Tuesday, July 28

Teaser Tuesdays/ First Chapter First Paragraph - July 28, 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!

The dialogue in Anne of Green Gables is so entertaining, from Anne with her big words and 'scope for imagination' to Matthew's few words and Marilla's skeptical pronouncements, the characters all have a way with words. This is near the beginning of the book, when Matthew and Marilla are deciding whether or not they will keep Anne - who is clearly a girl, when they had asked for a boy.

"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.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 
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.

CHAPTER ONE
London, March 3, 1818


     Only one thing frustrated Charlotte Downing more than waiting on a man: being told "no" by one. With the shoe clerk from Ella's Establishment refusing her purchase without the owner's permission, she'd suffered both. Tapping her foot, she stifled the urge to shift upon her chair. The shopkeeper could return any moment, and she shouldn't appear too anxious. That would expose weakness, maybe doubling the price. If her late father taught her anything, it was never cede anything early in a negotiation.
     Her gaze lifted to the pair of fairy slippers displayed on an upper shelf of the Ella Store. Protected by a clear glass case, the footwear remained isolated, distant. A little like herself, especially during her lengthy time of mourning.

Swept Away: A Fairwilde Reflection Regency Fairy Tale by Vanessa Riley
Swept Away: A Fairwilde Reflection Regency Fairy Tale

Here's the blurb:
     Charlotte Downing, the Duchess of Charming, wants what she wants. Today, it's a fine pair of lacy slippers crafted by the renowned Ella's Establishment. To be picture perfect for her presentation to the queen, Charlotte will survive crashed ceilings and falling bricks. Yet, has she met her match in the conservative merchant, whose autumn-colored eyes make her pulse race, especially when he says no?
     Caught between the glittering world of the ton and the respectable profession of selling shoes, Edwin Cinder can't understand the lady's persistence or the fire lighting her blue eyes when she's challenged. With his lack of pedigree, there's no chance for this common God-fearing man to win her hand, but he'll risk all to save the duchess from the ravages of a London gale.
     Swept Away is a Regency retelling of Cinderella with a twist.

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/

Monday, July 27

What I'm Reading - July 27, 2015

This post may contain affiliate links. 
2a

This weekly meme has been hosted at Book Journey, but until the blog author is back to hosting, I will be linking at the book blog Christian Novels.

I recently finished reading...

A Study in Death (A Lady Darby Mystery) by Anna Lee Huber - Read my full review HERE.
A Study in Death (Lady Darby, #4)

I'm currently reading...

The Unknown Ajax by Georgette Heyer
The Unknown Ajax

The Conversation by Leigh A. Bortins - I'm reading this for a review on my homeschool blog later this summer.
The Conversation - <i><b>NEW - ON SALE</i></b>

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables Collection (for Kindle)) - one of those books I never get tired of!



Swept Away: A Fairwilde Reflection Regency Fairy Tale by Vanessa Riley - decided to start on this one just last night.
Swept Away: A Fairwilde Reflection Regency Fairy Tale

The Fatal Tree (Bright Empires) by Stephen R Lawhead - I am getting back into this one now that I've finished Lady Darby.

   The Fatal Tree (Bright Empires, #5)

  Next on the stack...

Murther and Walking Spirits by Robertson Davies
Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain - I'll be reading this along with my daughter for a Lit study
Lady Maybe by Julie Klassen - I just saw that this has been shipped to my library, so I'll be starting on it soon!
Murther and Walking Spirits   Pudd'nhead Wilson/Those Extraordinary Twins

Lady Maybe

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/

Sunday, July 26

Recent Reads - A Study in Death

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A Study in Death (Lady Darby, #4)

A Study in Death (A Lady Darby Mystery) by Anna Lee Huber - In the opening chapters, Lady Kiera Darby is concerned that Lady Drummond, her latest portrait client, is suffering at the hands of her husband. When she arrives one day for the sitting, Lady Drummond is gravely and violently ill and dies just moments after Kiera enters the room. Kiera's suspicions are roused by the unusual manner of Lady Drummond's death, and by the cold reaction of Lord Drummond in response. She is quite sure that Lady Drummond was poisoned, and convinces her fiance and investigative partner, Sebastian Gage, to help her track the source of the poison and bring the killer to justice. 

All this takes place and Kiera is looking forward to marrying Gage, but is not necessarily looking forward to the large and showy wedding her sister Alana is arranging. Kiera allows her to plan as she will though, since it is something Alana can work and focus on during the long days of her risky pregnancy. Kiera's attention is divided between the case she and Gage are working on and worry for Alana's health, and even the state of Alana's marriage, because her husband Philip is acting very strangely.

Once again, Kiera and Gage join forces to solve a murder that would probably otherwise have gone undetected. They confront danger united, but their romance faces challenges as Gage is still reluctant to trust Kiera with information about his past. To make matters worse, his father, Lord Gage, arrives in town and openly disapproves of Kiera and opposes the investigation.

The closing lines of the novel indicate that another investigation is underway, but readers will have to wait awhile to find out more about it!


©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/

Saturday, July 25

Scripture and a Snapshot - July 25, 2015

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Scripture and a Snapshot - Isaiah 61 - on Just A Second @ justasecondblog.blogspot.com

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion--
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord,
that he may be glorified.
~Isaiah 61:1-3~

Scripture and Snapshot


Scripture & a Snapshot is hosted by A Glimpse of Our Life.

TheWeekendBrew_Button-1
The Weekend Brew is hosted by My Freshly Brewed Life.

©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/


Friday, July 24

Book Blogger Hop - July 24, 2015

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Book Blogger Hop
I haven't been here much this week, so because I need to say something bookish, I'm going to answer the Book Blogger Hop question of the week from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.

Do you use bookmarks? If so, do you match them to the book you're reading or do you use random scraps of paper? 

I prefer to use bookmarks if I have one handy, but I'll use any random piece of paper I can find if a bookmark isn't within reach when I need it. I don't match bookmarks to my books either, but I do have a couple of favorite bookmarks and use those most often.

Right now my favorite bookmark is almost at the end of A Study in Death (A Lady Darby Mystery) by Anna Lee Huber, so I should be sharing my review of it this weekend. 

©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/

Tuesday, July 21

Teaser Tuesdays - July 21, 2015

This post may contain affiliate links. 

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!
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
A Study in Death (Lady Darby, #4)

©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/

Monday, July 20

What I'm Reading - July 20, 2015

This post may contain affiliate links. 
2a

This weekly meme has been hosted at Book Journey, but until the blog author is back to hosting, I will be linking at the book blog Christian Novels.

I recently finished reading...

 Your Sacred Yes: Trading Life-Draining Obligation for Freedom, Passion, and Joy by Susie Larson - Read my full review HERE.
Your Sacred Yes: Trading Life-Draining Obligation for Freedom, Passion, and Joy

I'm currently reading...


A Study in Death (A Lady Darby Mystery) by Anna Lee Huber - I've been looking forward to this one for quite awhile, and now that I'm reading (and loving!) it, I don't want to finish too quickly!
A Study in Death (Lady Darby, #4)

The Unknown Ajax by Georgette Heyer
The Unknown Ajax

The Conversation by Leigh A. Bortins - I'm reading this for a review on my homeschool blog later this summer.
The Conversation - <i><b>NEW - ON SALE</i></b>

The Fatal Tree (Bright Empires) by Stephen R Lawhead - on temporary hold while I read Lady Darby.

   The Fatal Tree (Bright Empires, #5)

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables Collection (for Kindle)) - also on hold while I read Lady Darby.



  Next on the stack...

Murther and Walking Spirits by Robertson Davies
Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain - I'll be reading this along with my daughter for a Lit study
Lady Maybe by Julie Klassen - I'm in the queue for this one from the library, so whenever it arrives for me, I'll start reading!
Murther and Walking Spirits   Pudd'nhead Wilson/Those Extraordinary Twins

Lady Maybe

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/