Recent Reads - A Study in Death

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A Study in Death (A Lady Darby Mystery) by Anna Lee Huber - In the opening chapters, Lady Kiera Darby is concerned that Lady Drummond, her latest portrait client, is suffering at the hands of her husband. When she arrives one day for the sitting, Lady Drummond is gravely and violently ill and dies just moments after Kiera enters the room. Kiera's suspicions are roused by the unusual manner of Lady Drummond's death, and by the cold reaction of Lord Drummond in response. She is quite sure that Lady Drummond was poisoned, and convinces her fiance and investigative partner, Sebastian Gage, to help her track the source of the poison and bring the killer to justice. 

All this takes place and Kiera is looking forward to marrying Gage, but is not necessarily looking forward to the large and showy wedding her sister Alana is arranging. Kiera allows her to plan as she will though, since it is something Alana can work and focus on during the long days of her risky pregnancy. Kiera's attention is divided between the case she and Gage are working on and worry for Alana's health, and even the state of Alana's marriage, because her husband Philip is acting very strangely.

Once again, Kiera and Gage join forces to solve a murder that would probably otherwise have gone undetected. They confront danger united, but their romance faces challenges as Gage is still reluctant to trust Kiera with information about his past. To make matters worse, his father, Lord Gage, arrives in town and openly disapproves of Kiera and opposes the investigation.

The closing lines of the novel indicate that another investigation is underway, but readers will have to wait awhile to find out more about it!

By the same author: The Anatomist's Wife, Mortal Arts, A Grave Matter

©2008-2015 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/

Scripture and a Snapshot - July 25, 2015

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The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor;

he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,

and the day of vengeance of our God;

to comfort all who mourn;

to grant to those who mourn in Zion--

to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;

that they may be called oaks of righteousness,

the planting of the Lord,

that he may be glorified.

~Isaiah 61:1-3~

Scripture & a Snapshot is hosted by A Glimpse of Our Life.

The Weekend Brew is hosted by My Freshly Brewed Life.

©2008-2015 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/

Book Blogger Hop - July 24, 2015

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I haven't been here much this week, so because I need to say something bookish, I'm going to answer the Book Blogger Hop question of the week from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.

Do you use bookmarks? If so, do you match them to the book you're reading or do you use random scraps of paper? 

I prefer to use bookmarks if I have one handy, but I'll use any random piece of paper I can find if a bookmark isn't within reach when I need it. I don't match bookmarks to my books either, but I do have a couple of favorite bookmarks and use those most often.

Right now my favorite bookmark is almost at the end of A Study in Death (A Lady Darby Mystery) by Anna Lee Huber, so I should be sharing my review of it this weekend. 

©2008-2015 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/

Teaser Tuesdays - July 21, 2015

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Jenn at A Daily Rhythm. To play along, just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include spoilers!
• Share the title and author, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

I could see now that he had loved his wife, in his own warped, possessive way. Which didn't mean he wasn't capable of having killed her.
~A Study in Death (A Lady Darby Mystery) by Anna Lee Huber, page 184

©2008-2015 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/

What I'm Reading - July 20, 2015

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This weekly meme has been hosted at Book Journey, but until the blog author is back to hosting, I will be linking at the book blog Christian Novels.

I recently finished reading...

 Your Sacred Yes: Trading Life-Draining Obligation for Freedom, Passion, and Joy by Susie Larson - Read my full review HERE.


I'm currently reading...

A Study in Death (A Lady Darby Mystery) by Anna Lee Huber - I've been looking forward to this one for quite awhile, and now that I'm reading (and loving!) it, I don't want to finish too quickly!


The Unknown Ajax by Georgette Heyer


The Conversation by Leigh A. Bortins - I'm reading this for a review on my homeschool blog later this summer.


The Fatal Tree (Bright Empires) by Stephen R Lawhead - on temporary hold while I read Lady Darby.

   

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables Collection (for Kindle)) - also on hold while I read Lady Darby.

  Next on the stack...

Murther and Walking Spirits by Robertson Davies
Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain - I'll be reading this along with my daughter for a Lit study
Lady Maybe by Julie Klassen - I'm in the queue for this one from the library, so whenever it arrives for me, I'll start reading!
   



What are you reading?

©2008-2015 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/

Recent Reads - Your Sacred Yes

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Your Sacred Yes: Trading Life-Draining Obligation for Freedom, Passion, and Joy by Susie Larson - I joke about having no problem saying "No" to things that I don't want to do, but the truth is I also am not always thoughtful enough about what I say "Yes" to. In this book, Susie Larson challenged me to evaluate whether I'm saying Yes to the wrong things, or perhaps to good things but for the wrong reasons. She shares Scripture and personal stories that point to the power and fulfillment of saying Yes to whatever God asks of us, and the risk of burnout and disappointment when we are too quick to say Yes to the things that he has not asked us to do.

Larson gets to the root of the issue in pointing out that we often do things out of guilt or obligation; because we want approval and validation; or because we think we know what's best. However, God doesn't shame us into working for him - he invites us to participate with him; we can't earn God's approval because he already loves us and call us his own; and our own plans often fall far short of what God wants to do in and through us. With insightful writing and reflection questions, Larson calls on the reader to examine their own life and to say Yes to God's best.

This book includes Reflection Questions at the end of each chapter that can be used for personal study or in a group setting. There are also group discussion questions. A DVD Study Companion is also available separately.

From the publisher:

Are you worn out from life's ought-to's and should-do's?

It's so easy to give away our time to things un-appointed by God. We commit to something because it's a good cause or there's a great need. Or maybe because no one else will help out. The result? The days blur together and we find ourselves overworked and underjoyed, desperate for a faith awakening.

In this practical and liberating book, Susie shares biblical ways to:

• Learn how--and when--to say no without guilt or shame
• Find a pace and perspective that matches God's best for you
• Discern man-made obligations from God-given invitations

Will you say yes to the One who will rejuvenate your soul?

Visit the Baker Publishing Group for info on where to buy.

©2008-2015 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/

Scripture and a Snapshot - July 18, 2015

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As a father shows compassion to his children,

so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.

For he knows our frame;

he remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass;

he flourishes like a flower of the field;

for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

and its place knows it no more.

But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,

and his righteousness to children's children,

to those who keep his covenant

and remember to do his commandments.

~Psalm 103:13-18~

Scripture & a Snapshot is hosted by A Glimpse of Our Life.

The Weekend Brew is hosted by My Freshly Brewed Life.

©2008-2015 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/