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1380 ratings | 7 reviews | avg rating:3.47

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Cheryl’s 2025 Year in Books

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2026 Reading Challenge

2026

READING

CHALLENGE

Cheryl Rau has read 49 of 76 books.

64%

Cheryl Rau

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United States

July 20

Website

http://www.cherylrau.com/

Genre

Fiction, Romance, Suspense

Member Since

May 2015

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Cheryl Rau is a mid-life emerging artist and author. Her steamy, fast-paced debut novel (Effortless) was a vital outlet written in the throes of menopausal insomnia and raging hormones. Her second novel (Scars for Sophie) is a romance-suspense page-turner with a pinch of the paranormal.

In addition to writing, Cheryl is a fine art photographer and digital artist. Her work has been selected for regional, national, and international art exhibitions. When not reading or writing, she enjoys spending time with her fabulous family of friends. She lives on the beautiful Maine coast.

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Popular Answered Questions

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Cheryl Rau The premise for the story in "Effortless" is rooted in a real-life event. I actually was diagnosed with Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy and underwent two succ…moreThe premise for the story in "Effortless" is rooted in a real-life event. I actually was diagnosed with Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy and underwent two successful transplant surgeries. However, I assure you that everything that happens in the book is fiction. Perhaps because of the uncomfortable closeness to my reality in one respect, I strongly resisted the idea for this book for four months before ever writing a single sentence. Once I began writing, I could not stop.(less)

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What are you currently working on?

Cheryl Rau I’m very excited to be working on my second novel! Since several folks have asked “What’s it about?” I’ll share what I know so far with about half the…moreI’m very excited to be working on my second novel! Since several folks have asked “What’s it about?” I’ll share what I know so far with about half the chapters written. I have no idea yet how it ends. The genre for this book is suspense-romance.

Here’s a first draft of the back cover blurb:

Former journalist turned best-selling romance author Liz Harper was enjoying her comfortable life until the hallucinations began eight months ago. The deeply disturbing visions for which no cause or cure can be found continue to torment her week after week. With her second marriage already destroyed and her drinking spiraling out of control, now her livelihood is also threatened along with what remains of her sanity. One night while contemplating suicide, she is shocked to discover that the little girl and man who she has seen over and over again in the distressing visions are not merely creations of her tattered mind but rather real people living in a city only 100 miles away. Sophie is a 5-year-old orphan, and the man who is sexually molesting her is rich, powerful, and running for Governor. Liz knows that she must find a way to save Sophie but wonders how she will convince anyone to believe her. How much should she trust the secretive, handsome stranger with a gun?
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Cheryl Rau’s books

Average rating: 4.08 · 12 ratings · 2 reviews · 2 distinct works

	Scars for Sophie 3.57 avg rating — 7 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Effortless 4.80 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2015 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

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Cheryl Rau's Blog

Congratulations Giveaway Winners!

Thanks to all who entered the October Giveaway for Scars for Sophie on Goodreads! Congratulations to the winners. I hope you enjoy the read.

I must confess that I had a big smile on my face as I walked into the post office to send the free copies out to the winners. New author moment - knowing that copies of my second novel are now on the way to AL, CA, CO, IL, LA, and TX - so exciting!

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Cheryl’s Recent Updates

Jul 12, 2026 11:34AM · like · view books
Cheryl Rau voted for Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice as Readers' Favorite Memoir in the Final Round of the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards. Cast Your Vote
Nov 27, 2025 10:06AM · like
Cheryl Rau made a comment on her review of Hidden Nature " I saw that you were reading it! Just finished it last night. Nora Roberts is always a great summer read. "
Aug 04, 2025 03:49AM · see review
Jan 12, 2025 06:16PM
Jan 01, 2025 07:58AM · 1 like · like · view books

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Making Connections: 3770. - EFFORTLESS by Cheryl Rau	2	13	Apr 19, 2015 11:09AM

Cheryl’s Quotes

“If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.”
― Toni Morrison

tags: books, writing

20795 likes

“If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”
― Stephen King

tags: reading, writing

13097 likes

“No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.”
― Robert Frost

tags: reading, writing

6804 likes

“Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s.”
― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

1762 likes

“You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write.”
― Saul Bellow