Thursday, May 29

Recent Reads - The Wedding Gift


The Wedding Gift by Connilyn Cossette - In this novella, we meet Shalem and his older cousins when they are young boys so it functions as a prequel for the King's Men series. Shay is included in many of the older boys' adventures, but longs to be truly counted as one of them. The families of Kiryat-Yearim are preparing for a relative's wedding, and the groom's delegation brings a curious box with them that holds a traditional wedding gift. 

The boys are all very curious about the box and the warriors guarding it, so when it goes missing, blame initially falls on them. Shalem, Avidan, Gavriel, and Zevi decide they will find out who took it and bring it back in order to clear up the suspicions.

It's a sweet story of family ties and a sort of coming-of-age story about Shalem. When the first book of The King's Men series begins, the cousins are young men and Shalem is an older boy, still trying to keep up with them, so this story sets the stage and fills in some of the background.

From the publisher:

Shalem cherishes visits with his family on the sacred mountain of Kiryat-Yearim, where the Ark of the Covenant has been hidden for many years. Although he and his cousins, Avidan and Gavriel, are not excited about attending a relative's wedding, they cannot wait to explore the woods together. Since Zevi, an older boy rescued by Shay's uncle Natan, came to live there a few months ago, the four boys have spent countless hours dreaming of being warriors one day and of defending Israel from the vicious enemies that surround her.

When a caravan of foreign wedding guests arrives on the mountain, carrying a mysterious box that ignites the boys' curiosity, they are determined to discover what lies inside. However, when the priceless box goes missing and the boys are blamed for its disappearance, they embark on a mission to find it and vindicate themselves.

"The Wedding Gift" serves as a prequel novella to the King's Men series, published by Bethany House Publishers. It unfolds a few months after the conclusion of "Between the Wild Branches" (Book Two of the Covenant House series) and before the Epilogue. The novella offers a window into the evolution of Shalem, Avidan, Gavriel, and Zevi's friendship, leading up to the fateful day when they witness Saul's anointing as Israel's first king in "Voice of the Ancient" (Book One of The King's Men series).

By the same author: Voice of the Ancient, Between the Wild Branches, To Dwell Among the Cedars, Like Flames in the Night, Until the Mountains Fall, Shelter of the Most High, A Light on the Hill, Wings of the Wind, Shadow of the Storm, Counted With the Stars


This is a prequel (#11) for The 52 Book Club's 2025 Reading Challenge.
#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2025



Also counted as a "Seasonal Salad" for the May Mini-Challenge, due to its "leafy green cover"


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

bookworms monthly linky

©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/ 

 This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 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.
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Friday, May 16

What I'm Reading - May 16, 2025


I'm really trying to choose a book more often than I choose doom scrolling or mindless games on my phone, but with a very busy schedule and not a very long lunch break at work, I don't get through nearly as many pages of reading as I think I'd like to. The weather has been improving and I'm happy about warmer days and  the weekends that are perfect for hiking and other outdoor things. Maybe I'll get a chance to sit outside and read soon!

I'm currently reading . . .

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn - Four women, recently retired professional assassins, realize they are on their organization's kill list, and put all their skills to work to discover why and to keep each other alive. Quirky, sometimes dark humor and full of suspense.



The Wedding Gift by Connilyn Cossette - Realized I had this prequel novella to a favorite author's series and decided I'd better read it before the newest novel is released! It provides some backstory to the characters in The King's Men series. 



Up Next . . . On the TBR stack . . . 

Or in the Kindle queue, to be accurate. I've got a few books on the physical stack too, but I haven't decided which of those will be next.

The Blind Scribe by Connilyn Cossette 





I finished reading . . . 

Black Fog by KT McWilliams - an aspring midwife in 1618 London sees that she may be suspected of murder when a man she confronted is found dead a short time later. Elizabeth is determined to find out who the real killer was in order to keep her name clear, but she must do it before the sheriff comes for her. An interesting debut novel that I reviewed. (ARC version) (Read my review HERE)





I've been watching . . . 

I watched some hockey, more during the first round of playoffs, but we don't have a streaming service that shows the playoffs so that hasn't been high priority. We recently bought the entire DVD set of the RVL Discipleship series and my husband has been watching them almost every night. I watch with him a couple nights a week.

I've been listening to . . .

My podcast playlist includes The Bible Book Club, The Bible Project, and political commentary podcasts. My music playlist has been RadioU and my collections of favorites. Not much changes in my listening selections.


My "first cup blog", Homeschool Coffee Break, is mostly idle these days, unfortunately.

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

What are you reading?


This post may be linked at What's On Your Bookshelf? #whatsonyourbookshelfchallenge hosted by Deb's World, and/or at the weekly reading list meme hosted at Book Date.

 It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

©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/ 

 This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 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.
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Thursday, May 15

Recent Reads - Black Fog


Black Fog by KT McWilliams - Elizabeth Bowmar is a young woman in 1618 London hoping to earn her midwife's license. It is early on a foggy morning when she and fellow midwives are attending a mother in a very difficult birth, one that will require assistance from the inventors of a mysterious birthday device, but that will cost money. Elizabeth is tasked with finding the father and getting him to pay, and with finding the inventors and convincing them to come help. After the successful delivery of the child, it is discovered that the father, Master Prowler, has been murdered, and that Elizabeth was one of the last to see him alive. This will mean she is likely to be a suspect, and even being questioned could mean the loss of her midwife license.

With help from her trusted friends and some new allies, Elizabeth hurries to find and outwit the murderer before the disgruntled inventor goes to the sheriff to cast suspicion on her. They are constantly surrounded by the black fog, and in danger from the likely murderer and those who do his bidding, but Elizabeth holds on to her hope that all will unfold according to God's plan, and faces all the challenges and uncertainty with as much courage and confidence as she can manage.

There is a prologue that hints at a harrowing experience from Elizabeth's past, and there are some references throughout the story linking this terrible event to her attitudes and to the unusual training she has in using knives to protect herself. Snippets of this backstory are teased into the narrative, creating a curiosity about it and providing some explanation for Elizabeth's unconventional and independent approach to solving the dilemma she finds herself in. The bits and pieces of the backstory didn't always satisfy as an explanation, leaving me with more questions about how it could possibly fit together.

Although this isn't a detective story, there is a mystery that must be solved, and the characters must be resourceful in their pursuit of answers. I enjoyed this creativity and the unusual characters, though I was sometimes a little unsure of their relationships and uncertain of the plausibility of all the events and their happening during the given timeframe. I felt like there was an awful lot to fit into just one day, stretching believability at many points. Some of the threads of the story didn't get woven together in a way that felt natural. The black fog is mentioned often in the narrative, and its ubiquitous presence in the city is important to the setting and mood, and necessary to the plot as it obscures clear vision. In my opinion, it is mentioned too often - it felt too obvious. As this novel is a debut and an introduction to a series, I'm curious about how the subsequent stories with connect to this one, and hope that some of these characters might be featured and further explored in the next installment, and as the author develops her storytelling voice.

I read an Advance Reader Copy, so I understand that punctuation and minor errors will probably be corrected before publication.

Note: This review will be updated with a link to purchase once available on Amazon.


From the publisher:

Where kindness battles cruelty, a woman's quest for truth is a fight for survival & divine justice.

In the heart of 1618 London where the shadow of the past lingers, join Elizabeth Bowmar, a young, aspiring midwife, as she navigates the complexities of birth, betrayal, and a chilling murder.

Elizabeth faces the impossible: convincing two irascible men to accept life altering change to save the life of a mother and her child.

But as life and death hang in the balance, one is murdered, and the other seeks revenge against Elizabeth.

Elizabeth must rely on her wit, strength, and unwavering faith to uncover the truth before time runs out.

Black Fog is the introduction to the On The Wings Of Angels series. Experience a world where true kindness lifts souls, and God's plan guides the journey. Dive into this historical fiction enriched with Christian suspense and immerse yourself in KT McWilliams' latest novel.

Featured Book Reviewer

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a book with a title of 10 letters or less  (#13) 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

bookworms monthly linky


©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/ 

 This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 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.
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Sunday, May 4

April Bookshelf Review


The end of March and beginning of April was very busy for me, and so I skipped quite a few posts, including my monthly bookshelf review. I didn't get much, if any, extra reading done, but here's the round-up of what I've read the last couple of months.

March's and April's Books Completed and Reviewed

The Goodbye Cat by Hiro Arikawa - this was a delightful collection of cat stories from Japan. Each of the seven stories stands alone, but the last two also serve as prequels or supplements to The Travelling Cat Chronicles by the same author. (Read my review HERE)



A Deceptive Composition by Anna Lee Huber - Kiera and Gage are initially interested in helping Lord Gage's family discover the truth about how their patriarch died, but as more lies and deceptions are discovered, they are losing their patience. Still they forge ahead to find the truth before they become the next victims of greed and violence. (Read my review HERE)




The Work of Art by Mimi Matthews - Captain Arthur Heycomb offers Phyllida a marriage of convenience in order to protect her from marriage to a cold-hearted duke, but as danger seems to follow them to Arthur's estate, they also must find a way to navigate the very deep feelings they develop for each other. (Read my review HERE)




During April I started reading:

Black Fog by KT McWilliams - This is a review book, soon to be released. The main character is a midwife in training, and the story is set in London in the 1600s. Elizabeth is one of the last to see Master Prowler alive, when she confronted him to pay properly for his wife's care during a difficult delivery. When he is discovered dead, Elizabeth must find out who murdered him before she is taken up and accused.



During April I continued reading:

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn - I finally got started on this quirky novel that combines elements of a spy thriller and a murder mystery. Four women, all retired professional assassins, are on a cruise when they realize that the firm they worked for is trying to kill them, and they band together to protect each other and to find out who and why.



During April I shelved . . . 

Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health by Casey Means, MD with Calley Means - I dabble in this every now and again, but at this point I consider it on the backburner.



Where My Books Took Me in March and April . . . Here's where I've traveled through the pages during the month, along with One Word to sum up the ones I finished.

The Goodbye Cat stories are all set in Japan.
One Word: Devotion

A Deceptive Composition takes place in Cornwall, England
One Word: Dysfunction

The Work of Art is also in England. It starts in London and then moves to Devonshire.
One Word: Trust

Killers of a Certain Age begins on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean, with flashback scenes in the USA and Europe.
Black Fog is set in London, England.


Coming Up in May!

Well, we're already in May and I'm honestly not sure what I'll try to read next. These aren't next but I just put them on my wishlist at the library, though I'm not certain I'll actually read either of them. Have you read either of these?

Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell - maybe one for around Halloween?
O Little Town of Bethlehem by Elizabeth Boyle - the title seems like it's something to save for the holidays

  



On my blogs recently . . . 

Besides the reviews, here on Just A Second you'll find:



And on A Fresh Cup of Coffee:



This post will be linked at Share Your Shelf hosted by Slices of Life.


©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/ 

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


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Wednesday, April 23

Recent Reads - The Work of Art



The Work of Art by Mimi Matthews - Our introduction to Phyllida comes as she comes into her uncle's library to collect her dogs that have interrupted a meeting. Her straightforward humility is scoffed at by some of her uncle's guests, but not Captain Arthur Heywood. He later has the opportunity to converse with her and finds himself liking her more than he expected. She is kind, unpretentious, and gracious, and the plans her uncle has to marry her off to the Duke of Moreland do not sit well with Arthur at all. But what can he do? He barely knows her and is in no position to object or to be involved at all.

Philly has accepted that her life will be different now. Having been raised by her grandparents in Devonshire, she is more than capable of running a household and has all the required manners and graces of a high-born lady, but was not pressed to have a London season or marry young. With her grandfather's death, Philly has been taken in by her uncle, and has no property or dowry to speak of, and must submit to his plans to prepare her for a season and find a suitable husband for her. She begins to hope that the courteous Captain Heywood might be the one chosen, but is dismayed when she meets the Duke of Moreland. He is notorious as a collector of unusual art, and has a reputation for cruelty and vengeance. When she sees him strike one of his dogs, she is determined that she will not marry him for she knows her own beloved dogs will not be welcomed and may well be mistreated. Her uncle is unmoved by her pleas, so she takes a chance and reaches out to Captain Heywood, hoping that his gallantry and kindness during their brief friendship will move him to offer her some assistance.

Arthur not only comes through to help Philly, he offers her everything he can in order to protect her from Moreland. He offers her a marriage of convenience and the protection of his name, and assures her that she will want for nothing at his home, and that she may bring her beloved dogs with her. He loves her already but because he is crippled and emotionally and physically scarred after his experiences in war, he fears offering her his heart and his full companionship. The two do fall in love, but Arthur continues to worry about the threat that seems to have followed her to his estate, and won't allow himself to love her fully. 

This story seems to resolve relatively quickly, until threats and danger follow Philly out of London to Heycombe, and the tension ramps up again. There is also the romantic tension as Arthur and Philly navigate their relationship and learn to trust each other. The resolutions to the conflicts are not exactly as expected but the promised happy ever after does eventually come. 


From the publisher:

An Uncommon Beauty . . . 

Hidden away in rural Devonshire, Phyllida Satterthwaite has always been considered more odd than beautiful. But in London, her oddity has made her a sensation. Far worse, it's caught the eye of the sinister Duke of Moreland―a notorious art collector obsessed with acquiring one-of-a-kind treasures. To escape the duke's clutches, she's going to need a little help.

An Unlikely Hero . . .

Captain Arthur Heywood's days of heroism are long past. Grievously injured in the Peninsular War, he can no longer walk unaided, let alone shoot a pistol. What use can he possibly be to a damsel in distress? He has nothing left to offer except his good name. 

Can a marriage of convenience save Philly from the vengeful duke? Or will life with Arthur put her―and  her heart―in more danger than ever?

By the same author: The Matrimonial Advertisment, Fair As A Star, The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter

This is a book written in third person (#35) 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

bookworms monthly linky



©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/ 

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


A Deceptive Composition by Anna Lee Huber - Kiera and Gage urge Lord Gage to accept an invitation to see his extended family in Cornwall, but soon wonder if the visit was wise for any of them. The family has been estranged for many years, following a smuggling affair gone wrong when Lord Gage was a boy and resulting in his commission to the Royal Navy being purchased. Now he and his son and daughter-in-law are in Cornwall to get reacquainted with the family, and the occasion to bring them together was the death of the patriarch, Branok Roscarrock. Some in the family suspect that his death was not accidental, and certainly the Gages find plenty to be suspicious when they start asking questions, but all is not as it seems.

Everyone in the extended family appears to be hiding something, lying, or has some ulterior motive, and the stories and circumstances are not adding up. Soon Kiera and Gage are worried about their own safety and that of Lord Gage, and even contemplate abandoning the entire investigation since they sense they are in danger and the family is not cooperating. In fact, a question is raised about whether Branok is truly dead or not! 

The investigation takes several unexpected turns, and Kiera and Gage are compelled to find answers about the murder, and about a rumored lost treasure before they become victims of foul play themselves.

This installment of the series has a lot of interesting tangles as it introduces the family from Lord Gage's mother's side. There are family members that are likeable and seem to be allies right from the start, and others that are cantankerous and unpredictable. Though they don't fight, Sebastian and Kiera aren't quite on the same page when it comes to their strategies for finding answers, and there are constant questions about who can be trusted and who might be lying and why. The mystery was complex and layered, and stretched their investigative abilities, and in my opinion, the reader's ability to keep track of the many possibilities. 

From the publisher:

Lady Kiera Darby and her dashing husband, Sebastian Gage, hope they've finally found peace after a tumultuous summer, but long-buried family secrets soon threaten to unravel their lives . . .

October 1832. Kiera is enjoying the slower pace of the English countryside. She, Sebastian, and their infant daughter have accompanied her father-in-law, Lord Gage, home so that he can recuperate from the injuries he sustained in a foiled attempt on his life. But as the chill of autumn sweeps across the land, they receive a summons from an unexpected quarter. Lord Gage's estranged uncle―a member of the notorious Roscarrock family―has been murdered, and his family is desperate for answers. Despite Lord Gage's protests, Kiera and Sebastian press on to Cornwall to assist.

It isn't long before they discover that almost nothing is as it seems among the Roscarrocks, and they've been lured to their isolated cove under false pretenses. There are whispers of a lost treasure and frightening allusions to a series of murders stretching back decades that touch the lives of the family personally. Kiera and Sebastian are left with no choice but to uncover the truth before the secrets of the past threaten to destroy them all.


©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/ 

 This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 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.
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Tuesday, April 22

What I'm Reading - April 22, 2025


So the last month or so has been a little crazy and I haven't written anything on this blog since my mid-March "What I'm Reading" update! Yikes! I've finished two books and haven't even published my reviews yet. I think I'll do those tomorrow. And I originally meant to do this update post several days ago so I could link it up, and that didn't even happen. So I guess this update is more for me than anyone, as I take stock of what I've been reading and more. 

I'm currently reading . . .

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn - I finally got started on this very entertaining thriller about four professional assassins who are on their retirement cruise and realize that they may be targets themselves. And did I mention that all four are older women? 



Black Fog by KT McWilliams - This is an author debut ARC about a young aspiring midwife in 1618 London. While she's trying to save the lives of a mother and child, danger surrounds her in the forms of murder and revenge.



Up Next . . . On the TBR stack . . . 

I had this one ready to go on my Kindle but before I could start I accepted the review assignment of Black Fog, so I decided to focus on that one first.




I finished reading . . . 

I can't link to my reviews yet, but here are the two I finished recently.

A Deceptive Composition by Anna Lee Huber - Kiera and Gage are invited to Cornwall along with Lord Gage, where they've been asked to investigate the suspicious aspects of an extended family member's death. Their efforts are met with frustration and deceit, as all the family members seem to be lying and have ulterior motives. 




The Work of Art by Mimi Matthews - After her grandfather's death, Phyllida was taken in by an uncle who planned to arrange a marriage for her. Horrified by the cruelty of the man her uncle has picked, Philly appeals for help to the only friend she has, Captain Arthur Heywood. The two are only barely acquainted, but Arthur marries Philly to protect her. And of course their friendship quickly becomes love, but they have challenges and danger to face before they can settle into a peaceful marriage.




I've been watching . . . 

Nothing really, other than the occasional hockey game. Will be watching more, now that the playoffs have begun! 

I've been listening to . . .

My podcast playlist includes The Bible Book Club, The Bible Project, and political commentary podcasts. One recent podcast episode I found fascinating was The Alisa Childers podcast where she interviewed a professor about the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin. My music playlist has been RadioU for the most part.


As I mentioned, this blog as well as my "first cup blog", Homeschool Coffee Break, have been rather idle these days.

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

What are you reading?


I sometimes link at What's On Your Bookshelf? #whatsonyourbookshelfchallenge hosted by Deb's World, and/or at the weekly reading list meme hosted at Book Date but won't be doing that this month.

 It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

©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/ 

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