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Cinnamon and Gunpowder
Cinnamon and Gunpowder: A Novel | Eli Brown
125 posts | 83 read | 149 to read
A gripping adventure, a seaborne romance, and a twist on the tale of Scheherazadewith the best food ever served aboard a pirate's shipThe year is 1819, and the renowned chef Owen Wedgwood has been kidnapped by the ruthless pirate Mad Hannah Mabbot. He will be spared, she tells him, as long as he puts exquisite food in front of her every Sunday without fail. To appease the red-haired captain, Wedgwood gets cracking with the meager supplies on board. His first triumph at sea is actual bread, made from a sourdough starter that he leavens in a tin under his shirt throughout a roaring battle, as men are cutlassed all around him. Soon he's making tea-smoked eel and brewing pineapple-banana cider. But Mabbotwho exerts a curious draw on the chefis under siege. Hunted by a deadly privateer and plagued by a saboteur hidden on her ship, she pushes her crew past exhaustion in her search for the notorious Brass Fox. As Wedgwood begins to sense a method to Mabbot's madness, he must rely on the bizarre crewmembers he once feared: Mr. Apples, the fearsome giant who loves to knit; Feng and Bai, martial arts masters sworn to defend their captain; and Joshua, the deaf cabin boy who becomes the son Wedgwood never had. Cinnamon and Gunpowder is a swashbuckling epicure's adventure simmered over a surprisingly touching love storywith a dash of the strangest, most delightful cookbook never written. Eli Brown has crafted a uniquely entertaining novel full of adventure: the Scheherazade story turned on its head, at sea, with food. An NPR Best Book of 2013
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thegirlwiththelibrarybag
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1. Usually lunch - especially when I‘ve actually remembered to pack it for work - I‘m very excited to have tonight‘s leftovers for lunch tomorrow

2. Gunpowder & Cinnamon - a French trained chef gets kidnapped by a pirate and is one bad meal away from walking the plank (this is a very bad summary of a brilliant book)

BookNAround I loved that book! 6mo
TheSpineView I'm a lunch person also. Thanks for playing! 6mo
31 likes2 comments
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LeahBergen
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My current read (for my IRL book club) and a very rummy eggnog.

Rum goes with pirates, right? 😆

BookNAround This book was such fun. My book club read it several years ago. 1y
jlhammar Yum, perfect pairing! 1y
Prairiegirl_reading Litsy made me buy this one but I have yet to actually read it. 😕 1y
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Aimeesue Sounds like a fun and tasty read! It would probably make me hungry. 😋 1y
quietjenn I think it's an absolute requirement 😉 1y
Cathythoughts Perfect combo 👌🏻 1y
LeahBergen @BookNAround It‘s SUPER fun, so far! 1y
LeahBergen @jlhammar @quietjenn @Cathythoughts It‘s the only way I‘ll drink eggnog. 😆 1y
LeahBergen @Prairiegirl_reading I‘m really enjoying it. 👍 1y
LeahBergen @Aimeesue He has to scrabble for ingredients so it makes for some interesting culinary concoctions. 😆 1y
80 likes2 stack adds10 comments
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peanutnine
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One of my favorites for #night #ScarathlonDailyPrompts
And my most recent #LMPBC book for #spices #OminousOctober @BethM I haven't been able to get through this and hate that I'm holding you up so I'm gonna send it out to you today unfinished @Chrissyreadit @Laughterhp
@StayCurious @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Eggs Well done! I enjoyed Night Circus 🎪- magical! @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I think you might like it 1y
peanutnine @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks yes it is so enchanting! ✨ 1y
31 likes3 comments
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Laughterhp
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Pickpick

This was a pretty low pick. I had a really hard time getting into it. I couldn‘t stand Owen and he barely redeems himself. This is not a HEA romance! A lot of interesting food descriptions and pirates. Won‘t say much more for the #LMPBC group.

I‘ll get it in the mail as soon as I can!

44 likes1 comment
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Chrissyreadit
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Pickpick

This book was not the light romantic adventure I expected. It was a well crafted story with layers and twists and what seems to be May not be after all. I thoroughly disliked the main character and just as thoroughly loved most of the other characters. Full disclosure: this was not the HEA I crave. But I‘m not sad I read it. #lmpbc

SonjaBolon I admit to giving up on stories that don‘t appeal to me but always wondering “did I do them wrong”. 😏 kudos for sticking with it! 2y
Chrissyreadit @BethM @peanutnine @Laughterhp this was barely a romance, and not fantasy- more historical fiction. It‘s not light or “fast”, but it‘s a good story. If you want me to send one of the other books instead I can. What are all of your thoughts? I also can just pick some other books I‘ve read and see if you all are interested in one of them?that I can send instead? Or stick with this and see what you think? 2y
Chrissyreadit @SonjaBolon it was a good book- I would recommend it for sure, but it is not light, fluffy and the romance is minimal and I‘m not sure how I feel about it. 2y
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SonjaBolon Okay, sounds like it had some redeeming qualities for you but it wasn‘t what you expected. I wonder how much of the expectation is on how they marketed the book and maybe they missed the mark with that? Just thinking out loud… (I‘m very unlikely to read books unless they are fantasy or sci-fi or at least some magic realism unless I‘m reading to learn, such as a Tarot book or something non-fiction.) 2y
Laughterhp Whatever the rest of the group decides, I‘m okay with. I‘d still want to read it, knowing it‘s not a light, fluffy romance. 2y
Chrissyreadit @SonjaBolon yes I definitely think Mis marketed. I tend to prefer fantasy too, but historical fiction is also a favorite genre. I‘m very much a mood reader though. What tarot book have you loved the most? 2y
Chrissyreadit @Laughterhp ok- I do think it‘s a good book. I also simultaneously wanted more fun and romance. I‘m definitely a mood reader. 2y
SonjaBolon @Chrissyreadit lol, a lot of them! One that‘s a nice contemporary book is Modern Tarot by Michelle Tea. Michelle‘s writing style is narrative and engaging. Tarot for Change is one based on mental health by Jessica Dore. Jessica has some gems of insight in her book but also seems to have difficulty seeing the benefit of each card. 2y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I loved this book. 2y
Chrissyreadit @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I can completely understand why. The author tells a great story. 2y
BethM I‘m good either way. I‘m a mood reader too. 2y
peanutnine Let's go for it! I'm down to try something different and you've got me intrigued 2y
72 likes1 stack add12 comments
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Mitch
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Oh @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego this is amazing. I‘ve never heard of this and it looks brilliant. Just up my alley - a chef spared his life by pirates as long as he makes amazing food from the ships meagre supplies. Food, adventure, great writing - this sounds AMAZING! 😘

Crazeedi Wow Mitch, this looks like a great book!! 2y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Oh good, I'm glad you haven't read it yet. H💚 H🤍 H❤️ 2y
Soubhiville This book is great! You‘re going to love it. There are little details still in my head years after reading it. 💜 2y
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LKK526 Sounds like fun. I want to branch out what I like to read in 22 (edited) 2y
LeahBergen I‘ve had this waiting on my shelves for ages. 😬 2y
Mitch @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I‘ve not read or - or heard of it. Which is SO exciting. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 2y
Mitch @Soubhiville that‘s a great recommendation ♥️ 2y
Mitch @LeahBergen nows the time! 🤣 2y
wanderinglynn Sounds amazing! 2y
Chrissyreadit This was my Dec bookspin, but I still have to read it. I‘m excited to see what you think. 2y
LeslieO Love the cover! 2y
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DebinHawaii
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Pickpick

Finished for my virtual foodie book club & enjoyed it. It‘s fun & food-filled as a chef is taken captive by a female pirate captain & must cook her a gourmet dinner each Sunday to stay alive. He gets quite creative with limited provisions & conditions on the ship. My bookish dish is this Potato, Cod, Garbanzo Bean & Saffron Stew, combining various ingredients from the book.

Thanks to @MeganAnn for including a copy in my #BWS box last month.🤗

ju.ca.no I‘ve also really enjoyed that one 😍 2y
TheBookHippie Looks wonderful! 2y
MeganAnn Looks delicious! I‘m so glad you liked the book! I first read it a few years ago because it was on @monalyisha ‘s list of favorites for #freakyfriday. It‘s one that‘s stayed with me ever since. 2y
monalyisha It‘s such a bizarre book but it‘s so good! Glad it‘s making the Litsy rounds, @MeganAnn! 2y
63 likes1 stack add5 comments
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rachelsbrittain
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1. Cinnamon and Gunpowder, Earthling, and This Land is Their Land

2. The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

3. I've got quite a few on my TBR already so I did some Googling and found two new-to-me titles: Heart Berries by Terese Marie Mailhot and Flight by Sherman Alexie

#WeekendReads

32 likes1 stack add
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thegirlwiththelibrarybag
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A dinner party turns into a blood bath and a job offer one chef really can‘t refuse...

What‘s your favourite enemies to lovers book?

49 likes1 stack add
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kgriffith
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“Mr Apples might‘ve been drawn by a particularly violent child.”
This is one of my go-to audiobooks to revisit when I‘m not ready to commit to anything in my listening queue.

emz711 Ooooo I've only read it 4y
35 likes1 comment
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CrowCAH
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#Sweet #BoundTogetherJune

This is a sweet #pirate story where the female captain takes aboard a chef to cook her meals!

OriginalCyn620 Great title!, 4y
SW-T I liked this one a lot. 😊 4y
CrowCAH @SW-T I agree, a delightful tale! 4y
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CrowCAH @OriginalCyn620 it is pretty catchy! 4y
emz711 @OriginalCyn620 @SW-T it's so fun, I wish there was more! Anyone have a similar book recommendation? 4y
CrowCAH @emz711 I enjoyed listening to this one! Something similar in tone is 4y
SW-T Different but also about adventure is 4y
58 likes7 comments
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SW-T
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Pickpick
29 likes1 stack add
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pppooraikul
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The #readharderchallenge2020 task 13 “read a food book about a cuisine you‘ve never tried” is a real challenge bc I don‘t wanna read a cookbook nor a chef‘s memoir. I‘m not into the art of cooking no matter how much I enjoy eating.

This book, y‘all, nails it. Adventurous plot, historical war theme, lovable characters and FOOD. The most exquisite cuisines one could conjure up in the middle of the ocean as if one‘s life depends on it.

Halfway now.

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Love this book. 💙 4y
pppooraikul @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Just finished it a few days ago. Loved it too! 💚 4y
emz711 Yes! 👐 4y
28 likes3 comments
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emz711
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Pickpick

Read this book a few years ago and keep thinking about it so I bought it to reread!
#reread #chef #argh #pirates

And my other purchases with a B&N gift card which are already much loved.

mom2bugnbee Love Flavia! And The Giver! 4y
emz711 @mom2bugnbee yup I've got the whole rainbow 4y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I loved Cinnamon and Gunpowder. 4y
emz711 @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego seriously! I keep checking for another book by the same author but nothing! 4y
43 likes4 comments
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LittleBug
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Pickpick

Fun read! Light hearted and yet with threads about loaded subjects such as the opium trade in colonial times and gender bias.

#12Littens12Books

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Loved this book! So much fun 4y
28 likes1 stack add2 comments
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mabell
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Thank you so much for my birthday surprises @Chrissyreadit ! I‘m so excited for both of them!

Chrissyreadit ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 4y
Tanisha_A Happy birthday! 🎂 4y
mabell @Tanisha_A Thank you! 😊 4y
38 likes3 comments
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yourfavouritemixtape
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Pickpick

Last one done! #12littens12books I can‘t believe almost a whole year is gone! It was a blast! Thanks to all of you!
@ju.ca.no @Sarah83 @Heideschrampf @LaLecture @Moony @DuckOfDoom @julesG @Maike @LittleBug

julesG It was so much fun! 5y
ju.ca.no Time passed so quick! 5y
LittleBug I loved doing this!! Looking forward to the next one😉 5y
16 likes3 comments
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ju.ca.no
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A serious case of #catsagainstreading #kal #catsagainstliterature #catsoflitsy

Luckly I still have other books to read😅😂 this one for #12littens12books will have to wait a little longer🙈

TheSpineView It seems that book is already taken!💜🐾 5y
TheDaysGoBy So cute! 5y
AlaMich That cat man!!! 😻😻😻 5y
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IndoorDame Awww!💜😻 5y
rabbitprincess Awwwwwwww!!! 😍 5y
Bookzombie Adorable! 5y
Heideschrampf I'm dying! 5y
65 likes1 stack add7 comments
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brandybear22
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This book was delicious 😋 all the way through. I need a recommendation for something that I could enjoy almost as much. I read it slowly, only when I had time for unrequired fiction, and I‘m glad I did so!

brandybear22 @julesG Thank you, I will check it out and see what I think. 5y
kgriffith So glad you enjoyed it so thoroughly 🤗💋 5y
16 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Sarah83
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Mehso-so

Finished the next one for our #12Littens12books read along. It wasn't my cup of tea. 😕

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Sarah83
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Reading time 😍

AlaMich Is that cake on the plate or...? It looks good whatever it is. 😊 5y
Sarah83 @AlaMich it's more a huge cookie 😁😍 5y
AlaMich @Sarah83 Even better...I love huge cookies!! 5y
Sarah83 @AlaMich they are pretty tasty 😍 5y
emz711 Compliments the book so well! 5y
58 likes5 comments
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Sarah83
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Started this one yesterday for our buddyread #12Littens12books . Now sitting on my bed and waiting the rain and thunder will stop after four hours of nerving me... I hate thunders...

LeahBergen The bookmark matches very well! 😆 5y
julesG @Heideschrampf you made the perfect bookmark for this book - - - Sarah, 4 hours of thunder and rain??? It's just started here. 5y
Sarah83 @julesG jepp. I haven't slept since 3.15 😭😭😭 5y
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julesG @Sarah83 Take a nap!!! 5y
Sarah83 @julesG at work? Well.... 5y
julesG Well,... Say you bumped your head while picking up the pen that fell under the desk. 👿 5y
Sarah83 @julesG great idea 😁😍 5y
57 likes7 comments
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emz711
Pickpick

Such a fun book! Can't wait to see if there's going to be another

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Heideschrampf
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Mehso-so

An adventure story with a cook on a pirate ship. Nothing more, nothing less and just what i needed. Now i just need to put my thoughts on it in its companion notebook and it'll be on it's way to @Sarah83 for #12Littens12Books

erzascarletbookgasm What a pretty pic 👌 5y
85 likes1 comment
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Heideschrampf
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Heideschrampf
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#readingatwork for #12Littens12Books while soundchecking for our labour day party

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Heideschrampf
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Starting my next #12Littens12Books read and l'm already hungry after chapter one. Note to self: never read books where the protagonist is a cook by trade!

LapReader Pardon my ignorance but what is #12littens12books ? 5y
julesG 😂😂😂😂 I cooked a lot during the month I had this book. 5y
julesG @LapReader A round robin book club where we each sent off a book that is forwarded to the next person on the list at the end of the month. 5y
56 likes3 comments
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brandybear22
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Passing in the halls of power

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Meglet
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Pickpick

This book was FUN. The culinary descriptions were utterly delightful, and the uniqueness of the story was engaging. The gore and violence was a touch outside of my comfort zone, but not too much for me. While I didn‘t agree with everything, it was thought-provoking and the characters were still appealing.

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brandybear22
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“Naturally there can be no hope of winning,” she said. “That‘s what makes me so dangerous.”

kgriffith You‘re making me want to read it again even though I have so many things to read that have deadlines! 5y
11 likes1 stack add1 comment
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brandybear22
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My kindle is about to die and I‘m too lazy to get out of bed to fetch a cord. And I was so looking forward to whatever it was about potatoes that was up next. Ah well, food on the brain. A lovely cooking day yesterday, I‘m still full!

kgriffith Joshua just heated up some leftovers for dinner 😊 5y
7 likes1 stack add1 comment
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brandybear22
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Currently reading about making my own sauerkraut and discussing other such do it yourself plans

julesG Sauerkraut isn't very hard to make. Best of luck with the endeavor. 5y
brandybear22 @julesG I‘m surprised I‘ve never made it, I really love making things from scratch. Beer. Pickles. Jam. It‘s been a missed opportunity, soon to remedy! 5y
10 likes2 comments
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SammyKat
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Pickpick

I can't imagine how much research (culinary and otherwise) went into this book. It's a vibrant read. Characters are 10/10. TW: piratical punishment, battle, and gore, plus frank discussion of human sex trafficking (one character is a victim).

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Moony
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Pickpick

I love the book! The characters are so multicultural and good animated. The language is wonderful and the cooked meals and drinks sounds sooo tasty.

After finished the book I made a little shippingtour to Oslo (a funny chance). The picture I took at the journey.

#12Littens12books #bookjourney #sea

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I loved this book. 5y
M.V 🇳🇴 I should have waved 5y
Moony @M.V oh cool you're living in Oslo? 5y
M.V Yes, moving west soon though and leaving my poor teashop 😬 so there's a job opening! Hehehe 5y
Moony @M.V oh then wait a moment 😉😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣 5y
17 likes5 comments
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SpeculativeFemale
This post contains spoilers
show me
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Confession: I'm glad I was listening in private when Wedgwood figured out he was falling in love, because I literally shouted "Finally!" ?

BookNAround I loved this book. We read it for book club a couple of years ago and it was a delight. 5y
9 likes1 comment
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SpeculativeFemale
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1. Any of Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar books
2. I have two big projects to finish, so mainly working 😕
3. I haven't quite finished this yet, but I'm close and I'm absolutely loving it.
4. Um, I guess double jointed fingers that I can bend back to less than 90 degrees from the back of my hand.
5. 🖐
#friyayintro @howjessreads

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SpeculativeFemale
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Wow, didn't realize quite how much progress I'd made while out on the road again today until I compared to yesterday!

Glad to say I also narrowly avoided bad weather, with near whiteout conditions hitting about a half hour after I got home. I'll count that as a win for the day.

Soubhiville Oh gosh! Glad you‘re home safe. 5y
45 likes1 comment
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SpeculativeFemale
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Lots of travel today, so I made some progress on my current audiobook. Definitely not my usual fare, but I'm really enjoying it so far.

More travel on my schedule for work tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to discovering more of Captain Mabbot's secrets. Just hoping the weather isn't too bad.

ralexist This is one of my favorites from my last year's reads! 5y
KathyWheeler This sounds really different and fun. Stacked! 5y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I really liked this one! 5y
52 likes1 stack add3 comments
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SpeculativeFemale
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Glad to be enjoying my audiobook from home instead of out on the road today.

Pictured: the top photo is a driver's view of a particular bridge I crossed yesterday as I saw it. The lower picture is the same bridge one week earlier. Just heard it's back underwater today. 😲

BookNAround This book is so much fun! 5y
Texreader Yikes!! 5y
SpeculativeFemale @Texreader I wish I could put an update photo as a comment. Today the bridge is completely under water with nothing showing but a dark shadow where it's hiding until the water recedes again. 5y
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Texreader @SpeculativeFemale No way!! Oh my gosh!! Has this happened before? 5y
SpeculativeFemale @Texreader Oh yes, multiple times every year. This bridge is actually somewhat famous (or infamous, at least) for the amount of time it spends under water annually. Here's an article about it: https://visitpago.com/nebraska-bridge-a-forest-county-phenomenon/ 5y
Texreader @SpeculativeFemale That is fascinating!!! Thanks for sharing! 5y
48 likes6 comments
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Moony
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My snack besides reading cinnamon and gunpowder. 😂 #bookmeal #bookandfood #12littens12books

ju.ca.no Yummy😍 5y
20 likes1 comment
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SpeculativeFemale
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When you know you have some work travel ahead, so you download a new audiobook in case you finish the one you're currently on!

Birdsong28 Got to have a spare one!! 😁📚📖 5y
48 likes1 comment
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Moony
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StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Loved this one. 💕 5y
Moony @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I'm curious about it. I don't know and Eli Brown book. And it isn't my favorite genre. :) 5y
12 likes2 comments
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julesG
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The 36 hour challenge is favourite food related book.

I absolutely loved the tagged book. While reading it, I cooked so many new things.

Since I had to send the book on to the next Litten in the #12Littens12Books round-robin, I'm reposting a picture from December.

#24in48 @24in48

suzisteffen WOW, I am adding this book right away. Looks fascinating! 5y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I loved this book too! 5y
julesG @suzisteffen It's really good. But you might want to keep an eye on snack consumption while you read it. It made me so hungry and craving good food. 5y
Prairiegirl_reading This sounds awesome! 5y
96 likes4 stack adds5 comments