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The Pretenders #2
Crash
An ambitious ex-motorcyclist and heir to billions fakes an engagement to claim his inheritance. But with a single kiss, everything changes.
Alex Jenkins has a he's Atlanta's most eligible bachelor, a former competitive motorcycle racer, and a man who isn't afraid of a bit of a challenge. But when the off-limits marketing intern Evie Cooper catches his attention, self-control has a whole new meaning.
Then Evie is drawn into an engagement-for-show with Alex so that he can secure his place as the company’s successor. His reputation as a bad boy is not exactly on brand and a serious commitment could prove to his family that he is mature enough to take over.
As Evie becomes immersed in the Jerkins clan, her humble origins come into stark contrast with the snobbery of the billionaire lifestyle. Awash in new-found lust and overwhelmed by a world of luxury, Evie struggles to decipher what is a ruse and what is real.
Can Alex exchange his love of the chase for real love? Can Evie’s spunk and personality win over Alex’s family? Can their raw passion transform their fauxmance into a meaningful relationship?
Be sure to read DRIVE, book 1 in The Pretenders series―available now!
And BURN, coming soon!
Alex Jenkins has a he's Atlanta's most eligible bachelor, a former competitive motorcycle racer, and a man who isn't afraid of a bit of a challenge. But when the off-limits marketing intern Evie Cooper catches his attention, self-control has a whole new meaning.
Then Evie is drawn into an engagement-for-show with Alex so that he can secure his place as the company’s successor. His reputation as a bad boy is not exactly on brand and a serious commitment could prove to his family that he is mature enough to take over.
As Evie becomes immersed in the Jerkins clan, her humble origins come into stark contrast with the snobbery of the billionaire lifestyle. Awash in new-found lust and overwhelmed by a world of luxury, Evie struggles to decipher what is a ruse and what is real.
Can Alex exchange his love of the chase for real love? Can Evie’s spunk and personality win over Alex’s family? Can their raw passion transform their fauxmance into a meaningful relationship?
Be sure to read DRIVE, book 1 in The Pretenders series―available now!
And BURN, coming soon!
352 pages, Paperback
Published January 24, 2023
51 people are currently reading
857 people want to read
About the author
Tamara Lush
41 books799 followersTamara Lush writes steamy and emotional contemporary romance stories set in tropical locations. Her book Constant Craving was a 2018 RWA RITA® finalist in erotic romance.
She's married and lives near a beach in Florida. For many years, she was an award-winning newspaper journalist. In 2017, she was one of 24 writers chosen by Amtrak to ride around the United States on a train and write fiction. She also writes cozy mysteries under the name Tara Lush.
Tamara's a fan of vintage pulp fiction book covers, Sinatra-era jazz, 1980s fashion, tropical chill, kombucha, gin, tonic, seashells, iPhones, Art Deco, telenovelas, coloring books, street art, coconut anything, strong coffee and journalism.
She's married and lives near a beach in Florida. For many years, she was an award-winning newspaper journalist. In 2017, she was one of 24 writers chosen by Amtrak to ride around the United States on a train and write fiction. She also writes cozy mysteries under the name Tara Lush.
Tamara's a fan of vintage pulp fiction book covers, Sinatra-era jazz, 1980s fashion, tropical chill, kombucha, gin, tonic, seashells, iPhones, Art Deco, telenovelas, coloring books, street art, coconut anything, strong coffee and journalism.
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May 10, 2025I'm bored tbh so I'm gonna dnf🤞🏻
September 14, 2021
Struggling to pay rent and care for her younger sister, 21 year old Evie Cooper works tirelessly as an intern for the Jenkins Corporation. When she is asked to hand-deliver a document to her boss, she is mistaken as his secretary.
Alex Jenkins is in line to inherit his family's company, Jenkins Corporation. When his grandmother, the family's matriarch, comes to discuss his future with the company, he asks a beautiful secretary to take notes of their meeting. Unknowingly, Mrs. Jenkins believes that Evie and Alex are seeing each other. Their chemistry and interest in each other is undeniable even though they just met. Alex is taken aback at the sharp, responsible woman, and feels conflicted... Should he pretend that he and Evie are dating to get in his grandmother's good graces?
When Alex offers Evie incentives she cannot deny, she agrees to be his fake girlfriend for the summer. He would be parading her around family events and dates. Having to grow up faster than most young adults, Evie has not had time for love or lust. Ensuring that her sister, Sabrina, is healthy and safe are her main concerns. But there is something entrancing about Alex's kindness towards her and his electric blue eyes.
They find themselves crashing into the possibility of a future together when they begin to fall in love, but they find themselves at odds for different reasons. Could this all be a lie? Is Evie "good enough" for Alex's family and their status?
This book has to be one of my favorite fake-engagement/CEO romances! The epilogue, oh my goodness! A quick, enjoyable read available on Wattpad.
April 30, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
alex jenkins is the definition of he fell first AND he fell harder. the aquarium scene will stay in my head. such a cutesy read for ppl that don’t like too much spice
alex jenkins is the definition of he fell first AND he fell harder. the aquarium scene will stay in my head. such a cutesy read for ppl that don’t like too much spice
September 30, 2022
I think you need to aim a little higher. You’re giving me your time. Your entire summer. You’re giving me you.”
This book was just so adorable, easy to get into and engaging! The plot was your regular old fake engagement trope where the lines between fake and real start to blur. While the concept wasn't anything new, I still enjoyed reading it. I couldn't get enough of Evie & Alex together, which is why I wished there should've been some more scenes where they had to pretend, because the only time they did so was when Evie met Alex's family. Though their chemistry was really palpable and whenever they were in vicinity of each other, I could feel the sparks flowing! The only side characters I loved were Alex's grandmother and Evie's sister Sabrina, the rest of them were just plain annoying. I wish we could get to see more of Travis though. Because he was Alex's bestfriend, it made sense for him to play a considerable role in the story but he was just mentioned once or twice and had a short conversation with Evie. Anyways, I still liked the book and the writing style. I will be looking forward to read more from this author now!
ARC received from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review
This book was just so adorable, easy to get into and engaging! The plot was your regular old fake engagement trope where the lines between fake and real start to blur. While the concept wasn't anything new, I still enjoyed reading it. I couldn't get enough of Evie & Alex together, which is why I wished there should've been some more scenes where they had to pretend, because the only time they did so was when Evie met Alex's family. Though their chemistry was really palpable and whenever they were in vicinity of each other, I could feel the sparks flowing! The only side characters I loved were Alex's grandmother and Evie's sister Sabrina, the rest of them were just plain annoying. I wish we could get to see more of Travis though. Because he was Alex's bestfriend, it made sense for him to play a considerable role in the story but he was just mentioned once or twice and had a short conversation with Evie. Anyways, I still liked the book and the writing style. I will be looking forward to read more from this author now!
ARC received from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review
December 31, 2022
CRASH, written by Tamara Lush, is a fake dating romance between Alex, director of his own company and most eligible bachelor and Evie, his new intern. He’s the guy any woman would want to date. He even has his own library. The story opens with a meeting and a misunderstanding, but everything is sorted out in due time. Then there’s a fake engagement proposal at the Atlanta Aquarium before he whisks her off to meet the family, especially grand dame Grandmother, who holds the power in the family-owned company. Predictably, they fall in love, and the story ends before they have their first fight.
CRASH is a quick read, the writing is solid, and my favorite character is dear old Gram, who adores Evie. The friction with the rest of the despicable family is never resolved. Maybe a family reunion is planned for the sequel. The story moves quickly, and it is a fun read. Be prepared for explicit sex and profanity.
CRASH is a quick read, the writing is solid, and my favorite character is dear old Gram, who adores Evie. The friction with the rest of the despicable family is never resolved. Maybe a family reunion is planned for the sequel. The story moves quickly, and it is a fun read. Be prepared for explicit sex and profanity.
December 31, 2022
CRASH, written by Tamara Lush, is a fake dating romance between Alex, director of his own company and most eligible bachelor and Evie, his new intern. He’s the guy any woman would want to date. He even has his own library. The story opens with a meeting and a misunderstanding, but everything is sorted out in due time. Then there’s a fake engagement proposal at the Atlanta Aquarium before he whisks her off to meet the family, especially grand dame Grandmother, who holds the power in the family-owned company. Predictably, they fall in love, and the story ends before they have their first fight.
CRASH is a quick read, the writing is solid, and my favorite character is dear old Gram, who adores Evie. The friction with the rest of the despicable family is never resolved. Maybe a family reunion is planned for the sequel. The story moves quickly, and it is a fun read. Be prepared for explicit sex and profanity.
CRASH is a quick read, the writing is solid, and my favorite character is dear old Gram, who adores Evie. The friction with the rest of the despicable family is never resolved. Maybe a family reunion is planned for the sequel. The story moves quickly, and it is a fun read. Be prepared for explicit sex and profanity.
January 28, 2023
A funny real-life Cinderella story that makes you think about how different your life could be if just one or two things go a different way.
Evie is so much more than she seems, since her parents died in an accident she's had the weight of the world on her shoulders. She takes care of her little sister, works two jobs, and skips meals to make ends meet.
Alex is trying to prove himself to his grandmother to try and take his place at the company his grandfather founded. With a reputation that's more bad boy than a businessman, he has a lot to prove.
Through a chance meeting Evie and Alex meet and come up with a plan that will save both of them if they can only stay away from the chemistry that's building between them. But since when has doing the right thing turned out to be the right thing in the end?
Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Webtoon Book Group for providing an advance copy of this ebook, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Evie is so much more than she seems, since her parents died in an accident she's had the weight of the world on her shoulders. She takes care of her little sister, works two jobs, and skips meals to make ends meet.
Alex is trying to prove himself to his grandmother to try and take his place at the company his grandfather founded. With a reputation that's more bad boy than a businessman, he has a lot to prove.
Through a chance meeting Evie and Alex meet and come up with a plan that will save both of them if they can only stay away from the chemistry that's building between them. But since when has doing the right thing turned out to be the right thing in the end?
Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Webtoon Book Group for providing an advance copy of this ebook, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 3, 2023
. I enjoyed reading this book. I'm a big fan of Wattpad books and this one was amazing. Fake engagement trope made it fun and unexpected. It is well written and the dual POV I loved it. Definitely would recommend this book to my romance friends.
December 20, 2023
I was apprehensive because it was a wattpad book, it was as cringy as I thought it would be (even if there were some questionable moments) It was a really slow beginning but once i got into it it was great. Thw ending was something else 😂
November 2, 2022
Read this because of Netgalley, would absolutely not recommend. Even with the basic trope it's not even good trash. Just bad.
January 16, 2023
If someone asks me what is the perfect rom-com I would say Crash!
A beautiful and gripping story
dual POVs and fast-paced
Romantic but not cheesy
Age Gap
Fake Engagement
Alex and Evie's chemistry was everything 😍😍😍
Not a typical Billionaire / Poor girl story it was more felt and down to earth.
A to Z PERFECTION.
A glimpse inside the story:
Evie is 22, an intern at the Jenkins Company
Struggling with financial problems and loans
Her parents died years ago and that's when her life stopped as a young woman.
She is now the carer for her sister Sabrina who's about to graduate and go to College but for that to happen Evie needs money and a permanent job ASAP.
Alex is the managing director at the Jenkins Company.
He is in rivalry with his cousin Beau who is seen by the family as the perfect gentleman whereas Alex is a reckless playboy.
They both want to be the CEOs of the company but first Alex has to prove them wrong.
When a coincidence brings them together, Alex sees Evie as the perfect candidate and the idea of a fake engagement crosses his mind. Evie is in desperate need of the money and she is mesmerized with Alex, so it's a WIN-WIN deal😎😉. Lucky us fate has amazing plans for them.
Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for granting me an ARC of #Crash in exchange for my honest review.
A beautiful and gripping story
dual POVs and fast-paced
Romantic but not cheesy
Age Gap
Fake Engagement
Alex and Evie's chemistry was everything 😍😍😍
Not a typical Billionaire / Poor girl story it was more felt and down to earth.
A to Z PERFECTION.
A glimpse inside the story:
Evie is 22, an intern at the Jenkins Company
Struggling with financial problems and loans
Her parents died years ago and that's when her life stopped as a young woman.
She is now the carer for her sister Sabrina who's about to graduate and go to College but for that to happen Evie needs money and a permanent job ASAP.
Alex is the managing director at the Jenkins Company.
He is in rivalry with his cousin Beau who is seen by the family as the perfect gentleman whereas Alex is a reckless playboy.
They both want to be the CEOs of the company but first Alex has to prove them wrong.
When a coincidence brings them together, Alex sees Evie as the perfect candidate and the idea of a fake engagement crosses his mind. Evie is in desperate need of the money and she is mesmerized with Alex, so it's a WIN-WIN deal😎😉. Lucky us fate has amazing plans for them.
Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for granting me an ARC of #Crash in exchange for my honest review.
December 31, 2022
Evie Cooper is 22 years old, graduated from college and is working at an internship at Jenkins and raising her little sister. Her parents were killed in a car accident two years ago. She's struggling every day to keep a roof over their heads, food to eat and get her sister to graduate high school and go to college.
Alex Jenkins is a former motorcycle racer turned business man. He wants to take over the family business but his Gram is the matriarch of family and the business doesn't think he's ready. Evie needs to take some pamphlets to Alex late one night for approval. Alex thinks Evie is his new temp assistant. Later Alex comes up with a proposal that Evie be his fake fiancee to help secure him the CEO position.
This was a fun romance to read, the writing is fantastic. It hooked me from page one. I cried and I laughed out loud. The spicy scenes were a fantastic bonus.
Alex Jenkins is a former motorcycle racer turned business man. He wants to take over the family business but his Gram is the matriarch of family and the business doesn't think he's ready. Evie needs to take some pamphlets to Alex late one night for approval. Alex thinks Evie is his new temp assistant. Later Alex comes up with a proposal that Evie be his fake fiancee to help secure him the CEO position.
This was a fun romance to read, the writing is fantastic. It hooked me from page one. I cried and I laughed out loud. The spicy scenes were a fantastic bonus.
January 21, 2023
Copy received via Netgalley for an honest review
Fake fiance, big business, snobby (no, we should say sh!**y) family - and that's just the first few chapters.
Alex and Evie take us on a journey where fake friendships and relationships turn into the best thing in each others lives - and I liked where they took us.
There is great chemistry between our lovelies, and you know that they are going to steam up the pages as the book
There are some characters I would like to get more of in the future, so fingers x
Fake fiance, big business, snobby (no, we should say sh!**y) family - and that's just the first few chapters.
Alex and Evie take us on a journey where fake friendships and relationships turn into the best thing in each others lives - and I liked where they took us.
There is great chemistry between our lovelies, and you know that they are going to steam up the pages as the book
There are some characters I would like to get more of in the future, so fingers x
October 24, 2023
I would give this book 2 or 2.5 stars. It was enjoyable enough to finish but not something I’d recommend to someone else. It was sort of like a hallmark movie but a little edgier with some random sex scenes thrown in. I
stumbled across this book at the library when I let Leo pick a book for me. I think he liked the cartoon type characters on the cover and the red and yellow theme that stood out.
stumbled across this book at the library when I let Leo pick a book for me. I think he liked the cartoon type characters on the cover and the red and yellow theme that stood out.
February 20, 2023
Ugh so sad I finished wish there was another 😭😭
June 29, 2025
I needed a book that I could read on a 14 hour plane ride with a small child. It was decent for that situation.
December 28, 2022
"You're giving me your time. Your entire summer. You're giving me you."
Ya girl sure does love a fake engagement trope, and Crash gave me all the feels that I love so much. This one was super easy and fun to read. While I feel like there were moments I wish Evie was a little different, Alex was perfect! The actual fake engagement at the aquarium.. oh my gosh *SWOON*
I did feel like the supporting characters were a little rushed, and I wanted to see more interactions between the main characters and them. I also wanted more scenarios where Evie and Alex needed to pretend in front of others. I felt like they didn't get enough pretending in before things became real between the two of them.
Overall, I did love how sweet and easy this book was to read!
Thank you to NetGalley, Tamara Lush and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group for sharing this ARC with me!
Ya girl sure does love a fake engagement trope, and Crash gave me all the feels that I love so much. This one was super easy and fun to read. While I feel like there were moments I wish Evie was a little different, Alex was perfect! The actual fake engagement at the aquarium.. oh my gosh *SWOON*
I did feel like the supporting characters were a little rushed, and I wanted to see more interactions between the main characters and them. I also wanted more scenarios where Evie and Alex needed to pretend in front of others. I felt like they didn't get enough pretending in before things became real between the two of them.
Overall, I did love how sweet and easy this book was to read!
Thank you to NetGalley, Tamara Lush and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group for sharing this ARC with me!
April 16, 2023
Crash is the second part in the Pretenders series of Tamara Lush. Having read Drive last year, I was wondering whether this one would be about one of the other car drivers from Drive. But no, we actually move away from the track and into the siblings of Savannah: her brother Alex to be exact.
Alex is a bit of an arrogant type. Used to wealth and being in control and having woman throwing themselves at his feet. Fortunately, he has his foul mouthed grandmother (who is hilarious) to keep him grounded. She is, however, bugging Alex to get a stable family life. To appease her, Alex need a (fake) girlfriend.
Enter Evie, the feisty intern that Alex mistakenly thought to be his temporarily assistant. He offers her the role for a big amount of money. Ever since Evie’s parents died in a car crash, she has been struggling to keep her and her younger sister afloat. Barely old enough to take care of herself, she also tries to save money to get her sister’s education paid. So Alex’ offer, although insane, would provide for a big part of Evie’s money problems. So, she agrees, although she loathes Alex for throwing money at every problem he faces.
But now, Alex and Evie must find some common ground, to -at least in public- look like they are in love. It is fun to see the spoiled rich boy and stiff poor girl take diggs at each other. And, of course, when both learn to look beneath the exterior, they find that they actually have a lot in common. A slow burn, with wonderful characters. Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.
Alex is a bit of an arrogant type. Used to wealth and being in control and having woman throwing themselves at his feet. Fortunately, he has his foul mouthed grandmother (who is hilarious) to keep him grounded. She is, however, bugging Alex to get a stable family life. To appease her, Alex need a (fake) girlfriend.
Enter Evie, the feisty intern that Alex mistakenly thought to be his temporarily assistant. He offers her the role for a big amount of money. Ever since Evie’s parents died in a car crash, she has been struggling to keep her and her younger sister afloat. Barely old enough to take care of herself, she also tries to save money to get her sister’s education paid. So Alex’ offer, although insane, would provide for a big part of Evie’s money problems. So, she agrees, although she loathes Alex for throwing money at every problem he faces.
But now, Alex and Evie must find some common ground, to -at least in public- look like they are in love. It is fun to see the spoiled rich boy and stiff poor girl take diggs at each other. And, of course, when both learn to look beneath the exterior, they find that they actually have a lot in common. A slow burn, with wonderful characters. Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.
February 2, 2023
Crash began as a much shorter story on Wattpad, per the author’s note at the end. I’d be interested to read that one, because the things which did not work for me here may not exist in a tighter version.
Dual first person, present tense is popular now, but it’s tough to pull off. With Evie and Alex, we spend so much time in their heads it’s claustrophobic. Each character tells, not shows, us their thoughts and feelings, when dialogue and action would air it out a bit.
There is so much repetition of thought. For example, we are told in the first few pages that Evie’s parents are dead, but she mentions that again through the entire narrative. A fact that big, dumped that quickly, has staying power. Trust me as a reader to be paying attention and move on.
Inside the mind of Alex, we also have repetition of a different sort, in that his persona slides around and can be hard to distinguish from Evie, and vice versa. Without gendered pronouns and the chapter headings with names, I would struggle to tell the two of them apart out of context.
The repetition issue may be a consequence of expanding a tight serialized story for a full-length novel. This felt like reading a second draft of a manuscript–a good start, but maybe another go around or two would make it shine.
Tropes | Fake-Engagement, Workplace Romance, Inheritance, Virgin, 🌶 open door
_________________
Thank you to NetGalley and W by Wattpad Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected publication Jan 3, 2023.
Dual first person, present tense is popular now, but it’s tough to pull off. With Evie and Alex, we spend so much time in their heads it’s claustrophobic. Each character tells, not shows, us their thoughts and feelings, when dialogue and action would air it out a bit.
There is so much repetition of thought. For example, we are told in the first few pages that Evie’s parents are dead, but she mentions that again through the entire narrative. A fact that big, dumped that quickly, has staying power. Trust me as a reader to be paying attention and move on.
Inside the mind of Alex, we also have repetition of a different sort, in that his persona slides around and can be hard to distinguish from Evie, and vice versa. Without gendered pronouns and the chapter headings with names, I would struggle to tell the two of them apart out of context.
The repetition issue may be a consequence of expanding a tight serialized story for a full-length novel. This felt like reading a second draft of a manuscript–a good start, but maybe another go around or two would make it shine.
Tropes | Fake-Engagement, Workplace Romance, Inheritance, Virgin, 🌶 open door
_________________
Thank you to NetGalley and W by Wattpad Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected publication Jan 3, 2023.
October 17, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me. It is an easy read, two person POV. The two main characters felt very bland and one dimensional to me. Horribly repetitive. Lots of telling and not enough showing if that makes sense. I got bored pretty fast and didn't feel emotionally connected or invested in what happened next to either of them.
Unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me. It is an easy read, two person POV. The two main characters felt very bland and one dimensional to me. Horribly repetitive. Lots of telling and not enough showing if that makes sense. I got bored pretty fast and didn't feel emotionally connected or invested in what happened next to either of them.
June 18, 2023
This was a good book. I enjoyed the fake dating trope and the level of spice. The storyline was enjoyable and I lived for the family drama. Solid rom com!
March 13, 2023
I had a lot of run reading Crash by Tamara Lush! It is the perfect romcom for anyone wanting characters with real substance and relatable backstories.
Evie is a young, recent college grad who is struggling to make ends meet through her low paying internship. Things are especially difficult because she has found herself in a role of single mom to her teenage sister after their parents tragically died in a car accident. With her sister's graduation on the horizon and big expenses like college and science camp tuition, not to mention her internship coming to an end in just a few weeks, it is easy to understand why Evie is feeling a little extra stressed. So stressed that it's not surprising that she forgot to deliver an important document to one of the most important people in the company, and that when she does deliver it and gets mistaken for another secretary she doesn't clue in to his mistake until she's spilling coffee on him! She's pretty sure she's about to get fired, but actually, her boss Alex has something different in mind... a proposal of sorts... and the potential to solve all of Evie's financial worries. Too good to be true? Maybe. You'll have to read it to find out!
I loved that this book covered so much more than a simple fake relationship trope story, but dove into so many other themes. Evie has a fear of elevators after her parent's accident, she has financial worries beyond the usual college graduate debt, responsibilities for raising a traumatized teenager, career ambitions that feel out of her league, she's realistically inexperienced in the bedroom (um, she's been a little busy adulting...), and balancing multiple low paying jobs despite having a college degree because in 2023 that diploma is worth little more than graduating high school but significantly more expensive. Alex comes from a privileged background, but the story also unveils his own insecurities, challenges and ambitions, making him an easy character to root for despite how different he and Evie are.
This book is technically the second in a series, but for the most part it was easy to read as a standalone. From what I gathered, the first book is also about a fake relationship between Alex's sister and her now husband. It kind of bothered me that his sister's name was Savannah and they live in Georgia, but that may have been explained in the first novel, and is definitely not that big of a deal lol!
I would absolutely recommend Crash and I'm excited to share that it comes out this week! So go preorder your copy now so you have it on the 24th, you'll definitely want to get reading right away. Meanwhile I am going to go track down my own copy of the first book, Drive so I can find out what happened to Savannah's fake relationship that led to getting married and having kids.
Thanks to Rachel Wu at WattPad Books, and Netgalley, for giving me the chance to read and review this awesome novel!
Evie is a young, recent college grad who is struggling to make ends meet through her low paying internship. Things are especially difficult because she has found herself in a role of single mom to her teenage sister after their parents tragically died in a car accident. With her sister's graduation on the horizon and big expenses like college and science camp tuition, not to mention her internship coming to an end in just a few weeks, it is easy to understand why Evie is feeling a little extra stressed. So stressed that it's not surprising that she forgot to deliver an important document to one of the most important people in the company, and that when she does deliver it and gets mistaken for another secretary she doesn't clue in to his mistake until she's spilling coffee on him! She's pretty sure she's about to get fired, but actually, her boss Alex has something different in mind... a proposal of sorts... and the potential to solve all of Evie's financial worries. Too good to be true? Maybe. You'll have to read it to find out!
I loved that this book covered so much more than a simple fake relationship trope story, but dove into so many other themes. Evie has a fear of elevators after her parent's accident, she has financial worries beyond the usual college graduate debt, responsibilities for raising a traumatized teenager, career ambitions that feel out of her league, she's realistically inexperienced in the bedroom (um, she's been a little busy adulting...), and balancing multiple low paying jobs despite having a college degree because in 2023 that diploma is worth little more than graduating high school but significantly more expensive. Alex comes from a privileged background, but the story also unveils his own insecurities, challenges and ambitions, making him an easy character to root for despite how different he and Evie are.
This book is technically the second in a series, but for the most part it was easy to read as a standalone. From what I gathered, the first book is also about a fake relationship between Alex's sister and her now husband. It kind of bothered me that his sister's name was Savannah and they live in Georgia, but that may have been explained in the first novel, and is definitely not that big of a deal lol!
I would absolutely recommend Crash and I'm excited to share that it comes out this week! So go preorder your copy now so you have it on the 24th, you'll definitely want to get reading right away. Meanwhile I am going to go track down my own copy of the first book, Drive so I can find out what happened to Savannah's fake relationship that led to getting married and having kids.
Thanks to Rachel Wu at WattPad Books, and Netgalley, for giving me the chance to read and review this awesome novel!
February 21, 2023
Crash is a romcom about Evie and Alex. Evie is just trying the best she can to survive each day. She has a low paying internship, she works a second job as a hostess, she's trying to raise her sister after their parents tragically died in a car accident, she's swimming in student loans and expenses, and is just trying to breathe at the end of the day since she's barely making ends meet. Alex is the director of the company that Evie is interning at and in line to become the next CEO as his family owns the company.
After a mix up in which Alex believes Evie to be his temporary assistant for the day as his current assistant is taking some time off, things start to happen. Evie gets sucked into Alex's world to try helping him become the next CEO. Alex's grandmother won't name him the next CEO though because she believes he needs to settle down and become a family-man. Well, Alex's grandmother happened to really like Evie during the whole mix up, so cue the fake engagement.
I read this book predominately in one day. It was fast-paced and thing after thing happened, making it difficult to put down. This book did have minimal spice, maybe 2-3 scenes, so interpret that as you will. For those looking for a really spicy book, this is not the book for you. For those looking for fake dating/fake engagement, roll up your sleeves and dive on in, the water is fine here.
This book does explore the social class difference between Evie and Alex. Alex's family does give off Crazy Rich Asian vibes, though his family are not POC/Asian. His family is quite privileged, they do belittle Evie for not being a debutante/from a well-off family, and kind of messy.
This book is a stand-alone and it did have an HEA. However, it apparently is part of a series, and it now makes me want to go back and read the first book to learn more about Alex's sister Savannah and her relationship with Dante. I had no difficulties understand what was happening in this book without having read the first book, it's just now my curiosity has set in and I want to know more. Great job Tamara Lush for sucking me in and making me want to read more from this series.
I received this book as a free ARC on NetGalley for an honest opinion. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Tamara Lush for providing me with this opportunity to read this book.
After a mix up in which Alex believes Evie to be his temporary assistant for the day as his current assistant is taking some time off, things start to happen. Evie gets sucked into Alex's world to try helping him become the next CEO. Alex's grandmother won't name him the next CEO though because she believes he needs to settle down and become a family-man. Well, Alex's grandmother happened to really like Evie during the whole mix up, so cue the fake engagement.
I read this book predominately in one day. It was fast-paced and thing after thing happened, making it difficult to put down. This book did have minimal spice, maybe 2-3 scenes, so interpret that as you will. For those looking for a really spicy book, this is not the book for you. For those looking for fake dating/fake engagement, roll up your sleeves and dive on in, the water is fine here.
This book does explore the social class difference between Evie and Alex. Alex's family does give off Crazy Rich Asian vibes, though his family are not POC/Asian. His family is quite privileged, they do belittle Evie for not being a debutante/from a well-off family, and kind of messy.
This book is a stand-alone and it did have an HEA. However, it apparently is part of a series, and it now makes me want to go back and read the first book to learn more about Alex's sister Savannah and her relationship with Dante. I had no difficulties understand what was happening in this book without having read the first book, it's just now my curiosity has set in and I want to know more. Great job Tamara Lush for sucking me in and making me want to read more from this series.
I received this book as a free ARC on NetGalley for an honest opinion. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Tamara Lush for providing me with this opportunity to read this book.
October 29, 2022
"You’re giving me your time. Your entire summer. You’re giving me you.”
Crash was adorable, swoonworthy, and easy to read. It was a fake dating romance between Evie, a marketing intern, and Alex, the managing director of the company. There was a usual misunderstanding-filled meet-cute that left both parties feeling a bit heated with the butterflies and attraction. Then came the fake engagement proposal by Alex to appear more stable and mature in front of his grandmother, the current chairperson of the corporation. With this engagement, he'll be able to secure the CEO spot, and Evie gets the extra cash to use to support her and her sister, Sabrina. Nobody falls in love and everyone walks away happy, right? Of course not, they fall in love for real and have to learn to navigate the sticky situation of real feelings in a fake engagement.
Crash was a solid fake-dating romance, but there was nothing really special or different about it. I liked the talk about class differences and privilege, but it felt a bit like a plot device used to build conflict. The whole arrangement also felt a bit too Pretty Woman-esque for me. I didn't know Alex was going to pay Evie to be engaged with him (but honestly good for her go get that bank), and it made it all a bit too much like the knight in shining dollars coming to save her from struggling financially trying to raise her sister. I like fake dating and romances more when it feels like both characters are on equal footing, instead of this weird power and financial imbalance.
I loved Gram but I hated almost every other side character (I mean, they were pretty terrible people). I wish there was a bit more resolution regarding how the family members view Evie and how they were planning on navigating that once they got together for real. Maybe they'll just never go to Thanksgiving, and that's okay. The main conflict and resolution also felt a bit underdeveloped. It all happened so quickly and there wasn't enough introspection or reasoning behind everything.
But overall, it was a quick and fun read and I really loved the title. I also learned something new about beluga whales.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Crash was adorable, swoonworthy, and easy to read. It was a fake dating romance between Evie, a marketing intern, and Alex, the managing director of the company. There was a usual misunderstanding-filled meet-cute that left both parties feeling a bit heated with the butterflies and attraction. Then came the fake engagement proposal by Alex to appear more stable and mature in front of his grandmother, the current chairperson of the corporation. With this engagement, he'll be able to secure the CEO spot, and Evie gets the extra cash to use to support her and her sister, Sabrina. Nobody falls in love and everyone walks away happy, right? Of course not, they fall in love for real and have to learn to navigate the sticky situation of real feelings in a fake engagement.
Crash was a solid fake-dating romance, but there was nothing really special or different about it. I liked the talk about class differences and privilege, but it felt a bit like a plot device used to build conflict. The whole arrangement also felt a bit too Pretty Woman-esque for me. I didn't know Alex was going to pay Evie to be engaged with him (but honestly good for her go get that bank), and it made it all a bit too much like the knight in shining dollars coming to save her from struggling financially trying to raise her sister. I like fake dating and romances more when it feels like both characters are on equal footing, instead of this weird power and financial imbalance.
I loved Gram but I hated almost every other side character (I mean, they were pretty terrible people). I wish there was a bit more resolution regarding how the family members view Evie and how they were planning on navigating that once they got together for real. Maybe they'll just never go to Thanksgiving, and that's okay. The main conflict and resolution also felt a bit underdeveloped. It all happened so quickly and there wasn't enough introspection or reasoning behind everything.
But overall, it was a quick and fun read and I really loved the title. I also learned something new about beluga whales.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
January 22, 2023
I really enjoyed reading this. This is my first Tamara Lush novel and it won’t be my last; I really enjoyed the conversational tone of her writing and found it very engaging. It’s light and fun and suited the story perfectly.
The romance is good. The dynamic between Evie and Alex worked really well for me. I’m a sucker for romances of this kind and I really enjoyed how Alex wanted to take care of her. He was very sweet and caring and they were really cute together. The love scenes were hot and well-written and fit the tone of the book perfectly.
I enjoyed a great deal of this book, but towards the end, when they got into the drama surrounding Alex’s family, I think the story lost a lot of its charm. Some of the scenes in that part felt very jarring tonally, and I didn’t like how his family suddenly turned on them both. I just think there were better ways for that part of the plot to happen. As a result the ensign felt quite muddled and I found it a bit melodramatic in a way that didn’t suit the rest of the book, in my opinion.
That said - it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the book as a whole, which I read quite easily and had a lot of fun with. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, lighthearted contemporary romance with a fake relationship, boss/employee romance. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book.
Content Notes: Boss/employee, workplace, forced proximity, fake relationship, bargains/deals/wagers, age gap.
Warnings:
Other: .
The romance is good. The dynamic between Evie and Alex worked really well for me. I’m a sucker for romances of this kind and I really enjoyed how Alex wanted to take care of her. He was very sweet and caring and they were really cute together. The love scenes were hot and well-written and fit the tone of the book perfectly.
I enjoyed a great deal of this book, but towards the end, when they got into the drama surrounding Alex’s family, I think the story lost a lot of its charm. Some of the scenes in that part felt very jarring tonally, and I didn’t like how his family suddenly turned on them both. I just think there were better ways for that part of the plot to happen. As a result the ensign felt quite muddled and I found it a bit melodramatic in a way that didn’t suit the rest of the book, in my opinion.
That said - it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the book as a whole, which I read quite easily and had a lot of fun with. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, lighthearted contemporary romance with a fake relationship, boss/employee romance. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book.
Content Notes: Boss/employee, workplace, forced proximity, fake relationship, bargains/deals/wagers, age gap.
Warnings:
Other: .
January 15, 2023
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
SPICE: 🔥🔥.5
Evie Cooper has a lot on her plate. She just graduated from college and is trying to survive a corporate marketing internship. Let's not forget that she's basically raising her younger sister who is in high school.
The last thing she needs is to catch the attention of billionaire, corporate heir, and notorious risk taker Alexander Jenkins.
Alex needs someone to lift his image and reputation. The former motorcycle racer is not given a lot of faith to helm his family's business by his own grandmother. When he mistakes Evie for his new temp assistant, he comes up with a plan. He proposes a fake relationship that would get him the CEO job and get Evie the money she needs for herself and her sister Sabrina.
This book is a light read if you're into fake relationships or workplace romance. I like the easygoing chemistry between Alex and Evie, and it made the instant connection believable. I did feel like their relationship's arc was not developed enough, and I would have traded the chapters dedicated to establishing who they are for that, because the moments we get when they were "faking" their relationship were so cute. As someone who has an irrational fear of sharks and loathe the aquarium, this book may have changed my mind on the latter. (I still hate sharks.)
I have to give credit to a side character who stole the spotlight for me when she was around. Kudos to Gram; that character is fantastic and deserves some love.
This book is the second in Lush's The Pretenders series, but it can be read as a standalone.
** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to Tamara Lush, Wattpad Webtoon Books, and NetGalley for providing an ARC. **
SPICE: 🔥🔥.5
Evie Cooper has a lot on her plate. She just graduated from college and is trying to survive a corporate marketing internship. Let's not forget that she's basically raising her younger sister who is in high school.
The last thing she needs is to catch the attention of billionaire, corporate heir, and notorious risk taker Alexander Jenkins.
Alex needs someone to lift his image and reputation. The former motorcycle racer is not given a lot of faith to helm his family's business by his own grandmother. When he mistakes Evie for his new temp assistant, he comes up with a plan. He proposes a fake relationship that would get him the CEO job and get Evie the money she needs for herself and her sister Sabrina.
This book is a light read if you're into fake relationships or workplace romance. I like the easygoing chemistry between Alex and Evie, and it made the instant connection believable. I did feel like their relationship's arc was not developed enough, and I would have traded the chapters dedicated to establishing who they are for that, because the moments we get when they were "faking" their relationship were so cute. As someone who has an irrational fear of sharks and loathe the aquarium, this book may have changed my mind on the latter. (I still hate sharks.)
I have to give credit to a side character who stole the spotlight for me when she was around. Kudos to Gram; that character is fantastic and deserves some love.
This book is the second in Lush's The Pretenders series, but it can be read as a standalone.
** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to Tamara Lush, Wattpad Webtoon Books, and NetGalley for providing an ARC. **
January 26, 2023
First off, a big thank you Tamara Lush and NetGalley for the e-arc of Crash! It was such a fun read, and I didn't realize it was the second in a series, so I'll definitely be going back to read the first book!
Crash is a dual POV romance novel that has all the feels and quite a bit of spice! Evie Cooper is a 21-year-old intern working for Alex's family business. When he accidentally mistakes her as his temporary PA the last week of her internship and has her sit through a crucial business meeting with his steely grandmother, he realizes she could be the key to helping him become CEO of the business instead of his sleezy cousin.
Alex proposes a fake engagement plan to Evie (a-la Pretty Women), and she can't help but to say yes. Even though she is attracted to Alex and isn't that intimidated by the 10-year difference, her main motivation is the money she's getting out of the fake engagement. Money she needs to pay off her own student loans and to support her younger sister. They just have to get through summer family plans and convince Alex's grandma that he's ready to settle down and take over the business. As they get further and further into their engagement, the feelings are starting to feel nothing but fake. Will everything work out? Or will their relationship crash and burn?
Crash was so much fun to read and contained so many fun romance novel tropes! Fake dating and forced proximity are always fun for me because even if the characters can't stand each other and want time apart, they literally can't. And since Crash is a dual POV book, I got to read how both Alex and Evie were falling for each other, and I LOVE reading about the guy falling in love.
I am rating this book a 3.5 rounding up to 4 stars. While I loved reading it, some of the writing fell flat/I wish more plot points were more developed. I wish the ending was a bit longer (I could have gone for some groveling) and I wasn't satisfied with how they left things with Alex's family. The epilogue was great, and hopefully there will be a sequel that will provide more resolution!
Crash is a dual POV romance novel that has all the feels and quite a bit of spice! Evie Cooper is a 21-year-old intern working for Alex's family business. When he accidentally mistakes her as his temporary PA the last week of her internship and has her sit through a crucial business meeting with his steely grandmother, he realizes she could be the key to helping him become CEO of the business instead of his sleezy cousin.
Alex proposes a fake engagement plan to Evie (a-la Pretty Women), and she can't help but to say yes. Even though she is attracted to Alex and isn't that intimidated by the 10-year difference, her main motivation is the money she's getting out of the fake engagement. Money she needs to pay off her own student loans and to support her younger sister. They just have to get through summer family plans and convince Alex's grandma that he's ready to settle down and take over the business. As they get further and further into their engagement, the feelings are starting to feel nothing but fake. Will everything work out? Or will their relationship crash and burn?
Crash was so much fun to read and contained so many fun romance novel tropes! Fake dating and forced proximity are always fun for me because even if the characters can't stand each other and want time apart, they literally can't. And since Crash is a dual POV book, I got to read how both Alex and Evie were falling for each other, and I LOVE reading about the guy falling in love.
I am rating this book a 3.5 rounding up to 4 stars. While I loved reading it, some of the writing fell flat/I wish more plot points were more developed. I wish the ending was a bit longer (I could have gone for some groveling) and I wasn't satisfied with how they left things with Alex's family. The epilogue was great, and hopefully there will be a sequel that will provide more resolution!
January 16, 2023
I had a lot of run reading Crash by Tamara Lush! It is the perfect romcom for anyone wanting characters with real substance and relatable backstories.
Evie is a young, recent college grad who is struggling to make ends meet through her low paying internship. Things are especially difficult because she has found herself in a role of single mom to her teenage sister after their parents tragically died in a car accident. With her sister's graduation on the horizon and big expenses like college and science camp tuition, not to mention her internship coming to an end in just a few weeks, it is easy to understand why Evie is feeling a little extra stressed. So stressed that it's not surprising that she forgot to deliver an important document to one of the most important people in the company, and that when she does deliver it and gets mistaken for another secretary she doesn't clue in to his mistake until she's spilling coffee on him! She's pretty sure she's about to get fired, but actually, her boss Alex has something different in mind... a proposal of sorts... and the potential to solve all of Evie's financial worries. Too good to be true? Maybe. You'll have to read it to find out!
I loved that this book covered so much more than a simple fake relationship trope story, but dove into so many other themes. Evie has a fear of elevators after her parent's accident, she has financial worries beyond the usual college graduate debt, responsibilities for raising a traumatized teenager, career ambitions that feel out of her league, she's realistically inexperienced in the bedroom (um, she's been a little busy adulting...), and balancing multiple low paying jobs despite having a college degree because in 2023 that diploma is worth little more than graduating high school but significantly more expensive. Alex comes from a privileged background, but the story also unveils his own insecurities, challenges and ambitions, making him an easy character to root for despite how different he and Evie are.
This book is technically the second in a series, but for the most part it was easy to read as a standalone. From what I gathered, the first book is also about a fake relationship between Alex's sister and her now husband. I would absolutely recommend Crash and I'm excited to share that it comes out this week! So go preorder your copy now so you have it on the 24th, you'll definitely want to get reading right away.
Evie is a young, recent college grad who is struggling to make ends meet through her low paying internship. Things are especially difficult because she has found herself in a role of single mom to her teenage sister after their parents tragically died in a car accident. With her sister's graduation on the horizon and big expenses like college and science camp tuition, not to mention her internship coming to an end in just a few weeks, it is easy to understand why Evie is feeling a little extra stressed. So stressed that it's not surprising that she forgot to deliver an important document to one of the most important people in the company, and that when she does deliver it and gets mistaken for another secretary she doesn't clue in to his mistake until she's spilling coffee on him! She's pretty sure she's about to get fired, but actually, her boss Alex has something different in mind... a proposal of sorts... and the potential to solve all of Evie's financial worries. Too good to be true? Maybe. You'll have to read it to find out!
I loved that this book covered so much more than a simple fake relationship trope story, but dove into so many other themes. Evie has a fear of elevators after her parent's accident, she has financial worries beyond the usual college graduate debt, responsibilities for raising a traumatized teenager, career ambitions that feel out of her league, she's realistically inexperienced in the bedroom (um, she's been a little busy adulting...), and balancing multiple low paying jobs despite having a college degree because in 2023 that diploma is worth little more than graduating high school but significantly more expensive. Alex comes from a privileged background, but the story also unveils his own insecurities, challenges and ambitions, making him an easy character to root for despite how different he and Evie are.
This book is technically the second in a series, but for the most part it was easy to read as a standalone. From what I gathered, the first book is also about a fake relationship between Alex's sister and her now husband. I would absolutely recommend Crash and I'm excited to share that it comes out this week! So go preorder your copy now so you have it on the 24th, you'll definitely want to get reading right away.
October 30, 2022
Alex Jenkins has a reputation. He is Atlantis, most eligible, bachelor, a former, competitive, motorcycle racer, and a man who isn’t afraid of a challenge. But when the off-limits marketing Intan, Evie Cooper catches his attention, South control has a whole new meaning.
Both Alex and Evie attempt professionalism, but that undeniable passion pushes them further to the edge. Between in office outfit, adjustments and late night, all secretarial work, they close Proximity survey is pure torture.
Suspense feels as Evie is reluctantly drawn into an engagement for show so Alex can secure his place as the companies successor. His reputation as a bad boy is not exactly on brand and a serious commitment to prove to his family that he is mature enough to take over. With engagement comes family drama and the ever present eye of the matriarch, Alex steely and strong grandmother Eleanor Dorothy Jenkins.
As Evie becomes emerged in the Jenkins clan, her humble origins comes into stark contrast, with the snobbery of the billionaire lifestyle. A wash in new found lust and overwhelmed by a world of luxury. Evie struggles to decipher between what is a ruse what is real.
Can Alex exchange his love for the chase for real love? Can Evie’s spunk and personality win over Alex’s family? Can their raw passion transform fauxmance into a meaningful relationship?
Really enjoyable read and totally recommend
Thank you NetGalley and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group
I just reviewed Crash by Tamara Lush. #Crash #NetGalley
Both Alex and Evie attempt professionalism, but that undeniable passion pushes them further to the edge. Between in office outfit, adjustments and late night, all secretarial work, they close Proximity survey is pure torture.
Suspense feels as Evie is reluctantly drawn into an engagement for show so Alex can secure his place as the companies successor. His reputation as a bad boy is not exactly on brand and a serious commitment to prove to his family that he is mature enough to take over. With engagement comes family drama and the ever present eye of the matriarch, Alex steely and strong grandmother Eleanor Dorothy Jenkins.
As Evie becomes emerged in the Jenkins clan, her humble origins comes into stark contrast, with the snobbery of the billionaire lifestyle. A wash in new found lust and overwhelmed by a world of luxury. Evie struggles to decipher between what is a ruse what is real.
Can Alex exchange his love for the chase for real love? Can Evie’s spunk and personality win over Alex’s family? Can their raw passion transform fauxmance into a meaningful relationship?
Really enjoyable read and totally recommend
Thank you NetGalley and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group
I just reviewed Crash by Tamara Lush. #Crash #NetGalley
October 30, 2022
Alex Jenkins has a reputation. He is Atlantis, most eligible, bachelor, a former, competitive, motorcycle racer, and a man who isn’t afraid of a challenge. But when the off-limits marketing Intan, Evie Cooper catches his attention, South control has a whole new meaning.
Both Alex and Evie attempt professionalism, but that undeniable passion pushes them further to the edge. Between in office outfit, adjustments and late night, all secretarial work, they close Proximity survey is pure torture.
Suspense feels as Evie is reluctantly drawn into an engagement for show so Alex can secure his place as the companies successor. His reputation as a bad boy is not exactly on brand and a serious commitment to prove to his family that he is mature enough to take over. With engagement comes family drama and the ever present eye of the matriarch, Alex steely and strong grandmother Eleanor Dorothy Jenkins.
As Evie becomes emerged in the Jenkins clan, her humble origins comes into stark contrast, with the snobbery of the billionaire lifestyle. A wash in new found lust and overwhelmed by a world of luxury. Evie struggles to decipher between what is a ruse what is real.
Can Alex exchange his love for the chase for real love? Can Evie’s spunk and personality win over Alex’s family? Can their raw passion transform fauxmance into a meaningful relationship?
Really enjoyable read and totally recommend
Thank you NetGalley and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group
I just reviewed Crash by Tamara Lush. #Crash #NetGalley
Both Alex and Evie attempt professionalism, but that undeniable passion pushes them further to the edge. Between in office outfit, adjustments and late night, all secretarial work, they close Proximity survey is pure torture.
Suspense feels as Evie is reluctantly drawn into an engagement for show so Alex can secure his place as the companies successor. His reputation as a bad boy is not exactly on brand and a serious commitment to prove to his family that he is mature enough to take over. With engagement comes family drama and the ever present eye of the matriarch, Alex steely and strong grandmother Eleanor Dorothy Jenkins.
As Evie becomes emerged in the Jenkins clan, her humble origins comes into stark contrast, with the snobbery of the billionaire lifestyle. A wash in new found lust and overwhelmed by a world of luxury. Evie struggles to decipher between what is a ruse what is real.
Can Alex exchange his love for the chase for real love? Can Evie’s spunk and personality win over Alex’s family? Can their raw passion transform fauxmance into a meaningful relationship?
Really enjoyable read and totally recommend
Thank you NetGalley and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group
I just reviewed Crash by Tamara Lush. #Crash #NetGalley
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