What I'm Reading - August 7, 2017

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This weekly reading list meme is hosted at Book Date. Join in to see what others are reading and maybe get some ideas of what to read next!

Last week I posted my Monthly Bookshelf Review instead of the Monday What Are You Reading post. So in the past two weeks:

I finished reading . . . 

My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude’s Mooring by Carrie Fancett Pagels - would-be innkeeper Maude and visiting undercover reporter Ben fall in love, but the story Ben is working on might create a scandal that would hurt Maude and her family. (Read my full review HERE.)



The Healers Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson - charming YA read based on the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale, in which a poor girl apprenticed to the village healer captures the attention of the duke's son, who is betrothed to a young woman who has been kept in hiding since she was a baby. (Read my full review HERE.)



The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson - finished but haven't yet reviewed the second in this YA fairy tale series. It's based on Beauty and the Beast.




Rush Revere and the First Patriots by Rush Limbaugh - In this second novel of the series, history teacher Rush Revere and his students travel to the colonies just before the Revolutionary War and meet historical figures like Ben Franklin and Patrick Henry. I read these books some time ago for a Homeschool Coffee Break review, and have been sharing the reviews here from time to time. (Read my full review HERE.)

I'm currently reading . . .

Barbara and Susan's Guide to the Empty Nest by Barbara Rainey and Susan Yates - reading this practical and inspirational book in preparation for a review coming soon; and in preparation for my own empty nest, which I hope is still a few more years away!




Egypt's Sister: A Novel of Cleopatra by Angela Hunt - for an upcoming review, I'm reading this historical novel about a Hebrew girl who has been brought up as a servant companion to the woman who became Cleopatra.




Fairy Tale Romance Collection: The Healer's Apprentice, The Merchant's Daughter, The Fairest Beauty, The Captive Maiden, The Princess Spy (Fairy Tale Romance Series) by Melanie Dickerson - This particular cover makes this collection look "cheap" but it's actually very good. I've finished the first two and am in the middle of the third. I'm reviewing each of them separately.

 

So THIS is the one I'm currently reading:

The Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson - the cover might give it away, but this one is based on Snow White.




Next on the stack... 

The Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson
 The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson
. . . and I don't know what else!

 

On my blogs recently . . .

Here on Just A Second:

Scripture and a Snapshot - Rest
Recent Reads - Rush Revere and the First Patriots
Recent Reads - The Healer's Apprentice
Wordless Wednesday - C&O Canal and Great Falls
Teaser Tuesday/First Chapter First Paragraph - Egypt's Sister
Bookshelf Review - July 2017
Scripture and a Snapshot - Revive Us
Recent Reads - My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude's Mooring
Wordless Wednesday - Hibiscus
Teaser Tuesday - Barbara and Susan's Guide to the Empty Nest

And on my homeschool blog, Homeschool Coffee Break:

Homeschool Highlights - Work Week Two
An Extraordinary Adventure During the French Revolution (A Homeschool Coffee Break Review)
Virtual Refrigerator - A Mondrian Memory
A Great Falls C&O Canal PhotoJournal
Homeschool Highlights - A Work Week
Virtual Refrigerator - Glass TARDIS (Regenerated)
Back to Homeschool with SchoolhouseTeachers.com

What are you reading?

©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/

Scripture and a Snapshot - Rest

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

~Matthew 11:28-30~

Scripture & a Snapshot is hosted by A Glimpse of Our Life.

Glimpses is hosted by Embracing Every Day, a lifestyle blog by Barbie Swihart.

Sunday Scripture Blessings is hosted by Peabea 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 - Rush Revere and the First Patriots

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I received the full set of these novels for review through the Homeschool Review Crew. The following is adapted from my review of the series, which appeared on my Homeschool Coffee Break blog. Read it here: Rushing Into History (A Homeschool Coffee Break Review).

Rush Revere and the First Patriots by Rush Limbaugh and Kathryn Adams Limbaugh  - After years of listening to radio host Rush Limbaugh and enjoying his political commentary, I was so pleased to be able to review his Adventures of Rush Revere Book Series. It's true that I'm just a bit older than the targeted age group for this series, but I had a great time reading them all the same.

This is the second novel in the series, which tells about a history teacher name Rush Revere who happens to have a talking, time-traveling horse named Liberty. Through this series, Rush Revere brings American history to life by taking his students back in time to meet the pilgrims, the brave American patriots of the Revolution, the early American presidents, Francis Scott Key, and many more extraordinary Americans. When Liberty says the magic words "Rush, rush, rushing to history!" and Rush Revere declares the date and place, the adventures in history begin!

In this story, Liberty and Rush Revere return to the classroom and this time their destination in history is just before the American Revolution, where they have the chance to meet exceptional Americans like Ben Franklin and Patrick Henry. Students Tommy and Freedom are joined by a new boy, Cam, and are encouraged to stand up for freedom and justice in their own time. The students learn why these American patriots stood up to King George III of Great Britain and were willing to fight for freedom. 

This novel is primarily geared to children and younger teens, but it's an entertaining way for readers of all ages to learn American history, or get a refresher in it. The historical characters and events are presented accurately, even though the fictional characters are interacting with them. The photos and illustrations include photos of the historical sites mentioned, reproductions of paintings of the historical figures and events, reproductions of historical documents, and some whimsical drawings of the fictional characters in the books on their time travel adventures.

Adapted from Rushing Into History (A Homeschool Coffee Break Review) on Homeschool Coffee Break.

By the same author: Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims

©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 - The Healer's Apprentice

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The Healers Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson - Rose is the daughter of a poor woodcutter, but she has been given a wonderful opportunity as the apprentice to the village healer. Rose is determined to be a success as a healer, even though she often feels faint or nauseous at the sight of blood. If she fails, she will have to marry the merchant chosen by her mother, a disgusting and brutish man that terrifies Rose.

One day the duke's son, Lord Hamlin, is injured and it is Rose who must tend to him. He is kind to her and shows an interest in her, but both of them know it is pointless to hope for a relationship because Lord Hamlin is already betrothed - to a young woman he's never met, for she has been kept in hiding to protect her until she is old enough to marry him. Lord Hamlin has been trying for years to capture the sorcerer who threatens the mysterious bride-to-be but has trouble keeping up with him. While Lord Hamlin is following yet another lead on the sorcerer, he approves his younger brother's attentions to Rose, despite his own jealousy. He tells himself that at least Rose will be provided for and safe, and tries to convince Rose as well. Rose does enjoy the attention from Lord Rupert, and tells herself she will accept his proposal, but as danger closes in on her she begins to sense that Rupert doesn't really care for her. Yet Lord Hamlin very obviously does - so much that he is willing to let his brother inherit the demesne and the hidden betrothed, while he and Rose marry instead. But Rose worries that he will come to resent her and that Lord Rupert will be a poor ruler. Can she accept his offer, or must she refuse him for the good of the demesne? Then, when she stumbles upon a mystery surrounding her own identity, she begins to wonder if it is possible that she is the mysterious Lady that is betrothed to Lord Hamlin. Dare they hope it's true? And if so, will the sorcerer carry out his evil plan before Lord Hamlin can stop him?

In case you hadn't caught on, this YA romance is based loosely on Sleeping Beauty. It was actually a charming story that I enjoyed very much.

I own this as part of this collection for Kindle: Fairy Tale Romance Collection: The Healer's Apprentice, The Merchant's Daughter, The Fairest Beauty, The Captive Maiden, The Princess Spy (Fairy Tale Romance Series) by Melanie Dickerson

©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/

Wordless Wednesday - C&O Canal and Great Falls

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Great Falls of the Potomac

See all the pictures and a few more words on my Homeschool Coffee Break post: A Great Falls C&O Canal PhotoJournal.

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/

Teaser Tuesday/First Chapter First Paragraph - Egypt's Sister

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker. To play along, just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include spoilers!
• Share the title and author, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers! 

 My shock yielded quickly to fury. How dare Cleopatra leave me and my father in prison for so long! Did all our years of friendship count for nothing?
~Egypt's Sister: A Novel of Cleopatra by Angela Hunt, page 153

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

First Chapter/First Paragraph/Tuesday Intros is a weekly link-up hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea. To participate, share the first paragraph (or two) of a book you're reading, or thinking about reading.

CHAPTER ONE

Though I was as close as a shadow to many of the greatest men and women in human history, no historian ever recorded my name. Though I walked down marble hallways and dined regularly with princes and princesses, no one ever thought my presence significant. And though I influenced a woman who molded the hearts of formidable men, I am never mentioned in their biographies.

But I have a story.

Here's the blurb:

You don't know her name. The world remembers only her greatest friend: Cleopatra.

Raised together in the Alexandrian palace, Chava, the Hebrew daughter of the royal tutor, and Urbi, an Egyptian princess, become as close as sisters -- and rivals with their dreams of greatness. When Urbi unexpectedly ascends the throne as Queen Cleopatra, Chava believes their bond is strong enough to survive. But absolute power has a way of changing everything.

The ultimate betrayal rips Chava from everything she's ever known and send her to the lowest rung of Roman society where she must choose between love and honor, between her own desires and God's will for her life, if she hopes to rise again.

What do you think? Would you continue reading?

©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/