Recent Reads - 10 Marchfield Square

10 Marchfield Square by Nicola Whyte - In a quiet block of flats in London, a resident is murdered and the landlady doesn't have confidence that the police will handle the case properly, especially since the victim was an unsavory smalltime criminal who was abusive to his wife. Wealthy Celeste van Duren is confident that none of her tenants could be the killer, and certainly not the widow, Linda, but that's what the police seem to think. So she recruits two of the tenants and tasks them with working together to investigate. Audrey is also Celeste's cleaner and has an eye for details and a knack with people. Lewis is a crime writer who has run out of book ideas, but he's got the background in procedure and research. And most definitely does not have a knack with people. Both Audrey and Lewis could use the money Celeste is offering, and when Linda is also murdered, they have an additional incentive to figure out what really happened and get justice for Linda.

The story is told with chapters alternating between Audrey and Lewis as the viewpoint character, with a few chapters from Celeste's viewpoint thrown in here and there. Audrey and Lewis are very different and their partnership for the investigation is uneasy at first, but as they track down clues they realize that each of the residents of Marchfield Square has something to hide, and conclude that it's most likely that the murderer was someone who lived there. They learn to work together and trust each other as they untangle the leads and work through the possible theories.

Inevitably they face danger as they uncover those who had motive and close in on the killer. The growing friendship and trust between Audrey and Lewis is sweet and the glimpses of how Celeste cares for her tenants are endearing. Although there are three murders and the story moves along crisply, I'd still consider this a cozy mystery much more than a thriller or suspenseful mystery. Certainly there are some tense scenes and the closer the amateur detectives get to the solution, the more I was kept on the edge of my seat to see which parts of the theories were right and wrong, and if my solution was the same as Lewis and Audrey's. There is definitely an intriguing twist at the end, one that made me hope there might be a sequel at some point, but even if there isn't, the ending struck a great balance between a satisfying wrap-up and a tantalizing question or two left unanswered.

The comparisons to Only Murders in the Building are apt and I found myself picturing a couple of the characters looking very much like the beloved residents of the Arconia. 

From the publisher:

The Paris Apartment meets Only Murders in the Building in this debut murder mystery with an intriguing cast of characters inhabiting a quirky block of flats in modern-day London.

When a minor criminal is murdered in the smallest residential square in London, elderly heiress and landlady Celeste van Duren recruits two of her tenants to investigate. Her cleaner, Audrey, knows everyone and is liked by all, while failed writer Lewis is known by no one. He hates his job, hates his life, and he's not that fond of Audrey either―but Celeste is persuasive.

As they hunt for clues in and around the Square, they discover everyone has something to hide, including their fellow residents. Audrey and Lewis must find a way to work together if they're to find the killer in their midst. Assuming of course, there's just the one . . . 

Cozy crime enthusiasts will not be able to get enough of Marchfield Square and its residents.

This is a book published in 2025 (#52) 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.

©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.

What I'm Reading - July 17, 2025

Here's a quick update on what I've been reading and watching lately. 

I'm currently reading . . .

10 Marchfield Square by Nicola Whyte - The comments I saw about this book were accurate . . . it does remind me a lot of the show Only Murders In the Building, which I love. One murder leads to another in a ten-unit residential square in London, and the wealthy landlady gets two of her tenants to investigate.

Village Books by Craig McLay - I got started on this for the next step of the Connections mini-challenge. So far it hasn't really grabbed my attention, but I'm still being introduced to characters and am not even sure what the main conflict will be yet. It's #3 on the Connections Challenge, being set in Toronto, Canada. Obviously I do not plan to finish this challenge by the end of the summer!

Murder Most Fair by Anna Lee Huber - This Verity Kent mystery is a little bit on the backburner since I had a couple of review books and a library book that had to take priority, but I'm still reading a little here and there so I don't forget what's happening.

Up Next . . . On the TBR stack . . . 

This is up next on my Kindle. I've got a few books on the physical stack too, but I haven't decided which of those will be next.

Before Beauty: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Brittany Fichter - I keep meaning to start this, and something else inevitably gets ahead of it in the queue. I promise this is the next one I start on my Kindle. I hope.

I finished reading . . . 

Jane of Lantern Hill by L.M. Montgomery - Young Jane is a 'too good to be true' character, but she's so likeable and capable that I couldn't help but root for her to have all the happiness she could handle in the little house where she spends summers with her dad. It was delightful to read about her intuitive connection with the father she thought she disliked, and her blossoming hope that maybe there was a way her parents could live together again. (Read my review HERE)

The Highland Heist by Pepper Basham - Freddie and Grace pay a visit to her sister in the USA only to discover the family home has been sold and sister Lillias is the prime suspect in her husband's murder. Time is short to clear Lillias' name because at almost the same time they are told that the sisters must travel together to Scotland to claim their inheritance from their mother. (Read my review HERE)

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer by Ragnar Jónasson - A famous crime writer is missing and young detective Helgi is put on the case. He has very few clues to work with but hopes to figure out what happened before the news gets out to the public.  (Read my review HERE)

I've been watching . . . 

I haven't been watching much lately, which isn't unusual for me. When my husband is watching Dry Bar comedy I sort of watch from across the room sometimes, but seldom sit down and pay attention. I did sit down and watch several episodes of Drive Thru History with him one evening - the episodes about the setting and stories in the book of Acts in the Bible. Very entertaining and interesting! When we were in Maryland we watched the King of Kings movie with the kids and our granddaughter. It was very well done and enjoyable, I thought, and is a great way to give kids an understanding of who Jesus is.

I've been listening to . . .

In addition to my usual podcast playlist - The Bible Book Club, political commentary, interviews, and The Grammar Girl - I explored a few other podcasts but didn't add much to the regular queue. Listened to my road trip mix and 'church music mix' playlists while we traveled, since the music on those is mostly approved by my husband. He doesn't like some of my other playlists as much. I had to listen to a few hours of his Spotify playlist too, but I got lucky in that no Pink Floyd or Wings songs appeared in the shuffle during that time! As always, RadioU is my listening choice for weekday mornings.

On my blogs recently . . . 

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

June Bookshelf Review

On my main coffee break project, A Fresh Cup of Coffee:

Scripture and a Snapshot posts

Five Minute Friday posts

Everyday Images posts

Hodgepodge and other Q&A Link-up posts

Vacation Memories

WQ - Hobbies

Currently . . . July 5, 2025

Share Four Somethings - June 2025

WOTY and Goals - June Journal

WQ - Patriotism

My "first cup blog", Homeschool Coffee Break, has been idle again.

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

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.

 

©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.

Recent Reads - The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer by Ragnar Jónasson - When a bestselling crime author goes missing, the young detective Helgi is given the challenge of finding her or finding out what happened before the press and public realize there's a problem. Helgi hopes to prove his mettle with the case, and maybe his own love of crime and mystery fiction will help him make sense of the few clues available. He faces challenges in his personal life too, with his former girlfriend stalking and threatening his new love interest and his struggles to handle the situations. 

There's one flashback timeline in which the author, Elín Jónsdóttir, is being interviewed by an unknown person. We're given the transcript of this interview, and there's a sense that there must be clues for the reader that Helgi doesn't have access to, and it does add to the tension. The sections of transcript are interspersed throughout the story.

In another alternate timeline, the detective that Helgi replaced, Hulda, is doing follow-up work on a bank robbery and murder case. It was apparently the last case she was working on before she disappeared. Again, there's a sense to the reader that the cases or maybe even the disappearances must be related, but at the beginning it's not clear just how.

The tension builds throughout, as Elín's few close friends maintain hope that she is still alive and has just chosen to be incommunicado for reasons of her own. There are some clues that don't fit this solution, so Helgi keeps working at it, and the bits of interview transcript start to fall into place for the reader as well. There are some twists and turns in the solution.

There's some good payoff in how Hulda's investigation has a connection to Helgi's case, but those threads seem loosely woven together, and the way Hulda's timeline concludes makes me wonder if there is more to come in a sequel. Likewise with how the book ends on a cliffhanger, and such an abrupt one that I'm still not sure how I feel about it! I was actually startled that there was not another chapter and I really had reached the end of the book. I enjoyed the read, putting together the clues as best I could, and the rising suspense and subsequent satisfaction of the pieces coming together. However, that abrupt ending was very unsettling and left me puzzled and feeling like I'd missed something important.

This book is a sequel to Death At the Sanitorium: A Mystery, which I understand has a similar layout of Helgi following up on Hulda's previous investigation after her disappearance. I don't think it's necessary to read these in order, but given Hulda's disappearance and the drama in Helgi's personal life, I assume it would probably be very helpful to read in order. 

From the publisher:

The next thrilling golden-age-style mystery from the #1 Icelandic bestseller Ragnar Jónasson, author of Death at the Sanatorium and Reykjavik.

One winter evening, bestselling crime author Elín Jónsdóttir goes missing.

There are no clues to her disappearance and it is up to young detective Helgi to crack the case before its leaked to the press.

As Helgi interviews the people closest to her―a publisher, an accountant, a retired judge―he realizes that Elín's life wasn't what it seemed. In fact, her past is even stranger than the fiction she wrote.

As the case of the missing crime writer becomes more mysterious by the hour, Helgi must uncover the secrets of the writer's very unexpected life.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review.

#NetGalley

By the same author: Reykjavik: A Crime Story (with Katrín Jakobsdóttir)

This is a book set in a country with an active volcano (#49) 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.

©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.

Recent Reads - The Highland Heist

The Highland Heist by Pepper Basham - Frederick and Grace have had several exciting adventures on their honeymoon trip to Egypt and Italy, but before returning to England, Frederick surprises Grace with a visit to her family home in America. But the home has been sold and upon their arrival at her sister's house, there is another shock ― Lillias's husband has just been stabbed and she is the prime suspect and the household is in turmoil. Frederick and Grace try to take charge of the situation and find the real murderer. This is complicated by untrustworthy household staff, a phony police officer, and Lillias's uncooperative attitude.

Amidst all this drama, a solicitor arrives to inform the sisters that their late mother left them an inheritance in Scotland, and they need to claim it together. He has been delayed in finding them, and now time is of the essence if they are to claim the property before it is sold. Lillias grasps at this hope of salvaging her finances, but her name must be cleared before they can depart, so Frederick and Grace race to find out who killed Tony and keep themselves alive. It seems that someone wants to keep them from ever reaching Scotland and finding the original copy of the will!

When Lillias recklessly leaves for Scotland by herself, the pressure is really on Frederick and Grace to get there as quickly as possible not only to find the will but to rescue Lillias from the villain they realize is following her. More surprises await them all as they confront a ruthless killer and hunt for a will in a castle rumored to be haunted.

Coincidences and danger seem to follow Grace everywhere she goes, but her sense of adventure and love of books keeps her optimistic and high-spirited. As a character, she has matured over the series, but still seems very young, showing a childlike quality that borders on naivete at times, but her cheerful boldness and determination make her a very appealing and likeable character. She and Frederick are still in the early days of their marriage and both often reflect on the good fortune of their relationship and the devotion is accompanied by some starry-eyed newlywed behavior as well.

The adventures, coincidences, and character quirks are just exaggerated enough to provide drama and humor, although stretching credulity a bit. Grace's love of story and penchant for viewing everything through the lens of books she has read brings a lighthearted quality to the suspenseful situations, and one can't help but cheer for the fairytale happy endings along with her.

From the publisher:

Grace Storms a Scottish Castle to Save her Sister

Lord Astley surprises his wife with a trip to America to see her family before they end their honeymoon adventures. But just as they arrive, they find Grace's sister, Lillias, is the prime suspect in her husband's murder. To add to the confusion a solicitor arrives to tell the sisters they are needed in Scotland immediately to claim their mother's inheritance.

The clock is ticking to clear Lillias of suspicion, but someone is determined to keep the sisters from reaching the Scottish Highlands. When Lillias disappears, Freddie and Grace race to Scotland, sure the answers will be found in a long-forgotten castle.

With a ghost from Frederick's past leaving threatening clues along the way, the mysterious Mr. Kane waiting in the wings to grab the inheritance for himself, and an apparition haunting the infamous castle, Lord and Lady Astley must capture the castle, save Lillias, and not die in the process.

The Highland Heist is a Freddie and Grace Mystery, sequel to The Mistletoe Countess, The Cairo Curse, and The Juliet Code.

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review.

#TheHighlandHeist #NetGalley

By the same author: The Juliet Code, The Cairo Curse, 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 featuring a character with red hair (#2) 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/ 

 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.

June Bookshelf Review

Like a crazy person, I opted to start on the 52 Book Club's Connections Reading Challenge, which takes the place of a summer mini-challenge this year. The entire challenge is twenty-one books, which CLEARLY I won't finish during the summer, but will just plod along through it for the fun of seeing how many I can do. And for my own entertainment, I may continue until I do finish, even if that takes me into next year. For me, reading challenges are to push me to read more and to read books outside of my most favorite genres, and not for comparison or competition with others. Anyway, true to form, I've no sooner started on the Connections and then realize that I'll not be able to start the third book of the challenge until I've finished a couple of review books. :shrug: That's the way it goes!

June's Books Completed and Reviewed

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn - Spy thriller meets murder mystery as four women, all retired professional assassins, realize that the firm they worked for is trying to kill them. They combine their skills and resources to protect each other, and naturally, to kill the would-be killers before they become victims. (When I posted the May Bookshelf Review, this review hadn't posted. You can find it HERE.)

The Blind Scribe by Connilyn Cossette - Shalem's curiosity about languages and about a mysterious stranger gets him into trouble, but it turns out the stranger is a scribe and willing to trade knowledge with Shalem. (Read my review HERE)

Jane of Lantern Hill by L.M. Montgomery - Jane's life in Toronto is not a happy one, really, but it's all she's ever known . . . until her father has her come spend a summer with him on Prince Edward Island. A lovely novel about growing up and family bonds. (Read my review HERE)

During June I started reading:

Murder Most Fair by Anna Lee Huber - Well, I finally started on this next one in the Verity Kent series (I'm getting behind in it!) and am just getting introduced to the mystery to be solved, but I have a couple of review books and a library book that have to take priority, so this may have to be on hold for a little bit. Such a pity, because I love this character!

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer by Ragnar Jónasson - With very few clues to start with, detective Helgi is tasked with finding out what happened to a popular crime author who has vanished. There are alternating timelines, including one in which an unnamed character is interviewing that author. I'm very curious to see how it all will get tied together, and I'm just beginning to see some possible connections.

The Highland Heist by Pepper Basham - Fourth in the Freddie & Grace Mystery series, this one starts with Frederick and Grace arriving at Grace's childhood home, only to discover that the estate has been sold, her father has deceived her about his financial situation, and that her mother has left an inheritance to Grace and her sister. But claiming it may be a real challenge!

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

Killers of a Certain Age begins on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean, moves to New Orleans, then to the UK, and then to Paris. Plus flashback scenes in the USA, UK, and Zanzibar.

One Word: Ruthless

The Blind Scribe is set in ancient Israel.

One Word: Learning

Jane of Lantern Hill takes place in Toronto and Prince Edward Island, Canada.

One Word: Belonging

Murder Most Fair has started in Great Britain.

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer is set in Iceland.

The Highland Heist begins in the USA, but looks like it will move to Scotland.

Coming Up in July!

10 Marchfield Square by Nicola Whyte - Just picked up from the library and I doubt I'll be able to renew it, due to demand, so this is definitely the next one I'll start.

Before Beauty: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Brittany Fichter - Sorry, Beauty! Bumped again!

Village Books by Craig McLay

Believe it or not, I also have no less than three new books recently purchased that I need to put into rotation as well. I really need to find more time to read!

On my blogs recently . . . 

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

What I'm Reading - June 17, 2025

Connections Reading Challenge Kickoff

And on A Fresh Cup of Coffee:

Scripture and a Snapshot posts

Everyday Images posts

Hodgepodge and other Q&A Link-up posts

Share Four Somethings - June 2025

WOTY and Goals - June Journal

WQ - Patriotism

Tell Us About . . . Blooming: Wherever You're Planted

WQ - Summer Fun

10 on the 10th - Photo Edition

Currently . . . June 6, 2025

WOTY and Goals - Spring Summary

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.

Recent Reads - Jane of Lantern Hill

Jane of Lantern Hill by L.M. Montgomery - I would consider myself somewhat of a fan of Montgomery's books, but I admit I wasn't at all familiar with this title before it was named as the June pick for an online book club I follow. The story starts out by describing where Jane lives in Toronto - a large house in an expensive and exclusive neighborhood, where she lives with her mother, grandmother, and aunt. Though Jane loves her mother deeply, she has no affection for the cold-hearted grandmother who never seems to have a good word to say to or about Jane. Jane is lonely, largely friendless, and stifled in any activity she might want to try. This dull existence changes when an unexpected letter arrives from Jane's father who lives on Prince Edward Island. He requests that Jane come visit him for the summer. Jane is scared to go, having only just discovered that her father is still alive, and worried about being away from her mother for so long. 

Upon arriving on PEI, Jane's connection with her father is almost immediate, and the two of them begin forging a strong bond. Dad gets them a little house on Lantern Hill to live in for the summer, where they can get to know each other, and Jane finds endless delight in being able to cook and clean and decorate and play outside with new friends to her heart's content. The house at Lantern Hill truly becomes her "home" and the affection she shares with her dad is deep, though she has promised to not speak of mother to him, or write anything about him to her mother. She grows more curious about why the two are no longer together, and for the remainder of the story yearns to somehow reconcile her two worlds - the home and people of PEI and both of her beloved parents. 

Jane is a sad and suppressed little girl at the opening, and why wouldn't she be with the harsh edicts and spite of her grandmother ruling her. It begs the question very early of why the mother would choose to live in that situation and subject her little daughter to it unless there was something very wrong with the life she had with Jane's father. There are glimpses of who Jane really is - she longs for friendship, she has an imagination, and she has a heart that want to be useful and helpful to others. Once away from her grandmother's house and with her dad, Jane blossoms and finds joy in being able to try all the practical skills she was only allowed to watch before. It's a coming-of-age story in that sense. Jane is almost too good to be true, once given the freedom to try things and learn. She masters cooking and gardening and almost everything else with speed and skill, despite her young age, and I did find that aspect a bit hard to believe. Jane is pragmatic, energetic, hopeful, and kind; and is as delightful a character as one could hope for. Her dad and her friends are all incredibly likeable as well. Her mother's character is not as well-developed, and she appears weak-willed and shallow in the beginning, even though her love for her daughter seems genuine. 

From the publisher:

In Jane of Lantern Hill, L.M. Montgomery brings to life the inspiring journey of Jane Stuart, a young girl who embarks on a new chapter of her life after moving to Lantern Hill to live with her estranged father. Amid the beauty of the island and the challenges of her new life, Jane begins to discover her inner strength and form deeper connections with those around her, including the father she never truly knew. The story is rich with themes of self-discovery, family bonds, and the transformative power of love.

This heartwarming tale is perfect for readers seeking a comforting escape, filled with Montgomery's signature warmth and charm. Jane of Lantern Hill is a celebration of new beginnings and the deep, enduring ties that bind families together.

This is a book with a character's name in the title (#21) for The 52 Book Club's 2025 Reading Challenge.

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2025

This is second in The 52 Book Club's Connections Challenge. Its title shares a word with the previous book title. The word "of" - not very creative of me, but I'm working with what I have!

This post will be linked at the current BookWorms Monthly link-up hosted by At Home A Lot.

©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.

What I'm Reading - June 17, 2025

Here's a quick update on what I've been reading and watching lately. 

I'm currently reading . . .

Jane of Lantern Hill by L.M. Montgomery - I wasn't familiar with this novel by a favorite classic author, but it is the pick for an online book club. I'm really enjoying it so far - it's sweet and a little sentimental but I like Jane immensely and she's a character that seems to deserve a very happy ending.

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer by Ragnar Jónasson - Last year one of the prompts for the 52 Book Club was a Nordic Noir, a genre I'd never heard of, but I found a book by Jónasson to review and quite enjoyed it. As a result I was offered this book to review now and decided to give it a try. I haven't read far enough yet to have many clues, but the mystery seems like a baffling one.

Murder Most Fair by Anna Lee Huber - I'd fallen behind on the Verity Kent series and this has been on my TBR pile for quite awhile, so I got started on it and am getting reacquainted with the characters as the new case is being introduced.

Up Next . . . On the TBR stack . . . 

These are up next on my Kindle. I've got a few books on the physical stack too, but I haven't decided which of those will be next.

The Highland Heist by Pepper Basham - I'll be starting this one very soon, as it's a review.

Before Beauty: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Brittany Fichter - I keep meaning to start this, and something else inevitably gets ahead of it in the queue.

10 Marchfield Square by Nicola Whyte - This is on hold at the library and is in high demand, so whenever they tell me it's ready to pick up, I'll have to start reading right away!

I finished reading . . . 

The Wedding Gift by Connilyn Cossette - This is a prequel novella that takes place several years before the King's Men series, giving background to the friendships between Avidan, Gavriel, Zevi, and Shalem. The boys are accused of stealing a valuable traditional gift that has disappeared ahead of their relative's wedding. (Read my review HERE)

The Blind Scribe by Connilyn Cossette - This story follows the events of The Wedding Gift. Shalem befriends a mysterious stranger who is also interested in words and languages. (Read my review HERE)

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn - A spy thriller with a twist . . . four women in their sixties retire from their careers as elite assassins only to realize the organization they worked for is now targeting them and they will need to kill or be killed. (Read my review HERE)

I've been watching . . . 

We've been watching some hockey - not much after the first round of playoffs, but now that it's the Stanley Cup finals, we're more interested again and have watched at least some of each of the finals games so far. My husband recommended a movie series he thought I would like so I've watched the first one with him - The King's Man - which I understand isn't actually the first movie in the series, but a prequel movie. In any case, I did enjoy it so I imagine we'll watch the other movies over the summer.

I've been listening to . . .

Continuing with my usual podcast playlist, which includes The Bible Book Club, The Bible Project, and political commentary podcasts. Listened to more Jordan Peterson and some Kirk Cameron podcasts lately. My music playlist has been RadioU and my collections of favorites. Not much changes in my listening selections although I've been tweaking my playlists and adding some new things.

On my blogs recently . . . 

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

Connections Reading Challenge Kickoff

May Bookshelf Review

On my main coffee break project, A Fresh Cup of Coffee:

Scripture and a Snapshot posts

Five Minute Friday posts

Everyday Images posts

Hodgepodge and other Q&A Link-up posts

Tell Us About . . . Blooming: Wherever You're Planted

WQ - Summer Fun

Currently . . . June 6, 2025

WOTY and Goals: Spring Summary

Share Four Somethings - May 2025

WQ - The Value of Our Stories

Victoria Day

An on my "first cup blog", Homeschool Coffee Break:

Victoria Day

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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.

 

©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.