Monthly Bookshelf Review - March 2019

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March's Books Completed and Reviewed

The White City: True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crime by Grace Hitchcock - Winnifred Wylde goes undercover to investigate a man suspected of kidnapping. She and her bodyguard and partner, detective Jude Thorpe, are fictional characters, but the crime itself is based on a true story from the time of the Chicago World's Fair. (Read my full review HERE)

Winnifred paused at the corner of South Wallace Street and 63rd and drew a ragged breath as she smoothed down the front of her flawless navy skirt, trying to summon her nerve and ignore her misgivings. Jude's swollen face and bruises had awakened her from her fanciful musings of the romance of detective work.

Downsizing The Family Home: What to Save, What to Let Go by Marni Jameson - (Read my full review HERE.)

A key message of this book is that editing and paring a lifetime of memories is not something to put off until you approach or cross life's finish line. Rather, make sorting and selling and clearing out what you no longer need or use or love a way of living. It will make your life better now and lighten the burden on you and eventually on your loved ones.

 

During March I continued reading:

The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery - I wish I'd finished this near the beginning of the month, because it's a very entertaining read. When she turns 29, Valancy Stirling decides she's had enough of following the dictates of her family, so she starts saying and doing exactly what she wants.

'I can imagine it,' said Valancy, with a shrug of her shoulders. She was suddenly free of fear again. 'I haven't listened to the gossip of Deerwood tea parties and sewing circles twenty years for nothing. But, Dr Stalling, it doesn't matter in the least to me what they say - not in the least.'

During March I started reading:

The Golden Bride (Daughters of the Mayflower) by Kimberley Woodhouse - After her parents pass away, Olivia goes to San Francisco to stay with her brother during the gold rush.

Olivia had known that her brother wouldn't be in such a place without a good reason. It made a lot more sense now. San Francisco was his mission filed. And it looked like at least one other good man lived here - even though he might stink to high heaven and be covered in dirt.

Transcripts Made Easy by Janice Campbell - a practical help for homeschool record-keeping during the high school years. I'll be reviewing this on my Homeschool Coffee Break blog in a couple weeks.

A Dangerous Collaboration (A Veronica Speedwell Mystery) by Deanna Raybourn - The latest in the Veronica Speedwell series! Just barely started on this adventure in which Veronica and Stoker must find out what happened to a woman who disappeared three years earlier.

 Our investigative pursuits, invariably dangerous and thoroughly  enjoyable, had drawn us together, forcing a trust neither of us entirely welcomed. We were solitary creatures, Stoker and I, but we had discovered a mutual understanding beyond anything we had shared with others.

The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis - another book club pick that I will need to read in a hurry. Fortunately I've read this one several times before!

He had not yet learned that if you do one good deed your reward usually is to be set to do another and harder and better one.

Coming Up in April!

Shadow among Sheaves by Naomi Stephens
Fervent: A Woman's Battle Plan to Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer by Priscilla Shirer
American Princess: A Novel of First Daughter Alice Roosevelt by Stephanie Marie Thornton (ARC)
Secrets in the Mist (A Gothic Myths Novel) by Anna Lee Huber




   

This post will be linked at:

Feed Your Fiction Addiction - March 2019 Wrap-Up Round-Up & Giveaway
Book Date - It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

©2008-2019 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/ 

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Recent Reads - Downsizing the Family Home

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Downsizing The Family Home: What to Save, What to Let Go by Marni Jameson - I borrowed this book from the library a super long time ago, and I don't remember why I chose it exactly. I'm guessing I saw it highlighted somewhere and thought it looked like a useful read, as we have been trying (unsuccessfully, it often seems) to reduce the amount of stuff in our house. Anyway, I started reading, but then got swamped with a lot of other (more entertaining) reading and this was set aside and eventually forgotten. We can renew library books and insane number of weeks. About a week ago I stumbled across the book, was shocked to think how long I'd had it without finishing it, and set about correcting my oversight.

Marni Jameson is a home and lifestyle columnist and knows a thing or two about home decorating and organizing a home for efficiency. But even she had a lot of questions when she was faced with the need to clean out, downsize, and sell her parents' home in order to help them move to an assisted living facility. In this book she invites readers along on her journey, telling her stories and dispensing the wisdom and advice she gathered on the way. The advice is down-to-earth practical and the tone is encouraging as she acknowledges the emotional ties that can make this job daunting. She shares the thoughts and recommendations of many experts that she consulted along the way, on everything from the psychological and emotional reasons we accumulate stuff in the first place to the practical how-to's of having an estate sale and determining prices. She also covers preparing the home for sale, safely shipping and storing household items, and how to make the tough choices as to what to keep.

My husband and I are not yet seniors, and not planning a downsize move in the near future, but our nest could empty fairly soon and retirement is coming ever closer. We see the wisdom of downsizing our collection of stuff for so many reasons, and we'd really prefer to do it ourselves and on our own terms rather than be forced to do it in a hurry because of an unexpected need to move, or leave the job to our children because of our failing health or unexpected passing. Hopefully I can put much of this book's advice to use and get motivated to work on downsizing now while we have time and energy on our side.

This is a book I've been meaning to read, for the 2019 Modern Mrs Darcy Reading Challenge.

©2008-2019 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/ 

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Scripture and a Snapshot - Do Good To All People

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

~Galatians 6:2, 9-10~

Sometimes - a lot of times! - I really don't feel much like carrying anyone else's burdens. I'm tired and I feel like my own burdens are heavy enough, no matter how trivial they are. But an interesting and somehow sacred thing happens when I decide to help carry for someone else after all. First, it's an act of obedience, fulfilling the law of Christ as Paul says, because Jesus instructed us to serve each other. Whether I'm serving by cleaning up someone else's mess, helping out generously, giving words of encouragement, or holding someone up in prayer, it's an opportunity to put someone else first and think about blessing others. A much better use of my time and energy than feeling sorry for myself or thinking only about what I want. When I help carry someone else's burden, I often find that I wasn't as weary as I'd thought, and that my own burden doesn't feel as heavy.  I still don't always feel like it, and I still drag my feet about it more often than I like to admit. Sometimes the best I can manage is to not tell somebody off or to just be polite rather than rip somebody a new one. 

Living generously means doing better than that, though, and I know it. Not saying unkind words is a start, but seizing the opportunities before us to do good means extending grace and forgiveness, and finding creative ways to help and care for others. Let's not get weary and drag our feet about doing good. Instead let's look for those around us who could use a hand carrying their burdens, and let's take the opportunities God gives us to do good to others. 

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Thank you for joining Scripture & A Snapshot. Leave a link to your own post sharing a Scripture and a Snapshot. Take time to visit some of the other links and bless each other with comments.

An InLinkz Link-up

I also link up at Selah, hosted by A Spirit of Simplicity.

This post is also linked at 40 Days of Seeking Him, hosted by Day by Day in Our World.

©2008-2019 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/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Recent Reads - The White City

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The White City: True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crime by Grace Hitchcock - This is the first in a fascinating new series of historical novels based on true crime stories. The setting is in Chicago during the World Fair of 1893. Winnifred Wylde has fairly earned her reputation for having an over-active imagination, but she is certain about what she witnessed at the fair - a young woman being kidnapped. She goes to her police inspector father for help, and he downplays her claim but does assign a detective to guard her - without her knowing it, or so he believes. Winnifred does notice that Detective Jude Thorpe is trailing her, and soon convinces him that they should work together to track down the suspect, whom they identify as a Mr. Holmes.

Jude is skeptical to begin with, but since he realizes that Winnifred is very observant and intelligent, he agrees to partner with her to ensure her safety. As they get to know each other, he trusts her with a little information about his own personal investigation into his brother-in-law's suspicious death. Soon they are fast friends as well as investigation partners, and are falling in love too. Unfortunately, Winnifred's father will not allow their courtship, and insists that she consider another suitor, Percival Covington. Winnifred finds Percival interesting, especially when she discovers that he is the author of some of her favorite romantic novels, but her preference is still Jude.

Hoping to find evidence and further leads, Winnifred goes undercover as Mr Holmes's secretary, with Jude continuing to act as her bodyguard. They find plenty to raise suspicions, and with every new lead Winnifred's own safety is at increased risk. Can she and Jude uncover enough information to get a warrant and open an official investigation before Winnifred becomes a victim?

The mystery behind the kidnappings and Holmes's illicit activity is intriguing, and especially fascinating because it is based on the true story of a man who became known as America's first serial killer. Although I didn't read the historical note about Holmes until I'd finished the book, just knowing that the kidnappings really took place gave an extra interest to the story and I was very quickly drawn into the mystery and the danger to the fictional characters felt more real. This story wove historical details and events with well-drawn fictional characters in a very believable way.

From the publisher:

Mysterious Disappearances Taint the Chicago World's Fair
Step into True Colors -- a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime

While attending the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, Winnifred Wylde believes she witnessed a woman being kidnapped. She tries to convince her father, an inspector with the Chicago police, to look into reports of mysterious disappearances around the White City. Inspector Wylde tries to dismiss her claims as exaggeration of an overactive imagination, but he eventually concedes to letting her go undercover as secretary to the man in question -- if she takes her pistol for protection and Jude Thorpe, a policeman, for bodyguard.

Will she be able to expose H.H. Holmes's illicit activity, or will Winnifred become his next victim?

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.

This is a book by an author who is new to me, for the 2019 Modern Mrs Darcy Reading Challenge.

©2008-2019 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/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Wordless Wednesday - Colorful Skies

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Sunrise

Developing thundercloud

Rainclouds and a faint rainbow

Sunrise

This post is linked at Wordless Wednesday, hosted by Life on Chickadee Lane.

©2008-2019 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/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

What I'm Reading - March 18, 2019

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This weekly reading list meme is hosted at Book Date. I also link up at Drop Everything And Read, hosted by Tales of a Pee Dee Mama. Join in to see what others are reading and maybe get some ideas of what to read next! Although the Book Date link-up happens weekly, I've had trouble keeping up with a weekly schedule, so I've decided to try for every other week! Here's the latest from my reading list.

I finished reading . . . 

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I haven't finished anything in the two weeks since I last did this reading list. I have been extremely busy, and I really am close to finished a couple of these. And I should be motivated, because I got new books in the mail recently that I'm excited about starting!

I'm currently reading . . .

 The White City: True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crime by Grace Hitchcock - Winnifred is known to have an overactive imagination, but she is certain about the kidnapping she witnessed at the World's Fair in Chicago. So she teams up with a detective that works for her father, a police inspector, to investigate.




The Golden Bride (Daughters of the Mayflower) by Kimberley Woodhouse - Just started on this soon-to-be-released installment in the Daughters of the Mayflower series.




Downsizing The Family Home: What to Save, What to Let Go by Marni Jameson - I got partway through this back in the summer, then had to shelve it. I forgot all about it until I was looking for another book and realized I'd never finished. I've quickly skimmed the first half or so, and now I'm power-reading the rest so I can finally call this one complete!

The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery - Valency Stirling has felt unloved by most everyone, and stifled by her family for most of her life. When she reaches her twenty-ninth birthday, she decides to take some chances and try living life on her terms. This was an online book club choice, and I didn't get it finished, but am still working on it. Hopefully I'll do better with this month's pick, and future picks!




Next on the stack... 

The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis

A Dangerous Collaboration (A Veronica Speedwell Mystery) by Deanna Raybourn
 Secrets in the Mist (A Gothic Myths Novel) by Anna Lee Huber

Fervent: A Woman's Battle Plan to Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer by Priscilla Shirer
American Princess: A Novel of First Daughter Alice Roosevelt by Stephanie Marie Thornton (ARC)

  



        

On my blogs recently . . . 

Here on Just A Second:

Scripture and a Snapshot - Treasure
Wordless Wednesday - One More Snow Day
Scripture and a Snapshot - Better Is One Day
Wordless Wednesday - Digital Pianos

And on my homeschool blog, Homeschool Coffee Break:

Homeschool Highlights - The Week With Pi and Spring Weather
Mid-March Celebrations
Virtual Refrigerator - Smell the Roses Updated
How Important are Labs in Science?
Homeschool Highlights - The Week Without Much Free Time
Virtual Refrigerator - March 2019
How Do You Do Phys.Ed.?
Victus Study Skills - A System for Effective Study

What are you reading?

©2008-2019 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/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.