Recent Reads - Frauds on Favourite

Frauds On Favourite by PJ Fitzsimmons - Teddy Quillfeather is back in another lighthearted caper in which she must investigate just about everyone involved in Middleditch horse racing in an effort to protect her uncle's stable from being banned. Some questionable betting and results in recent races led to questions about race fixing and possible conspiracies. Teddy and her friend Stilts see that there are some very dodgy and unlikely odds and outcomes, and Uncle Markham's explanation for his horse's sudden improvement on the track is completely unbelievable to everyone but himself.

Teddy is brilliantly observant and practical, but her bright wit and unserious demeanor allows her to question suspects, make everyone her ally, glean information, and cleverly resolve situations. In short, she is a truly unflappable flapper. The characters are all delightfully ridiculous and even the 'villains' have a sense of fair play and good humour. Even the young racehorse Spoons is a point of view character in some sections. Both narrative and dialogue are fast-paced and full of wit, puns, clever alliterations, and comedic turns of phrase. Descriptions of characters and actions made me feel like I was watching a hilarious but sophisticated cartoon. 

With stable owners, bookmakers, jockeys, tea ladies, touts, leg men, the vicar, the butler, and others involved in the story, the narrative was a challenge to keep track of in some places, especially when there was a lot of racing or betting lingo, but the story fit together for me. There were several mysteries or conspiracies to be unraveled ― whether the races are being fixed in the first place, who is giving the incredible betting tips, who the potential swindlers or conspirators were, and how it benefitted those involved ― but the solutions were surprisingly simple when all was revealed. Another clever cozy that I truly enjoyed. 

From the publisher:

Fun-loving, fast-talking, fraud-flipping flapper Teddy Quillfeather is off to the races in this multi-layerd multiplier mystery of dark horses and sharp courses, dodgy jockeys, unstable stables, impossible odds, crooked bookies, and a track-wide conspiracy to deny the punter an even chance. That's more than enough to invite a counter-swindle from Teddy, but when the family paddock is implicated in race-fixing, she does what she does best when the odds go against her ― she raises the stakes.

When Teddy's dotty uncle's eccentric efforts to encourage his horses to faster finishes results in a steward's inquiry that could get the entire stable ― and Teddy ― banned from racing for life, she steps in to prove him innocent against all charges and against tall odds, only made longer by Uncle Markham's vexing habit of confessing.

Further complicating the conspiracy is a series of seemingly random disqualifications, a mysterious little old lady with the unerring ability to pick winners, a spy in the stable, and a vast cast of jockeys, bookies, leg men, touts, and a forgetful racehorse named Spoons.

To save the family paddock, a beloved horse, and the wagered fortunes of family and friends, Teddy must race unknowable and uncountable swindlers and cheats to the finish in her fastest-paced fiddle yet.

Like all of Teddy's titles, Frauds on Favourite is a clean and clever cozy in the canon of Quillfeather and Boisjoly, and will appeal most to those who like a little comedy in their crime.

By the same author: Hardy Haul at Hardy Hall

I received a digital copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a book with a pun in the title (#1) for The 52 Book Club's 2025 Reading Challenge.

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2025

This post will be linked at the current BookWorms Monthly link-up hosted by At Home A Lot, and at  the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2025 hosted by The Intrepid Reader and Baker.

#histficreadingchallenge

©2008-2025 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. This post was written by a human.  http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

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Recent Reads - Hardy Haul at Hardy Hall

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Hardy Haul at Hardy Hall (Teddy Quillfeather Mysteries Book 1) by PJ Fitzsimmons - From the first page, this cozy is full of snappy narrative and plenty of humour. It starts off with a prologue that sets the tone and explains how Theodora acquired her quirky sidekick Tuxedo Bird. The real mystery begins when Teddy arrives at the country manor Hardy Hall, to reconnect with some old friends and with instructions from her mother to choose one of the eligible bachelors present so she can settle down to a respectable marriage.

Teddy's goal for the weekend is to have a good time but to avoid a betrothal. Turns out she doesn't need to come up with her own distractions, because the hostess's distinctively ugly but valuable necklace is stolen sometime during dinner on the first evening. The manor is surrounded by a moat so clearly the thief is one of the guests and not a drifter, as was the case in a previous theft . . . and in that situation, almost all the same guests were present . . . so Teddy is presented with a fascinating conundrum to solve. She does so with a mischievous sense of humor, quick wit, and inventive theories. 

As a lead character, Teddy is a delight. She has a razor-sharp wit and while she is cheerfully avoiding a marriage her defiance of her parents' wishes seems gentle and not disrespectful. She is a buoyant and light-hearted heroine, and even when challenging the stories or actions of other characters, she does so with a surprising amount of kindness, grace, and good humour. 

The characters are all so likeable and each one has hilarious quirks and mannerisms that continually add laugh-out-loud humour to the fast-paced narrative. There's no murder and everyone is polite and well-meaning, and the solution to the mystery brings wonderful satisfaction, especially after enjoying the witty repartee and comedy of errors along the way. The narrative is so clever and humorous in a very sophisticated way, while describing characters and situations that had me picturing the action as if in a crisp animation style. I'm already looking forward to the next adventure of Teddy Quillfeather!    

From the publisher:

The theft of an immensely valuable, immensely ugly necklace is only the beginning of the intrigues and idiosyncrasies of a country weekend at Hardy Hall where Teddy Quillfeather's mother has sent her with strict instructions to select an eligible bachelor from a shortlist of aristocrats, plutocrats, and copycats.

But when Teddy sets out to discourage the suitors and discover the looters with her natural knack for applied shenanigans she instead uncovers countless conspiracies, complicated by country house courtesies. It's a comedy of manners and caper of manors and the only solution, if you're Teddy Quillfeather, is obviously another heist . . .

This series starter is a clean, clever cosy that will appeal, obviously to readers of Anty Boisjoly but also PG Wodehouse, Agatha Christie, and Dorothy L Sayers, and above all to those who like a little, or, ideally, a lot of comedy in their cosies.

I received a digital copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a locked-room mystery (#1) 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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Recent Reads - A Man With One of Those Faces

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A Man With One of Those Faces by Caimh McDonnell - I should start out by explaining why I decided to read listen to this book. One of the readers in the 52 Book Club shared a photo of a hilarious dedication in a novel, and many of us commented wanting to know the title and author because it was so clever. (Of course, I cannot now remember what the dedication was, or which novel it came from.) Upon learning the title and that it was by Caimh McDonnell, I declared that I wanted to read his work based only on that dedication. A search at Amazon and at my library didn't turn up that title, but did turn up this one, which happens to take place in Dublin, fulfilling one of the 52 prompts, so I borrowed the audiobook version and hoped for the best. Not only have I not been disappointed, I have been thoroughly delighted with this story! 

Many questions about Paul Mulchrone arise right from the start of the story, and nurse Brigit Conroy asks a lot of them. What we find out early is that he has that 'familiar' kind of face, and one of the things he does is allow elderly hospital patients who are alone to believe he is the son or nephew or grandson or whatever, in order to provide some companionship to them. It's not entirely altruistic though. Brigit asks Paul to look in on an elderly man without much time left, and it leads to a very odd conversation and the man attempting to murder Paul. It's a case of mistaken identity, but the old man dies during the scuffle and Paul is left to try to explain what happened even though he doesn't know who the man really was or why he wanted to kill whoever he thought Paul was. 

Later, someone tries to attack Paul back at his apartment, and he reluctantly teams up with Brigit to try and figure out why. They find themselves in a bizarre race to stay ahead of the would-be killers, trying to figure out how the few pieces they have connect before they can even speculate what the missing pieces might be. An old copper friend of Paul's, an aging detective and his upstart partner, an elderly woman who thinks Paul is her grandson, Paul's lawyer, and several other characters take part in the chase, but Paul and Bridget really don't know who is on their side or who can be trusted.

The result is a narrative that is full of suspense and intrigue, but is also full of sardonic wit and comedy. It's a somehow twisted version of detective noir with dark humor. I laughed out loud plenty of times - sometimes even during tense scenes - because the descriptions, reactions, and dialog was so funny. Narrator Morgan C. Jones is fabulous and his voice characterizations and accents added so much to the atmosphere and my enjoyment of the story. This is the kind of book that is best enjoyed in audio format, in my opinion! And I enjoyed it so much I will plan on listening to the following books in the series.

One important caveat - it is also full of very colorful language and there are some gratuitously violent scenes. If f-bombs and similar profanity or vulgarity of language will offend you, steer clear.

From the publisher:

The first time somebody tried to kill him was an accident.

The second time was deliberate.

Now Paul Mulchrone finds himself on the run with nobody to turn to except a nurse who has read one-too-many crime novels and a renegade copper with a penchant for violence. Together they must solve one of the most notorious crimes in Irish history . . . 

. . . or else they'll be history.

A Man With One of Those Faces is the first book in Caimh McDonnell's Dublin Trilogy, which melds fast-paced action with a distinctly Irish acerbic wit.

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

This is a book set in the city for the Summer Reading Challenge.

This is a book set in the city of Dublin (#47) 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/ 

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Recent Reads - If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won't)

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If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't) by Betty White - Everybody loved Betty White. Absolutely everybody. She was sweet and funny, and we all thought she would live forever. This particular memoir was written about ten years before this beloved actress did pass away, and it's been on my To-Read list for many years. It was a delight to finally read it.

Betty starts out with a Foreword in longhand, and in a couple of places in the book she mentions that she writes exclusively in longhand. She makes quips about getting older and seems quite willing to laugh at herself, but always with cheerful optimism and a sense of gratitude and appreciation for all that she has in life. The book is a series of short anecdotes and reflections organized into sections. She talks about her career and some of the people she's been lucky to work with, about friends and how she likes to spend her time. 

Although there's a whole section of stories about animals, stories and mentions of her pets and her love for animals are sprinkled throughout the book. Betty was well-known as an animal lover and she worked with many animal welfare groups like the SPCA. 

Her positive attitude and joy in life comes through in every little story. She was kind and gracious to everyone―no jokes at anyone's expense, and you won't find her dishing any dirt. Betty was the consummate good sport about everything, and in my opinion she represented the best of what Hollywood has ever had to offer. She was one of a kind.

This is a book featuring a character that works with animals for the March 2023 Mini-Challenge.

This is a book with a subtitle (#1) 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/ 

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Recent Reads - Much Ado About Nothing

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Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare - This Shakespeare comedy follows the romances of two very different couples and the machinations of their friends that help and hurt their causes.

In Act I we meet all the main characters and are introduced to the conflicts. Sharp-tongued Beatrice and her cousin Hero are the two ladies, and Benedick and Claudio are the young men they are paired with. Beatrice and Benedick seem to have a past, indicated by her sarcastic jabs at him and his vehement declaration that he will remain a bachelor. Hero and Claudio, however, fall in love at first sight with barely a word spoken. We also meet Hero's father Leonato and Don Pedro, the prince. Benedick and Claudio are officers serving under Don Pedro in the war.

Later we meet Don John, Don Pedro's brother, and the villain of the piece. Don John is jealous of Claudio's rising fortunes and feels that his own position has been usurped by the younger man. Determined to remove his rival, Don John enters into a scheme with a couple of servants to trick Claudio into believing that Hero is unfaithful to him. Claudio falls for the deception, and accuses the innocent Hero during their wedding. Hero faints and Claudio storms out. More trickery is involved as Claudio is led to believe that Hero has died.

Meanwhile, there is an effort of matchmaking between Beatrice and Benedick, and despite their failed past romance, they do rekindle their affections, and after trading barbs and then witnessing the tragedy between Hero and Claudio, they declare their love for each other.

In the end, all comes right for Hero and Claudio as well. The scandal dies down a bit, Claudio grieves his lost love, and he finds out that it was a trick! Then Claudio agrees to an arranged marriage with a "niece" of Leonato's, and at the masked wedding, it turns out his bride is none other than Hero, who of course had not died after all.

I read this play and studied it along with students in my high school literature co-op class. We discovered how the play made use of the classical unities of place, time, and action. We also learned about the story value of love, and discussed the twists and turns that the love stories of the two couples took through conflicts and changes. 

Our discussion and study was guided by the textbook Illuminating Literature: Characters in Crisis from Writing with Sharon Watson.

©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/ 

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Recent Reads - She Laughs

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She Laughs by Carolanne Miljavac - From the very first story Carolanne Miljavac tells, she had me empathizing and laughing out loud. She has a delightful ability to share the humor in any situation, from the embarrassing to the mundane, and even bright moments in the middle of tragedy. Through these stories and lessons, Miljavac shares how laughter has helped her heal and deal with fear and pain, and why she believes that laughter is a sign of the joy and hope we have in the Lord.

There are ten chapters, each focusing on struggles and situations women face - shame, fear, failure, heartbreak, forgiveness, and more - and in each one, Miljavac tells stories from her own life experience and shares the lessons of faith she's learned and is learning. She builds a picture of the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31 who "laughs without fear of the future" (vs 25) that we can relate to. A woman who isn't perfect, who hasn't always got it all together - but she has a peace and joy that carries her through hard times because she trusts the Lord.

Miljavac's own experiences are heartwarming and heartbreaking by turns, and she shares them with a vulnerability and honesty that made it feel comfortable and companionable to laugh along with her, and earned my attention when she brought the preaching and teaching. These are lessons that I believe all women need to hear and perhaps especially young women.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough, and would love to get it into the hands of many of the young ladies that I know. As of this writing, Amazon has it free for Kindle, and I am considering purchasing copies to give away - it's that good.

From the publisher:

SHE LAUGHS! In the face of . . . Poverty. Grief. Brokenness. Disaster. Hopeless Situations. Life's Struggles.
And you can too!

Join CA Miljavac on a journey of joy.

She believes with all her heart that laughter is a gift, providing a sliver of distraction from whatever struggle you might be facing . . . relief when you need rescuing . . . hope in the midst of hardship.

Though her life has been dotted with disaster, it's through laughter that she found the strength and courage to persevere . . . joy for the journey. And she'll help you discover all the ways laughter can carry you through your very own painful situations.

In ten laugh-till-you-cry chapters, Miljavac shares how laughter has been an essential and valuable part of her own healing, plus hilarious true stories will help you get started on the path to a life of peace and joy.

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.

 ©2008-2020 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 - Detective Trigger and the Ruby Collar

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Detective Trigger and the Ruby Collar by M.A. Owens - In this fun private eye story for middle grade readers, all the characters are dogs and cats, and the narrative is a tongue-in-cheek nod to the classic hard-nosed detectives seen in television and movie portrayals.

Detective Trigger is a ex-police chihuahua with a humorously cynical outlook on life and crime. He knows that the notoriously powerful crime boss in the city, Mr. B, has the mayor and a lot of police under his thumb, and he figures there's not much anyone can do about it. He's just doing the best he can with the small cases that come his way. So when a dame from the better part of town hires him to find a stolen family heirloom, he initially thinks it's a simple case and pretty easy money, but things get . . . interesting pretty quickly.

Trigger's investigation leads him to a string of burglaries in the swankiest section of the city and into all kinds of dangerous situations. He gets a little help along the way from a master thief, a couple of the remaining good guys on the police force, and some surprising allies. Throw in a bit of luck, and Trigger's own quick wits and sardonic commentary, and this is a detective story with a great balance of suspense and humor. It may be intended for middle grade readers, but as an adult I was entertained from beginning to end.

There is some violence, as you might expect in a private eye versus ruthless crime boss story, but it has a comic book flavor to it because it's cats and dogs fighting it out.

It's extremely well written, and is entertaining for adults as well as kids, and I am looking forward to Trigger's further adventures.

From the publisher:

When a pretty dame from the nicer part of town hires Trigger to track down a missing family heirloom, he quickly realizes he may have bitten off more than he can chew. Throw in an infamous master thief in the role of ally, and the city's most dangerous mobster as the foe, and Trigger finds himself wondering if this will be the biggest case of his career . . . or the last.

He's on the trail of a crooked cat. Can our doggy detective make this crime their last meow?

Four-legged private eye Trigger wishes someone would throw him a bone. Without a case to solve, the quick-witted Chihuahua is stuck digging for leftovers in a city run by criminals. So he thinks his luck has changed when a classy purebred dame hires him to find a priceless stolen collar.

With his client insisting that an infamous master thief took the jewel-studded accessory, Trigger sniffs around for clues. But what he digs up is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to take down the city's wicked feline kingpin . . .

Can Trigger restore law and order, or is he barking up the wrong tree?

©2008-2019 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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Wordless Wednesday - Westminster Peep Show

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 We visited the 10th Annual PEEPshow in Westminster last week. It's a display of creative artwork made with and inspired by the marshmallow treats popular at Easter. It's held as a fundraiser for the Carroll County Arts Festival, and it's a lot of fun.

This was the Grand Prize Winner

Edgar Allen Peep (we're near Baltimore, so Poe and his works are referenced often)

Hokusai's Great Wave - of Peeps

This is the coffee roastery and shop where I work - just down the street from the
Arts Council building. 

Here's the inside of the Furnace Hills Coffee display. I think I could be the yellow
Peep with the green apron. ;-)

This post is linked at Wordless Wednesday, hosted by Life at Rossmont; and at Pictorial Tuesday, hosted by Peabea's Scribble Pad.

©2008-2017 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads - These Old Shades

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These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer - In this fast-paced adventure set during the reign of Louis XV of France, Justin Alastair, the Duke of Avon, meets a frightened street urchin in a back alley of Paris and makes the surprising decision to purchase the youth to act as his page. Leon reacts with adoring gratitude and is fiercely loyal to the Duke.

As it turns out, the Duke was not acting out of pure charity which would certainly be out of character for him! He had been immediately struck by the distinctive red hair of Leon and its similarity to one Comte de St. Vire, an old enemy of Alastair. The Duke also recognized that Leon was actually a girl, and after a little time goes by, he takes Leonie with him to England and insists that she once again learns to behave and dress as a young lady, and he takes the role of guardian to her.

The Duke's family and friends don't realize Leonie's probable connection with the Comte, but quickly fall in love with her precocious high spirits and wonder whether the Duke will eventually marry her. This story has a kidnapping, a daring escape, plenty of intrigue and drama, some charming romance, and delightful characters, all accompanied by wonderful humor and dialogue laced with dry wit. And now counted among my favorite Georgette Heyer novels,

By the same author: Regency Buck, The Unknown Ajax, Powder and Patch, Beauvallet, Lady of Quality, The Toll-Gate

©2008-2016 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads - In Good Company

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In Good Company by Jen Turano - Millie Longfellow knows she is a good nanny, but the high society mothers she has worked for don't understand her tendency to have fun with her young charges and her rather unconventional methods. As a result, she never stays employed for very long at a time. Everett Mulberry unexpectedly became guardian to three young children, and has had one nanny after another quit after the children's pranks and misbehavior. In desperation, he agrees to hire Millie because he is about to leave for his summer cottage and the employment agency has no one else available.

Millie connects with the children quickly, although there are definitely some missteps along the way, and she introduces the idea that something suspicious is afoot regarding the parents' death and their estate. To their surprise, Millie and Everett find a mutual respect and start to develop a friendly relationship, but this doesn't sit well at all with Caroline, the woman that expects Everett to marry her. In fact, Caroline resents the children's presence and is hoping to have them sent off to boarding school, and she especially scorns Millie. As the days in Newport go by, Everett starts to realize the extent of the snobbery practiced by his friends and by himself, and that perhaps the growing affection he has for the children and for Millie will trump the expectations of society and his former plans for his life.

As in the previous novel by Turano that I read (A Change of Fortune), the female lead is charming in an eccentric way, a young lady with sweet character but appallingly bad luck in life so far; and the gentleman love interest is wealthy and high-placed in society and initially uninterested in a romantic relationship. The other similarities are the series of improbable circumstances in which the couple finds themselves, and the surprising nastiness of the villain. In this one, I found Caroline's cold heart quite a bit colder than was completely believable, and the character and behavior of the children not always realistic. But the fast-paced storyline and light-hearted humour kept me turning pages, and wondering just how Everett and Millie would wind up together in the end. As with most romances, it's obvious that they will, but the twists and turns and resolution of the problems they face are what make the story fun.

This is an historical novel that could easily be a sit-com, so as long as you don't take it too seriously, it's a very enjoyable read. I had a delightful time with it, and will continue to watch for other novels by Jen Turano.

From the publisher:

After growing up as an orphan, Millie Longfellow is determined to become the best nanny the East Coast has ever seen. Unfortunately, her playfulness and enthusiasm aren't always well-received and she finds herself dismissed from yet another position.

Everett Mulberry has quite unexpectedly become guardian to three children that scare off every nanny he hires. About to depart for Newport, Rhode Island, for the summer, he's desperate for competent childcare.

At wit's end with both Millie and Everett, the employment agency gives them one last chance--with each other. As Millie falls in love with her mischievous charges, Everett focuses on achieving the coveted societal status of the upper echelons. But as he investigates the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of the children's parents, will it take the loss of those he loves to learn whose company he truly wants for the rest of his life?

Visit the Baker Publishing Group for info on where to buy.

By the same author: A Change of Fortune

©2008-2015 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/