Friday, December 29

2023 Reading Challenges Wrap-Up

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


In recent years, I've been reading fewer total books each year for various reasons. I hoped that I would be able to get my totals up in 2022, but there's no way I could have foreseen all the interruptions to "normal" I would experience over the year, and how that would impact my time and interest in reading. So although I didn't reach my goals, I made progress, and I will be doing the 2023 version of these challenges as well. Watch for that post coming up soon!

I worked on two specific challenges hosted by Gillion at Rose City Reader:


2023 European Reading Challenge! For this challenge, participants will be reading books either set in Europe or by European authors. I was aiming for the Four Star (Honeymooner) level participation, so my goal was to read four books set in four different European countries, or by authors from four different countries. I'm pleased that I was able to visit seven countries!

THE GIST: The idea is to read books set in European countries or books by European authors. The books can be of any genre - fiction, nonfiction, novels, short stories, memoirs, travel guides, cookbooks, biography, poetry, whatever. You can participate at different levels, but each book must represent a different country - either written by an author from a different country or set in a different country, no two books from the same country. It's supposed to be a tour!

  1. Obedient Unto Death - Liisa Eyerly (Turkey)
  2. What I Would Tell You - Liz Tolsma (Greece)
  3. The Letter from Briarton Park - Sarah E. Ladd (Great Britain)
  4. Women Talking - Miriam Toews (Russia)
  5. A Man With One of Those Faces - Caimh McDonnell (Ireland)
  6. Reykjavík: A Crime Story - Ragnar Jónasson and Katrín Jakobsdóttir (Iceland)
  7. The Starlet Spy - Rachel Scott McDaniel (Sweden)

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The TBR 23 in '23 Challenge is meant to encourage us to read the books already on our shelves (including eReader shelves) and maybe make room for more! I wasn't sure how I'd do on this challenge, since I really limited how many books I brought with me when we moved at the end of 2022. I did bring my Kindle with me, and there are a lot of pre-2023 book there, but I wasn't confident I'd actually read many of them. Certainly not 23 of them! I ended up reading five books for this challenge, and given my current situation, I don't think it would be practical for me to do the 2024 version of it!

"TBR" counts as any book that was on your shelf prior to January 1, 2023. "Shelf" includes your ebook reader and audiobooks you own, but it doesn't include library books. This is a TBR challenge, so the goal is to read the books you own to make room for more books.

  1. Obedient Unto Death - Liisa Eyerly
  2. The Wendy - Erin Michelle Sky and Steven Brown
  3. The Friendly Persuasion - Jessamyn West
  4. Fair As a Star - Mimi Matthews
  5. A Perilous Perspective - Anna Lee Huber
***************

This is the second year I've worked on the 52 Book Club's Challenge. I didn't think it likely I could read 52 books for the 52 Book Club's 2023 Reading Challenge, but I hoped to get around two thirds of it completed. Find out more about the 2023 Reading Challenge HERE.

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2023


I completed 31 of the challenge prompts, which is very nearly two-thirds so I think I met my goal, and I also completed eight of the mini-challenges along the way.


1. If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won't) - Betty White (a book with a subtitle)
2.  Bridges - Linda Griffin (featuring an inheritance)
5.  It Happened In Ohio - Carol Cartaino (title starts with the letter I)
6.  Composition As Conversation - Heather M. Hoover (under 200 pages)
7.  The Cairo Curse - Pepper Basham (a city or country name in the title)
9.  What I Would Tell You - Liz Tolsma (a book with a dedication)
11. The Wendy - Erin Michelle Sky and Steven Brown (a book about secrets)
14. Women Talking - Miriam Toews (a survival story)
20. When Tomorrow Came - Hannah Linder (about siblings)
22. Fair As a Star -  Mimi Matthews (a body-positive message)
23. A Perilous Perspective - Anna Lee Huber (an alliterative title)
24. Reykjavík: A Crime Story - Ragnar Jónasson and Katrín Jakobsdóttir (Nordic Noir)
25. The Starlet Spy - Rachel Scott McDaniel (a fashionable character)
26. The Letter from Briarton Park - Sarah E. Ladd (has an epilogue)
28. The Friendly Persuasion - Jessamyn West (includes a funeral)
29. The Keys to Gramercy Park - Candice Sue Patterson (sends me down a rabbit hole*)
31. In Spotlight and Shadow - Rachel Scott McDaniel (set in a workplace)
34. Man of Shadow & Mist - Michelle Griep (features mythology)
35. Obedient Unto Death - Liisa Eyerly (a book I meant to read last year)
36. Beneath a Peaceful Moon - Debby Lee (chapters have cliffhangers)
37. Remarkably Bright Creatures - Shelby Van Pelt (written in present tense)
38. Restoring Christmas (part of A Louisiana Christmas to Remember) - (enemies-to-lovers plot)
39. Rebecca - Shannon McNear (final book in a series)
40. Shirley, I Jest! - Cindy Williams (written by a comedian)
41. If Only (part of Kingdom of Love) - Tracie Peterson (a character who is a refugee)
42. Garden of the Midnights - Hannah Linder (time in the title)
44. A Louisiana Christmas to Remember - novella collection (contemporary setting)
47. A Man With One of Those Faces - Caimh McDonnell (set in the city of Dublin)
50. A Kingdom Divided and Alas, My Love (part of Kingdom of Love) - Tracie Peterson (related to the word "murder")
51. After the Boxes Are Unpacked - Susan Miller (doesn't fit any of the other prompts)
52. In the Shelter of Hollythorne House - Sarah E. Ladd (published in 2023)

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This Wrap-up Post will be linked at the 2023 European Reading Challenge Wrap-up Page at Rose City Reader; and at the TBR 23 in '23 Challenge Wrap-Up Page at Rose City Reader.

©2008-2023 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.



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Monthly Bookshelf Review - December 2023

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


There are too many books I haven't read, too many places I haven't seen, too many memories I haven't kept long enough. ~Irwin Shaw

Too many books I haven't read certainly describes my year! I thought I'd have plenty of time to do a lot of reading during the year, but I was lacking motivation and then once I started working I was lacking time as well. Or perhaps lacking time management! Anyway, I'm keeping my monthly bookshelf review as short as I can this month, and not just because I don't have a whole lot to report. More because I don't have a great deal of time, and I also need to do a recap post about the reading challenges I attempted during 2023 and I thought it would be cumbersome to combine that with my usual monthly recap.


December's Books Completed and Reviewed

Kingdom of Love by Tracie Peterson - This is a trilogy of three romantic novellas set in medieval England. The first two have a distinct fairy tale feel to them, with castles and dukes and arranged marriages. The third is set during the time of the Black Death but also has a sweet romance developing during the sorrow. (Read my review HERE.)




During December I started reading:

The Crumbs Off Heaven's Table by D.M. Griffin - I'm reading the ARC of this novel based on the story of the Syro-Phoenician woman who begged Jesus to heal her daughter. 



Where My Books Took Me in December . . . On Budget Tales Book Blog, there was a monthly meme about "Places My Books Have Taken Me" along with a one-word summary or review of the book. I haven't seen a link-up for it recently but maybe I'm just missing it. It's still a fun summary to do though! Here's where I've traveled through the pages during the month, along with One Word to sum up the ones I finished.

Kingdom of Love is set in medieval England.
One Word: Hope

The Crumbs Off Heaven's Table takes place during the first century in the middle East.


Coming Up in January!

The Juliet Code by Pepper Basham - Just received this one to review!
Voice of the Ancient by Connilyn Cossette - Has been "next" on my stack for way too long!
Wimpy Weak and Woke by John L. Cooper - Arrived in my mailbox right before Christmas!

   




What I'm Highlighting . . . I mentioned a book I recently started reading, The Crumbs Off Heaven's Table, and I'm excited to be on the launch team! I love historical fiction, and historical novels based on Biblical stories are especially interesting to me. This one explores the brief account in the Gospels of Jesus responding to a Gentile woman's request for healing for her demon-possessed daughter. I'm partway through and getting to know the characters that the author has created.


Here's the publisher's summary: A life targeted by the forces of evil since the beginning but protected within the fold of a love she was afraid to embrace and couldn't fully understand. Not as a Gentile at least. Separated from her parents, Serene became a servant who learned not to expect much out of life. Constant fear kept her in hiding, satisfied with the little provisions that her master allowed.
Yet she couldn't hide from love forever. When a certain man from Rome came into her life, Serene's heart began to open in love. Divine intervention mingled with circumstance until Serene was introduced not only to the love between a man and woman, but the love between her and her Creator.
With this powerful love also came an enemy. Would Serene's fragile faith and low self-esteem be able to battle the forces that were beyond herself? Would desperation drive her to seek the One who could truly send the demon possessing her daughter back to the Abyss? How would one encounter with the Son of God test her faith and reveal her true identity as a daughter of the King?

You can pre-order from Amazon now, and the book will be available in January. 

You can also visit the author's website to find out more: Devoted Steps





On my blogs recently . . . 

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



On Homeschool Coffee Break:



And on A Fresh Cup of Coffee:


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

bookworms monthly linky


©2008-2023 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.



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Friday, December 22

Recent Reads - Kingdom of Love

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


Kingdom of Love by Tracie Peterson - The three novellas in this collection read almost like fairy tales thanks to their medieval settings with lords and ladies, castles and knights, and the 'happily ever after' romances in each. 

In "A Kingdom Divided" Arianne and Richard agree to an arranged marriage in which she finds kindness and respect for the first time. She is very cautious about opening her heart to her new husband, but he is patient and gentle in winning her over. But it's only when an enemy puts them and everyone in the castle in danger that Arianne truly realizes how much she does love Richard. Initially it seems as though the conflict is resolved almost immediately, since Arianne's opposition to the match is reversed as soon as she realizes that she will probably be safer with Richard than with her abusive father. There are quite a few peaceful chapters with them getting acquainted before the real conflict with the invader begins. 

In "Alas, My Love" the main character Helena is also in an abusive home and refuses to submit to the plans her step-siblings try to force upon her. She escapes when they try to confine her to a convent and is taken in by Arianne and Richard when one of their tennants brings her to the castle. Helena has nursed the hope that a young man, Tanny, that she knew when she was a little girl would someday come back and rescue her, and that he is her true love. This is another fairy tale ending reconciliation story, and although I did find the idea that a woman would believe herself genuinely in love with a man she hadn't seen since she was nine years old, the story was one of hope and restoration and quite interesting.

The third story, "If Only" has an unrelated setting and characters, but is still set during the middle ages. The bubonic plague is ravaging England and Mary flees her home when her physician father is attacked by superstitious townsfolk because they believe he is doing the devil's work and has brought the plague upon them. As Mary treks towards York with a vague hope of finding the grandmother she has never met, she takes refuge at a monastery for a time and uses her knowledge of healing to help the monks there. Another traveler, Peter, is there as well, and they join forces for the rest of the journey, and take in several orphaned children along the way. This story was perhaps the most believable of the three in many ways.

The narration style also contributes to the fairy tale quality, because the viewpoint character switches often, with the narrator giving the thoughts, emotions, and reactions of multiple characters. Because the stories are novellas, the characters and conflicts are less developed than in full length novels. My understanding is that this collection is a re-release of Peterson's earlier writing, and I did feel like the writing style didn't have the same depth as other novels of hers that I've read. The stories were enjoyable and interesting, with sweet and clearn romances that would also be suitable for teen or young adult readers, in my opinion.




From the Publisher:
Kidnapping. . .Murder. . .Revenge.
If Only the Fortress Walls Could Talk!

From bestselling author Tracie Peterson come 3 unique historical novels, rereleased for old and new fans alike. Liberty and love--even life itself--are fragile commodities those living in medieval England. Will God's love and power triumph in the lives of these three courageous women? Find out in soul-searing historical novels of romance and suspense!

A Kingdom Divided
Raised in a home filled with violence, Arianne Pemberton experiences love and gentleness only after her arranged marriage to Richard, Duke of Gavenshire. But before she can feel confident both in Richard's love and in God's personal care for her, a mysterious enemy from Richard's Past over-powers the castle and takes Arianne hostage. Who is Tancred, and why is he set on revenge? What fuels the animosity between the two men? Exercising her new faith, Arianne risks her life to restore peace and unite a kingdom divided. 
 
Alas, My Love
England in the Middle Ages is far from a jolly place for an unprotected young woman. Yet the savagery of her stepbrother and the devious schemes of her stepsister have given golden-haired Helena Talbot little choice. She must find shelter elsewhere. Afforded protection by the magnanimouse Duke of Gavenshire, Helena nonetheless lives under an assumed name, ever fearful her whereabouts will be revealed to her stepbrother. Only one dream transports her above her worries, the desire that one day she will be reunited with brave Tancred. Years have passed since they were together and now an ocean and a king's decree keep them apart. But are those obstacles stronger than a woman's prayer for love? 
 
If Only
The year is 1349, the place, England. As the bubonic shadow spreads across the land, Mary Beckett finds herself alone and desperate. Her father, a physician who has been accused of consorting with the devil, has been murdered. Even her own interest in medicine has brought cries of witchcraft. Mary's only hope is to journey north to the home of her godly grandmother, a woman her father once rejected. Doctors and pilgrims will cross her path, and, last but not least, Peter Donne, a knight on a mission from the king. Hundreds will beg her to heal them. Will Mary Beckett, a lonely pilgrim herself, find a way to help her people and herself? If only she could reach her grandmother's home, if only she could find her own way to God. . . .


Visit Barbour Publishing for more info on where to buy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review.
#KingdomofLove #NetGalley



By the same author: In Places Hidden

This is a book related to the word "murder" (#50) - because the murder of a main character's parents was the catalyst for events and conflicts in the first two stories - and a book with a character who is a refugee (#41) - because the main character in the third story is a refugee - for The 52 Book Club's 2023 Reading Challenge
#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2023


©2008-2023 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.



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Tuesday, December 19

What I'm Reading - December 2023

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

 It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

This weekly reading list meme is hosted at Book Date. Join in to see what others are reading and maybe get some ideas of what to read next! Although the Book Date link-up happens weekly, I don't update that often. Usually I do this around the middle of the month, and try to share my monthly bookshelf summary on the last Monday of the month. Here's what I've been working on lately, in a year where I've really slowed down in my reading!


I finished reading . . . 

Garden of the Midnights by Hannah Linder - I loved this Regency romance with a slightly Gothic feel. William loses everything he's called his own, and is betrayed and rejected over and over. When Isabella, who has been loyal through it all, is in danger, William is determined to save her, even if it means never seeing her again. (Read my review HERE.)



I'm currently reading . . .

Kingdom of Love by Tracie Peterson - This is a collection of three novellas set during medieval times. I meant to be finished by now, and am almost done - review coming very soon!




The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright - I'm still working on this dual timeline story centering around a castle and its mysterious residents who have an ominous reputation, but it's once again taken a back seat to the review books, and to my generally busy life these days.



Up Next . . . 


The Crumbs Off Heaven's Table by D.M. Griffin - I'm excited to be on the launch team for this upcoming release, and although I've got it listed as being 'up next', I have started reading.



The Juliet Code by Pepper Basham - I just found out that I'll be receiving this book for review, so I'll start as soon as it arrives in my mailbox, which probably means right after Christmas.



On the TBR stack . . . 

These are the books that I wished I'd read already, and are still waiting for me on my bedside table, as soon as I get a moment to start my next good read. The stack grows faster than my ability to read it, especially lately!

Voice of the Ancient by Connilyn Cossette
A Fatal Illusion by Anna Lee Huber
Queen of Exiles by Vanessa Riley
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
Murder Most Fair by Anna Lee Huber


      

   

   


What I'm Highlighting . . . The monthly book review link-up will be retired after this month. Sadly, I just haven't had time to read or to blog the way I'd hoped when I set this up. 




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

 ©2008-2023 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.



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Friday, December 1

Book Review Bulletin - December 2023

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



Welcome to the Book Review Bulletin link-up! The purpose is to share our individual book reviews and to visit and comment on those review posts. Sometimes it seems that we book bloggers do a lot of sharing and commenting on our reading lists and teasers and book-related posts, but not nearly as much attention is given to the actual reviews. 

The Bulletin is a monthly link-up for review posts. Share the individual posts of book reviews on your blog that you'd like to highlight, and make sure to visit, leave comments, and perhaps share some of the other reviews linked up. 

The Bulletin opens on the first day of each month and closes on the last day of the month. You can grab the button below for your blog if you'd like. After leaving your link, please visit one or two (or more!) of the other links and leave a comment. I visit each one, but it's been taking me awhile to get to it lately!

Thank you to those who have contributed to this link-up over the past several months, and to those of you sharing your reviews this month. Due to time constraints, I am not sure I will continue hosting this link-up in 2024. 

Just A Second


Reminder: Please include a MATURE tag on any links to reviews with books or covers above a PG rating. This will give readers that prefer clean read a heads-up before they click your link. Thank you for respecting this request!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

©2008-2023 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.

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Tuesday, November 28

Monthly Bookshelf Review - November 2023

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


Many people, myself among them, feel better at the mere sight of a book. ~Jane Smiley

I did my best to get more reading done in November, with limited success! I did finish an excellent review book, and am currently working ona couple more. I expect it will be a bit of a challenge to find time to read as holiday activities kick into high gear though. This week is already full, with my chorus performing at two holiday events, a hockey game to attend tomorrow, and a church activity I'm going to on Thursday evening. I've already got a couple of extra events on the calendar in the weeks ahead, and I'm sure there are more to come!

November's Books Completed and Reviewed

Garden of the Midnights by Hannah Linder - William Kensley loses nearly everything in his search for answers about his family after mysterious attempts on his life. Is he willing to risk his very life to save Isabella Gresham? (Read my review HERE.)



During November I started reading:

Kingdom of Love by Tracie Peterson - This is a trilogy of three romantic novellas set in medieval England. I'm almost finished the first of the three stories, A Kingdom Divided, in which Arianne discovers love and kindness in an arranged marriage she had been opposed to, only to face treachery when an enemy of her husband attacks the castle to settle an old score.



During November I continued reading:

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright - This dual timeline story about a mysterious castle in the wilds of Wisconsin was on my backburner for awhile, but I'm back into it now.



During November I shelved . . . 

Ticker by Lisa Mantchev - I decided to put this on hold while I concentrated on a couple of review books, but I do plan to pick it up again.



A Holly Jolly Diwali by Sonya Lalli - I thought this looked like a fun light read, but didn't get far enough into it before the library needed it returned.



Where My Books Took Me in November . . . On Budget Tales Book Blog, there was a monthly meme about "Places My Books Have Taken Me" along with a one-word summary or review of the book. I haven't seen a link-up for it recently but maybe I'm just missing it. It's still a fun summary to do though! Here's where I've traveled through the pages during the month, along with One Word to sum up the ones I finished.

Garden of the Midnights takes place in England, with a journey to Scotland included.
One Word: Identity

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau is set in rural Wisconsin.
Kingdom of Love is set in medieval England.


Coming Up in December!

Voice of the Ancient by Connilyn Cossette
Queen of Exiles by Vanessa Riley
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn



   


What I'm Highlighting . . . The monthly book review link-up continues through the end of the year and it's been fun to try this. Since my reading has slowed down somewhat, and I realize I'll have to manage my blogging time differently in the new year, I don't think I'll continue into 2024. The November edition is open for a few more days, and the December link-up will open on the 1st. Find the current link-up here: Book Review Bulletin. I'd love for you to drop by and share a review or two, and comment on someone else's review. The hope is that we can comment on actual reviews and share them.



On my blogs recently . . . 

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



And on A Fresh Cup of Coffee:



This post will be linked at the current BookWorms Monthly link-up hosted by At Home A Lot; and at the weekly reading list meme hosted at Book Date. 

bookworms monthly linky

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?


©2008-2023 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.



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