What I'm Reading - August 31, 2015

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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/

Scripture and a Snapshot - Whatever

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Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

~Philippians 4:8~

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

Weekend Whispers is hosted by Barbie Swihart.

©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 - Summer of Promise

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Summer of Promise by Amanda Cabot - Abigail Harding travels from Vermont to Wyoming to check up on her older sister, who is a newlywed living at Fort Laramie. Abigail has become worried that Charlotte's letters indicate that she is unhappy or ill. On the stagecoach ride, there is an attempted robbery, and Abigail and the other passengers have Lieutenant Ethan Bowles to thank for protecting them. Turns out Ethan is stationed at Fort Laramie and is a friend of Charlotte's husband, so he and Abigail have plenty of opportunities to get to know each other. Ethan can't help being drawn to compassionate and resourceful Abigail, but she is "practically engaged" to someone back home, so he knows he should keep his distance. Meanwhile, Abigail is starting to wonder if she is making the right choice in planning to return home to Woodrow and her safe predictable life, because she realizes that her feelings for Ethan are much deeper and warmer than anything she feels for Woodrow.

The attempted stagecoach robbery is one in a series, and Ethan has been trying to track down the bandits, who are deserters from the fort. Somehow the bandits seem to have advance knowledge about which stagecoaches will be protected by army personnel, which raises suspicion that one of the officers is involved. Against this backdrop, Abigail tries to help Ethan solve the mystery, and find his own peace with God. Will Abigail be able to help everyone with their problems, and will she stay in Wyoming once the summer is over? 

Riveting. {What part of the book could you NOT get enough of?} I felt that the characters were more complex than most in this genre, with a realistic mix of positive and negative traits.

Elements. {How did you relate to/care for the characters?} Their problems were complicated and they didn't always do the right thing or the smart thing. And not everything was neatly tied up with a happily ever after ending - there were some tragedies and poor decisions which didn't offer a second chance. (Vague much? I don't want to do any spoilers!)

Associate. {What other books are like this one? Does it remind you of a TV show or movie with its themes and characters? Did it serendipitously line up with things going on in your life or in the news right now?} Honestly, I can't think of anything in particular. 

Design. {You know you judged this book by the cover. What did you think of it? How did it relate to the contents of the novel?} I love the cover - so pretty! She looks so proper with her fancy dress and lacy gloves. But also? I would not have guessed that the setting was an army fort in Wyoming simply from looking at the cover. But the truth is that I grabbed the book (for free!) for my Kindle based solely on the cover. I had no idea what it was about or what the setting was, other than that it's obviously somewhere around the time of the Civil War.

Stars. {How many out of five do you give this book? Would you recommend this book to a friend?} I'm gonna go four out of five stars. The mystery part of the book was well done in that I had suspicions and was picking up on clues about who was involved in the robberies, but was nearing the end before I felt confident that I was right. The relationship between Ethan and Abigail is a good clean romance, and both of them were very careful to not cross a line because of Abigail's ties to a suitor at home. It's light reading - a romance with a clear Christian theme - but not preachy.

This review will be linked at Rachel A. Dawson for #collaboreads (August's theme is "A Book About Summer")

©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/

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

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

 

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/

What I'm Reading - August 24, 2015

This post may contain affiliate links.

This weekly meme has been hosted at Book Journey, and 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...

The Potter's Lady (Refined by Love) by Judith Miller - Read my review HERE.

I'm currently reading...

Murther and Walking Spirits by Robertson Davies


Summer of Promise by Amanda Cabot


The Suspicion at Sanditon by Carrie Bebris


  Next on the stack...

Luther and Katharina by Jody Hedlund - this is for a review, and just arrived on the weekend.
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/

Recent Reads - The Potter's Lady

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The Potter's Lady (Refined by Love) by Judith Miller - I greatly enjoyed the previous book in this series, The Brickmaker's Bride, and was eager to read this story as well. Rose McKay is the younger sister of Ewan, the brickmaker mentioned in the first novel's title. She has just graduated from a design school and is eager to prove herself. Ewan invites her opinions as he looks to purchase a new business and move the family; and she convinces him to choose the pottery rather than another brickyard. Rose is full of ideas on how to improve the efficiency of the pottery and the lives of its workers. 

Rylan Campbell has been assistant to the owner of the pottery, and is glad for the chance to continue in that role with the new owners, despite his own discomfort with having to make changes. He and Rose are attracted to one another right from the start, but there is a great deal of tension between them as he is reluctant to accept changes and she is impatient and brusque. McKay Pottery is failing to win new contracts and Rose feels a great deal of pressure to help turn things around. It turns out that they are losing their contracts to Harkness Pottery... and Joshua Harkness is courting Rose. Rylan notices some things that make him very suspicious that Joshua can't be trusted.

The news that Franklin Hotels is sponsoring a design contest that Rose feels confident she can win seems like the answer to their prayers. Rose and Rylan work together on the designs, and as Rose realizes that she has no real interest in Joshua as a suitor, the door is opened for Rylan to win her. But first they must win the contest - and can they do that if someone they think they can trust is working against them?

I loved this story with its interesting characters, unusual setting, and the rich historical detail included. However, I was a little disappointed that the growing relationship between Rose and Rylan happened "off-camera" so to speak, and that Laura (the title character of the first book) was not much involved in the story. I had rather expected that Laura might offer her perspective and wisdom to Rose, and was surprised that this didn't seem to happen, despite their relationship being described as warm and truly sisterly. One other thing that seemed vague was the motive for Joshua's actions. I liked how the conflict was resolved at the contest as the story neared its close, and felt that the ending wrapped everything up quite well, with a sense of justice and a satisfaction that the love story had turned out right.

This is a stand-alone novel, but I think having the background of The Brickmaker's Bride makes it even better.

From the publisher:

In the beautiful rolling hills of West Virginia, Rose McKay seeks a measure of success--in business and in love.

When Rose McKay convinces her brother, Ewan, to invest in a pottery business, she's determined to assist him in making the endeavor a success. A recent graduate of the Philadelphia School of Design for Women, she believes she can design pieces that will sell well. Rose also reconnects with Joshua Harkness, who oversees his own family's pottery works and promises to help her.

Rylan Campbell has never liked change, but the new owners of the pottery seem to be decent folks. He just wishes Rose wouldn't insist on changing the way they do things. Then McKay Pottery begins to lose business to the Harkness company, and Rylan suspects Joshua may be secretly taking advantage of Rose.

When Franklin Hotels announces a design contest, it could be the opportunity McKay Pottery needs to achieve recognition and clients. Rose and Rylan work together to create something magnificent. With Joshua's company as their main rival, can Rylan convince Rose her trust in Joshua may spell ruin for them all?

Visit the Baker Publishing Group for info on where to buy.

By the same author: The Brickmaker's Bride

©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/

Scripture and a Snapshot - August 23, 2015

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And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

~Romans 8:28~

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

Weekend Whispers is hosted by Barbie Swihart.

©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/