Just A Second

Monday, April 25

Monthly Bookshelf Review - April 2022

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April's Books Completed and Reviewed

A Rose For The Resistance by Angela K. Couch - During the Nazi occupation of France, a young Frenchwoman, Rosalie, finds an unexpected ally in a German soldier when he protects her more than once. But the stakes are high when Rosalie gets involved with the resistance, and can Franz still be trusted? (Read my full review HERE)

Price of a Rose by Byrd Nash - A fairy tale retelling, in which three sisters take the challenge of managing Thorn Hall and its beastly master. The middle girl, Rose, looks after the gardens and may be the key to break the curse. (Read my full review HERE)

During April I started reading:

A Promise Engraved by Liz Tolsma - This story is set in the San Antonio area - in 1835 Josie Wilkins is in love with a Protestant preacher and a future together doesn't seem possible, especially as events hurtle towards the Battle of the Alamo. In the present day story, Kayleigh Hewland seeks help from an appraiser to find out more about an engraved ring that may hold the key to understanding what happened to her parents.

Recitatif: A Story by Toni Morrison - This is Morrison's only published short story, and at less than 50 pages, it won't take me long to finish. In fact, the forward is just as long as the story! Two women interact over the years - one is black and the other is white. Racial identity is very important to both of them, but the reader is never told which is which.

During April I continued reading:

An Artless Demise (A Lady Darby Mystery) by Anna Lee Huber - Kiera and Gage are back in London and start investigating a murder case that may be related to the resurrectionists recently terrorizing the city. With Kiera's past looming over them, they are in very real danger.

Coming Up in May!

Obedient Unto Death by Liisa Eyerly

Murder Most Fair by Anna Lee Huber

An Unexpected Peril by Deanna Raybourn

All That's Fair by Amanda G. Stevens

A Perilous Perspective by Anna Lee Huber (but I have to read A Stroke of Malice and A Wicked Conceit first, in order to read the whole series chronologically! This is the latest which just came out, and now I'm really regretting having fallen behind in re-reading the series!)

What I'm Highlighting . . . I don't really have anything bloggy or bookish to highlight this month, since I've been pretty quiet in the blogosphere of late. Once the school year wraps up, I do hope to get back to a better rhythm of reading and writing here.

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 - April 11, 2022

The Little Women Devotional

And on HS Coffee Break:

I Spy posts (#65-#68)

Five Minute Friday posts

Currently . . . April 6, 2022

Share Four Somethings - March 2022

March Photo Album

A Peaceful Environment

This post will be linked at the April 2022 Monthly Wrap-Up Round-up Link-up and Giveaway hosted by Feed Your Fiction Addiction; and at the weekly reading list meme hosted at Book Date.

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Saturday, April 23

Scripture and a Snapshot - Wait For The Morning

Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD;

Lord, hear my voice.

Let your ears be attentive

to my cry for mercy.

If you, LORD, kept a record of sins,

Lord, who could stand?

But with you there is forgiveness,

so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits,

and in his word I put my hope.

I wait for the Lord

more than watchmen wait for the morning,

more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Israel, put your hope in the LORD,

for with the LORD is unfailing love

and with him is full redemption.

He himself will redeem Israel

from all their sins.

~Psalm 130~

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Friday, April 22

Friday Fun - The Friday 56 and First Lines for April 22, 2022

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

"Because the band and setting of the ring is made from a high karat of gold, and because the periodic table of elements wasn't created until 1869."

~from page 56 of A Promise Engraved by Liz Tolsma

Can Promises Made in Times of Struggle Endure 200 Years?

Visit historic American landmarks through the Doors to the Past series. History and today collide in stories full of mystery, intrigue, faith, and romance.

Young, spirited Josie Wilkins' life is about to take a turn when faced with political turmoil and secret love in San Antonio of 1836. John Gilbert has won her heart, despite being a Protestant preacher who is forbidden to practice his faith in Texas. If he discovers the secrets of her painful past, he will never have anything to do with her. But then comes the Battle of the Alamo. Will either of them survive an epic battle for liberty to create a legacy of love?

Nearly 200 years later, Kayleigh Hewland takes breaks from her demanding job as a refugee coordinator working with Mexican migrants to attend flea markets where she has found a uniquely engraved ring that helps her discover who killed her parents. Enlisting the help of appraiser Brandon Mullins, they piece together a love story long forgotten. But will dangers linked to the ring end her own hopes for leaving a legacy built on hope, faith, and love?

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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September 28, 1835

Recent rains that had broken the long Texas summer heat had swollen the Guadelupe River so that it churned and foamed as it roared over the rocks along the bank. After a long day on her now-swollen feet, the water called to Josie Wilkins, sang its siren song, and beckoned her to slip off her shoes so the water might refresh her.

~From the beginning of A Promise Engraved by Liz Tolsma

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.

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Tuesday, April 19

Recent Reads - Price of a Rose

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

Price of a Rose by Byrd Nash - In this short and sweet fairytale retelling, three sisters are drawn into the magical world of the reclusive Sir Griffin and his odd household. Their father was caught trying to steal a rosebush from Sir Griffin's garden, and agreed to a card game to settle his debt. In the morning the young ladies discover that he lost one or all three of them - he's not sure - in a wager. The oldest, Lily, goes over to Thorn Hall immediately to negotiate and takes the position of housekeeper, while the middle sister, Rose, is determined to bring the gardens of Thorn Hall back to beauty. Eventually the youngest, Poppy, makes her way over as well, lured by the extensive library and her interest in magic.

The servants at Thorn Hall are a strange lot, but Lily takes them in hand. She finds rooms switch around at will, and at one point is trapped in one of the rooms by the magic. Rose finds the same magic at work in the gardens and grounds, but also notices that her beastly employer is becoming more human as time goes on. Just as they are all settling into a routine, one of the neighborhood gossips brings a young lady to visit, and this Miss Amaranth has clearly set her cap for Sir Griffin. She inserts herself into life at the estate time and again, to the annoyance of all. And Rose realizes her own jealousy, which Miss Amaranth taunts.

Of course the fairy magic will be undone eventually, and there will be a happy ever after, because it is a fairy tale!

This is a sweet and clean fantasy story, with a budding romance between Rose and Sir Griffin. The reason for the spell on the household is revealed a bit at a time, and the author cleverly weaves the magic into the story. Because it's a fairy tale and more of a novella, there is not much character development and it felt as though details were missing. Either the reader must assume that fairy magic and all its effects are common enough that the young ladies are not shocked, frightened, or disgusted by a half-beast lord of the manor, or the reactions are notably missing. Although the original attempted theft and card game introduce the characters and give a reason for the girls entering the household, Sir Griffin doesn't seem to realize they are there in payment of their father's debt and they are not captive in any way, nor does Sir Griffin behave in particularly beastly ways, so the premise seems a bit weak.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and found it well written, but it is definitely light reading with a very simple plot and no dramatic character arcs or intrigue.

From the publisher:

The Beast is about to be tamed by three determined ladies.

When their father loses a card game to the local recluse, his three daughters step in to determine their own fate. The oldest, Lily, rolls up her sleeves to take the strange household in hand even if the house keeps moving the rooms. The youngest, Poppy, devours his books on magic while playing secretary.

But it's Rose, the middle daughter, who works magic in his forgotten garden. She could be the key to unraveling his curse, if he can recognize what's real behind fairy magic.

A Victorian England, 1890, Beauty and Beast fairytale retelling like you've never read before.

A novella featuring a delightful, clean and sweet romance. Perfect for fans of historical romances who also like a fairytale fantasy with humor.

This short story ebook is a friendly read for teens and adult readers who love the grand period of the Late Victorian time period.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a an Author with X, Y, or Z in their name (#23) for The 52 Book Club's 2022 Reading Challenge

#the52bookclub2022

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Sunday, April 17

Scripture and a Snapshot - Resurrection Day

And he [the angel] said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you."

~Mark 16:6-7~

He is risen!

He is risen indeed!

"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"

Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

~Matthew 16:15-19~

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Friday, April 15

Scripture and a Snapshot - Good Friday

"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?" Pilate asked.

They all answered, "Crucify him!"

"Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!"

When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!"

All the people answered, "His blood is on us and on our children!"

Then they led him away to crucify him.

~Matthew 27:22-25, 31~

It always strikes me that they didn't know it, but that was the whole point. That his blood would be on us and because of his blood, we would be clean.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

~Hebrews 10:19-22~

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Recent Reads - A Rose For The Resistance

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A Rose For The Resistance by Angela K. Couch - The Nazis are occupying France, and in the village of Ste Mere Eglise, Rosalie is doing her best to endure, keep quiet and out of trouble, and hope that it will soon be over. With her father in a POW camp and her mother withdrawn and distant, Rosalie takes charge of the family business and tries to keep her younger brother from involvement in the resistance. Eventually her attempts to keep him from endangering himself leads to her own participation in the underground, reasoning that as a woman she would fall under less suspicion than a teenage boy.

German soldier Franz has also survived the war thus far by keeping quiet and following orders, but after an injury he is transferred to Normandy and is increasingly opposed to the actions and goals of the army in which he serves. While wrestling with his own conscience and the possible consequences, he comes in contact with Rosalie and finds himself sympathetic to her. When he receives an unexpected promotion and then finds a wounded British pilot, he makes a quick decision to take the pilot to Rosalie rather than take him prisoner.

Rosalie isn't sure why Franz is helping her family, or whether he can be trusted, but since she has little choice she cooperates and hides the pilot, and decides to trust Franz. As the weeks go by, their uneasy truce develops into a friendship as Franz helps Rosalie and the resistance again and again. But Franz has enemies within the army and as rumblings of an Allied invasion grow louder, both Franz and Rosalie are in increasing danger of being betrayed.

This story was hard to read at times, as I considered the current situation in Europe, but I thought it a good reminder that even enemy soldiers are human. For the most part, I thought this story did a wonderful job of bringing to life the plights of people in occupied territories, soldiers who struggle with questions of conscience, and everyone who wants to be free. Admittedly, I don't often read historical fiction set during the world wars, but this seemed like a perspective that hasn't been explored as much - that of the Christians in occupied territories during the World War.

From the publisher:

A French Woman and German Soldier Create a Truce

Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this new series celebrates the unsung heroes - the heroines of WWII.

With her father in a German POW camp and her home in Ste Mere Eglise, France, under Nazi occupation, Rosalie Barrieau will do anything to keep her younger brother safe . . . even from his desire to join the French resistance. Until she falls into the debt of a German soldier - one who delivers a wounded British pilot to her door. Though not sure what to make of her German ally, Rosalie is thrust deep into the heart of the local underground. As tensions build toward the allied invasion of Normandy, she must decide how much she is willing to risk for freedom.

Visit Barbour Publishing for more info on where to buy.

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2022 European Reading Challenge

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This is a book with a bilingual character (protagonist Rosalind is French but also speaks English well, and works hard to learn German during the story) (#33) for The 52 Book Club's 2022 Reading Challenge

#the52bookclub2022

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

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.

Pages

Monday, April 25

Saturday, April 23

Friday, April 22

Tuesday, April 19

Sunday, April 17

Friday, April 15