Friday Fun - The Friday 56 and First Lines for February 10, 2023

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 

I'm going to be reviewing In The Shelter Of Hollythorne House by Sarah E. Ladd soon, and even though it can be read as a standalone, it is the second in a series. So I thought I would try to read the first one and get them in order. My reading pile is pretty tall right now, and reviews have deadlines, so I'm not sure how my plan will work out! 

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Normally, Cassandra never would have dreamt of sharing such a personal detail, but she did not know this girl, and once her business in this village was concluded, she would likely never see her again.

~from page 56 of The Letter From Briarton Park by Sarah E. Ladd

In Regency England, one letter will alter a young woman's fate when it summons her to Briarton Park - an ancient estate that holds the secrets of her past and the keys to her future.

Cassandra Hale grew up knowing little about her parentage, and she had made peace with the fact that she never would. But her world shifts when a shocking deathbed confession reveals a two-year-old letter from Mr. Clark, the master of Briarton Park, with hints to her family's identity. Stung by betrayal, Cassandra travels to the village of Anston only to learn Mr. Clark has since passed away.

James Warrington is a widower and the new master of Briarton Park, where he lives with his two young daughters, his sister, and his mother-in-law. When Cassandra appears at his doorstep with a letter from the previous owner and then proceeds to assist his family in an unexpected way, he is honor bound to help uncover the answers she seeks.

The more time Cassandra spends in Anston, the more she begins to suspect not everything - or everyone - is as they seem. As details emerge, the danger surrounding her intensifies. Using wit and intuition, she must navigate the treacherous landscapes between truth and rumor and between loyalty and deception if she is to uncover the realities of her past and find the place her heart can finally call home.

Sarah Ladd's latest Regency romance, first in the new Houses of Yorkshire series, combines mystery and intrigue with the best of historical storytelling.

The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice

*Grab a book, any book.

*Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your e-reader.

*Find a snippet, short and sweet.

*Post it, and share in the Linky.

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Harboring anger against a woman on her deathbed was wrong.

~From the beginning of The Letter From Briarton Park by Sarah E. Ladd

Book Beginnings on Fridays is hosted by Rose City Reader.

*It's Book Beginnings on Fridays! Time to gather with our fellow book lovers and share the opening sentence (or so) of the books we are reading this week. Or share from a book that is on your mind right now -- whatever catches your fancy.

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First Line Fridays is hosted at Reading is My SuperPower

*Share the first line or two of the book closest to you, then visit other FLF participants.

*Please keep posts family friendly or clean reads.

*Link back to Reading is My SuperPower within your post or grab a button.

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And here is the weekly bookish question in the Book Blogger Hop, hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.  

This Week's Question: Do you enjoy reading romance novels? If so, which romance trope is your favorite?

My Answer: I definitely enjoy romance as an element of a novel, but what first comes to mind when I hear or read the term 'romance novel' is the cheap bodice-ripper type and I don't like those at all. Generally speaking, I like historical romance (preferably set prior to 1900), and I will not read erotica or anything with graphic sensual scenes.

I don't have a favorite trope, but I sometimes get impatient with the more improbable ones and don't care for tropes that would almost certainly be considered unhealthy relationships in the real world, or that glorify something that's actually quite dark or sinister as being romantic. 

Book Blogger Hop

 ©2008-2023 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/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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/

2023 Reading Challenges Wrap-Up

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 

In recent years, I've been reading fewer total books each year for various reasons. I hoped that I would be able to get my totals up in 2022, but there's no way I could have foreseen all the interruptions to "normal" I would experience over the year, and how that would impact my time and interest in reading. So although I didn't reach my goals, I made progress, and I will be doing the 2023 version of these challenges as well. Watch for that post coming up soon!

I worked on two specific challenges hosted by Gillion at Rose City Reader:

2023 European Reading Challenge! For this challenge, participants will be reading books either set in Europe or by European authors. I was aiming for the Four Star (Honeymooner) level participation, so my goal was to read four books set in four different European countries, or by authors from four different countries. I'm pleased that I was able to visit seven countries!

From Rose City Reader:

THE GIST: The idea is to read books set in European countries or books by European authors. The books can be of any genre - fiction, nonfiction, novels, short stories, memoirs, travel guides, cookbooks, biography, poetry, whatever. You can participate at different levels, but each book must represent a different country - either written by an author from a different country or set in a different country, no two books from the same country. It's supposed to be a tour!

1. Obedient Unto Death - Liisa Eyerly (Turkey)
2. What I Would Tell You - Liz Tolsma (Greece)
3. The Letter from Briarton Park - Sarah E. Ladd (Great Britain)
4. Women Talking - Miriam Toews (Russia)
5. A Man With One of Those Faces - Caimh McDonnell (Ireland)
6. Reykjavík: A Crime Story - Ragnar Jónasson and Katrín Jakobsdóttir (Iceland)
7. The Starlet Spy - Rachel Scott McDaniel (Sweden)

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The TBR 23 in '23 Challenge is meant to encourage us to read the books already on our shelves (including eReader shelves) and maybe make room for more! I wasn't sure how I'd do on this challenge, since I really limited how many books I brought with me when we moved at the end of 2022. I did bring my Kindle with me, and there are a lot of pre-2023 book there, but I wasn't confident I'd actually read many of them. Certainly not 23 of them! I ended up reading five books for this challenge, and given my current situation, I don't think it would be practical for me to do the 2024 version of it!

From Rose City Reader:

"TBR" counts as any book that was on your shelf prior to January 1, 2023. "Shelf" includes your ebook reader and audiobooks you own, but it doesn't include library books. This is a TBR challenge, so the goal is to read the books you own to make room for more books.

1. Obedient Unto Death - Liisa Eyerly
2. The Wendy - Erin Michelle Sky and Steven Brown
3. The Friendly Persuasion - Jessamyn West
4. Fair As a Star - Mimi Matthews
5. A Perilous Perspective - Anna Lee Huber

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This is the second year I've worked on the 52 Book Club's Challenge. I didn't think it likely I could read 52 books for the 52 Book Club's 2023 Reading Challenge, but I hoped to get around two thirds of it completed. Find out more about the 2023 Reading Challenge HERE.

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2023

I completed 31 of the challenge prompts, which is very nearly two-thirds so I think I met my goal, and I also completed eight of the mini-challenges along the way.

1. If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won't) - Betty White (a book with a subtitle)

2.  Bridges - Linda Griffin (featuring an inheritance)

5.  It Happened In Ohio - Carol Cartaino (title starts with the letter I)

6.  Composition As Conversation - Heather M. Hoover (under 200 pages)

7.  The Cairo Curse - Pepper Basham (a city or country name in the title)

9.  What I Would Tell You - Liz Tolsma (a book with a dedication)

11. The Wendy - Erin Michelle Sky and Steven Brown (a book about secrets)

14. Women Talking - Miriam Toews (a survival story)

20. When Tomorrow Came - Hannah Linder (about siblings)

22. Fair As a Star -  Mimi Matthews (a body-positive message)

23. A Perilous Perspective - Anna Lee Huber (an alliterative title)

24. Reykjavík: A Crime Story - Ragnar Jónasson and Katrín Jakobsdóttir (Nordic Noir)

25. The Starlet Spy - Rachel Scott McDaniel (a fashionable character)

26. The Letter from Briarton Park - Sarah E. Ladd (has an epilogue)

28. The Friendly Persuasion - Jessamyn West (includes a funeral)

29. The Keys to Gramercy Park - Candice Sue Patterson (sends me down a rabbit hole*)

31. In Spotlight and Shadow - Rachel Scott McDaniel (set in a workplace)

34. Man of Shadow & Mist - Michelle Griep (features mythology)

35. Obedient Unto Death - Liisa Eyerly (a book I meant to read last year)

36. Beneath a Peaceful Moon - Debby Lee (chapters have cliffhangers)

37. Remarkably Bright Creatures - Shelby Van Pelt (written in present tense)

38. Restoring Christmas (part of A Louisiana Christmas to Remember) - (enemies-to-lovers plot)

39. Rebecca - Shannon McNear (final book in a series)

40. Shirley, I Jest! - Cindy Williams (written by a comedian)

41. If Only (part of Kingdom of Love) - Tracie Peterson (a character who is a refugee)

42. Garden of the Midnights - Hannah Linder (time in the title)

44. A Louisiana Christmas to Remember - novella collection (contemporary setting)

47. A Man With One of Those Faces - Caimh McDonnell (set in the city of Dublin)

50. A Kingdom Divided and Alas, My Love (part of Kingdom of Love) - Tracie Peterson (related to the word "murder")

51. After the Boxes Are Unpacked - Susan Miller (doesn't fit any of the other prompts)

52. In the Shelter of Hollythorne House - Sarah E. Ladd (published in 2023)

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This Wrap-up Post will be linked at the 2023 European Reading Challenge Wrap-up Page at Rose City Reader; and at the TBR 23 in '23 Challenge Wrap-Up Page at Rose City Reader.

©2008-2023 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/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

What I'm Reading - June 27, 2016

This post contains affiliate links. 

This weekly reading list meme is hosted at Book Date. Join in to see what others are reading and maybe get some ideas of what to read next! I also link up with Tales of a Pee Dee Mama for D.E.A.R. Monday (Drop Everything And Read).

I finished reading . . .

Dawn at Emberwilde (A Treasures of Surrey Novel)by Sarah E. Ladd - Regency romance with just a hint of intrigue and mystery. (Read my full review HERE)




I'm currently reading . . .

Lady in the Mist: A Novel (The Midwives) by Laurie Alice Eakes - This is the book I'm having trouble putting down right now.




Lady of Ashes by Christine Trent - this is very good, lots of different plot elements that somehow will all mesh together.




My Mother's Quilts: Devotions from a Legacy of Needlework by Ramona Richards - Read my (p)review HERE and get the link to the drawing for one of the quilts featured in the book. Just a couple of days left!




 The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy - was on hold this past week.




Next on the stack...

No Way Up (The Cimarron Legacy Book 1) by Mary Connealy
The Pharaoh's Daughter: A Treasures of the Nile Novel by Mesu Andrews
Charity's Cross (Charles Towne Belles) (Volume 4)by MaryLu Tyndall



     


On my blogs last week . . .

Here on Just A Second:

Scripture and a Snapshot - A Gentle Answer
Recent Reads - Dawn at Emberwilde by Sarah E. Ladd
Book Blogger Hop - June 24, 2016
Wordless Wednesday - Sunset
Teaser Tuesday/First Chapter First Paragraph - The Pharaoh's Daughter

And on my homeschool blog, Homeschool Coffee Break:

Homeschool Weekly - Summer School Week One
Virtual Refrigerator - Graffiti Tags
A School Year Photojournal
From the High School Lesson Book - Final Grades - Year In Review


What are you reading?

©2008-2016 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/

Monthly Bookshelf Review - January 2023

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 

I woke up thinking a very pleasant thought. There is lots left in the world to read. ~Nicholson Baker

I'm off to a pretty strong start as far as the number of books read so far! It remains to be seen if I can keep up this pace, but I have several review books to work on for the next month or so, which should help me stay motivated.

January's Books Completed and Reviewed

A Wicked Conceit by Anna Lee Huber - Kiera and Gage are trying to identify the author of a novel that is spreading rumors about Bonnie Brock and themselves, and are even suspects when the publisher is found murdered. (Read my full review HERE)

Obedient Unto Death by Liisa Eyerly - A young scribe is poisoned during a meeting of the early Christian church in Ephesus, and Sabina is determined to find the murderer and prove the bishop innocent. (Read my full review HERE)

The Wendy by Erin Michelle Sky - a reimagined version of Peter Pan, with a strong and ambitious Wendy as the lead character. (Read my full review HERE)

It Happened In Ohio by Carol Cartaino - I got a quick overview of interesting and influential events in the history of the state in this guidebook. (Read my full review HERE)

Bridges by Linda Griffin - An unlikely friendship between a young blind heiress and a middle-aged chauffeur leads to love. (Read my full review HERE)

The Friendly Persuasion by Jessamyn West - A collection of short stories that follows a loveable Quaker couple and their family through the years. (Read my full review HERE)

During January I started reading:

What I Would Tell You by Liz Tolsma - a dual timeline story about the Sephardic Jews in Greece during WWII and a young American woman in search of her true lineage.

In Spotlight and Shadow by Rachel Scott McDaniel - This is also a dual timeline story. It's set in Pittsburgh and centering around a stage prop piece of jewelry and a young actress in the 1920s who was suspected of being a jewel thief.

Coming Up in February!

I'll have quite a job getting through all of these in one short month, but the review titles will have priority. That might mean my Anna Lee Huber novels may continue to be on the backburner.

The Letter From Briarton Park by Sarah E. Ladd

In The Shelter Of Hollythorne House by Sarah E. Ladd

The Cairo Curse by Pepper Basham

Murder Most Fair by Anna Lee Huber

A Perilous Perspective by Anna Lee Huber

A Certain Darkness by Anna Lee Huber

    

   

What I'm Highlighting . . . the dust is settling after a flurry of moves recently. Not just my physical move from Maryland to Ohio, but my new blog A Fresh Cup of Coffee. Everything bookish will still be here, but some of my other writing has moved or will be. See this post for the explanation: Moving Updates

On my blogs recently . . . 

Besides the reviews, here on Just A Second you'll find:

Scripture and a Snapshot posts (But from now on this feature will be on A Fresh Cup of Coffee)

Friday Fun posts - The Friday 56 and First Lines

What I'm Reading - January 9, 2023

2023 Reading Challenges

2022 Reading Challenges Wrap-Up

On Homeschool Coffee Break:

Chinese New Year - The Year of the Rabbit

High School Writing Tip Sheets - Writing Dialogue

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Moving Updates

Introduction To My Empty Nest Mom Life

Adapt And Grow

Currently . . . January 4, 2023

December Photo Album

Strength When We're Tired

I Spy Collection - December 28, 2022

And on the new blog, A Fresh Cup of Coffee:

Scripture and a Snapshot posts

Five Minute Friday posts

Share Four Somethings - January 2023

Monthly Musings - Beating The Winter Blues

What's Up Wednesday - January 2023

Everyday Images - My Personal Photo Challenge

Everyday Images - January

Welcome To My New Coffee Break Project!

Introduction To My Empty Nest Mom Life

This post will be linked at the current BookWorms Monthly link-up hosted by At Home A Lot; and at the weekly reading list meme hosted at Book Date.

©2008-2023 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/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.