Just A Second

Thursday, July 16

Recent Reads - The Muse of Maiden Lane

The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews - I actually finished this book weeks ago, but things have been crazy for various reasons (most of them good!) and I kept forgetting or putting off writing my review. So I'll keep this short!

Stella is the fourth lady in the group of friends in the Belles of London series. She is beautiful and an excellent artist and rider, but has not fared well in her London seasons, and time seems to be running out for her to find an eligible match. Her brother is a minister, and since he is her guardian, she is subject to his restrictions. She has an inheritance of her own, but it won't last forever. In addition, Stella's hair has been completely grey since she was a girl, and it is this oddity that has cost her any attention in the marriage market. At a Christmas house party with her friends, her path crosses with Teddy Hayes, an aspiring artist she met briefly once before, and the two keep each other company as they avoid some of the more social activities.

Teddy remembers Stella instantly - she is the beautiful young lady with the silver hair that he has wanted to paint since he first saw her. He has his own challenges in society, as he was left partially paralyzed by a serious illness some years earlier, and is confined to a wheeled chair. Teddy is so drawn to Stella's silvery beauty that he is determined to befriend her and convince her to sit for a portrait. They enjoy each other's company and develop a mutual trust and friendship. But it isn't until Stella goes home after the party and is made miserable in her own home by her brother's fiancee that she decides to consider becoming Teddy's model.

Stella moves to London and she and Teddy soon come to an agreement for a marriage of convenience so that she can assist him in living independently and can be an artist's model without her reputation being ruined. Stella is clear that she expects their relationship to move towards love in time, but what she doesn't know is that Teddy is already quite in love with her. The story continues to unfold as they explore their true feelings for each other and what they are willing to sacrifice for each other.

From the publisher:

A silver-haired equestrienne and a charismatic artist turn a scandalous bargain into a vibrant portrait of love.

Stella Hobhouse is a brilliant rider, stalwart friend, skilled sketch artist―and completely overlooked. Her outmodish gray hair makes her invisible to London society. Combined with her brother's pious restrictions and her dwindling inheritance, Stella is one the verge of a lifetime marooned in Derbyshire as a spinster. Unless she does something drastic . . . like posing for a daring new style of portrait by the only man who's ever really seen her.

Aspiring painter Edward "Teddy" Hayes knows true beauty when he sees it. He would never ask Stella to risk her reputation as an artist's model but in the five years since a virulent bout of scarlet fever left him partially paralyzed, Teddy has learned to heed good fortune when he finds it. He'll do anything to persuade his muse to pose for him, even if he must offer her a marriage of convenience.

After all, though Teddy has yearned to trace Stella's luminous beauty on canvas since their chance meeting, her heart is what he truly aches to capture . . .

By the same author: The Belle of Belgrave Square, A Holiday By Gaslight, The Work of Art, The Matrimonial Advertisment, Fair As A Star, The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter

This is a book for which the author's bio mentions their dog (#17) and from a publisher starting with the letter B (#32) for The 52 Book Club's 2026 Reading Challenge.

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2026

This post will be linked at the current BookWorms Monthly link-up hosted by At Home A Lot.

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Friday, June 5

May Bookshelf Review

It is a great thing to start life with a small number of really good books which are your very own. ~Arthur Conan Doyle

In my case there have been ongoing discussions about what a "small number" of books actually means and how much that number is allowed to grow over the years. I have to admit that it's been a chore moving my "small number" of books to our new house, and there are a LOT more books still at the house in Maryland that will eventually need to be moved . . . and moving them is an argument for going back to a smaller number!

May's Books Completed and Reviewed

Oracle of Philippi by Catherine Ensley (ARC) - Mynestra is a slave girl in ancient Philippi, but she finds her freedom when the apostle Paul casts out the demon that speaks through her and she starts to learn about this new faith. She and the other new believers in Philippi struggle with how to live out their faith. (Read my full review HERE)

A Tarnished Canvas by Anna Lee Huber - Tragedy strikes at an estate sale and art auction when part of the building collapses. Suspicions are raised that it may not have been an accident, and Kiera and Gage are engaged to find out the truth. Was it sabotage, and if so, who was the target and what was the purpose? (Read my full review HERE)

You Never Know: A Memoir by Tom Selleck with Ellis Henican - This warm and humorous memoir was an absolute delight to listen to, with Selleck narrating. He discusses how he stumbled into acting and what kept him constantly striving for excellence and authenticity. Loved it. (Read my full review HERE)

During May I started reading:

The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews - Stella has learned to avoid drawing attention to herself, as her (very) prematurely grey hair can easily make her a subject of ridicule, and certainly hasn't helped her in finding a husband during her London season. Teddy Hayes is enthralled with her silvery beauty and is determined to pain her portrait. Their friendship shows signs of blossoming into love, but they have plenty of challenges to overcome.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt - finally starting my re-read of this favorite novel featuring a large cast of vulnerable but courageous humans, and a surprisingly likeable octopus.

Where My Books Took Me in May . . . Here's where I've traveled through the pages during the month, and where each book fits in the reading challenges I'm working on.

Oracle of Philippi is set in the ancient Roman empire, in the city of Philippi.

A Tarnished Canvas is set in Victorian Edinburgh, Scotland

In You Never Know: A Memoir, Selleck focuses on his career and life in southern California and in Hawaii.

The Muse of Maiden Lane takes place in Great Britain, mostly in London.

Most of the action in Remarkably Bright Creatures is set in the Pacific Northwest of the USA

Coming Up in June!

I'll be ready to start a new book on my Kindle soon, but am starting June with the very busy process of moving into a new house, and then we'll be on vacation and have my parents visiting for the rest of the month. So I think I'd be setting myself up for failure if I get too set on what I'll read next. It will be something on my Kindle, most likely. That's all I know right now!

On my blogs recently . . .

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

What I'm Reading - May 18, 2026

And on A Fresh Cup of Coffee:

Scripture and a Snapshot posts

Everyday Images posts

Hodgepodge posts

Progress and Goals 2026 (May)

Share Four Somethings - May 2026

Monthly Musings - A Quick Summer Preview

WQ - Courage

The Flower Hour - Flowers and the Flag

The Flower Hour - Glen Helen Nature Preserve

WQ - Family Ties

Sunday Stills - Pinks and Pastel Colors

Currently . . . May 8, 2026

This post will be linked at Share Your Shelf hosted by Slices of Life and Not In Jersey.

Thursday, May 28

Recent Reads - You Never Know

You Never Know: A Memoir by Tom Selleck with Ellis Henican - I don't read a whole lot of memoirs, and I don't listen to audiobooks often, but when I saw that Tom Selleck narrates his own memoir, I couldn't pass up the chance. I was a huge fan of Magnum P.I., and I also love Selleck's more recent show Blue Bloods. It was a delight hearing Selleck tell how he stumbled into acting and found such satisfaction in developing his skills and honing his craft. His early years in the business were a mix of fortunate opportunities and slogging through auditions, supplementing with modeling and part-time jobs.

Selleck seemed genuinely surprised that he was sought after for some of his early roles, and his humility and charm comes through in this memoir. It came as somewhat of a surprise to me that the first version of the Magnum pilot that was offered wasn't appealing to him, but was the final pilot of a contract he needed to honor. Since he was in a strong position to negotiate, with the help of his agent, he was able to insist on some significant changes to the character and story of the show, and it became a project he was dedicated to and proud of. And I was reminded of just how popular and ground-breaking the show was as well.

No matter what project he was working on, Selleck had integrity and a strong work ethic, and had a dedication to good storytelling that I associate with authors more than with actors, so that was interesting.

I could say much more in praise of this memoir, but the publisher's blurb describes it extensively so I will simply leave off with my heartiest recommendation of this memoir to anyone who has enjoyed this iconic actor's work in Magnum P.I., Blue Bloods, or Three Men and a Baby. Or any of his other excellent projects.

From the publisher:

Narrated by Tom Selleck!

There are many miles from the business school and basketball court at the University of Southern California to 50 million viewers for the final episode of a TV show called Magnum P.I. Tom Selleck has lived every one of those miles in his own iconoclastic and joyful way.

Frank, funny and open-hearted, You Never Know is an intimate memoir from one of the most beloved actors of our time, the highly personal story of a remarkable life and thoroughly accidental career. In his own voice and uniquely unpretentious style, the famed actor brings readers on his uncharted but serendipitous journey to the top in Hollywood, his temptations and distractions, his misfires and mistakes, and over time, his well-earned success. Along the way, he clears up an armload of misconceptions and shares dozens of never-told stories from all corners of his personal and professional life. His rambunctious California childhood. His clueless arrival as a good-looking college jock in Hollywood (from the Dating Game to the Fox New Talent Program to co-starring with Mae West and escorting her to black-tie social functions). What it was life to emerge as a mega-star in his mid-thirties and remain so for decades to come, an actor whose authenticity and ease in front of the camera connected with audiences worldwide while embodying and also redefining the cliches of onscreen manhood.

In You Never Know, Selleck recounts his personal friendships with a vivid army of A-listers, everyone from Frank Sinatra to Carol Burnett to Sam Elliott, paying special tribute to his mentor James Garner of The Rockford Files, who believed, like Selleck, that TV protagonists are far more interesting when they have rough edges. He also more than tips his hat to the American western and the scruffy band of actors, directors and other ruffians who helped define that classic genre, where Selleck has repeatedly found a happy home. Magnum fans will be fascinated to learn how Selleck put his career on the line to make Thomas Magnum a more imperfect hero and explains why he walked away from a show that could easily have gone on for years longer.

Hollywood is never easy, even for stars who make it look that way. In You Never Know, Selleck explains how he's struggled to balance his personal and professional lives, frequently adjusting his career to protect his family's privacy and normalcy. His journey offers a truly fresh perspective on a changing industry and a changing world. Beneath all the charm and talent and self-deprecating humor, Selleck's memoir reveals an American icon who has reached remarkable heights by always insisting on being himself.

This is a book that cost me nothing (#39) and a guide to . . . (work/life balance in Hollywood) for The 52 Book Club's 2026 Reading Challenge.

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2026

This post will be linked at the current BookWorms Monthly link-up hosted by At Home A Lot.

Tuesday, May 26

Recent Reads - A Tarnished Canvas

A Tarnished Canvas by Anna Lee Huber - The late Lord Eldin's art collection is to be auctioned and Kiera and Gage attend, as she hopes to acquire one or two of the pieces she especially admires. Tragedy strikes during the auction, as a large part of the floor collapses and Kiera and Gage are among the injured. It isn't long before suspicions are raised about the circumstances, and whether the collapse was an unfortunate accident or caused by sabotage.

Sergeant Maclean requests their assistance in investigating, and in keeping the suspicions quiet for the time being. Although they know the building was intentionally compromised, they are no closer to knowing what the saboteur hoped to accomplish. Was someone in the building a target? Was it an act of some kind of revenge? Was it meant as a distraction for a theft? It's proving frustrating and dangerous to solve a case without knowing the motive, or who can be trusted. Kiera and Gage must keep their wits about them and use all their powers of observation to find the culprit as the threats come ever closer to home.

From the publisher:

Lady Kiera Darby had planned to spend the winter practicing her painting, but instead, she must find the flaw in a killer's masterpiece when an art auction results in one participant's final bid . . .

March 1833. Kiera and her husband, Sebastian Gage, have decided to settle in Edinburgh for the winter with their infant daughter. This also allows Kiera to enjoy long hours painting in her studio, making progress on the portraits she soon hopes to unveil in her own exhibit. She's thrilled when she receives an invitation to the auction of the late Lord Eldin's coveted art collection, and she and Gage eagerly accept. When the floor collapses beneath the gathering, killing one of their fellow bidders, Kiera and Gage are lucky to escape with their lives.

Within days it becomes apparent that what at first seemed to be a terrible accident is actually something far more nefarious. Someone deliberately compromised the integrity of the structure, though the police are unsure of the culprit's aim. Sergeant Maclean requests Kiera and Gage's assistance in figuring out who would wish to harm the bidders. As they dig deeper, it becomes increasingly apparent that the victim was not the killer's intended target . . . and that Kiera was lured to the auction deliberately. Kiera and Gage must utilize all their resources to unveil a monster willing to risk the lives of dozens of bystanders to achieve their ends. But they're on the verge of making a dire miscalculation. For one of the cleverest tricks in a painter's repertoire is the art of misdirection, and their eyes have been drawn far from the gravest danger.

This is a book that includes a red herring (#25), and a book from a series at least eight books long (#28) for The 52 Book Club's 2026 Reading Challenge.

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2026

For the ongoing Mystery Genre Challenge, I've filed this as Case #15 - A Crime Solving Duo

This post will be linked at the current BookWorms Monthly link-up hosted by At Home A Lot.

Monday, May 18

What I'm Reading - May 18, 2026

Here's a quick update on what I've been reading and watching lately.

I'm currently reading . . .

A Tarnished Canvas by Anna Lee Huber - Have been working on this one for awhile and it keeps getting shuffled in favor of other things. However, I'm nearing the end now! After a building collapse at an estate sale, Kiera and Gage investigate when there's reason to believe it wasn't an accident. But what could be the motive and who might be the target? There are a lot of variables in this mystery, and I suspect I'll need Kiera and Gage to explain it to me!

The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews - Matthews is another author I can't resist, and this is the fourth in her current Belles of London series. (Never mind that I haven't yet read the first or third) Stella is a respectable and marriageable young lady but her London seasons haven't been successful, largely because her hair is grey and that's just not fashionable! She feels invisible and her options are running out. A promising young painter, Teddy Hayes, has been determined to paint her portrait, fascinated by her luminous beauty, and at a Christmas house party, the two strike up a friendship . . . and possibly more.

Up Next . . . On the TBR stack . . .

I really want to watch the movie version of RBC, and hopefully we'll have an evening available to do that soon. That means that it's most likely that I'll pick up that book next. I've got other books on my stack and in my Kindle library that are in the mix as well, but with a move and vacation coming up, I'm being realistic and only listing one here.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt - I've read it a couple times before and LOVED it. Looking forward to another re-read!

I finished reading . . .

Oracle of Philippi by Catherine Ensley (ARC) - A novel based on the account in the Bible of Paul casting a demon out of a slave girl and how the church began in Philippi. The slave girl is Mynestra in this story, and she and the other new believers face difficult decisions and challenges to their faith. (Read my review HERE)

Life From Scratch: A memoir of food, family, and forgiveness by Sasha Martin - I wound up skimming parts of this memoir so that I could finish and get it back to the library, but it was very interesting and enjoyable. Sasha's childhood and teen years were full of uncertainties and changes, and she struggled to connect and belong to a family or community. But after she married and became a mother, the idea to cook her way around the world, a meal from every country, led to her brilliant blog, her success, and her finding peace with her past experiences. (Read my review HERE)

I've been watching . . .

Hockey games, of course! Not much else over the past couple of weeks. During the Stanley Cup playoffs, there's little else that we are interested in, and my husband's favorite team is still in the mix (at the time of writing, anyway - their series will be decided later today) so we're especially focused.

I've been listening to . . .

You Never Know: A Memoir by Tom Selleck and Ellis Henican - I could have listed this as currently reading, but I've chosen to listen to the audiobook version because it's Selleck himself narrating. I'm loving the story of how he got started in acting and the things he learned along the way. And I just love his voice, though it's more gravelly now than in his Magnum PI days when I first became a devoted fan.

At work I also listen to RadioU and various political and social commentary podcasts, and my own eclectic mix of music on Spotify.

On my blogs recently . . .

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

April Bookshelf Review

March Bookshelf Review

On my main coffee break project, A Fresh Cup of Coffee:

Scripture and a Snapshot posts

Everyday Images and Photo Challenge posts

Hodgepodge and other Q&A Link-up posts

Five Minute Friday posts

WQ - Family Ties

Currently . . . May 8, 2026

Progress and Goals 2026 (January - April)

WQ - Positive Impact

Share Four Somethings - April 2026

WQ - Overcoming Fear

Currently . . . April 2, 2026

WQ - Simplicity

Share Four Somethings - March 2026

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What are you reading?

This post may be linked at What's On Your Bookshelf? #whatsonyourbookshelfchallenge hosted by Deb's World.

Thursday, May 14

Recent Reads - Oracle of Philippi

Oracle of Philippi by Catherine Ensley (ARC) - It was a real pleasure to be able to read an ARC of this novel from Catherine Ensley. The novel explores the possibilities around an encounter described in the New Testament book of Acts, when the apostle Paul sets a slave girl free from an evil spirit. What the Bible tells us is that the slave had been some kind of prophet and that her owners profited from her telling fortunes, so they were very angry to lose their source of income. We know that this confrontation led to Paul and Silas being imprisoned, and that the jailer and his family were baptized. And we know that the church in Philippi met in Lydia's home. If you're like me, you might know all these Biblical facts, but haven't considered that it's possible, or even likely, that all these Philippian believers knew each other.

In this story, Mynestra is the slave girl, a young woman brought up to be a Pythian prophet in service to the Roman gods. In an encounter with Paul and Silas, Paul sets her free from the dark spirit that speaks through her, and Mynestra finds her own voice for the first time. She becomes a believer in Jesus but knows little about the new faith and rarely has an opportunity to attend their meetings. She struggles to reconcile her position as a slave forced to give oracles from Apollo with her desire to serve and obey the one true God.

Clement is the other main character, the son of Jewish parents who are Roman citizens. Clement is rising in the ranks of Roman government and is skeptical of the new faith, but when his mother and his close friend's (Epaphroditus, the son of the jailer) whole family claim the faith, he is also curious and reluctant to carry out any Roman punishments against them. Clement is also a friend of Mynestra's, and has been saving to buy her freedom. The more he observes the faith, kindness, and mercy shown by the believers, the more he grapples with his own beliefs and whether he is willing to take a stand, even if it costs him security and position.

I loved how this story gave names to these early believers, and created very plausible connections among the characters mentioned in the Bible. Since we have only a few sentences of Scripture telling us about the slave girl and her owners, the jailer and other officials in Philippi, and the names of the believers in Philippi, it's tempting to think they encountered the gospel and became believers and that's that. But it's likely that they struggled with their roles within their community, their changing loyalties, and the steep learning curve about the one God. All the things the apostle Paul addresses in his letters to the churches are questions or conflicts that the real people in those early Christian communities had to address, and the answers weren't always easy.

Beautifully written and well-researched, challenging and thought-provoking. I'm delighted when an enjoyable story also encourages me to dig into my Bible a little further and reminds me that the characters mentioned in Scripture were real people with real families and real feelings. The time and place they lived in is very different, but many of their experiences and dilemmas in living out their faith may not be all that different from ours.

From the publisher:

A Novel of Faith, Freedom, and the Cost of Truth

She was freed. But freedom cost her everything.

In first-century Philippi, a Roman colony built on power, loyalty, and control, a slave girl once valued for her visions loses the role that defined her―and the place she once held in the world. Mysnestra now stands between two worlds. Rejected by those she once served and uncertain among those she now follows, she must learn what it means to live without the identity that once shaped her―and discover whether her voice still has a place.

Clement, a rising Roman citizen, has everything to gain within the empire. But as he is drawn toward a truth he cannot ignore, he faces a choice that may cost him his future, his standing, and the life he has been trained to pursue.

As new faith begins to spread through Philippi, fear and resistance grow. Because in a city built on control, even a single transformed life can become a threat.

Oracle of Philippi is a richly layered historical novel of awakening, identity, and the cost of truth―for readers drawn to stories that linger long after the final page.

I received a digital ARC of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.

This is a book set in an ancient civilization (#1) and has a title that starts with the letter O (#6) for The 52 Book Club's 2026 Reading Challenge.

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2026

This post will be linked at the current BookWorms Monthly link-up hosted by At Home A Lot.

Thursday, May 7

April Bookshelf Review

Wow, April went by quickly! Mostly because I was very busy, and we were traveling on a couple of the weekends. We've been intensely focused on finding a house to buy and getting that whole process going, and many evenings were taken up by that pursuit, and one of the things that I put on the backburner as a result was reading. Even though my reading pace has been pretty slow for awhile now, it was still weird and a little embarrassing to realize that there is almost nothing to update as far as books read.

April's Books Completed and Reviewed

Life From Scratch: A memoir of food, family, and forgiveness by Sasha Martin - Although I wound up skimming a good portion of this memoir, it was definitely a valuable read. Martin's growing up years were marked by uncertainty, upheaval, loss, and grief, but many of her good memories involved cooking and sharing food, being creative in the kitchen. So after a time in culinary school, and as a way to refocus her life as a wife and new mother, she decided to cook a meal from every country in the world, once a week. Followers of her blog Global Table Adventure will enjoy this more in-depth story of who she is and how her journey of cooking the world came to be. (Read my review HERE)

Oracle of Philippi by Catherine Ensley (ARC) - This New Testament setting novel follows the story of a slave girl from whom the apostle Paul cast out a demon (in the book of Acts). Mynestra chooses to follow Jesus along with the believers Lydia and others, but she is still a slave so living out her newfound faith is complicated. (Review coming soon)

During April I continued reading:

A Tarnished Canvas by Anna Lee Huber - Kiera and Gage are invited to an estate sale and auction of art pieces, and part of the building collapses. It turns out it wasn't entirely an accident, and they take on the investigation of who sabotaged the building and why. I did largely set this aside over the past few weeks, only dabbling in it now and then.

Where My Books Took Me in April . . . Here's where I've traveled through the pages during the month, and where each book fits in the reading challenges I'm working on.

Life From Scratch: A memoir of food, family, and forgiveness took place mostly in the United States, but the author also lived in Europe for several years.

Oracle of Philippi is set in the New Testament time period, and takes place in the Roman colony city of Philippi, which is in modern-day Greece.

A Tarnished Canvas is set in Victorian Scotland, mostly in Edinburgh.

Coming Up in May!

These are still here on my TBR, and I picked up a few deals for my Kindle recently as well. No idea yet which of ones I'll read next.

Kills Well With Others by Deanna Raybourn

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Being Henry: The Fonz . . . And Beyond by Henry Winkler