Bookshelf Review - May 2016

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May's Books Completed and Reviewed

These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer - I so enjoyed this fast-paced adventure set during the reign of Louis XV of France, in which the Duke of Avon takes an interest in a young girl disguised as a boy. He purchases her as a page, then acts as her guardian and insists she stop using the disguise. 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.  (Read my full review HERE.)

His Grace was at her side, and lifted her down from the chair."My enfant," he said, "duchesses do not dance on chairs, nor do they call their brothers 'imbecile'."Leonie's eyes twinkled irrepressibly. "I do," she said firmly.

The Prophetess: Deborah's Story (Daughters of the Promised Land) by Jill Eileen Smith - This novel brings to life an intriguing woman from the Bible, with lots of historical background and detail in a genuine page-turner. (Read my full review HERE.)

In a heartbeat, she knew Lappidoth was right. The vision had truly come to her from the Lord. "If I am to be God's prophet," she said softly, "I think it is time I let you teach me to read."

The Curiosity Keeper (A Treasures of Surrey Novel) by Sarah E. Ladd - Camille decides to leave everything behind and try to start a new life after her father's business dealings put her in danger. Jonathan, heir of Kettering Hall follows the trail of a valuable gem stolen from his father to the curiosity shop and tries to help and protect the shop girl, who seems to be a victim and yet may hold the answers to his questions. Camille fears she is being used, but wants to put things right.
(Read my full review HERE.)

Her father had left her alone - again - to pursue one of his clandestine business arrangements. He'd invited the murderous stranger to their door and not bothered to meet the man there. He'd even taken Tevy, her one defense against anyone stronger than her. Why should she risk her life to stay and guard his treasures?

During May I continued reading:

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte - I'm almost finished this book. The writing is wonderful, and the story has my full attention, but I have to say I heartily dislike almost all of the characters!

Treachery and violence are spears pointed at both ends; they wound those who resort to them worse than their enemies.

During May I started reading:

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy - Kennady and I are working on a literature study of this classic, so we are reading it aloud, which obviously takes longer! I remember loving the movie so I'm planning for us to watch that together when we've finished reading.

They seek him here, they seek him there 
Those Frenchies seek him everywhere 
Is he in heaven or is he in hell? 
That demned elusive Pimpernel 




A Necessary Deception (The Daughters of Bainbridge House Book #1) by Laurie Alice Eakes - I recently started this and it's quite gripping already. A young widow drawn against her will into espionage, and a Frenchman in England who might be trustworthy - or who might be a double agent.

She dropped her face into her hands and rubbed her temples. None of it made sense. A floor below her, a man she suspected was working for the French claimed he was not the enemy, while the Englishmen made no claims for whom they worked.

From This Moment by Elizabeth Camden - I recently received this for review, and it's intriguing so far! Stella is a celebrated artist but she is trying to keep a low profile in order to investigate her sister's death. Romulus is the editor of a magazine and has spent years trying to get her to work for him, and now she is in his city and he may be able to help her - for a price.

"Perhaps you can thank me by making a few lithographs for the next issue of Scientific World," Romulus said. "You can have your choice of topics, and I have a new rotary lithographic press that will tempt the birds from the sky."

During May I shelved:

The Coffee Trader: A Novel by David Liss - The poor coffee trader. He keeps getting pushed aside while I read other books that are more appealing. Not that he isn't, but this novel moves at such a plodding pace, and I have no sense of urgency to finish it, so I just read a little at a time.

Coming Up in June!

Lady of Ashes by Christine Trent
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

  

   


This post will be linked at 5 Minutes For Books - What's On Your Nightstand?
and at The Book Date - Month In Review - May 2016.

©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/

Teaser Tuesdays/First Chapter First Paragraph - From This Moment

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Jenn at Books and Beat. 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! 

Despite his attraction to Stella, Romulus knew she would be off-limits if she worked at Scientific World. Dallying with someone who reported to him would be asking for trouble. He sensed that she had the ability to disrupt his hard-won equilibrium, and he'd invested too much into creating the perfect life to let any woman interfere with that.

~From This Momentby Elizabeth Camden, at 16% 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.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

MARCH 1897

   Romulus White stood motionless in the crowded ballroom, staring at a woman he'd once longed for more than his next breath of air.

   It was not a pleasant experience, especially since Laura stood alongside her doting husband. Even from a distance, her copper-red hair gleamed in the candlelight and made her stand out from the crowd.

   It had been several years since Romulus had last seen her. He braced himself for the blinding wall of anguish that was sure to clobber him, but surprisingly, it didn't come. He waited, holding his breath, but the only emotion Laura's presence summoned was a cloudy swirl of bittersweet memories, an almost-pleasing sort of ache. Wasn't that strange? But perhaps that was the nature of a first great love. If such a profound experience didn't leave the trace of a scar, it would be disappointing.

   "Are you going to say hello to her?" His cousin Evelyn drew up alongside him, pressing a glass of mulled cider into his hand.

From This Momentby Elizabeth Camden

Here's the blurb:

Stella West's artistic talent made her the toast of London, but when her beloved sister dies under mysterious circumstances she abandons everything and heads for Boston. With single-minded determination she fights to pierce the ring of secrecy surrounding her sister's death. Upon meeting Romulus White, a publisher with connections into every important power circle in the city, she quickly realizes he could be a valuable ally in navigating Boston society.

Romulus has been pursuing Stella for years to create art for his magazine. Her luminous illustrations are the missing piece he needs to propel his magazine to the forefront of the industry, and he will stop at nothing to get her on board.

Sparks fly the instant they join forces, but Romulus is unsettled by the unwelcome attraction he feels toward Stella, fearing she might be the one woman who could disrupt his hard-won independence. He may have finally met his match in Stella, but is helping her solve the mystery of her sister's death worth the risk to his publishing empire?

What do you think? Would you continue 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/

What I'm Reading - May 23, 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 also link up with Tales of a Pee Dee Mama for D.E.A.R. Monday (Drop Everything And Read).

I finished reading . . .

The Curiosity Keeper (A Treasures of Surrey Novel) by Sarah E. Ladd - Great story with intrigue and adventure - and of course a budding romance! (Read my full review HERE.)





I'm currently reading . . .

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte -  Okay, it's taking me longer than it probably should, but I am nearing the end of this one and have reached a point where I really want to know what happens next, so I guess that's a good thing!




 The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy - working through this as a literature study with my daughter.



A Necessary Deception (The Daughters of Bainbridge House Book #1) by Laurie Alice Eakes - Just got started yesterday!




From This Momentby Elizabeth Camden - received this for a Bethany House review and got started on the weekend.




Next on the stack...

Lady of Ashes by Christine Trent
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 Curiosity Keeper
Scripture and a Snapshot - Peace
Wordless Wednesday - Civil Air Patrol


And on my homeschool blog, Homeschool Coffee Break:

Homeschool Weekly - Hard At Work Edition
From the High School Lesson Book - Time Management and Motivation
Virtual Refrigerator - Needle Felting
Poetry Memorization with Institute for Excellence in Writing

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 Curiosity Keeper

This post contains affiliate links. 

The Curiosity Keeper (A Treasures of Surrey Novel) by Sarah E. Ladd - Camille Iverness has been doing much of the day-to-day running of her father's curiosity shop in London, and she is smart and capable and courageous, but when her father's business dealings put her in danger, she questions her loyalty to him. Her mother left the family many years earlier, and Camille still feels the bitterness of that rejection, and when her father also betrays her trust and rejects her, she decides to leave everything behind and try to start a new life, thanks to an offer of assistance from Jonathan Gilchrist.

Jonathan will inherit the estate of Kettering Hall - that is, if anything is left of it after his father makes some foolish decisions and the most valuable item he owns is stolen. The elder Mr Gilchrist insists that Jonathan go to London and find that priceless possession - an uncut ruby called the Bevoy - and get it back. Jonathan follows the information to the curiosity shop and is torn between trying to follow his father's wishes and his own desire to help and protect the shop girl, who seems to be a victim and yet may hold the answers to his questions.

Jonathan takes the risk to offer Camille safety and a chance at a new start away from London, and she hopes to build a new life working at a school near Kettering Hall. Camille instinctively trusts him, but experience has made her cautious, and she still suspects that he and his sister may be trying to get information about the Bevoy from her, despite her insistence that she knows nothing about it. When she begins to put the puzzle together though, she realizes that she holds the key to the mystery, but can she set things right without betraying her father, or before her past catches up with her?

This story was full of intrigue and mystery right from the opening, and I was drawn in by the conflicting emotions and desires of the characters. The climax of the adventure does hold a few twists and surprises as it puts Camille and Jonathan in some difficult predicaments and tests their courage and resolve.




 By the same author: A Lady at Willowgrove Hall, The Headmistress of Rosemere, The Heiress of Winterwood

 

©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 - Peace

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. 

The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything,
but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

~Philippians 4:4-7~

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/