Recent Reads - The Juliet Code

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

The Juliet Code by Pepper Basham - Frederick and Grace have certainly had a very exciting time during their honeymoon! After their thrilling time in Egypt, which involved a mystery and a lot of danger and intrigue, they have carried on to Venice and are enjoying the beauty and history of the city when they are drawn into another adventure and mystery. Their friend Detective Jack Miracle enlists their help in tracking down some stolen paintings and figuring out whether the deaths of former owners were simply coincidences. As you might imagine, there's a lot to unravel, and mystery-loving Grace is thrilled to be part of the investigation team. Even Frederick is learning to appreciate the excitement of solving mysteries together with his bride. 

The investigation takes them all to an eccentric millionaire's private island, where they find secret rooms and a whole cast of characters who may not be who they say they are. Their host, Laraby, seems to be treating it all as a game, even though there are murders connected with the paintings. Frederick and Grace are certain that someone among Laraby's friends, servants, and houseguests is lying about their identity, and is willing to commit murder in order to obtain all the Juliet paintings, which contain clues to the location of a treasure. But Frederick, Grace, and Detective Jack are determined to find the thief and to decode the clues before any more lives are lost.

Grace's character is the driving force in the story, and she is still mischievous and almost childlike in her enthusiasm for stories and mysteries. She is also clever and resourceful, and has a big heart. Frederick has a much more reserved demeanor, but a recurring theme for his character in the story is his desire to see his young wife safe and happy - which do not always seem to be compatible outcomes! I enjoyed the characters and how they all interacted, and am looking forward to more in this series.

From the publisher:

Newlyweds Lord and Lady Astley Finally Reach Their Honeymoon Destination Only to Encounter a New Mystery in Need of Solving

Frederick and Grace Percy finally make it to Italy to enjoy a delayed honeymoon and explore the beauties of the historic city of Venice. To their surprise, their friend, Detective Jack Miracle, is also in the city, investigating a series of art heists starting at the house of eccentric millionaire, Laraby Covington. Drawn into a world of boat races, mysterious houses, and parties of the rich and unusual in Venice, Frederick and Grace learn of the existence of the Juliet paintings (Renaissance paintings featuring Shakespeare's tragic heroine), rumored to hold a secret code to an underground vault of similarly treasured artwork assumed lost over the centuries. As Freddie and Grace are pulled deeper into the mystery and their beloved Detective Jack disappears, can they use their wits and work as a team to find the thieves and Jack before it's too late.

The Juliet Code is a Freddie and Grace Mystery, sequel to The Mistletoe Countess and The Cairo Curse.

Visit Barbour Publishing for more info on where to buy.

By the same author: The Cairo Curse, The Heart of the Mountains, Hope Between the Pages; The Red Ribbon; My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge: Laurel's Dream

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

This is a book featuring the ocean (#8) for The 52 Book Club's 2024 Reading Challenge.

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2024

©2008-2024 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.

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.

Recent Reads - Garden of the Midnights

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

Garden of the Midnights by Hannah Linder - As the story opens, William Kensley is realizing that the so-called accidents that have befallen him recently are not just random. He is being targeted, but why? And by whom? A servant he trusts agrees to tell him the truth, but when William arrives at their meeting place, the man dies - murdered. William flees for his own life, following the only clue he has to find a man who may hold the secrets to William's true identity and inheritance. 

William meets Isabella Gresham while trying to gain an audience with her father, and they enjoy a sweet friendship and connection until the secrets start unravelling and everything William has is taken from him. He is left without a home or resources and even his name and connections have become worthless. Lord Gresham will have nothing to do with him, but Isabella intervenes when an attempt on William's life leaves him seriously injured, and insists on nursing him back to health. Their relationship continues to grow as he recovers, but he knows it cannot continue.

William is betrayed and endangered once again, and he knows that it is best for Isabella that he leave, but after his goodbye, Isabella is kidnapped and William knows that he would give everything in order to find and rescue her. He joins the chase and in the clash with her captors, risks his life, but will it be enough to save her life? Even if they both escape with their lives, William and Isabella may never be able to stay together.

This story has a lot of twists and turns and is full of suspense and secrets. From the opening pages, William discovers one deceit after another in everything he has believed about himself, and must cope with the tragedies of losing everything he thought was his. The relationship between him and Isabella is sweet and develops slowly, especially for Isabella, as she has tried to harden her heart against the possibility that love exists. Tragedy and intrigue dot the storyline, putting William and Isabella both in peril, and making the odds against them seem insurmountable. In true Gothic style, a dramatic kidnapping by a clever but heartless villain leads to an equally dramatic and heroic rescue attempt; and all of it seems to lead from one tragedy to another. Each new turn of events kept me eagerly turning pages to see how the conflicts would resolve.

From the Publisher:

Danger Lurks at Rosenleigh Manor

Enjoy another Gothic Style Regency from Hannah Linder

The accidents are not a matter of chance. They are deliberate. As English gentleman William Kensley becomes aware of the danger at Rosenleigh, he pleads for truth from the only man he can trust―until that man is murdered.

As the secrets unfold into scandal, William's world is tipped into destitution―leaving him penniless and alone. His only comfort is in the constant love of Isabella Gresham, but even that has been threatened. When a hidden foe arises from their acquaintances and imperils Isabella's life, will William be the only one willing to rescue her? And even if he saves Isabella from her captors, will he still have to forsake her heart?

Visit Barbour Publishing for more info on where to buy.

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

By the same author: When Tomorrow Came, Beneath His Silence

This is a book with time in the title (#42), 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.

Recent Reads - A Louisiana Christmas To Remember

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

A Louisiana Christmas To Remember - a novella collection by Morgan Tarpley Smith, Betsy St. Amant, and Lenora Worth - This sweet trilogy of novellas is like a Hallmark Christmas movie weekend in print! The stories center around a family of women in Moreau, a fictional small town in Louisiana as they come together to plan some very special holiday events. Each one finds love and a renewed connection to their town and to each other, and their faith plays a big role as well.

A Louisiana Snow gets things started with Mattie who is one of the key planners for a holiday marketplace that will also be a fundraiser for some important restoration work that needs done as the town is recovering after hurricane damage. On her team is Paul, a school friend that she saw as a rival. As they are forced to work together, Mattie learns to let go of her need for control as she gets to know Paul again and their friendship is rekindled. Mattie plans to have a mural painted and revealed for the marketplace but the artist is injured . . . 

Enter Mattie's cousin Jolene, who just happens to be an artist! Jolene has been away from Moreau for years and has a reputation for being flighty and unreliable, but when she comes home for the holidays, Mattie is able to talk her into taking over the mural project in the second novella, Restoring Christmas. Jolene reluctantly takes on the project under the supervision of Cameron, and they get off to a very rocky and combative start. They establish a truce, and Jolene's attempts to find inspiration for the art help her work through her guilt and fears. And the truce becomes a romance as Cameron sees Jolene for who she is and wins her trust. 

With the marketplace and the mural project looked after, the attention turns to the holiday ball and the third story picks up the thread. A Christmas Reunion focuses on Jolene's mother, Adale, a beautiful widow whose contribution to Moreau's holidays is planning the ball. She's caught completely off guard by the architect that has come to oversee the restoration work on the chapel, and who has been placed on her planning committee. Remy is not just any architect - he is the boy who stood her up in Paris when she was sixteen years old. And she suspects that her own mother, Eloise, had a hand in bringing Remy to Moreau. While Remy has never forgotten Adale and wants to make amends and earn a second chance with her, Adale is reluctant and fearful of being hurt again. It's only when she finally learns the truth about why Remy never met her that last day in Paris that she is able to fully forgive and allow herself to accept the second chance for happiness with him.

Despite being by three different authors, the stories are well coordinated and follow chronologically. Eloise, or Granny as Jolene and Mattie call her, is the matriarch of the family, and her presence in each story helps tie them all together as well. The characters and storylines work together so well that there's not a jarring change in style when a new author takes over. The viewpoint characters simply change, and this does allow a little bit more character development than most novellas have time for, since the four women appear in each story, even though they may be more in the background. 

Charming, heart-warming, light holiday reading with sweet romances and small town characters.

From the Publisher:

A Rare Snowfall Leads to a Christmas to Remember

Three heartwarming, interconnected stories of faith, love, and restoration, brought to you by three Louisiana-native authors. Will a rare snowy Louisiana Christmas bring restoration and hope to the hometown and hearts of three women from the town's founding family?

In A Louisiana Snow by Morgan Tarpley Smith, meet Mattie: A passionate visionary who learns to forgive and finds love in unexpected places . . . 

In Restoring Christmas by Betsy St. Amant, meet Jolene: An artist and prodigal daughter who discovers love exists in the very place she once called home . . . 

In A Christmas Reunion by Lenora Worth, meet Adale: A beautiful widow who finally dares to love again . . .

And don't forget Granny, whose feisty spirit, blunt dialogue, and quirky ways play an important and endearing role.

Visit Barbour Publishing for more info on where to buy.

I received a digital ARC of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review.

#ALouisianaChristmastoRemember #NetGalley

This is a book with a contemporary setting (#44) for The 52 Book Club's 2023 Reading Challenge. Because it's three stories, I'm also counting Restoring Christmas as an enemies-to-lovers plot (#38) for the 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.

Recent Reads - The Starlet Spy

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

The Starlet Spy by Rachel Scott McDaniel - Amelie Blake has built a successful career as a Hollywood actress, but she is weary of being stereotyped as a dumb blonde. Those are the roles she plays and how most people view her, but she has a brilliant mind and an incredible photographic memory. So when a movie producer approaches her for a role in a spy effort in her homeland of Sweden, she's intrigued. She will need to continue allowing the world to believe she is empty-headed, but her keen mind, knowledge of languages, and remarkable gift for memorizing what she sees are needed in order to recover missing atomic research before the Nazis find it.

Once in Sweden, Amelie meets her contact, code named Wolf, and her assignment begins at a glamorous fundraising event where she must charm the shipping magnate Finn Ristaffason and find a way to search his property for the top secret files. She has a connection to his family and finds it easy to like his grandmother, but must remain on her guard around Finn - can he be trusted, or is he a double agent? What about Wolf and the way he shows up unexpectedly and warns her of potential danger? Is he truly protecting her, or does he have ulterior motives?

Amelie uncovers clues to where the files might be, and as the danger around her increases, she must make some split-second decisions about who to trust and which way to turn, and when her mask slips, will it cost her the mission or even her life?

During WWII, some actors and actresses had roles to play that were not credited on the silver screen. This fictional story about Amelie was inspired by some of these stories and rumors. Amelie is a likeable character, and in many ways reminded me of Hedy Lamarr - a brilliant mind but needing to hide her intelligence in order to survive and serve her country. Amelie and her mother have a family secret that puts her at risk, and old wounds that keep Amelie cautious. There are sparks between her and Wolf, and between her and Finn, and not surprisingly, a romance develops, but given the circumstances it's a real test of trust and patience before the happy ending. Overall, this is a compelling and entertaining story full of action and intrigue that reads a little like an Indiana Jones adventure, stretching credulity at times.

Hollywood Star Turns Spy

In 1943, movie producer Henrik Zoltan approaches Amelie Blake under the guise of offering the Hollywood star a leading part in his upcoming film, but he has a more meaningful role in mind. Amelie's homeland of Sweden declared neutrality in the war, but Stockholm has become the "Casablanca of the North." When top-secret atomic research goes missing in Sweden, the Allied forces scramble to recover the files before they fall into Nazi hands.

The United States Office of Strategic Services (OSS) needs someone who's subtle enough to spy on the Swedish elite without triggering suspicion. Who better than the "all beauty, no brains" Scandinavian starlet? Fluent in three languages and possessing a brilliant memory, Amelie loathes being labeled witless but uses the miconception as her disguise. She's tasked with searching for the crucial files, but Finn Ristaffason keeps getting in her way. Is the charming shipping magnate after the missing research? Or does he have other reasons for showing up at her every turn?

With the Gestapo on her heels, Amelie must rely on her smarts in addition to her acting skills to survive and world of deadly spies and counterspies.

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.

#TheStarletSpy #NetGalley

This is a book featuring a fashionable character (#25) 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.

Recent Reads - Rebecca

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

Rebecca (Daughters of the Lost Colony Book 3) by Shannon McNear - This third novel in the series invites the reader to imagine the possible background stories of the characters whose names we know from history books―John Smith, Pocahontas, and John Rolfe. We have some facts about their lives, but many of the details are disputed or unknown, and what we think we know is probably shaped by legends and Disney films. Author Shannon McNear's detailed research is the framework for her imaginative but very plausible reimagining of the people and their emotions and joys and struggles.

The story is told in three parts―and from the viewpoints of these three main characters and others. In the first section, Captain John Smith is the focus character. He is a key member of the leadership in the new Jamestown settlement, but is very often in conflict with the other leaders, some of whom are corrupt or short-sighted. Smith has prepared by learning some of the Powhatan language and wants to communicate and cooperate with the various native groups in the area. He does form an alliance with the powerful chieftain Wahunsenecawh, but there is still plenty of conflict that arises because the English are slow to plant and provide their own food, preferring to buy―or take―bread from the natives. Smith does meet the favored daughter of Wahunsenecawh, the young girl known as Pocahuntas (or Mato'aka), and she is curious and fascinated by the red-haired Englishman. Smith, Wahunsenecawh, Pocahuntas, and Winganuske (Wahunsenecawh's favored wife and Pocahuntas' mother) are viewpoint characters throughout this section, and Part One ends with a gravely injured John Smith on a ship back to England.

Part Two focuses on John Rolfe, picking up his story as a member of the group of colonists that were blown off course and shipwrecked in Bermuda while on the way to Jamestown. Pocahuntas is now a young woman, respected by her people, but while visiting a neighboring chieftain she is tricked into going aboard an English ship and kidnapped. She is mistreated brutally while on the ship and taken as a captive to Jamestown, where the governor believes that she can be used as a bargaining chip to negotiate with Wahunsenecawh. The governor also insists that she should live and dress as an Englishwoman and be instructed in the Christian faith. His version of this is harsh and would force her into submission, but Rolfe and the minister, Reverend Whitaker, intervene and take Pocahuntas into their care and under their protection. Rolfe provides lodging for Pocahuntas, and arranges for his housekeeper to assist; and makes sure that she will not be attacked by any of the men. Whitaker undertakes her Christian instruction, and patiently teaches her the stories from the Bible. A young man who had previously lived with the Powhatan serves as interpreter and helps with instruction and protection. As Pocahuntas learns more of the English God and learns to trust Rolfe, she becomes more open to accepting Christianity and to a relationship with her protector.

In Part Three, Pocahuntas as viewpoint character becomes even more prominent. Having accepted the death of her native husband, Koko'um, when she was first taken captive, she and Rolfe fall in love. And having heard the entire gospel, and realizing that the description of Christ in Revelation matches the dream she had of a great spirit king many years earlier, she decides to be baptized. It's at this time she takes the name Rebecca. After her marriage to Rolfe, they travel to England where she is treated as royalty and finally reconnects with Captain John Smith. 

The entire story is skillfully told, and is very believable. Despite the large cast of characters and details that seem dense at times, the humanity of the characters is compelling. Pride, folly, misunderstanding, and deception are the downfall of both English and native characters. Some of them attempt to understand and respect the beliefs and customs of very different people groups, and some are narrow-minded and refuse to see any viewpoint but their own. Just like many people today, I suppose. You'll meet villains and heroes and perhaps be persuaded to consider other ways of seeing these historical characters and their lives, and perhaps to wonder―as I did―what it will be like when we meet some of them in heaven someday.

This book can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading at least Book Two, Mary, because its Epilogue really sets up the opening of Rebecca, and will introduce the pivotal role of Winganuske.

From the publisher:

The Lost Colony of Roanoke: discover an alternate view of their fate alongside the life of Pocahontas.

Born the daughter of a Powhatan chieftain and a woman of unknown origins, Mato'aka enjoys a carefree life. When strange men from across the eastern waters appear near her home, she regards them at first as a mere curiosity. Soon, though, she finds herself torn between fascination for one of their leaders and the opinions and ways of her people―then becomes a pawn in their delicate and dangerous game of politics. Drawn to a young Englishman, John Rolfe, who has lost a wife and baby daughter, she shares his griefs . . . and perhaps something more.

Could she have a future among the English of Jamestown, accepting their ways and even changing her name? Could her destiny be a part of the lasting legacy of the Lost Colony of Roanoke?

Author Shannon McNear portrays history with vivid authenticity.

Visit Barbour Publishing for more info on where to buy.

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

By the same author: The Rebel Bride, Mary (Daughters of the Lost Colony Book 2)

This is a book with the word "Lost" in the title (subtitle) for the Summer Reading Challenge.

This is the final book in a series, at least as far as I know now (#39), 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.

Recent Reads - Man of Shadow & Mist

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

Man of Shadow and Mist by Michelle Griep - Rosa Edwards enjoys working with her father in his subscription library and is dedicated to bringing books and education to the poorer folks in Whitby, in hopes of overcoming superstition. A chance meeting with Sir James Morgan, newly returned to Whitby, introduces her to the subject of the town's superstitious gossip though. He and his mother suffer from a disease that is stealing her sanity and life, and he is trying to find a cure or treatment. Unfortunately, his unusual behavior and circumstances are misinterpreted by the locals and he is rumored to be a vampire. Despite the friendship growing between James and Rosa, and his unfailingly gentlemanly and kind treatment of her, the danger to both of them grows as rumors spread―perhaps helped along by an enemy―and the fears of the uneducated townsfolk turn them to unreasonable hatred and threats of violence. 

Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, makes a couple of brief cameo appearances in the story, and the hereditary disease, Romanian ancestry, and gloomy estate of the Morgans all contribute to the Gothic atmosphere. There's also a 'Beauty and the Beast' feel to the characters and story. Rosa loves books and learning, and is practical, reasonable, and generous by nature. She doesn't put stock in the tales of vampires and monsters and is sure there is an explanation for the strange deaths of area livestock that doesn't involve something supernatural. Her persistence and kindness earn the respect and friendship of the reclusive and brooding Sir James, who surprises himself by being attracted to her and wanting to trust her. Because of his malady and his fears for his mother, James avoids contact with others, shutting himself off in his estate as much as possible. His trust has been betrayed before and he has seen how quickly the suspicions of others can turn vicious and hateful, so he keeps to himself. He enjoys conversation with Rosa, but he knows it would be unfair to tell her just how deeply he cares for her, thinking it would put her in danger.

The characters are compelling as they battle their hidden fears and desires, and I loved the balance between haunting suspense and developing romance. The characters' faith is challenged as well as their beliefs in human nature and the meaning of trust and community. The dangers of prejudice and becoming swept up in mob behavior, and the temptations of acting in self-preservation or fear are driving forces in the conflicts. 

I was engrossed with the story from the first page, and surely hope there will be more in this Of Monsters and Men series!

From the publisher:

"The world seems full of good men―even if there are monsters in it."

—Bram Stoker, Dracula

England, 1890

Vampires are alive and well in North Yorkshire, leastwise in the minds of the uneducated. Librarian Rosa Edwards intends to drive a stake through the heart of such superstitions. But gossip flies when the mysterious Sir James Morgan returns to his shadowy manor. The townsfolk say he is cursed.

James hates everything about England. The weather. The rumours. The scorn. Yet he must stay. His mother is dying of a disease for which he's desperately trying to find a cure—an illness that will eventually take his own life.

When Rosa sets out to prove the dark gossip about James is wrong, she discovers more questions than answers. How can she accept what she can't explain—especially the strong allure of the enigmatic man? James must battle a town steeped in fear as well as the unsettling attraction he feels for the no-nonsense librarian.

Can love prevail in a town filled with fear and doubt?

Visit Barbour Publishing for more info on where to buy.

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

By the same author: The Bride of Blackfriars Lane, Lost In Darkness, The House at the End of the Moor, The Noble Guardian, Ladies of Intrigue, The Captured Bride, The Innkeeper's Daughter, The Captive Heart

This is a book that satisfies a craving for the Summer Reading Challenge.

This is a book featuring mythology (#34) 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.

Recent Reads - Beneath A Peaceful Moon

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

Beneath A Peaceful Moon by Debby Lee - Mary Wishram, a Yakima tribe member, and John Painted Horse, a Navajo tribe member, meet while serving at Camp Pendleton during WWII. Mary's only remaining family member, her brother, is in a POW camp in the Philippines and she wants to do whatever she can to find out if he's safe and bring him home. As her friendship with John develops, she volunteers for additional training so she can use her language skills as a spy.

John has a lot of mixed feelings about his service in the Marines. He loves his country and wants to serve, but he is worried about his mother and young siblings and how they will be provided for if something happens to him. He wrestles with the decision to join the Code Talker program but eventually agrees and is deployed to the South Pacific as the conflict there intensifies.

The extremely short notice and secrecy of their deployments means that Mary and John have no way of staying in touch while they are serving, and their faith and courage are tested as they face danger and each worries for the other's safety. Mary looks for opportunities to gather information about her brother, and risks discovery in order to help the men in the POW camp, but she must not jeapordize her mission or the lives of those she's trying to help. Will she and John escape the peril they find themselves in, and will they be able to find each other once they return home?

This was a great story in terms of exploring the service of native Americans during WWII, especially the roles women were able to take on. Mary and John are both likeable and sympathetic characters, and as I read of course I was cheering for them to make the right decisions and accomplish their missions safely so they could find their loved ones and each other and continue on to their happily ever after. However, if you're looking for insight into the Code Talkers program, there's not a lot of that, and there's almost nothing about what kind of training Mary receives to be a spy. I actually felt like the story just needed the characters to be in those programs in order to get them to the setting, but was not about the programs or training at all. The story as a whole relies quite heavily on somewhat improbable coincidences, at least in my opinion. That John and Mary are both assigned to the same region in the South Pacific and on short notice is believable, but the "near misses" where they don't quite find each other despite being in very close proximity started to stretch belief, and (Possible Spoiler Alert!) when they both go missing and are presumed dead in separate incidents that involved improbable and daring escapes from peril, I thought it was a bit much. Especially when it happens twice to John. In places I thought the writing was a bit choppy and I wasn't sure whether it was intentional or not.

Overall, a very good story that invites some thought about how the native Americans that served patriotically during this time were treated, and the ambivalence many must have felt at putting their lives on the line for a country that had marginalized them. Enjoy the story with its light romance, heroic characters, and real dilemmas, but be prepared to suspend disbelief during some of the action.

Mary's Language Skills Could Help End the War in the Pacific

Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this series celebrates the unsung heroes―the heroines of WWII.

Mary Wishram, an orphaned Yakima tribal member, aches for her brother who suffers in a POW camp in the Philippine Islands and her Japanese friends who languish in a relocation center. Determined to end the war by any means necessary, she employs her language skills to become a spy. Leaving Camp Pendleton for the South Pacific, she faces escalating threats of peril to help bring her loved ones home.

John Painted Horse, a proud Navajo, struggles with the loss of his father who died in WWI for a country that didn't consider him a United States citizen. Though his home state didn't offer him the right to vote, he joins the Code Talker program at Camp Pendleton. Thrust into mounting danger in the South Pacific, he hopes to bring long overdue recognition and honor to his people, no matter the cost.

Will these two wounded souls find healing from their past traumas and a deeper relationship with God, before it's too late? Or will they lose their chance at love, and everything they hold dear?

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.

#BeneathaPeacefulMoon  #NetGalley

This is a book set at the beach for the Summer Reading Challenge.

This is a book in which chapters have cliffhangers (#36) 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.

Recent Reads - The Keys to Gramercy Park

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

The Keys to Gramercy Park by Candice Sue Patterson - Andrea is a historical journalist hoping to find a great story that will earn her a promotion for her magazine, so it seems like a great stroke of luck to find a stash of post-Civil War era counterfeit bills hidden in a wall of her historic district apartment. Around the same time, she meets Beau Davidson-Quincy, an aspiring politician, who has connections that help her in investigating where the bills came from and why they were hidden there. As their relationship―and the research into the story―progresses, they realize that there's a possibility the counterfeit is connected to Beau's family somehow, and if so, publishing the story could have a devastating effect on his hopes in the upcoming election.

In the historical timeline following the Civil War, Franklin Davidson works hard to provide for his wife and daughter, and to protect his reputation from being marred by the apparent crimes and scheming of his estranged brother, Edward. Franklin's big breakthrough comes when he's offered a position with the newly formed Secret Service, where he'll work to stop the spread of counterfeit currency. Following a tragedy that costs him everything, he moves to fashionable Gramercy Park in New York with his young daughter in an effort to build a new life while holding on to his secrets. His only goal is to provide the best life possible for his beloved daughter, but as she gets older, she starts asking uncomfortable questions, and he becomes more determined than ever to keep his own past life and secrets from her. 

The fact that there's a connection between the character Franklin and the contemporary character Beau is apparent early on, but the details and how it will all play out is teased out slowly enough through the unfolding story to add suspense. Andrea and Beau have a promising relationship, despite her reservations about trusting him and their suitability. Beau pursues her patiently, but the threat of negative press for him if she gets her breakthrough story can't be ignored. Her commitment to good journalism and her desired promotion are at odds with Beau's dedication to winning his election and furthering his political career, so there's plenty of emotional conflict. In the past, meanwhile, brothers Franklin and Edward have their conflicts and secrets, and their lives are more intertwined than either of them would wish. It seems impossible that Franklin can keep all his secrets from everyone around him, especially his daughter, considering how close their relationship is. This keeps the tension in his timeline high, and there's a lot of complexity in his story and character.

Overall, I was drawn into this story and all its intrigue in both timelines. All the lead characters were well-developed and each faced their own series of dilemmas and moral decisions that would shape their lives and the lives of those around them, and the best choice was not always obvious. I enjoyed the portrayal of a politician as a positive character, and the layered nature of the historical timeline. By the end of the story, the reader has learned all the secrets, but not all the characters have, and I appreciated that while the story is wrapped up to satisfaction, the final chapter leaves enough of an opening for the reader to wonder what will happen when those final secrets are revealed.

Secrets Sealed Within a Wall Come to Light in Lower Manhattan

Walk through Doors to the Past via a new series of historical series of romance and adventure.

Investigative historical journalist Andrea Andrews is tired of waiting tables to make ends meet. If she could find and write the next breakout story, she could secure a promotion with Smithsonian Magazine as their writer-at-large. But not much happens in lower Manhattan out of the ordinary until she discovers post-Civil War counterfeit bills hidden in the wall of her historic district apartment.

Politics have always been Beau Davidson-Quincy's passion, despite his family's real estate empire. His clean image and single status make him a target in the media as he prepares to build his campaign for New York governor. He has nothing to hide until a cute waitress unravels a mystery that could destroy his family's reputation.

Two centuries earlier, wounded Civil War veteran Franklin Davidson lost everything―his house, his wife, his standing in society. In his darkest moment, he's awarded a position with the newly formed Secret Service to combat the spread of counterfeit U.S. currency. His life and new home in Gramercy Park are the envy of his peers, but nothing is as it seems. Secrets are meant to be kept, and Franklin will take his to his grave.

Visit Barbour Publishing for more info on where to buy.

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

By the same author: All That Glitters (novella) in the Lumberjacks and Ladies collection.

This is a book that sent me down a rabbit hole (#29) 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.