Can't Wait for The Escape Game

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.

The Escape Game

By: Marissa Meyer & Tamara Moss

Expected Publication: April 7, 2026 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

416 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--An unforgettable YA murder mystery set in an escape-room themed game show, by Marissa Meyer, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles, and Tamara Moss, rising star and acclaimed author of Lintang series.

It’s all fun and games until someone ends up dead.

Six months ago, season four of The Escape Game ended in horror when contestant Alicia Angelos was found murdered on set.

Now season five is underway, and new contestants are ready to put their skills to the test solving the show's trickiest escape rooms. There's Adi, the cryptographer; Carter, the math whiz; Beck, the wannabe game master, and . . . Sierra Angelos, the girl who got away with her sister’s murder. Or so everyone believes.

But Sierra’s not just here to win. She’s here for justice.

When the contestants begin uncovering clues that hint at the identity of Alicia’s true killer, it becomes clear that the stakes aren’t high in this competition, they’re deadly. If these teens want to win—and survive—the game, they must solve the biggest mystery of who killed Alicia Angelos?

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Marissa Meyer and rising star Tamara Moss comes a twisty thrill-ride, filled with sabotage, betrayal, and puzzles to die for.

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

Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings 2025

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 Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings 2025

1. Forgotten Home Apothecary: 250 Powerful Remedies at Your Fingertips by Dr. Nicole Apelian
2. The Seamstress (Sisters of Woodside Mysteries, # 4) by Mary Kingswood
3. Woodside (Sisters of Woodside Mysteries, # 5) by Mary Kingswood
4. Light Wielder (Fire & Metal, # 2) by Rachel Schneider
5. A Gentleman's Reckoning by Jennie Goutet
6. No Match for Love by Karen Thornell
7. Frankly, My Dear Clara (London Dreams, # 1) by Kristi Ann Hunter
8. Saved by the Matchmaker (A Shanahan Match, # 2) by Jody Hedlund
9. Persuaded to the Sea by Amanda Taylor
10. Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving by Judi Kingry & Lauren Devine

Have you read any of these? What books do you hope Santa brings you? Let me know!

A Presumptuous Hope - Review

A Presumptuous Hope (Daughters of the Gentry, # 3)

By: Jennie Goutet

Publication: September 12, 2024 by Millefeuille Press

272 pages

Genre: Adult, Regency, Historical Fiction, Clean Romance

Source: Listened to for free from the author's YouTube channel (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Who declared that every lady of a certain age must of a certainty wish for marriage? Who said a handsome man of fortune might command any woman he pleases for the role of wife?

In the quiet countryside of Lincolnshire, Christine Grey is perfectly content with her life of spinsterhood, finding solace in the companionship of her beloved animals. In the tranquil routine of her days, she spends time with her married friends and puts up with her brother who would try the patience of a saint. Content in her independence, she asks for nothing more.

Alexander Thorne arrives in Horncastle a newly minted knight and owner of the long-dormant Ashbourne—an estate, which borders the Greys'. His aspirations to prove his worthiness lead him to pursue the life and sport of a country gentleman, and through it a clash with his pretty neighbor. His arrival stirs whispers among the locals, and skepticism in Christine’s heart.

When circumstances force them into a compromising situation, they have no choice but to face the necessity to wed. To their surprise, the connection between them deepens even as doubts continue to linger. Christine wonders if her hopes for a happy marriage are too presumptuous, particularly for a woman of her station. Alexander must grapple with his own insecurities as he strives to be husband to a woman as worthy as Christine.

A Presumptuous Hope is a companion book in a series. I think it's probably 3rd in the series (Daughters of the Gentry), but Goodreads didn't list it as part of a series, so it was hard for me to determine it's exact location within the series. I am only using the relationship statuses from side characters that have their own books which take place prior to this book as a guide to determine the order. But I didn't know any of that before starting A Presumptuous Hope.

Christine lives with her brother. She handles his household business as if she is the mistress of the house. Yet she also enjoys getting her hands dirty with things like cleaning, gardening, etc. She also has a love for animals--specifically dogs. When she and her dogs are almost run over by a man gallopping through the woods, she's immediately put off by someone who would endanger her beloved dogs.

Alex is new to the area and has recently taken up residence in the neighboring estate to Christine and her brother. Alex and Christine have a handful of awkward and perhaps off-putting experiences. I found this to be a fun twist on enemies-to-lovers. They aren't enemies exactly, but there's definitely a level of dislike or at the very least awkwardness between them.

Alex and Christine find themselves in an abandoned hut one night when on the way to a country ball or event of some kind (I can't remember the details). They arrive seperately, but Christine nearly drowned in the process of escaping the rising floodwaters. Alex cannot abandon her. Unfortunately, they are compromised simply from being alone together. Circumstances push Alex to propose, yet Christine doesn't want to force anyone to marry her. I appreciated her stance, especially given their initial interactions. Yet I also liked the view of how even the friends and family of the two parties involved suffered the mistreatment of others as a result of her decision to refuse Alex's proposal.

I listened to A Presumptuous Hope on audio, so I don't have any quotes to share with you. This was a quick and fun story--exactly the type of book that I enjoy breaking up some heavier or longer books with a change in genre and tone. A Presumptuous Hope gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read (or listened to) A Presumptuous Hope? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 12/21/25

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.

Monday was a normal day. Big Girl had pitching lessons. We'd intended to take the kids to martial arts too, but the temps were so low we decided not to. Husband and I both have been battling colds this week. I feel better, but he started getting sick later than me so he probably has a few more days. Thankfully, I don't think it's the flu which seems to be going around in our area and probably everywhere. Tuesday, we normally go to my parent's house, but our co-op friends were meeting at Sky Zone (a local trampoline park) so we joined in that and had big fun. We grabbed Chick-fil-a for lunch on the way home. The Big Kids did go to martial arts Tuesday night. Wednesday was our last day of school. Little Boy had a party at his mother's day out/preschool. Thursday, we went to see Santa and did what we call "sibling shopping." That's where we take the kids to shop for each other. They love it. This year they went really fast. We went to eat lunch at Huey Magoo's after that. Friday was a day at home with not much going on. I packed up the Christmas puzzle I'd borrowed from my mom and finally finished. And then I spent a large part of the day listening to an audiobook while working on a diamond art snowman. We did do "gingerbread" (graham cracker) houses. Big Girl's is the only one who stood. Mine collapsed from a lack of patience. Big Boy made a "spreadsheet" by spreading all his icing on two crackers and then putting all his candy onto the flat space. Little Boy squirted all his icing onto one cracker and made a sandwich and then proceeded to eat all of his candy. Personally, I'd like to give up this tradition, but the kids asked to do it this way this year. Saturday, we spent the day with my parents and my side of the family celebrating. We didn't have everyone together this year, which is sad. But that's the nature of a growing family. The bigger the family the harder it is to get everyone's schedules to align. Also, when some move from the area that always adds to difficulty as well. But it's life. I am glad we still get together with those who can make it and not cancel altogether. Merry Christmas to everyone this coming week! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday!

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of The Governess and the Rogue (Somerset Stories, # 6) by Mimi Matthews (3.5 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Winter 2025 TBR List
Wednesday: Can't Wait for First and Forever by Lynn Painter
Friday: Homeschool Friday - The Storm that Stopped

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Reivew of A Presumptuous Hope (Daughters of the Gentry, # 3) by Jennie Goutet
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait Wednesday?
Thursday: Merry Christmas!
Friday: Homeschool Friday - The Children's Book of Virtues by Michael Hague

NEW BOOKS:

First adn Forever

By: Lynn Painter

Expected Publication: May 12, 2026 by Berkley

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A football star and a diehard fan entangled in a PR stunt—that only one side knows is fake—might be the right play in this new romantic comedy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lynn Painter.

Duffy Distefano loves three things: her dad, the family cat, and Minneapolis Coyotes football. So when she gets booed out of a game and becomes the internet’s villain, she is distraught—and disgruntled. All she did was shove Coyote Carl away when he made a move on her, but everyone else just saw a woman attacking their team’s beloved mascot. Eager to clear the air, Duffy agrees to an interview on a hit morning show. She doesn’t expect a co-guest to join her—especially not the Coyotes’ star tight end.

When MVP Connor Cunningham gets tasked with damage control to help his team out of their PR nightmare, he thought that meant saying a few words on the team’s behalf. Instead, he finds himself in a highly amusing verbal sparring match with a recently wronged fan on live TV. Duffy pelts him with fiery jabs but is also clearly diehard about the Coyotes—color him intrigued…and attracted.

The interview instantly goes viral, and the public is obsessed with them. A strong push from the Coyotes’ PR team to ride the wave results in Connor asking Duffy out. Despite his distaste for PR stunts, he’s surprised to discover being with Duffy is much easier than he thought, and somehow it doesn’t feel fake to him. Harboring this secret can only blow up, but all he knows is that if he messes things up with Duffy, it’ll be the greatest fumble of his life.

The Bible in 52 Weeks Devotional for Girls: A Year of Growing in Faith

By: Jaseña S'vani

Expected Publication: February 3, 2026 by Callisto Kids

152 pages

Genre: Children, Devotions, Christian, Non-fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--An interactive, yearlong journey through the Bible for girls ages 8 to 12

This one-year journey through the Bible guides young girls into the habit of reading, reflection, and prayer, with inspiring passages from Scripture that show them how God's wisdom can help and support them as they learn and grow. Spending a little time with their faith every week will give girls the confidence to tackle anything—because they'll know God is cheering them on!

One year of weekly Scripture—Each of these 52 weekly devotions features a Bible passage, stories and commentary that explain the theme for the week, a prompt to respond to, and a prayer to keep in mind.

Reflect on what matters—Young girls will find God's guidance on topics that relate to their lives, such as staying positive, being a leader, and discovering who they're meant to be.

A few minutes at a time—These prompts and prayers are simple and brief, so it's easy for kids to find time for them no matter how busy they get!

Study with the whole series—Give the gift of deeper faith to everyone in your life with the companion books from this USA Today bestselling series, including The Bible in 52 Weeks for Women, The Bible in 52 Weeks for Families, and The Bible in 52 Weeks Devotional for Boys.

Help preteen girls grow into the smart and strong women God created them to be with this inspiring girls' devotional!

The Bible in 52 Weeks Devotional for Boys: A Year of Growing in Faith

By: Lord Badu

Expected Publication: February 3, 2026 by Callisto Kids

152 pages

Genre: Children, Devotions, Christian, Non-fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--An interactive, yearlong journey through the Bible for boys ages 8 to 12

This one-year journey through the Bible guides young boys into the habit of reading, reflection, and prayer, with inspiring passages from Scripture that show them how God's wisdom can help and support them as they learn and grow. Spending a little time with their faith every week will give boys the confidence to tackle anything—because they'll know God is cheering them on!

One year of weekly Scripture—Each of these 52 weekly devotions features a Bible passage, stories and commentary that explain the theme for the week, a prompt to respond to, and a prayer to keep in mind.

Reflect on what matters—Young boys will find God's guidance on topics that relate to their lives, such as being a good friend, dreaming big, not judging others, and practicing honesty.

A few minutes at a time—These prompts and prayers are simple and brief, so it's easy for kids to find time for them no matter how busy they get!

Study with the whole series—Give the gift of deeper faith to everyone in your life with the companion books from this USA Today bestselling series, including The Bible in 52 Weeks for Women, The Bible in 52 Weeks for Families, and The Bible in 52 Weeks Devotional for Girls.

Help preteen boys grow into the smart and strong men God created them to be with this inspiring boys' devotional!

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!

Homeschool Friday - The Storm that Stopped

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

The Storm That Stopped

By: Alison Mitchell

Illustrated By: Catalina Echeverri

Publication: February 1, 2016 by The Good Book Company

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Non-fiction, Christian, History, Picture Book

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Third in the 'Tales that Tell the Truth' series comes The Storm that Stopped!

Based on the account of Jesus calming the storm from Mark chapter 4, this dramatic storybook will teach children about who Jesus really is, as they witness his power over nature.

Stunningly illustrated by Catalina Echeverri, author and illustrator of several bestselling children's books as well as the first two storybooks from the 'Tales that Tell the Truth' series: The Christmas Promise and The One O'Clock Miracle.

Written by Alison Mitchell, author of The Christmas Promise and several of our children's tracts.

The Storm that Stopped covers the New Testament story of when Jesus calmed the storm while in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. The story starts with Jesus teaching a multitude of people all day, and then he decides to go with his apostles across the sea. He fell asleep in the boat on the way, and suddenly a storm arose. The wind and the waves are so big and strong that the boat is taking on water, and the apostles fear they are going to drown. Jesus sleeps through this all until they wake him.

I appreciated the illustrations included. The beauty of contrast from the light pages to the darker, stormy pages was jarring in the perfect way. I liked the page with the wind o'meter, wave o'meter, sink o'meter, and panic o'meter. My children thought those were particularly funny.

I also liked that when Jesus calms the sea, the book focuses on what he doesn't do. He doesn't help bail the water out of the boat, he doesn't help row, he speaks, but not to the apostles. He speaks to the wind and the waves.

The book (as well as the Biblical story) then focuses on who Jesus is that he could possibly have control over the wind and the waves. He was teaching His disciples that He is God. Like Jesus and the Lions' Den, this book includes a "how do we know about the storm that stopped" section at the end. I love that they include this.

The Storm that Stopped is about as good as a children's picture book can get for me. The illustrations are striking. There's a little humor. The content is Biblical, which I appreciate. And the teaching goes beyond the surface. The Storm that Stopped is a great addition to any home library. The Storm that Stopped gets 5 Stars. Have you or your child read The Storm that Stopped? What did you think? Let me know!