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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

But if you’re going to read The Poppy War pay attention to TWs. Ch. 21 by itself is every trigger warning there is. #BookSky

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

The Poppy War. Compelling and horrifying. Rin frustrates but her motives are understandable. She is surrounded by good but equally flawed characters. Despite the nightmarish quality of some parts, I give this 5 ⭐️ The way it immersed me & made me feel with and for the characters was stellar. #BookSky

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

My reading buddy, Brody #BookSky 📚💙

My old dog Brody sleeping on the couch. It looks like he’s smiling in his sleep.

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

My reading slump is over! #BookSky 📚💙

The covers of the 9 books I read in June: Problematic Summer Romance, Deep End, 9 Month Contract, Wild Love, Wild Eyes, Wild Side, The Seven Year Itch, The C*ck Down the Block, and Summer Sons.

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

I have so much to do and no desire to do any of it. I just want to curl up with my book and read. Work calls though and I must go. #BookSky 📚💙

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

I need to be paid super well to read only the books that interest me. That would be perfect. #BookSky 📚💙

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

The fourth book in the Empyrean series won’t be out until late next year or 2027 because of time with family and other projects including adaptation for TV. I would rather she spent time with family and skip adaptation to write. Prefer my imagination and want next book! 😂 #BookSky 📚💙

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

On part 2 of The Poppy War. *Spoilerish* The war has started. I have theories about Rin’s origins and who Jiang is. Won’t say anything here so I don’t spoil, but I have thoughts. Rin is getting kind of obnoxious re: Phoenix and power. #BookSky 📚💙

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

My husband buried Brody in his toys. You can see how thrilled he is about it 😂

My black pitbull lies in his dog bed buried under his stuffed toys.

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

Next up: The Poppy War. A lot of people I know are reading it now so I’ll join them. #BookSky

The cover of The Poppy War is orange with an image of a young warrior drawing an arrow painted in black.

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

Summer Sons was a lot better than I expected. I figured out whodunnit long before the reveal, but it was still an intense confrontation. The relationships were raw and gritty and realistic. Ultimately sad and hopeful. If you like queer southern gothic horror, this is a great read. #BookSky

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

Ok, halfway through Summer Sons and it’s getting better. More focus on the mystery, which is what interests me. It’s still not my favorite read but thankfully am enjoying it more. #BookSky 📚💙

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Am reading Summer Sons at someone’s request. This is so not me. I like the mystery and ghost vibe but can definitely do without drug using, street racing bad boys. That just bores me. I am not the target audience. Just trying to get through this. #BookSky

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

Finished “Seven Year Itch.” I liked Calder, Dakota got better overall, and the story was good, but this wasn’t my favorite. I’ll still read Luke’s story when it comes out. Daws is good at getting me invested. #BookSky 📚💙

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

Am almost halfway through Seven Year Itch, a follow up to Amy Daws’ Nine Month Contract. I loved NMC, but am struggling with SYI. It’s taken this long for the FMC to become even a little likable. Tide is beginning to turn now though. Hope things change soon. #BookSky 📚💙

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

Now up, the next in Amy Daws’ Mountain Men Matchmaker series, “Seven Year Itch.” Calder’s story picks up with Wyatt’s wedding to Trista. Every is back at it, setting Calder up with Dakota. This should be interesting. Let the fights ensue. #BookSky 📚💙

Calder and Dakota stare each other down against a wilderness backdrop. Calders’s cabin and his cat Milkshake are in the background.

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

Finished “Wild Side” by Elsie Silver. She’s now a new favorite go-to author for me. Wild Side allowed me to get to know the characters more deeply than in the earlier books. They were really vulnerable. Can’t wait for “Wild Card” to come out this fall.

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 22/06/2025

Read “Wild Eyes” by Elsie Silver. It was another sweet and spicy story. Liking Silver a lot so am on to book 3, “Wild Side.” #BookSky 📚💙

The cover of Wild Side is green and shows a mountain wilderness, a wedding cake and a wrestling mask.

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

I’d rather be reading. This having to work thing sucks. #BookSky

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

Finished Elsie Silver’s “Wild Love.” Sweet and spicy, this was such a good read. No real angst, just two people figuring things out together. Throw in a funny 12 year old girl and you have a great story. Can’t wait to read the next in the series, “Wild Eyes.” #BookSky

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

I’m really enjoying “Wild Love” by Elsie Silver. The characters are so likable, especially young Cora. #BookSky

The cover of “Wild Love” by Elsie Silver is various shades of pink. It has a heart-shaped lock with key, a turntable, and mountains on it.

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

June 14th Obama Appreciation Day

A photo of former President Barack Obama posing in the Oval Office when he was president.

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

Something different but still light. A man wants to be a single dad so enters a contract with a surrogate. Shenanigans ensue 😁 #BookSky

A woman with dark curly hair has her back turned towards a mountain man with an ax over his shoulder as he was chopping wood, also with his back towards the woman. They look at each other over their shoulders. There’s a barn and a cabin in the background. The title of the book is “Nine Month Contract” by Amy Daws.

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

No surprise I loved “Deep End” by Ali Hazelwood. She never lets me down. I’ve now read everything by her except her YA, “Checkmate.” Will get to that soon.

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Reposted by CJ

Greg Morosoff @gregmorosoff.bsky.social · 08/06/2025

Just a little perspective. It is either gross incompetence, or, is actually by design. You pick. It's one or the other. Me, I say by design. #TheAlliedForces

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Reposted by CJ

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

VETERAN: “This is why they can’t wear masks. Because people like this exist… if you want to snatch people off the streets, do it in uniform, and show your damn face.” (@MarshaBlackburn’s Secret Police bill criminalizes transparency and threatens 5 years for naming an ICE agent)

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

I’ve decided to stick with Hazelwood. I haven’t read “Deep End” yet and the characters made an appearance in “Problematic Summer Romance.” But after this I think I’ll switch to a fun mystery, “Assassins Anonymous.” #BookSky

The cover of “Deep End” shows a tattooed man’s arm and hand holding a woman’s hand in a pool.

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Ugh! I don’t know what to read next. So many choices on my TBR and I want them all! Decisions, decisions… #BookSky

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Finished Hazelwood’s “Problematic Summer Romance.” This was such a fun read! I know I always say this but I love her work. She remains an automatic read for me. #BookSky

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

Now reading “Problematic Summer Romance” by Ali Hazelwood. I love everything she writes. #BookSky 💙📚

The cover of “Problematic Summer Romance” shows a man and a woman lounging outside in Italy with the ocean as a backdrop.

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CJ @cjmerriman.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

And here is why we won’t have elections anymore if this bill is passed.

A long list of laws that will be enacted should the bill pass such as the ability to postpone elections and ignore court orders without repercussions. Also no more legal protests and all LGBTQ+ rights lost.

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