Recent Reads {Midsummer Night}

Midsummer Night by Deanna Raybourn - At long last, I had another Lady Julia novel (okay - really it's only a novella) to enjoy! And I was torn between devouring it all in one sitting, or forcing myself to slow down and make it last for at least a couple of days. I opted for the latter. This addition to the quirky Lady Julia Grey series tells about the Julia and Brisbane's wedding. Readers of the series will note that Julia and Brisbane are embroiled in a mystery while still on their wedding trip, but the wedding itself wasn't described. That happens in this shorter book.

The entire eccentric March family gathers at Bellmont Abbey to celebrate as Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane tie the knot at midsummer's. As always with this delightfully odd family, there are disagreements and humorous mishaps. There is not really a murder mystery here, although a past nemesis appears to threaten Julia. Mostly this is just a little bit of romantic comedy background to keep fans of Lady Julia satisfied until another full-length mystery is available. Which I hope is very soon!

By the same author: A Spear of Summer Grass, Silent in the Grave, Silent in the Sanctuary, Dark Road to Darjeeling, The Dark Enquiry, Silent Night, The Dead Travel Fast

©2008-2013 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 {Behind the Shattered Glass}

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Behind the Shattered Glass by Tasha Alexander - I have been waiting for what seems like a long time for the newest Lady Emily mystery, and it was a quick and entertaining read! Emily and her husband Colin are settled in the English country home, enjoying their little sons and hosting a couple of guests, when a quiet evening is interrupted by a man stumbling in the door and falling down dead. He turns out to be their neighbor, the Marquess of Montagu. Of course Emily and Colin are called upon to investigate, but it seems like almost everyone they talk to is lying about something. The list of potential suspects includes the cousin of the Marquess who thought she would inherit the title until another long-lost cousin showed up, and a vicar's daughter who had been in a relationship with the Marquess and claimed they were engaged. Neither is completely honest with Emily. The trail also leads them to several serving girls and their families that may have had a reason for revenge. 

One thing that makes this novel a little different is that the chapters alternate between Lady Emily's first-person narrative, and a third person narrative that describes what is happening 'downstairs' - with the servants of the household, particularly the housemaid Lily. I really enjoyed the glimpse of life below stairs, although the trouble-making kitchen maid didn't seem to have a real motive for being so nasty.

The solution to the mystery did come as rather a surprise to me, but after the reveal the story gets quickly and rather too neatly wrapped up with a couple of odd couple romances. All in all, an enjoyable mystery, but not the best in the series. Also? I have no idea how the title relates to the story. LOL

By the same author: Death in the Floating City, A Crimson Warning, Dangerous to Know, Tears of Pearl, A Fatal Waltz, A Poisoned Season, And Only to Deceive

  ©2008-2013 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 {The White Princess}

The White Princess by Philippa Gregory - This latest in the series about the Cousins' War focuses on Elizabeth of York, the daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, as she is married to Henry Tudor after he claims the crown of England. Elizabeth is a York through and through, and she is also grieving the death of Richard III, her uncle and lover. The betrothal had been arranged many years earlier, and with the Lancastrian Tudors finally claiming the throne, the hope was that the marriage would be seen as a reuniting of the two rival houses. Henry Tudor and Elizabeth start out seeing each other as the enemy so their relationship is rocky at best. Still, Henry and his scheming mother cannot trust Elizabeth or her family, because of the possibility that one or both of the York princes are still alive somewhere and might come to challenge Henry for the throne. Rumors and plots are constantly swirling in the background, and even as Elizabeth keeps her distance from any plotting, she cannot help but hope that maybe there is some truth to rumors that her brothers are still alive. Eventually an affection grows between Henry and Elizabeth, especially as they have children, but Henry's ever-present fear of 'the boy' (a surviving York prince) and his mother's constant interference and control over him make their lives together difficult. As always, Gregory delivers history as it might have been seen from a woman's point of view, and her own possible explanation of one of the mysteries of English history - what happened to the York princes? 

By the same author: The Kingmaker's Daughter, The White Queen, The Red Queen, The Constant Princess, The Other Boleyn Girl, The Boleyn Inheritance

©2008-2013 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 {Liberty Hill}

Liberty Hill by Sonia Heisinger - This young adult book was offered for free on Kindle some time ago, and the description and cover caught my eye. There are two main characters - Lucius Flynn and Evelyn Brennan. They were childhood friends, and their fathers planned for them to marry when they came of age. Both are from Irish families that came to New York City and built a shipping business together. However, the marriage is something neither of them really want. Under the pretense of a honeymoon trip, they instead set out to the goldfields of California via the Panama route. Lucius is planning to use Evelyn's dowry money to set himself up as a gold miner and build a new life for himself, and he promises to send Evelyn back to Ireland as she wishes as soon as he has done so; and in the meantime they agree to keep the fact that they are married a secret. They make friends and enemies while on their journey, and face many dangers and adventures. All the while, Lucius and Evelyn are in a back-and-forth pattern in their relationship - do they trust each other? do they even like each other? - and both find that perhaps dissolving the marriage might not be best after all. Lucius is full of faults - he is a notorious drinker and gambler, he takes reckless chances with Evelyn's money, and when he does attempt to be a gentleman and a man that Evelyn can trust and respect, luck is not with him. For her part, Evelyn is maddeningly stubborn and cold-hearted, reluctant to give Lucius a fair chance when he does try. Neither of them are particularly likable, and I was sometimes stumped as to why any of the characters like either one of them, never mind how they might be attracted to one another. Lucius does show some growth and development as a character through the story, but Evelyn softened only the tiniest bit as the plot developed.

I was kept interested by the storyline and the hope that Lucius and Evelyn would eventually overcome their rocky start and patch up their relationship, perhaps even find happiness. I became dismayed when I realized I was well past the halfway mark of the book and they were nowhere near California yet. By the time I reached the end of the book, I had suspected that they wouldn't reach their destination and perhaps there would be a sequel. And that turned out to be the case. I guess somehow I missed the fact that this is supposed to be the first in a series! I don't suppose it's really a spoiler alert to say that the story definitely doesn't end with this first book in the series, and that the ending wasn't particularly satisfying as far as resolving various plot elements. The reader really is left hanging and waiting for the next installment, should they be interested enough in reading it. I am not sure whether I will or not. It won't be a priority, let's put it that way. My other criticism is that while the narration remains in third person throughout, it jumps about quite randomly as to which character's point of view is dominant. This type of narration works well when a particular chapter or section sticks with one character and then there is a break before switching to another character so that it's clear to the reader. This author didn't wait for chapter or section breaks to switch focus, and sometimes didn't even wait for a new paragraph, so I was left feeling almost disoriented.

©2008-2013 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 {A Spear of Summer Grass}

A Spear of Summer Grass by Deanna Raybourn - I have been an avid fan of Raybourn's Lady Julia series for quite some time, and also enjoyed her stand-alone novel, The Dead Travel Fast, so I was eager to see what she would do with a setting in 1920s British Kenya. I was not disappointed. Delilah Drummond is a daring socialite with a talent for scandal and failed romances. With the death of her third husband shocking society, her mother decide that Delilah needs to get out of the public eye until the scandals die down, and so she is sent to her stepfather's crumbling estate in British Kenya. There she connects with the eclectic British ex-pat society, including enigmatic safari guide Ryder White. Despite their efforts to avoid any entanglement with each other, as the story progresses, they are developing feelings for each other. But both are proud and fiercely independent, and both carry plenty of baggage from their past. Delilah also finds herself falling in love with the land of Africa and with its people, and struggles with the decisions of whether she will return to her socialite lifestyle when her 'exile' is ended, or whether it is worth her while to stay in Africa and build a new life there.

Delilah is not always a likable character - she is jaded and selfish, and carelessly contemptuous of her cousin Dora (who has been sent to Africa with her as companion). She has all kinds of bad habits, including promiscuity, and she can be crude and mean-tempered. But she is cool and confident under pressure, intelligent, and has a knack for social justice and compassion hidden under a rock-hard facade. Despite her faults and flaws, she was also someone who had been hurt badly by life and at least part of her prickly nature was her way of trying to protect herself from further hurt. The development of her character through the story is very well-done, so that even when she is behaving abominably, and acting quite stupidly, I couldn't help but sympathize with her and desperately hope that it all came out right for her and that she would find happiness. Ryder is a similar character in that he puts up a wall around himself and acts as if he is cold and uncaring in order to protect himself from being vulnerable. Both characters take some very daring chances as they realize that their loyalty to the Africa they love, and their need to be together is worth the risk.

A very enjoyable read that truly made me wish there would be a sequel!

By the same author: Silent in the Grave, Silent in the Sanctuary, Dark Road to Darjeeling, The Dark Enquiry, Silent Night, The Dead Travel Fast

©2008-2013 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 {Hope}

Hope by Lori Copeland - Hope Kallahan is a sweet-natured but slightly scatterbrained mail-order bride on a stagecoach trip to meet the man she will marry. As it happens, she is on the same stagecoach as the daughter of a senator, which means that they've been targeted by outlaws planning to rob the stage and hold the senator's daughter for ransom. However, the daughter and her companion had not resumed their journey at the last stop, so the gang takes Hope instead, convinced that she is Senator Ferry's daughter. Hope is terrified and appalled at the outlaws' plans for her, and yet one of the men is different - somehow kind and gentlemanly, despite the circumstances. Later she finds out that this outlaw is actually undercover agent Dan Sullivan, and his mission has been to find out how this gang is getting the information about which stagecoaches are carrying valuables. The mission is abandoned when Dan decides to get Hope to safety when she becomes very ill. He plans to deliver her to her husband-to-be, but their journey is rife with mishaps and delays, through which they grow to know and trust each other - and eventually love each other.

Way too many coincidences and outlandish storylines to be believable, but a funny and sweet romance all the same. I really enjoyed it, and was a little surprised to realize that it's the third in a set. Hope's two sisters each have a book telling their story as well.

©2008-2013 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 {The Kingmaker's Daughter}

The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory - The man known as the "kingmaker" in fifteenth-century England was Richard Neville, the Earl of Warwick. He was a very powerful figure during the Cousins' War (or Wars of the Roses, as we may be more familiar with them) and it was widely believed that his political power was needed to back a successful claim to the throne. Warwick didn't have a son of his own, only two daughters, and he made ruthless use of them in his political strategizing, but both grew up to wield power of their own. This story focuses on the younger daughter, Anne Neville, who grew up in the court of King Edward IV and his queen, Elizabeth Woodville. But when her father clashes with Edward, and eventually makes war on him, Anne is merely a pawn on the political chessboard. She is married off at fourteen and soon becomes a widow; her father is killed in battle against the king, so she and her mother and sister must hide in sanctuary. Her older sister Isabel is married to the king's enemy and rival for the throne, his own brother George, Duke of Clarence. Anne seizes the opportunity to make her own choices, and accepts the marriage offer of King Edward's youngest brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester. She and Isabel are expected at the court of Elizabeth Woodville, but they know that she hates them because of their father, so the days are full of suspicion and intrigue. Even when Edward's death leads her husband Richard to the throne, Anne is not at peace because she fears more than ever for the lives of her loved ones, including her only son.  

I really appreciated this account, albeit fictionalized and imagined, of a woman usually regarded as such a minor player during the Cousins' War. Surprisingly little is known about Anne and her sister. One of the things Gregory does so well is relate historical events as they may have been seen and experienced by the women who lived through them. Already in this series, she has given the White Queen (Elizabeth Woodville) and the Red Queen (Margaret Beaufort) equal time, and the newest book in the series is from the point of view of Elizabeth of York. It is interesting to read about the same events thinking how they would have been seen by people on opposite sides of the issues.

By the same author: The White Queen, The Red Queen, The Constant Princess, The Other Boleyn Girl, The Boleyn Inheritance

©2008-2013 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 {The Touch of Sage}

The Touch of Sage by Marcia Lynn McClure - This was a predictable but engaging love story, and a bit of a tear-jerker at times. The supporting cast of characters - an eclectic foursome of widows at a boarding house run by the main character Sage - made the story lively and fun. The main characters Sage and her love interest Rebel were interesting too. Sage has looked after her younger sisters since the death of their parents and it seems as if her chance for happiness may have passed by. She's lonely and starting to wonder if she'll stay that way, when the nephew of one of the widows comes to town to work the widow's cattle ranch. The widows come up with some crazy matchmaking schemes to push Sage and Rebel together, but it seemed to me they didn't need a lot of help noticing each other. The final matchmaking scheme was completely harebrained and unbelievable, but at least it was humorous. Sage is gullible and doubts herself, and Rebel is courageous in the face of danger but a coward when it comes to facing Sage after he saves her life. There wouldn't be much to the story if there weren't some obstacles to the happy ever after part, so there are misunderstandings and fears that keep the two from a happy relationship too early. And then just as it seems everything will work out, Rebel's ex-fiancee shows up with some lies and deceit that muddy the waters even further. Some of the characters, such as ex-fiancee Ivy and the preacher and his wife were really not believable. The other thing that bothered me was the spelled-out dialect which I felt was overdone and distracting. It was also inconsistent, such as a character saying "you" and "ya" in the same speech. The author seemed fond of the non-word "caressive", which was  used at least four times, and constantly used "might" instead of "mite" such as in: "I'm a might tired." All in all, this was a fluffy and over-dramatic western-themed romance but still had moments that were entertaining and tugged at the heartstrings.

©2008-2013 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 {Pride's Prejudice}

Pride's Prejudice by Misty Dawn Pulsipher - I'm not entirely sure, but I think this modern day take on Pride & Prejudice is intended to be young adult fiction. In any case, it was surprisingly enjoyable! I definitely appreciated that it was a modern romance that stayed clean and that the characters had high moral standards. Yet it wasn't "preachy" as if it was attempting to force some moral point on the reader.

Beth Pride is a college student who meets young businessman William Darcy at a charity fundraiser dance when neither of them are having a very good day. Just as in Austen's original, each of them form some first impressions that aren't accurate and lead to continued misunderstandings and prejudice. Beth feels that William insulted and humiliated her, and she is unwilling to forgive and forget, or to accept that he may be a much nicer guy than she's given him credit for. As it turns out, Beth's roommate and best friend is soon in a relationship with William's best friend, so the two find themselves in each other's company frequently. Beth struggles to set aside her prejudicial attitude about William as he tries to get her attention and win her affections. Although the main character motivations were rather unclear at times and I noticed some minor plot holes, on the whole this was a cute and clean love story with characters that were modern yet had the noble and honorable character traits of Austen's Darcy and Elizabeth.

©2008-2013 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/

Tuesday's Treasures {The Seven Wonders of the World}

This post is copied from my main blog, Homeschool Coffee Break, but because this link-up is about books, my contributions will appear here too!

The Seven Wonders of the World by Ron Tagliapietra - A long time ago (but not in a galaxy far away) I picked up this book because I thought it might be helpful in our study of the ancient world, and give us more information about the seven wonders of the ancient world. It met those expectations, but there's a lot more to this book. It's sort of a combination of a travel brochure, a history lesson, and a Bible lesson. The seven wonders of the ancient world are discussed and described, but there is also great information about other lists of wonders - technical, archaeological, architectural, and natural. Of course, these lists change from time to time and vary depending on who compiles them. Kennady and I recently completed a lapbook project about the seven natural wonders of the world, and only three of them are the same as the ones listed in this book, which was published in 1999. I haven't checked, but I imagine a few of the technological wonders listed have been eclipsed by structures that are bigger or more amazing. For each of the ancient wonders, the author describes them and puts them in context of Biblical history. By comparing and contrasting the religious beliefs of the builders of the ancient wonders to the God of the Bible, there are some interesting lessons as well. The wonders from the other lists are also well described along with some historical context. This book has proved to be a great resource for studying history and geography, and has come in handy for science as well. It's probably best suited as a reference, and some of the Bible lessons are a tiny bit forced, but I'm glad it's in our homeschool library.

I found it available through Amazon and through Christian Book Distributors. I'm sure it's available through other vendors as well.

(I originally wrote about The Seven Wonders of the World a couple of years ago for this blog.)

The original post is linked at Every Bed of Roses for Tuesday's Treasures. Blog about a book on your shelf, one you're reading, or one you found at the library.

©2008-2013 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 {The Matters at Mansfield}

The Matters at Mansfield, Or, The Crawford Affair by Carrie Bebris - I had read this fourth novel in the Mr & Mrs Darcy Mystery series before, and I found that I enjoyed it much more the second time through, which isn't to say I didn't like it the first time. After my first reading, I'd said it was "definitely an enjoyable read" but also thought is was the "weakest outing of the four" in the series I'd read so far. Hmmm. I'm not sure I still agree with that assessment! This one is different from the first two in that it doesn't include a supernatural element to the mystery. Darcy's cousin Anne DeBourgh has finally summoned enough backbone to do what she wants to do, and to the great surprise of everyone, she elopes with the dashing Henry Crawford in order to escape the plans Lady Catherine has to marry her to a titled gentleman with a reputation for being anything but gentle or honorable! Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam ride after the couple but arrive too late to stop the marriage. An accident delays them in the village of Mansfield, where it is discovered that Anne's new husband has quite a history of romancing the ladies, and has even married at least one of his conquests, although under an assumed name. Elizabeth and Lady Catherine join the group at Mansfield and all are involved in trying to untangle the affair, which soon includes murder and further plotting.

What disappointed me in this book was the number of times that Lady Catherine is incredibly rude - even for her! - to Elizabeth, and Darcy does not defend his wife. Elizabeth doesn't tattle about all of this to Darcy, of course, but when he is standing in the same room and his aunt calls Elizabeth a "stupid, common baggage" I certainly thought he would have drawn a line at that, no matter how distraught everyone was at the time. Lady Catherine is also terribly rude to Meg, the young woman claiming to be married to Crawford, which seemed to me to be slightly out of character. I would have expected Lady Catherine to act as if Meg (a commoner, and a serving girl) was completely beneath her notice. Meg provides some welcome humour, however, as she blithely assumes that Lady Catherine is perhaps losing her mental faculties and speaks to her and about her patronizingly. 

My comments from a previous read: The Matters at Manfield. 

By the same author: The Intrigue at Highbury, North By Northanger, Suspense and Sensibility, Pride and Prescience. 

©2008-2013 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 {The Black Swan}

The Black Swan by Philippa Carr - This is the sixteenth in Carr's Daughters of England series, and is set in Victorian England. It focuses on Lucie Lansdon, the daughter of a respected politician. Her beloved father is murdered near the beginning of the story, and as the key witness, Lucie is able to identify the assassin, leading to his execution for the crime. She is haunted by her grief and by the worry that she may have condemned an innocent man, but another blow is yet to come. The rising young politician that she is planning to marry is kidnapped while on a diplomatic mission in Africa and she later receives word that he has been killed. In the meantime, her childhood companion (sort of a sister - the relationship is complicated and is the subject of the previous book in the series) Belinda, comes back from Australia, and convinces Lucie to go with her to visit Belinda's father in France. Lucie develops a fast friendship with a brother and sister and eventually returns to England with them and winds up marrying the brother. There is danger lurking around every corner for her, it seems, and her happiness and her very life are threatened.

In keeping with the Gothic romance style of this series, there are suggestions of haunting and questions raised about Lucie's mental stability; and there are sinister men with questionable motives in mysterious and ancient castles. It also struck me as I was reading this one that the standard advice given to young ladies facing great grief and tragedy throughout this series has been "you need to get right away from it"; the family and friends always seem to believe that removing from the scene of any horrible event and "putting it right out of your mind" is the cure-all for getting over the death of loved ones or the trauma of witnessing or being a part of something tragic.

By the same author: The Changeling; The Witch From the Sea; The Lion Triumphant; The Miracle at St Bruno's.

©2008-2013 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 {Loving Mr Darcy: Journeys Beyond Pemberley}

Loving Mr Darcy by Sharon Lathan - I should have known better, after suffering through the inanity of the first book in this series. Actually, I did know better, but I'd intended to read all three so I set out to get through the second. This offering is just as full of repetitious bedroom scenes, and just as devoid of anything resembling plot as the first. In fact, I could sum up the book as follows: Darcy and Elizabeth continue to be completely ruled by raging hormones and immature obsessive passion all the way through Elizabeth's pregnancy. There is a pattern to most of the chapters that basically describes some tedious detail of their daily life and then includes a rehash of the standard breathless rush to the bedroom to once again reach the heights of passion and delight. <insert eyeroll here> 

What the book lacks in plot, it makes up for in complete absence of direction and momentum. What it lacks in intelligent dialogue, it makes up for in overly sentimental and repetitious moaning and wheezing of endearments during lustful encounters. (Both Darcy and Lizzy frequently "wheeze" during their lovemaking - not very attractive, in my opinion, but it provided a moment of amusement for me when I read it.)

Elizabeth's progressing pregnancy tends to give the illusion of a storyline, but mostly it serves as a reason for Darcy to be sentimental and overprotective, and for the reader to (presumably) be even more impressed that Elizabeth continues to be just as lascivious and enthusiastic in the bedroom as her baby bump grows. Towards the end of the book, Darcy takes Elizabeth on a tour of Derbyshire and plays the part of tour guide. There are several chapters of description of the sights and history of the region, which are frankly, horribly boring, and are still punctuated by their insatiable lust. The bedroom scenes became boring long ago, because they are all basically the same. Then they are set upon by highwaymen at one point and unbelievably, even that event turned out to be ho-hum because it was resolved within the chapter, and completely predictably. How can you include a scene with an armed robbery, violence and attempted rape and murder, and still not achieve a sense of tension or crisis in the narrative? Incredibly, Lathan manages it.

As in my review of the first book, I do have to temper my harsh criticism with something positive. I really do appreciate a point that I think Lathan is trying to make. I have the impression that by being very clear that Darcy and Elizabeth have both remained completely chaste until their marriage, and then indulging in scene after scene of their intense physical satisfaction within marriage, the author may be attempting to show that the most secure and fulfilling marriage relationship is best achieved by waiting until the wedding and being completely faithful to each other. That said, I firmly believe that the point could have been made more effectively with far less description of "burgeoning desires" and "evidence of arousal" etc. 

Why these books are receiving favorable reviews is completely beyond my understanding. Despite my original intention to read all three in this series, I refuse to put myself through the literary torment of even skimming through the third. I have the book which I believe is intended to be the fourth, and focuses on a character Lathan invented, Darcy's uncle Dr George Darcy. In hopes that it might actually have something sort of resembling a storyline, I may give it a chance at some point. My hope is slim, however. 

By the same author: Mr & Mrs Fitzwilliam Darcy; and one of the novellas in A Darcy Christmas. Neither of which is worth your time or trouble either, and certainly not any of your money, in my opinion.

©2008-2013 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 {The Changeling}

The Changeling by Philippa Carr - I must say I like the cover art on the edition I have much better than the one above, but anyway... I had been reading through Carr's "Daughters of England" series again and left off quite awhile ago. (And I haven't bothered writing about them as I read them either - the last one I mentioned on the blog was #3 in the series, and this is #15! oops.) I picked up where I left off and just finished this one, which is set during Victorian England. (The series follows a family tree from mother to daughter, beginning in the time of Henry VIII's marriage to Anne Boleyn. Each is a romance novel in a rather gothic style - high drama and adventure, with dark secrets and hints of the supernatural.) Young Rebecca Mandeville is not at all happy when her widowed mother married Benedict Lansdon, and resents many of the changes it brings to her life. Worst of all, her mother dies in childbirth, and Rebecca helps to mother her young sister, Belinda. Their relationship with Benedict is distant at best. Rebecca brings another child into the family circle when a tragedy at a party leaves Lucie an orphan. Just because of the title, the reader clues into the possibility that Belinda may just be a changeling early in the story, but the clues don't fall into place for the characters right until the end. In the meantime, Rebecca and Benedict begin to develop a friendship amid the other tragedies and mysteries that surround them and their loved ones. Of course it all comes right in the end, although it's amazing to me how placidly they all seem to accept the startling revelation about the changeling at the end.

By the same author: The Witch From the Sea; The Lion Triumphant; The Miracle at St Bruno's.

©2008-2013 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/

Tuesday's Treasures {The Big Book of Beastly Mispronunciations}

This post is copied from my main blog, Homeschool Coffee Break, but because this link-up is about books, my contributions will appear here too!

Hi, my name is Kym and I'm a grammar geek and word nerd. My kids would say I'm a grammar nazi, but I think that's a little harsh. I am a little obsessive about correcting them when they misuse "me" and "I" but that's become something of a family joke now, and the boys say it wrong on purpose half the time just to mess with me. And they love it when they can catch me getting something wrong. Of course, just because I'm a grammar nerd doesn't mean that I never make mistakes, or that I avoid speaking (or writing) using slang or extremely informal style. If you've ever talked to me in person or read some of my stuff on message boards or Facebook (or even here) you probably already know that. In fact, I've noticed lately that I use a lot of sentence fragments. I figure it's okay because this blog isn't for college credit. 

That background may help explain why I'm fascinated by this book and consider it so much fun. I have a horror of mispronouncing words. I remember being stumped by the word "calliope" and how much my hubby teased me when I got it wrong. I guess he figured he scored one on the grammar nerd! Not so much any more, but I used to provide lots of amusement to my American friends because of my "Canadian accent" and for using the British pronunciation of some words. I found the big book of beastly mispronunciations by Charles Harrington Elster in the library's book sale bin and for 25 cents I could not pass it up!

I'm just nerdy enough that I actually read this book cover-to-cover for enjoyment, and I still refer to it when a pronunciation issue comes up. It backs up my opinion when I claim that sports reporters say "fracas" incorrectly, or when I get irritated over someone saying that something is "patently false" while using a "patently incorrect" pronunciation, or when I insist that "New England Primer" and "paint primer" are not said the same way! It also proves my case that I am not mispronouncing "advertisement" or "lieutenant", merely using the British pronunciation. As I said, I am not always right, and have been surprised to find that I have been saying "congruent" and "alumnae" incorrectly. Thankfully, many words listed in this book have more than one correct or accepted pronunciation, so we sometimes find that although we aren't using the preferred pronunciation, at least we're not wrong. It's not just a book listing pronunciation either, most of the entries are accompanied with an explanation of the word origins and how the accepted pronunciations have changed over time, and often presented with droll humor. 

Are you second-guessing yourself on some of the above words? (I second-guess myself often, just because the book has shown that what we hear most often is not always correct!) Here are the answers from the expert, as found in my book:

• advertisement AD-ver-TYZ-ment (American); ad-VUR-tiz-ment (chiefly British)
• alumnae uh-LUHM-nee. Do not say uh-LUHM-ny.
• congruent KAHNG-groo-wint. Stress the first syllable.
• fracas FRAY-kis, not FRAK-is
• lieutenant loo-TEN-int (American always); lef-TEN-int (British)
• patent when used to mean "obvious" the pronunciation is PAYT'nt; for all other meanings the pronunciation is PAT'nt
• primer an introductory textbook is a PRIM-ur; paint is PRY-mur

This book is fun and educational for word nerds! Everyone around me may say EK-struh-OR-di-ner-ee but I know it should be ek-STROR-di-ner-ee and will say it correctly. But no matter how wrong it is, I guess I will probably keep saying FUNG-gy even though I now know that it is supposed to be FUN-jy. Old habits die hard.

What words do you wonder about? Leave a comment if you'd like me to check the book for the correct pronunciation! 

The original post is linked at Every Bed of Roses for Tuesday's Treasures. Blog about a book on your shelf, one you're reading, or one you found at the library.

©2008-2013 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 {The Good Knight}

The Good Knight by Sarah Woodbury - Sometimes you can find something really good among the freebies for Kindle. In my opinion, The Good Knight was one of those finds for me. A mystery with a bit of romance, and set in medieval Wales - no wonder the description had me hooked! The story was not a disappointment either, with well-developed characters and an intriguing mystery. At times I did feel a little confused, as if there was some background I had missed, and I did check to make sure this wasn't the second of a series! It is the first in this series, although a prequel novella is available as well. Most of the missing pieces were supplied later in the book, so other than those few moments of "did I miss something?" or disconnects in the storyline, the story was quite satisfying, and the twists and turns in the mystery plot kept me wondering and guessing along with Gareth and Gwen as they unravel the knots of murder, conspiracy theories, and political maneuvering. The ending was a bit abrupt - it felt like there should be a bit more, but maybe that's so I'll read the second book in the series?

Gwen is the daughter of a court bard, who also happens to be a spy for one of the Welsh princes. When her party stumbles upon the scene of an ambush on the way to a royal wedding, she renews her contact with the knight who was courting her before he was dismissed from his lord's service. Gareth is also a spy, and together they work to find out who conspired to murder the king who was on his way to be married. There are plenty of suspects to consider, but when Gareth himself is accused of the crime, things really get complicated. Turns out that very few characters in this book are completely trustworthy or can be neatly categorized as "good guys" or "bad guys". And as a bonus, at the end I found out that some of the characters and plot are based on actual events.

©2008-2013 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 {Mr & Mrs Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One}

Mr & Mrs Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One by Sharon Lathan - Have you ever read a book from the Best Seller List that everyone else was raving about, but it totally left you flat? That's kind of what my experience with this book was. I'm glad I only borrowed it and didn't pay for it, and I am baffled as to why this author is acclaimed by many as one of the best writers of P&P sequels. 

My first complaint is that this "novel" doesn't even have a storyline! When I was in school, I was taught that a good story has to have some kind of conflict that is resolved. There is little of that in this selection, and as such, there is no ongoing plot to tie the book together. As the book starts with the Darcy wedding day, the wedding night jitters that Elizabeth experiences are presented as being a sort of conflict, but of course that is resolved within the next chapter and this sets the tone for the rest of the book (I'll get to that in a moment because it is another complaint.). Then there really is nothing else that might qualify as conflict until almost the end, when Elizabeth suffers an accident that threatens her health and when Darcy discovers that the inappropriate advances of another man were the cause of the accident, he challenges the man to a duel. But overall, I can summarize the "plot" and save you the trouble of reading the book this way: Darcy and Elizabeth get frisky in every room of Pemberley, and nothing else very interesting ever happens. Actually, their panting and lustful obsession isn't very interesting either, because it's just the same thing recycled in every chapter.

That is my second complaint - essentially the book is a series of bedroom scenes, actually the same scene presented over and over again with some minor variations in location and position, and each one accompanied by a sickly sweet and ridiculous 'dialogue' of "Precious love... I need you so... Beloved wife... Adored husband..." BARF. Okay, I'm glad they love each other and have a mutually satisfying marriage bed - I'd expect no less - but 1) I don't need to hear or read about it over and over again; and 2) it's just very badly done and unbelievable. Like I said, same scene over and over again with a couple of minor variations. At least they are not overly graphic in terms of dirty language or body part descriptions, but still. There is little storytelling value in all the "rising desire... blissful union... breathless passion..." nonsense that makes up at least three-quarters of the pages.

I also take exception to the reader reviews that say "this could have been written by Austen herself" and wonder whether those readers have actually read any of Austen's works or just some of the poorer fan fiction. Thankfully, Lathan does have a solid command of the English language and the writing itself is not bad, but it certainly is not comparable to Austen's style, especially the dialogue.

To be fair, there are some things I did appreciate about this book. Having read some fan fiction that was riddled with horrible mistakes in everything from grammar to historical accuracy, I was glad to find little to complain about in that regard. There were a couple of word usages that I thought were out of their time (for example, Elizabeth telling Darcy he was "cute" as if they had suddenly been transported to the 1980s) but overall that aspect of the writing was very good. Inasmuch as I hated the repetitious and unrealistic lust scenes, I need to say that I truly appreciate that Lathan's Darcy and Elizabeth both remained chaste until their wedding day. It seems to be popular among the fan fiction writers to portray Darcy as a complete rake with vast sensual experience, and in my opinion this is completely opposed to the character Austen created. Lathan's Darcy makes it very clear to Elizabeth that he has waited for marriage. (This actually creates a problem though, because on their wedding night, he seems to be extremely knowledgeable. Lathan "solves" this problem by having him confess later to Elizabeth that he is in possession of a couple of "instructional" books. Good grief.) And Lathan does a commendable job of having the characters continue to act in keeping with their descriptions by Austen, although their dialogue is certainly simpler.

After so many complaints about the book, it shames me somewhat to admit that I will probably read the rest of this series, simply because I have the fourth book and feel like I should read those in between. I have no great expectation that the second and third will differ much from this one, so it likely won't take me long to get through them. I plan to skim the lust scenes since they are all the same anyway. 

By the same author: one of the novellas in A Darcy Christmas. It's interesting to note that my review of that particular story was summarized as "Not much of a storyline, but I had no complaints either." I guess since it was a short story and Elizabeth was heavily pregnant, there was probably only one lust scene. LOL

©2008-2013 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 {A Lasting Impression}

A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander - Tamera Alexander is quickly becoming another favorite author of mine, although this is only the second of her books that I've read. This historical novel is set in Nashville shortly after the Civil War. Claire Laurent wants so much to be recognized as an artist in her own right, and to be able to create paintings that will make that "lasting impression", but it doesn't seem possible as long as her father expects her to paint copies of paintings that he and a family friend fraudulently sell as originals. When the gallery is robbed, it appears that Claire's life may be in danger so she is sent to Nashville. Things don't turn out as planned on her arrival, and determined to build a new life for herself and put her dishonest past behind her, she applies for a position as the personal liaison to Mrs Adelicia Acklen, the wealthiest woman in America at that time. Sutton Monroe is a lawyer who works for Mrs Acklen and becomes Claire's very good friend. The growing relationship between Claire and Sutton is threatened by the possibility of the details of Claire's past being uncovered. Despite her determination to be honest in all her dealings, Claire realizes that telling her new employer that she once participated in art forgery is very risky so she doesn't volunteer any information. Sutton becomes involved in investigating the art fraud case, although Claire doesn't know it. This sets up an interesting tension all the way through the story. I found myself almost holding my breath throughout, wondering when Claire's past will be exposed and how. The storytelling is rich and suspenseful, and the romance brewing between Claire and Sutton is tender and heart-warming.

I do need to take issue with part of the description on the back cover -

When she's forced to flee her home, her path collides with attorney Sutton Monroe, who shows her kindness by not turning her in to authorities. But when he later refuses to come to her aid, Claire fears she's sorely misjudged him.

How did I miss the part when he "refuses to come to her aid"? I honestly didn't see that anywhere in the book, and I was actually watching for it. Perhaps not the most accurate book jacket description, but that shouldn't detract from an excellent historical novel with drama and romance along with lovely historical detail.

By the same author:  To Whisper Her Name

©2008-2013 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 and Tuesday's Treasures {Adventures in the Rocky Mountains}

This post is copied from my main blog, Homeschool Coffee Break, but because this link-up is about books, my contributions will appear here too!

I found a book I considered a treasure while working through America the Beautiful with my kids during the past school year. The Notgrass text set includes a book called We the People, which is a collection of letters, founding documents, speeches, poetry, and articles to go along with the history lessons. One of these was an excerpt from a book I'd never heard of - Adventures in the Rocky Mountains by Isabella Bird. The excerpt intrigued me and I was lucky enough to find a copy through the library.

Isabella Bird was a nineteenth-century writer and explorer, originally from England. She was often sick during her childhood, but her dream was to travel and explore. After time spent in Australia and Hawaii, she traveled to the newest territory in the United States, Colorado, partly because she had heard that the air and climate was especially good for those who suffered from health problems. In 1873 she covered over 800 miles in Colorado, dressed practically and riding her horse astride rather than sidesaddle. She wanted to see the mountains for herself, and was willing to take on all kinds of challenges to do it. It seems she rarely turned aside from a difficult ride or climb, and did a fair amount of her traveling and exploring unaccompanied! She must have been a courageous and fascinating lady!

The book is a compilation of letters and journal entries she wrote on this trip through the Rocky Mountains, and tells about her many adventures along the way, including her friendship with 'Rocky Mountain Jim', an outlaw with a past and reputation filled with violence. She describes him often as a desperado, yet treats him with respect and finds him to be a complete gentleman in all his dealings with her. Throughout the book, Bird describes her surroundings and the people she meets in detail, and tells of mishaps and the less-than-wonderful people and experiences with wry humor. Her detailed descriptions of the scenery are breathtaking and almost poetic.

I would recommend this book to go along with a history study of the American West, and it's probably a good read for young ladies interested in learning about courageous, independent women in history. Isabella Bird certainly fit that description!

This map in the front cover of the book shows the southwestern states and territories at the time Isabella Bird was traveling through these regions.

The original post is linked at Every Bed of Roses for Tuesday's Treasures. Blog about a book on your shelf, one you're reading, or one you found at the library.

©2008-2013 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 {The Spirit Well}

The Spirit Well by Stephen R Lawhead - First, I have to say that it came as a shock to me when I neared the end of this book that there are two more still to come in this series! What?! How did I not realize that earlier? On the plus side, there's two more books for me to look forward to!

Okay, in the two previous Bright Empires Novels, we met Kit Livingstone and his friend Mina. Kit's great-grandfather introduced him to the world of ley travel and through circumstances Mina got involved too. Kit and Mina were accidentally separated and Mina has been making a new and successful life for herself in medieval Prague, while Kit and his great-grandfather and other associates are travelling through other time periods. We also learned about Arthur Flinders-Petrie, known as The Man Who Is Map, a great pioneer of ley travel. As Arthur learned the intricacies of the intersections and portals of ley travel, he had a map of symbols tattooed onto his chest. After his death, the tattoo map was separated into five pieces, and ley travelers have been racing to find and decipher the pieces ever since. Some are the good guys, some are the bad guys. We've already met several bad guys, including Archelaus Burleigh and his henchmen, the Burleymen. When last we saw Kit, he was with a Stone Age tribe he thought of as the River City Clan.

Kit's Stone Age experience includes a ley line visit to a place he is sure is the Well of Souls. In The Spirit Well, he finally finds a ley (quite by accident!) that returns him to Europe at a time when he providentially meets up with Mina again. In this installment we also follow the adventures of the Flinders-Petrie descendants and their relationship to the map. Which of them can be trusted? Some are trying to protect the map and hide it, and others are trying to put it back together again. We are also introduced to a new character, Cassandra Clarke, an archaeologist. While on a dig in Arizona, she stumbles into a ley and finds herself in 1950s Damascus. Her search for answers and for the way back home leads her to the Seekers, the last of the Zetetic Society.

Once again, an action-packed blend of science fiction, history, and mythic mystery combine to make The Spirit Well an absorbing read. It took me a very long time to get through it, because I kept reading other things along the way and getting distracted. The large cast of characters sometimes needed a bit of refreshing when I'd come back to the book after taking a break, however it was only the Flinders-Petrie men that I had trouble keeping straight. The historical and Biblical references were fascinating, and there were definitely a few plot surprises along the way too. As I was reading the last couple of chapters, I kept thinking, "how is he going to wrap all of this up in just the few pages left?" and then when it became clear that there would be another cliff-hanger, I finally caught on. Yes, there are FIVE books planned for this series. I will be kept waiting until September 2013 before the fourth is published - The Shadow Lamp.

By the same author: The Skin Map; Patrick; The Pendragon Cycle: Taliesin, Merlin, Arthur, Pendragon, Grail

©2008-2013 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 {The Rebel's Pledge}

The Rebel's Pledge by Rita Gerlach - When this book showed up as free for Kindle, it caught my eye because  part of the action takes place in St Mary's City in colonial Maryland - close to home. The storyline is very interesting, with lots of action, and that kept me 'turning' pages all the way through. Matthew Hale is the main character, a young man who took part in a rebellion against King James of England. He expects to be hanged as a traitor, but is instead sentenced to transport to the colonies where he is sold as a slave. His master is a good man and treats all his workers very well. Hale soon earns a place as steward and proves to be honorable and trustworthy, so he is sent back to England with the mission of bringing the master's daughter to Maryland. Not surprisingly, Hale and the young lady, Lara, fall in love and after facing many adventures and dangers in returning to Maryland, they marry with her father's blessing. Unfortunately, Lara's former suitor in England is a powerful man with evil intent and he comes after Lara and frames Hale as a murderer. Hale and Lara are separated again and face another set of adventures and dangers before they can clear Hale's name and save both their lives.

Overall I liked the book, although the love story itself is fairly predictable and formulaic. There were a few minor holes in the plot, but that didn't bother me much. What did bother me was what looked like extremely poor editing!

I would be interested in seeing the print version of the book, because I hope that the vast majority of the errors in grammar, punctuation, and word usage were the result of formatting from print to eBook! I have no idea how the technology works, but I have noticed that eBooks do have those kinds of mistakes to a larger degree than print, so I would like to give the benefit of the doubt to the author and editor. That said, the errors were abundant, and sucked quite a bit of enjoyment out of the reading. Word usage was the biggest problem. I found "barred teeth" instead of "bared" multiple times, "illusive" instead of "elusive" more than once, "vile" instead of "vial" a couple of times, and a host of other similar mistakes. Punctuation was also strange or completely wrong in many places. One of the characters was referred to interchangeably as "Teaque" or "Teague". I am willing to attribute most of these problems to formatting error, but there were also places where the sentences and wording were just downright awkward and confusing. I paid a brief visit to the author's website and found a preview chapter of a new book there and a couple of punctuation and grammatical errors stood out to me in that sample, so maybe editing is an ongoing issue.

©2008-2013 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/

Tuesday's Treasures - The Eight

This post is copied from my main blog, Homeschool Coffee Break, but because this link-up is about books, my contributions will appear here too!

This week I'm featuring another book that would never have caught my eye, except for the recommendation of an acquaintance. The Eight by Katherine Neville was suggested as a monthly read by a lady in a book club I was in several years ago. The book club members scrounged up copies through the library, inter-library loan, and half.com and got to reading. I purchased a copy and hoped that I wouldn't regret having spent the money. I never have.

This is a thriller/medieval mystery/historical novel/romantic adventure story all rolled into one.  The action jumps back and forth between two main characters and their respective time periods - Mireille, a French nun in the late 1700s; and Cat, a modern-day computer specialist in the 1970s. As revolution grips France, Mireille and her cousin Valentine flee the ancient abbey with the mission of carrying away pieces of an ancient chess set supposedly once owned by Charlemagne. Cat is sent to Algeria for her accounting firm, but has been asked to do a little side job while she is there - search for an antique chess piece. Each woman finds herself on a quest to find and decode the secret of the ancient chess set which holds a mysterious power, and to find the scattered pieces of the chess set before the team of  "bad guys" does. Intrigue, conspiracy, power struggles, and dangerous situations are part of their daily adventures in the Game they are involved in.  In many instances, it's hard to tell who is on the White Team and who is on the Black Team - and even which team is considered the "good guys"! The first time I read it, most of the surprise ending elements were truly unexpected - I read the final chapters with all the storyline resolutions and realized that it all made sense but I hadn't seen it coming at all. I've read it several times since and have enjoyed just as much upon each re-reading.  

There is also a sequel, The Fire, which is not quite as gripping, in my opinion, but is still very good.

One little caution - this is definitely a secular book, and subtly presents the idea that all religions are based in the same ancient mysticism. The mystical and fantasy elements will not appeal to all readers. There are also a  couple of 'love scenes' that aren't overly graphic, but are more descriptive than is necessary.

Here are the posts I originally wrote about The Eight and about The Fire.

The original post is linked at Every Bed of Roses for Tuesday's Treasures. Blog about a book on your shelf, one you're reading, or one you found at the library.

©2008-2013 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 {Grave Consequences}

Grave Consequences by Lisa T Bergren - It's been some time since I read the first book from this series by Bergren, Glamorous Illusions, so I did need to take a moment to re-orient myself with the characters and where the first book left off. Main character Cora Diehl Kensington is with her half-siblings on a grand tour of Europe. They have just escaped from a kidnapping plot and Cora is finally starting to feel accepted as part of their family, but she is also torn between the two men who are showing an interest in her. Pierre is a wealthy French nobleman who has graciously provided protection and hospitality for Cora's entire traveling party, and has openly declared his intention to court Cora. As much as she admires Pierre, she is unsure whether she fits in his world, and besides, she realizes she prefers the young tour guide assistant, Will. For his part, Will is in love with Cora but he also knows that her father will never allow him to court her. He also knows that it is imperative that he and his uncle (their tour guide) complete the tour and collect their fees so that he will be able to continue his schooling.

As the group carries on through France and Switzerland, they enjoy sightseeing excursions and some lovely adventures, but they also encounter danger when it appears that the would-be kidnappers are still in pursuit. Pierre and Will are both in pursuit of Cora's heart as well, and Cora agonizes over the difficult decision she will need to make. A decision made even more difficult when she realizes that her father's likely disapproval of her relationship with Will may cause him to destroy the young man in an effort to keep them apart.

By the same author: Glamorous Illusions, The Blessed, The Betrayed, The Begotten

©2008-2013 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/

Movie Night {Pride and Prejudice}

Pride and Prejudice - Kennady and I enjoyed a movie night last week and watched the movie version of Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen. I guess I should say up front that the BBC mini-series starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth has been my favorite, and as much as I am willing to give other versions a chance, that is the standard that I measure by. Thankfully, this film adaptation measured up very well in comparison. In condensing the entire novel into just a bit more than two hours, it's to be expected that certain details and bits of dialogue would be left out. I think that this was very well done, and I didn't feel that any conversation that was truly important was left out. In fact, we had nearly reached the end of the movie before it occurred to me to mention to my daughter that the movie had entirely omitted a couple of minor characters - Mr and Mrs Hurst, and Maria Lucas - as the story was carried without their presence. The focus seemed to be on the interactions between Elizabeth and Darcy, which were very well played. Darcy was very serious and reserved, and Elizabeth was spirited and teasing. It was quite apparent that Elizabeth had determined that she would dislike Mr Darcy because of the slighting remark he made about her at the assembly, and yet she found herself drawn into conversations with him and liking him despite her resolve. The scene of Darcy's first proposal was excellently done, and Elizabeth's growing regret of her hasty and uncivil rejection was moving.

I did not care much for the portrayal of Bingley. In my opinion he appeared more of a buffoon than the agreeable and over-eager gentleman that Austen describes. On the other hand, Mr Collins is perhaps portrayed more kindly in this version than others, and isn't as completely ridiculous. As for Mr Bennet, I went back and forth as to whether I liked him as played by Donald Sutherland, but by the end when he interviews Elizabeth before giving his blessing to the marriage, I had warmed to him considerably and quite enjoyed that scene in particular.

While the BBC mini-series remains my favorite, this movie is so beautifully done that it will hereafter hold a very close second place. Highly recommended!

©2008-2013 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/

Tuesdays Treasures - A Barbecue for Charlotte

This post is copied from my main blog, Homeschool Coffee Break, but because this link-up is about books, my contributions will appear here too!

Happy Canada Day! (It was yesterday, July 1st)

I picked this book totally for its pictures, and its Canadian-ness. Truth.  A Barbecue for Charlotte is a children's book by Canadian painter and storyteller Marc Tetro. Tetro's artwork was popular on t-shirts and coffee mugs and that sort of thing sold as souvenirs, and I really liked the bold color-block style. So right around the time that we moved to the United States, someone in my family (I don't remember who - isn't that awful?!) gave me this book.

The simple story is about a moose named Charlotte that doesn't seem to quite fit in. She's not as girly as her sister, but she wasn't really welcome playing volleyball with the boys either. One day she found a little barbecue tripod that she could wear as a hat, and she thought it was fabulous! Of course the other moose made fun of her, but her grandma encouraged to keep on trying new things and being herself. Turned out Charlotte's strange "antlers" came in handy saving her sister from wolves!




Note the Hudson Bay blanket Charlotte has on her bed, and the map of Canada on the wall!


What's more Canadian than a moose and a Hudson Bay blanket? Other than a hockey game, I can't think of much.

The original post is linked at Every Bed of Roses for Tuesday's Treasures. Blog about a book on your shelf, one you're reading, or one you found at the library.

©2008-2013 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 {North By Northanger}

North By Northanger (Or, the Shades of Pemberley) by Carrie Bebris - Darcy and Elizabeth have a tough time finding peace and quiet. After the exhausting London season they've just endured, they only want to enjoy a quiet holiday at Bath before heading home to Pemberley to await the birth of their first child. While in Bath, however, they receive an invitation from Captain Tilney to visit him at Northanger Abbey on their way home. Apparently, their mothers were once good friends and Captain Tilney would like to renew the acquaintance. Their reception at Northanger Abbey is extremely odd, and within moments of their arrival they are wishing to be headed home. They do cut their visit with the Captain short, but at their next stop they are detained and find themselves accused of having stolen diamonds from the Abbey. Darcy must even spend some time in the jail. It appears that someone has gone to a great deal of trouble to implicate the Darcys. Desperate circumstances call for desperate measures, and Elizabeth contacts Lady Catherine DeBourgh for just such a favour. It is a mixed blessing indeed, for Lady Catherine does succeed in having Darcy released from the prison so they can return to Pemberley - but at the cost of the couple being subject to her as their chaperone. They continue to work to clear their names while at Pemberley, as they unravel clues about the friendship between Darcy's mother and Mrs Tilney. And all the while, Lady Catherine is trying Elizabeth's patience sorely. 

This Darcy and Elizabeth mystery relied far less on supernatural occurrences or fantasy elements, but there is plenty of intrigue and deception; and Elizabeth's wit and good humour are greatly tested as her pregnancy advances and she must deal with stressful events and people, including Lady Catherine, Mrs Bennet, and her sister Lydia Wickham.

My comments from a previous read: North By Northanger

By the same author: The Intrigue at Highbury, The Matter at Mansfield, Suspense and Sensibility,  Pride and Prescience

©2008-2013 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 {A British Bride by Agreement}

A British Bride by Agreement by Therese Stenzel - This is not my usual choice, because it is a contemporary setting, but at the time this book was free for Kindle and the description sounded interesting. I was a little surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did. The main character, Emma, has recently been widowed and finds that her late husband had gambling debts that will completely ruin her. She is loathe to return to her own family in Great Britain, fearing that her parents will try to exploit her as they have in the past and wanting to distance herself from their unscrupulous business practices. As a result, she has to give serious consideration to the proposal from her late husband's employer, the very wealthy Jonathan Steller. Jonathan is an honorable Christian man, but he is looking for a wife that will help him in his ambitions in the company business. The two do come to an agreement and marry, and although each also longs for a deep, loving relationship together, there are many obstacles and misunderstandings that seem to conspire to keep them from it.

Towards the end of the book, I felt that the storyline became untidy and that the resolution was rushed and not believable. There were a couple of abrupt insertions of character motives or subplots that were confusing and had me paging back to see if there was something I'd missed previously - and there wasn't - and at the end I thought there were details missing in the final showdown that were confusing.

Overall, for a light and clean romance, this story did fit the bill, and I am willing to give other titles by this author consideration for my reading list.

©2008-2013 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/