Monthly Bookshelf Review - October 2019

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October's Books Completed and Reviewed

Secrets in the Mist (A Gothic Myths Novel) by Anna Lee Huber - Ella Winterton falls in with a ring of smugglers in hopes of paying off her father's debts in this Gothic mystery-romance. (Read my full review HERE)

  


Detective Trigger and the Ruby Collar by M.A. Owens - An entertaining private eye story featuring a hardboiled chihuahua detective and a powerful cat crime boss. (Read my full review HERE.)




A Stranger at Fellsworth by Sarah E. Ladd - Annabelle Thorley leaves London society when her cruel brother attempts to force her to marry against her will. She hopes to find peace at her uncle's school, but risks her heart with a gamekeeper. (Read my full review HERE)

During October I started reading:

War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells - We've been reading the classic Martian invasion novel in the Lit class I teach at co-op.

   

Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton - a lyrical classic set in South Africa during the years of apartheid.

Coming Up in November!

   

Undertones by L.S. Popovich
Church With No Walls by Noah Cleveland

   

This post will be linked at:

Feed Your Fiction Addiction - October 2019 Wrap-Up Round-Up & Giveaway

©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 - A Stranger at Fellsworth

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A Stranger at Fellsworth by Sarah E. Ladd - Annabelle Thorley has had a privileged life, but as the accounts and estate of her late father are being settled, she realizes that her future is not secure at all. Her fiance called off the betrothal, and now her brother is pressuring her to marry a man she finds cruel and overbearing. Her brother, who is controlling and hot-tempered, refuses to listen to any of Annabelle's objections, and her situation is quickly becoming intolerable. After a disastrous conclusion to an evening out, Annabelle makes the decision to run away to Fellsworth, where her uncle operates a school.

Owen Locke is a gamekeeper for an estate near Fellsworth, but has accompanied his employer to London on business. His chance meeting with Annabelle impresses her with his trustworthiness, and because he is familiar with Fellsworth, he is able to help her escape. He is one of her few allies, and is committed to keeping her safe when her brother arrives and she is threatened.

Owen and Annabelle grow closer even as he pursues poachers and intruders that threaten their peace and safety, and as she navigates her new life at the Fellsworth school and new details about her brother's dealings eventually emerge.

By the same author: The Governess at Penwythe Hall, The Weaver's Daughter, Dawn at Emberwilde, The Curiosity Keeper, A Lady at Willowgrove Hall, The Headmistress of Rosemere, The Heiress of Winterwood

©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 - Doxology

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgments,

and his paths beyond tracing out!

"Who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has been his counselor?"

"Who has ever given to God,

that God should repay them?"

For from him and through him and for him are all things.

To him be the glory forever! Amen.

~Romans 11:33-36~

This passage in Paul's letter to the Romans is called the Doxology, and is one of several doxologies in the Bible. The word doxology comes from two Greek words - "doxa," which means glory, and "logia," which means saying. In other words, "saying glory". We, along with all of God's creation, are made to say God's glory, or to worship. When we praise God with our words, we are obviously saying his glory, but we also say glory by praising him through how we live. After this doxology in Paul's writing, his next words are, "Therefore, I urge you . . . to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice" and reminds us that this is our "true and proper worship." If we truly want to give God glory in response to all that he has done for us, we worship him by saying glory and giving our lives to him.

<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>

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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 - Fall Colours

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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.

When God Says Wait - A Devotional Thought Journal (From Barbour Publishing)

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When God Says Wait: A Devotional Thought Journal by Elizabeth Laing Thompson - This lovely hard-covered devotional journal opens with the words, "We're all waiting for something." I think that is probably true. The opening devotional introduction talks about the waiting seasons we all experience and the author's prayer and hope that the reader will find hope and encouragement in this journal. Each page of the journal has plenty of lined space to write out thoughts and prayers and the responses to the journaling prompts. Every other page is simply a passage of Scripture without any added commentary, which I love - let the Word of God speak! On the alternating pages, there are thought-provoking questions or short devotional thoughts based on the verses shared. These thoughts focus on positive, Biblical responses to the waiting season. Things like participating in corporate worship, seeking out godly friendships, being patient and persistent in prayer, and building godly character.

This would make a beautiful and encouraging gift for yourself or a loved one who is going through a difficult season. 

From the publisher:

A job, a true love, a baby, a cure . . .
We're all waiting for something from God.
And the place between His answers can feel like a wasteland where dreams - and faith - go to die.
When we're waiting, we wonder, "Why?", "Why me?", and "How long?"

But the truth? . . .
When God says, "Wait," He doesn't tell us for how long.
When God says, "Wait," we face one of life's greatest tests.
When God says, "Wait," we have decisions to make.
When God says, "Wait," we can control only two things: how we wait, and who we become along the way.

Author Elizabeth Laing Thompson invites you to journal through your personal "wait" and come out on the other side with your faith, relationships, and sense of humor intact.

This lovely volume will encourage and inspire you in your wait - with meaningful devotional thoughts, scriptural truths, and thought-provoking journal prompts.

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.

©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 - October 21, 2019

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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! 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! So in the past couple of weeks:

I finished reading . . . 

Detective Trigger and the Ruby Collar by M.A. Owens - I enjoyed every minute of this fun private eye story even though it's actually intended for middle grade readers. Witty story featuring a hard-boiled chihuahua detective. (Read my full review HERE.)

I'm currently reading . . .

A Stranger at Fellsworth by Sarah E. Ladd - Annabelle flees her life in London to earn her way at the school operated by her uncle, but even there it appears she may be followed by scandal and tragedy.




Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton - a lyrical classic set in South Africa during the years of apartheid.




War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells - reading this early science fiction novel for the Lit class I teach at our co-op.

   

Next on the stack... 


Undertones by L.S. Popovich
Church With No Walls by Noah Cleveland

   

On my blogs recently . . . 

Here on Just A Second:

Scripture and a Snapshot - Forgiving
Recent Reads - Detective Trigger and the Ruby Collar
Scripture and a Snapshot - Sacrifice of Praise
Wordless Wednesday - Laundromat


And on my homeschool blog, Homeschool Coffee Break:

Homeschool Highlights - Thanksgiving and Things
Homeschool Highlights - College and Co-op Week Six
Virtual Refrigerator - Inktober Part I
Immanuel Labor: God's Presence in our Profession (A Homeschool Coffee Break Book 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 - Forgiving

Be kind and compassionate to one another; forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

~Ephesians 4:32~

Offering forgiveness can be hard sometimes. But when we refuse to forgive, we become bitter. The verse right ahead of this one says to "get rid of bitterness" and the way to do that is to forgive others. One explanation of forgiveness is "releasing someone from the debt that occurred when they hurt you". That's what is hard - we tend to want to hold onto all the IOUs we have because other people hurt us. We need God's help to forgive. Instead of going back to bitterness and anger, keep going back to the cross, where Christ released us from the debt we owed. Let go of the dirty little scraps of paper with those IOUs scribbled on them and accept mercy and grace. Then extend that mercy and grace 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.

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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.