Teaser Tuesdays/First Chapter First Paragraph - August 25, 2015

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Jenn at A Daily Rhythm. To play along, just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include spoilers!
• Share the title and author, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

"Sounds like a death trap to me," Lady Denham declared. "Every time I hear this story, all I can imagine is unsuspecting people and horses tripping on stones and falling into forgotten cellars."

~The Suspicion at Sanditon (Or, The Disappearance of Lady Denham) (Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mysteries) by Carrie Bebris, page 68

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First Chapter/First Paragraph/Tuesday Intros is a weekly link-up hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea. To participate, share the first paragraph (or two) of a book you're reading, or thinking about reading soon.

     A Gentleman and Lady, being induced by business to travel towards that part of the Sussex Coast which lies between Hastings and Eastbourne, entered the village of Sanditon little anticipating that the small but developing watering-place would become a scene of intrigue shortly upon their arrival.
     They should have known better.
     The Gentleman and Lady were, you see, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and his wife, the former Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Four years of marriage had brought them much happiness, including two dear children and an ever-increasing circle of friends. Yet it seemed that wheresoever Mr. and Mrs. Darcy went, some unexpected even was bound to occur. On a good journey, it was something vexing but tolerable. To this category, Darcy consigned ordinary travel inconveniences, less than ideal weather, and anything involving his mother-in-law. There had, however, occasionally arisen disturbances of a more serious nature, and Darcy fervently hoped that the present confusion would not number among them.

~The Suspicion at Sanditon (Or, The Disappearance of Lady Denham) by Carrie Bebris

Here's the blurb:

Suspicion at Sanditon, a new adventure in Carrie Bebris's award-winning Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery series takes Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy to Sanditon, the setting and title of Jane Austen's final work.

In Sanditon, along with their friend Miss Charlotte Heywood, the Darcys encounter an array of eccentric inhabitants that includes: Mr. Thomas Parker, an enthusiast determined to develop the quiet coastal village into a popular seabathing resort; Sir Edward Denham, an impoverished baronet with more sensibility than sense; and Lady Denham, a childless, twice-widowed dowager with a fortune to bequeath and a flight of distant relations circling for a place in her will.

When Lady Denham goes missing, most assume one of her would-be heirs has grown impatient. But when other ladies disappear one by one, it seems that some resident menace threatens not merely an individual widow, but the entire village. Does a serial kidnapper lurk in Sanditon, or is an even more sinister force at work? Mr. and Mrs. Darcy find themselves drawn into a frantic effort to discover what has happened to the missing women, before Miss Heywood -- or Elizabeth herself -- becomes the next target.

What do you think? Would you continue reading?

©2008-2015 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads {Pride and Prescience}

Pride and Prescience (Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged) by Carrie Bebris - Now that I'm reading this series for the second time, and having read many other Jane Austen-inspired sequels and retellings in the meantime, I have come to the conclusion that Carrie Bebris is my favorite author in this genre. Her characters, dialogue, and narrative are so consistent with Austen's that I am even willing to accept the more fantastical elements of the story.

In this sequel, Caroline Bingley manages to steal some of the spotlight on Darcy and Elizabeth's wedding day, by announcing her own engagement and upcoming nuptials. In the first couple of meetings Darcy and Elizabeth have with the newly married couple, they are surprised and even somewhat dismayed at Caroline's behavior and quite unusual circumstances. A storm and some curious accidents force the Darcys to spend several weeks at Netherfield with the Bingleys, the Hursts, and Caroline and her new husband; and the situation becomes more dangerous. Darcy and Elizabeth are the only ones to fully appreciate the possible threats, and even so they do not agree on the forces at play.

Bebris delivers a rather gothic mystery, but does so in a style wonderfully similar to Austen's. A very entertaining read!

My comments from a previous read: Pride and Prescience

By the same author: The Intrigue at Highbury, The Matter at Mansfield, North By Northanger, Suspense and Sensibility

©2008-2013 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads {The Deception at Lyme}

The Deception at Lyme (Or, the Peril of Persuasion by Carrie Bebris - At last, the newest Mr & Mrs Darcy Mystery arrived on my bookshelf!  I've been anxiously awaiting Carrie Bebris' latest addition to the series for months now.  Darcy and Elizabeth take a seaside vacation to Lyme accompanied by their little daughter, and Darcy's sister Georgiana.  Not long after arriving, they are on the Cobb (the seawall, where there are walkways) and find a woman who has suffered an unfortunate and possibly fatal fall and do their best to get her to safety and help.  And the question arises - was the fall an accident, or was she pushed?  The assistance rendered by the Darcys brings them in contact with many of the characters of Jane Austen's Persuasion:  the Harvilles, the Elliotts, and the newlywed Wentworths (Captain Frederick Wentworth and Anne Elliott) and their connection with the victim of the accident.  At the same time, the Darcys have business in Lyme as well as vacationing.  Mr Darcy is meeting with a naval officer to collect the personal effects of his cousin who died in naval action a few years earlier.  The contents of this cousin's seachest and diary raise more questions and mysteries, and the realization that the events may be connected in some way.  The Darcys seek assistance from the Wentworths in their enquiries, and find that not everyone is what they appear.

I found the first couple of chapters difficult to get absorbed in, possibly because there is so much description of the physical surroundings at Lyme.  Readers of Austen know that she rarely gave much descriptive detail in terms of what people or places looked like.  However, the layout of the Cobb (which is a real location in the very real setting of Lyme) is important in the plot, so once I was past all the initial descriptions, I was involved in the story and wondering at possible connections, motives, and explanations along with the Darcys.  There is a lot going on, and the pace is swift, but it's a great mystery and I especially enjoyed catching up with the Wentworths again!  I'm a little concerned that this will be the last Mr & Mrs Darcy Mystery from Bebris, since she has set one within each of Austen's novel settings now, and the Epilogue to this one seemed to wrap things up rather tidily.  There is just a hint that the adventures will continue, and I certainly hope they do, as this has become a favorite fan fiction series of mine.

By the same author:  The Intrigue at Highbury,  The Matters at Mansfield, North by Northanger, Suspense and Sensibility, Pride and Prescience.

Recent Reads - The Suspicion at Sanditon #AustenInAugustRBR

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The Suspicion at Sanditon (Or, The Disappearance of Lady Denham) (Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mysteries) by Carrie Bebris - I had been eagerly awaiting my chance to read the newest in the Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mysteries series, and the timing seemed perfect, as I received it during Austen in August month! However, here we are on the last day of August, and I'm not quite finished the book. I supposed there's no need to worry that I will share a spoiler! I am near enough to the end that I will write my review and link up to Roof Beam Reader. Of course, I had plans to read much more that was Austen-related but time certainly got away from me.

This time, Darcy and Elizabeth decide to visit the beach resort of Sanditon along with their friend Miss Charlotte Heywood. They had become acquainted with Mr Thomas Parker, who is enthusiastic about building Sanditon up into a prime tourist destination, and he serves as a tour guide and a sort of host. The Darcys soon meet an entire ensemble of the town's eccentric residents and are invited to a large dinner party at the home of Lady Denham. Dinner is inexplicably delayed as the company awaits Lady Denham's arrival, and finally it is discovered that Lady Denham has disappeared. Although the guests and servants search the entire grounds and house, there is no sign of Lady Denham, and worse, a storm keeps the guests confined to the house overnight. The plot thickens when other ladies from the group disappear, one by one, and now no one can doubt that foul play is involved. Darcy and Elizabeth are in charge of the search, and are determined to find the solution to the strange puzzle before anyone else goes missing - and to complicate matters, they cannot be entirely sure who they may trust, because almost all the other guests have some interest in Lady Denham's will. Or... is there some truth to the ghost stories that eccentric villagers have been sharing?

I remain convinced that Carrie Bebris is one of the best at continuing the story of Darcy and Elizabeth in the same charming, witty, and clean style of Ms Austen; while introducing her own clever (and sometimes paranormal) mystery storylines. Each of the mysteries has had a tie to one of Jane Austen's novels, this one being set in Sanditon, the scene of Austen's final and unfinished work. 

I plan on finishing the book tonight and will update this review if needed!

By the same author: The Deception At Lyme, The Matters at Manfield, The Intrigue at Highbury, North By Northanger, Suspense and Sensibility, Pride and Prescience. 

This post is linked at #AustenInAugustRBR at Roof Beam Reader.

©2008-2015 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Ten Favorite Authors

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Yes, it's Wednesday, and I'm writing a list for Top Ten Tuesday hosted at The Broke and the Bookish. The thing is, I already do a book link-up on Tuesdays, and since my Tuesdays are busy enough already, I decided I would do these on Mondays or Wednesdays and call it good.

I'm starting my participation on this list with a hard one - Top Ten ALL TIME Favorite Authors. Are you kidding me? Ten??? I started jotting down a list and it got out of hand pretty quickly, so here - in no particular order - are just some of the authors that I consider my favorites.

Jane Austen
Anybody who knows me expected Austen to be at the top of my list, and no explanation is needed. I never get tired of reading her books, and I keep trying out the various re-imaginings, sequels, and fan fiction related to Austen. Of those, Carrie Bebris is my favorite. The renewed interest in the Regency era means there are plenty of authors writing historical fiction in that setting, and I'm finding some new favorites there - Sarah Ladd and Julie Klassen come to mind, although there are plenty more! (Jane Austen books, including Austen-inspired books, mentioned here on Just A Second - Carrie Bebris books, Sarah Ladd books, Julie Klassen books, and all Regency books)

Deanna Raybourn
Deanna Raybourn is a no-brainer for my list, because she is one of the few authors that I have such complete confidence in that I pre-order her books pretty much as soon as the option is available to me. She has never disappointed. I love her strong, quirky female characters and their intense, passionate male counterparts. Two other authors that fall in a similar category deserve honorable mention here - they are Tasha Alexander and Anna Lee Huber. (Deanna Raybourn books mentioned here on Just A Second - Tasha Alexander books, and Anna Lee Huber books)

Coming September 1st!

Stephen R. Lawhead
Lawhead is another author that has earned that "pre-order status". I love the elements of historical novel and fantasy that are woven together in many of his novels; and the newest, the Bright Empires series, combines historical and time-travel sci-fi in a fascinating way. (Stephen Lawhead books mentioned here on Just A Second)


Agatha Christie
She was my introduction to detective fiction when I was a teenager, and I became quite a fan of Hercule Poirot. Because of Christie (and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, of course!), I got hooked on detective and mystery novels, so I guess I should credit her for leading me to Deanna Raybourn, and to the next author on my list...

Anne Perry
She's become a favorite in the mystery/detective category too. I like her William Monk series especially, and own all of them. I've also read most of the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series, and her Christmas novellas. (Anne Perry books mentioned here on Just A Second)

C.S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis would make my list of favorites on the strength of the Chronicles of Narnia series alone, because I never get tired of reading them. Wonderful fairy-tale fantasy stories with allegorical elements, and with ageless appeal! Honorable mention here goes to James Stoddard - his books The High House and The False House remind me of the Narnia books, and would rank quite high in my all-time favorite books list. (Which I hope I don't have to narrow down to ten, as that would be quite a daunting task!)

Janette Oke
Janette Oke makes my list for several reasons - I've never met a Janette Oke book I didn't completely love; I own every one of them; and just as Agatha Christie inspired my love of mysteries, Janette Oke introduced me to Christian romantic fiction. The list of Christian historical fiction authors that I love would be a Top Ten (at least!) all its own, but it was Oke that got me started on this genre. It helps that she's a fellow Albertan and many of the settings for her books are in Canada. (I've reviewed the two most recent Janette Oke books here on Just A Second)


Lucy Maud Montgomery/Laura Ingalls Wilder/Louisa May Alcott
I cheated a little here by doing a three-in-one, but my reason for putting these three authors together is that they wrote primarily for a younger audience, and I first read their books when I was very young. Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Prairie, and Little Women are all still favorite novels that I often re-read as an adult. I also have learned that just because a book is written for  Young Adult audience doesn't mean that it won't appeal to an older audience as well. I give honorable mention here to Hope Auer and to Wayne Thomas Batson, who write YA Fiction that this mom of young adults adores!

Mark Twain
Would he be considered an early YA author as well? I'm not sure, but I have always enjoyed his wit and humor in his novels, short stories, and essays. Honorable mention for humorous observation writing goes to Bill Bryson, who also can make me laugh out loud!


Peter J. Leithart
On a more serious note, I love Peter Leithart's studies of literature (Miniatures and Morals is a study of Jane Austen's works; Brightest Heaven of Invention is a study of some of Shakespeare's plays) and the Bible (A House for My Name) are among my favorite non-fiction works. (Peter Leithart's books mentioned here on Just A Second)

Could you narrow down your favorite authors to just ten? How many of my favorites do you know?

Read more Top Ten Tuesday lists at The Broke and the Bookish.

©2008-2015 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads {The Matters at Mansfield}

The Matters at Mansfield, Or, The Crawford Affair by Carrie Bebris - This is the fourth in the Mr & Mrs Darcy Mystery series by Bebris, and although definitely an enjoyable read, in my opinion it is the weakest outing of the four.  Lady Catherine's daughter Anne, having long been bullied and coddled by her domineering mother, finally appears to grow something of a backbone and elopes rather than follow through with the marriage arranged by Lady Catherine.  It isn't hard to imagine Lady Catherine's reaction, especially when it appears that Elizabeth has been an accomplice to Anne's plans.  Not surprisingly, Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam accept Lady Catherine's demands that they ride in pursuit of Anne and her new husband, and the whole family assembles in Mansfield to try and sort out the matrimonial mess Anne finds herself in.  Some of the other aspects of the story were a little harder for me to believe.  I thought that Lady Catherine did not stay true to her original character as drawn by Austen throughout.  She continues to be bossy, inconsiderate,  and haughty, but I was taken somewhat aback at the few places in this book where her rudeness to Elizabeth and to Meg (a woman who claimed to be already married to Anne's new husband) too blatant to be entirely believable.  I would expect that she would be more inclined to act is though these women were completely beneath her dignity to even notice rather than to engage in name-calling.  Also difficult to believe that Mr Darcy would stand about and say nothing when Lady Catherine actually calls Elizabeth a "stupid, common baggage" - come, Mr Darcy! Even Lady Catherine in a high dudgeon during an emotional outburst shouldn't be allowed to abuse your wife in that way without so much as a comment from you!  All that being said, the solving of the mystery and resolution of the whole affair makes for an intriguing storyline, and Bebris delivers plenty of background on gentleman's dueling and other detail within the dialogue.  And a favorite feature was Meg's innocent assumption that Lady Catherine is losing some of her mental faculties due to advanced age.  Meg's comments and Lady Catherine's speechless shock at receiving them did cause me to laugh aloud.

Recent Reads {The Intrigue at Highbury}

The Intrigue at Highbury (or, Emma's Match) by Carrie Bebris - I confess, I'm a little at loose ends as to what I will read now that I've finished all the (published) installments of Bebris' Mr & Mrs Darcy Mystery series.  Who am I kidding - my to-read list is still miles long.  ;-)  After having been just slightly disappointed in the previous mystery, I was delighted that this one seemed to me to be much more true to the characters and style of Austen and the earlier mysteries.  Elizabeth and Darcy are travelling near Highbury when they meet with thieves on the road.  In reporting the robbery, they meet the Knightleys (from Jane Austen's Emma) and the other inhabitants of Highbury, and naturally become involved in solving the murder that takes place shortly before their arrival.  Not surprisingly, the Darcys and Knightleys form a friendship as they investigate (and matchmake! Well, Emma tries to matchmake, and Elizabeth is with her most of the time).   There are several suspects, and the two couples don't agree on which are the most likely.  In fact, Mr Knightley requests Darcy's assistance in the matter because he and Elizabeth are not previously acquainted with the residents of Highbury and aren't prejudiced for or against any of them.  In all, a satisfying mystery with a happy ending to the subplot, and I am left anticipating another Darcy mystery.  According to Ms Bebris' website, she is indeed working on a sixth!

Recent Reads {Suspense and Sensibility}

Suspense and Sensibility by Carrie Bebris  - this second installment of Bebris’ Mr & Mrs Darcy Mysteries is as delightful as the first, continuing to develop the characters of Darcy and Elizabeth and introducing a fresh mystery for them to solve. They have agreed to sponsor Elizabeth’s sister Kitty for a London season but the charming and well-to-do young man that proposes to Kitty undergoes an inexplicable character change. As the Darcys try to find out what has happened and mitigate the damage to Kitty’s reputation by the horrid behavior of her fiance, they must deal with another supernatural mystery. Another quick and entertaining read that combines a fantasy-world mystery with Regency romance.

 

Recent Reads {Suspense and Sensibility}

Suspense and Sensibility (Or, First Impressions Revisited) by Carrie Bebris - The second story of the Mr & Mrs Darcy Mysteries finds Darcy and Elizabeth enjoying the quiet of Pemberley, but not for long. They agree to sponsor Elizabeth's sister Kitty for a London season, and of course the goal is to find a husband for her. It doesn't take long before the seemingly perfect match comes along. Young Harry Dashwood is charming and wealthy, and most importantly, he is devoted to Kitty and the engagement is soon announced. Unfortunately, while wedding preparations begin, Harry's behavior changes dramatically, and gives the London elite plenty of fodder for gossip - none of it flattering. The Darcys do their best to protect Kitty's reputation from irreparable harm and the engagement is broken, but Elizabeth suspects that something supernatural may be the explanation for Harry's suddenly altered personality. She must convince Darcy to help, and they solve another mystery with fantasy elements.

Once again, Bebris combines excellent character development with an entertaining, supernatural mystery. It's particularly enjoyable to have the Darcys interacting with the characters from Sense and Sensibility.

My comments from a previous read: Suspense and Sensibility

By the same author: The Intrigue at Highbury, The Matter at Mansfield, North By Northanger,  Pride and Prescience

©2008-2013 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads {Duty and Desire}

Duty and Desire by Pamela Aidan - This is the second "Novel of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman" in Aidan's trilogy focusing on Mr Darcy and his experiences during the time of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.  Aidan continues to write in a style quite similar to Austen's, so that the thoughts and motives she ascribes to Darcy and Georgiana, and other shared characters are quite believable.  She also introduces several other characters from Darcy's circle of acquaintances and invents a life for Darcy during the 'silent period' of Pride and Prejudice.  This installment opens during the Christmas season at Pemberley and develops the characters of Darcy, Georgiana, and Colonel Fitzwilliam.  Darcy is still struggling to set aside his fascination with Elizabeth Bennet, and decides that he needs to actively seek a wife that will be more suitable as mistress of Pemberley and to his social status.  To that end, he accepts an invitation to an old schoolmate's house party, and the second half of the book is devoted to the events at that gathering.  One of the ladies at the house party does capture his attention, giving Elizabeth some competition, although she doesn't know it!  There are also some strange and disturbing events at the party, and Darcy and his intrepid valet, Fletcher, work to unravel the mystery.  Although the characters are believable, and this party of the storyline involving the revival of interest in occult practice in Great Britain at the time is true to history, I felt that I had somehow jumped into one of Carrie Bebris' "Mr and Mr Darcy Mysteries" unexpectedly.  To me, this seemed an odd turn for Aidan's story to take.  But overall, an enjoyable book that does have me looking forward to the conclusion in These Three Remain, since by the end of this book, Darcy is beginning to acknowledge to himself that Elizabeth's character is the standard by which he measures all other women, and there is the sense that he is realizing that he will not easily forget her, and perhaps doesn't want to.

By the same author:  An Assembly Such as This

Recent Reads {The Matters at Mansfield}

The Matters at Mansfield, Or, The Crawford Affair by Carrie Bebris - I had read this fourth novel in the Mr & Mrs Darcy Mystery series before, and I found that I enjoyed it much more the second time through, which isn't to say I didn't like it the first time. After my first reading, I'd said it was "definitely an enjoyable read" but also thought is was the "weakest outing of the four" in the series I'd read so far. Hmmm. I'm not sure I still agree with that assessment! This one is different from the first two in that it doesn't include a supernatural element to the mystery. Darcy's cousin Anne DeBourgh has finally summoned enough backbone to do what she wants to do, and to the great surprise of everyone, she elopes with the dashing Henry Crawford in order to escape the plans Lady Catherine has to marry her to a titled gentleman with a reputation for being anything but gentle or honorable! Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam ride after the couple but arrive too late to stop the marriage. An accident delays them in the village of Mansfield, where it is discovered that Anne's new husband has quite a history of romancing the ladies, and has even married at least one of his conquests, although under an assumed name. Elizabeth and Lady Catherine join the group at Mansfield and all are involved in trying to untangle the affair, which soon includes murder and further plotting.

What disappointed me in this book was the number of times that Lady Catherine is incredibly rude - even for her! - to Elizabeth, and Darcy does not defend his wife. Elizabeth doesn't tattle about all of this to Darcy, of course, but when he is standing in the same room and his aunt calls Elizabeth a "stupid, common baggage" I certainly thought he would have drawn a line at that, no matter how distraught everyone was at the time. Lady Catherine is also terribly rude to Meg, the young woman claiming to be married to Crawford, which seemed to me to be slightly out of character. I would have expected Lady Catherine to act as if Meg (a commoner, and a serving girl) was completely beneath her notice. Meg provides some welcome humour, however, as she blithely assumes that Lady Catherine is perhaps losing her mental faculties and speaks to her and about her patronizingly. 

My comments from a previous read: The Matters at Manfield. 

By the same author: The Intrigue at Highbury, North By Northanger, Suspense and Sensibility, Pride and Prescience. 

©2008-2013 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Top Ten (or More) Quotes From Recent Reads

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This week's list is the Top Ten Quotes from books read in the past year or so. Top Ten Tuesday is hosted at The Broke and the Bookish.

I have more than ten quotes here. What I did was took some of my favorite Tuesday Teaser quotes from the past year or so.

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Whenever I read a Pride & Prejudice retelling or sequel or spin-off I wonder whether it will be worth the paper it's printed on. This year I read a couple that were excellent. 

 At that she looked up, a twinkle in her eyes. "I am so glad that you prefer me to 

handsome women," she said teasingly. 

 For the first time she had ever known him to do so, he rolled his eyes. Elizabeth burst out laughing, and he soon followed with his quiet chuckle. "Did I not say that your propensity is to willfully misunderstand?" he retorted.  ~Unequal Affections: A Pride and Prejudice Retelling by Lara S. Ormiston, page 78  (Read my review)

"The hermit had a daughter?" Darcy said. "Hermits are supposed to be solitary."
"He wasn't a very good hermit, what with having a family and all," Mr. Parker admitted.

~The Suspicion at Sanditon (Or, The Disappearance of Lady Denham) (Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mysteries) by Carrie Bebris, page 79-80 (Read my review)

  

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I also enjoyed this Georgette Heyer novel, set during the Regency period.

 'Mercy on us! You hold Mr Brummell by your side for half an hour and then ask me what it can signify?'

Judith gave a gasp, and turned pale. 'Ma'am! Oh, good God, ma'am, that surely was not Mr Brummell?'

'Not Mr Brummell Of course it was! But, my dearest love, I particularly warned you! What have you been about?'

~Regency Buck by Georgette Heyer, page 125 (Read my review)

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One of my favorite authors is Deanna Raybourn. I read two from her during the past year, the final installment in the Lady Julia series, Bonfire Night, and the eagerly awaited first novel in her new Veronica Speedwell series, A Curious Beginning.

"...You can't expect a fellow to sleep through moans and chains without a bit of help," Plum protested. "What's all this about?"

"We were forcibly sedated by nefarious means," Portia informed him. "Isn't it thrilling?"

"Thrilling? I should think not," Plum replied. "It's damned impertinent."

~Bonfire Night by Deanna Raybourn, at 49% through Kindle version. (Read my review)

I did not bother to explain that it could hardly be considered a proper abduction when I was clearly there of my own volition. I might have escaped him a dozen times, but it seemed unkind to raise the point when he thought he was doing such a masterful job of keeping me in tow.  ~A Curious Beginning: A Veronica Speedwell Mystery by Deanna Raybourn, page 73 (Read my review)

"Your sleeve is soaked in blood. Do you feel faint?" "Not in the slightest," I lied as I pitched forward into darkness.  ~A Curious Beginning: A Veronica Speedwell Mystery by Deanna Raybourn, page 211 (Read my review)

   

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Anna Lee Huber has become a favorite author as well, and I love her Lady Darby series.

I could see now that he had loved his wife, in his own warped, possessive way. Which didn't mean he wasn't capable of having killed her. ~A Study in Death (A Lady Darby Mystery) by Anna Lee Huber, page 184 (Read my review)

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Speaking of wives . . . how's this for a heart-warming proposal?

 "I need a wife because . . ." He paused, knowing he sounded as weak as water. Then he shrugged and went on speaking because there was no avoiding it. "Because my mother's coming to visit."

 ~Fire and Ice (Wild at Heart) by Mary Connealy, page 112 (Read my review)

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Or this one, from the steampunk novel Ticker -

"My dearest Miss Farthing, will you do me the unutterable honor of wearing this cheap bit of metal that will most likely turn your finger green, pretending to love and honor me as your husband for the purposes of subterfuge and strategem?" "My hearts and stars, that will go down in the history books as the most romantic business proposition of the century, I am certain." Still my Ticker thudded in its new, horrible way as Marcus slid the ring onto my finger. ~Ticker by Lisa Mantchev, 68% on my Kindle (Read my review)

Ticker is about a young woman with a clockwork heart, and it opens with this line:

A girl with a clockwork heart shouldn't be running late, but I was. 

The story opens with the young woman finding out that although she owes her life to the doctor that invented her mechanized heart, that invention came at the cost of the lives of many people he'd experimented on.

Somewhere deep inside him still dwelled the caring surgeon and gentle man I'd known, but the blood of more than twenty people stained his hands, people he'd kidnapped off the streets of Bazalgate and experimented upon, testing different clockwork ventriculators...
All to save me.
~Ticker by Lisa Mantchev, 5% on my Kindle (Read my review)

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I re-read a Robertson Davies novel in which the main character is murdered in the very first sentence. And it had lots of quotable lines, but this was one I chose for a Teaser:

I have never given any consideration to the matter of haunting before, and what I recollect from ghost stories does not especially appeal to me. To be a crude spectre, appearing in doorways or discovered squatting by the fireside when people enter rooms, is out of the question for such a spirit as I. My intended prey lives in an apartment, and has no fireside; I shall certainly not make a fool of myself squatting by his thermostat.

~Murther and Walking Spirits by Robertson Davies, page 21 (Read my review)

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I re-read a childhood favorite too - Anne of Green Gables. It's also full of wonderful quotes.

"I wouldn't give a dog I liked to that Blewett woman," said Matthew with unusual vim.

"I don't fancy her style myself," admitted Marilla, "but it's that or keeping her ourselves, Matthew."

~Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables Collection (for Kindle)), Loc 700 on my Kindle. (Read my review)



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How do you narrow down all the fantastic lines from a classic like The Princess Bride? Here are just two of the many that I loved, and that many of us have memorized from the movie.

"Fool!" cried the hunchback. "You fell victim to one of the classic blunders. The most famous is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia,' but only slightly less well known in this: 'Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line.'"
He was quite cheery until the iocane powder took effect.
~The Princess Bride by William Goldman, page 180 (Read my review)

"You see," Max explained as he pumped, "there's different kinds of dead: there's sort of dead, mostly dead, and all dead. This fella here, he's only sort of dead, which means there's still a memory inside, there's still bits of brain. You apply a little pressure here, a little more there, sometimes you get results."
~The Princess Bride by William Goldman, page 317 (Read my review)

***************

And finally, on a serious note . . . I do read some non-fiction as well.

 Corporate worship is all about Jesus, and if it is not about Jesus, it is not Christian worship.
We do not go to church to hear helpful living tips, nor do we go to church merely to serve or merely to exercise our spiritual gifts.
We go to church to look at Jesus.
~Look and Live by Matt Papa, page 128 (Read my review)

©2008-2015 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

What I'm Reading - August 31, 2015

This post may contain affiliate links. 

This weekly meme has been hosted at Book Journey, and I believe she plans to be back to hostess duties in September. In the meantime, I will be linking at the book blog Christian Novels.

I recently finished reading...

Summer of Promise by Amanda Cabot - Read my review HERE.

I'm currently reading...

The Suspicion at Sanditon (Or, The Disappearance of Lady Denham) (Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mysteries) by Carrie Bebris


Murther and Walking Spirits by Robertson Davies


Bathsheba: Reluctant Beauty by Angela Hunt


  Next on the stack...

Luther and Katharina: A Novel of Love and Rebellion by Jody Hedlund - this is for a review, and I'll start on it this week.
Regency Buck by Georgette Heyer

   

What are you reading?

©2008-2015 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/