Book Blogger Hop - December 30, 2016

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Book Blogger Hop

Welcome to another Book Blogger Hop question. Visit Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer to see the responses from other book bloggers.

Your New Year's resolution is to read a classic novel that you have never read before. What book will it be?

There are several classics that I haven't read before that I could choose, but what came to mind were the two short works by Jane Austen that I haven't read - her unfinished story Sanditon, and the posthumously published Lady Susan. I just purchased them this past week and plan to read them both soon.

    

©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 - To Us a Child Is Born

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father; Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of his government and peace

there will be no end.

He will reign on David's throne

and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the LORD Almighty

will accomplish this.

~Isaiah 9:6-7~

So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David,

because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

~Luke 2:4-7~

Merry Christmas!

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

Glimpses is hosted by Embracing Every Day, a lifestyle blog by Barbie Swihart.

©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 - December 19, 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 finished reading . . . 

Bees in the Butterfly Garden (The Gilded Legacy)by Maureen Lang - Meg plans to help Ian pull off a major heist as her attempt to be part of her father's legacy, but can they go through with the theft and place each other in danger? (Read my full review HERE.)




I'm currently reading . . .

The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill by Julie Klassen - This is a great read so far, and I'm eager to find out what Jane will do with the inn she's inherited; and how all the relationships will turn out.




From Heaven: A 28-Day Advent Devotional by A.W. Tozer - Enjoying these short but profound devotional thoughts as we prepare for our Christmas celebration.

Next on the stack... 

The Christmas Bargain (A Victorian Holiday Romance) by Shanna Hatfield
She Walks in Power (Protectors of the Spear Book 1) by MaryLu Tyndall
 A Curious Beginning (A Veronica Speedwell Mystery) by Deanna Raybourn - re-reading before the second in the series arrives
A Perilous Undertaking (A Veronica Speedwell Mystery) by Deanna Raybourn

     

     

 On my blogs last week . . .

Here on Just A Second:

Scripture and a Snapshot - The Advent Candle of Peace
Recent Reads - Bees in the Butterfly Garden
Wordless Wednesday - National Cathedral
Teaser Tuesday - Bees in the Butterfly Garden


And on my homeschool blog, Homeschool Coffee Break:

Homeschool Highlights - Busy Days
Virtual Refrigerator - Christmas Craft Breakfast 2016
A National Cathedral PhotoJournal
52 Lists #49 - My Winter Bucket List


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/

Scripture and a Snapshot - The Advent Candle of Peace

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from old,
from ancient days.
Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return
to the people of Israel.
And he shall stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they shall dwell secure,
for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.

And he shall be their peace.

~Micah 5:2-5a~

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
to go on before the Lord to prepare the way fro him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.

~Luke 1:68-79~

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

Glimpses is hosted by Embracing Every Day, a lifestyle blog by Barbie Swihart.

©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 - Bees in the Butterfly Garden

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Bees in the Butterfly Garden (The Gilded Legacy) by Maureen Lang - The beautiful cover art on this book drew me to it initially, and the unusual storyline synopsis was intriguing. Meg Davenport has been raised at an exclusive boarding school, but has never had a relationship with her father. When he passes away, Meg doesn't really feel his loss personally since she didn't know him, but she discovers that instead of him being a wealthy businessman, he was actually one of the most talented thieves of the Gilded Age. She decides not to return to the school or pursue the advantageous marriage that the school was preparing her for, but intends to prove herself as truly her father's daughter - by participating in theft herself.

Ian Maguire was mentored by John Davenport, and looked on him as a father figure, and he knows that John would never have wanted Meg to follow in his footsteps. In fact, Ian was charged with protecting Meg from any consequences of being associated with her father's criminal activities. But when Meg is determined to provide information and assistance to help Ian pull off the biggest heist of his career, Ian is torn between his greed and his wish to protect Meg from danger. And of course, their partnership in crime is only the beginning, because they are falling in love.

Meg has earned an invitation to stay with one of New York's wealthiest families, and thus has access to the information that will help Ian pull off the heist, but the family is also more kind and generous to her than she'd ever expected. As she and Ian plot the theft, they both feel the pangs of conscience and guilt, both for the harm they'll bring to a family who has openly offered friendship and grace, and for the danger they put each other in. Ian realizes that he may have to sacrifice his own plans and freedom to protect Meg; and Meg finds that her attempt to feel like she belonged to her father may backfire and cost her - and Ian - everything.

Overall, I loved this book and it kept me turning the pages eagerly. I was skeptical, however, of Meg's almost immediate determination to become a thief like her father as soon as she discovers what he was. And although it was her talent for garden design that brought her the invitation to the wealthy family's home, I felt that anything to do with the garden was quite peripheral to the story. This struck me as odd as I was nearing the end of the book, but didn't truly diminish my enjoyment of the story. 

©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 - National Cathedral

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On Sunday afternoon, I had the privilege of attending the Joy of Christmas concert at the Washington National Cathedral. We arrived early enough to take a few pictures outside, and I took a few more after the concert inside, even though it was dark by then, so the stained glass windows didn't show.

 

(See all the pictures and a few more words in my Homeschool Coffee Break post: A National Cathedral PhotoJournal)

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/

Teaser Tuesday - Bees in the Butterfly Garden

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, now hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker. 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! 

"Don't look so happy, Meg. Our partnership could be the worst thing that's ever happened to you."
She shook her head. "No, Ian. I'm sure it's the best."

~Bees in the Butterfly Garden (The Gilded Legacy) by Maureen Lang, page 186

©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/