Just A Second

Friday, March 10

Friday Fun - The Friday 56 and First Lines for March 10, 2023

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I've had this book on my TBR pile for ever so long, and had to keep setting it aside because I had review books or library books with a due date that took precedence. I finally started it this week!

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Whatever had happened to end his engagement to Miss Campbell had obviously been no small matter. Not if neither of them had ever married. Not if all these years later he couldn't even say her name but still referred to her venomously as a pronoun.

~from page 56 of A Perilous Perspective by Anna Lee Huber

An all-new historical mystery in this USA Today bestselling series featuring beloved inquiry agents Lady Kiera Darby and her dashing husband, Sebastian Gage.

Argyll, Scotland. July 1832. After a trying few months in Edinburgh, Kiera and her husband and investigative partner, Sebastian Gage, are eager to escape to the Highlands with their three-month-old child. Kiera is overjoyed for her cousin Rye and her detractor-turned-friend Charlotte who are being wed in a private ceremony at the estate of Rye's great-uncle, the Marquess of Barbreck, in what seems to be the perfect wedding party.

But when Kiera is invited to peruse Barbreck's extensive art collection, she is disturbed to discover that one of his most priceless paintings seems to be a forgery. The marquess's furious reaction when she dares to mention it leaves her shaken and the entire house shocked. For it turns out that this is not the first time the word forgery has been uttered in connection with the Barbreck household.

Matters turn more ominous when a maid from a neighboring estate is found murdered where the forged painting hangs. Is her death connected to the forgeries, perhaps a grisly warning of what awaits those who dare to probe deeper? With unknown entities aligned against them, Kiera and Gage are forced to confront the fact that they may have underestimated their opponent. For they are swiftly made to realize that Charlotte's and Rye's future happiness is not the only issue at stake, and this stealthy game of cat and mouse could prove to have deadly consequences.

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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JULY 1832

ARGYLL, SCOTLAND

There was nothing quite like the sight of proper, normally reserved ladies and gentlemen flailing and dashing about a moor. Their natural habitats of stately homes and the theaters and clubs of Edinburgh and London offered little opportunity for them to behave in such a carefree manner, and even less for me to enjoy observing it.

~From the beginning of A Perilous Perspective by Anna Lee Huber

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: Do you listen to audiobooks with earbuds or headphones?

My Answer: I don't listen to audiobooks at all! Seriously, I think it's been three or four years since I listened to an audiobook, and I didn't use earbuds OR headphones. Just played it on my Kindle.

Book Blogger Hop

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Thursday, March 9

Coming Soon - The Journey: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli #TheJourneyTBNMIN

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The Journey: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli - Coming to theaters April 2-6, 2023

It's been awhile since I saw a movie in the theater, but here's one that I am really hoping to see! The music and scenery and the promise of interesting conversations is capturing my attention already. I love Andrea Bocelli's voice, and with artists like Tori Kelly, Michael W. Smith, and Tauren Wells among the musical guests that I'm already familiar with, I'm expecting a variety of styles. Other guests include instrumental groups 2CELLOS and 40 Fingers. And I'm especially interested to see Beatrice Venezi after seeing that she is one of the few women to conduct orchestras of international standing.

"Bocelli and his wife Veronica travel on horseback along Italy's Via Francigena, an ancient road traveled by pilgrims for centuries . . . joined by friends Michael W. Smith, Tori Kelly, Tauren Wells, and TAYA for world-class musical performances in some of Italy's most magnificent venues and majestic locations."

Synopsis: Combining world-class musical performances with intimate conversations across the awe-inspiring Italian countryside, THE JOURNEY: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli is an exploration of moments that define us, songs that inspire us, and relationships that connect us to what matters most in life.

Join in a sacred pilgrimage of hope, beauty, and song with this special theatrical event opening on Palm Sunday and continuing through Holy Week: April 2, 3, 4 & 6. In addition to Bocelli, you'll hear Michael W. Smith, Tori Kelly, Tauren Wells, TAYA, and many others in amazing musical performances across majestic locations. Get your tickets at TheJourney.movie.

Purchase tickets at: TheJourney.movie

Hashtags: #TheJourneyTBNMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

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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

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Saturday, March 4

Recent Reads - The Cairo Curse

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The Cairo Curse by Pepper Basham - Frederick and Grace (Lord and Lady Astley) leave England for a belated honeymoon that begins with a trip to Egypt, where Frederick's cousins are involved in an archaeological expedition. Frederick guesses correctly that his imaginative and adventure-loving wife will delight in seeing the land of Pharoahs. Grace immediately begins reading everything she can find about ancient Egypt, pyramids and mummies, and hopes to ride a camel (and maybe wear pants instead of a skirt!).

No sooner do they arrive, but Grace recklessly rescues a street child accused of stealing, and they discover that all is not well with Frederick's cousin Georgia. Georgia's awful husband is financing the dig, which has been unsuccessful so far, and he is threatening to cut short the expedition to the dismay of the other leaders of the endeavor. Georgia's brother wants to get her out of her unhappy marriage and to help that along, he invites her first love to join the expedition.

Under these tense conditions, Grace and Frederick are still determined to enjoy their adventure, but missing jewelry, suspicious accidents, and then a possible murder put them on high alert for all the danger around them. Grace applies her extensive knowledge of literary detectives in her signature imaginative way to try to figure out which of their party are the most likely suspects and villains. Frederick wants to see his cousins safe and justice done, but more importantly, he wants to keep Grace safe, but her adventuresome spirit and courageous attempts to help others lead her into danger time and again. As evidence mounts of nefarious antiquities dealings and one of their number being a cold-hearted killer, can Frederick and Grace untangle the mystery and keep from becoming victims themselves?

I haven't yet read the first in this series, but didn't find that to be a problem as I got to know Freddie and Grace as newlyweds. There are plenty of references to how they met and married (in The Mistletoe Countess) to give the reader an idea of what's gone before. Frederick is a proper and gallant English gentleman and Grace is his young American-born bride who loves to read and has a quick and creative mind. Grace's penchant for seeing literary references in everything and viewing everything as a grand adventure just like in the books drives the storyline, because she can quickly imagine how things would happen if real life was a book, and she wants everyone to have a happy ever after. Her impulsive behavior seems childlike at times but she is such an endearing and goodhearted character that she is extremely likeable. The characters are all exaggerated in their behaviors just enough to make the story interesting and dramatic, but not beyond believability. I found myself rooting for Freddie and Grace from the beginning, of course, and also for Frederick's trusted valet Elliott, who turns out to be quite the heroic figure himself. As this story wraps up, the honeymoon is continuing to Venice, which I hope means another adventure in the series! While I wait, I will definitely be backtracking to the first in the series to get some more background.

From the publisher:

Clue meets Indiana Jones with a fiction-loving twist only Grace Percy can provide.

Newlyweds Lord and Lady Astley have already experienced their fair share of suspense within their young marriage, but nothing quite prepares them for Egypt. As a gift to his bride, Frederick takes their honeymoon on a detour to the land of Pharoahs where Frederick's cousins are involved in an archaeological expedition. But soon the trip turns more dangerous than even Grace with her fiction-loving mind could predict. From an assortment of untrustworthy adventure-seekers to a series of "suspicious deaths" to a newly discovered tomb with a murderous secret, Freddie and Grace must lean on each other to navigate their hazardous surroundings and even less predictable cast of characters. As the suspects mount in an antiquities heist of novel-worthy proportions, will Freddie and Grace's attempts to solve the mystery lead to another death among the sands?

The Cairo Curse is a delightful sequel to The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham in the Freddie and Grace Mystery series.

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

This is a book with a city or country name in the title (#7) for The 52 Book Club's 2023 Reading Challenge

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2023

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Friday, March 3

Friday Fun - The Friday 56 and First Lines for March 3, 2023

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

I'm reading an advanced copy of this book for review. I recently read the first in this series, The Letter From Briarton Park, and I'm not sure yet if the stories will be connected other than taking place in the same time period and location. I've just started reading and am watching for any familiar characters as things unfold.

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She slowed her steps and lifted her gaze to the house rising before them. "My father would be furious if he knew this was how it turned out, with Hollythorne House in this condition."

~at 56% of In The Shelter Of Hollythorne House by Sarah E. Ladd (digital ARC)

Young widow Charlotte Grey faces an uncertain future . . . until a chance encounter with her first love gives her heart a second chance in this Regency romance set on the Yorkshire Moors.

England, 1817―Charlotte Grey thought she had seen the last of Anthony Welbourne. Knowing her father would never consent to his only daughter marrying a man he deemed beneath their family's station, Charlotte bid her final farewell to Anthony and vowed to never turn back. Instead, she honored her father's wishes by marrying the wealthy Roland Prior.

Determined to put his love for Charlotte in the past, Anthony Welbourne chose to follow his goals and immerse himself in a life full of meaning―first as a soldier fighting a war overseas, then as a member of William Walstead's watchmen, a rugged band of men dispatched to deal with perilous situations. Fearless and persistent, he makes it his life's focus to fight for those who can't fight for themselves.

When Charlotte's husband dies unexpectedly, she quickly realizes how blind she'd been to his nefarious ambitions and how many people he'd angered on his relentless quest for wealth. To protect her infant son, Henry, from those who wish them harm, she and the baby flee to Hollythorne House, her childhood home. There Charlotte comes face to face with her former love, who has been sent as one of the hired watchmen to protect her and Henry until the details of her late husband's estate are settled.

Anthony's presence brings back feelings she never expected to feel again, and she struggles to trust Anthony's intentions. Are Walstead's Watchmen really looking after Charlotte as they claim―or are they looking to make trouble for Roland's estate and heir? Despite the constant reminders of their past, Anthony must remain focused on the task he was hired to do. But when new threats emerge, danger arises, and the past collides with the present, both must decide what they are willing to risk for the chance to right past wrongs and carve out a new future . . . together.

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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Prologue

Blight Moor, Yorkshire, England

Summer 1813

Charlotte Grey should have been more careful with her heart.

~From the beginning of In The Shelter Of Hollythorne House by Sarah E. Ladd (digital ARC)

Book Beginnings on Fridays is hosted by Rose City Reader.

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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.

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.

Thursday, March 2

Down The TBR Hole - March 2, 2023

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

Welcome to my latest edition of Down The TBR Hole! Jody at the blog I'm Into Books has offered this solution to help remind us of all those books we added to our Goodreads list in the distant past and hopefully start managing the list. The idea is to start cleaning up our Goodreads TBR lists of all the books that have piled up over time, and share our progress in the link-up every Thursday. Here's how Jody explains it:

Most of you probably know this feeling, your Goodreads TBR pile keeps growing and growing and it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. You keep adding, but you add more than you actually read. And then when you're scrolling through your list, you realize that you have no idea what half the books are about and why you added them.

So here's what we'll do: On the Goodreads to-read shelf, order all your books ascending by date added. Look at the first four (or more) books on the list, read the synopses and decide whether the books should stay or go. Post in the link-up and share using the hashtag #DTTBRH and tagging @Jodyblogs.

After removing six books from my list last week (See them here: DTTBR Week Three), I wonder if I'll be able to do as well again this week? Maybe this should also inspire me to declutter a few things around the house, because I sure don't want my new place to become host to a collection of "I might get to this someday" piles.

Here's what I found on Week Four:

Havah: The Story of Eve by Tosca Lee - I don't remember where I saw the title or why I added it to the list but it looks interesting and has good reviews from an author and a couple readers that I trust, so for now it stays.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel - Here's another book that everyone has read. Except me. I think our book club had wanted to read it, but then chose something else and never got to this one, and that's why I still haven't read it. It stays too.

The Rise of the Wyrm Lord and Venom and Song, both by Wayne Thomas Batson - These books are the second in their respective series, and I've got them in my Goodreads TBR hugely out of order. I loved another series by Batson and really wanted to read these as well. I own a couple of the books in each of these series, but I can't remember which ones (they're all at my other house right now, assuming I didn't give them away before the move) so I think I'll leave these on the list for now as well. I'm not getting rid of much today, am I?

This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession by Daniel J. Levitin - A look at how our music preferences may be shaped and how our brains respond to and process music. I was intrigued by the description so I just went to my library website and placed a hold on this book, meaning it will soon be moving to Currently Reading status.

Candle In The Darkness by Lynn Austin - Once again, a book I own but still haven't read. Not sure why, since this is a genre I love and an author I love. Anyway, in the interest of removing something from my list, I'm going to take this one off since I know for sure the book is on my physical TBR bookshelf and don't need it on the virtual one. (Hopefully I'll remember to bring a few of these books back to Ohio with me on my next trip!)

This post will be linked at Down The TBR Hole hosted by Jody at I'm Into Books.

#DTTBRH

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Recent Reads - Shirley, I Jest! A Storied Life

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

Shirley, I Jest: A Storied Life by Cindy Williams - Comedian and actress Cindy Williams tells a collection of stories about her career in this memoir. The first chapter summarizes her growing up years until she went to a theatre arts college. From there she tells stories about waitressing to make ends meet while beginning to work in show business, her early roles, and experiences while travelling and filming. I found the stories about filming American Graffiti to be the most interesting, because it was a movie that really launched her career and several others! Of course, what I - and most people - most associate Williams with is the iconic show Laverne & Shirley, so my favorite section of the book began when she told about how she and Penny Marshall were asked to play the characters on an episode of Happy Days, and how that led to the spinoff series that they starred in. I loved reading about the friendship and adventures that the two of them shared off screen, as they seemed to get into almost as many comedic scrapes as they did in the show. Anecdotes about some of the many comedians, actors, and directors that Williams rubbed shoulders with and worked with over the years are included as well and are entertaining. The book has the conversational feel of sitting down with Williams and having her tell you her life story. While told chronologically, there is the sense that there are little rabbit trails and asides along the way. It was a quick read and although not as engrossing or as funny as I had hoped, it was a sweet glimpse into the backstage life of the beloved actress. RIP Cindy.

This is a book written by a comedian (#40) for The 52 Book Club's 2023 Reading Challenge

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2023

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