Recent Reads - Britfield & the Lost Crown

This post contains affiliate links.

Britfield & the Lost Crown by C.R. Stewart - This novel is targeted to middle school readers but has quite broad appeal. It features Tom and Sarah, two of the fifty-six children living and working in an orphanage called Weatherly. The orphans have a very hard life, because the owners and staff of the orphanage are cruel and selfish. But the orphans have developed strong and loyal friendships with each other, so when Tom and Sarah face some especially harsh punishment and decide to try escaping the grounds, the others are glad to help. Mr Grevious (the owner) taunted Tom with information that his parents may still be alive, and while skeptical, Tom believes he needs to take the chance and see if he can find out the truth. The only piece of information he has is a word another orphan was able to copy from Tom's files: Britfield. What does it mean?

Tom and Sarah manage to get out of Weatherly, but the Greviouses have hired the renowned Detective Gowerstone to track them down. So begins an epic chase across England, with Tom and Sarah making a desperate bid for freedom in a hot air balloon, with several very narrow escapes. They crash land at Oxford, where they find a friend and ally in Professor Hainsworth, who accompanies them as they elude Gowerstone and head for London. Another unplanned stop takes them to Windsor Castle, but Gowerstone's forces and local law enforcement soon close them in there as well, and they must make another daring escape.

 Their arrival in London means yet another crash landing, this time in Richmond. And with Gowerstone's men and so many other policemen in close pursuit, it feels like their luck may soon run out. Next stop is King's College, where Hainsworth believes a friend can help them get to the bottom of the Britfield mystery. The chase then continues into the heart of London, and finally to Canterbury while Tom puts together the pieces of information gathered to try and discover the truth about his past.

Will they continue to stay ahead of the people pursuing them and find safety? Will they be able to send help for the orphans still at Weatherly? What does Tom find out about his background and his family? There is a happy ending to this book, but it's also a bit of a cliffhanger because there are four more novels still to come in the series!

Britfield & the Lost Crown is an exciting blend of history and imagination, fantasy and facts. I enjoyed it, my 18-year-old daughter started it and was also quickly drawn in. It has something for everyone, with positive family-friendly themes and honorable protagonists. 

You'll find more details about this book and its author in my original review post at Homeschool Coffee Break. You may also visit the publisher's website:  (there's a free Study Guide as well); and the author's website: www.Britfield.com. Also check out some of the following links:

KUSI Book Tour Interview
Another KUSI Book Tour Interview
Community Focus Interview
San Diego Union-Tribune: Sunday Editon
Bridge City News Interview
Britfield School Tour
Britfield Book Trailer
Britfield on Facebook

This is a book I chose for the cover 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.

Scripture and a Snapshot - Rooted and Established

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you  may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

~Ephesians 3:14-21~

Yes, it's almost autumn and this photo was taken in spring. But this beautiful tree came to mind as an example of something rooted and established. I don't know how old the tree is, but the town was established over two hundred years ago. It's obviously a well-established tree, with roots that have gone down deep and firm. And thanks to those deep roots, the tree has grown wide and long and high, and will hopefully be there for many more years. 

Just like that tree (and like the redwoods and sequoias out west that I would love to see for myself someday!) we need to dig down deep into God's Word and be rooted and established in his love. Then the power of the Holy Spirit is at work in us to help us begin to understand how wide and long and high and deep God's love is. It's a love too big for us to comprehend, yet it can fill us up so that it overflows to those around us. 

<div style='width:100%;text-align:center;'> <span style='margin:5px;padding:5px;border-radius: 5px;border:1px solid lightgrey;display:inline-block;'><a rel=_nofollow href='https://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Scripture%20and%20a%20Snapshot'> <img style='border: 1px solid gray;width:330px;height:330px;' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkEsmWJLn1f3VqhfaylcSn7IABJxDE4XrGPLFjO1V9xTM3ozVgjnerdCaVUqCwcRPIiwfqTfFqk4du0DK8acoLtyo-qFBOeBIKDwilTJVyIcRXpdYZC2QcFtMnVXKNk4Q1SLHMCX7SPU/s320/scripture+snapshot.jpg'><p style='align: center;'> </p> </a></span>

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.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

I also link up at Sunday Scripture Blessings, hosted by Peabea Scribble Pad.

©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 - First Day

This post contains affiliate links.

This is what I chose as our School Scripture this year, mostly for her as a first year college student with all the life decisions that must be made. But also for me as a teacher and as my parent-teacher role with her changes. 

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 - September 2, 2019

This post contains affiliate links.

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! Although the Book Date link-up happens weekly, I haven't been keeping up with a weekly schedule, so I kind of post these whenever! Once again, it's been about a month since I last posted an update.

I finished reading . . . 

Unshakeable: A Story of Unwavering Faith and Conviction by Elizabeth Wiens - a novel that explores what might happen if a government passed legislation that made homeschooling unlawful. Three homeschooling families decide to continue homeschooling despite such a law, and the story follows them through the risks and trials that result. (Read my full review HERE.)





The Yellow Lantern: True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crime by Angie Dicken - Josie Clay is forced to act as a spy and assistant to grave robbers. (Read my full review HERE.)




Britfield & the Lost Crown by C.R. Stewart - a YA novel, first in a series, that's an exciting blend of history and imagination, fantasy and facts. (Read my full review for the Homeschool Review Crew at Homeschool Coffee Break - a shorter version will appear here on Just A Second in a few days)

I'm currently reading . . .

A Study In Scarlet Women (The Lady Sherlock Series) by Sherry Thomas - Charlotte Holmes is the leading lady in this series - and it starts out with quite the scandal.




The Butterfly Recluse by Therese Heckencamp - An extremely introverted young woman is challenged when a well-meaning biker barges into her butterfly garden.




Next on the stack... 

Immanuel Labor: God's Presence in Our Profession by Russell E. Gehrlein
Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain

Secrets in the Mist (A Gothic Myths Novel) by Anna Lee Huber

    

  

On my blogs recently . . . 

Here on Just A Second:

Scripture and a Snapshot - He Promises Peace
Share Four Somethings - August 2019
Wordless Wednesday - Van Gogh in Bloom
Monthly Bookshelf Review - August 2019
Scripture and a Snapshot - I Will Remember
Recent Reads - Unshaakeable: A Story of Unwavering Faith and Conviction
Wordless Wednesday - Franklin Park
Recent Reads - The Yellow Lantern
Scripture and a Snapshot - Like A Flower
Wordless Wednesday - Cincinnati
Scripture and a Snapshot - Better Than Life
Wordless Wednesday - Family Camp


And on my homeschool blog, Homeschool Coffee Break:

Homeschool Highlights - The Last Week of Summer
Virtual Refrigerator - Kindness Rocks
Britfield & the Lost Crown (A Homeschool Coffee Break Book Review)
A Conservatory Tour PhotoJournal - Phipps Conservatory
Unshakeable: A Story of Unwavering Faith and Conviction (A Homeschool Coffee Break Book Review)
Homeschool Highlights - The Week We Thought Ahead
Virtual Refrigerator - Creating A Masterpiece (From the Archives)
A Conservatory Tour PhotoJournal - Franklin Park
Coffee Break Reading List (August 19, 2019)
Homeschool Highlights - The Week With Conservatories
Virtual Refrigerator - Van Gogh (in Bloom)
How Do You Homeschool? Ask the Homeschool Review Crew!
Homeschool Highlights - Family Camp Week
Virtual Refrigerator - Glass and Foil (From the Art Archives)
A Source for Homeschool Resources (A Homeschool Coffee Break Review)

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.

Scripture and a Snapshot - He Promises Peace

Will you not revive us again,

that your people may rejoice in you?

Show us your unfailing love, LORD,

and grant us your salvation.

I will listen to what God the LORD says;

he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants -

but let them not return to folly.

Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,

that his glory may dwell in our land.

Love and faithfulness meet together;

righteousness and peace kiss each other.

Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,

and righteousness looks down from heaven.

The LORD will indeed give what is good,

and our land will yield its harvest.

~Psalm 85:6-12~

<div style='width:100%;text-align:center;'> <span style='margin:5px;padding:5px;border-radius: 5px;border:1px solid lightgrey;display:inline-block;'><a rel=_nofollow href='https://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Scripture%20and%20a%20Snapshot'> <img style='border: 1px solid gray;width:330px;height:330px;' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkEsmWJLn1f3VqhfaylcSn7IABJxDE4XrGPLFjO1V9xTM3ozVgjnerdCaVUqCwcRPIiwfqTfFqk4du0DK8acoLtyo-qFBOeBIKDwilTJVyIcRXpdYZC2QcFtMnVXKNk4Q1SLHMCX7SPU/s320/scripture+snapshot.jpg'><p style='align: center;'> </p> </a></span>

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.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

I also link up at Sunday Scripture Blessings, hosted by Peabea Scribble Pad.

©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.

Share Four Somethings - August 2019

This post contains affiliate links.

August was full of so much to love and many things to learn! We kept very busy, mostly with vacations and preparing for the new school year to come. Time to look back and pick out Something Loved, Something Said, Something Learned, and Something Read to share today.

Something Loved

Vacation time that included family time and many beautiful sights and experiences.

We went to a church camp for a weekend and did a concert of worship music. We visited our son and his family and had fun with our granddaughter. We visited conservatories and gardens and an art museum. We were able to take friends of Kennady's with us to a couple of those conservatory experiences - it was her Summer of Kennady vacation, after all!

At Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, Ohio

At Duquesne Incline, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

At Rawlings Conservatory, Baltimore, Maryland

Something Said

Knowing a person is like music, what attracts us to them is their melody, and as we get to know who they are, we learn their lyrics.  ~Unknown

Something Learned

I actually learned quite a bit about plants, as you might imagine! I especially enjoyed the orchid houses. The Baltimore Museum of Art was an educational experience as well. My husband and I were both very interested in the mosaic sections from Antioch and the methods used to excavate these large pieces that are a couple thousand years old, and how they were restored and transported.

Something Read

I completed four books in August, but only three of the reviews are up so far. You can see more about my reading in my Monthly Bookshelf Review for August 2019.

Unshakeable: A Story of Unwavering Faith and Conviction by Elizabeth Wiens
An Artless Demise (A Lady Darby Mystery) by Anna Lee Huber
The Yellow Lantern: True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crime by Angie Dicken
Britfield & the Lost Crown by C.R. Stewart (review coming!)



   

This post is linked at Share Four Somethings hosted by HeatherGerwing.com

 ©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.