Wordless Wednesday - Civil Air Patrol

A couple of weeks ago, Landon received a promotion to Second Lieutenant. I wasn't able to be there so I'm glad others shared a few pictures with me.

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

 ©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/

What I'm Reading - May 16, 2016

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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'm also going to be linking up with Tales of a Pee Dee Mama for D.E.A.R. Monday (Drop Everything And Read).

I finished reading . . .

The Prophetess: Deborah's Story (Daughters of the Promised Land) by Jill Eileen Smith - There were a couple of places in early chapters where I wasn't sure how I felt about this one, but once I got going, I couldn't stop turning pages. Great book! (Read my full review HERE.)



These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer - This humorous adventure and romance entertained me right from the start with its unusual characters and clever dialogue full of dry wit. (Read my full review HERE.)

 

I'm currently reading . . .

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte - I'm liking this quite a bit now, but am still amazed at how little I like the characters!



The Curiosity Keeper (A Treasures of Surrey Novel) by Sarah E. Ladd - Still not very far along in this one, but having finished two novels last week I should have more time to get moving on it.



 The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy - I am reading this one with my daughter while working on a literature study, so I'm not treating it as a quick read.



 Next on the stack...

A Necessary Deception (The Daughters of Bainbridge House Book #1) by Laurie Alice Eakes
The Pharaoh's Daughter: A Treasures of the Nile Novel by Mesu Andrews
Swept Away (Trouble in Texas) (Volume 1) by Mary Connealy
Lady in the Mist: A Novel (The Midwives) by Laurie Alice Eakes

    

   


On my blogs last week . . .

Here on Just A Second:

Recent Reads - The Prophetess
Recent Reads - These Old Shades
Scripture and a Snapshot - Stand on the Heights
Book Blogger Hop - May 13th, 2016
Wordless Wednesday - Mother and Daughter
Teaser Tuesdays/First Chapter First Paragraph - The Scarlet Pimpernel


And on my homeschool blog, Homeschool Coffee Break:

Homeschool Weekly - Blessings Edition
From the High School Lesson Book - Civil Air Patrol
Needle Felting with ARTistic Pursuits (A Schoolhouse Crew Review)
Virtual Refrigerator - Art Resource Reviews
The Blessing of Friendships

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/

Recent Reads - The Prophetess

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The Prophetess: Deborah's Story (Daughters of the Promised Land) by Jill Eileen Smith - Once again, Jill Eileen Smith brings to life an intriguing woman from the Bible. Deborah is the only woman named as a judge of Israel, which is fascinating in itself, but we're not really told how she came to this respected position. She is the wife of Lappidoth, and her word carries so much weight with the commander of Israel's army  that he requests that she accompany them when they go to battle. Deborah agrees, but tells Barak that the Canaanite commander will be killed by a woman instead of by him. That woman is Jael, the wife of a Kenite, and not much is known about her either, except that she killed Sisera by driving a tent peg through his head. What a framework for a novel! You can't make this stuff up, folks, but Smith's research and imagination provides details and background that are believable and historically accurate.

The story focuses on Deborah and her relationship with her husband, Lappidoth, and daughter, Talya. When reading the Biblical account, I've often wondered who Lappidoth was and why his wife was the judge rather than himself. Smith's novel poses a believable explanation. Talya is a fiercely independent young woman who challenges her mother with her determination to take part in the fight against the Canaanites. The commander Barak is given some background, as he is presented as mourning the death of his wife at the hands of Sisera, and trying against great odds to defeat the Canaanites and stop further attacks against Israelite villages. Even Jael and her family get their own chapters in the story, as Smith invents a reason for this Kenite family to be living in Israel's territory and the compelling reason Jael has to act so courageously in order to protect her family.

By the same author: Abigail, The Crimson Cord, Michal; Sarai: A Novel

  

   

©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/

Recent Reads - These Old Shades

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These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer - In this fast-paced adventure set during the reign of Louis XV of France, Justin Alastair, the Duke of Avon, meets a frightened street urchin in a back alley of Paris and makes the surprising decision to purchase the youth to act as his page. Leon reacts with adoring gratitude and is fiercely loyal to the Duke.

As it turns out, the Duke was not acting out of pure charity which would certainly be out of character for him! He had been immediately struck by the distinctive red hair of Leon and its similarity to one Comte de St. Vire, an old enemy of Alastair. The Duke also recognized that Leon was actually a girl, and after a little time goes by, he takes Leonie with him to England and insists that she once again learns to behave and dress as a young lady, and he takes the role of guardian to her.

The Duke's family and friends don't realize Leonie's probable connection with the Comte, but quickly fall in love with her precocious high spirits and wonder whether the Duke will eventually marry her. This story has a kidnapping, a daring escape, plenty of intrigue and drama, some charming romance, and delightful characters, all accompanied by wonderful humor and dialogue laced with dry wit. And now counted among my favorite Georgette Heyer novels,

By the same author: Regency Buck, The Unknown Ajax, Powder and Patch, Beauvallet, Lady of Quality, The Toll-Gate

©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/

Scripture and a Snapshot - Stand on the Heights

For who is God, besides the LORD?

And who is the Rock, except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength

and keeps my way secure.

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;

he causes me to stand on the heights.

He trains my hands for battle;

my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

You make your saving help my shield,

and your right hand sustains me;

your help has made me great.

You provide a broad path for my feet,

so that my ankles do not give way.

~Psalm 18:31-36~

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



Let Us Grow is hosted by Let Us Walk Worthy

©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/

Book Blogger Hop - May 13th, 2016

Here is today's Book Blogger Hop question from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.

Is there a reason why you chose Blogger over WordPress or a different platform? 

When I started out with my first homeschool blog, it was on a host just for homeschooling and homesteading blogs. I don't remember for sure, but I do think it was a WordPress based platform. From there I did try WordPress for a couple years, but I kept running into snags, and eventually just exported everything to Blogger. I can see pros and cons to both, but I guess it's mostly a matter of personal preference because I find Blogger easier to navigate. Maybe that's because I'm used to it now! I am a contributing writer to a homeschool blog that is on a WordPress platform and it's always a bit of a challenge for me to switch gears mentally to work on that platform!

©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/

Wordless Wednesday - Mother and Daughter

Photo credit: KAT

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

©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/