Recent Reads - The Matrimonial Advertisement

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The Matrimonial Advertisement by Mimi Matthews - At the time of writing this, this book is free for Kindle from Amazon, and in fact, that's what prompted me to pick it up and read it - without reading the book blurb! The cover, and that it was by Mimi Matthews was good enough for me to snap up a free book and start reading. And I was not disappointed.

Helena Reynolds has responded to a matrimonial advertisement in a London newspaper, with the help of her friend and companion, and she's clearly in a desperate situation. But just what that is remains unknown for the first part of the book. It's clear to the reader, and to Justin Thornhill, who has advertised for a bride, that she's frightened and out of options. Justin does his best to scare her off, knowing immediately that she's a lady of quality and not likely to be content in the wild isolation of his home in Devon. Helena remains determined despite her fear, and Justin relents and brings her to Greyfriar's Abbey.

One thing Helena has been forthright about is that she is in need of a protector, and quickly. So their marriage ceremony takes place almost immediately, and shortly afterwards Helena's worst fear comes to pass - her uncle's henchman comes for her. Justin drives the man off, and rescues Helena from the cliffs, and then Helena tells him the whole story of how her uncle has been trying to commit her to an insane asylum in order to gain control of her inheritance; and that is why she has been in need of a protector.

Together with Justin's friend and attorney, they come up with a plan to expose her uncle's deviousness and abuse, and as they put the plan into effect, both Justin and Helena wrestle with their growing feelings for each other, but while in London Justin becomes more convinced than ever that Helena doesn't belong with him and he can't make her happy. 

From the publisher:

She Wanted Sanctuary . . .

Helena Reynolds will do anything to escape her life in London, even if that means traveling to a remote cliffside estate on the North Devon coast and marrying a complete stranger. But Greyfriar's Abbey isn't the sort of refuge she imagined. And ex-army captain Justin Thornhill - though he may be tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome - is anything but a romantic hero.

He Needed Redemption . . .

Justin has spent the last two decades making his fortune, settling scores, and suffering a prolonged period of torture in an Indian prison. Now, he needs someone to smooth the way for him with the villagers. Someone to manage his household - and warm his bed on occasion. What he needs, in short, is a wife and a matrimonial advertisement seems the perfect way to acquire one.

Their marriage was meant to be a business arrangement and nothing more. A dispassionate union free from the entanglements of love and affection. But when Helena's past threatens, will Justin's burgeoning feelings for his new bride compel him to come to her rescue? Or will dark secrets of his own force him to let her go?

By the same author: Fair As A Star, The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter

This is a book picked without reading the blurb (#30) for The 52 Book Club's 2024 Reading Challenge.

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2024

 ©2008-2024 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 Juliet Code

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

The Juliet Code by Pepper Basham - Frederick and Grace have certainly had a very exciting time during their honeymoon! After their thrilling time in Egypt, which involved a mystery and a lot of danger and intrigue, they have carried on to Venice and are enjoying the beauty and history of the city when they are drawn into another adventure and mystery. Their friend Detective Jack Miracle enlists their help in tracking down some stolen paintings and figuring out whether the deaths of former owners were simply coincidences. As you might imagine, there's a lot to unravel, and mystery-loving Grace is thrilled to be part of the investigation team. Even Frederick is learning to appreciate the excitement of solving mysteries together with his bride. 

The investigation takes them all to an eccentric millionaire's private island, where they find secret rooms and a whole cast of characters who may not be who they say they are. Their host, Laraby, seems to be treating it all as a game, even though there are murders connected with the paintings. Frederick and Grace are certain that someone among Laraby's friends, servants, and houseguests is lying about their identity, and is willing to commit murder in order to obtain all the Juliet paintings, which contain clues to the location of a treasure. But Frederick, Grace, and Detective Jack are determined to find the thief and to decode the clues before any more lives are lost.

Grace's character is the driving force in the story, and she is still mischievous and almost childlike in her enthusiasm for stories and mysteries. She is also clever and resourceful, and has a big heart. Frederick has a much more reserved demeanor, but a recurring theme for his character in the story is his desire to see his young wife safe and happy - which do not always seem to be compatible outcomes! I enjoyed the characters and how they all interacted, and am looking forward to more in this series.

From the publisher:

Newlyweds Lord and Lady Astley Finally Reach Their Honeymoon Destination Only to Encounter a New Mystery in Need of Solving

Frederick and Grace Percy finally make it to Italy to enjoy a delayed honeymoon and explore the beauties of the historic city of Venice. To their surprise, their friend, Detective Jack Miracle, is also in the city, investigating a series of art heists starting at the house of eccentric millionaire, Laraby Covington. Drawn into a world of boat races, mysterious houses, and parties of the rich and unusual in Venice, Frederick and Grace learn of the existence of the Juliet paintings (Renaissance paintings featuring Shakespeare's tragic heroine), rumored to hold a secret code to an underground vault of similarly treasured artwork assumed lost over the centuries. As Freddie and Grace are pulled deeper into the mystery and their beloved Detective Jack disappears, can they use their wits and work as a team to find the thieves and Jack before it's too late.

The Juliet Code is a Freddie and Grace Mystery, sequel to The Mistletoe Countess and The Cairo Curse.

Visit Barbour Publishing for more info on where to buy.

By the same author: The Cairo Curse, The Heart of the Mountains, Hope Between the Pages; The Red Ribbon; My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge: Laurel's Dream

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

This is a book featuring the ocean (#8) for The 52 Book Club's 2024 Reading Challenge.

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2024

©2008-2024 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.

Friday Fun - The Friday 56 and First Lines for Feburary 9, 2024

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

I honestly thought I'd shared this one already, but I haven't done a Friday Fun in over a month! That's what happens when you start working full time, I guess. Much less time for blogging, and certainly no additional time for reading. My review of this one will be up tomorrow.

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Grace Percy had always dreamed of being part of a dashing pursuit of some vilain; she'd just never imagined doing so in a gondola with a complete stranger.

~From the beginning of The Juliet Code by Pepper Basham

Newlyweds Lord and Lady Astley Finally Reach Their Honeymoon Destination Only to Encounter a New Mystery in Need of Solving

Frederick and Grace Percy finally make it to Italy to enjoy a delayed honeymoon and explore the beauties of the historic city of Venice. To their surprise, their friend, Detective Jack Miracle, is also in the city, investigating a series of art heists starting at the house of eccentric millionaire, Laraby Covington. Drawn into a world of boat races, mysterious houses, and parties of the rich and unusual in Venice, Frederick and Grace learn of the existence of the Juliet paintings (Renaissance paintings featuring Shakespeare's tragic heroine), rumored to hold a secret code to an underground vault of similarly treasured artwork assumed lost over the centuries. As Freddie and Grace are pulled deeper into the mystery and their beloved Detective Jack disappears, can they use their wits and work as a team to find the thieves and Jack before it's too late.

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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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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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Were these the Accardis? Her attention fell to the children. Were those the lost grandchildren?

~from page 156 of The Juliet Code by Pepper Basham

The Friday 56 was started and hosted at Freda's Voice. She is taking a break from hosting, but Anne at My Head Full of Books has volunteered to host for now, so I'll be linking up there.

*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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©2008-2024 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 - January 2024

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

If you cannot read all your books, at any rate . . . peer into them, let them fall open where they will, read from the first sentence that arrests the eye, set them back on the shelves with your own hands, arrange them on your own plan so that you at least know where they are. Let them be your friends; let them be your acquaintances. ~Winston Churchill

I suppose this quote sums up where I am with reading during this season of my life! I'd love to read more but just don't have the time to read everything I'd like to. I need to quit bemoaning the fact and just accept that this is how it is for now! And be thankful for having so many good books to choose from!

January's Books Completed and Reviewed

The Crumbs Off Heaven's Table by D.M. Griffin - Serene has spent her whole life hiding, but she is inexplicably drawn to the Hebrew God, and her anonymity comes to an end when she catches the attention of a wealthy Roman man. But the forces of evil won't let her go that easily. (Read my review HERE.)

During January I started reading:

The Juliet Code by Pepper Basham - I'll soon be sharing my review of this latest in the Freddie and Grace Mystery series. Frederick and Grace continue their honeymoon trip in Italy, but are soon drawn into another investigation involving a series of stolen paintings and possible murder.

During January I continued reading:

Ticker by Lisa Mantchev - I had started this back in the fall and set it aside, but picked it up again. Penny has a clockwork heart that continuously needs rewinding, but she also has a lot of other crazy stuff going on in her life!

Where My Books Took Me in January . . . Here's where I've traveled through the pages during the month, along with One Word to sum up the ones I finished.

The Crumbs Off Heaven's Table takes place during the first century in the middle East.

One Word: Protection

The Juliet Code is set in Venice and the surrounding area of Italy.

Ticker takes place in a fictional steampunk universe. At the moment I'm going on memory, but I believe the city is called Bazalgate.

Coming Up in February!

I think I'm only going to allow myself to list one or two books in this section, because what's "up next" is forever changing!

Wimpy Weak and Woke by John L. Cooper - Still waiting to get started on this one!

What I'm Highlighting . . . Highlighting again, because I really enjoyed it! I was privileged to be part of the launch team for The Crumbs Off Heaven's Table, and before the month is over, I'd like to remind everyone to check it out! 

Here's the publisher's summary: A life targeted by the forces of evil since the beginning but protected within the fold of a love she was afraid to embrace and couldn't fully understand. Not as a Gentile at least. Separated from her parents, Serene became a servant who learned not to expect much out of life. Constant fear kept her in hiding, satisfied with the little provisions that her master allowed.

Yet she couldn't hide from love forever. When a certain man from Rome came into her life, Serene's heart began to open in love. Divine intervention mingled with circumstance until Serene was introduced not only to the love between a man and woman, but the love between her and her Creator.

With this powerful love also came an enemy. Would Serene's fragile faith and low self-esteem be able to battle the forces that were beyond herself? Would desperation drive her to seek the One who could truly send the demon possessing her daughter back to the Abyss? How would one encounter with the Son of God test her faith and reveal her true identity as a daughter of the King?

It is available from Amazon now.

You can also visit the author's website to find out more: Devoted Steps

On my blogs recently . . . 

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

Friday Fun - The Friday 56 and First Lines for January 5, 2024

The Crumbs Off Heaven's Table - Pre-Order Now!

2024 Reading Challenges

2023 Reading Challenges Wrap-Up

On Homeschool Coffee Break:

High School Writing Tip Sheets - Citing Your Sources (Update)

And on A Fresh Cup of Coffee:

Scripture and a Snapshot posts

Five Minute Friday posts

Everyday Images posts

Hodgepodge and other Q&A Link-up posts

Share Four Somethings - January 2024

WQ - Inspired By Good Books

Twenty-Six Lists - Things To Do This Winter

WQ - Justice

WQ - Rhythm Inspires

Twenty-Six Lists - Accomplishments and Goals

Introductions and Getting To Work

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas . . . Keeping Christmas All The Year

Currently . . . January 4, 2024

Share Four Somethings - December 2023

This post will be linked at the current BookWorms Monthly link-up hosted by At Home A Lot; at the weekly reading list meme hosted at Book Date, and at What's On Your Bookshelf? #whatsonyourbookshelfchallenge hosted by Deb's World. 

©2008-2024 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 Crumbs off Heaven's Table

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

The Crumbs Off Heaven's Table by D.M. Griffin - One of my favorite types of stories is fiction set during Bible times, that gives insights into the possible backgrounds and personalities of the various characters who make only a brief appearance in the pages of the Bible but played an important role nonetheless. One of those characters is a woman that isn't even mentioned by name, but has a fascinating encounter with Jesus. Matthew and Mark both tell the story of a Canaanite woman who came to Jesus and begged him to heal her demon-possessed daughter. Jesus commends her persistent faith and her daughter is healed and restored. The story raises many questions - Who was the woman and how did she hear about Jesus? What did she know about him or about the God of the Jews that she so passionately believed Jesus could do this thing for her, a Gentile? This imaginative and well-researched novel paints a portrait of the woman, giving her a name and a history.

Serene was separated from her parents as a very young child, when her mother admonished her to hide from her violent father. She grows up as a servant in the household of a man named Carchemish, where she feels relatively safe in her anonymity. Until a new overseer comes to manage the household when Carchemish becomes ill. Rogan poses as a high-ranking servant, but he is the second son of Carchemish's Roman business partner, Santini. The interactions between the two of them are tense at times, because Serene senses that Rogan is not who he claims to be, and Rogan is uncomfortable with the lie, especially that he must hide the truth from Serene.

Unknown to either of them, the forces of darkness are closing in around them, in the form of Rogan's sister-in-law, Lilah, and her father Domini. Domini and Lilah are both servants of the demonic spirit Belial, and on a mission to steal life and gain power, and most importantly, to stop a promised One that would have the power to defeat them. Lilah targets Rogan for her seduction and viciously attacks Serene, especially when she realizes that Rogan and Serene love each other.

Can Rogan and Serene possibly build a life together when they come from different levels of society, and face opposition from Rogan's father and others in power? Can Serene's simple faith in what she has learned about the Jewish God help them in their troubles? Would the Jewish God even accept their worship or hear their prayers?

Serene and Rogan are sympathetic and very likable characters, as they both have an inner desire to do the right thing, to be kind, and to tell the truth; even though they don't always understand why this is important to them when it tends to go against the grain of their society. They are both quietly skeptical of the belief in many Roman gods. They are both unusually good people, and Serene is drawn to the words of the Jewish scriptures and puts her faith in her simple understanding of this God. Of course they both have flaws as well, and struggle and stumble in their character arcs, but both are on a journey to find love and security and discover that their identities are far more than just their social and economic status.

From the publisher: 

A life targeted by the forces of evil since the beginning but protected within the fold of a love she was afraid to embrace and couldn't fully understand. Not as a Gentile at least. Separated from her parents, Serene became a servant who learned not to expect much out of life. Constant fear kept her in hiding, satisfied with the little provisions that her master allowed.

Yet she couldn't hide from love forever. When a certain man from Rome came into her life, Serene's heart began to open in love. Divine intervention mingled with circumstance until Serene was introduced not only to the love between a man and woman, but the love between her and her Creator.

With this powerful love also came an enemy. Would Serene's fragile faith and low self-esteem be able to battle the forces that were beyond herself? Would desperation drive her to seek the One who could truly send the demon possessing her daughter back to the Abyss? How would one encounter with the Son of God test her faith and reveal her true identity as a daughter of the King?

You can also visit the author's website to find out more: Devoted Steps

Special thanks to D.M. Griffin for including me on the Launch Team for The Crumbs Off Heaven's Table, and providing me a copy of the book for the purpose of this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

#CrumbOffHeavensTable #EncounterSeries

This is a book about finding identity (#43) for The 52 Book Club's 2024 Reading Challenge.

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2024

©2008-2024 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.

Friday Fun - The Friday 56 and First Lines for January 5, 2024

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

The holidays were just too busy for me to remember to participate in these Friday link-ups,  and I know I won't be able to do this every week, but I am jumping in with a couple of teasers to kick off a new year. This novel is launching on January 16th, and as part of the launch team I'm reading an ARC edition. You can pre-order it, so if it catches your eye, please check it out! I'm really enjoying it! 

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ROME, 5 A.D.

He hovered. It was more than quiet. It was silent. There was a difference. In his realm of existence, silence was the standard.  But here, among them, it was unusual.

~From the beginning of The Crumbs Off Heaven's Table by D.M. Griffin

A life targeted by the forces of evil since the beginning but protected within the fold of a love she was afraid to embrace and couldn't fully understand. Not as a Gentile at least. Separated from her parents, Serene became a servant who learned not to expect much out of life. Constant fear kept her in hiding, satisfied with the little provisions that her master allowed.

Yet she couldn't hide from love forever. When a certain man from Rome came into her life, Serene's heart began to open in love. Divine intervention mingled with circumstance until Serene was introduced not only to the love between a man and woman, but the love between her and her Creator.

With this powerful love also came an enemy. Would Serene's fragile faith and low self-esteem be able to battle the forces that were beyond herself? Would desperation drive her to seek the One who could truly send the demon possessing her daughter back to the Abyss? How would one encounter with the Son of God test her faith and reveal her true identity as a daughter of the King?

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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.

***************

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.

***************

Serene slipped under again, the darkness grew claws that ripped at her mind and heart. The creature was trying to sift through her soul. She was looking for information. Why?

~at 56% of The Crumbs Off Heaven's Table by D.M. Griffin

The Friday 56 was started and hosted at Freda's Voice. She is taking a break from hosting, but Anne at My Head Full of Books has volunteered to host for now, so I'll be linking up there.

*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.

***************

©2008-2024 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.

The Crumbs off Heaven's Table - Pre-Order Now!

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

This is one of the books I'm reading to start the new year, and it's a wonderful choice! I'm so proud to be part of the launch team for this novel that launches on January 16th, and have the chance to read it before that big day! It's available for pre-order now though, so you can be ready to start reading.

The Crumbs Off Heaven's Table by D.M. Griffin - I love historical fiction, and historical novels based on Biblical stories are especially interesting to me. This one explores the brief account in the Gospels of Jesus responding to a Gentile woman's request for healing for her demon-possessed daughter. If you've read this little vignette in the book of Mark, maybe you found Jesus' initial answer puzzling because it seems almost like he isn't sympathetic to this Greek woman's pleas on her child's behalf. But of course Jesus does heal the daughter, and commends the woman for her great faith. Perhaps you've wondered, as many have, who this woman was, how she heard about Jesus, and how she had come to such a conviction that Jesus could do the miracle she asked of him. I've also wondered what happened to the woman and her daughter after this healing. They must have had an amazing story to tell! This novel imagines the background and details and provides compelling possibilities by creating a cast of complex and interesting supporting characters.

From the publisher: 

A life targeted by the forces of evil since the beginning but protected within the fold of a love she was afraid to embrace and couldn't fully understand. Not as a Gentile at least. Separated from her parents, Serene became a servant who learned not to expect much out of life. Constant fear kept her in hiding, satisfied with the little provisions that her master allowed.

Yet she couldn't hide from love forever. When a certain man from Rome came into her life, Serene's heart began to open in love. Divine intervention mingled with circumstance until Serene was introduced not only to the love between a man and woman, but the love between her and her Creator.

With this powerful love also came an enemy. Would Serene's fragile faith and low self-esteem be able to battle the forces that were beyond herself? Would desperation drive her to seek the One who could truly send the demon possessing her daughter back to the Abyss? How would one encounter with the Son of God test her faith and reveal her true identity as a daughter of the King?

You can pre-order from Amazon now, and the book will be available January 16th. 

You can also visit the author's website to find out more: Devoted Steps

©2008-2024 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.