What I'm Reading - October 26, 2015

This post may contain affiliate links. 

This weekly reading list meme is now hosted at Book Date. Join in to see what others are reading and maybe get some ideas of what to read next!

I recently finished reading...

Fire and Ice (Wild at Heart) by Mary Connealy - This is another fun romance and adventure with the Wilde sisters. You can read my review HERE.



I'm currently reading...

Murther and Walking Spirits by Robertson Davies - I've been working on this one a little at a time for at least a month, but I'm actually nearing the end now. A very interesting book, and different from my usual fare.



The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux - I remembered that I had this on my Kindle, and thought it would be a good #collaboreads pick. I'm enjoying it so far!
 

Regency Buck by Georgette Heyer - finally got going on this one that had been sitting in my TBR pile for a long time.


  Next on the stack...

I may still get to Dracula by Bram Stoker, or Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, but I'm not sure. Either would be appropriate for my #collaboreads October choice, but since I am already reading The Phantom of the Opera, I already have that looked after.
   

Also (still) on the to-read pile are these:

The Fatal Tree (Bright Empires) by Stephen R Lawhead
The Darcys of Pemberley by Shannon Winslow

   

On my blogs last week...

Here on Just A Second:

Scripture and a Snapshot - Choose Life
Recent Reads - Fire and Ice
Wordless Wednesday - Pennsylvania in Autumn
Teaser Tuesdays/First Chapter First Paragraph - Fire and Ice

And on my homeschool blog, Homeschool Coffee Break:

Homeschool Weekly - Planning Ahead/Catching Up Edition
From the High School Lesson Book - St Augustine and St Mary's
Introducing... From the High School Lesson Book
Virtual Refrigerator - Have You Seen These Characters?
Koru Naturals - A Schoolhouse Crew Review
Join the Schoolhouse Review Crew!

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 - Choose Life

This post may contain affiliate links. 

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you my dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

~Deuteronomy 30:19-20~

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

Weekend Whispers is hosted by Barbie Swihart.


Verse of the Week is hosted by Counting Pinecones.

©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 - Fire and Ice

This post may contain affiliate links. 

Fire and Ice (Wild at Heart) by Mary Connealy - I had a lot of fun reading the first two books in this series that focuses on three sisters that homesteaded in the west following the Civil War - disguised as men! The Wilde sisters had all been bullied by their father into pretending to be boys and serving during the war. Then Pa moved them all out to the west where they could claim homesteads - still wearing britches and with their hair cut short. Younger sisters Kylie and Shannon left off their disguises and found husbands in the first two books, but big sister Bailey is determined to keep her britches and her independence on her homestead.

Trouble is, her homestead blocks the entrance to a prime grazing area in a canyon that belongs to her equally independent and stubborn neighbor, Gage Coulter, and during one of their confrontations, he discovers that Bailey is woman. And after a long and lonely winter, Bailey is even ready to consider Gage's crazy proposal for how they can share the canyon. Yes, it's a proposal of marriage, and Gage comes up with the idea because his over-protective mother is coming to visit! To complicate matters, they realize that some recent accidents are actually attempts on Gage's life - but who is behind the traps?

Bailey and Gage might even be able to trust each other and find love and happiness, but first they have to work together to stop their enemy and they'll also need to get Ma Coulter to go back to Texas before she drives them both crazy! This was another fun read from Mary Connealy, with quirky characters and wild adventures. And of course, a happy ending.

My only complaint is with the cover. That's gotta be Bailey on the cover, right? Great job on finding a model with the right sass and attitude. But the story is constantly mentioning Bailey's "golden" eyes and her curly hair, so why does the cover Bailey have blue eyes and straight hair?

By the same author: Now and Forever, Tried and True

From the publisher:

Saddle up for mysteries and laughs with the Wilde sisters!

Bailey Wilde is the oldest sister--and the one who takes care of everyone else in her family. But after her sisters marry and move away, her little homestead becomes bleak and lonely, especially during the long winter months. In a moment of weakness, Bailey agrees to a wild plan concocted by her neighbor, Gage Coulter.

Gage is an honest man, but he didn't make his fortune by being weak. He won't break the law, but he'll push as hard as he can within in. Five thousand acres of excellent grazing land is lost to him because Bailey's homestead is located right across the entrance to a canyon full of lush grass. Gage has to regain access to this land--and he's got to go through Bailey to do it. So he makes a proposal...

Can these two independent, life-toughened homesteaders finally loosen up enough to earn each other's respect--and maybe find love in the process?

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

©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/

Wordless Wednesday - Pennsylvania in Autumn

This post may contain affiliate links.

Just recently I started doing Wordless Wednesday on Homeschool Coffee Break, but starting this week, I'm going to put my WW post here instead. Welcome!

Some fun stuff and some beautiful scenery at the Pennsylvania Welcome Center at Tioga.

This post is linked at Wordless Wednesday, hosted by Life at Rossmont.

©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 - Fire and Ice

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 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

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

 

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.

OCTOBER 10, 1866
     The bullet spit dirt up in Gage Coulter's eyes, and he didn't even flinch.
     Wilde always missed him. Granted, he missed by inches.
     "Don't you ever sleep, Wilde?" Gage had come early, he'd come late. He'd come in peace, and now this was it--he was coming in war.
     "The only reason you'd ask that was if you wanted to sneak in here. Now get off my land." Another bullet, this one even closer to his toes.
     Gage ignored it. The shots were to keep him back. Trouble was, if he came closer, Wilde might stop trying to scare him and get serious.

Fire and Ice (Wild at Heart) by Mary Connealy

Here's the blurb:

Saddle up for mysteries and laughs with the Wilde sisters!

Bailey Wilde is the oldest sister--and the one who takes care of everyone else in her family. But after her sisters marry and move away, her little homestead becomes bleak and lonely, especially during the long winter months. In a moment of weakness, Bailey agrees to a wild plan concocted by her neighbor, Gage Coulter.

Gage is an honest man, but he didn't make his fortune by being weak. He won't break the law, but he'll push as hard as he can within in. Five thousand acres of excellent grazing land is lost to him because Bailey's homestead is located right across the entrance to a canyon full of lush grass. Gage has to regain access to this land--and he's got to go through Bailey to do it. So he makes a proposal...

Can these two independent, life-toughened homesteaders finally loosen up enough to earn each other's respect--and maybe find love in the process?

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 - October 19, 2015

This post may contain affiliate links. 

This weekly reading list meme has been faithfully hosted at Book Journey, and beginning today, will move its home base to Book Date. Join in to see what others are reading and maybe get some ideas of what to read next!

I recently finished reading...

Unequal Affections: A Pride and Prejudice Retelling by Lara S. Ormiston - I finished this last week, but didn't get the review done until this past weekend. You can read it HERE.



Ruby (Dakotah Treasures #1) by Lauraine Snelling - I finished this a few days ago, and reviewed it for September's #collaboreads HERE.


I'm currently reading...

Fire and Ice (Wild at Heart) by Mary Connealy

Murther and Walking Spirits by Robertson Davies



The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux - just started this last night.
 

  Next on the stack...

I was about to say Dracula by Bram Stoker, but I'm not sure where my copy is. I do, however, have Frankenstein by Mary Shelley sitting here, so I may read that one for my #collaboreads October choice. I love both, but Dracula is the clear favorite for me. My daughter will be reading Frankenstein for her Brit Lit course this year, so it's probably good for me to refresh my memory of it.

   

And STILL on the to-read pile are these:

Regency Buck by Georgette Heyer
The Fatal Tree (Bright Empires) by Stephen R Lawhead
The Darcys of Pemberley by Shannon Winslow

   



On my blogs last week...

Here on Just A Second:
Recent Reads - Ruby
Scripture and a Snapshot
Recent Reads - Unequal Affection

And on my homeschool blog, Homeschool Coffee Break:
Homeschool Weekly - Autumn Edition
Do You Believe? (A DVD from FishFlix.com - A Schoolhouse Crew Review)
Virtual Refrigerator - Angel
Homeschool Weekly - Unexpected Edition

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/