Scripture and a Snapshot - Sola Gratia, Sola Fide

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

~Ephesians 2:4-10~

Sola gratia, sola fide.

Happy Reformation Day!

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I also link up at Sunday Scripture Blessings, hosted by Peabea's Photos 'n Scribbles, and at Selah, hosted by A Spirit of Simplicity.

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Monthly Bookshelf Review - October 2021

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

Okay, I can explain. Maybe? I have not posted even one review in October . . . so far. I do expect to have at least one review ready to publish before the month is completely over. What happened? I've been just as busy as always, and my reading has been a little lower on the priority list than many of the other things I've been doing. And then, as if my reading pile wasn't stacked high enough already, I received three review books at once - all scheduled for sometime in the first week of November. Which is when I'll be on vacation! What did I get myself into? So that is my best attempt to explain why my bookshelf review is so lopsided this month.

October's Books Completed and Reviewed

None!! A couple coming soon though!

During October I started reading:

The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick - Once again, I'm reading this entertaining middle school level novel along with students in my co-op fiction writing class.

The Deadly Hours by Susanna Kearsley, C.S. Harris, Anna Lee Huber, and Christine Trent - An anthology of mystery novellas about a cursed gold watch and its journey through the years. Anna Lee Huber's contribution to the story features characters from the Lady Darby series, and was my reason for reading. So I've read the first two stories (Huber's was the second) and put it on pause while I catch up on other things. 

Lost in Darkness (Of Monsters and Men) by Michelle Griep - A Gothic-style romance centered around an aspiring travel writer, Amelia, as she puts her dreams on hold to assist her brother through an experimental procedure that may restore his disfigured face and body. The doctor's assistant, Graham, develops an interest in Amelia. The twist? A new neighbor by the name of Mary Godwin Shelley . . . and Amelia's brother may provide inspiration for Mary's writing project.

Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween by Lisa Morton - doing a quick skimming-style read-through of this summary of Halloween's history to wrap up the Online Book Club themes.

Behind Love's Wall by Carrie Fancett Pagels - Barely starting this next review book that ties a modern story to a historical one. These two stories take place at the historic Grand Hotel.

During October I continued reading:

As Death Draws Near by Anna Lee Huber - Kiera and Gage are called away from their idyllic honeymoon to investigate a murder at an Irish abbey. (Trying desperately to keep up with the Lady Darby Read-Along group on Facebook as we continue reading together through the series)

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell - Still plugging away little by little at this classic. It's so good, but I just haven't had the time!

 

 During October I shelved:

Speechless: Controlling Words, Controlling Minds by Michael Knowles - To be resumed as soon as I can find the time!

   

At the Edge of the Orchard: A Novel by Tracy Chevalier - Enjoyed this, but I wasn't nearly finished and I don't know when I'll have time.

Coming Up in November!

Rest Girl: A Journey from Exhausted and Stressed to Entirely Blessed by Jami Amerine

A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty

Come Back to Me by Jody Hedlund

Carved in Stone by Elizabeth Camden

An Unexpected Peril by Deanna Raybourn

         

   

On my blogs recently . . . 

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

Scripture and a Snapshot posts

Friday Fun posts - The Friday 56 and First Lines

What I'm Reading - October 11, 2021

And on HS Coffee Break:

I Spy posts (#39-#42)

Five Minute Friday posts

High School Writing Tip Sheets - Citing Sources

High School Writing Tip Sheets - Point of View

Happy Thanksgiving! Canadian Style

Online Book Club - October Theme: Pumpkins

Currently . . . October 6, 2021

September Photo Album

High School Writing Tip Sheets - The Essay Writing Process

Online Book Club - Wrapping Up September: Apples

Share Four Somethings - September 2021

This post will be linked at the October 2021 Monthly Wrap-Up Round-up Link-up and Giveaway hosted by Feed Your Fiction Addiction; and at the weekly reading list meme hosted at Book Date.

 

©2008-2021 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. 

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

 

Scripture and a Snapshot - Let Your Light Shine

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

~Matthew 5:14-16~

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Thank you for joining Scripture & A Snapshot. Leave a link to your own post sharing a Scripture and a Snapshot. Take time to visit some of the other links and bless each other with comments.

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I also link up at Sunday Scripture Blessings, hosted by Peabea's Photos 'n Scribbles, and at Selah, hosted by A Spirit of Simplicity.

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. 

Friday Fun - The Friday 56 and First Lines for October 22, 2021

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

"That's wonderful news."

"Maybe for you," Colin drawled. "But it's me going under that scalpel of his."

Mr. Peckwood patted him on one of his big shoulders. "With the progress you've made thus far, I anticipate no problems whatsoever with your upcoming procedure."

~from approximately 56% through Lost in Darkness (Of Monsters and Men) by Michelle Griep

Even if there be monsters, there is none so fierce as that which resides in man's own heart.

Enchanting Regency-Era Gothic Romance Intertwined with Inspiration from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Travel writer Amelia Balfour's dream of touring Egypt is halted when she receives news of a revolutionary new surgery for her grotesquely disfigured brother. This could change everything, and it does . . . in the worst possible way.

Surgeon Graham Lambert has suspicions about the doctor he's gone into practice with, but he can't stop him from operating on Amelia's brother. Will he be too late to prevent the man's death? Or to reveal his true feelings for Amelia before she sails to Cairo?

This book releases on November 1, 2021. A free Kindle preview is available:

 

The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice

*Grab a book, any book.

*Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your e-reader.

*Find a snippet, short and sweet.

*Post it, and share in the Linky.

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

London, 1815

There was something glorious about the first day of June. The time of year when the earth exhaled a warm breath, coaxing tender shoots and delicate emotion. And for one blessed moment, Amelia Balfour surrendered to the wonder of it, lifting her face to the sunshine beaming through her bedroom window. Surely this was how heaven would feel.

~From the beginning of Lost in Darkness (Of Monsters and Men) by Michelle Griep

Book Beginnings on Fridays is hosted by Rose City Reader.

*It's Book Beginnings on Fridays! Time to gather with our fellow book lovers and share the opening sentence (or so) of the books we are reading this week. Or share from a book that is on your mind right now -- whatever catches your fancy.

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

First Line Fridays is hosted at Reading is My SuperPower

*Share the first line or two of the book closest to you, then visit other FLF participants.

*Please keep posts family friendly or clean reads.

*Link back to Reading is My SuperPower within your post or grab a button.

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Scripture and a Snapshot - What Good

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done."

~Matthew 16:24-27~

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Thank you for joining Scripture & A Snapshot. Leave a link to your own post sharing a Scripture and a Snapshot. Take time to visit some of the other links and bless each other with comments.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

I also link up at Sunday Scripture Blessings, hosted by Peabea's Photos 'n Scribbles, and at Selah, hosted by A Spirit of Simplicity.

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Friday Fun - The Friday 56 and First Lines for October 15, 2021

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

Should she tell him who they were? That they'd met him before? Not just yet. Because if he didn't know, then when he officially met her, Willa would be attired in her latest costume, because that's what her work attire really was.

~from page 56 of Behind Love's Wall by Carrie Fancett Pagels

The Grand Hotel Slowly Reveals Her Secrets

Visit historic American landmarks through the Doors to the Past series. History and today collide in stories full of mystery, intrigue, faith, and romance.

Two successful women, a hundred-and-twenty years apart, build walls to protect their hearts. Modern-day Willa, a successful interior decorator, is chosen to consult for the Grand Hotel's possible redesign. She discovers a journal detailing the struggles of a young woman, Lily - which reveals dark secrets. The renowned singer wasn't who she pretended to be. As Willa reaches out to Lily's descendant, a charismatic and prominent landscape artist, she lets down her guard. Should she share the journal with him, or once again erect a wall as she struggles to redesign both the Grand and her life?

The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice

*Grab a book, any book.

*Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your e-reader.

*Find a snippet, short and sweet.

*Post it, and share in the Linky.

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

Outside Detroit, Mid-June 1895

A hatchet, a Bible, and a revolver were Lily's best friends - and Cousin Clem next door with his shotgun. She eyed the flimsy wood-paneled door of the dank room over the tavern. The "music hall" job was supposed to be her venue for the entire summer. Indeed, it was as popular as the proprietor had advertised but in all the wrong ways and for rough clientele. This was no "Opera House," as was clear from some of the obscene lyrics being belted out by the buxom redhead downstairs.

~From the beginning of Behind Love's Wall by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Book Beginnings on Fridays is hosted by Rose City Reader.

*It's Book Beginnings on Fridays! Time to gather with our fellow book lovers and share the opening sentence (or so) of the books we are reading this week. Or share from a book that is on your mind right now -- whatever catches your fancy.

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

First Line Fridays is hosted at Reading is My SuperPower

*Share the first line or two of the book closest to you, then visit other FLF participants.

*Please keep posts family friendly or clean reads.

*Link back to Reading is My SuperPower within your post or grab a button.

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.