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She Never Got to Say Goodbye
When Olivia trades her promising career for a more domestic lifestyle as a wife and mother, she expects many things but never to see ghosts much less be one.
Her life with her handsome husband, Brandon, a successful criminal lawyer, starts as a happy one, but following a tragedy, guilt, alcohol and drugs crush their blissful world in a hurry. One minute Olivia is planning to leave the marriage and the next she's floating at the foot of her son's bed. Dead. Murdered. And all evidence points to Brandon as the prime suspect.
She is angry and determined to make him pay, but soon, she learns that if she wants justice, she must follow the clues that reach back into Brandon's past.
Suspenseful, romantic and awash in the afterlife thrill, She Never Got To Say Goodbye captures the power of love and friendship.
Her life with her handsome husband, Brandon, a successful criminal lawyer, starts as a happy one, but following a tragedy, guilt, alcohol and drugs crush their blissful world in a hurry. One minute Olivia is planning to leave the marriage and the next she's floating at the foot of her son's bed. Dead. Murdered. And all evidence points to Brandon as the prime suspect.
She is angry and determined to make him pay, but soon, she learns that if she wants justice, she must follow the clues that reach back into Brandon's past.
Suspenseful, romantic and awash in the afterlife thrill, She Never Got To Say Goodbye captures the power of love and friendship.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 10, 2013
2 people are currently reading
About the author
Ica Iova
17Ìýbooks111ÌýfollowersIca Iova is a Canadian multi award-winning author of several books. In 2014, her award-winning romance novel, Boundaries, was a finalist at World’s Best Story. Also in 2014, Ica won 3rd place at Tallenge short story competition with a short story titled, The Haunted House.
In 2015 her paranormal romance She Never Got To Say Goodbye won bronze at World’s Best Story
She writes what she enjoys reading. When she is not writing, editing, or marketing, she’s a proud wife, mother, and grandmother, with a substantial sense of humor. She loves spending time with her family and pets, shopping for shoes, or just lazing around with a good book. She values the simple things money can’t buy, never compares herself with anyone else, never expects others to agree with her, and never follows the crowd.
In 2015 her paranormal romance She Never Got To Say Goodbye won bronze at World’s Best Story
She writes what she enjoys reading. When she is not writing, editing, or marketing, she’s a proud wife, mother, and grandmother, with a substantial sense of humor. She loves spending time with her family and pets, shopping for shoes, or just lazing around with a good book. She values the simple things money can’t buy, never compares herself with anyone else, never expects others to agree with her, and never follows the crowd.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
June 7, 2017
My rating is 3.7
The book "She Never Got to Say Goodbye" by Ica Iova, is a sympathetic story of the spirit who must be discovered who killed her on Earth. The book is, in fact, a love story with links to supernatural elements and mystery novel. The story leads us to Vancouver where the young Gloria girl who is on the last year of college, meets a handsome young man Brandon. Gloria just finishes for a lawyer and does not want to get in any relationship, but literally, falls in love with Brandon. The story leads us to Vancouver where the young Gloria girl who is on the last year of college, meets a handsome young man Brandon. Gloria just finishes for a lawyer and does not want to get in any relationship, but literally, falls in love with Brandon. After a couple of months, their relationship is getting married and soon getting family parentage. Everything is so perfect and beautiful, but soon their idyll begins to be distorted. Brandon, after a litigation that he did not get against the bank, gets a diary of a girl who was killed after that. He felt responsible for it and began to drink. Gloria tries in every way to move away from her but she does not succeed. In the end, all this leads to an inevitable end where the supernatural and the world will be connected. As I would not want to spoil the reading of other readers, I will leave the book read to the end. The writer brings us into a story in which nothing is the way it looks. I would recommend the book to supernatural lovers.
"I received a free copy from the author without an obligation to review."
The book "She Never Got to Say Goodbye" by Ica Iova, is a sympathetic story of the spirit who must be discovered who killed her on Earth. The book is, in fact, a love story with links to supernatural elements and mystery novel. The story leads us to Vancouver where the young Gloria girl who is on the last year of college, meets a handsome young man Brandon. Gloria just finishes for a lawyer and does not want to get in any relationship, but literally, falls in love with Brandon. The story leads us to Vancouver where the young Gloria girl who is on the last year of college, meets a handsome young man Brandon. Gloria just finishes for a lawyer and does not want to get in any relationship, but literally, falls in love with Brandon. After a couple of months, their relationship is getting married and soon getting family parentage. Everything is so perfect and beautiful, but soon their idyll begins to be distorted. Brandon, after a litigation that he did not get against the bank, gets a diary of a girl who was killed after that. He felt responsible for it and began to drink. Gloria tries in every way to move away from her but she does not succeed. In the end, all this leads to an inevitable end where the supernatural and the world will be connected. As I would not want to spoil the reading of other readers, I will leave the book read to the end. The writer brings us into a story in which nothing is the way it looks. I would recommend the book to supernatural lovers.
"I received a free copy from the author without an obligation to review."
August 27, 2015
I read this book in one sitting and it has left my mind spinning. The plot moves fast from one event to the next. It doesn't give you time to take a breath before a new person or time period is introduced. I like fast-paced stories but this one is even too quick for me. They meet, marry, have a baby, fight, split up in one breath. The story could have been spaced out with more pages, developing each sequence of events more fully.
The first three quarters of the book is easy to follow without feeling confused or lost. However, the last quarter is presented as a new story within the main story. New people and events are introduced to explain the murder. But it's hard to pick up new points of view at the end of a book. It is obvious who is the murderer but the story becomes a convoluted journey to get there.
All in all, I like the book and the characters. I would have enjoyed it more if the last part meshed in better with the rest of the story.
The first three quarters of the book is easy to follow without feeling confused or lost. However, the last quarter is presented as a new story within the main story. New people and events are introduced to explain the murder. But it's hard to pick up new points of view at the end of a book. It is obvious who is the murderer but the story becomes a convoluted journey to get there.
All in all, I like the book and the characters. I would have enjoyed it more if the last part meshed in better with the rest of the story.
July 28, 2015
The story opens with the most romantic proposal I have ever read. I was hooked, and the author never let me escape. I can’t even say “until the end�; time, place, and normality are inextricably confused. What does lie beyond a violent, unjust death? For ghostly Olivia, it isn’t peace. She has been cheated of life and her delight in mothering her son, Braydon, and she wants revenge on her killer.
I did say time becomes confused? Good; to return to the beginning, both Olivia and Brandon are lawyers. She, at the beginning of her career, misses the truth: Brandon lives his personal life the way he conducts himself, with great success, as a defence lawyer in a court room. He’s a convincing actor, hence the romantic proposal and perfect wedding. The first hint of selfishness comes early: Brandon wants a baby and he wants it now. Startled, but too much in love to refuse, Olivia gets pregnant� and Brandon goes off the rails into drink and drugs.
This is no ordinary story of perfect love spoilt by substance abuse. It’s a gripping paranormal tale that leaves you questioning your own sanity long after you’ve finished reading. What is that shadow behind me in the mirror?
Powerful, intriguing, and highly recommended
I did say time becomes confused? Good; to return to the beginning, both Olivia and Brandon are lawyers. She, at the beginning of her career, misses the truth: Brandon lives his personal life the way he conducts himself, with great success, as a defence lawyer in a court room. He’s a convincing actor, hence the romantic proposal and perfect wedding. The first hint of selfishness comes early: Brandon wants a baby and he wants it now. Startled, but too much in love to refuse, Olivia gets pregnant� and Brandon goes off the rails into drink and drugs.
This is no ordinary story of perfect love spoilt by substance abuse. It’s a gripping paranormal tale that leaves you questioning your own sanity long after you’ve finished reading. What is that shadow behind me in the mirror?
Powerful, intriguing, and highly recommended
August 12, 2016
As soon as I read the description of this book, I knew that I had to read it. It's a quick read and my only complaint is that I wished it had been longer. A definite sign of a good read, to me! The author gives us a well written story with good background information on the characters.
Considering a main character was a ghost, I loved how interesting the author made her interactions with the living. This book has something for everyone... paranormal, suspense, mystery, and romance.
It is a fast paced book where time goes by quickly. Yet, the ending answered a lot of little twists and turns that had me wondering about throughout the book. I like when you don't get an ordinary ending. I was very pleased with how things worked out.
There is nothing more exciting than a paranormal suspense novel and oh, this was a great one. I would highly recommend reading this book!
* I was provided a copy of this book to read as part of a blog tour. This review is my honest opinion.
Considering a main character was a ghost, I loved how interesting the author made her interactions with the living. This book has something for everyone... paranormal, suspense, mystery, and romance.
It is a fast paced book where time goes by quickly. Yet, the ending answered a lot of little twists and turns that had me wondering about throughout the book. I like when you don't get an ordinary ending. I was very pleased with how things worked out.
There is nothing more exciting than a paranormal suspense novel and oh, this was a great one. I would highly recommend reading this book!
* I was provided a copy of this book to read as part of a blog tour. This review is my honest opinion.
October 20, 2015
"... “From the day I met you, I knew you were the one for me and I knew this day would come. We are each other’s center of the universe. We are relaxed in each other's company..."
This is part of Brandon's marriage proposal to Olivia. Notice the sentence "We are relaxed in each other's company..." to understand what is special about Olivia's and Brandon's relationship.
Author Ica Iova, manages to draw a picture of a relationship all of us dream about. We want to be relaxed in each other's company... The heroine of this story, Olivia, also knows that by sheer luck she met a truly special man, which is why she is going along with his ideas, getting engaged quickly, planning for a baby quickly, getting a dog to make the family complete...
It would take a special catastrophe to undo this dream. And, sadly it happens. Even though Brandon is a criminal lawyer he is being asked to represent a young orphan, Stacy, in probate court. Brandon cannot save the case, Stacy's recently deceased father owed too much money. In light of that she'll lose her "bastion of strength, her house" Stacy kills herself; and, Brandon blames himself for her death.
Stacy's diary is some of the finest writing I have read in a long time; in fact, I found it so powerful that the following ghost story could not really compete. Author Ica Iova's text of Stacy's diary, is beautiful, haunting, simple, and immensely powerful. It makes it clear why a) Brandon blames himself for Stacy's death and b) he starts drinking and doing drugs, occasionally.
Olivia understands that too, but when Brandon's drinking goes on for too long, she puts her foot down - either Brandon cleans up or she and little Brayden will leave.
Then, Brandon has one relapse, and during the same night Olivia ends up dead. The obvious suspect is Brandon. Still, I knew that Brandon had not done it. Author Ica Iova describes his latest drinking episode so vividly and excellently, that Brandon could not have been the murderer. So, who killed Olivia?
Olivia, now a ghost, is trying to find out herself. Beautifully (and somewhat logically) Iova develops a plot, that little Brayden can "see" Olivia's ghost, thereby creating a logical basis why Olivia wants to hang around ( to be with Brayden) and also t solve the mystery.
No spoilers from this reviewer. All I want to say is, "I missed the intro of the murderer." Highly entertaining.
Gisela Hausmann, author & blogger
This is part of Brandon's marriage proposal to Olivia. Notice the sentence "We are relaxed in each other's company..." to understand what is special about Olivia's and Brandon's relationship.
Author Ica Iova, manages to draw a picture of a relationship all of us dream about. We want to be relaxed in each other's company... The heroine of this story, Olivia, also knows that by sheer luck she met a truly special man, which is why she is going along with his ideas, getting engaged quickly, planning for a baby quickly, getting a dog to make the family complete...
It would take a special catastrophe to undo this dream. And, sadly it happens. Even though Brandon is a criminal lawyer he is being asked to represent a young orphan, Stacy, in probate court. Brandon cannot save the case, Stacy's recently deceased father owed too much money. In light of that she'll lose her "bastion of strength, her house" Stacy kills herself; and, Brandon blames himself for her death.
Stacy's diary is some of the finest writing I have read in a long time; in fact, I found it so powerful that the following ghost story could not really compete. Author Ica Iova's text of Stacy's diary, is beautiful, haunting, simple, and immensely powerful. It makes it clear why a) Brandon blames himself for Stacy's death and b) he starts drinking and doing drugs, occasionally.
Olivia understands that too, but when Brandon's drinking goes on for too long, she puts her foot down - either Brandon cleans up or she and little Brayden will leave.
Then, Brandon has one relapse, and during the same night Olivia ends up dead. The obvious suspect is Brandon. Still, I knew that Brandon had not done it. Author Ica Iova describes his latest drinking episode so vividly and excellently, that Brandon could not have been the murderer. So, who killed Olivia?
Olivia, now a ghost, is trying to find out herself. Beautifully (and somewhat logically) Iova develops a plot, that little Brayden can "see" Olivia's ghost, thereby creating a logical basis why Olivia wants to hang around ( to be with Brayden) and also t solve the mystery.
No spoilers from this reviewer. All I want to say is, "I missed the intro of the murderer." Highly entertaining.
Gisela Hausmann, author & blogger
August 2, 2016
Right after I read the book description of ‘She Never Got To Say Goodbye� for the first time, I knew this was a book I wanted to read. I was really fascinated by the description, and I honestly couldn’t wait to start reading.
Although the cover didn’t really work for me, it does have a mysterious look to it which would make me grab it even faster if I saw it lying in a bookstore.
From the very first page this book really grabbed my attention. The authors writing really hooked me to every single page. And since this book was very fast-paced and intriguing it definitely made for a read I couldn’t put down till it was done. I can’t even say I read this book. No, I just devoured it!
That doesn’t mean that this book didn’t confuse me a little at times. It sure got confusing at times.. I had to be on top of my reading-game just to keep up with this book.
The main characters Olivia and Brandon where something else. I couldn’t really say I liked them, but somehow these characters really worked for the book. Olivia was this college student, who studied to become a lawyer and one day she meets handsome lawyer Brandon. Olivia and Brandon’s relationship goes really fast and before you know they are married and expecting their first baby. But nothing is as easy as it seems and on the night Olivia decides to change her life, she gets murdered and finds herself back as a ghost.
‘She Never Got To Say Goodbye� is a story unlike any other I read. It is romantic, paranormal, thrilling and it definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat. And although I really enjoyed this story, I think there were a little too much twists and turns at times. It was just so hard to keep up, and although I managed, I think this book would be even better if it was a little ‘slower�.
But overall this was an excellent read I would surely recommend. And it was just so entertaining.. definitely a book I needed at the time!
Although the cover didn’t really work for me, it does have a mysterious look to it which would make me grab it even faster if I saw it lying in a bookstore.
From the very first page this book really grabbed my attention. The authors writing really hooked me to every single page. And since this book was very fast-paced and intriguing it definitely made for a read I couldn’t put down till it was done. I can’t even say I read this book. No, I just devoured it!
That doesn’t mean that this book didn’t confuse me a little at times. It sure got confusing at times.. I had to be on top of my reading-game just to keep up with this book.
The main characters Olivia and Brandon where something else. I couldn’t really say I liked them, but somehow these characters really worked for the book. Olivia was this college student, who studied to become a lawyer and one day she meets handsome lawyer Brandon. Olivia and Brandon’s relationship goes really fast and before you know they are married and expecting their first baby. But nothing is as easy as it seems and on the night Olivia decides to change her life, she gets murdered and finds herself back as a ghost.
‘She Never Got To Say Goodbye� is a story unlike any other I read. It is romantic, paranormal, thrilling and it definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat. And although I really enjoyed this story, I think there were a little too much twists and turns at times. It was just so hard to keep up, and although I managed, I think this book would be even better if it was a little ‘slower�.
But overall this was an excellent read I would surely recommend. And it was just so entertaining.. definitely a book I needed at the time!
February 22, 2014
Well I grabbed this just to fill in an afternoon of reading and it was a pleasant surprise.
The story of Olivia was riveting and while this is a very short novella (88 pages) it seemed much longer (might question that 88 page estimate). NOTE: Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ says 172 pages which seems more likely but possibly too long an estimate :)
Olivia has a great life and then she is murdered, enter the vengeful ghost of Olivia and the real story begins. Who killed her and why? Forget the easy answers, this is a bit of paranormal mystery that you are going to enjoy.
The story is paced very good until about the halfway point and it seems to rush along and people I could not keep up with easily. The ghost thing is shared with a more people than you would expect to make the plot reasonable. Plus the need of an editor was apparent in a few minor places. Nothing that caused you to lose the story.
Bottom Line: Great addicting reading, I read it straight through and enjoyed it and hated to see it end (maybe a touch abrupt) but did not feel cheated out of anything. 4 Stars and a fine afternoon of entertainment.
The story of Olivia was riveting and while this is a very short novella (88 pages) it seemed much longer (might question that 88 page estimate). NOTE: Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ says 172 pages which seems more likely but possibly too long an estimate :)
Olivia has a great life and then she is murdered, enter the vengeful ghost of Olivia and the real story begins. Who killed her and why? Forget the easy answers, this is a bit of paranormal mystery that you are going to enjoy.
The story is paced very good until about the halfway point and it seems to rush along and people I could not keep up with easily. The ghost thing is shared with a more people than you would expect to make the plot reasonable. Plus the need of an editor was apparent in a few minor places. Nothing that caused you to lose the story.
Bottom Line: Great addicting reading, I read it straight through and enjoyed it and hated to see it end (maybe a touch abrupt) but did not feel cheated out of anything. 4 Stars and a fine afternoon of entertainment.
July 20, 2015
This is a very solid thriller with some paranormal elements thrown in. Olivia is a young lawyer-to-be who falls in love with Brandon, a successful lawyer himself. Eventually, Olivia is murdered, and there's the question of who did it.
I found this story really easy to read, rarely wasting time and presenting the necessary details over a fairly long stretch of plot. It's tough, but I'd have to take a star away for predicting the big revelation and ending way in advance. It sucks when that happens, but what can you do?
There are a few small errors as well, such as someone being called "old fashion" instead of old fashioned. Little things like that, plus expecting the ending and being correct about it, all detracted somewhat.
All in all this was a solid paranormal thriller/mystery with good characters, occasional jumps into humor, and a nice balance of plot and description. It could have hid its big surprises a little better, but even so, I don't regret reading this by any means. Check it out!
I found this story really easy to read, rarely wasting time and presenting the necessary details over a fairly long stretch of plot. It's tough, but I'd have to take a star away for predicting the big revelation and ending way in advance. It sucks when that happens, but what can you do?
There are a few small errors as well, such as someone being called "old fashion" instead of old fashioned. Little things like that, plus expecting the ending and being correct about it, all detracted somewhat.
All in all this was a solid paranormal thriller/mystery with good characters, occasional jumps into humor, and a nice balance of plot and description. It could have hid its big surprises a little better, but even so, I don't regret reading this by any means. Check it out!
October 17, 2013
great book loved the ending
June 7, 2018
This story went from 0 to 100 real quick. What starts as a seemingly normal romantic story turns into a chaotic paranormal nightmare. Olivia and Brandon seem like the perfect couple, newly married and debating when the best time to have a baby is. Olivia, heavily focused on her career, finally agrees with her husband and they have a son. Then everything changes. Olivia wakes up dead and can’t remember who killed her.
I absolutely loved the worldbuilding in this book with the author’s ability to seamlessly move the story between the seemingly normal and the paranormal. After Olivia is killed, it’s fascinating to see the way the author contrasts Brandon and Olivia’s feelings on every scene. The easy writing style leads its readers on a trip they won’t soon forget.
I absolutely loved the worldbuilding in this book with the author’s ability to seamlessly move the story between the seemingly normal and the paranormal. After Olivia is killed, it’s fascinating to see the way the author contrasts Brandon and Olivia’s feelings on every scene. The easy writing style leads its readers on a trip they won’t soon forget.
June 30, 2018
After a slow start, this turns into an action-packed, high-speed read. For me personally, the book didn't really start until Olivia died. (sorry Olivia!)
The book starts as a gentle romance between Olivia and Brandon. After their marriage, the relationship falters despite having a son. Then Olivia is murdered and things get interesting. Olivia hangs around to watch her son grow up and ruin Brandon's life, especially any new relationships. The book then dramatically changes direction and Olivia joins forces with her husband and best friend to find her killer.
A fun, quick read. Depth is lost because of the high speed the story rattles along at. But then, I guess you can't have both.
Recommend to anyone looking for a quick, high-speed paranormal mystery.
The book starts as a gentle romance between Olivia and Brandon. After their marriage, the relationship falters despite having a son. Then Olivia is murdered and things get interesting. Olivia hangs around to watch her son grow up and ruin Brandon's life, especially any new relationships. The book then dramatically changes direction and Olivia joins forces with her husband and best friend to find her killer.
A fun, quick read. Depth is lost because of the high speed the story rattles along at. But then, I guess you can't have both.
Recommend to anyone looking for a quick, high-speed paranormal mystery.
December 7, 2018
“She Never Got to Say Goodbye� was a compelling read for several reasons. First, it combines a few genres - women’s fiction, romance, thriller, and even a bit of a paranormal. Second, the choice of the central heroine was perfect. Olivia is strong, intelligent, but at the same time kind and forgiving. She knew when to draw the line after her husband Brandon’s destructive behavior started threatening not only her safety but that of their son. She also knew when to give him a second chance. Without giving away any spoilers, I must say that despite a certain tragic event, I love the idea of justice being served from such an unusual source, and it was definitely a very imaginative and unexpected twist to an already compelling story. Enjoyed it very much. Well done!
February 4, 2018
What a powerful story! Imagine being murdered and your ghost having to solve who did it! Imagine watching the lives of everyone you love go on around you - friends, parents, husband... your child. There is so much emotion tangled up in this plot and the mystery that kept me guessing.
A great weekend read.
A great weekend read.
January 2, 2016
This is the second book by Ica Iova that I have read. When I read Boundaries, I mistakenly thought it was her first book. When I went to write a review for it I discovered that she had two others and another coming out in January of this year.
As I often do when I discover a new author that I love, I read the summary for “She Never Got to Say Goodbye� and I knew I wanted to read it, so I downloaded it to my Kindle right away. This book was everything I thought it might be and so much more! I have become a fan of Ica Iova’s work, and I plan to read the rest of her books after I get through of the other’s in my TBR list.
I actually cheated a bit and shuffled “She Never Got to Say Goodbye� to the top of the list!
In the first chapter we meet Olivia Jeffries who will soon graduate from UBC Faculty of Law. As She struggles to complete a psychology report about human behavior that will give her extra credits she becomes stressed, her muscles tight. Her usual calm is “replaced by a carousel of thoughts, each one more worrying than the last.�
She tries to phone her best friend but can’t reach her so she heads out to Ol’Mama’s bar and grill for something to eat and some relaxing time on her own.
When she gets seated at a table, she senses that someone is watching her. She looks up to see a very handsome man staring at her. She looks away and the next thing she knows he is standing beside her, saying he hates to eat alone and asking her to join him. He is Brandon Olson, a thirty-five-year-old lawyer, and he’s single…and so hot looking she is almost breathless.
That is the beginning of their relationship, and ten months later Brandon takes her to a romantic spot and proposes to her. She accepted, but in the flurry of activity before her graduation hadn’t gotten around to tell her parents. When graduation day came she was torn, feeling guilty that she was going to spring an engagement announcement on them, when they were expecting her to graduate and go on to make a successful life as a lawyer. Not that she couldn’t still be a lawyer, but she was close to her parents, and yet she had never mentioned her relationship with Brandon.
Brandon and Olivia seemed to have a blissful, successful marriage until Brandon was asked to represent a client who had needs that he couldn’t resolve to her satisfaction, and the legal results left her destitute and alone. When she committed suicide, a diary she had written surfaced, and Brandon was overcome with guilt and remorse. From that point Olivia and Brandon’s relationship spiraled downward.
Olivia gave birth to their son, Brayden, but that didn’t help things. On the night she had decided to take the baby and leave, she is murdered in the garage. Brandon is the prime suspect. Olivia’s tormented spirit is enraged and she is determined to make sure that he is punished.
This book has something for readers of every genre—romance, thriller, paranormal. The action is fast and furious—especially in the realm of her spirit as she hovers nearby, trying to make anyone—everyone-- see that he is guilty. Iova depicts the haunting by Olivia’s spirit as vividly as she did their emerging love, Brandon’s guilt as he read the diary that sent him spiraling into depression and substance abuse and the gradual deterioration of their relationship.
I have told you a lot, but I promise there are no spoilers in this review! This book is packed with twists and turns, and the resolution is something I didn’t see coming until it was there. Don’t discount a ghost with a mission.
Iova writes such descriptive prose. All through the book, there were lines that caught my attention at the time, but I still remember this one: “…his words were crushed by the massive man unraveling his bulky frame into…� As I read I could see this whole scene happening in my mind.
I will definitely be reading Ica Iova’s “Resilience Series.�
As I often do when I discover a new author that I love, I read the summary for “She Never Got to Say Goodbye� and I knew I wanted to read it, so I downloaded it to my Kindle right away. This book was everything I thought it might be and so much more! I have become a fan of Ica Iova’s work, and I plan to read the rest of her books after I get through of the other’s in my TBR list.
I actually cheated a bit and shuffled “She Never Got to Say Goodbye� to the top of the list!
In the first chapter we meet Olivia Jeffries who will soon graduate from UBC Faculty of Law. As She struggles to complete a psychology report about human behavior that will give her extra credits she becomes stressed, her muscles tight. Her usual calm is “replaced by a carousel of thoughts, each one more worrying than the last.�
She tries to phone her best friend but can’t reach her so she heads out to Ol’Mama’s bar and grill for something to eat and some relaxing time on her own.
When she gets seated at a table, she senses that someone is watching her. She looks up to see a very handsome man staring at her. She looks away and the next thing she knows he is standing beside her, saying he hates to eat alone and asking her to join him. He is Brandon Olson, a thirty-five-year-old lawyer, and he’s single…and so hot looking she is almost breathless.
That is the beginning of their relationship, and ten months later Brandon takes her to a romantic spot and proposes to her. She accepted, but in the flurry of activity before her graduation hadn’t gotten around to tell her parents. When graduation day came she was torn, feeling guilty that she was going to spring an engagement announcement on them, when they were expecting her to graduate and go on to make a successful life as a lawyer. Not that she couldn’t still be a lawyer, but she was close to her parents, and yet she had never mentioned her relationship with Brandon.
Brandon and Olivia seemed to have a blissful, successful marriage until Brandon was asked to represent a client who had needs that he couldn’t resolve to her satisfaction, and the legal results left her destitute and alone. When she committed suicide, a diary she had written surfaced, and Brandon was overcome with guilt and remorse. From that point Olivia and Brandon’s relationship spiraled downward.
Olivia gave birth to their son, Brayden, but that didn’t help things. On the night she had decided to take the baby and leave, she is murdered in the garage. Brandon is the prime suspect. Olivia’s tormented spirit is enraged and she is determined to make sure that he is punished.
This book has something for readers of every genre—romance, thriller, paranormal. The action is fast and furious—especially in the realm of her spirit as she hovers nearby, trying to make anyone—everyone-- see that he is guilty. Iova depicts the haunting by Olivia’s spirit as vividly as she did their emerging love, Brandon’s guilt as he read the diary that sent him spiraling into depression and substance abuse and the gradual deterioration of their relationship.
I have told you a lot, but I promise there are no spoilers in this review! This book is packed with twists and turns, and the resolution is something I didn’t see coming until it was there. Don’t discount a ghost with a mission.
Iova writes such descriptive prose. All through the book, there were lines that caught my attention at the time, but I still remember this one: “…his words were crushed by the massive man unraveling his bulky frame into…� As I read I could see this whole scene happening in my mind.
I will definitely be reading Ica Iova’s “Resilience Series.�
June 23, 2018
A good plot with fine twist and turns
This is a ghostly paranormal story in which a murder victim, Olivia, follows a path to work out who killed her. The main protagonist is well drawn and I certainly wanted to know what happened to her. Her husband, Brandon, proceeds to meltdown and I have to say I lost interest in this character. If the characters had a bit more depth then they would have been more engaging for me. For the most part, the writing is fine but I found from time to time some clunky parts broke the flow and I had to stop and try to understand what the author intended. Having said that, there is a good plot with fine twist and turns.
This is a ghostly paranormal story in which a murder victim, Olivia, follows a path to work out who killed her. The main protagonist is well drawn and I certainly wanted to know what happened to her. Her husband, Brandon, proceeds to meltdown and I have to say I lost interest in this character. If the characters had a bit more depth then they would have been more engaging for me. For the most part, the writing is fine but I found from time to time some clunky parts broke the flow and I had to stop and try to understand what the author intended. Having said that, there is a good plot with fine twist and turns.
August 9, 2016
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
When I came across this blog tour, I wasn't sure if I wanted to sign up because the book cover didn't spark even a tiny bit of interest. But then when I read the blurb, I was hooked. I had to read the book and I was glad when I got selected to be one of the bloggers for the tour.
I felt that it would be a very heavy reading and that I would be totally lost in it. But as soon as I started reading it, I felt that it was rather lighter read and there were a few things which didn't mesh for me. The beginning was interesting with the introduction of Olivia and Brandon. Then it becomes rather fast with their engagement, marriage, and baby being born in almost in a few scenes. I felt that it could have been prolonged a bit more with the attention on their relationship.The author hasn't totally neglected it either. The base bones of their relationship are there for us to understand.
The characters were not that memorable. Olivia comes across as a person who will go along with things easily at the beginning which changes on Brayden's arrival. Brandon seems so sophisticated and a gentleman at the starting and I lost some of the respect for him with his alcoholic tendencies even though I understand his actions. I loved Brayden's antics. But put together they made sense in the story weaved by the author. It was a more of a tale oriented book rather than character-centric in my opinion.
The spirit Olivia's actions were rather extreme in some cases and her most violent ones are easily explained towards the end. I rather misunderstood her! The story was pretty fast paced and the author didn't let up until the end. The story had so many twists and turns that I was constantly trying to keep up. The author sure knows how to keep a reader's attention. The last part of the book was kind of separate and had all the facts and characters to make sense of the suspense story. The antagonist is someone whom we, the readers, don't even take notice of. That was the major attraction of the book. The winding up of the story and the revelation of the murderer and the reason behind the murder were finely written and the author has my admiration on that front.
In short, the book was a delightful read in spite of the issues present in the story. I would certainly check out her other works.
My rating: 4/5
When I came across this blog tour, I wasn't sure if I wanted to sign up because the book cover didn't spark even a tiny bit of interest. But then when I read the blurb, I was hooked. I had to read the book and I was glad when I got selected to be one of the bloggers for the tour.
I felt that it would be a very heavy reading and that I would be totally lost in it. But as soon as I started reading it, I felt that it was rather lighter read and there were a few things which didn't mesh for me. The beginning was interesting with the introduction of Olivia and Brandon. Then it becomes rather fast with their engagement, marriage, and baby being born in almost in a few scenes. I felt that it could have been prolonged a bit more with the attention on their relationship.The author hasn't totally neglected it either. The base bones of their relationship are there for us to understand.
The characters were not that memorable. Olivia comes across as a person who will go along with things easily at the beginning which changes on Brayden's arrival. Brandon seems so sophisticated and a gentleman at the starting and I lost some of the respect for him with his alcoholic tendencies even though I understand his actions. I loved Brayden's antics. But put together they made sense in the story weaved by the author. It was a more of a tale oriented book rather than character-centric in my opinion.
The spirit Olivia's actions were rather extreme in some cases and her most violent ones are easily explained towards the end. I rather misunderstood her! The story was pretty fast paced and the author didn't let up until the end. The story had so many twists and turns that I was constantly trying to keep up. The author sure knows how to keep a reader's attention. The last part of the book was kind of separate and had all the facts and characters to make sense of the suspense story. The antagonist is someone whom we, the readers, don't even take notice of. That was the major attraction of the book. The winding up of the story and the revelation of the murderer and the reason behind the murder were finely written and the author has my admiration on that front.
In short, the book was a delightful read in spite of the issues present in the story. I would certainly check out her other works.
My rating: 4/5
August 11, 2016
From an outsider looking in, Olivia had a great life with a promising career. She fell in love with her sweetheart, got married and was on track to building her family. Behind the walls though, her marriage is crumbling. Her husband Brandon, an attorney, is succumbing to the pressures of life and turns to alcohol and drugs. Olivia finally decides she has had enough one night after Brandon comes home late and extremely drunk, passing out on the kitchen floor. In an effort to protect her child, she knows she must leave this unhealthily relationship. Before she even gets a chance to pack her bags, tragedy strikes and Olivia dies before she can better her life. You would think that this is where Olivia's story ends, but alas, it is not. Olivia has not crossed over and in her ghostly state is convinced that Brandon killed her and she is determined to make his life a living hell until he admits that he is a killer. A ghost with a vengeance is never a good thing, but was Olivia killed by her husband or was this brutal murder committed by someone else? That, my dear reader, is for you to find out as you traverse the pages of this novel to find out the truth.
I really liked the premise of this story, but the story seemed rushed to me as there is a lot going on in a such a short amount of time � so much, that I really couldn’t connect with the characters as much as I would have liked. I really would have liked details to be expanded upon more so that I could connect with the story better. The mystery factor was what kept me intrigued throughout as I tried to guess who killed Olivia and I was kept guessing until the end. Overall, because of its simplistic writing style, I feel that this was an easy read and a good choice for a lazy afternoon of reading, especially if you enjoy a ‘who-done-it� mystery with a ghostly twist.
* I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
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I really liked the premise of this story, but the story seemed rushed to me as there is a lot going on in a such a short amount of time � so much, that I really couldn’t connect with the characters as much as I would have liked. I really would have liked details to be expanded upon more so that I could connect with the story better. The mystery factor was what kept me intrigued throughout as I tried to guess who killed Olivia and I was kept guessing until the end. Overall, because of its simplistic writing style, I feel that this was an easy read and a good choice for a lazy afternoon of reading, especially if you enjoy a ‘who-done-it� mystery with a ghostly twist.
* I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
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June 27, 2016The book started a little slow but once it got moving it was really moving.
The story is about Olivia. One night she is tragically murdered and believes her husband killed her. She does not cross over but comes back to make him pay for killing her. The big question though is did he really kill her or did someone else do it and if so did he have any part in it?
In the beginning the book jumped a bit fast for me from one time period to the next but it was well worth it. Once you had all of the back ground you needed from the first few chapters, then the book really took off. The book carries you through a full torrent of emotions. You get the sweet, the love story, the sad, the grief, the scary, the determination, the mystery, and then it rounds back to love.
It really was a great book and I really enjoyed it.
The story is about Olivia. One night she is tragically murdered and believes her husband killed her. She does not cross over but comes back to make him pay for killing her. The big question though is did he really kill her or did someone else do it and if so did he have any part in it?
In the beginning the book jumped a bit fast for me from one time period to the next but it was well worth it. Once you had all of the back ground you needed from the first few chapters, then the book really took off. The book carries you through a full torrent of emotions. You get the sweet, the love story, the sad, the grief, the scary, the determination, the mystery, and then it rounds back to love.
It really was a great book and I really enjoyed it.
August 2, 2016
**SPOILER FREE**
How do you really but a book of this gratitude in words without giving away so much of what happens! This book floored me.. I didn't know what to really expect when I started reading this book! For one, it's really not in the norm for me. For two, how in the heck could anyone pass this book by! The story the characters, it will have you flipping pages. Wanting, no needing to know just what's coming next. Why, how, questions that run through your mind over and over. And then when you're done reading this book, you're left with .... WOW!! This author knows how to captivate the reader and keep them! This is a MUST READ!!!
*Received for an honest review*
How do you really but a book of this gratitude in words without giving away so much of what happens! This book floored me.. I didn't know what to really expect when I started reading this book! For one, it's really not in the norm for me. For two, how in the heck could anyone pass this book by! The story the characters, it will have you flipping pages. Wanting, no needing to know just what's coming next. Why, how, questions that run through your mind over and over. And then when you're done reading this book, you're left with .... WOW!! This author knows how to captivate the reader and keep them! This is a MUST READ!!!
*Received for an honest review*
March 4, 2018
'She Never Got to Say Goodbye' quickly draws you in to the story and the lives of the characters. Olivia meets her ideal soul mate (or so she thinks) but as their relationship starts to unravel, she comes to realise that he’s not as perfect as she first thought. Olivia is murdered and her ghostly being seeks to exact revenge.
The author does a great job of unwinding the complex plot with a compelling writing style that makes this book hard to put down.
A thoroughly enjoyable read and highly recommended.
The author does a great job of unwinding the complex plot with a compelling writing style that makes this book hard to put down.
A thoroughly enjoyable read and highly recommended.
January 17, 2016
This book came highly recommended and it did not disappoint. Once I started reading, it was difficult to put down and I continued to think about Olivia and Brandon throughout the day. I would get back to reading, the book would head in a totally different direction than I thought it would. I'd stop for awhile, return and be surprised all over again! I could say more, but if I did would have to give away spoilers. Find a comfy chair, roaring fire and start reading!
May 11, 2017
Her Ghost in the Fog?
‘The fragrance of summer grasses and flowers had never been so apparent to her before, but now they jumped at her like cake commercials at someone on a diet.�
Olivia is a law student and when she meets Brandon, a partner in a law practice, and falls in love her life feels perfect. She even accepts that Brandon wants to go straight into having a family, although it is not what she really wants. But then a young girl commits suicide in a way that makes Brandon feel responsible and from that point their relationship begins to spiral down into a very dark place as he gives in to drink and drugs in an effort to escape the guilt he feels.
This is a ghost story with a difference - the ghost has no idea who murdered them and needs to find out. That makes for some interesting scenes with the ‘fly on the wall� ghost trying to piece together what can and communicate with the human world in frustratingly difficult ways.
The characters are well fleshed out and our sympathies run with both the major characters, each trapped in their own private nightmare and feeling unable to break out. Where there is tension the writing is good and the exploration of the various emotions each experiences is well written.
‘Her comment stirred an angry glance followed by a hurricane of harsh insults, his outrage blasting her like ice pellets.�
There were a few things that I struggled with in the book. On a writing level there was a lot of overwriting, over-description and the use of some very odd similes that broke my reading immersion. In terms of content, there was little explanation around the existence of a ghost, even though there was a lack of belief in her existence for a long time.
The huge issue for me though, is that the book read like a first edit as regards the content. The entire first third is backstory. It shifted from scene to scene like flicking through snapshots in a photo album and made it hard for me to become invested in the story. In retrospect, the information in the first twelve chapters was really not needed in such detail for the real story to be appreciated and could have been provided in a couple of pages. It would have been much stronger as a story, in my opinion, had it started around Chapter 13 when the real action kicks off. Interestingly the blurb starts the story at Chapter 15. From that point on though it still suffered from spending too much time on too little, too often, but when things do happen they are really well paced, fact happening and good - which is what keeps the story afloat.
If you enjoy a legalesque whodunnit with a ghostly difference, this is a book you could very well want to add to your library.
‘The fragrance of summer grasses and flowers had never been so apparent to her before, but now they jumped at her like cake commercials at someone on a diet.�
Olivia is a law student and when she meets Brandon, a partner in a law practice, and falls in love her life feels perfect. She even accepts that Brandon wants to go straight into having a family, although it is not what she really wants. But then a young girl commits suicide in a way that makes Brandon feel responsible and from that point their relationship begins to spiral down into a very dark place as he gives in to drink and drugs in an effort to escape the guilt he feels.
This is a ghost story with a difference - the ghost has no idea who murdered them and needs to find out. That makes for some interesting scenes with the ‘fly on the wall� ghost trying to piece together what can and communicate with the human world in frustratingly difficult ways.
The characters are well fleshed out and our sympathies run with both the major characters, each trapped in their own private nightmare and feeling unable to break out. Where there is tension the writing is good and the exploration of the various emotions each experiences is well written.
‘Her comment stirred an angry glance followed by a hurricane of harsh insults, his outrage blasting her like ice pellets.�
There were a few things that I struggled with in the book. On a writing level there was a lot of overwriting, over-description and the use of some very odd similes that broke my reading immersion. In terms of content, there was little explanation around the existence of a ghost, even though there was a lack of belief in her existence for a long time.
The huge issue for me though, is that the book read like a first edit as regards the content. The entire first third is backstory. It shifted from scene to scene like flicking through snapshots in a photo album and made it hard for me to become invested in the story. In retrospect, the information in the first twelve chapters was really not needed in such detail for the real story to be appreciated and could have been provided in a couple of pages. It would have been much stronger as a story, in my opinion, had it started around Chapter 13 when the real action kicks off. Interestingly the blurb starts the story at Chapter 15. From that point on though it still suffered from spending too much time on too little, too often, but when things do happen they are really well paced, fact happening and good - which is what keeps the story afloat.
If you enjoy a legalesque whodunnit with a ghostly difference, this is a book you could very well want to add to your library.
June 10, 2018
She remembered fading away, knowing she would never see her son again. She never got to say goodbye.
--
This novel was a very interesting read for me. From the blurb, I knew to expect that Olivia would be murdered but, to my surprise, that doesn't happen until ~35% into the book. That gives the read 1/3 of the story to discover Olivia's character, watch her fall in love with Brandon, temporarily set aside her dream of becoming a lawyer and start a family with her new husband. It was a bold move on Iova's part simply because the pace could've dragged -- but it didn't. Once Olivia finds out she's pregnant, a terrible tragedy sends her married life into a tailspin as we watch Brandon enter a downward spiral of substance abuse and depression. When Olivia is murdered one night after a fight, it seems obvious that Brandon did it.
Except he couldn't have.
That's when the story really picks up. As a spirit, Olivia is torn between wanting revenge on her killer and watching over the son she left behind. She haunts Brandon, and the author does a great job of making her sympathetic, even though the reader knows that -- despite his many faults -- he's innocent of this crime.
Though the clues placed throughout novel make it clear who the real killer is, I was still taken by surprise by how in depth the plot against Olivia was as it's revealed at the end. Needless to say, the bad guy gets what's coming to them and Olivia finally gets some measure of peace. It's not a perfect ending for the ghost, but it lends a lot of closure and is the only way I think a story like this could end.
--
This novel was a very interesting read for me. From the blurb, I knew to expect that Olivia would be murdered but, to my surprise, that doesn't happen until ~35% into the book. That gives the read 1/3 of the story to discover Olivia's character, watch her fall in love with Brandon, temporarily set aside her dream of becoming a lawyer and start a family with her new husband. It was a bold move on Iova's part simply because the pace could've dragged -- but it didn't. Once Olivia finds out she's pregnant, a terrible tragedy sends her married life into a tailspin as we watch Brandon enter a downward spiral of substance abuse and depression. When Olivia is murdered one night after a fight, it seems obvious that Brandon did it.
Except he couldn't have.
That's when the story really picks up. As a spirit, Olivia is torn between wanting revenge on her killer and watching over the son she left behind. She haunts Brandon, and the author does a great job of making her sympathetic, even though the reader knows that -- despite his many faults -- he's innocent of this crime.
Though the clues placed throughout novel make it clear who the real killer is, I was still taken by surprise by how in depth the plot against Olivia was as it's revealed at the end. Needless to say, the bad guy gets what's coming to them and Olivia finally gets some measure of peace. It's not a perfect ending for the ghost, but it lends a lot of closure and is the only way I think a story like this could end.
June 5, 2018
Here’s a ghost story with a different twist. You expect the police to be looking for the murderer. You expect the bereaved widower to be looking for the murderer. You don’t really expect the victim to be doing it, too, though. Olivia is living the perfect life until her husband falls off the deep end and tries to make himself feel better by crawling into a bottle. When Olivia is murdered, she gets it into what used to be her head that her husband killed her � even though he was face-down in the hallway, dead to the world, at the time. She works at making his life a living hell and is doing a bang-up job of it when it’s pointed out to her that he, of all people, could not possibly be her murderer. Her husband and her best friend enlist the help of a private detective to find out who the murderer is, since the police don’t seem to be getting any traction. Olivia, of course, has to help. Where it goes from there ... I’m not going to spoil it for you. But the story sucks you in and pulls you right along.
May 21, 2017
The theme of “She Never Got To Say Goodbye� is Love and the many facets of that word. The main characters were female and male attorneys. A very nice couple. They drew you in, made you like them, dislike them as they spiraled downward, afraid of them as they lashed out, then root for them as they rebounded. A real roller-coaster ride. The story was a mystery with a unique twist of a murdered wife and mother, whose spirit cannot move on until she correctly identifies her killer. A tricky thing to do when a few bad guys are thrown into the mix from left field. The pace was adjusted so the ebb and flow of action complimented the structure. The author is talented in her use of language and the narrative voice was insightful. The dialogue, especially the child’s, was well done. The settings were not overdone, just enough so you could visualize what you needed to. Then you were treated to an unexpected but appropriate twist which propelled this novel to a happy end.
May 9, 2017
She Never Got to Say Goodbye is a fast-paced story about a law student, Olivia, who meets and falls in love with a lawyer, Brandon. We see their life together, along with their struggles, until Olivia’s untimely end. At that point, Olivia takes it upon herself to solve her own murder from the afterlife.
I enjoyed Olivia’s point of view and seeing her take charge of her own tragedy. While the quick pace of the story moved things along, it was a bit too fast for my enjoyment. I didn’t feel as if I got to stop and fully appreciate any one scene or situation before it ended and moved onto the next one. I would have enjoyed this book more if it had taken its time, but that’s just my preference. For readers who prefer fast-paced stories, She Never Got to Say Goodbye would be a good fit.
I enjoyed Olivia’s point of view and seeing her take charge of her own tragedy. While the quick pace of the story moved things along, it was a bit too fast for my enjoyment. I didn’t feel as if I got to stop and fully appreciate any one scene or situation before it ended and moved onto the next one. I would have enjoyed this book more if it had taken its time, but that’s just my preference. For readers who prefer fast-paced stories, She Never Got to Say Goodbye would be a good fit.
April 4, 2018
She Never Got to Say Goodbye is a fun, fast, easy read. This story has three parts, the first third is a love story, the second third is a spiral to a murder, and the last third is finding out the pieces to the murder mystery.
I enjoyed the writing and fun analogies the writer put into this book. I like the character building at the beginning of the book and the interesting way the MC came to her death.
At times the plot seems a little rushed and even though it is done well I still found myself at times wishing things would slow down a bit or get a little more emotion out of certain scenes, but overall this was a great read.
I haven't read too many ghost stories, but I recommend this book to those who do and also those who like a good mystery.
I enjoyed the writing and fun analogies the writer put into this book. I like the character building at the beginning of the book and the interesting way the MC came to her death.
At times the plot seems a little rushed and even though it is done well I still found myself at times wishing things would slow down a bit or get a little more emotion out of certain scenes, but overall this was a great read.
I haven't read too many ghost stories, but I recommend this book to those who do and also those who like a good mystery.
October 22, 2018
Good Paranormal Suspense.
I absolutely love ghost stories, especially when they include mystery. This was a really good read, which had some romance as well in the first part of the book. It was interesting to see things from Olivia’s viewpoint as a ghost. It really seems that her husband is the murderer, but there are reasons it can’t be him, so both Olivia and readers are left trying to figure it out. A few possible suspects come into play as the story progresses. I thought the main characters were likable and the dialogue was believable. Settings and emotions were well-described overall. A really good ghost/mystery with a twist.
I absolutely love ghost stories, especially when they include mystery. This was a really good read, which had some romance as well in the first part of the book. It was interesting to see things from Olivia’s viewpoint as a ghost. It really seems that her husband is the murderer, but there are reasons it can’t be him, so both Olivia and readers are left trying to figure it out. A few possible suspects come into play as the story progresses. I thought the main characters were likable and the dialogue was believable. Settings and emotions were well-described overall. A really good ghost/mystery with a twist.
November 17, 2018
Olivia and Brandon chance to meet at a restaurant and the reader is fast forwarded through their relationship. After marrying Brandon decides he wants a child and the couple fall pregnant. Mean time Brandon finds the case he is working on takes a turn for the worst and through his guilt he turns to drink. Once again the story fast forwards and during a drunken night he can’t remember, Olivia is tragically murdered and Brandon is left holding the baby and finds himself accused of her murder. The story then takes a turn and with the aid of the ghostly Olivia the couple team up to find who her real killer is.
January 19, 2018
Good Mystery Read
This was a good romance, mystery, paranormal read. The real story actually begins midway through the book where the entertainment really begins. Interestingly, Olivia's ghost doesn't know who killed her and the reader is taken along for the ride as the plot unfolds. Four stars because many of the passages are oddly worded which had me stopping to ponder the simile used or the descriptive words. It was definitely a writing style I haven't experienced in my reading career. Still, this was a good story with a great plot.
This was a good romance, mystery, paranormal read. The real story actually begins midway through the book where the entertainment really begins. Interestingly, Olivia's ghost doesn't know who killed her and the reader is taken along for the ride as the plot unfolds. Four stars because many of the passages are oddly worded which had me stopping to ponder the simile used or the descriptive words. It was definitely a writing style I haven't experienced in my reading career. Still, this was a good story with a great plot.
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