Just A Second

Sunday, July 8

Recent Reads - Together Forever

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Together Forever (Orphan Train) by Jody Hedlund - Marianne Neumann is doing her best to correct the mistakes she made in the past - and finding her younger sister Sophie is her priority. That's one of the main reasons she wanted to work with the Children's Aid Society in 1858 New York City. She believes that Sophie may have been on one of the orphan trains and is hoping her job as a placement agent with the Society will help her find information about Sophie. On her first placing-out trip to the towns along the railroad, she is working with fellow agent Andrew Brady, a former schoolteacher.

Drew is handsome and charming, and very good with the children, but despite his fun-loving and impulsive ways, Marianne senses there's something very painful in his past. Drew and Marianne work well together, and soon find out that neither one backs down from a challenge or dare. Their friendship grows as they continue on the trip, and Marianne begins to wonder if she is falling in love with Drew. But doesn't she still love Reinhold, the family friend from Kleine Deutschland? She's still hoping to marry him whenever she finds him, isn't she? Then why are her thoughts so centered on Drew?

A dare turns into a marriage proposal just before they arrive in the last town on their trip, where Marianne will be reunited with her older sister Elise. Marianne is finally hopeful for her happiness with Drew, but news of a tragedy interrupts their wedding plans and threatens their work and their future together.

As the sequel to With You Always, this book takes middle sister Marianne from a troublesome supporting character and puts her in the spotlight. She becomes a much more likable character when she is the focus, and she acknowledges her mistakes and faults and is trying to make things right. Drew is also a very likable character, and it's easy to be sympathetic and cheering for them as they do their best with the orphans they are caring for, and as they fall in love. And although it is a sequel, it's not necessary to read the first book in order to truly enjoy this one.

From the publisher:

Will the Mistakes of Their Past Cost Them a Chance at Love?

Determined to find her lost younger sister, Marianne Neumann takes a job as a placing agent with the Children's Aid Society in 1858 New York. She not only hopes to offer children a better life, but prays she'll be able to discover whether Sophie ended up leaving the city on an orphan train so they can finally be reunited.

Andrew Brady, her fellow agent on her first placing-out trip, is a former schoolteacher who has an easy way with the children, firm but tender and friendly. Underneath his charm and handsome looks, though, seems to linger a grief that won't go away--and a secret from his past that he keeps hidden.

As the two team up, placing orphans in the small railroad towns of Illinois, they find themselves growing ever closer . . . until a shocking tragedy threatens to upend all their work and change one of their lives forever.

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

By the same author: Undaunted Hope, Hearts Made Whole, Love Unexpected, With You Always

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Scripture and a Snapshot - Praying For You

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you might live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you might have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

~Colossians 1:9-12~

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

Sunday Scripture Blessings is hosted by Peabea Scribble Pad.

Wednesday, July 4

Wordless Wednesday - Independence Day

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This post is linked at Wordless Wednesday, hosted by Life at Rossmont; and at Pictorial Tuesday, hosted by Peabea's Scribble Pad.

Tuesday, July 3

Teaser Tuesday/First Chapter First Paragraph - Together Forever

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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!

"I've relied upon my sister my entire life, even before she married Thornton. And now part of me needs to go out and prove I can be strong enough on my own."
~Together Forever (Orphan Train) by Jody Hedlund, page 27

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

First Chapter/First Paragraph/Tuesday Intros is a weekly link-up hosted by I'd Rather Be At The Beach. To participate, share the first paragraph (or two) of a book you're reading, or thinking about reading.

NEW YORK CITY

JUNE 1858

Marianne Neumann's fingers were shaking so hard she could barely pry open the first record book. There were half a dozen more in the drawer. How could she possibly search through all of them?

At a scuffing in the hallway, she glanced at the closed office door and froze. She held her breath and prayed the footsteps would pass by. After only two weeks on the job, she couldn't afford to be caught snooping in the director's desk.

Here's the blurb:

Will the Mistakes of Their Past Cost Them a Chance at Love?

Determined to find her lost younger sister, Marianne Neumann takes a job as a placing agent with the Children's Aid Society in 1858 New York. She not only hopes to offer children a better life, but prays she'll be able to discover whether Sophie ended up leaving the city on an orphan train so they can finally be reunited.

Andrew Brady, her fellow agent on her first placing trip, is a former schoolteacher who has an easy way with the children, firm but tender and friendly. Underneath his charm and handsome looks, though, seems to linger a grief that won't go away -- and a secret from his past that he keeps hidden.

As the two team up, placing orphans in the small railroad towns of Illinois, they find themselves growing ever closer . . . until a shocking tragedy threatens to upend all their work and change one of their lives forever.

What do you think? Would you continue reading?

Monday, July 2

Monthly Bookshelf Review - June 2018

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Honestly, I've been so busy over the past month that I have done relatively little reading. I've had to temporarily set aside a couple of books, I had one review book delayed before it finally arrived, and I'm still waiting on one more that's expected for a review. And I'm even a couple days late in posting my review!

June's Books Completed and Reviewed

The Accidental Guardian by Mary Connealy - Trace takes in Deb, her sister Gwen, and the two toddlers they were caring for after everyone else in their small wagon train is killed in a surprise attack. Trace and Deb are determined to find the men responsible and bring them to justice, and they just might find a future together as well. (Read my full review HERE.)

"The women and children walked away from the train into some tall grass before sunup. They were well hidden when the gunfire and screaming started." Trace stopped talking for a moment. He could well imagine their horror.

The Captured Bride: Daughters of the Mayflower - book 3 by Michelle Griep - Mercy is an army scout chosen to go on a dangerous mission that includes accused traitor Elias Dubois. Their loyalties and their faith are tested as they face danger and betrayal. (Read my full review HERE.)

But as she grabbed the rope from where it hung inside the wagon, she squeezed the hemp as tightly as the squeeze of her heart, wishing Elias wasn't a traitor. That instead, he was the honorable man she wanted -- nay, needed -- him to be.

A Brush with Shadows (A Lady Darby Mystery) by Anna Lee Huber - Kiera accompanies Gage to his childhood home where he confronts his unhappy past and difficult family members while searching for the cousin that has gone missing. (Read my full review HERE.)

Gage's hands fisted in aggravation, and I sympathized. For a man who'd gone to such lengths to bring us here to find his heir, his grandfather was remarkably unforthcoming. Which only made me wonder if I had been correct in my initial suspicions.

During June I continued reading:

Delilah: Treacherous Beauty by Angela Hunt - This novel based on the Biblical story alternates narration from Delilah's and Samson's point of view.

I had been living with Samson for months, and I'd never seen him do anything to receive or maintain his strength. Other than simple prayers, I'd not seen him perform any religious rituals . . . If Samson's strength came from an outside source, I had no idea what it could be.

During June I started reading:

The Master and His Apprentices: Art History from a Christian Perspective by Gina Ferguson - this is an art history text I just reviewed for the Homeschool Review Crew. I'm enjoying it enough that I will continue reading, but I'll slow down now that the review is written! (Read my review on Homeschool Coffee Break)

In the Region of the Summer Stars (Eirlandia Series) by Stephen R. Lawhead - I got only a short ways into this fantasy historical novel when I had to set it aside to focus on review books. I look to pick it up again very shortly.

"Do you trust me, Conor mac Ardan?" the wily old druid asked. Why the question had been posed was still not apparent to Conor; the fact that it had been asked not once, but twice over, puzzled him greatly.

Together Forever (Orphan Train) by Jody Hedlund - It seems like I've been waiting forever for this review book! It was quite late arriving, so as soon as it did, I got started and plan to get through it as soon as possible so I can post my review.

"Come on, come one," she whispered. This would likely be her one and only chance to investigate. Which meant she had no choice but to find the information she needed about her lost sister.

During June I shelved:

Downsizing The Family Home: What to Save, What to Let Go by Marni Jameson - I had been browsing through this book hoping for some motivation, but with time at a premium I set it aside for a bit. Hope I'll be able to pick it up and finish soon, and do some downsizing as well!

Mother-Daughter Duet by Cheri Fuller and Ali Plum - I had great intentions of reading this one, but just haven't found the time. See my above excuses! It's on my Kindle so I will pick it up again at a later date.