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Cheryl_Russell

Cheryl_Russell

Joined December 2023

Wife, mom, grandma. Retired English adjunct prof. Lifelong reader. Reads across most genres, except romance. #NetGalley reviewer
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Tombland by C. J. Sansom
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Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey, Ruth Hulbert (illustrator)
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Cheryl_Russell
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter | Stephen Graham Jones
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#Two4Tuesday

1) The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones

2) A Botanist‘s Guide to Rituals and Revenge by Kate Khavari.

TheSpineView Thanks for playing! 1d
12 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Cheryl_Russell
Untitled | Untitled
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#ThreeListThursday #TLT

7/100. Better than I thought I would get considering my history with these lists. 🤣

I don‘t know that any of them will make my TBR stack. 🤷🏼‍♀️

dabbe 🎯🩵🎯!!! #TFPAS (Thanks for playing and sharing) 😊 6d
16 likes1 comment
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Cheryl_Russell
Sacajawea | Joseph Bruchac
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#SundayFunday

Longest I‘ve read, I think, is the tagged book-“Sacajawea” at 1424 pages. “Lonesome Dove,” “The Thorn Birds,” and “The Lord of The Rings” are some other chunksters I‘ve read. And “Hamilton” by Ron Chernow. ❤️❤️📚📚

@BookmarkTavern

BookmarkTavern An interesting range! Thanks for sharing! 1w
Texreader Oh such a good book!! I loved Sacajawea! 1w
19 likes2 comments
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Cheryl_Russell
North Woods | Daniel Mason
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#Two4Tuesday

1) Daniel Mason

2) North Woods. One of my favorite books of 2025. That‘s something because I don‘t usually read short story collections.

TheSpineView Thanks for playing ❤️📖📚 2w
16 likes1 comment
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#FirstLineFridays

“No one was dead, at least not to begin with”

I will probably DNF this. I‘m 50 pages in, and I don‘t care. All the characters except the detective are mean, and the detective needs a backbone. 😬

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Cheryl_Russell
My Friends | Fredrik Backman
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#WondrousWednesday

1) Tagged. It‘s in the mail. He‘s an auto-buy author for me.

2) For the NetGalley books, sometimes I like writing them, other times not so much. 😬 I post on NetGalley, Litsy, GR, BookBub, Amazon, B&N, my blog. For bought/borrowed books, I usually leave a star rating on GR. If I really like it, I‘ll write a review. I‘m trying to use Story Graph more, but I keep forgetting.

Eggs Thanks for sharing your reviewing information 📚 3w
18 likes1 comment
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Cheryl_Russell
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#Two4Tuesday

) Sitting

2) Tagged book. It‘s an ARC. It‘s a fun read-snappy dialogue, great characters, humor. I enjoyed the first book in this series.

TheSpineView Thanks for playing! ❤️📖 3w
15 likes1 comment
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Cheryl_Russell
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#Two4Tuesday

1) Yes. No idea. 🤔🤣
2) Above

@TheSpineView

TheSpineView Not knowing the count might be a good thing! 😂 Thanks for playing 1mo
16 likes1 comment
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Cheryl_Russell
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Post 3 on this book-last one! The pages in this book are a lot of fun. Some are colorful. All have illustrations related to the essay‘s topic. The pages are what make this book fun to read, and fit Syme‘s humor/writing style. These choices keep the book from becoming a dull read, IMHO. Not all the pages are colorful. Some are the usual black on white, but still have graphics.

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(2nd post on this book 🤣) I got this from the library, but have told my kids I want my own copy for Mother‘s Day or my birthday (both in May). 🤣 I mean, how could I not after opening the book to this? This beautiful envelope with a letter to the reader inside. 🙂 #letterwriting #penpals #nonfiction #librarybook

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Cheryl_Russell
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Pickpick

This was such a fun book to read. The pages are a big reason (in another post). Short essays about most, if not all, things letter writing. Paper, envelopes, style, “how to write about (subject). Syme‘s goal is to get more people interested in writing letters, an activity she started during the pandemic. 5 🌟
#librarybook #letterwriting #penpals #essays
#nonfiction

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Cheryl_Russell
The Lord of the Rings | J. R. R. Tolkien
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#TLT
#ThreeListThursday

28/100. Ouch. 🤣
I had two that were DNRs for me-Gone Girl and Left Behind. Several I think I may have read, but can‘t remember. I didn‘t count those.

Favorites-Joy Luck Club, One Hundred Years of Solitude, The Hitchhiker‘s Guide to the Galaxy.

dabbe I say if you think you read it, it counts! 🤩 Thanks for playing and sharing. 💙📚💚 1mo
17 likes1 comment
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#Two4Tuesday

1. About a month ago
2. Letters

TheSpineView You are on the ball! Thanks for playing! 1mo
13 likes1 comment
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Cheryl_Russell
Eyre Affair | Jasper Fforde
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1. Yes!
2. Love the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde.

#Two4Tuesday

TheSpineView Thanks for playing! 👍📖📚 2mo
14 likes1 comment
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Cheryl_Russell
The Four Queens of Crime | Rosanne Limoncelli
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Pickpick

This was a fun read. The four queens of crime-Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Nagaio Marsh, Margery Allingham-team up with DCI Lilian Wyles (also a historical figure) to solve the murder of their host, Baronet Sir Henry Heathcote. Told in multiple POV. Solid mystery. Historical fiction. 5/5 🌟
#historicalfiction #mystery #debutnovel

14 likes1 stack add
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“The boy in the bed was just fifteen years old.”

@ShyBookOwl
#FirstLineFridays

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Cheryl_Russell
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4/5 stars. A German doctor and his patient move to an isolated, but not unknown, tropical island to establish a private utopia. Word gets out. Another German couple (she‘s pregnant) & their son follow. An unstable baroness arrives with 3 men in tow. What could possibly go wrong? ⬇️

Cheryl_Russell A book that covers a still unsolved mystery, is a deep dive into psychology, as well as a historical narrative makes this book difficult to put down. I kept saying “wow” over and over, and not in a good way. 😬😬😬 4mo
19 likes1 comment
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“The wire reports traveled three thousand miles across the Pacific Ocean and described a gruesome scene: On Marchena Island, a bleak and barren speck of land in the northern part of the Galapagos, passing fishermen found two bodies.”
From the prologue of Eden Undone: A True Story of Sex, Murder, and Utopia at the Dawn of WWII.
I‘m making time to finish this one today. ⬇️
#FirstLineFridays

Cheryl_Russell Abbott Kahler (she‘s written other books under Karen Abbott) is one of my go-to authors for non-fiction. This book is one of those that wouldn‘t work as a novel because it is such a bizarre story. All that keeps popping into my head as I read is “wow”, and usually not in a good way. 4mo
ShyBookOwl 😬 4mo
18 likes2 comments
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Cheryl_Russell
Weyward: A Novel | Emilia Hart
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4/5🌟
3 different timelines about 3 related women generations apart. One is tried as a witch because of fear. One is naive about the ways of the world because her father turns their home into a prison and pays an awful price. One escapes an abusive relationship until her past finds her. Each one finds the strength to seize the story of their lives and build something new.

Davispeterson Hello, how‘re you doing. l've noticed we share some common interests and enjoy similar things. I've really enjoyed going through your posts so far and was wondering if you'd be interested in chatting more regularly or maybe even becoming friends? 3mo
30 likes1 comment
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#FirstLineFridays

“Samuel Adams delivered what may count as the most remarkable second act in American life.”

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Cheryl_Russell
Little House Set | Laura Ingalls Wilder
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#TLT #ThreeListThursday

3 favorites on the list:
The Graveyard Book
Little House in the Big Woods
A Wrinkle In Time

3 that should‘ve been on the list
The rest of the Little House books 😁
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Mrs. Mike

Three on my TBR pile
One Thousand and One Nights
Howl‘s Moving Castle
One of the Moomin books.

Singout Yes to the Witch of Blackbird Pond. Makes me want to read it again. 5mo
Cheryl_Russell @Singout Same here. 🙂 5mo
dabbe Yeah, it tons of Dahl's books can be on there, why can't Wilder's? Thanks for playing and sharing. 🩶🩵🩶 5mo
See All 6 Comments
willaful Howl and the Moomins are wonderful! 5mo
Cheryl_Russell @willaful Good to know! 5mo
20 likes1 stack add6 comments
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1) Yes
2) At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities

#Two4Tuesday

TheSpineView Thanks for playing! 🤩👍 5mo
15 likes1 comment
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Cheryl_Russell
Schooled in Murder | Victoria Gilbert
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4/5 ⭐️ New cozy mystery releases tomorrow. This one features Jennifer “Jenn” Dalton, mystery author and director of Clarion University‘s writing center. She decides to solve the murder of a cantankerous professor when a student Jenn knows well is accused of killing him. The book is fast paced. Plenty of red herrings to keep a reader guessing. It the 1st book in the Campus Sleuth series.

#cozymystery #Netgalley

24 likes1 stack add
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Cheryl_Russell
Filling the Big Empty | Rhonda Browning White
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5/5 ⭐️. This novel places the reader into Stump Branch, a West Virginia mountain community decimated by mountain top removal mining and opioids. Jasper and Romie, high school sweethearts are trying to make a living in an environment that threatens to destroy them. It is also a novel of perseverance, second (and third) chances, and hope. ⬇️

Cheryl_Russell Disclaimer: I first read about Jasper and Romie in a writing workshop 11 or so years ago while studying for my MFA. Rhonda and I were in the same program, and she had written a short story that ended up being the first chapter in the novel. I was excited to read this novel and find out what they‘ve been up to since those workshops. 🙂 (edited) 5mo
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Cheryl_Russell
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#Two4Tuesday

1. To read more of my TBR stacks.
2. Tagged book. It releases this summer. “A Botanist‘s Guide to Rituals and Revenge” is the 4th book in the series.

TheSpineView Thanks for playing and Happy New Year 5mo
14 likes1 comment
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Cheryl_Russell
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#SundayFunday @BookmarkTavern

This whole series, The Christmas Tree Farm Mysteries, is set at Christmas. 🎄 🎅🤶🎁❤️📚

BookmarkTavern Oh that‘s cute! Thanks for answering! 5mo
16 likes1 comment
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Cheryl_Russell
The Snow Child | Eowyn Ivey
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1. Remote cabin with snow

2. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey. Not specifically Christmas-drawing a blank there, book wise-but has the mountains, snow, and Alaska. A favorite book by a favorite author. 🙂❤️🏔️

#Two4Tuesday

TheSpineView 🤍❄️🤍 Thanks for playing 6mo
18 likes1 comment
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Cheryl_Russell
Gingerbread Danger | Amanda Flower
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1. Putting up the tree with my grandkids.

2. Good question. I‘ve already read the tagged book. Probably something from my Kindle Unlimited books. 🤷🏼‍♀️Most of the books I want to read are back home in Ohio. I‘m currently in Alaska helping out family, so most of my books aren‘t here. My Kindle and I pad are though. And a few physical books. Oh hey! I just remembered books are waiting for me at the post office! 🎉🥳

#two4Tuesday

TheSpineView Love book mail! Thanks for playing 6mo
15 likes1 comment
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Put aside one book and picked up this one. So far, so good. 🤞🏻

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The Overstory: A Novel | Richard Powers
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I‘m having a hard time reading this book. I just started it, but I‘m setting it aside for now. It‘s too dark and depressing. I‘m not getting rid of it though. I want to try it again later. Maybe. I‘ve read a lot of past posts and it seems like I‘m in the minority. 🤣

TracyReadsBooks You‘re not alone in having trouble with this book. I made it all the way through but it was an unpleasant reading experience. Ultimately, I appreciated what the author was trying to say but I didn‘t like the book. 6mo
Cheryl_Russell @TracyReadsBooks Good to know it isn‘t just me. 🙂 I have too many other books to read to plow through this one. 6mo
23 likes2 comments
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Cheryl_Russell
Black Woods, Blue Sky | Eowyn Ivey, Ruth Hulbert (illustrator)
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Birdie knew her mistake as soon as she cracked open her eyes.

I‘m reading the ARC for this book. I was so excited to be approved! #netgalley #arc

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

behudd Oh I have loved her other books! 6mo
17 likes2 comments
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Cheryl_Russell
I'll Be Home for Mischief | Jacqueline Frost
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Reindeer Games Tree Farm looks to establish the new world record for largest gingerbread man. But when a body is found in the cookie cutter, murder takes center stage.
🎄Christmas theme
🎄Great characters
🎄Solid mystery
🎄Book 5 in a series
🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄/5
🎄I love this series that takes place in Mistletoe, Maine.
#cozymystery #Christmas #NetGalley #IllBeHomeForMischief
🎄This book releases tomorrow.

TEArificbooks Looking forward to it 7mo
16 likes2 comments
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A Tale Of Three Trees
One tree clinging to summer.
A second tree conceding it is time for fall.
The third tree embraces fall in red-leafed glory.

These three trees caught my attention yesterday at our local park. Each in different stage of fall, despite their close proximity to each other. 🍃🍂🍁

#fall #falltrees #October #fallcolors

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Gorgeous 🍁🍂 7mo
Cheryl_Russell @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Oct. is one of my favorite months. 7mo
15 likes2 comments
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Cheryl_Russell
Body in the Bookstore | Ellie Alexander
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4/5 ⭐️
When an old college acquaintance ends up dead in a secret room at The Secret Bookcase bookstore, bookseller Annie Murray is swept up in the investigation.
This book is a quick read. There are several plausible suspects, a plot that twists and turns, and an ending that ties up all the loose ends. I‘ll be reading the second book in the series.
#cozymystery #bookstore #secretbookcasemystery

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Body in the Bookstore | Ellie Alexander
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“When your best friend is murdered, it can be kind of hard to get over.”

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

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Cheryl_Russell
Apple Cider Slaying | Julie Anne Lindsey
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Corn maze
Pick apples
Nature walk
Bonfire
Curl up with a book
No apples 🙂
Chili and cornbread
Apple cinnamon

#WonderousWednesday

@Eggs

Eggs Thx for joining in! 7mo
13 likes1 comment
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Cheryl_Russell
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5/5. Based on the shipwreck of the Essex. A whaler based out of Nantucket, it was sunk when an angry sperm whale rammed it. This story was the inspiration for Moby Dick. The portrayal of cannibalism the crew was forced to resort to in order to stay alive is horrifying. (Side note-apparently cannibalism became so common after shipwrecks that when survivors were rescued they were quick to say when they hadn‘t resorted to cannibalism 😳)

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#FirstLineFridays

Like a giant bird of prey, the whaleship moved lazily up the western coast of South America, zigging and zagging across a living sea of oil.

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5/5 ⭐️ for me. The first in a new-to-me cozy mystery series. It ticked a lot of my boxes even though I solved the killer‘s ID early on. Boxes ticked: witty dialogue, solid relationship between main characters, well-developed setting. There are a total of 11 books in the series, at least so far. I‘ve ordered the next two. 🙂

#cozymysteries #cozymystery #EnglishVillage #LadyHardcastleMystery

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Cheryl_Russell
The Busy Body | Kemper Donovan
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Mehso-so

I finished this book because I wanted to know the murderer‘s identity. And now that I think about it, I can‘t remember who that was. I only finished a short time ago. 😳 I didn‘t much care for the characters, and I won‘t be reading any more in this series. This is the first book in the series.

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I‘m emptying out bins of books-stored because of drywall work and painting in my office. I forgot about this one. Small book, but full of bookish art and essays. 🙂 I‘m putting it on my desk where I can easily reach it.

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Cheryl_Russell
The Busy Body | Kemper Donovan
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#WonderousWednesday

1) Leaving with 4 or so books. My mom would drop me off at the library while she went to the grocery store around the corner. Every Saturday morning.

2) ARCs and various online bookstores.

3) Currently reading The Busy Body. It‘s not wowing my sock off or anything, but it‘s a good read. Will pass it on to my daughter when I am done.

Eggs Thanks for sharing your memories 🫶🏻 12mo
11 likes1 comment
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Cheryl_Russell
A Spindle Splintered | Alix E. Harrow
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Mehso-so

I read this last night before bed. Mistake. I had weird dreams all night. 🤣 Now I‘m dragging today. If I had really enjoyed the book the dragging today would‘ve been worth it. But at best I can say it was so-so. I enjoy reading different takes on fairy tales, but not this one. The world building didn‘t draw me in, and I didn‘t care about the characters-even the dying one. 😬 I think it was too short for what it was trying to accomplish. ⬇️

Cheryl_Russell I won‘t be reading the rest of the series. #fracturedfairytales #fairytaleretelling #alixharrow 13mo
21 likes1 comment
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Cheryl_Russell
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After hearing about this book for years, I finally bought a copy and read it yesterday. I enjoyed the epistolary format. It was a different and fun way to get to know the characters. I‘m glad I finally read it. 5/5 ⭐️

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The Thursday Murder Club | Richard Osman
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#nationaleggmonthchallenge

1) Tag a favorite mystery you read
Just one?! 🤔 Okay. The Thursday Murder Club

2) What is your favorite way to prepare eggs?
Scrambled. With lots of cheddar cheese. 😋

WildAlaskaBibliophile ❤🍳thank you for playing! 12mo
18 likes1 comment
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Cheryl_Russell
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I finished this last night. 4.5/5 ⭐️. Preachy is a spot or two, but overall I enjoyed it. Book addresses poverty, racism, class and other issues. A lot of characters to keep straight. The book is also a mystery when a dead body is discovered during construction. The who, how, and why is an unexpected twist that I enjoyed. James McBride can be difficult to read, but he‘s one of my autobuy authors. The Good Lord Bird remains a favorite. ❤️

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Cheryl_Russell
Untitled | Untitled
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#WondrousWednesday

1) family, 📚, 🏔️

2) 📝 🛫🌄 (my writing, spending summer with family, Colorado sunsets)

Eggs Oh lovely! Thanks for playing! 13mo
18 likes1 comment
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Cheryl_Russell
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#WonderousWednesday

1) Tulips

2) The Angel of Indian Lake by Stephen Graham Jones

3) Spend time with the grandkids

Eggs Yay the grands❤️❤️❤️ 13mo
14 likes1 comment
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Cheryl_Russell
The Angel of Indian Lake | Stephen Graham Jones
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#Two4Tuesday

1) Done

2) It‘s a toss up between The Demon of Unrest by Eric Larson or The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride.

TheSpineView I haven't read anything by Larson but have several on my TBR list. 💙📖📚 13mo
Cheryl_Russell @TheSpineView I‘ve read most of his books. He‘s one of the very few non-fiction authors I auto-buy. 🙂 13mo
RamsFan1963 The Demon of Unrest is excellent. I'm trying to savor it, resist the temptation of swallowing it all in one big gulp. 13mo
Cheryl_Russell @RamsFan1963 Good to know. I think I‘ll read The Demon of Unrest next, then. 🙂 13mo
15 likes4 comments
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Cheryl_Russell
Cold Wind: A Mystery | Paige Shelton
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#Two4Tuesday

🐴🐔Country/farm

🌋🏔️ Split time between Alaska (currently) and Ohio. 🏈(Grandkids in both places)

TheSpineView Thanks for playing 13mo
14 likes1 comment