What I'm Reading - August 28, 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!

I finished reading . . . 

Egypt's Sister: A Novel of Cleopatra by Angela Hunt - historical novel about Chava, a fictional Hebrew woman who was the close companion of the Egyptian princess who became Queen Cleopatra. (Read my full review HERE.)



The Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson - a Cinderella story with a young woman who has been mistreated by her stepmother winning the heart of the duke's eldest son. (Read my full review HERE.)

I'm currently reading . . .

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 three and am currently reading the fourth. I'm reviewing each of them separately.

 

So THIS is the one I'm currently reading:

The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson - just a chapter or two into this, and I haven't figured out which fairy tale it's based on yet!




The Lightkeeper's Ball (A Mercy Falls Novel) by Colleen Coble - I'm really enjoying this one! Olivia travels from high society New York City to Mercy Falls, California, to find out more about her sister's death. She suspects Eleanor's fiance . . . until she gets to know him!




Next on the stack... 

Beyond All Dreams by Elizabeth Camden
Zip It: The Keep It Shut 40-Day Challenge
Sanditon by Jane Austen
Lady Susan by Jane Austen

   

   

On my blogs recently . . .

Here on Just A Second:

Recent Reads - Egypt's Sister
Scripture and a Snapshot - One Body
Recent Reads - The Captive Maiden
Wordless Wednesday - Columbus Zoo
Teaser Tuesday/First Chapter First Paragraph - The Lightkeeper's Ball

And on my homeschool blog, Homeschool Coffee Break:

Homeschool Highlights - Eclipsed
What I've Learned as a Homeschool Mom on The Homeschool Post
Virtual Refrigerator - Pencil and Charcoal from the Archives
A Columbus Zoo PhotoJournal

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/

Recent Reads - Egypt's Sister

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Egypt's Sister: A Novel of Cleopatra by Angela Hunt - Chava's father is the tutor to the royal children in Alexandria, so she has been brought up as the dearest friend of the princess Urbi. The two share a close bond, and vow to always be together, but when Urbi unexpectedly ascends the throne and becomes Queen Cleopatra, their friendship is tested. Tumultuous events force them apart, but Chava believes their bond will endure. And it does, at least until Chava must politely decline Cleopatra's offer of Roman citizenship for herself and her family. Chava and her family are Hebrews and will not agree to worship other gods, which is Cleopatra's condition of citizenship. To Chava's horror, she and her father are imprisoned because of this, and seemingly forgotten and dismissed by Cleopatra. Eventually they are sold into slavery, and Chava's last hope of being reunited with her family is shattered when she is put on a slave ship bound for Rome.

Chava endures the cruelty of the slave ship, and finds herself sold as a laborer on a farm estate in the country. She is determined to find a way to escape or earn her freedom so she can find her father and brother, and to confront Cleopatra. It turns out that she is on the estate of Octavian's mother, and after Octavian is named Caesar Chava is moved to Rome where she works hard to become a skilled midwife. She finds an unexpected friend among the powerful advisors to Caesar, and at long last has a way to return to Alexandria. After fifteen years away, will she be able to find her father, or her brother who escaped to Jerusalem? What has happened to the young scholar who once wanted to marry her? And will she have the chance to meet Urbi again face to face, and fulfill the promise that God had given her?

This was such a powerful story, weaving the imaginary character of Chava into the history of Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, and other real figures. Chava's belief that God had spoken to her about her friendship with Urbi, and her maturing and growth in her faith was very real and compelling. It certainly isn't a feel-good "happy ever after" story in the sense that we know that Marc Antony and Cleopatra had a tragic ending, but with the focus on Chava and her experience, there is an underlying message of hope and of God's faithfulness.

From the publisher:

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, and 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 sends 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.

By the same author: Bathesheba: Reluctant Beauty

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

©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 - One Body

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve, if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

~Romans 12:4-18~

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 - The Captive Maiden

This post contains affiliate links. 

The Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson - In this story based upon the fairy tale Cinderella, we meet Gisela. As in the original tale, she was beloved by her father, but he died sometime after marrying a cruel woman with two mean daughters - the wicked stepmother and stepsisters. As a young girl, Gisela had briefly met the duke's eldest son, Valten, and he became the subject of some of her daydreams.

Valten and Gisela meet again by chance in the village, and the young lord is captivated by Gisela, but knows little about her. Gisela manages to sneak to the tournaments, hoping to watch Valten compete while avoiding her stepmother, but when Valten is declared the first day's champion, he names Gisela as the queen of the tournament. Thus she is invited to a banquet with the duke's family and is their honored guest throughout the tournament. But of course her stepmother is jealous and determined to punish Gisela, and sells her as a bride to Valten's rival, who kidnaps her. Valten will do anything to rescue the girl he is quickly falling in love with, and the two face danger and difficulties in their attempts to escape from her captor.

By the way, Valten is the older brother of Gabe, the hero of The Fairest Beauty. And their parents are the romantic duo from The Healer's Apprentice, so those three stories tie together well, although each can be read and enjoyed independently of the others.

By the same author: The Healer's Apprentice; The Merchant's Daughter, The Fairest Beauty

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 - Columbus Zoo

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See all the pictures and a few more words on my Homeschool Coffee Break post: A Columbus Zoo 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 - The Lightkeeper's Ball

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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! 

Though she wanted to shake her head at what she knew was coming, she couldn't move. He was right. Marriage was the only thing that could save her reputation now.

~The Lightkeeper's Ball (A Mercy Falls Novel) by Colleen Coble, page 198

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

 

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

The New York brownstone was just half a block down from the Astor mansion on Fifth Avenue, the most prestigious address in the country. The carriage, monogrammed with the Stewart emblem, rattled through the iron gates and came to a halt in front of the ornate doors. Assisted by the doorman, Olivia Stewart descended and rushed for the steps of her home. She was late for tea, and her mother would be furious. Mrs. Astor herself had agreed to join them today.

Olivia handed her hat to the maid, who opened the door. "They're in the drawing room, Miss Olivia," Goldia whispered. "Your mama is ready to pace the floor."

Olivia patted at her hair, straightened her shoulders, and pinned a smile in place as she forced her stride to a ladylike stroll to join the other women. Two women turned to face her as she entered: her mother and Mrs. Astor. They wore identical expressions of disapproval.

Here's the blurb:

Olivia Stewart's family is one of the highest echelons of society in 1910. When her sister dies under mysterious circumstances, Olivia leaves their New York City home for Mercy Falls, California, to determine what happened to Eleanor. She suspects Harrison Bennett, the man Eleanor planned to marry, but the more she gets to know him, the more she is drawn to him herself.

When several attempts are made on her life, Olivia turns to Harrison for help. He takes her on a ride in his aeroplane, but when it crashes, they're forced to spend two days alone together. With her reputation hanging by a thread, Harrison offers to marry her to make the situation right. As a charity ball to rebuild the Mercy Falls lighthouse draws near, Olivia realizes she wants Harrison to love her -- forever! But there's still an enemy lurking nearby . . .

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/