Recent Reads - Sisters of Fortune

Sisters of Fortune by Anna Lee Huber - As much as I enjoy historical fiction, I probably would not have picked up this book except that it's by one of my very favorite authors. Also, the cover is just stunning, so that helped! Reading stories about people who sailed on the Titanic and suffered such a great tragedy is just too uncomfortable for me, so it took me awhile to get started on this one, and as I neared the fatal moment for the ocean liner itself, I found it difficult because I knew that a good number of the characters I'd met in these pages would not survive. So . . . all that said . . . 

The story focuses on a family from Winnipeg who had just finished a grand tour that included Egypt and Europe, and were sailing back home on the Titanic. There are three sisters―Flora, Alice, and Mabel Fortune―and their parents and brother. Flora and Alice are both engaged, with plans to marry when they reach home. Mabel is uninterested in a relationship, but wants very badly to attend university, while her parents remain opposed to this course of action. Of course, they interact with many other passengers on the Titanic and strike up some friendships among them. There are descriptions of the ship, its accommodations, and many details of the voyage woven throughout. The younger brother Charlie's exuberant interest in engineering and science provides a seamless way to include the characters talking about what the ship and its voyage were like in a fairly natural way.

Flora and Alice provide a contrast in character, and their expectations of the marriages awaiting them are quite different. Flora is the dutiful and serious older daughter, agreeing to marry according to convention, but beginning to question if there is something more available to her. She knows that she and her fiance do not have any real affection for each other, not the way Alice and Holden do. When Flora meets the dashing and wealthy Chess Kinsey and begins to feel joy and passion, she realizes she will have a bold decision to make if she wishes to embrace this developing romance. Alice has been somewhat coddled because of health problems, and she loves her fiance Holden, but the adventures and new experiences of traveling have raised doubts in her mind about whether she wants to simply settle down to a stolid and respectable life. 

The third-person narrative makes use of each of the three sisters as viewpoint characters, and Chess is a fourth viewpoint character. This allows the experiences of the men and the women to be explored, and to my surprise, it was easy to follow and not distracting. When I started reading, I had assumed that the Fortune family was fictional and loosely based on real people that sailed on the Titanic, but at the end there is an author's note explaining that the family is very real, although relatively little is known about them. 

From the publisher:

April, 1912: It's the perfect finale to a Grand Tour of Europe―sailing home on the largest, most luxurious ocean liner ever built. For the Fortune sisters, the voyage offers a chance to reflect on the treasures of the past they've seen―magnificent castles and museums in Italy and France, the ruins of Greece and the Middle East―and contemplate the futures that await them.

For Alice, there's foreboding mixed with her excitement. A fortune teller in Egypt gave her a dire warning about traveling at sea. And the freedom she has enjoyed on her travels contrasts with her fiance's plans for her return―a cossetted existence she's no longer sure she wants.

Flora is also returning to a fiance, a well-to-do banker of whom her parents heartily approve, as befits their most dutiful daughter. Yet the closer the wedding looms, the less sure Flora feels. Another man―charming, exasperating, completely unsuitable―occupies her thoughts, daring her to follow her own desires rather than settling for the wishes of others.

Youngest sister Mabel knows her parents arranged this Grand Tour to separate her from a jazz musician. But the secret truth is that Mabel has little interest in marrying at all, preferring to explore ideas of suffrage and reform―even if it forces a rift with her family.

Each sister grapples with the choices before her as the grand vessel glides through the Atlantic waters. Until, on an infamous night, fate intervenes, forever altering their lives.

By the same author: The Anatomist's Wife, Mortal Arts; A Grave Matter, A Study in Death, A Pressing Engagement, This Side of Murder, As Death Draws Near, A Brush With Shadows, Treacherous Is The Night, An Artless Demise, Secrets in the Mist, Penny for Your Secrets, A Stroke of Malice, A Pretty Deceit, A Wicked Conceit, A Perilous Perspective, A Fatal Illusion

This is a book with at least four different points of view (#4) 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/ 

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 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.

Review: Route 60 - The Biblical Highway #Route60MIN

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I had the privilege of seeing the advance release of this fascinating documentary and want to encourage you to see it in theaters if you can. It will be in theaters September 18th and 19th only, so grab your tickets today! If you're interested in Biblical or ancient history, I think you'll really enjoy it. It would be a great addition to history, geography, world religions, or Bible studies for homeschooling families; and for anyone looking for background to understanding the geography where the Bible stories took place and the foundations of the nation of Israel, and how it's all intertwined.

Route 60 is a documentary about Israel's famous highway, one that passes through sites of great historical significance, places where the patriarchs, kings and prophets, disciples, and Jesus himself walked.

Synopsis: 

Carving through the heart of the Promised Land is the biblical spine of Israel, sometimes referred to as the Path of the Patriarchs and officially designated as Route 60. A highway of deep historical significance while often the scene of unrest and violence, this 146-mile road of asphalt and concrete begins in Nazareth, Israel's largest Arab city, and ends in Beersheba, one of Israel's high-tech centers. Running north to south, Route 60 connects ancient Israel with modern Israel, Jews and Christians with Muslims, and Israelis with Palestinians.

This trek is far more than a two-lane highway; it is a historic, sacred link to the roots of Judaism and Christianity and the stories of the Old and New Testaments. Follow world-changing diplomats David Friedman and Mike Pompeo as they venture down this sacred road, treading the very ground Abraham, Jacob, King David, and Jesus once walked. Discover the history, witness the healing, and realize the hope along Route 60, the Biblical Highway.

What others are saying:

"Visually stunning and compelling storytelling." ~Mike Huckabee

"ROUTE 60 combines the truth of the Bible with undeniable archaeological proof, and like our tour guides, Pompeo and Friedman, that's a powerful combination!" ~Erick Stakelbeck

My thoughts: The scenery and the views of historical sites was enough to draw me immediately, and the added graphics to help visualize the passages of Scripture referenced and the historical Biblical events were so appealing as well. But what I most enjoyed was the simple but compelling way Friedman and Pompeo related how the sites they visited were significant throughout the story of the Bible. Some of these sites, like Shechem and Bethel, are places where more than one greatly important event took place. I've watched many documentaries and video studies of sites in the Holy Land, yet some of the sites in ROUTE 60 were new to me, or I learned new context and significance to these places. Friedman is an Orthodox Jew and Pompeo is a Christian, and both have long and significant experience as American diplomats, so it was also fascinating to hear them talk about more recent history involving the nation of Israel such as the Abraham Accords and the relocation of the American Embassy to Jerusalem in light of Biblical history. Both men also told stories of the impact the truth of the Bible has had on how they view the world and the roles they've played, and about their personal faith as well.

Visit the movie's website Route 60 Movie to find out more.

Buy tickets at: Route 60 Movie

Hashtags: #Route60MIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Disclosure: Many thanks to TBN for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

 ©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

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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.

Route 60 - The Biblical Highway #Route60MIN

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I'm always interested in movies and documentaries like this! Seeing the real sites where historical events took place, and where historical figures walked is fascinating to me. Even more so when it's Biblical history! I recently got the news about this movie and have been asked to pass along the news, and since I really want to see it, I'm happy to share it here too.

Route 60 is a documentary about Israel's famous highway, one that passes through sites of great historical significance, places where the patriarchs, kings and prophets, disciples, and Jesus himself walked.

Synopsis: 

Carving through the heart of the Promised Land is the biblical spine of Israel, sometimes referred to as the Path of the Patriarchs and officially designated as Route 60. A highway of deep historical significance while often the scene of unrest and violence, this 146-mile road of asphalt and concrete begins in Nazareth, Israel's largest Arab city, and ends in Beersheba, one of Israel's high-tech centers. Running north to south, Route 60 connects ancient Israel with modern Israel, Jews and Christians with Muslims, and Israelis with Palestinians.

This trek is far more than a two-lane highway; it is a historic, sacred link to the roots of Judaism and Christianity and the stories of the Old and New Testaments. Follow world-changing diplomats David Friedman and Mike Pompeo as they venture down this sacred road, treading the very ground Abraham, Jacob, King David, and Jesus once walked. Discover the history, witness the healing, and realize the hope along Route 60, the Biblical Highway.

Visit the movie's website Route 60 Movie to find out more.

Hashtags: #Route60MIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

©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 - It Happened In Ohio

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It Happened In Ohio by Carol Cartaino - On my very first trip to my local library here in my new home state of Ohio, I wandered up and down several shelves, including the section where one would find books on the history of the state. I picked up this easy-to-read overview of many of the events and people that have been important in Ohio's history.

Author Cartaino is herself a transplant to the state, having lived here since 1978. She admits in the Introduction that she knew very little about Ohio when she first arrived, and even "wondered . . . whether you could take a state with only four letters in its name seriously". Her research and the years spent here getting to know Ohio personally combine in the book with brief history lessons presented almost like a series of short stories. The history starts with a discussion of the Serpent Mound and other similar sites attributed to ancient Indians, and then jumps forward to the time of the French and Indian War. From there the stories march through Ohio's history touching on armed conflicts, founding of towns, westward migration, crime stories, and student and worker protests of various types. Sprinkled throughout are one-page biographies of famous Ohioans including Ulysses S. Grant, Jesse Owens, Paul Newman, and Erma Bombeck. 

When I was partway through the informative book, I began to bemoan the lack of a map so I could see where all the historic sites are in relation to where I live. And then discovered, there is indeed a map in the front matter, but on the back side of one of the Table of Contents page, which is why I initially missed it. I would have appreciated a summary of museums and other sites that can be visited today, as that would save much of the guesswork. Overall, an interesting history in short chapters, all presented in a conversational and unbiased tone.

This title starts with the letter I (#5) 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.

Friday Fun - The Friday 56 and First Lines for January 6, 2022

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Just over a month ago, we moved to Ohio, and just before the holidays, I got my new local library card. I tested it out by borrowing a book about Ohio history, because isn't that what readers do?

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The solid oak planks of the boat held, but the treasured pie safe - and the crate of chickens - toppled into the roiling water. Peter could swim, but it was dark and the waves were moving fast, so he only managed to save the chickens, since they were easy to locate by their shrieking.

~from page 56 of It Happened In Ohio by Carol Cartaino

True Tales from the Buckeye State's Past - from the birth of Tecumseh to the Bicentennial Barnstorm

For a small state, Ohio has had a big impact on America. This agricultural, political, and industrial power has long been known for the vigor, earnestness, and imagination of its citizens. It Happened in Ohio goes behind the scenes to tell its story, in short episodes that reveal the intriguing people and events that have shaped the Buckeye State.

 

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.

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I moved to southern Ohio in 1978 from what the people around here call "up East." I wondered before I left whether you could take a state with only four letters in its name seriously and knew only that Ohio seemed to be a fairly flat, bland place beyond the mountains of Pennsylvania. 

~From the beginning of It Happened In Ohio by Carol Cartaino

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.

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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.

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And here is the weekly bookish question in the Book Blogger Hop, hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.  

This Week's Question: What was the first book you read this year?

My Answer: I haven't quite finished it yet, but I will count Obedient Unto Death by Liisa Eyerly as my first book completed. I actually started it in the summer but was unable to finish at the time, so I was able to skim the beginning to remind myself before settling in to find out how all the clues in this murder mystery fit together. Review coming soon!

Book Blogger Hop

 ©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 Master Craftsman

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The Master Craftsman by Kelli Stuart - This dual timeline story combines a modern treasure hunt with a historical drama, with a bit of suspense and a hint of romance thrown in. In the historical timeline, the story follows the great Peter Karl Fabergé. Having risen to fame and success as a jeweler for the imperial tsar of Russia, he finds himself with divided loyalties as unrest pushes Russia closer to the Bolsehvik Revolution. Fabergé has supplied the beautiful jeweled Easter Eggs to the tsar's family for years, but now he secretly creates an Egg to express his dual allegiance. As the danger mounts, he entrusts the secret of the Egg to a trusted master craftsman in his business, Alma Pihl, and asks her to keep the secret safe when she escapes to her native Finland.

In the present-day timeline, Ava Laine finds herself intrigued by the possibility of helping her estranged father complete one last treasure hunt. The great treasure hunter Nick Laine is bedridden and when Ava and her mother go to see him, Ava volunteers to be his 'padawan' or apprentice to find a mysterious Fabergé egg. Her mother Carol and her friend Zak join the team and they head to Russia to track down the clues. In St Petersburg, they connect with two trusted contacts of Nick's and begin the hunt.

The two story lines unfold in alternating chapters, with the historical story following Fabergé, his wife Augusta, and Alma; and the present day story focusing on Ava. The suspense builds as Ava and her team follow the few leads they have, but relying more on Ava's instincts as the days go by. Then when everything in the hunt goes wrong, Ava finds herself in greater danger than she thought possible, and must decide who she can trust in a race for her life and to find the missing Fabergé egg.

This story took some unexpected twists in both timelines, and the complex relationships and personal dilemmas kept me turning pages, as did the rich background of historical context of the Fabergé eggs.

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2022 European Reading Challenge

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This is a book set on at least two continents (#12) for The 52 Book Club's 2022 Reading Challenge

#the52bookclub2022

©2008-2022 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 Only Woman in the Room

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The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict - This novel reads like an auto-biography, as it's written in first person as if from Hedy Lamarr's personal journal. Author Marie Benedict wove together the facts about Lamarr's life and paints a haunting picture of the beautiful actress who was also a brilliant inventor.

The story begins with Hedy Kiesler's stage acting in Austria, following a performance that brought her to the attention of a wealthy and influential arms dealer, Friederich Mandl. The much older man pursued the young actress, who eventually agreed to marry him, at least in part because his power and influence could keep her and her parents protected in an increasingly anti-Semitic country. (This was in the early 1930s) Hedy had given up her acting career upon her marriage, and soon found out that her intellect and keen mind were not respected at all by her husband. She was an art object that he liked to show off at dinner parties. But while acting as Mandl's hostess, she had access to the political powers of Europe, and was privy to vast amounts of sensitive information about armaments, political maneuvering, and military plans and secrets. 

As her husband treated her more and more like a prisoner, Hedy accumulated all this sensitive information, and she also realized that anyone with Jewish roots was unsafe as Hitler's Nazis gained power. She carefully planned her escape from Austria, and eventually made her way to Hollywood after an introduction to Louis B. Mayer, where she found success as a glamourous actress, known for her exceptional beauty. She also struggled with her sense of guilt for escaping Europe and not sharing what she knew about Hitler and his plans, or about the strengths and weaknesses of the weaponry and military plans.

Hedy was finally able to team up with a composer to invent the "frequency hopping" communication system - or spread-spectrum technology - designed to help guide torpedoes to their targets while thwarting enemy attempts to jam the signals. This brilliant invention, patented by a gorgeous movie star and a composer, is the basis of the technology used in modern wireless communication. 

Much of Hedy Lamarr's life story is bittersweet - she was rarely acknowledged for her brilliant mind, only for her looks. She won personal victories in escaping her abusive first marriage and creating a technology to defeat the weapons Hitler was using on innocent people, but she had trouble in all her personal relationships and her frequency hopping invention was dismissed by the US military because it came from a woman. The only woman in the room.

©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.

Walking the Bible (DVD)

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Walking the Bible: A Journey By Land Through the Five Books of Moses (DVD) - A couple of months ago, I read a review of the book by the same name, and thought it sounded interesting. I was able to find the DVD through my library and decided to watch instead of read about the author's journey.

Bruce Feiler, a best-selling New York Times author, set out on a quest to see the places where the first five books of the Bible took place. The trip is both a journalistic search for information and insight, and a personal faith journey for him. The journey is in three episodes spanning many locations in the Middle East and Egypt, and includes interactions with the local people and with various experts.

He begins in Mesopotamia, the cradle of civilization, and traces the creation story, the early accounts of humans in Genesis including the flood of Noah's day, up to the time of Abraham. His guide takes him to Turkey to climb Mount Ararat, traditionally viewed as the site where the ark came to rest. The scenery is varied and breathtaking, whether desert, lakes, or mountains.

In the second episode, Feiler focuses more on the Biblical accounts of Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph. He explores locations in Egypt and how the culture of ancient Egypt intersected with the stories of these Biblical patriarchs. And in the third episode, Feiler traces a route out of Egypt and to the land of Canaan, or present-day Israel. He speculates on the possible locations of the Red Sea crossing and the forty years of wilderness wanderings. The highlight in this episode, in my opinion, was his stay at Saint Catherine's Monastery at the traditional site of Mount Sinai. The beautiful monastery and church have been here for about seventeen centuries. 

Throughout the series, Feiler provides commentary of his own personal reflections and questions, and his emotional and faith connections to the places and experiences are significant and often thought-provoking. The insights of the local people he encounters are interesting as well, as they reveal the historical and cultural connections and traditions of these people to the land and to the stories of Abraham and Moses. 

Personally, I didn't care for Feiler's narration, finding his commentary repetitive and his voice rather uninteresting to listen to. The landmark places he visited - Mount Ararat and Mount Sinai - were the traditional sites, for which there is little evidence other than tradition, so if you're hoping for new archaeological discoveries or tangible evidence, you'll be disappointed. That isn't to say that visiting these locations isn't valuable or insightful, of course, but it's the context of seeing the land and the connections of the local people to the land and history that is striking. At least to me.

©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.

The 5-Minute Visual Guide to the Bible (Review)

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The 5-Minute Visual Guide to the Bible by Michael Wittmer - The Bible contains lifetimes of wisdom and teachings about God and his plan for the world, but its story is simple enough for even a child to understand. Still, modern readers in western civilization often need help with the chronology, historical context, geographical settings, and cultural background of the Biblical narrative. This colorful guide does that in an easy-to-understand and visually appealing way. 

The guide works through the Bible chronologically, beginning with Creation and the foundational concepts of God's creative power, temple imagery, how humans are the crown of God's creation, and even the Biblical concept of marriage. The Fall and its consequences are similarly explained, then the remainder of Genesis and the historical books of the Old Testament are covered in detail in the chapters Israel and Exile. The Exodus, the giving of the Law, the significance of wilderness and covenant are explained. The major characters of Israel's history are introduced, and readers will see where characters like Ruth and Job fit into the historical timeline. The wisdom and poetry books are explained as well.

In the Exile section, you'll learn about the divided kingdom and get an overview of the kings and prophets during this time period and how they fit in. 

The section titled Jesus dives into the four gospels and breaks down what the gospel writers tell us about Jesus' birth and life, his miracles and teachings. To understand the context, it's helpful to know some of the other characters like Herod, the Pharisees, and the Saducees, and you'll get that info here. Near the end of the section are a couple of pages explaining the Christian doctrines surrounding Jesus' death and resurrection, and how we can be saved. Right there, simply explained, in the context of the story of Scripture. 

Following is another section of history, The Church, that discusses the events of Acts and how the early church developed. Paul's conversion and his missionary journeys and letters are explained. And finally, the last few pages explore Jesus' Return and the hope and promise of righteous judgment and the new heaven and earth.

I admit this beautiful full-color guidebook would take much more than five minutes to read cover to cover, but each page of valuable information takes five minutes or less to understand. You may wish to linger a little longer over some of the artwork, or pause to ponder some of the insights as well. I was absolutely delighted with the brilliant photos, beautiful artwork, and clear concise summaries of important events and teachings from Scripture. This is a book that is a valuable quick reference for personal Bible study, an introduction to the Bible for family reading, or as a guide to beginning an in-depth Bible study. 

From the publisher:

Want to read the Bible but find it daunting?

Wish there was a guide to simplify the overall storyline?

Think it would help to "see" the people, places, and events?

The 5-Minute Visual Guide to the Bible is designed to make scripture easier to approach . . . and come alive when you do. This brand-new guide keys beautiful, full-color illustrations - classic paintings, landscapes and artifact photos, maps and charts - to a helpful chronological time line of God's Word.

Inside, you'll find clear, succinct descriptions of

• events
• people
• places
• doctrines

of God's Word, along with numerous related references if you'd like to study further.

The 5-Minute Visual Guide to the Bible will point you to the most important, interesting, and inspiring aspects of scripture, helping you to get more from your time in God's Word.

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.

©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.

Recent Reads - The Scarlet Pen

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The Scarlet Pen by Jennifer Uhlarik - Emma Draycott is excited to accept the surprise proposal of her childhood friend Stephen Dee Richards, but her family is less than thrilled. Her parents don't like that they got engaged before Stephen asked their permission, and there is something about him that doesn't sit right with them. Something more than the fact that he has no means to support their daughter. Stephen claims to have business prospects that he's pursuing and leaves town to earn his fortune . . . after some extravagant spending with money he received as an inheritance. Emma is distraught when he leaves so quickly after their engagement, and with so little information about where he's going and who his business partners might be, but she remains loyal and continues to write to him. To add to her distress, a cowboy that is new in town turns out to be a Secret Service agent investigating counterfeit money, and he is asking a lot of questions about Stephen.

Clay Timmons is a Secret Service agent tracking down the source of counterfeit bills that have been passed in the area. He quickly develops a good working relationship with the banker, Emmitt Draycott and his family, staying in their guesthouse as he follows the trail. He is attracted to Emma and his feelings are torn when he realizes that the fake money keeps leading to her betrothed. It puts his friendship with her on rocky ground, to say the least. As he continues following Stephen's trail, he realizes that the string of violent murders is connected to Stephen as well. It soon becomes very clear that Stephen is extremely dangerous, and it will be up to Clay to inform Emma and protect her as well as bring Stephen to justice. But will she believe him, and how will she react?

This story is based on the true history of serial killer Stephen Dee Richards, and despite the horror of his crimes, there is justice and even a message of hope in his true story and in the fictional framework the author uses to tell the story. It definitely kept me turning pages and hoping the law would catch up to Stephen before he did more harm.

From the publisher:

Step into True Colors -- a series of Historical Stories of Romance and True American Crime

Enjoy a tale of true but forgotten history of a 19th century serial killer whose silver-tongued ways almost trap a young woman into a nightmarish marriage.

In 1876, Emma Draycott is charmed into a quick engagement with childhood friend Stephen Dee Richards after reconnecting with him at a church event in Mount Pleasant, Ohio. But within the week, Stephen leaves to "make his fame and fortune." The heartbroken Emma gives him a special pen to write to her, and he does with tales of grand adventures. Secret Service agent Clay Timmons arrives in Mount Pleasant to track purchases made with fake currency. Every trail leads back to Stephen -- and therefore, Emma. Can he convince the naive woman she is engaged to a charlatan who is being linked to a string of deaths in Nebraska?

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.

#TheScarletPen #NetGalley

©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.