May 2019 EOM Wrap Up

I have read 6 books (not including children's books). *These qualify for the 2019 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
*Maybe Now (Maybe, # 2) by Colleen Hoover
The Innkeeper's Daughter (Bow Street Runners, # 2) by Michelle Griep
The Highest of Hopes (Canadian Crossings, # 2) by Susan Anne Mason
Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett
*The Noble Guardian (Bow Street Runners, # 3) by Michelle Griep
Storm and Fury (The Harbinger, # 1) by Jennifer L Armentrout

I have reviewed 8 books. *These qualify for the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
The Matrimonial Advertisement (Parish Orphans of Devon, # 1) by Mimi Matthews
Third Grave Dead Ahead (Charley Davidson, # 3) by Darynda Jones
Brentwood's Ward (Bow Street Runners, # 1) by Michelle Griep
A Modest Independence (Parish Orphans of Devon, # 2) by Mimi Matthews
Turbo Twenty-Three (Stephanie Plum, # 23) by Janet Evanovich
Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet (Charley Davidson, # 4) by Darynda Jones
The Highest of Hopes (Canadian Crossings, # 2) by Susan Anne Mason
The Innkeeper's Daughter (Bow Street Runners, # 2) by Michelle Griep

Other Posts:
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves- 05/12/19
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 05/19/19
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 05/26/19
Can't Wait for Vow of Thieves (Dance of Thieves, # 2) by Mary E Pearson
Can't Wait for A Pursuit of Home (Haven Manor, # 3) by Kristi Ann Hunter
Can't Wait for Fireborn (The Aurelian Cycle, # 1) by Rosaria Mundo
2019 Series Enders Reading Challenge - May Wrap Up

Goals:
I'm 2 days behind schedule with my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 41 out of 52 books (including children's books).
I've read 4 out of 5-10 series enders.

The Innkeeper's Daughter - Review

The Innkeeper's Daughter (Bow Street Runners, # 2)

By: Michelle Griep

Publication: March 1st 2018 by Shiloh Run Press

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Regency

Source: Personal Kindle Library (freebie)

( 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--A London officer goes undercover to expose a plot against the Crown

Dover, England, 1808: Officer Alexander Moore goes undercover as a gambling gentleman to expose a high-stakes plot against the king—and he’s a master of disguise, for Johanna Langley believes him to be quite the rogue. . .until she can no longer fight against his unrelenting charm.

All Johanna wants is to keep the family inn afloat, but when the rent and the hearth payment are due at the same time, where will she find the extra funds? If she doesn’t come up with the money, there will be nowhere to go other than the workhouse—where she’ll be separated from her ailing mother and ten-year-old brother.

Alex desperately wants to help Johanna, especially when she confides in him, but his mission—finding and bringing to justice a traitor to the crown—must come first, or they could all end up dead.

So I've loved Michelle Griep in the past. I adored The Captive Heart and really enjoyed Brentwood's Ward. The concept of the Bow Street Runners was so fascinating to me that I was excited to jump into The Innkeeper's Daughter. However, things didn't go as smoothly as I wanted.

Probably my biggest issue with The Innkeeper's Daughter was the pacing. It felt so slow to me. I was probably 60% or more finished before I felt invested. There was so much bouncing around with the plot that it was just about impossible to feel as if I had any of the secrets figured out. I certainly don't like to figure everything out with books that involve some sort of mystery, but I do like to feel like I've got an idea of what might be going on.

Similarly, I didn't click with Johanna and Alex. Feelings developed way too quickly without much deep interaction between the two. I needed more. I wanted more. I just felt like everything was rushed overall.

Mr. Nutbrown (Hare as I call him in my head) was a struggle for me. I don't want to put down anyone who might have a similar mental condition (I'm not exactly sure what diagnosis Mr. Nutbrown would have if he were in a modern medical environment). Yet I just got constantly frustrated with him and his part in the entire story.

Overall I was just really disappointed. I thought about DNFing, but I really didn't want to do that since I have The Noble Guardian for review. In the end, I pushed through, yet I didn't really enjoy the journey. The Innkeeper's Daughter gets 2.5 Stars. Have you read The Innkeeper's Daughter? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Fireborn

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.

Fireborn (The Aurelian Cycle, # 1)

By: Rosaria Mundo

Expected Publication: October 15th 2019 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young

448 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Seraphina meets Red Rising in a debut young adult fantasy that's full of rivalry, romance... and dragons.

Annie and Lee were just children when a brutal revolution changed their world, giving everyone—even the lowborn—a chance to test into the governing class of dragonriders.

Now they are both rising stars in the new regime, despite backgrounds that couldn’t be more different. Annie’s lowborn family was executed by dragonfire, while Lee’s aristocratic family was murdered by revolutionaries. Growing up in the same orphanage forged their friendship, and seven years of training have made them rivals for the top position in the dragonriding fleet.

But everything changes when survivors from the old regime surface, bent on reclaiming the city.

With war on the horizon and his relationship with Annie changing fast, Lee must choose to kill the only family he has left or to betray everything he’s come to believe in. And Annie must decide whether to protect the boy she loves . . . or step up to be the champion her city needs.

From debut author Rosaria Munda comes a gripping adventure that calls into question which matters most: the family you were born into, or the one you’ve chosen.

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

The Highest of Hopes - Review

The Highest of Hopes (Canadian Crossings, # 2)

By: Susan Anne Mason

Publication: March 5th 2019 by Bethany House Publishers

384 pages

Genre: Adult, Christian, Historical 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--After her beloved grandfather's death, Emmaline Moore is shocked to discover that her "deceased" father is actually living in Canada. Having no other family, Emma decides she must find him, and so embarks on a journey across the ocean, accompanied by her best friend, Jonathan. Unfortunately, Randall Moore and his well-to-do family aren't thrilled by her arrival, fearing her sudden appearance will hinder his chance at becoming mayor of Toronto in 1919. Despite everything, Emma remains determined to earn their affection.

Jonathan Rowe has secretly loved Emma for years and hopes that during their trip he can win her heart. Concerned that Randall might reject her, Jonathan is ready to console Emma and bring her home. When she informs him that she has no intention of returning to England, Jonathan begins to despair. Can he convince Emma to find value within herself rather than seeking it from a virtual stranger? And will she ever come to see that Jonathan is her true home?

I read The Highest of Hopes while Husband and I were on our cruise which means I had the opportunity to keep reading. I basically finished it within a day or two. For me these days, this is rare. I just don't often have the opportunity to read a book from start to finish with very little interruption. I say all of that because I've found that the length of time it takes for me to finish a book can really factor into my enjoyment of the book. And I can 100% say that I believe if I'd been faced with my normal day to day interruptions while reading The Highest of Hopes I might have enjoyed it less than I did.

Emma was a struggle for me in some ways. I could understand her burning desire for love and acceptance from her father. She thought he was dead for so long--her entire life. And she can't really fathom that she might not be a welcome presence in his life. What bothered me about her was her inability to heed sound advice. It was like she appreciated Jonathan for his sound mind and good advice, yet she never actually listened to him. She was stubborn, rash, and prone to following her emotions without giving anything considerable thought. Yet, I also felt sorry for her at times too.

In some ways, I wondered why Jonathan was in love with Emma. It's obvious that their proximity growing up influenced them both considerably. But Emma's rashness was so opposite to his balanced and methodical nature. Opposites attract though, I guess. I liked him a lot as a person and a character--perhaps because he was more like myself than Emma was.

I found myself feeling the same things that Jonathan felt concerning Emma's priorities. It's hard for me to root for a relationship when one of the characters hasn't made the other their number one priority. But I ended up really liking how Susan Anne Mason handled this. Actually, I give her kudos for even addressing it in the first place.

Favorite quote:

-There's no place for ego in marriage.

Ultimately, The Highest of Hopes wasn't a perfect read for me. I didn't love Emma's character, but this is kind of a clash of personalities rather than a writing flaw. I do think my opportunity to read straight through helped me to enjoy this book more than I might have under other circumstances. The Highest of Hopes gets 3 Stars. Have you read The Highest of Hopes? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 05/26/19

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.

Little Boy had his 18 month check up on Monday. He's in the top 5% for height, currently on track to predict him being 6'1" or 6'2". And he's in the top 30% for weight coming in at 26 pounds and 6 ounces. Little Girl's last day of Mother's Day Out for this school year was on Tuesday. She had a good day at school and told me she was going to miss school, her teacher, and her friends so much. Tuesday night the school had a graduation ceremony for the 4-year-olds (graduating pre-school), and Little Girl's class sang some songs and got presented with a certificate. Temperatures got up in the 90s this week. I have a love/hate relationship with Summer around here. The kids were already complaining about it being hot on our walks this week. Even though they have fans clipped onto the stroller to keep them as cool as possible, so I fear my walking days (for the summer) are dwindling. Friday I took the kids to the park because our backyard is still a mess from the trees that fell in the storm a few weeks back. Husband is determined to do most of the work himself, but he only has Saturdays to work on it so it's slow progress. And these kids need to be able to get outside to run off some steam. A group of kids from a local school were having a field trip at the park which I thought would be disastrous, but it turned out to be a good thing because Little Girl didn't feel comfortable roaming too far from me and Little Boy was content to do one slide over and over which was close to where Little Girl wanted to play anyway. And they ended up doing the swings for a good bit too. My Dad came over on Saturday to help Husband in the yard, and mom came to watch the kids so I could get out there and help too. I feel myself slipping into another reading slump. I need a change in genre. I've picked up several and if they're not pulling me in within the first page or so I'm putting them back down.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Turbo Twenty-Three (Stephanie Plum, # 23) by Janet Evanovich (3 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for A Pursuit of Home (Haven Manor, # 3) by Kristi Ann Hunter
Thursday: Review of Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet (Charley Davidson, # 4) by Darynda Jones (4 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of The Highest of Hopes (Canadian Crossings, # 2) by Susan Anne Mason
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Thursday: Review of The Innkeeper's Daughter (Bow Street Runners, # 2) by Michelle Griep

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.

Courting Darkness (Courting Darkness Duology, # 1)

By: Robin LaFevers

Publication: February 5th 2019 by HMH Books for Young Readers

512 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction

Source: Amazon Vine

( 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--Death wasn’t the end, it was only the beginning…

Sybella has always been the darkest of Death’s daughters, trained at the convent of Saint Mortain to serve as his justice. But she has a new mission now. In a desperate bid to keep her two youngest sisters safe from the family that nearly destroyed them all, she agrees to accompany the duchess to France, where they quickly find themselves surrounded by enemies. Their one ray of hope is Sybella’s fellow novitiates, disguised and hidden deep in the French court years ago by the convent—provided Sybella can find them.

Genevieve has been undercover for so many years, she struggles to remember who she is or what she’s supposed to be fighting for. Her only solace is a hidden prisoner who appears all but forgotten by his guards. When tragedy strikes, she has no choice but to take matters into her own hands—even if it means ignoring the long awaited orders from the convent.

As Sybella and Gen’s paths draw ever closer, the fate of everything they hold sacred rests on a knife’s edge. Will they find each other in time, or will their worlds collide, destroying everything they care about?

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!

2019 Series Enders Reading Challenge - May Wrap Up

Time for our Monthly Wrap Up for the 2019 Series Enders Reading Challenge hosted by Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know and Holly @ Words Fueled by Love!

Since our last monthly wrap up, Sandy finished Maybe Now (Maybe Now, # 2) by Colleen Hoover & The Noble Guardian (Bow Street Runners, # 3) by Michelle Griep.

Which series enders did you finish? Link the up below. Don't forget to include the title, your name, & your blog name (Ex: Requiem - Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know) Also, the May giveaway runs from May 25th - June 25th. On June 25th we will use random.org and the linky entries to pull a winner.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet - Review

Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet

By: Darynda Jones

Publication: October 30th 2012 by St. Martin's Press

308 pages

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Mystery

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--Welcome to the world of grim reaper extraordinaire Charley Davidson. Try as she might, there’s no avoiding her destiny. Sometimes being the grim reaper really is, well, grim. And since Charley’s last case went so awry, she has taken a couple of months off to wallow in the wonders of self-pity. But when a woman shows up on her doorstep convinced someone is trying to kill her, Charley has to force herself to rise above...or at least get dressed. It becomes clear something is amiss when everyone the woman knows swears she’s insane. But the more they refute the woman’s story, the more Charley believes it.

In the meantime, the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, is out of prison and out of Charley’s life, as per her wishes and several perfectly timed death threats. But his absence has put a serious crimp in her sex life. While there are other things to consider, like the fact that the city of Albuquerque has been taken hostage by an arsonist, Charley is having a difficult time staying away. Especially when it looks like Reyes may be involved.

Just when life was returning to normal, Charley is thrust back into the world of crime, punishment, and the devil in blue jeans in this hilarious fourth installment in the New York Times bestselling series.

***Spoilers for prior books included below!***

So let's just recap. Reyes's earthly father (the man who raised him) tortured Charley at the end of Third Grave Dead Ahead because Reyes used her as bait. This mimics the exact same situation her father put her in from Second Grave on the Left and Charley is feeling the betrayal deeply. In both situations, Charley would have liked to have been told she was being used as bait. Based on her prior decisions, I don't think she would have minded so much. Charley is now suffering from PTSD. I do wish some of this was explained better as Charley's neck was broken in book 1 and she healed quite quickly, but a few cut tendons (from the description of events) at the hands of Earl Walker and she's in the hospital for weeks. I wish we were give a more detailed explanation. Also, Reyes makes the comment in this book that he didn't really think Walker would come after her, but that's not consistent with what he tells her from the previous book where he knew Walker would come but he had expected to be there to intercept him when he did. Not huge things, but little inconsistencies that bug me.

Reyes was released from prison because the man he was accused of murdering proved himself to be alive when he tortured Charley. So now he's a free man. Yet he hasn't even seen Charley for two months. Reyes is in a position of knowledge and this is one of those situations where he rarely tells Charley what she could really stand to know. He does finally have a moment of opening up to Charley, but these two always seem to be moving forward and apart constantly. It drives me mad in the right kind of way. And I will say that these two made progress in the relationship and appear to be headed in a good direction, but knowing them it would easily swing in the other direction at any moment.

The war that has been hinted at seems to have kicked up a notch. Demons are now possessing people and Reyes it's trying to systematically hunt them down to keep them from getting to Charley. Charley makes one step forward in finding out what she's capable of as far as her abilities go, but we've yet to see how this will affect her mentally, especially considering she has PTSD.

Despite her father's attempts to get her out of the PI business, Charley takes a new case which actually does her good in getting her to take the first steps in her healing and at least leave the house. Again this is one place where Darynda Jones lets me guess correctly on the twists. She does a great job of letting me think I'm figuring things out while completely surprising me in other areas.

I do kind of wish that Charley had done more of the therapy work that Gemma suggested for her like writing the letters. Perhaps this will play a role in future books.

Favorite quotes:

-"They're liars, Dutch. Each and every one. They would lie when the truth would sound better."

I devoured Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet. I couldn't put it down. I mean truly I've read the first four books in this series within two weeks which for me lately is unheard of. I like the direction we're headed. I don't know if I'll read all twelve books in a row or if I'll need a break... Right now I'm picking up book 5 next. Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet gets 4 stars. Have you read Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for A Pursuit of Home

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 Pursuit of Home (Haven Manor, # 3)

By: Kristi Ann Hunter

Expected Publication: November 5th 2019 by Bethany House Publishers

352 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian 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--When she learns the family she thought dead might be alive and in danger, Jess Beuchene knows her secrets can only stay buried for so long. Desperation brings her to Derek Thornbury, an expert in history and artifacts, to help her decipher the clues in an old family diary. Will their search to uncover the truth of the past lead to a future together?

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

Turbo Twenty-Three - Review

Turbo Twenty-Three (Stephanie Plum, # 23)

By: Janet Evanovich

Publication: November 15th 2016 by Bantam

288 pages

Genre: Adult, Humor, Mystery, Romance

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 heart of Trenton, N.J., a killer is out to make sure someone gets his just desserts.

Larry Virgil skipped out on his latest court date after he was arrested for hijacking an eighteen-wheeler full of premium bourbon. Fortunately for bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, Larry is just stupid enough to attempt almost the exact same crime again. Only this time he flees the scene, leaving behind a freezer truck loaded with Bogart ice cream and a dead body—frozen solid and covered in chocolate and chopped pecans.

As fate would have it, Stephanie’s mentor and occasional employer, Ranger, needs her to go undercover at the Bogart factory to find out who’s putting their employees on ice and sabotaging the business. It’s going to be hard for Stephanie to keep her hands off all that ice cream, and even harder for her to keep her hands off Ranger. It’s also going to be hard to explain to Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, why she is spending late nights with Ranger, late nights with Lula and Randy Briggs—who are naked and afraid—and late nights keeping tabs on Grandma Mazur and her new fella. Stephanie Plum has a lot on her plate, but for a girl who claims to have “virtually no marketable skills,” these are the kinds of sweet assignments she does best.

I got frustrated with the Stephanie Plum series a few books back and took a break from them. They're just so much the same. And while that was the reason I put them down, it also became the exact reason that I picked them back up. I've been in a bit of a reading slump this entire year (book read and review written in late 2018). I don't know if it's motherhood and real life getting in the way or if it's the books that I'm choosing to read. Regardless I wanted to pick up something that I already knew exactly what to expect. And Stephanie Plum fit the bill.

I actually read listened to Tricky Twenty-Two and Turbo Twenty-Three back to back so even though I wanted something I knew what to expect, I really enjoyed Tricky Twenty-Two much better than Turbo Twenty-Three. I think the distance between the amount of time I'd read/listened to one of these books helped me enjoy that one more than this one. There was actual development (it felt like) in the Stephanie/Morelli/Ranger dynamic in 22. Whereas in 23, I felt like we made no progress and if anything took a step backward in the relationship area. And the story-line was more complex and interesting in 22 and more comical in 23.

I will say that I chuckled a little out loud while listening to 23. Lula gets me every time. Although, it has been a LONG while since any of these books made me really laugh.

Because Turbo Twenty-Three felt like a step back in the relationship areas, and the story-line was quite a bit less interesting (or maybe just far-fetched), I'll likely be taking another break from these books--until another time such as I feel the need to read (listen) to something predictable. Turbo Twenty-Three gets 3 Stars. Have you read Turbo Twenty-Three? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 05/19/19

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.

Last Sunday was Mother's Day so Husband got me a book from the kids. I've already read it, and a review will be coming soon. We had lunch with Husband's Mom and family and then dinner with my Mom and family. Monday was back to our normal routine and not much was out of the normal until Thursday. I had to run to the grocery store on Thursday while Little Girl was at school because I wouldn't be able to do it on Saturday. I also had to run by the bank and the post office. Adulting, you know? Friday I had a dentist appointment so the kids were at Grammy's until right before nap. I've been struggling to find my next read. I want something contemporary, fast, and fun, but I've got several review books that are past or approaching publication dates. And I've also go several books for pleasure that I've had sitting around for quite some time. But nothing seems to be what I'm in the mood for right now. Do you ever feel like the kind of books you really enjoy reading just aren't published frequently enough? HA! Saturday was a lot. I had to go by the bank and post office AGAIN. Then drop Little Boy off at my Mom's so that I could take Little Girl to a birthday party for one of her classmates. This is the first birthday party she's been to. She had a blast. After that we went back to my Mom's because my Nanny and little cousin was there. And then back home to see how much work Husband got done outside while we were gone.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Brentwood's Ward (Bow Street Runners, # 1) by Michelle Griep (4 Stars)
Thursday: Review of A Modest Independence (Parish Orphans of Devon, # 2) by Mimi Matthews (2 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet (Charley Davidson, # 4) by Darynda Jones
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Thursday: Review of The Innkeeper's Daughter (Bow Street Runners, # 2) by Michelle Griep

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.

Starry Eyes

By: Jenn Bennett

Publication: April 3rd 2018 by Simon Pulse

432 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Personal Kindle 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 this romantic dramedy from the author of Alex, Approximately, a teen girl’s way-too-ordinary life is driven off the beaten path when she’s abandoned in the wilderness with her worst adversary—the boy who broke her heart.

Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best friends-turned-best enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern day, Californian version of the Montagues and Capulets.

But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.

What could go wrong?

With no one but each other for company, Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to hash out their issues via witty jabs and insults as they try to make their way to safety. But fighting each other while also fighting off the forces of nature makes getting out of the woods in one piece less and less likely. And as the two travel deeper into Northern California’s rugged backcountry, secrets and hidden feelings surface. But can Zorie and Lennon’s rekindled connection survive out in the real world? Or was it just a result of the fresh forest air and the magic of the twinkling stars?

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!

A Modest Independence - Review

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

By: Mimi Matthews

Publication: April 23rd 2019 by Perfectly Proper Press

476 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical 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--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…

I've read and loved Mimi Matthews in the past. Three books, in fact, all highly rated by me. So I expected no different from this book. Yet I was so disappointed. Thankfully this is a book I can easily put my finger on the issues I had.

Jenny was a struggle for me. Even though I liked her well enough in The Matrimonial Advertisement and I can understand her thought process, that didn't make relating to her any easier for me. Jenny has always been at the mercy of someone else. First her drunken and irresponsible father. Then her callous brothers. Next, she was little more than a servant as Helena's companion and ultimately put out on the street by Helena's uncle. Now that Helena has given Jenny a modest independence she wants to actually be independent and travel on her own. During the process, she hopes to find out what happened to Helena's brother, Giles, who supposedly died in the war. As someone who's biggest dream was to get married and have a family of my own, I struggle when characters are so wholly opposed to marriage. Of course, my dream doesn't have to be everyone else's, but it just makes her character a little less enjoyable for me.

Tom was so impressive in The Matrimonial Advertisement that I found him utterly disappointing in A Modest Independence. He joined Jenny's journey and adventure without actually listening to her desires. And despite Jenny constantly praising him for "always doing the right thing", when it came to Jenny he always made the wrong decision. He constantly chose the path that put her reputation in jeopardy, was selfish, and even though Jenny and Tom never did anything wrong according to today's standards (although let's be honest, there are no real standards when it comes to this in today's culture--whatever makes you happy after all... But that's a different post for a different blog), they constantly put themselves into the wrong circumstances. Sneaking around, lying, and self-serving despite the consequences. These two were no better than Katy Evan's Mr. President. And they're both to blame. Tom just ignored Jenny's repeatedly telling him what she wanted in the long run and as a result, put himself in a situation that resulted in him getting hurt. I have no sympathy for that. I said in my review of Mr. President that I don't enjoy reading about characters that have no backbone and continually choose the wrong path--the selfish path. An occasional mistake is different from a purposeful trek down the wrong path.

The events of A Modest Independence, in general, were so boring to me. Traveling during this time period was excruciatingly slow. There was one train after a boat after a train after a boat after another train and another train and ultimately a cart ride--even if this was historically accurate. All mixed in were hidden dalliances and sneaking around. Making out and gossip. The journey to find out what happened to Giles was so boring and anticlimactic. Not to mention predictable.

And speaking of predictable, the entire book was quite so. Nothing surprised me. And predictability isn't always negative if the process to the end is enjoyable. For me, it was not. Truly I debated DNFing A Modest Independence multiple times. The only reason I kept reading was that I'm so curious to know what has become of Alex Archer. But if the next book in the series follows Tom and Jenny's journey to find Alex, I might have to respectfully pass. I'll wait and see what the description says.

A Modest Independence was a combination of several reading pet peeves for me. A mixture of characters I can't relate to and find hard to support due to a continual pursuit down a path that's doomed due to selfishness yet works out for their benefit. Slow progress. And repetition. None of these are things that I enjoy reading about. Unfortunately, A Modest Independence gets 2 Stars from me. Have you read A Modest Independence? What did you think? Let me know!

Brentwood's Ward - Review

Brentwood's Ward (The Bow Street Runners, # 1)

By: Michelle Griep

Publication: January 1st 2015 by Shiloh Run Press

314 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Regency

Source: Personal Kindle 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--Place an unpolished lawman named Nicholas Brentwood as guardian over a spoiled, pompous beauty named Emily Payne and what do you get? More trouble than Brentwood bargains for. She is determined to find a husband this season. He just wants the large fee her father will pay him to help his ailing sister. After a series of dire mishaps, both their desires are thwarted, but each discovers that no matter what, God is in charge.

I read and loved The Captive Heart by Michelle Griep a few years ago. I knew I wanted to read more of her work after just that one experience. Later I saw The Innkeeper's Daughter as a freebie on Amazon and snatched it up. However, I didn't know it was the 2nd in a series until after the fact so I put off reading it. Then I came across The Noble Guardian (book 3 in the same series) available for review on NetGalley and snatched it up as well. The only thing left to do was purchase Brentwood's Ward and get started on the series praying that I wouldn't be disappointed with Michelle Griep's writing style and thus be uninterested in reading all three books. Thankfully, I wasn't disappointed at all.

Emily Payne appears completely spoiled. Her cares seem to be only as deep as caring for her dog and finding the perfect dress or accessories this season to snag the richest husband she can find. Of course, things aren't so simple as that, and Emily certainly has deeper cares and concerns. She does have to learn that life is more than securing a rich husband. And her father's disappearance leaving her in the hands of what basically amounts to a *police officer starts her lessons off with a bang. She quickly learns that it's better to have Nicholas as an ally than an enemy.

Nicholas takes the job of guarding a spoiled socialite for the sole purpose of obtaining the funds to help his dying sister. She needs a miracle, and Nicholas believes that if he can just get her into a better situation she will have what she needs to get better. Yet this job turns out to be more than he ever expected. Emily's father turns up dead. His business partner also turns up dead. And someone is coming after Emily in an attempt to collect on her father's bad debts. Nicholas has to figure out who and how to stop them. But he didn't expect to find himself falling for his ward.

Favorite quotes:

-Nothing was more torturous than dressing in garments tighter than a straightjacket while eating fish bait served on fine china.

-"A person's character is most clearly seen not by what they show, but what they hide."

-Why did emptiness weigh so much?

-"Marriage is a lifelong commitment. Do not run headlong through a door that will lock tight behind you, without first discovering what's on the other side."

-"No one escapes this life without scars, Miss Payne. Not even God."

-Truly, was there anything more horrific than peering at one's own self?

*Michelle Griep has an author's note at the end of Brentwood's Ward that gives a brief history on who and what the Bow Street Runners were. I found this entire idea completely fascinating, and I'm finding that I love not only this time period for the normal aspects of it, but also for the stories that cover situations that aren't the norm or weren't the norm at the time. I'm looking forward to finishing this series and finding out more about these fictional Bow Street Runners.

I didn't want to stop reading Brentwood's Ward. Considering I've been in a small reading slump for over a month this was much needed and helped me break free of my rut. I loved the development between Nicholas and Emily. Each made the other try to better themselves without the entire relationship being about trying to better themselves if that makes sense. I found the Bow Street Runners concept completely fascinating and original. And I'm looking forward to continuing the series. Brentwood's Ward gets 4 Stars. Have you read Brentwood's Ward? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 05/12/19

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.

These last two weeks have been a scramble. Monday the kids finally got to play in the sandbox that Daddy built them. Thursday I did some last minute grocery shopping while Little Girl was at school. Friday Husband was off work. Friday night we met my parents for dinner and passed the kids off to them. The kids spent the next several days between my parents and Husband's mom. Because...we went on a CRUISE! Our 10th wedding anniversary was this past week. We needed a vacation! However, Saturday as we're boarding the ship we got some texts and calls from our neighbor's son concerned about his mom (she's okay). Come to find out, our neighborhood was hit by a pretty big storm, and there were trees down and damage all around. Our own house had three trees down. Thankfully they all missed our house. Although we'll need a new fence and one tree fell in our pool. We had a full day at sea Sunday. Monday we were in Costa Maya and then Cozumel on Tuesday. Wednesday was another full day at sea and we arrived home by noon on Thursday. Husband had to work Friday, but Saturday we spent the day (mostly Husband because I had to watch the kids) along with a neighbor and several volunteers from the county and few family member with chainsaws and hauling limbs and debris to the road for the county to haul off. We also learned Saturday that a man who'd recently started attending our church passed away. It's been a whirlwind, but even through all of that we have a lot to be thankful for. Oh, and Happy Mother's Day!

THE PAST TWO WEEKS:

Monday: Review of Second Grave on the Left (Charley Davidson, # 2) by Darynda Jones (4.5 Stars)
Tuesday: April 2019 EOM Wrap Up
Wednesday:Can't Wait for Vow of Thieves (Dance of Thieves, # 2) by Mary E Pearson
Thursday: Review of The Matrimonial Advertisement (Parish Orphans of Devon, # 1) by Mimi Matthews (4 Stars)

Monday: No Blog Posts
Tuesday: No Blog Posts
Wednesday: No Blog Posts
Thursday: No Blog Posts
Thursday: Review of Third Grave Dead Ahead (Charley Davidson, # 3) by Darynda Jones (4 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Brentwood's Ward (Bow Street Runners, # 1) by Michelle Griep
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Thursday: Review of A Modest Independence (Parish Orphans of Devon, # 2) by Mimi Matthews

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 How & the Why

By: Cynthia Hand

Publication: November 6th 2019 by HarperTeen

450 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (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--A poignant exploration of family and the ties that bind, perfect for fans of Far From the Tree, from New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Hand.

Today Melly had us writing letters to our babies…

Cassandra McMurtrey has the best parents a girl could ask for. They’ve given Cass a life she wouldn’t trade for the world. She has everything she needs—except maybe the one thing she wants. Like, to know who she is. Where she came from. Questions her adoptive parents can’t answer, no matter how much they love her.

But eighteen years ago, someone wrote Cass a series of letters. And they may just hold the answers Cass has been searching for.

Alternating between Cass’s search for answers and letters from the pregnant teen who gave her up for adoption, this voice-driven narrative is the perfect read for fans of Nina LaCour and Jandy Nelson.

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!

Third Grave Dead Ahead - Review

Third Grave Dead Ahead (Charley Davidson, # 3)

By: Darynda Jones

Publication: January 31st 2012 by St. Martin's Press

310 pages

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Mystery

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--Paranormal private eye. Grim reaper extraordinaire. Whatever. Charley Davidson is back! And she's drinking copious amounts of caffeine to stay awake because, every time she closes her eyes, she sees him: Reyes Farrow, the part-human, part-supermodel son of Satan. Yes, she did imprison him for all eternity, but come on. How is she supposed to solve a missing persons case, deal with an ego-driven doctor, calm her curmudgeonly dad, and take on a motorcycle gang hellbent on murder when the devil's son just won't give up?

So I'm blowing through this series so far. I finish one book and start the next immediately. I forced myself to review book 2, Second Grave on the Left, before I allowed myself to start this book. However, I jumped right into book 4 without forcing myself to review this one. In some ways I think that was a good thing because I feel that I have a clearer direction on how to review this book, but in other ways sometimes the progress of the overall story can get muddled when I read more than one book too soon without stopping to review. I think it's obvious that I'm enjoying these.

Charley is yet again on the case of a missing wife. She immediately suspects the husband as he seems to pour out feelings of guilt. Things aren't completely what they seem here. Although, as per usual, I was able to predict some aspects of the case. I felt like there was quite a lot of time spent on this case compared to what I'd like to hear more about--Reyes.

Charley FINALLY gets to meet Reyes face to face. She'd seen his physical body before, but both times he was unconscious and heavily injured. Now, he's ragingly PO'd at her for binding his incorporeal self to his physical body. And even though she's tried, she can't seem to unbind him. I do find myself getting frustrated with Reyes and Charley. So many times they don't say what they mean and end up causing more drama between each other than is necessary. They've both hurt each other emotionally and have reasons not to trust each other--Reyes when he was attempting to let his physical body die and Charley when she bound him without permission. Of course, holding someone at knifepoint is also a great reason to distrust. We do make some good advancement in the Reyes storyline that I'd love to talk about, but that would all be spoilers.

The dynamic between Charley's family changes even more as her father all but insists that she get out of the PI business. I mean she has been almost killed multiple times in each book so far. Which reminds me of a point I was going to make. Books where the characters are constantly getting into scrapes that are "too big" especially when they're supposed to be trying to keep things under the radar--like their supernatural abilities--can sometimes be a struggle for me. I mean the authors have to address the frequency of these big events with the characters that aren't in on the big secrets, but it's often too unbelievable how the characters get around this. In the case of this series, Charley needs these life-threatening situations to advance her character, both emotionally and in the area of learning more about what she's capable of. So it's hard to be too upset with them.

Favorite quote:

-Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong. --T-shirt

The writing is the same witty and sarcastic that we've come to know and love. Based off the acknowledgment section I'd say this might just be Darynda Jones and not just Charley's character. Charley and Reyes make some progress, but the place where Third Grave Dead Ahead ends spurred me on to pick up book 4 immediately. There was even one place I started to tear up. I didn't cry but I was definitely emotional. I won't tell you anything more besides "Garrett." Third Grave Dead Ahead gets 4 stars. Have you read Third Grave Dead Ahead? What did you think? Let me know!

The Matrimonial Advertisement - Review

The Matrimonial Advertisement (Parish Orphans of Devon, # 1)

By: Mimi Matthews

Publication: September 4th 2018 by Perfectly Proper Press

388 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Personal Kindle 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--She Wanted Sanctuary...

Helena Reynolds will do anything to escape her life in London, even if that means traveling to a remote cliffside estate on the North Devon coast and marrying a complete stranger. But Greyfriar's Abbey isn't the sort of refuge she imagined. And ex-army captain Justin Thornhill--though he may be tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome--is anything but a romantic hero.

He Needed Redemption...

Justin has spent the last two decades making his fortune, settling scores, and suffering a prolonged period of torture in an Indian prison. Now, he needs someone to smooth the way for him with the villagers. Someone to manage his household--and warm his bed on occasion. What he needs, in short, is a wife and a matrimonial advertisement seems the perfect way to acquire one.

Their marriage was meant to be a business arrangement and nothing more. A dispassionate union free from the entanglements of love and affection. But when Helena's past threatens, will Justin's burgeoning feelings for his new bride compel him to come to her rescue? Or will dark secrets of his own force him to let her go?

I first read Mimi Matthew's The Lost Letter. While I did devour it, I wasn't sure about her as an author yet. That book certainly entertained me, but I didn't feel like it had too much depth. Then I read a novella, A Holiday by Gaslight that pulled me in and left me wanting for more. I was so impressed that I could be so invested and hooked into a short story that I knew I wanted to check out more of Mimi Matthews. A Modest Independence was available for review and I snagged it, but there was only one problem. I hadn't read the prior book in the series, The Matrimonial Advertisement, so I bought it on Amazon for $0.99.

You guys, I blew through this book. In a day. And these days that's unheard of. Granted, this was a day when Grammy had the kids and I chose to do nothing around the house. But still. I didn't want to stop. The kids were back. I had to cook dinner, give baths, and clean the kitchen, but as soon as I had the chance I was back to this book and devouring it until I finally finished just minutes before 11 pm (my bedtime). Mimi Matthews certainly knows how to draw the reader in and keep them interested.

I've read a couple of books within the last year about mail order brides or something similar so the topic wasn't completely original. As a matter of fact, there were a lot of pieces that reminded me of Healing Hearts by Sarah M Eden. The women's rights versus being the property of their closest male relatives aspect. The insane asylum and virtually the torture methods that were used on patients that were in fact very sane. The misunderstanding of so many medical conditions that we now know even exists even if we don't fully understand them. All of that was similar but the two stories were worlds apart (literally and figuratively).

Helena basically needs a new "closest male relative". Her current one has her running terrified for her life. And she's determined to do whatever she has to do to escape her situation. Thus she answered a matrimonial advertisement. All she hopes for is safety and a little kindness. Helena learns a strength she didn't know she possessed with the help of her new husband and a very few close friends.

Justin just needs a wife for a little companionship and to soften his image with the community. He was hoping for a middle-aged widow or spinster. But Helena is so much more than he could have hoped. She's young and beautiful. And she's intelligent. He knows right off that she's hiding something. But he never expected it to matter to him. He never expected her to matter to him.

I always find myself intrigued by these stories where a couple is married before they've built a strong relationship foundation. It's interesting to me to see them go about the building. How will they maneuver and which blocks will they establish first in their foundations. I'm a sucker for them. And this one was no different. I will say that I usually abhor stories where the big conflict is centered around one party attempting some noble self-sacrifice for the good of the other party. Yet for some reason, I didn't mind it as much in The Matrimonial Advertisement. That's probably because this is one of the few situations where it honestly felt genuine and not forced.

I also loved Finchley and can't wait to read his story in A Modest Independence. I assume we'll see more of the other orphans in that book as Justin and Tom (Finchley) were the main ones present in this book despite the others being mentioned. Well, I guess Neville was pretty included but we still don't know a ton about him. I'm already beyond intrigued to see if Archer gets his own book considering he's been missing (or at least hasn't had contact with the others in years). I will be diving into book 2 as soon as I finish this review.

The Matrimonial Advertisement was a fast read for me. It was the perfect follow up to Brentwood's Ward by Michelle Griep (review coming soon) and largely instrumental in breaking my reading slump of the previous month. I loved the characters and the unique storylines (even the pieces that weren't entirely unique). The Matrimonial Advertisement gets 4 Stars. Have you read The Matrimonial Advertisement? What did you think? Let me know!

Side note: I hate this book cover and hope they do a redesign in the future. And I hate the cover for A Modest Independence even more. Please don't let these book covers deter you from picking up this book!

Can't Wait for Vow of Thieves

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.

Vow of Thieves (Dance of Thieves, # 2)

By: Mary E Pearson

Expected Publication: August 6th 2019 by Henry Holt

480 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

( 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--Kazi and Jase have survived, stronger and more in love than ever. Their new life now lies before them―the Ballengers will be outlaws no longer, Tor's Watch will be a kingdom, and the two of them will meet all challenges side by side, together at last.

But an ominous warning mars their journey back, and in their rush to return to Tor's Watch, just outside the fortress walls, they are violently attacked and torn apart―and each is thrust into their own new hell.

Unsure whether the other is alive or dead, Kazi and Jase must keep their wits among their greatest enemies and unlikeliest allies. And all the while, Death watches and waits.

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