Just A Second

Wednesday, March 29

Bookshelf Review - March 2017

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March's Books Completed and Reviewed

Baseball Faith: 52 MLB Stars Reflect on Their Faith by Rob Maadi - A collection of short devotional thoughts from MLB players who are Christians. (Read my full review HERE.)

I don't want people to recognize me for my accomplishments in baseball. I want them to know me for who I am as a Christian. ~Mariano Rivera

Here, There Be Dragons (Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica) by James A. Owen - Enjoyed this YA fantasy in which three young men find themselves caretakers of a mysterious atlas of imaginary lands and are swept into an adventure to save it from destruction. (Read my full review HERE.)

"You need the Imaginarium Geographica to avert whatever disaster is looming on the world at large. You are the Caretaker of the Geographica. You lost the Geographica. Ergo, you and everyone you know, love, care about, or exchange pleasantries with as you gather your mail are about to perish in darkness and misery. I hope that's cleared things up for you."

To the Farthest Shores by Elizabeth Camden - Ryan broke Jenny's heart when he rejected her and disappeared six years ago. Now he's back and needs her help, but can she forgive him or trust him again? (Read my full review HERE.)

Six years ago, the only thing he longed to do was grab Jenny's hand and run toward a beautiful, sun-filled future with her at his side. Perhaps when Jenny learned why he acted as he had, she might soften toward him.

My Heart Belongs in Fort Bliss, Texas: Priscilla’s Reveille by Erica Vetsch - Priscilla wants to take her orphaned niece and nephew away from the army base, but what if she falls in love with their other guardian? (Read my full review HERE.)

A match between them would never work out. He was career military. And didn't she have reason to know firsthand how the army destroyed families?

During March I continued reading:

Shepherd, Potter, Spy and the Star Namer by Peggy Miracle Consolver - This YA historical transports me to ancient Canaan, as the Hebrew people are coming to conquer the land promised to them. What does it mean for a young Gibeonite boy named Keshub and his family?

"You have heard our friend. Rumors have swirled about us for months that the Hebrews were coming to Canaan. Now they are less than two days away, apparently with an appetite for conquest." Baba leaned his elbows on his knees. "This is the time for decisions. We who are heads of families must decide what is best for our offspring."

During March I started reading:

The Trees Will Clap by Bonnie Mae Evans - this novel is in the form of a memoir, of a young girl's growing up in the Delmarva peninsula.

To be completely honest (although I would never dare to say it out loud, for fear of hurting Khaki Dad's feelings), I was sorta attached to my old name. I knew who people were talking to the first time when they said it, and I didn't get caught off guard quite as much with that name as I did with my new one.

In Farleigh Field: A Novel of World War II by Rhys Bowen - This one's a little out of my usual as well because it's set during World War II. The discovery of the body of an airman with a failed parachute plunges a noble family and some of their friends into a mystery.

"Mummy, I found the body," Phoebe said. Lady Westerham had now taken a piece of toast and sat beside her husband. "Did you, dear? That must have been exciting for you."

During March I shelved:

The Faery Bride by Lisa Ann Verge - I actually finished it, but mostly skimmed and didn't want to use up blog space writing a review of it. It was a decent story overall, a blend of historical fiction and fantasy about an Irish healer kidnapped to cure a Welsh nobleman of a disfigurement. My objection to it was the cheap se* scenes that took away from the story and were unnecessary and disgusting. NOT recommended to any readers.

Coming Up in April!

The Secret Bridge by Amy Le Feuvre
The Chapel Car Bride by Judith Miller
All in Good Time (The Gilded Legacy) by Maureen Lang

Sanditon by Jane Austen

Lady Susan by Jane Austen

This post will be linked at:

5 Minutes For Books - What's On Your Nightstand? March 28

The Book Date - Month In Review

and maybe at Biblical Womanhood - All Things Books Linkup

©2008-2017 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/

Tuesday, March 28

Teaser Tuesday/First Chapter First Paragraph - In Farleigh Field

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, 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!

Margot didn't want to ask whether this meant she'd be released by that time, or she'd be in prison or dead. She picked up her suitcase and made for the half-open door.
"Ready when you are," she said.

~In Farleigh Field: A Novel of World War II by Rhys Bowen, page 148

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

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.

CHAPTER ONE

Bletchley Park

May 1941

Lady Pamela Sutton stared at the dreary government-issued posters on the wall of her small cubicle in Hut 3. Some of them cheerful exhortations to do one's best, to soldier on with a stiff upper lip, and others dire warnings about letting the side down. Beyond the blackout curtains that covered the windows, dawn would be breaking. She could hear the chorus of birds in the woods behind the hut, still chirping madly and joyfully as they had done before the war began and would keep doing after it ended--whenever that would be. It had already gone on too long, and there was no end in sight. Pamela rubbed her eyes. It had been a long night, and her eyes were stinging with tiredness. According to civil-service regulations, women were not supposed to work the night shift with men, in case their morals were compromised. She had found this amusing when the shortage of male translators meant that one of the girls had to do night-shift work. "Frankly, I don't think my honour is in danger from any of the chaps here," she had said. "They are more interested in maths problems than girls."

Here's the blurb:

World War II comes to Farleigh Place, the ancestral home of Lord Westerham and his five daughters, when a soldier with a failed parachute falls to his death on the estate. After his uniform and possessions raise suspicions, MI5 operative and family friend Ben Cresswell is covertly tasked with determining if the man is a German spy. The assignment also offers Ben the chance to be near Lord Westerham's middle daughter, Pamela, whom he furtively loves. But Pamela has her own secret: she has taken a job at Bletchley Park, the British code-breaking facility.

As Ben follows a trail of spies and traitors, which may include another member of Pamela's family, he discovers that some within the realm have an appalling, history-altering agenda. Can he, with Pamela's help, stop them before England falls?

Inspired by the events and people of World War II, writer Rhys Bowen crafts a sweeping and riveting saga of class, family, love, and betrayal.

What do you think? Would you continue reading?

Monday, March 27

What I'm Reading - March 27, 2017

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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 . . .

My Heart Belongs in Fort Bliss, Texas: Priscilla’s Reveille by Erica Vetsch - Priscilla and Elliot start off fighting for the guardianship of their niece and nephew, and are soon fighting their growing feelings for each other. The problem is that Priscilla wants nothing to do with army life, and Elliot is a dedicated army post surgeon. Sweet and romantic! (Read my full review HERE.)

I'm currently reading . . .

Shepherd, Potter, Spy and the Star Namer by Peggy Miracle Consolver - detailed, but engrossing historical fiction about the Hebrew conquest of Canaan. My full review will appear first on Homeschool Coffee Break, and then here. Look for it during the first week of April.

The Trees Will Clap by Bonnie Mae Evans - Reviewing this memoir styled novel for The Old Schoolhouse magazine. Watch for the full review later in the spring.

In Farleigh Field: A Novel of World War II by Rhys Bowen - World War II novels are not a setting I usually like, but I do like Rhys Bowen so I gave it a try. Very good so far!

Next on the stack...

The Secret Bridge by Amy Le Feuvre
All in Good Time (The Gilded Legacy) by Maureen Lang
Sanditon by Jane Austen
Lady Susan by Jane Austen

On my blogs last week . . .

Here on Just A Second:

Scripture and a Snapshot - Awaken the Dawn
Recent Reads - My Heart Belongs in Fort Bliss, Texas: Priscilla's Reveille
Book Blogger Hop - March 24, 2017
Wordless Wednesday - Painted Daisies

And on my homeschool blog, Homeschool Coffee Break:

Thomas Jefferson, Architect - Blogging Through the Alphabet
Homeschool Highlights - Springtime
Science: How We See the World on The Homeschool Post
Virtual Refrigerator - Painted Daisies
Creating A Masterpiece - A Homeschool Coffee Break Review

What are you reading?

Sunday, March 26

Scripture and a Snapshot - Awaken the Dawn

My heart, O God, is steadfast,

my heart is steadfast;

I will sing and make music.

Awake, my soul!

Awake, harp and lyre!

I will awaken the dawn.

I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;

I will sing of you among the peoples.

For great is your love, reaching to the heavens,

your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!

Let your glory be over all the earth!

~Psalm 57:7-11~

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

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

Sunday Scripture Blessings is hosted by Peabea Scribble Pad.

Saturday, March 25

Recent Reads - My Heart Belongs in Fort Bliss, Texas: Priscilla's Reveille

This post contains affiliate links.

My Heart Belongs in Fort Bliss, Texas: Priscilla’s Reveille by Erica Vetsch - Priscilla Hutchens arrives in Fort Bliss expecting a very short stay - just long enough to collect her orphaned niece and nephew and take them back to Cincinnati with her - and can find little about the army town to recommend it. She wants little to do with the army because of her childhood experiences and unhappy memories of a father that never returned from patrol, and a mother that remained bitter the rest of her life. And now army life has taken her brother and his wife, leaving their two young children alone in the world. Priscilla knows she can give the twins a safe and stable life, far away from the army.

But she had almost no contact with her brother since he joined the army, and had never even met his wife or the children. And she had no idea that the children's uncle, Major Elliot Ryder, already had an affectionate relationship with them and was caring for them, claiming that his sister's dying wish had been for him to take the twins. Priscilla insists that she can give the twins a better upbringing, and Elliot staunchly refuses to give them up to her . . . and although the children quickly warm to Priscilla, they don't want to leave Fort Bliss and the only life they've known. Priscilla extends her stay in Fort Bliss thinking that she will be able to convince Elliot to give the children to her. She finds that her artistic abilities are a great help to Elliot as he is compiling a detailed medicinal herb journal, and that she seems to have a natural affinity for nursing and assisting him in the surgery. And the two get along and work well together - and realize they are very attracted to each other as well - except when it comes to the subjects of army life and where the children will live.

When Elliot's duties take him out on an extended patrol, Priscilla has opportunity to spend more time with the wives at Fort Bliss and examines her own attitude about the army, allowing herself to wonder if she could let go of her prejudice against the army. Between a medical emergency that arises while Elliot is away, and her time spent worrying about Elliot and admitting her feelings for him, will Priscilla be willing to stay at Fort Bliss in order to be with her only remaining family? Even while she is considering this, Elliot is dealing with a crisis on patrol and is rethinking whether the children might be better off with Priscilla, and whether he can risk his own heart in a bid to ask her to stay.

This was a very enjoyable read, and a sweet romantic story, with a gentle underlying lesson about finding contentment and peace.

From the publisher:

Journey now to Fort Bliss in West Texas of 1874, where . . .

A Battle Is About to be Waged Between Two Hearts.

Fashion artist Priscilla Hutchens has a grudge against the army that has ruined her family and taken the people she hold most dear. When her twin niece and nephew are left orphaned at Fort Bliss, Texas, she swoops down on Fort Bliss to gain custody of them immediately.

There is just one thing standing in the way - Post surgeon Major Elliot Ryder, who is also the twins' uncle, also claims the children and thinks he knows what is best for them.

Priscilla and Elliot will cross swords, but each will have to lay down arms if they are to find a lasting peace on which to form the family both are longing for. Who will win the battle? Or will a truce be called for the sake of love and family?

Visit Barbour Publishing for more info on where to buy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Friday, March 24

Book Blogger Hop- March 24, 2017

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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.

How do you handle negative comments left on your blog?

Thankfully, I really haven't had to deal with this much - at least not on Just A Second. It seems like book bloggers (who are the ones that are most likely to comment here) are very gracious folks, and apply the wisdom of "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" to their commenting. On my homeschool blog, there's more interaction, but not often that there are negative comments. Spam comments though - and those are pretty easy to get rid of! On Facebook, I get strange or negative comments to my posts sometimes and if they are just out in left field (like they clearly didn't get that I was joking and their comment totally didn't fit) I delete the comment and say nothing. If they are argumentative, judgmental, or just mean I may call the person out or I may delete.

Wednesday, March 22

Wordless Wednesday - Painted Daisies

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On Saturday my daughter and I went to a paint brunch. It was easier than I expected, and we were both happy with our finished pictures. This was the first time I'd painted anything other than a wall since I was in grade school!