several teenage athletes. Julie’s been writing since she was in junior high, but prior to publishing The Cove, her only published work was her Master’s Thesis. She loves to read and write New Adult Contemporary Christian Romance novels, and has several more novels nearing publication.

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New Release Spotlight: “The Summer Guests,” Easy Summer Reading from Mary Alice Monroe

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From the New York Times bestselling author of the Beach House series comes a heartwarming and evocative novel about the bonds and new beginnings that are born from natural disasters and how, even during the worst of circumstances—or perhaps because of them—we discover what is most important in life. 

This author is new to me and I loved this book. Monroe delivers a moving and dramatic story with a host of complex and interesting characters in an enchanting setting. It takes place in North Carolina and is all about horses. I once lived on a horse farm in Montgomery, New York and fell in love with these majestic yet tender animals. I enjoyed this opportunity to revisit my past. A perfect summer read!


Late August is a beautiful time on the Southern coast—the peach trees are ripe, the ocean is warm, and the sweet tea is icy. A perfect time to enjoy the rocking chairs on the porch. But beneath the calm surface bubbles a threat: it’s also peak hurricane season.

When a hurricane threatens the coasts of Florida and South Carolina, an eclectic group of evacuees flees for the farm of their friends Grace and Charles Phillips in North Carolina: the Phillips’s daughter Moira and her rescue dogs, famed equestrian Javier Angel de la Cruz, makeup artist Hannah McLain, horse breeder Gerda Klug and her daughter Elise, and island resident Cara Rutledge. They bring with them only the few treasured possessions they can fit in their vehicles. Strangers to all but the Phillips, they must ride out the storm together.

During the course of one of the most challenging weeks of their lives, relationships are put to the test as the evacuees are forced to confront the unresolved issues they have with themselves and with each other. But as the storm passes, they realize that what really matters isn’t what they brought with them to the mountains. Rather, it’s what they’ll take with them once they leave.

With Mary Alice Monroe’s “usual resplendent storytelling” (Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author), The Summer Guests is a poignant and compelling story of self-discovery, love, and redemption.

Purchase The Summer Guests now!

About the Author

Mary Alice MonroeNew York Times bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe found her true calling in environmental fiction when she moved to coastal South Carolina. Already a successful author, she was captivated by the beauty and fragility of her new home. Her experiences living in the midst of a habitat that was quickly changing gave her a strong and important focus for her novels. She writes richly textured books that delve into the complexities of interpersonal relationships and the parallels between the land and life. Her novels are published worldwide. With the same heart of conservation, Monroe has written two children’s picture books as well. She lives with her family on a barrier island outside Charleston, South Carolina and is an active conservationist, serving on the South Carolina Aquarium Board Emeritis, The Leatherback Trust, The Pat Conroy Literary Center Honorary Board, and Casting Carolinas Advisory Board. For additional information on the environmental topics in Mary Alice’s novels, visit her Conservation page.

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New Release Spotlight: “Electricity,” A Paranormal Romance from Claire Gem

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This week’s new release is brought to us by Claire Gem, who’s written some terrific  paranormal romances. I personally know Claire as she grew up in my town and attends the Local Authors Showcase I coordinate each year at Middletown Thrall Library.  This looks like another enthralling read.

img_3925About the Book

She’s an electrician starting over with her son. New job. New town. New life.

He’s a coworker who’s interested in more than her ability to run conduit.

The building they’re rewiring was once an insane asylum…but it appears some of the patients never left.

Mercedes Donohue pulled up roots in Atlanta when her marriage imploded. She’s come back to New England, to the place where she was born. Mercy’s focus is to stabilize her teenage son’s life—he took the breakup pretty hard—and to establish her place, gain the respect of Progressive Electrical’s team.

She never expected so many sparks to fly so soon, both on the job and after hours.

Daniel Gallagher has been alone since his fiancé’s death. He’ll never feel that way about any woman again, and certainly won’t try with another independent, strong-willed one. Then Mercy short-circuits his plans.

Although the asylum closed its doors over thirty-five years ago, Mercy & Daniel quickly realize the abandoned building is very haunted.

If you like a heart-melting romance laced with healthy dose of supernatural thrills and chills, you’ll love Electricity. Purchase now!

About the Author

2019AuthorPic smallBorn in Brooklyn,, Claire grew up in Middletown, NY. She now lives in Massachusetts where she works for Tufts University—when she’s not writing. Her books have been recognized by competitions such as the N.Y. Book Festival, the Holt Medallion Awards, the RONE, and the National Fiction Awards. She writes paranormal romance—love stories set in old haunted places. Her latest release, Electricity, takes place in an abandoned mental asylum.

 

 

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