Friday Fun - The Friday 56 and First Lines for January 7, 2022

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee.

After a couple weeks break for the holidays, I'm back to share some teasers. I need to get going on this book, because I'd intended to post my review this week, but it's not ready yet. 

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"Thanks again," she called when Tilda finally took the hint and headed down the path.

"I'll check on you later," Tilda shouted above the rain.

Chloe waved and shut the door.

At last. Now, where was I? Oh, yes. Funeral or party?

~from page 56 of High-Wire Heartbreak by Anna Schmidt

Walk through Doors to the Past via a series of historical stories of romance and adventure.

Successful historical mystery writer Chloe Whitfield comes to Ca' d'Zan in Sarasota, Florida, to research her next novel. Chloe's fascination with the circus in rooted in family stories of her great-grandmother, Lucinda Conroy, who reportedly was a trapeze artist of some renown. She's heard hints of scandal, and perhaps larceny, but no details. Chloe's grandmother - rumored to be Lucinda's only offspring - was raised in an orphanage and never knew her mother.

Intrigued as she is, Chloe has no intent of writing about Lucinda until she sees a poster featuring Lucinda as the star performer for a 70th birthday gala for John Ringling in May of 1936. From there, the trail goes cold. Who was Lucinda, and what happened to her?

The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice

*Grab a book, any book.

*Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your e-reader.

*Find a snippet, short and sweet.

*Post it, and share in the Linky.

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Sweat beaded Chloe Whitfield's forehead and soaked her neck. Her loose-fitting shift-style dress was a mass of wrinkles. Who had ever thought linen was a good idea for clothing? She'd chosen her outfit with the thought of wanting to present herself as the professional and successful woman she was.

But why had she bothered?

~From the beginning of  High-Wire Heartbreak by Anna Schmidt

Book Beginnings on Fridays is hosted by Rose City Reader.

*It's Book Beginnings on Fridays! Time to gather with our fellow book lovers and share the opening sentence (or so) of the books we are reading this week. Or share from a book that is on your mind right now -- whatever catches your fancy.

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First Line Fridays is hosted at Reading is My SuperPower

*Share the first line or two of the book closest to you, then visit other FLF participants.

*Please keep posts family friendly or clean reads.

*Link back to Reading is My SuperPower within your post or grab a button.

 ©2008-2022 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.

New Year Scripture and a Snapshot - Encourage One Another

Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that they day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You all are children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. so then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

~ I Thessalonians 5:1-11 ~

Happy New Year!

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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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I also link up at Sunday Scripture Blessings, hosted by Peabea's Photos 'n Scribbles, and at Selah, hosted by A Spirit of Simplicity.

©2008-2022 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.

Monthly Bookshelf Review - December 2021

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee.

Not surprisingly, December has been a busy month and I've had to carve out little bits of reading time here and there. It's also time to consider what reading challenges I may want to take on in the upcoming year!

December's Books Completed and Reviewed

The Debutante's Code by Erica Vetsch - Lady Juliette Thorndike is shocked to find out that her missing parents have been spies for the government, and that she may be able to join the family profession. (Read my full review HERE)

As Death Draws Near by Anna Lee Huber - Kiera and Gage investigate a murder at an Irish abbey amid growing tensions between Ribbonmen and Orangemen, Catholic and Protestant. I've once again fallen behind the pace in the Lady Darby Read-Along group on Facebook and keep missing the book discussions! (Read my full review HERE)

During December I started reading:

The End of the Magi by Patrick W. Carr - A young magus-in-training finds himself on an epic journey towards Israel as one of the few who have been keeping the calendar numbering the days until the prophesied king arrives.

Atomic Habits by James Clear - it's the perfect time of year to read a practical book about breaking bad habits and establishing good ones!

   

High-Wire Heartbreak by Anna Schmidt - a novelist visits the Ringling mansion as part of her research for a mystery she's writing, but also to explore the history of her own mysterious ancestor who had been a performer in the circus.

 

During December I shelved:

A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty - I just couldn't finish up this clever YA fantasy before the library needed me to return it. I kept a note of where I left off, and hopefully I can pick it up again later.

`

Coming Up in January!

A Brush with Shadows (A Lady Darby Mystery) by Anna Lee Huber

An Unexpected Peril by Deanna Raybourn

All That's Fair by Amanda G. Stevens

Raincoats & Sunglasses by Caroline Johnston

   

   

What I'm Highlighting . . . 

There are still a couple more days to enter the Cozy Up to A Good Book Giveaway to celebrate the release of The Debutante's Code by Erica Vetsch. See my post Recent Reads - The Debutante's Code - Book Tour and Giveaway - for the link and more info!

On my blogs recently . . . 

Besides the reviews, here on Just A Second you'll find:

Scripture and a Snapshot posts

Friday Fun posts - The Friday 56 and First Lines

What I'm Reading - December 13, 2021

And on HS Coffee Break:

I Spy posts (#48-#51)

Five Minute Friday posts

Keeping Christmas All the Year

Share Four Somethings - December 2021

High School Writing Tip Sheets - Writing Dialogue

Currently . . . December 2, 2021

November Photo Album

This post will be linked at the December 2021 Monthly Wrap-Up Round-up Link-up and Giveaway hosted by Feed Your Fiction Addiction.

 

©2008-2021 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. 

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 - As Death Draws Near

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 

As Death Draws Near by Anna Lee Huber - Lady Kiera Darby and Sebastian Gage are on their honeymoon when they receive instructions from Gage's father to investigate a murder in Ireland. The victim was a young woman related to Lord Wellington was a postulant at an abbey. With very little information to start with, and annoyed that Lord Gage would cut short their honeymoon, Kiera and Gage travel to Ireland and take on the investigation.

Tensions are high in the village near the abbey, because of the conflict between Protestant and Catholic and growing unrest and potential hostility between Ribbonmen and Orangemen. Kiera does her best to gather information from the nuns and students at the abbey, while Gage talks with villagers. They both run into dead ends when people are reluctant to talk to them, and are frustrated when they uncover facts that Lord Wellington and Lord Gage would have known but had not shared. Finally, one of the nuns comes to a decision to share important insights with Kiera, but is found murdered before she can do so. 

While the investigation itself is very frustrating for both of them, it also starts Kiera questioning her role and purpose, and whether she is following a calling by assisting Gage in investigation. Conversations with the Mother Superior expose Kiera's uncertainties about whether she is right to use the knowledge she has about anatomy, and whether she should continue taking an active role now that she's a wife and will potentially become a mother. The expectations of married gentlewomen of the time period are addressed as part of this personal struggle, and the political and religious conflicts are the backdrop for the intriguing murder mystery with a surprise twist.

(I've fallen quite behind, but do check out the Lady Darby Read-Along group on Facebook if you're interested.)

By the same author: The Anatomist's Wife, Mortal Arts; A Grave Matter, A Study in Death, A Pressing Engagement, This Side of Murder, As Death Draws Near  (from my first reading in 2018), A Brush With Shadows. Treacherous Is The Night, An Artless Demise, Secrets in the Mist, Penny for Your Secrets, A Stroke of Malice, A Pretty Deceit

©2008-2021 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.

Christmas Day Scripture and a Snapshot - Every Good and Perfect Gift

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

~John 3:16~

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

~James 1:17~

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:

"They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;

their righteousness endures forever."

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

~II Corinthians 9:7-11~

Merry Christmas!

As we exchange gifts with loved ones, may we be reminded of the good and perfect gifts given to us by God. Especially the gift of his Son, who gave us salvation. May we share the grace and blessings we receive by being joyful and generous!

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I also link up at Sunday Scripture Blessings, hosted by Peabea's Photos 'n Scribbles, and at Selah, hosted by A Spirit of Simplicity.

©2008-2021 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.

Christmas Eve Scripture and a Snapshot - The Time Came

So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

~Luke 2:4-7~

This post will be linked at Scripture and a Snapshot hosted by Just A Second.

 ©2008-2021 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.

Advent Scripture and a Snapshot - This is Love

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

All this took place to fulfill what was said through the prophet: "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us").

~Matthew 1:18-23~

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Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

~I John 4:7-12~

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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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I also link up at Sunday Scripture Blessings, hosted by Peabea's Photos 'n Scribbles, and at Selah, hosted by A Spirit of Simplicity.

©2008-2021 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.