Thursday, April 30, 2020

April 2020 EOM Wrap Up

I have read 8 books (not including children's books). *These qualify for the 2020 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle
The Trouble with Hating You by Sanji Patel
His Lady in Hiding by Jen Geigle Johnson
Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon
More Than Maybe by Erin Hahn
Transforming Emma (Lockets and Lace, # 20) by Linda Carroll-Bradd
The Lost Lieutenant (Serendipity & Secrets, # 1) by Erica Vetsch
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

I have reviewed 8 books. *These qualify for the 2020 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
*Selah (The Sugar Baron's Daughter, # 3) by Lisa T Bergren
Meet Me at Midnight by Jessica Pennington
The Perfect Escape (The Perfect Escape, # 1) by Suzanne Park
The House at the End of the Moor by Michelle Griep
You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle
Four Days of You and Me by Miranda Kenneally
Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon
Transforming Emma (Lockets and Lace, # 20) by Linda Carroll-Bradd

Other Posts:
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 04/05/20
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 04/12/20
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 04/19/20
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 04/26/20
Ten Books I've Read Because of Book Reviews
Ten Books I Wish I'd Read as a Child
Can't Wait for A Bride of Convenience (The Bride Ships, # 3) by Jody Hedlund
Can't Wait for Time of Our Lives by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka
Can't Wait for Well Played (Well Met, # 2) by Jen DeLuca
Can't Wait for Reconnected by Catherine Tinker
Can't Wait for The Tourist Attraction (Moose Springs, Alaska, # 1) by Sarah Morgenthaler
2020 Series Enders Reading Challenge - April Wrap Up
Defy the Worlds (Constellation, # 2) by Claudia Gray Giveaway
Escaping Houdini (Stalking Jack the Ripper, # 3) by Kerri Maniscalco Giveaway

Goals:
I am 21 days ahead on of schedule my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 31 out of 52 books (including children's books).
I've read 4 out of 5-10 series enders.

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Can't Wait for The Tourist Attraction

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 Tourist Attraction (Moose Springs, Alaska, # 1)

By: Sarah Morgenthaler

Expected Publication: May 5th 2020 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

400 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--When Graham Barnett named his diner The Tourist Trap, he meant it as a joke. Now he's stuck slinging reindeer dogs to an endless string of resort visitors who couldn't interest him less. Not even the sweet, enthusiastic tourist in the corner who blushes every time he looks her way…

Two weeks in Alaska isn't just the top item on Zoey Caldwell's bucket list. It's the whole bucket. One look at the mountain town of Moose Springs and she's smitten. But when an act of kindness brings Zoey into Graham's world, she may just find there's more to the man than meets the eye…and more to love in Moose Springs than just the Alaskan wilderness.

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

Monday, April 27, 2020

Where the Lost Wander - Review

Where the Lost Wander

By: Amy Harmon

Publication: April 28th 2020 by Lake Union Publishing

348 pages

Genre: New 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--In this epic and haunting love story set on the Oregon Trail, a family and their unlikely protector find their way through peril, uncertainty, and loss.

The Overland Trail, 1853: Naomi May never expected to be widowed at twenty. Eager to leave her grief behind, she sets off with her family for a life out West. On the trail, she forms an instant connection with John Lowry, a half-Pawnee man straddling two worlds and a stranger in both.

But life in a wagon train is fraught with hardship, fear, and death. Even as John and Naomi are drawn to each other, the trials of the journey and their disparate pasts work to keep them apart. John’s heritage gains them safe passage through hostile territory only to come between them as they seek to build a life together.

When a horrific tragedy strikes, decimating Naomi’s family and separating her from John, the promises they made are all they have left. Ripped apart, they can’t turn back, they can’t go on, and they can’t let go. Both will have to make terrible sacrifices to find each other, save each other, and eventually…make peace with who they are.

I have to say that I typically stay away from books taking place on one of the wagon trails. I've honestly only read one other book similar to this (Walk on Earth a Stranger), but I didn't really enjoy it as much as I hoped. But Amy Harmon is a favorite author of mine, and I've found her to be a consistently good author. So I thought I would have to give Where the Lost Wander a chance.

Where the Lost Wander opens with the tragedy mentioned in the description in the prologue. John isn't mentioned at all during that scene so I came to the conclusion that he wasn't present for it. Yet he was with the May family for the majority of the time. Chapter 1 goes back to when John and Naomi meet. I wondered if this would be one of those "then" and "now" books, but it followed chronological order from Chapter 1 on. This left me constantly questioning when tragedy was going to strike which drove anticipation into every scene for me.

One of the reasons I shy away from stories about wagon trains is that by necessity, these books focus heavily on description. I understand why, but I prefer books with less description and more action. Similarly, even though John and Naomi have an instant connection, their relationship is slow-building. Romance is in the air, but I didn't feel like it was driving the story all of the time, which again is something I prefer.

Now I have to say that Amy Harmon wrote this story beautifully. I felt like she showed all sides of the many types of people encountered by our characters on their journey. She has an author's note at the end that I highly suggest you don't skip. Knowing her personal connections to the story and characters made the story that much deeper. I also appreciated that she didn't shy away from some pieces that I think other authors might skirt around.

As usual with Amy Harmon, I found several quotes that I have to share. Here are my favorites:

-I’m convinced everyone is a little vile, if they are honest about it.

-“I hate being a woman.” “You do?” Her voice squeaks in astonishment. “I hate how hard it is.” “Would you rather be a man?” she challenges, as if I have lost my wits completely. I think about that for a moment. I am not so blind as to think being a man would be much better. Easier, maybe. Or not. I’m not sure. Every path is likely just a different version of hard. But I’m still angry.

-"Hating men won’t make you a man. Hating your womb or your breasts or your own weakness won’t make those things go away. You’ll still be a woman. Hating never fixed anything. It seems simple, but most things are. We just complicate them. We spend our lives complicating what we would do better to accept. Because in acceptance, we put our energies into transcendence.”

-“Put your energy into rising above the things you can’t change, Naomi. Keep your mind right. And everything will work out for the best.” “Even if there’s a lot of pain along the way?” “Especially if there’s pain along the way,” Mama says firmly.

-“I would rather draw faces than anything else. Pa says the landscapes would have a better chance of selling to the newspapers or maybe in a printed book someday, but most of the time, the world just can’t compete with the people in it.”

-“What happened to Lawrence Caldwell reaping what he sows?” I mutter. “Only God decides when and how the reaping comes. That has nothing to do with us. We worry about what we’re sowing.”

-“The hardest thing about life is knowing what matters and what doesn’t,” Winifred muses. “If nothing matters, then there’s no point. If everything matters, there’s no purpose. The trick is to find firm ground between the two ways of being.”

-“That’s what marriage is. It’s shelter. It’s sustenance. It’s warmth. It’s finding rest in each other. It’s telling someone, You matter most."

-I realize now that life is just a continual parting of the ways, some more painful than others.

There is so much to this story that I feel is spoilers to share so I'm keeping it to myself. But it's hard to feel like I've discussed the book thoroughly enough without mentioning all the things.

Amy Harmon has once again hooked me and wrapped me up in a story and set of characters. I devoured the pages as often as I could. I still feel deeply moved by the journey Naomi, John, the Mays, and others endured. Where the Lost Wander gets 4 Stars. Have you read Where the Lost Wander? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday, April 26, 2020

Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 04/26/20

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.

Another week with not much to report. Honestly, I'm okay with that. My family is healthy. We still have jobs to provide for our needs. I miss seeing my friends and family, but we still have much to be thankful for. Husband was able to take off work on Wednesday again. We had storms and rain on Thursday, but we stayed safe. If anything, this pandemic has me trying to see the silver linings, stop complaining, and show gratitude for all things. I'm reading some good books, but man I've been stalking some that I'm beginning to wonder if I'll end up having to wait until release day to get my hands on.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Four Days of You and Me by Miranda Kenneally (3.5 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Reconnected by Catherine Tinker
Thursday: Review of Transforming Emma (Lockets and Lace, # 20) by Linda Carroll-Bradd (3.5 Stars)
Saturday: 2020 Series Enders Reading Challenge - April Wrap Up

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Thursday: April 2020 EOM Wrap Up
Friday: Review of Chasing Lucky by Jenn Bennett

Don’t forget to link up for the 2020 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2020 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.

Transforming Emma (Lockets and Lace, # 20)

By: Linda Carroll-Bradd

Publication: March 18th 2020 by Inked Figments

136 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

( 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--Raised a tomboy on a central Texas ranch, Emmaleigh Wallache returns from a year’s visit during which her Bostonian aunt introduced her to a life of culture—fulfilling her late mother’s wish. Her is intent on marrying her off to the son of a wealthy meat distributor to guarantee the success of his cattle business. Happy for her time spent in society, Emmaleigh struggles to discover where she truly belongs.

Foreman Brett Haynes, who has waited until Emma turned eighteen so he can reveal his caring feelings, can’t believe the changes a year made. Gone is the spunky girl who raced him through fields or swung from ropes over the swimming hole. He has nothing in common with this sophisticated young woman and despairs she is unreachable. Can he remind her of life’s simpler moments and win over the heart he has always thought of as belonging to him?

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!

Saturday, April 25, 2020

2020 Series Enders Reading Challenge - April Wrap Up

Time for our Monthly Wrap Up for the 2020 Series Enders Reading Challenge hosted by Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know and Holly @ Words Fueled by Love!

Neither Holly nor Sandy finished any series enders this month.

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 April giveaway runs from April 25th - May 25th. On May 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

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Transforming Emma - Review

Transforming Emma (Lockets and Lace, # 20)

By: Linda Carroll-Bradd

Expected Publication: March 18th 2020 by Inked Figments

136 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( 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--Raised a tomboy on a central Texas ranch, Emmaleigh Wallache returns from a year’s visit during which her Bostonian aunt introduced her to a life of culture—fulfilling her late mother’s wish. Her is intent on marrying her off to the son of a wealthy meat distributor to guarantee the success of his cattle business. Happy for her time spent in society, Emmaleigh struggles to discover where she truly belongs.

Foreman Brett Haynes, who has waited until Emma turned eighteen so he can reveal his caring feelings, can’t believe the changes a year made. Gone is the spunky girl who raced him through fields or swung from ropes over the swimming hole. He has nothing in common with this sophisticated young woman and despairs she is unreachable. Can he remind her of life’s simpler moments and win over the heart he has always thought of as belonging to him?

I missed where Transforming Emma was part of a series. Granted, I don't see any reason why Transforming Emma couldn't be read as a stand-alone since that's exactly what I did.

I'm having a hard time reviewing this one, guys. I'm bee-bopping along, reading and enjoying Transforming Emma and wham. It just ends. At the weirdest place. I suppose enough was wrapped up to consider that an acceptable ending place, but truthfully I felt like there was plenty unresolved.

Emma is likable. She left her family home still in mourning after her mother's death. Her father sent her to his sister in Boston to attend finishing school. While there, she attended several academic classes as well and hopes to bring what she's learned back to the ranch to help her father with his cattle business.

Brett has been in love with Emma since before she left. He was waiting until she turned 18 to reveal his feelings for her but her return from Boston kept getting postponed. When she does return, she's changed. And he isn't sure he fits in her new world or the plans her father has for her.

Emma's father was a contradiction to me. She seemed to have fond feelings and memories of him in the beginning. But as soon as he returns, he is gruff and harsh with her. Demanding and even demeaning. Eventually, Emma does show him that her input is valuable, but I felt like this was one area that could have used more resolution.

I enjoyed Transforming Emma until it ended too abruptly. The characters have backgrounds and felt pretty well rounded. More than anything I simply felt like Transforming Emma was incomplete. Transforming Emma gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Transforming Emma? What did you think? Let me know!

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Can't Wait for Reconnected

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.

Reconnected

By: Catherine Tinker

Expected Publication: June 1st 2021 by Swoon Reads

320 pages

Genre: Young 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--Anne Ellison and Freddie Whitlock were best friends all through middle school, even though they never met in person. But when Anne did something unforgivable to Freddie, their friendship quickly fell apart.

Four years later, Freddie comes to Anne’s town for the summer before she starts college. He’s training to be an Olympic gymnast. Anne knows that Freddie is the boy from her past—but Freddie has no idea. As Anne and Freddie start to spend more time together, Anne can’t help but fall for Freddie.

Can Anne find a way her way into Freddie’s heart—while keeping her identity secret? Or will the lies she’s telling tear their relationship apart?

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

Monday, April 20, 2020

Four Days of You and Me - Review

Four Days of You and Me

By: Miranda Kenneally

Expected Publication: May 5th 2020 by Sourcebooks Fire

352 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

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--A new swoon-worthy romance following a couple's love story on the same date over four years.

Every May 7, the students at Coffee County High School take a class trip. And every year, Lulu’s relationship with Alex Rouvelis gets a little more complicated. Freshman year, they went from sworn enemies to more than friends after a close encounter in an escape room. It’s been hard for Lulu to quit Alex ever since.

Through breakups, make ups, and dating other people, each year’s class trip brings the pair back together and forces them to confront their undeniable connection. From the science museum to an amusement park, from New York City to London, Lulu learns one thing is for sure: love is the biggest trip of all.

Miranda Kenneally and I have had a rocky relationship. Of course, she's completely unaware of this--our relationship or the rockiness of it. Some of her books I've loved and others I've straight hated. So I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this one. One thing has become clearer and clearer to me and that is that Miranda Kenneally's books tend to have a political agenda. And I can 100% say that I despise this. Write stories that feel authentic and stop trying to go through a checklist of current political issues to address.

I very nearly DNF'd Four Days of You and Me very early. Clues were dropped that Max, Lulu's best friend, was gay but I decided to wait things out until it was confirmed. And then by the time it was confirmed, I felt too invested in Lulu and Alex. My issue comes from how it seems almost impossible in YA literature today for best friends of the opposite sex to be anything but in love with each other or one of them to be gay.

I almost felt like Miranda Kenneally made Lulu be a political activist as a means to cover all of these issues that she wanted to be sure and touch on. But perhaps the most frustrating thing for me with her books and characters has always revolved around her portrayal of Christians. In this case, there was only mention of characters that go to church. Yet there's a feeling I get any time she mentions these characters. A hostility. Or maybe a passive-aggressiveness. Or just the impression that she views all Christians or "church-goers" as hypocrites.

Ironically, this is the 2nd book in a row that was really conceptual focusing on large gaps of time in between scenes between the main characters. Maybe This Time by Kasie West was the other. I liked the ideas but the execution is a different thing. Maybe This Time covered a year and there was little interaction between the characters in between the moments shown in the story. Four Days of You and Me covered one day each year for four years but also had flashbacks between these four days that showed the characters interacted in between the main 4 days and gave a better sense of life for the characters.

I liked Lulu despite her constant political causes. She's working on a graphic novel and I always enjoy seeing pieces of the publication process. Her rollercoaster ride of a relationship with Alex felt so realistic to me. And that's one thing I feel Miranda Kenneally does really well in her books. Alex was more enjoyable to me but I find myself feeling this way about the male leads often. It could simply be the difference in who is narrating. But I often feel that way with dual narration books too.

Being from Alabama, I've visited Six Flags over Georgia many times in my life. Granted the last time I visited was when Husband and I were dating so that was over 11 years ago. But some things mentioned about the theme park were just flat out wrong. The Scream Machine does not have any loops or places where it goes upside down. It is an old wooden coaster that was built in 1973. One of the--it not the oldest--coasters left at SFOG since the Cyclone was torn down and replaced. Goliath was mentioned that your feet dangle and this is only partly true. There's still a floor beneath your feet--unlike Batman--but you are sitting in bucket-like seats that do allow your feet to dangle a bit. It really takes minimal research to get these minor details correct. I mean I know probably the majority of readers haven't been to SFOG and won't know the difference, but for those of us who have, it's a little discouraging to see these inaccuracies. And it's ironic because Lulu mentions taking notes on their trip to London about things she might need to reference again if she ever decided to write a story in that setting. I mean a park map would have told you the Great American Scream Machine does not go upside down. A few other small things didn't line up with my experience or knowledge of the park. But I think I've proven my point.

When all is said and done, Four Days of You and Me was a mixed bag. On the one hand, I liked the characters and their stories. I liked Alex. I liked Lulu. I liked most of the side characters. The story felt authentic to teenagers of today. But what didn't feel authentic was the constant political causes that Miranda Kenneally included. And I say this not because Lulu was a political activist but because Miranda Kenneally has included these types of things throughout several of her books. I also don't enjoy the hypocritical way she portrays Christian characters or any character that "goes to church". Even though it is clear to me that Miranda Kenneally knows how to write and craft a story, I don't believe I'll personally be reading any more of her books in the future as I'm sure she's not going to back off including these aspects in her work. Four Days of You and Me gets 3.5 Stars from me. Have you read Four Days of You and Me? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 04/19/20

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.

We've had a good week here. Little Girl is telling me almost daily that she misses school and "Bible church". Little Boy is asking daily to go see Gramma or Grammy. But other than that, we're hanging in there. Husband works for an insurance company and so he's essential. He got half a day off on Wednesday which was nice. The kids had a rough behavior day on Friday, and to be honest, I didn't have the best attitude or response either. I ended the night feeling really down about how the entire day went. Husband let me sleep in on Saturday which was so nice. That was a good day. I'm so thankful that we've been able to walk and play outside so much. Be sure to check out my giveaways! I have two running now.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of The House at the End of the Moor by Michelle Griep (4 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Well Played (Well Met, # 2) by Jen DeLuca
Thursday: Review of You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle (4.5 Stars)
Friday: Giveaway of Escaping from Houdini (Stalking Jack the Ripper, # 3) by Kerri Maniscalco

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Four Days of You and Me by Miranda Kenneally
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Friday: Giveaway
Saturday: 2020 Series Enders Reading Challenge - April Wrap Up

Don’t forget to link up for the 2020 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2020 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 Lost Lieutenant (Serendipity & Secrets #1)

By: Erica Vetsch

Expected Publication: April 21st 2020 by Kregel Publications

304 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Regency

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's doing what he can to save the Prince Regent's life . . . but can he save his new marriage as well? Evan Eldridge never meant to be a war hero--he just wanted to fight Napoleon for the future of his country. And he certainly didn't think that saving the life of a peer would mean being made the Earl of Whitelock. But when the life you save is dear to the Prince Regent, things can change in a hurry.

Now Evan has a new title, a manor house in shambles, and a stranger for a bride, all thrust upon him by a grateful ruler. What he doesn't have are all his memories. Traumatized as a result of his wounds and bravery on the battlefield, Evan knows there's something he can't quite remember. It's important, dangerous--and if he doesn't recall it in time, will jeopardize not only his marriage but someone's very life.

Readers who enjoy Julie Klassen, Carolyn Miller, and Kristi Ann Hunter will love diving into this brand-new Regency series filled with suspense, aristocratic struggles, and a firm foundation of faith.

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!

Friday, April 17, 2020

Escaping from Houdini - Giveaway

Escaping from Houdini (Stalking Jack the Ripper, # 3)

By: Kerri Maniscalco

Publication: September 18th 2018 by JIMMY Patterson

416 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Mystery

( 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--Audrey Rose Wadsworth and her partner-in-crime-investigation, Thomas Cresswell, are en route to New York to help solve another blood-soaked mystery. Embarking on a week-long voyage across the Atlantic on the opulent RMS Etruria, they’re delighted to discover a traveling troupe of circus performers, fortune tellers, and a certain charismatic young escape artist entertaining the first-class passengers nightly.

But then, privileged young women begin to go missing without explanation, and a series of brutal slayings shocks the entire ship. The disturbing influence of the Moonlight Carnival pervades the decks as the murders grow ever more freakish, with nowhere to escape except the unforgiving sea.

It's up to Audrey Rose and Thomas to piece together the gruesome investigation as even more passengers die before reaching their destination. But with clues to the next victim pointing to someone she loves, can Audrey Rose unravel the mystery before the killer's horrifying finale?

The publisher kindly sent this book to me unrequested. I thought I might read it one day, but since it's the 3rd in a series and I never read the first I just haven't gotten around to it. Since we're all stuck in quarantine, I thought I might take this time to do a giveaway for this book. Please keep in mind that I might not be able to ship this immediately if you do win. Also, open to US only (so sorry international peeps, but I'm having to pay for the shipping myself on this one).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, April 16, 2020

You Deserve Each Other - Review

You Deserve Each Other

By: Sarah Hogle

Publication: April 7th 2020 by G.P. Putnam's Sons

368 pages

Genre: 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--For fans of The Hating Game, a debut lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy about two unhappily engaged people each trying to force the other to end the relationship--and falling back in love in the process.

Naomi Westfield has an Instagram-perfect life, including the perfect fiancé: Nicholas Rose holds doors open for her, remembers her restaurant orders, and comes from the kind of upstanding society family every bride dreams of being a part of. They never fight, complain, or disagree. They're preparing for their lavish wedding that's three months away. And they are miserably and utterly sick of each other.

Tired of contorting herself to fit the ridiculous standards demanded by Nicholas's family, Naomi wants out of the relationship. But there's a catch: Whoever calls off the engagement will have to foot the enormous bill for the wedding. When Naomi finds out that Nicholas, too, has been feigning contentment, the two of them go head-to-head in a battle of wills to see who can annoy the other into surrendering through pranks, sabotage, and all-out emotional warfare.

But now that they have nothing to lose, they're finally being themselves. They're having so much fun getting on each other's nerves that it starts to feel like something else entirely. As Naomi discovers hidden feelings for Nicholas buried under three years of simmering resentment, she wonders if he feels the same way. Suddenly, the countdown to the wedding that may or may not come to pass feels more like a race to mutual destruction--and Naomi doesn't want to be left alone at the finish line.

I couldn't remember the book description when it came time for me to read this one. I have battled reading slumps all year so far. Hangovers from exceptionally good books as well as slumps from exceptionally mediocre books as well. I wasn't sure where You Deserve Each Other was going to fall. And truth be told, I went through a range of thoughts while reading this one.

My first thought was how incredibly sad it was that Naomi resigned herself to a life with so little to look forward to in it. And that was quickly followed up with thinking it completely unrealistic for someone to stay in a relationship with someone else simply as a matter of pride. I mean who has that much pride. But then I began to realize that people I know have stayed in real relationships for a whole lot less.

Once Naomi and Nicholas offer each other the smallest amount of honesty--that they are each miserable--the fun begins. These two embark on a quest to make the other break first. They begin to prank each other which alternated between being sad for them and thinking they were both hilarious. What really happened was that the two of them came alive in their attempts to break the other down. A fire was lit and fanned into flame.

I sensed hope from Nicholas early enough to feel confident in how he felt about Naomi. Naomi slowly began to realize her own selfishness. She began to see how much she was holding back from Nicholas which ultimately didn't give him a chance. These two had some simmering moments even though the description was much tamer than I wondered it might be.

Ultimately this is a story about fighting for love, putting in the necessary work and effort to put each other first, to maintain your relationship. It's a story about second chances and falling in love so much deeper than the first time. It's funny and sad. Heartbreaking and hopeful. You Deserve Each Other was so real that I think almost everyone will be able to relate to the challenges of falling into a rut and letting little things build up until they threaten to drown you.

Too many of my favorite quotes:

- This is how I’ll die: slightly unwilling but ultimately lazy.

-“There’s a difference between being needed and wanted. In some things, I like to be needed. With sex, I need to be wanted. I can’t be just some guy in your bed getting the job done. I’m not having disconnected, going‑through‑the‑motions sex with you. Not you. You’re supposed to be the person I connect with the most deeply.”

-“You stopped seeing me, Naomi. You stopped wanting me. You’re going to figure out one of these days that I can tell when you’re starting to disassociate, and it’s the most heartbreaking experience I’ve ever had. It’s nonstop. It keeps on happening. I try to bring you back to me every time you go to leave, off into your own head where I’m not allowed.”

-Real Nicholas hasn’t said any of this. But Imaginary Nicholas is an amalgamation of realistic predictions based on callous things he’s said to me in the past, so I easily hear his voice shape those words. It’s not fair to be hurt or angry over something he didn’t even say, especially since the words I put into my own head are all true, but knowing he potentially could say it— and probably will— is enough to make me sink into a dark silence that I don’t rise from for the rest of the ride home.

-"I want to please everybody, but I can’t, and in somebody’s eyes I’m always falling short. Don’t put me in this position where I have to choose.” I never make him choose, but he always does, anyway, which puts me in a position where I’m forced to be crabby.

-It feels like he’s always leaving right when I want him to stay.

-It should be a given, but it’s not, and that’s my fault. I’ve been withholding nice gestures to punish him for not giving me enough nice gestures...

-Keep doing this even if he doesn’t reciprocate in an immediately obvious way.

-I have to give while expecting nothing in return; otherwise, the gestures are empty.

-But when your significant other says, You don’t need to work. You don’t need a job, you might hear, I don’t think you’ll find meaningful employment without a college education. I don’t believe in you. In my head, I’ve been assuming that when Nicholas says I don’t need to work, what he means is that any job I’d qualify for is so beneath his notice that I might as well not work at all. In Nicholas’s head, all he’s done is say Here I am, here I am. Be anything! It doesn’t matter if you don’t make much money, because I’ll take care of you. I’ll let you need me. I’ll be your rock, whatever happens. Spread your wings, you can always fall back on me.

-It feels so lovely to be good to each other.

-We’re going to have to choose each other, over and over, and be each other’s champion, never letting ourselves forget the good whenever we’re stuck in a patch of bad. It’s going to be work.

You Deserve Each Other was a timely book for me as Husband and I have been putting in a lot of work to reconnect over the last few weeks. At first, I thought this would be just a fun book, but You Deserve Each Other ended up being deeper and more complex than I expected. I don't think I'll soon forget this story or these characters. And I think almost anyone who has been in a long-term relationship can find ways to relate to both the characters and the situation they've found themselves in. You Deserve Each Other gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read You Deserve Each Other? What did you think? Let me know!

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Can't Wait for Well Played

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.

Well Played (Well Met, # 2)

By: Jen DeLuca

Expected Publication: September 22nd 2020 by Berkley

336 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--Another laugh-out-loud romantic comedy featuring kilted musicians, Renaissance Faire tavern wenches, and an unlikely love story.

Stacey is jolted when her friends Simon and Emily get engaged. She knew she was putting her life on hold when she stayed in Willow Creek to care for her sick mother, but it's been years now, and even though Stacey loves spending her summers pouring drinks and flirting with patrons at the local Renaissance Faire, she wants more out of life. Stacey vows to have her life figured out by the time her friends get hitched at Faire next summer. Maybe she'll even find The One.

When Stacey imagined "The One," it never occurred to her that her summertime Faire fling, Dex MacLean, might fit the bill. While Dex is easy on the eyes onstage with his band The Dueling Kilts, Stacey has never felt an emotional connection with him. So when she receives a tender email from the typically monosyllabic hunk, she's not sure what to make of it.

Faire returns to Willow Creek, and Stacey comes face-to-face with the man with whom she’s exchanged hundreds of online messages over the past nine months. To Stacey's shock, it isn't Dex—she's been falling in love with a man she barely knows.

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

Monday, April 13, 2020

The House at the End of the Moor - Review

The House at the End of the Moor

By: Michelle Griep

Publication: April 1st 2020 by Shiloh Run Press

320 pages

Genre: Adult, 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--What Can a London Opera Star and an Escaped Dartmoor Prisoner Have in Common?

Opera star Maggie Lee escapes her opulent lifestyle when threatened by a powerful politician who aims to ruin her life. She runs off to the wilds of the moors to live in anonymity. All that changes the day she discovers a half-dead man near her house. Escaped convict Oliver Ward is on the run to prove his innocence, until he gets hurt and is taken in by Maggie. He discovers some jewels in her possession—the very same jewels that got him convicted. Together they hatch a plan to return the jewels, clearing Oliver’s name and hopefully maintaining Maggie’s anonymity.

The cover of this one gives me a mystery vibe. I'm a fan of Michelle Griep. My favorite book by her has been The Captive Heart. And I did enjoy her Bow Street Runners series. But I will say that her books sometimes trail into being more plot-driven instead of romance-driven. And while that isn't wrong or bad, my personal preference usually tends towards the relationship-driven. The House at the End of the Moor was one of these plot-driven books.

Maggie was an opera singer but fled her life in Bath after being propositioned and threatened with bodily harm to her father. She's found a new life of anonymity with only a maid and manservant.

Oliver was wrongly convicted of a crime and sentenced to prison. He's determined to escape and find justice by figuring out who did the crime he was accused of. When he's injured in his escape and Maggie's maid stumbles upon him not far from their home, Maggie takes him in to restore him to health. The two find out that they are linked by the real criminals. And they decide to travel to Bath to find out the truth and to clear Oliver's name.

Meanwhile, Oliver is being hunted by the constable/prison guard he escaped from. Sebastian comes off as evil but really his motivations are twisted and his understanding of God and His will is a bit skewed as well. Maggie is also being pursued by her former manager who wants his prize goose back.

Through the dangers of both being chased as well as rooting out the criminals responsible for committing a crime and bribing witnesses and a judge to have Oliver wrongly convicted, Oliver and Maggie learn what each other is made of. And of course, they begin to fall in love. As I said, the story is much more driven by the action of figuring out the real criminals as well as fleeing those chasing them than by their growing feelings for each other. I enjoyed both, but as my blog is about telling how a book made me feel, I think I would have enjoyed a bit more romance.

I particularly liked the side story of reconciliation. Oliver and his father have a strained relationship. Maggie and her father also had a strange relationship. Only one of the characters has an opportunity to make things better with their father, but I enjoyed this aspect of both characters' lives.

I didn't really have any complaints about The House at the End of the Moor. I read it quickly and was invested in the characters and their journeys. I liked the romance even though I could have enjoyed a little more between them. The House at the End of the Moor gets 4 Stars. Have you read The House at the End of the Moor? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 04/12/20

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 and Tuesday were normal days this week. The kids have been getting along so much better the last week or so. They're 4 and 2 so things are hit or miss quite often. They have been attempting to push their boundaries with Husband and I though. Wednesday, Husband left work early, but his car broke down on the way home. I packed up the kids to meet him while he called the tow truck. Apparently the alternator went out on his car, and our mechanic was on top of it. He fixed it and we picked it back up within 3 hours. But all of that put us late getting lunch for the day. But hey, if you have to have a vehicle break down this was the best possible scenario I think. Thursday I was really missing spending time with my mom. I've gotten used to her spending the day with us since she retired, but with an official stay-at-home order and Husband still having to go into the office for work, we figured it would be best to really maintain our distance. Husband's work decided to give them Good Friday off. He doesn't usually get that day so that was really nice. I can't believe it's Easter already. Praise God for Jesus's resurrection! And believe it or not, I have certainly seen God working in this crazy time.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Meet Me at Midnight by Jessica Pennington (4 Stars)
Tuesday: Ten Books I've Read Because of Book Reviews
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Time of Our Lives by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka
Thursday: Review of The Perfect Escape (The Perfect Escape, # 3) by Suzanne Park (3.5 Stars)
Friday: Giveaway of Defy the Worlds (Constellation, # 2) by Claudia Gray

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Four Days of You and Me by Miranda Kenneally
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Friday: Giveaway
Saturday: 2020 Series Enders Reading Challenge - April Wrap Up

Don’t forget to link up for the 2020 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2020 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.

His Lady in Hiding

By: Jen Geigle Johnson

Expected Publication: April 1st 2020 by Covenant Communications

272 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--Lady Elizabeth Davenport is desperate. Her hand in marriage has been offered to the highest bidder, a distressing proposition in and of itself but made all the more repulsive when she meets her father’s first choice for her hand: Lord Pinweather. When her parents refuse to hear her pleas, Liz is forced to take drastic measures—she will impersonate her maid and begin anew in America on her own terms.

Once on board the ship to America, another passenger, Lord Barton, almost immediately discovers her true status as a noble. After listening to Liz’s highly modified version of her life and her plans to begin again, Barton has compassion on her and teaches her how to abandon her noble mannerisms. Upon disembarking, however, Barton’s generous spirit quickly dampens when he discovers Liz has indeed found work—as his own head housekeeper. Suddenly, the tender feelings they hid from each other on the ship are inescapable, but their difference in station makes romance impossible. As misunderstandings abound and a shocking character from Liz’s past looms, she knows she can’t hide her true identity forever. But as her deception begins to unravel, will her charade cost her the man she loves?

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!

Friday, April 10, 2020

Defy the Worlds - Giveaway

Defy the Worlds (Constellation, # 2)

By: Claudia Gray

Publication: April 3rd 2018 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

481 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Science 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--This is the thrilling and romantic sequel to Defy the Stars from the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Lost Stars and Bloodline.

An outcast from her home -- Shunned after a trip through the galaxy with Abel, the most advanced cybernetic man ever created, Noemi Vidal dreams of traveling through the stars one more time. And when a deadly plague arrives on Genesis, Noemi gets her chance. As the only soldier to have ever left the planet, it will be up to her to save its people...if only she wasn't flying straight into a trap.

A fugitive from his fate -- On the run to avoid his depraved creator's clutches, Abel believes he's said good-bye to Noemi for the last time. After all, the entire universe stands between them...or so he thinks. When word reaches him of Noemi's capture by the very person he's trying to escape, Abel knows he must go to her, no matter the cost.

But capturing Noemi was only part of Burton Mansfield's master plan. In a race against time, Abel and Noemi will come together once more to discover a secret that could save the known worlds, or destroy them all.

In this thrilling and romantic sequel to Defy the Stars, bestselling author Claudia Gray asks us all to consider where--and with whom--we truly belong.

The publisher kindly sent this book to me unrequested. I thought I might read it one day, but since it's the 2nd in a series and I never read the first I just haven't gotten around to it. Since we're all stuck in quarantine, I thought I might take this time to do a giveaway for this book. Please keep in mind that I might not be able to ship this immediately if you do win. Also, open to US only (so sorry international peeps, but I'm having to pay for the shipping myself on this one).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, April 9, 2020

The Perfect Escape - Review

The Perfect Escape (The Perfect Escape, # 1)

By: Suzanne Park

Publication: April 7th 2020 by Sourcebooks Fire

336 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Personal Kindle Library (Christmas gift)

( 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--Love is a battlefield in this hysterically funny rom-com debut, perfect for fans of Jenny Han.

"Pure fun! A hilarious rom-com that head-fakes you into tumbling headlong into a techno-zombie survival thriller propelled by banter and plenty of heart."―DAVID YOON, New York Times bestselling author of Frankly in Love

Nate Jae-Woo Kim wants to be rich. When one of his classmates offers Nate a ridiculous amount of money to commit grade fraud, he knows that taking the windfall would help support his prideful Korean family, but is compromising his integrity worth it?

Kate Anderson wants a fresh start, away from her controlling father. She fantasizes about escaping to New York, where she can pursue her dreams. But how can Kate get there when she can't even buy dinner without his approval?

Worlds collide when Nate and Kate meet at the zombie-themed escape room where they both work. As sparks fly, fate steps in: a local tech company is hosting a weekend-long survivalist competition with a huge cash prize that could solve all their problems. The real challenge? Making it through the weekend with their hearts intact...

I finished The Perfect Escape last night, and I'm finding it hard to put my thoughts into words.

Let me start with Nate. I liked Nate. He's a scholarship kid at a fancy school. He's an older brother. He's a bit nerdy but doing everything he can to create a good college application resume for his future. His family is a bit on the poor side. His mom's car doesn't have fully working AC. His dad is always trying to do their home repairs himself. He's in quite a lot of activities and classes. Krav maga being one of them and he works at an escape room place.

Nate has had a crush on a friend of his for a while, but it's obvious that she always chooses the wrong guys. Nate's bullied quite frequently by the rich kids at school. One I particular. I'm not advocating violence, but I would think, given his krav maga skills, Nate would be bullied and pushed around a bit less. He meets Kate at work. And quickly develops a crush on her.

Kate's mom passed away recently. Since then, her father, although mostly absent, has been extremely strict and limiting. Her house is monitored by security systems as well as a robot Nanny of sorts. She's so oppressed by his rules and absence that she devises a plan to escape his house. Part of that is getting a job to save her own money. But she needs more of it quickly. So she convinces Nate to partner with her in a "zombie survival" game where the prize is $50,000.

I liked The Perfect Escape. It didn't take too long for me to feel invested in the characters and story. But I had a few issues. Most of them were minor. I didn't feel like the interactions we see as a reader were enough for the characters to make it to love. An extreme like of each other, sure. But not quite to love. I already mentioned my issue with Nate being bullied. Annie, Nate's friend that he used to have a crush on, didn't feel right to me. I would have found her involvement more believable had she liked Peter and been used as yet again falling for the wrong guy. Kate's father was a bit much too. A good step beyond believable to me. And I found it difficult to understand how he could account for so many little things and not question her coming and going (like to her job).

All in all, I enjoyed The Perfect Escape. It was a quick and fun read. Light. And my issues were really quite minor. I guess my biggest downside is that I'm not sure by the end of the year if I'll remember much about this book, the characters, or the story. I think it qualifies for 3.5 Stars. Have you read The Perfect Escape? What did you think? Let me know!

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Can't Wait for Time of Our Lives

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.

Time of Our Lives

By: Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka

Expected Publication: April 21st 2020 by Penguin Books

384 pages

Genre: Young 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--A boy desperate to hold on, a girl ready to let go.

Fitz Holton waits in fear for the day his single mother's early-onset Alzheimer's starts stealing her memory. He's vowed to stay close to home to care for her in the years to come--never mind the ridiculous college tour she's forcing him on to visit schools where he knows he'll never go. Juniper Ramirez is counting down the days until she can leave home, a home crowded with five younger siblings and zero privacy. Against the wishes of her tight-knit family, Juniper plans her own college tour of the East Coast with one goal: get out.

When Fitz and Juniper cross paths on their first college tour in Boston, they're at odds from the moment they meet-- while Juniper's dying to start a new life apart for her family, Fitz faces the sacrifices he must make for his. Their relationship sparks a deep connection--in each other's eyes, they glimpse alternate possibilities regarding the first big decision of their adult lives.

Time of Our Lives is a story of home and away, of the wonder and weight of memory, of outgrowing fears and growing into the future.

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

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Ten Books I've Read Because of Book Reviews

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've Bought/Borrowed Because....

  1. Red Rising (Red Rising Trilogy, # 1) by Pierce Brown - Picked up because of Kimba @ The Caffeinated Reviewer.
  2. Me Before You (Me Before You, # 1) by Jojo Moyes - Picked up because I first saw The Aussie Zombie's review (I'd link to it but her blog is no longer available), but then Paula and I went to see the movie and that settled my desire to read it.
  3. All Lined Up (Rusk University, # 1) by Cora Carmack - Picked up because of Naomi @ Nomi's Paranormal Palace (she's since changed her blog name).
  4. Breathe Annie Breathe (Hundred Oaks, # 5) by Miranda Kenneally - Picked up because of Anna Reads (her blog is also no longer active, but someone else has created a new blog with the same name).
  5. Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones - I didn't actually read her reviews, but I saw Kimba constantly rating these books four and five stars so when I had the opportunity I checked them out and loved them.
  6. The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord - I can't remember who I saw review this one, but I remember it sticking in my head.
  7. In Five Years by Rebecca Serle - Read because of Jennifer's review on Goodreads.
  8. Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich - Because of my sister's word of mouth review.
  9. When It's Real by Erin Watt - Because of Holly's review.
  10. Partials (Partials, # 1) by Dan Wells - Because of The Aussie Zombie's review.

So tell me, which books have you read based solely off reading someone else's review? Let me know!