Scripture and a Snapshot - Tell the Next Generation

We will not hide these truths from our children;

we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD,

about his power and his mighty wonders.

For he issued his laws to Jacob;

he gave his instructions to Israel.

He commanded our ancestors to teach them to the their children,

so the next generations might know them --

even the children not yet born --

and they in turn will teach their own children.

So each generation should set its hope anew on God,

not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.

~Psalm 78:4-7~

Happy Mother's Day!

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

Glimpses is hosted by Embracing Every Day, a lifestyle blog by Barbie Swihart.

Sunday Scripture Blessings is hosted by Peabea Scribble Pad.

©2008-2017 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 - May 12th, 2017

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Book Blogger Hop

Welcome to another Book Blogger Hop question. Visit Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer to see the responses from other book bloggers.

If you read a book you ended up hating, would you stay away from future books by that author, or would you give them a second chance? 

In theory, I'd sometimes be willing to give the author a second chance, but the reality is that I would probably stay away from any other books. When I think back to the times that I've truly disliked a book, I have indeed blacklisted the author in my mind.

It does depend on the reason I so disliked the book, I suppose. If I hated it because I didn't like the writing style, or because it contained too much graphic content then it's quite unlikely I'd try anything else by that author.

If the problem was that the grammar and punctuation was so bad that it ruined any enjoyment of the story, I might give the author another chance down the road. I can think of one book I read that was a pretty good story but was beyond frustrating for me because there were so many punctuation and grammar problems. The author had not made use of an editor, and in responses to the reviews mentioning these problems, it appeared he didn't really understand the importance of correct punctuation. There is at least one sequel planned to the book I read, but I would not read it unless I saw that the author had used a good editor the next time around.

With so many books and authors to choose from, I guess I'd rather not revisit those that weren't enjoyable for me the first time!

©2008-2017 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/

Wordless Wednesday - Exotic Animals Rescued

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These are a few pictures from our visit to the East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue during their spring open house event.

East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue is a small non-profit organization dedicated to giving forever homes to exotic animals. Some have been retired from labs, some from zoos, and some were pets. East Coast provides the animals with safe and comfortable habitats and vet care. The animals are not expected to perform or interact with guests in any way, and can move indoors or out in their habitats as they choose. It's actually rather like an assisted living facility for the animals. All funds raised or donated goes to the animals' well-being and care.

See all the pictures and a few more words on my Homeschool Coffee Break post: An Exotic Animal PhotoJournal

This post is linked at Wordless Wednesday, hosted by Life at Rossmont; and at Pictorial Tuesday, hosted by Peabea's Scribble Pad.

©2008-2017 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 Tuesday/First Chapter First Paragraph - Love's Rescue

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker. 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! 

Elizabeth was on that ship. He'd expected her to return after her mother's death, but when the months passed without so much as a rumor of her return, he'd given up hope.

~Love's Rescue by Christine Johnson, page 45

 

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First Chapter/First Paragraph/Tuesday Intros is a weekly link-up hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea. To participate, share the first paragraph (or two) of a book you're reading, or thinking about reading.

Prologue
October 11, 1846

The gale nearly knocked Elizabeth Benjamin flat. In all of her sixteen years, she'd never experienced such terrible winds, and Key West enjoyed its share of storms. She held fast to her brother's hand. At eleven, Charlie usually rebelled at her mothering. Not today.

"Maybe we shouldn't be here." His words could barely be heard above the howling wind.

Elizabeth was beginning to think the same, but time had nearly run out. Within days, she must sail for Charleston, where she was expected to secure a prominent match. That meant leaving her beloved Key West and the man who had captured her affections. Today might be her only opportunity to change the course her parents had set out for her.

Here's the blurb:

When her mother dies, Elizabeth Benjamin heads home to Key West, determined to transform herself into the perfect Southern belle her parents always wished her to be. But nothing goes according to plan. Her crippled brother resents her, the servants do not obey her, and Rourke O'Malley, the dashing man she vowed to forget, refuses to relinquish his hold on her heart. Worst of all, it becomes painfully obvious that her father is not the upright man he appears to be.

As family secrets come to light, Elizabeth is faced with a difficult choice: to do her duty and abandon her dreams, or to leave her life of privilege behind to chase the man her father sees as little better than a pirate.

From the first emotional page, author Christine Johnson throws readers into a world of impossible choices, hidden desires, and heart-melting romance in the steamy south. Readers will cheer for Elizabeth and Rourke as they battle the odds and the elements to secure their future.

What do you think? Would you continue reading?

©2008-2017 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 - May 8, 2017

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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! 

I finished reading . . . 

The Secret Bridge by Amy Le Feuvre - I finished this last week and posted my full review on Homeschool Coffee Break, then shared a slightly abbreviated version. (Read my review HERE.)
 

All the Blue of Heaven by Virginia Carmichael - Once I got rolling with this Kindle novel I found it hard to put down. (Read my full review HERE.)

I'm currently reading . . .

The Chapel Car Bride by Judith Miller - Didn't take long to be drawn into this novel about a young woman traveling with her preacher father to minister in a remote mining town.




All in Good Time (The Gilded Legacy) by Maureen Lang - this novel took second place to the Miller novel during the week, but I'm still working on it.




Love's Rescue by Christine Johnson - Once again, I was in need of something on my Kindle. I chose this story based in the Florida Keys. Have just read the opener so far, but I think it will be good.

 


Next on the stack... 

Alice and the Assassin: An Alice Roosevelt Mystery by R.J. Koreto - not sure I'm going to be able to get to this before the library wants it back. Rats. Guess it will have to go back on the list and I'll try again.

Sanditon by Jane Austen
Lady Susan by Jane Austen

   

On my blogs last week . . .

Here on Just A Second:

Scripture and a Snapshot - He Provides
Recent Reads - All the Blue of Heaven
Recent Reads - The Secret Bridge
Wordless Wednesday - Canada 150 Tulips
Teaser Tuesday/First Chapter First Paragraph - The Chapel Car Bride

And on my homeschool blog, Homeschool Coffee Break:

Homeschool Highlights - The Merry Month of May
Owl on a Pacific Northwest Totem Pole - Blogging Through the Alphabet
And Then There Was One - How Homeschooling Changes as Students Graduate
Virtual Refrigerator - Chinese Horse
The Secret Bridge (A Homeschool Coffee Break Book Review)
Draw the World with ArtAchieve (A Homeschool Coffee Break Review)

What are you reading?

©2008-2017 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 - He Provides

Praise the LORD.

How good it is to sing praises to our God,

how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

The LORD builds up Jerusalem;

he gathers the exiles of Israel.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

He determines the number of the stars

and calls them each by name.

Great is our Lord and mighty in power;

his understanding has no limit.

The LORD sustains the humble

but casts the wicked to the ground.

Sing to the LORD with grateful praise;

make music to our God on the harp.

He covers the sky with clouds;

he supplies the earth with rain

and makes grass grow on the hills.

He provides food for the cattle

and for the young ravens when they call.

~Psalm 147:1-9~

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

Glimpses is hosted by Embracing Every Day, a lifestyle blog by Barbie Swihart.

Sunday Scripture Blessings is hosted by Peabea Scribble Pad.

©2008-2017 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 - All the Blue of Heaven

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All the Blue of Heaven by Virginia Carmichael - Allie Hathaway fulfilled her dream of being a successful painter when she left everything in her Chicago life behind and moved to San Francisco. When her brother and his wife both died, Allie became guardian to her young niece Janey, and they continued their happy life, with Allie enjoying great success in her studio. Then the San Francisco earthquake and fire destroyed everything -- their home and possessions, and Allie's paintings and studio. It also left Allie scarred physically and emotionally. So she made the difficult decision to return to her mother in Chicago to finish her recovery and find a way to continue to care for Janey.

Back in Chicago, Allie's first love, Thomas Bradford has worked hard to build a successful veterinary business, and he's become one of the city's most sought-after bachelors. After the misunderstandings that divided Allie and Thomas so many years ago, their reunion is awkward, and they both struggle with their feelings. They still love each other, but Allie fears that Thomas is only feeling sorry for her; and Thomas doesn't want Allie to feel pressured into marriage with him or anyone else. Because of course Allie's society mother is busy trying to make a suitable match for her -- and suitable doesn't necessarily mean Allie will love or even like the man chosen for her. Even worse, the 'suitable' gentlemen Allie's mother is considering are very unlikely to want Janey as part of the deal.

Most importantly, Allie needs to wrestle with her doubts and her anger with God after everything the earthquake and fire have taken from her. She needs to learn to trust God before she can accept that Thomas still loves her.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story although the negative characteristics of Allie's mother and some of the other characters seemed exaggerated to the point of not being realistic. A young lady who is vying for Thomas' attention is very jealous of Allie and is extremely spiteful when she doesn't get her way. She is an overdone stereotype of an empty-headed and mean-spirited spoiled rich girl, and towards the end of the story she takes out her anger at Allie in an extreme way that doesn't even make sense. That part of the story seemed contrived and poorly done, but other than that over-the-top character, the rest of the story-telling was quite well done. One minor point that I found irritating was the repeated use of the word "reigns" where "reins" was clearly correct. This wouldn't be so glaring except for the fact that it happened repeatedly in a story where a main character is a veterinarian that deals mainly with horses. 

©2008-2017 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/