Sunday, June 30, 2019

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: Frat House Confessions: Ridge by Bethany Lopez

Today we are celebrating the release of FRAT HOUSE CONFESSIONS: RIDGE by Bethany Lopez. It is a contemporary romance, standalone title you won't want to miss. 

Frat House Confessions: Ridge by Bethany LopezContemporary RomanceAVAILABLE NOW

She has a broken heart and revenge on her mind...
Last year Karrie was riding high. She had a boyfriend she loved, a softball scholarship, and the best roommate a girl could have. 
When it turned out her man was a lying, cheating ballsack, she may have gone off the rails a bit. 
Now, it's a new year and Karrie's ready to build herself back up and move on to bigger and better things. 
Still, a little revenge would go a long way in helping the healing process.

He's got a plan for revenge that will suit them both...

Ridge is used to being the BMOC. Sergeant of Arms of his frat and the ability to land any chick within snapping distance has made life pretty easy for him. 
His home life is another story. He and his brothers are in the middle of a battle between his socialite mother and asshole father.
Ridge is looking for a stand-in to placate his mother and her matchmaking ways, and he has a feeling he's just met the girl he can perfectly mold.

This makeover has nothing to do with love and everything to do with Karrie and Ridge using each other to get what they want. What starts as a ruse soon becomes an attraction they cannot deny. When it's all said and done, they'll both have more to confess than a need for revenge.

Read it Now!

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Disclaimer: This review MAY contain spoilers. I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from the publisher/author. All opinions expressed in my review are my own. 

Wow, I truly loved this! The storytelling in this is fantastic. I was sucked right into the story from the very first page.  

I loved these characters so much. I connected with Karrie's character straight away and Ridge's character spoke to me immediately. They both came from different backgrounds which have molded them into who they are. They both had a lot of depth and felt absolutely real. They both showed character growth both internally and with each other. 

The romance was ever so delightful! The chemistry between these two was seriously killer. It was so effortless and real. I adored how much of a gentleman Ridge was with Karrie. Even though they both knew that what they were doing was fake, he always showed her respect and consideration. I also loved how Karrie was always straight with Ridge and wasn't afraid to speak her mind. She called him on his crap and didn't let his status on campus affect her. And I have to mention that the gifts that Ridge gets for Karrie were so wonderful. He really got her things that he knew she would adore instead of cliche gifts like candy and jewelry. It melted my heart that he knew her so well and wanted to show her how much he cared with the special gifts. 

The plot is a fake romance trope that is written incredibly well. It is a slow-burn romance that develops beautifully through the course of their fake romance. There was enough conflict in the story to raise the stakes and make the story compelling. I liked all the little things within the story that balanced it out. I especially loved seeing the family aspects of the story. Karrie has a great family that is very close and their interactions were wonderful. While Ridge's mother and father were awful, his extended family, sisters from his father's first marriage, were incredible. I would love to see them again in future books. 

Overall, this book is truly a gem of a read! I devoured this book in a handful of hours and I am so ready for the next book in this series! I am hoping that we get Wes and Brody's stories and I would also love to hear Mina and Trap's story. If you enjoy fake romance tropes then you have to read this one!


BOOK TRAILER



Bethany Lopez is a USA Today Bestselling author of more than thirty books and has been published since 2011. She's a lover of all things romance, which she incorporates into the books she writes, no matter the genre. 
When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with family and traveling whenever possible. 
Bethany can usually be found with a cup of coffee or glass of wine at hand, and will never turn down a cupcake!

Sign up for Bethany's Newsletter




Review: Fallen Heir (The Royals #4) by Erin Watt

Title: Fallen Heir
Series: The Royals #4
Author: Erin Watt
Publisher: Timeout LLC
Published: August 28, 2017
Pages: 339
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult, New Adult
Source: Ebook
~~~~~
These Royals will ruin you.

Easton Royal has it all: looks, money, intelligence. His goal in life is to have as much fun as possible. He never thinks about the consequences because he doesn’t have to.

Until Hartley Wright appears, shaking up his easy life. She’s the one girl who’s said no, despite being attracted to him. Easton can’t figure her out and that makes her all the more irresistible.

Hartley doesn’t want him. She says he needs to grow up.

She might be right.

Rivals. Rules. Regrets. For the first time in Easton’s life, wearing a Royal crown isn’t enough. He’s about to learn that the higher you start, the harder you fall. 



MY REVIEW
DISCLAIMER: This review MAY contain spoilers. 

I was so eager and excited to read a book centered around Easton. He was the character that I gravitated to in the first three books and I am overjoyed that we get to hear his story as well. This book definitely did not disappoint. 

The world-building was pretty much set up in the first book of the series. This is a contemporary series that takes place around predominantly wealthy people. The authors did a good job of making me believe the extravagance of wealth. Their world-building really brought me into the story. I truly felt like I was experiencing things with the characters. This book is no different from that first book. The details perfectly describe the surroundings and very much set the mood. 

I really enjoyed the plot in this book. While this story centers upon a different character than the first three books, the main story arc still continues. I was glad for this because I really wanted to know how things were going with all of the characters that I came to love in the previous books. I loved how Easton's part of the story is woven into things that occurred in the previous books. Things are not always what they seem and the suspense was tantalizing!

The character development in this book in amazing. Easton is in a dark place and his struggles are evident throughout the book. We get to see him spiral down and try to face his demons while also falling in love for the first time. I really felt connected to his character. I also loved Hartley's character development. She is also going through some serious issues and I really loved her journey. She closes herself off from everyone and Easton weasels his way into her life. They are both lonely at the core and their characters compliment each other quite well. 

On that note, the romance was lovely. It is nice to see another side to Easton. He has been a total man-whore throughout the series, but then he starts falling in love with Hartley and it changes him. She completes him in a way that no one else has before. When they first meet Hartley wants nothing to do with him and tells him as such. He persists though because she intrigues him. No girl has ever said "no" to Easton Royal. He pretty much forces his way into her life to get to know her, though not in a creepy way. They make a deal to be "friends" and Hartley makes him promise that it will only be friends. The way that they fall in love is really beautiful. There is jealousy, friendship, and love in all the right ways. 

Overall, this was a brilliant addition to this series! The drama is still running strong in all the right ways. If you loved the first three books then you will love this one as well! I loved Easton's voice just as much as I loved Ella and Reed's voices. Perhaps even more than theirs. This book will play cat and mouse with your emotions and leave you wanting more. I can't wait to finish the last book of the series!


Check out my reviews for the other books in this series!

Paper Princess (The Royals #1)


Find my review here.

Broken Prince (The Royals #2)


Find my review here.

Twisted Palace (The Royals #3)


Find my review here.


This book was centered on a different character than the first three books in the series. I really loved getting to hear another voice in this series. Do you enjoy reading books from multiple points of view? Do you like book series that alternate the POV from book to book?

Saturday, June 29, 2019

Review: Twisted Palace (The Royals #3) by Erin Watt

Title: Twisted Palace
Series: The Royals #3
Author: Erin Watt
Publisher: Everafter Romance
Published: October 17, 2016
Pages: 370
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult, New Adult
Source: Ebook
~~~~~
These Royals will ruin you…

From mortal enemies to unexpected allies, two teenagers try to protect everything that matters most.

Ella Harper has met every challenge that life has thrown her way. She’s tough, resilient, and willing to do whatever it takes to defend the people she loves, but the challenge of a long-lost father and a boyfriend whose life is on the line might be too much for even Ella to overcome.

Reed Royal has a quick temper and even faster fists. But his tendency to meet every obstacle with violence has finally caught up with him. If he wants to save himself and the girl he loves, he’ll need to rise above his tortured past and tarnished reputation.

No one believes Ella can survive the Royals. Everyone is sure Reed will destroy them all.
They may be right.

With everything and everyone conspiring to keep them apart, Ella and Reed must find a way to beat the law, save their families, and unravel all the secrets in their Twisted Palace.



MY REVIEW
DISCLAIMER: This review MAY contain spoilers. 

My god, this book series would make such an incredible Netflix show or film! The drama contained in this series could rival that of a soap opera and come out the top contender. I have fallen so in love with this series. 

I have to applaud the author on the construction of the plot in this series. Shit seriously hits the fan in the third book of The Royals series. There are so many shocking things going on that you will get whiplash. The suspense is almost unbearable. I was on the edge of my seat with anticipation and I was consuming every page faster than the last. The plot keeps the reader's interest throughout the series and the pacing of the story never lags. The plot twists were surprising and cleverly crafted. I did think that the big reveal at the end of the story happened a little too quickly with almost no recovery time. It all happened in the last 10% of the book and I would have liked it drawn out a bit more. There is no cliffhanger or anything like that, I just would have liked more finality. I suppose there will be more in the last two books of the series, but this book kind of feels like it should be more final since the next two books center on Easton. 

I still really love the world-building in this series. This book had a lot of the same, but it doesn't falter. The world-building was set up well in the first book and each book since has followed in it's footsteps. I love how I feel like I am right inside this world of wealthy assholes. 

The characters are still my favorite thing about this series. The characters are not flawless like they can be in a lot of books. These characters have their issues and their demons. The character growth is really great. Especially for the main characters. I love seeing the changes in them and seeing them at face value. We really get to see inside their souls as they confront their own struggles. The chemistry between the characters has always been incredible so I have to give the authors praise for their writing style. These are the types of characters that the reader will care about. They are written extremely well. 

I'm still loving the romance. In this book of the series, there is major conflict where the romance is concerned. Ella and Reed have opposition from Ella's father and they also have other conflicts that they have to fight through. I love the focus on sticking with each other no matter what happens. 

While there is a plethora of drama going on in this book, I really appreciate how the authors focus on emotion. The emotions of the characters are not glossed over at all. We get to see how things affect them and how they deal with them. The situations that occur in the book are serious and the emotions that are displayed are very adequate portrayals. I like how the authors were able to evoke emotion with tiny things like character chemistry or a gesture or a look.

Overall, I am totally amazed by this series! This book was fantastic! I couldn't have asked for a better ending to Ella and Reed's love story. (Though I hope that there will be more of them in the last two books!) I am eager to experience Easton's story. His character has been one of my favorites. I am ready to learn more about this tortured boy. I highly recommend this series to anyone that isn't bothered by sensitive issues. There are a lot of those in this series, so if you are triggered easily by serious issues then this is probably not the book series for you. And if someone at Netflix is reading this review, please, oh pretty please consider this for a Netflix original series! This series puts Pretty Little Liars to shame with all the drama. It's addicting!


Check out my reviews for the other books in this series!

Paper Princess (The Royals #1)


Find my review here.

Broken Prince (The Royals #2)


Find my review here.


As I stated in my review, I think that this series would make the ultimate Netflix series. What are some book series that you think would be incredible Netflix series?

Friday, June 28, 2019

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: Courting Kate (Panthers Players #1) by Tori Kron


Title: Courting Kate 
Series: Panthers Players #1
Author: Tori Kron
Publisher: Acorn Publishing
Publication date: June 23, 2019
Genres: Adult, Romance, Sports

 ~~~~~
Slapped with court ordered community service for brawling—again, Miller Cassidy, the Indianapolis Panther’s star player, is forced into laboring under stodgy non-profit supervisor, Kate Gallagher. Her saving grace—she happens to be best friends with Stella, the woman he’s been chasing for years.
Despite the masses falling for his charm, Kate doesn’t care for Miller’s notorious reputation or his flippant behavior. But wanting to impress her strict boss, she agrees to a trade that could give them both a shot at success.
Propelled into an unlikely alliance, Miller finds himself taking a defensive stance when he sees beyond Kate’s hard exterior. And Kate is equally thrown off guard when she discovers there’s more to Miller than games.
But is love worth sacrificing friendship? And can Miller let go of the feelings for Stella he’s held onto for years?
In love and basketball, it’s five fouls and you’re out, and every play counts.


Disclaimer: This review MAY contain spoilers. I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from the publisher/author. All opinions expressed in my review are my own. 

I adore sports romances and this one was definitely one that I enjoyed. I usually like them on the steamier side, but I still very much adored this one even though it is a clean read. I actually had no idea that it was a clean read before I picked it up. 

I think that the character development for the two main characters in this story was pretty much perfect. For a fast-paced story, we get a lot of background information and character traits that show us what kind of people they truly are. The information about the characters isn't shoved in the readers' faces either. Everything is introduced at just the right time so that the storytelling feels completely natural. Both main characters, Kate and Miller, have a bit of character growth in the story. It wasn't anything tremendous, but there was some growth nonetheless. 

I thought that the plot of the story worked really well. I was a little skeptical when Miller was crazy about Kate's BFF, Stella, at the start of the book. I wondered if this fact would sour me to the story, but things worked out rather well. I did think that this point could have been developed a bit more, at least where Miller's change in feelings was concerned. It felt like when he truly felt something for Kate that his feelings for Stella just flipped like a switch, which felt a little unrealistic to me. And I thought that the resolution between Kate and Stella over Miller was a little too low-key. Otherwise, I felt that the plotting of the story was great. It kept my interest and was truly engaging. 

I enjoyed this romance very much. It is a cross between a good girl/bad boy story and an enemies to lovers story. Not really enemies but more of a dislike to lovers story. The dislike on Kate's side is all due to Miller's reputation. She judges him before she truly knows anything about him. Miller doesn't necessarily dislike Kate, though he definitely isn't into her at the start of the book. Kate is very much a good girl and Miller plays the part of the bad boy, though the reasons for his bad reputation are out of context. I thought that the slow-burn romance was fantastic. I love nothing more than a gripping slow-burn romance and this one was perfect in that respect. I loved the chemistry that built between Kate and Miller over time. I love that they fall for each other over time as they learn more endearing qualities about the other. 

I was slightly disappointed with the epilogue. It gives us a glimpse of what the next book in the series will probably be about and I didn't have a problem with that at all. What was disappointing is the fact that it didn't really give us any more depth into how the relationship between Kate and Miller had progressed. They aren't even together in the epilogue, they are talking on the telephone. It was clear that they had been dating and their feelings were clear, but I suppose that I was expecting more at the end.

Overall, I was delighted by this book! It is a wonderful fast-paced sports romance with characters that will win you over undoubtedly. The plot is engaging and will make you root for the main characters throughout the story. I will definitely be reading the next book in this series!




Tori Kron has spent ten years educating middle school students in the art of English writing. She is a proud graduate of Purdue University, where she discovered a love for nearby Chicago and the adventures that awaited within. When Tori isn’t in front of the classroom, you can find her working with fellow authors in the Midwest Writers Guild or traveling the world with friends. In between excursions, she happily resides in Evansville, Indiana with her husband and son.


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Cover Reveal & Excerpt: Severance by N.N. Britt

Today we have the cover reveal of N.N. Britt’s SEVERANCE! Check out the gorgeous cover and pre-order your copy today!

Title: Severance

Author: N.N. Britt

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: July 25, 2019

They say first love doesn’t last. Alana’s ends on the night her boyfriend Dakota dies in a deadly shooting at a Portland club.

In an attempt to look for ways to deal with her grief, Alana reaches out to Dakota’s older brother Mikah, who’s struggling with moving on himself.

Both damaged beyond repair, neither Alana or Mikah know how to cope with their loss. What’s worse, they have zero idea how to handle the unexpected feelings they start developing for each other.

Pre-Order Your Copy Today!







My teeth are chattering by the time I make it to the rear of the building. Running outside without my coat in the middle of February isn’t one of my best ideas, but the truth is, I’m so numb, I can barely feel anything.

Mikah’s sitting on the edge of a massive concrete flower bed. It probably looked happy and colorful during the summer, but right now, the soil is desiccated and covered with a blanket of dirty old snow.

The gloomy, ominous clouds hang low above our heads, threatening yet another blizzard. This winter has been one of the longest I’ve ever seen, one of the darkest too, and I catch myself thinking that I desperately want it to end. Even if it wipes out all the good memories. I just want to stop feeling broken.

Mikah’s turned with his back to me, cigarette smoke floating around him like a halo.

The snow crunches under the weight of my suede shoes as I walk quietly over to the flower bed, my fingers clutched in front of me, my heart rate kicking up. There are thousands of words in my head, yet none of them seem to be appropriate.

“Are you just gonna stand there?” Mikah rasps out after a while without looking at me. He brushes the traces of tears from his cheeks with the back of his hand, tosses the last of his cigarette on the ground, and draws another one from the pack that’s sitting next to him on the cement block.

“Can I have one?” I ask, blurting out the first thing that comes to mind.

“Since when do you smoke?” He chuckles, shifting to face me. His green eyes, still glistening from his tears, search mine.

“Since now.” I shrug, shuffling my feet. My toes are completely frozen and my body has reached a point where moving only makes it more painful, but at least if someone decides to shoot at us, there’s plenty of room to run. There are no walls and no missing exit signs.

Mikah rises and closes the space between us in three strides. “Here.” He takes off his suit jacket, puts it over my shoulders, and gives me his cigarette. His gaze catches mine and we stand motionless for a few moments staring at each other, probably wondering whether the things we’re each feeling right now are any different. When two people are sad over the same person’s death, there’s a strange type of connection, frightening and nerve-racking. It’s like we have this invisible bond and we understand each other without the need to speak.

I’ve never smoked in my life and I have no idea how to hold a cigarette, so I grab it across the middle with my thumb and index finger, wondering which end goes into my mouth. Although I just saw Mikah smoking, my brain has completely lost it.

“The other way,” he says, stepping back to get another for himself.

“Okay,” I mumble under my breath. I stick it between my lips but immediately remove it when the unpleasant taste of tobacco on my tongue causes my stomach to churn. My injured palm stings with the movement, but I try not to think about the pain.

“You dated a dude who was in a fucking rock band and he didn’t teach you how to smoke, Church Girl?” Mikah rolls his eyes and flicks his lighter in front of my face.





N.N. Britt is a Los Angeles-based music journalist and photographer whose articles appeared in numerous publications. Her photos have graced t-shirts, billboards, and CD covers. When she is not writing or drinking coffee, she is probably reading or attending a heavy metal show.

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Thursday, June 27, 2019

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: The Moment We Fell by Kelli Warner



Title: The Moment We Fell
Author: Kelli Warner
Publisher: Wave Runner Publishing
Published: June 25, 2019
Pages: 258
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: ARC
~~~~~

Nothing good happens when people keep secrets.

Paige Bryant’s dreams of becoming a professional ballet dancer died along with her mother. Drowning in grief and plagued by guilt, Paige is blindsided by a provision in her mother’s will that sends her to live with the father she never knew. Forced to start over in a new town and at a new school where she's now the principal's daughter, Paige is convinced that her life can’t possibly get more complicated—until fate throws her into the path of the only boy her guardian tells her is off-limits.

Despite two years on the straight and narrow, Cade Matthews can’t escape his time as a juvenile delinquent. With his dad behind bars, Cade’s feelings of anger and betrayal are as relentless as the rumors he’s trying to outrun. The only person not listening to the gossip is the new girl with her own set of troubles, including a father who will never give Cade a fair shake.

As Paige tries to adjust to her new life and an uncertain future, a set of unopened journals reveals a dark family secret. When tensions rise to a boiling point, can Paige and Cade make peace with the past before it destroys them?



MY REVIEW
DISCLAIMER: I received an ARC of this book at no cost from the publisher/author. All opinions expressed in my review are my own. 


This is a very touching story about coming to terms with loss and being accepting to change. I was really touched by this story. Both of the main characters experience and deal with loss and changes in their lives in different ways. I loved the overall theme of how much choice -- both the choices that we make in response to our pain and the choice that we make to either accept or reject our pain -- can play a determining factor in how far one can fall down the rabbit hole or how high one can rise after a fall. 

I enjoyed the voices of both main characters. I didn't feel overly connected to them, but they weren't bland by any means. They actually had quite a lot of depth. I was certainly interested in their story. They each had similar issues that ran deep. They had both lost their mothers and then had their lives turned upside down afterward. I loved the impressive character growth for both characters over the course of the story. They each have to deal with their suppressed feelings and learn to let go of the pain that is holding them back. It is beautiful how they both help each other do this through the other. They are certainly very much changed people from the start of the book to where they end up at the close of the book. I also enjoyed the side characters. Macy and Quinn were delightful. Shawn and Connie were so likable. I loved Tanner and Lily. I even liked Jay's character, though it is hard to understand his motives in the beginning. All of the characters flowed well with each other. 

The plot of the story is good, but I can't help but notice the similarities in the plot of this book and the 2001 movie, Save the Last Dance. They both basically have the same premise, though not everything is exactly the same. A high school girl that dances ballet has to move in with her estranged father and uproot her life when her mother is killed in a car accident that she feels responsible for. I couldn't help but immediately think of the similarities, unfortunately. While they are both similar, this book did stand out in the emotion that the weaving of the plot produces. 

The romance was okay, not great. It seemed like the romance in the story took a backseat to the overall theme of dealing with grief and loss. I liked both main characters together and apart, but their romance felt a little rushed to me. It wasn't exactly instalove, but the introductory period when you get to know someone felt like it was skipped over. I did like that when they were together they really talked and seemed to get to know each other on a deeper level that way. While they definitely worked as a couple and I enjoyed their story, I didn't feel passionate about their romance at all. 


Overall, touching and emotional read that was impossible to put down! While I didn't love it as much as Warner's first book, Not with the Band, it is still a well-written story with very realistic characters. It was a pleasure to read this and I can't wait for Warner's next book!





Kelli Warner writes humorous and relatable young adult and contemporary romance novels, the kind of stories that get your insides so wound up in an ooey gooey mess that you forget about the un-fun stuff in life. She's passionate for a good cup of coffee (even a bad one on a desperate day), enjoying time with friends and family, and spending lazy Saturday mornings watching the Food Network. Kelli and her husband live in Oregon with their two teenaged children and an outstanding border collie named Lucy.


Giveaway prize package includes: 
$50 Amazon gift card
Wooden sign that reads: Coffee: because adulting is hard
Coffee mug
Decorative candle



Cover Reveal: The Obsession (Filthy Rich Americans #2) by Nikki Sloane

The Obsession - CR banner.jpg

Title: The Obsession by Nikki Sloane
Series: Filthy Rich Americans #2
Author: Nikki Sloane
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publishing date: August 13, 2019
Cover Designer: Shady Creek Designs

TheObsesssion_Cover.jpg

The Hale family is obsessed with status, power, and control. No problem is too big their money can’t solve.
Royce Hale manipulated me into giving him everything. My virginity. My hand in marriage. My heart.
And as soon as he got what he wanted, he callously sold me off for a cool ten million.
In the boardroom and the twisted game his family plays, he says the only rule is to win at all costs.
Yesterday I learned a painful lesson not to trust the prince of Cape Hill. Today I’ll destroy his carefully laid plans and show him just how badly he’s already lost.
All the money in the world won’t be able to stop me.

CR FB.jpg

Pre-order your copy today!
Add to GoodReads


USA Today bestselling author Nikki Sloane landed in graphic design after her careers as a waitress, a screenwriter, and a ballroom dance instructor fell through. For eight years she worked for a design firm in that extremely tall, black, and tiered building in Chicago that went through an unfortunate name change during her time there.
Now she lives in Kentucky, is married and has two sons. She is a three-time Romance Writers of America RITA© Finalist, a Passionate Plume winner, a HOLT Medallion finalist, and couldn't be any happier that people enjoy reading her sexy words.
Stay up to date with Nikki by joining her mailing list.

Cover Reveal: Sever by T.L. Smith & Melissa Jane


Title: Sever
Authors: T.L. Smith & Melissa Jane
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: July 18, 2019


One man’s wife is another’s obsession.

We had a love I thought could never be broken. But I was wrong. We weren’t as strong as our vows once promised.

Dark secrets and vicious lies, they tore us apart.

They cut too deep, leaving open wounds.

Pain is something that should ever come from the man you love. Forgiveness, understanding, tenderness, yes. But never pain.

But the fact remains. He is my husband and I am his wife. Perhaps he should have remembered that a year ago when he committed his first sin against our marriage. And perhaps then, I wouldn’t have fallen for the devil.

A devil who had me in his sights from the very beginning.

A devil who swore to never let me go.







T.L. SMITH


MELISSA JANE



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