Can't Wait for Ninth House

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Ninth House (Alex Stern, # 1)

By: Leigh Bardugo

Expected Publication: October 1st 2019 by Flatiron Books

448 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--The mesmerizing adult debut from #1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh Bardugo

Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her?

Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs” are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

First Ten Books I Ever Reviewed

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week's topic is First Ten Books I Ever Reviewed.

1. Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush, # 1) by Becca Fitzpatrick
2. Good to Great by Jim Collins
3. The Dark and Hollow Places (The Forest of Hands and Teeth, # 3) by Carrie Ryan
4. Crescendo (Hush, Hush, # 2) by Becca Fitzpatrick
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, # 4) by JK Rowling
6. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, # 5) by JK Rowling
7. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter, # 6) by JK Rowling
8. City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments, # 4) by Cassandra Clare
9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, # 7) by JK Rowling - My only half decent review of the entire series.
10. Sea Change by Aimee Friedman

You guys it is almost embarrassing to even post these reviews. I had no idea what I was doing with reviewing a book. I didn't even know what I wanted my blog to be at that point. And I certainly didn't review ANY of the Harry Potter books (save MAYBE The Deathly Hallows) with any real skill or even worthy of the books or the series themselves. I've always intended to re-read and then update my reviews of the series but I just haven't yet. Which books were your first reviews? Let me know!

The Artful Match - Review

The Artful Match (London Beginnings, # 3)

By: Jennifer Delamere

Publication: April 2nd 2019 by Bethany House Publishers

368 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Cara Bernay has never fit in. At loose ends in 1881 London after a near tragedy costs her a job, she befriends a rising young artist. With his help, she begins planning a new life and developing her own artistic talent. But soon Cara finds herself at odds with the artist's brother--a handsome but arrogant earl forcing his brother back to a "respectable" life.

Henry Burke, the Earl of Morestowe, feels the weight of growing financial burdens. His profligate and emotionally unstable brother is making matters worse, and Henry needs him back home. Despite misgivings about Cara's mysterious background, Henry sees she's a positive influence on his brother and on Henry's unruly young ward, and he strikes a deal with her to return with them to their estate.

But the family has their own secrets, and when Cara, drawn ever closer to Henry, stumbles onto the truth, she must choose between following her heart and pursuing a bold plan that could bring disaster.

The time period that Jennifer Delamere has set for this series is right in the midst of some major cultural changes. Each of these books and main characters are tackling roles that are on the verge of taboo yet becoming acceptable. Rosalyn is a performer in the theater. Julia is becoming a doctor. And Cara is an aspiring artist. I enjoyed each of these career choices being outside of what I'm used to reading about from this or similar time periods.

I was really concerned about Cara. Her situation is unconventional to say the least. How she met Langham, her living arrangements, and her naivete all had me worried that she was going to put herself in a situation that isn't respected. Yet her relationship with God and determination to make good on a vow that she made to Him is what put her in a place above servitude.

Considering Langham had more in common with Cara, I wasn't excited to see the two of them get together. Of course, that's not the direction the book went at all and I loved seeing how it all played out. One of my criticisms of The Heart's Appeal was that Julia and Michael's relationship just sort of happened through a lot of telling and not as much showing. Jennifer Delamere rectified that with Cara and Henry. There was so much relationship building and I loved being a witness to it.

Henry, himself, was such an honorable character. He cares for his family even though they're imperfect (who among us isn't) and even though they often made things more difficult for him. He shoulders the burdens of his title and what all that entails while working very hard to put their family back into a stable financial situation and at the same time trying to right some of the wrongs done in the past.

As a mother, I particularly enjoyed Amelia's role in this story. Her behavior felt very genuine and in line with what one might expect from a child who has over and over been abandoned. I loved seeing Cara relate to her, and I feel like I may have even learned a few things that I can put into better practice in my own life with my children. Seeing Henry and Amelia's relationship grow and develop was heart warming as well. Ten years ago this part of the story probably wouldn't have appealed to me at all. It's so funny how much becoming a mother changes you.

The Artful Match was so enjoyable for me. It ticked all my boxes. It surpassed my somewhat disappointed reaction to The Heart's Appeal. My only complaint is that things wrapped up very quickly with Cara's siblings and family there at the end. All in, The Artful Match gets 4 Stars. Have you read The Artful Match? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 04/21/19

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

PRAISE GOD!!! HE IS RISEN!

Happy Easter everyone. Husband was off work on Monday. We had some sand delivered to the house for a sandbox we're setting up for the kids. We also plan to fill in a puddle in our driveway and fill in various other holes and such around the property. Tuesday I had to run by the store to get some things for an Easter party at Little Girl's school on Thursday and a few things for a beach trip on Friday. Wednesday we just hung out like normal. Thursday was Little Girl's Easter party. It was the first day she's been excited about school in a few weeks. Friday Little Boy spent the day with Grammy while Little Girl and I went to the beach with Aunt Holly and Little Girl's cousins. Husband didn't want to miss Little Boy's first day at the beach and as he's still a bit wily! We'd like him to be a little older and better at listening and obeying instructions before taking him to the beach. It was so windy that the sand was pelting us pretty hard, and the temperature was only 60ish degrees. Despite that Little Girl was so happy to be there. Saturday we dyed Easter eggs with Grammy.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Beneath a Prairie Moon by Kim Vogel Sawyer (3 Stars)
Wednesday:Can't Wait for A Modest Independence (Parish Orphans of Devon, # 2) by Mimi Matthews

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of The Artful Match (London Beginnings, # 3) by Jennifer Delamere
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2019 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2019 to sing up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

The First Girl Child

By: Amy Harmon

Publication: August 20th 2019 by 47North

391 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From ​the New York Times bestselling author comes a breathtaking fantasy of a cursed kingdom, warring clans, and unexpected salvation.

Bayr of Saylok, bastard son of a powerful and jealous chieftain, is haunted by the curse once leveled by his dying mother. Bartered, abandoned, and rarely loved, she plagued the land with her words: From this day forward, there will be no daughters in Saylok.

Raised among the Keepers at Temple Hill, Bayr is gifted with inhuman strength. But he’s also blessed with an all-too-human heart that beats with one purpose: to protect Alba, the first girl child born in nearly two decades and the salvation for a country at risk.

Now the fate of Saylok lies with Alba and Bayr, whose bond grows deeper with every whisper of coming chaos. Charged with battling the enemies of their people, both within and without, Bayr is fueled further by the love of a girl who has defied the scourge of Saylok.

What Bayr and Alba don’t know is that they each threaten the king, a greedy man who built his throne on lies, murder, and betrayal. There is only one way to defend their land from the corruption that has overtaken it. By breaking the curse, they could defeat the king…but they could also destroy themselves.

Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, # 6)

By: Sarah J Maas

Publication: September 5th 2017 by Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children's Books

672 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Source: Borrowed from the e-Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--In the next installment of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series, follow Chaol on his sweeping journey to a distant empire.

Chaol Westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since the glass castle shattered, since his men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken.

His only shot at recovery lies with the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme in Antica—the stronghold of the southern continent's mighty empire. And with war looming over Dorian and Aelin back home, their survival might lie with Chaol and Nesryn convincing its rulers to ally with them.

But what they discover in Antica will change them both—and be more vital to saving Erilea than they could have imagined.

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

Can't Wait for A Modest Independence

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

A Modest Independence (Parish Orphans of Devon, # 2)

By: Mimi Matthews

Expected Publication: April 23rd 2019 by Perfectly Proper Press

476 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--He Needed Peace…

Solicitor Tom Finchley has spent his life using his devious intellect to solve the problems of others. As for his own problems, they’re nothing that a bit of calculated vengeance can’t remedy. But that’s all over now. He’s finally ready to put the past behind him and settle down to a quiet, uncomplicated life. If only he could find an equally uncomplicated woman.

She Wanted Adventure…

Former lady’s companion Jenny Holloway has just been given a modest independence. Now, all she wants is a bit of adventure. A chance to see the world and experience life far outside the restrictive limits of Victorian England. If she can discover the fate of the missing Earl of Castleton while she’s at it, so much the better.

From the gaslit streets of London to the lush tea gardens of colonial India, Jenny and Tom embark on an epic quest—and an equally epic romance. But even at the farthest edges of the British Empire, the past has a way of catching up with you…

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!