The Belle of Belgrave Square - Review

The Belle of Belgrave Square (Belles of London, # 2)

By: Mimi Matthews

Publication: October 11th 2022 by Berkley

432 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--A London heiress rides out to the wilds of the English countryside to honor a marriage of convenience with a mysterious and reclusive stranger.

Tall, dark, and dour, the notorious Captain Jasper Blunt was once hailed a military hero, but tales abound of his bastard children and his haunted estate in Yorkshire. What he requires now is a rich wife to ornament his isolated ruin, and he has his sights set on the enchanting Julia Wychwood.

For Julia, an incurable romantic cursed with a crippling social anxiety, navigating a London ballroom is absolute torture. The only time Julia feels any degree of confidence is when she’s on her horse. Unfortunately, a young lady can’t spend the whole of her life in the saddle, so Julia makes an impetuous decision to take her future by the reins—she proposes to Captain Blunt.

In exchange for her dowry and her hand, Jasper must promise to grant her freedom to do as she pleases. To ride—and to read—as much as she likes without masculine interference. He readily agrees to her conditions, with one provision of his own: Julia is forbidden from going into the tower rooms of his estate and snooping around his affairs. But the more she learns of the beastly former hero, the more intrigued she becomes…

I'm not sure why I thought book 2 would be Anne's book. Julia's interactions with Captain Blunt were more pronounced as a setup in book 1, The Siren of Sussex than Anne and Hartford. I wasn't excited about Anne's story because 1) I didn't love book 1 and 2) because Anne's mom is a spiritualist and that isn't something I am looking forward to reading about. That being said, Mimi Matthews reminded me of why I usually love her books with The Belle of Bellgrave Square.

Julia is socially awkward. She doesn't enjoy society and events with large groups of people. She has a little anxiety. Generally, I think more people feel this way than those who are completely comfortable in a crowd, but maybe I'm wrong. Her parents are both sickly, and Julia has found that occasionally she can claim illness too in order to avoid going out to certain events. She much prefers solitude and a good book. Who reading this review couldn't agree? But Julia's parents are also selfish, and she finds herself facing an unwanted marriage and future. Julia knows she needs to do something.

Jasper is a bit of a mystery. Although, I found most of his secrets were pretty easy to determine. He is seeking a wife this season, but specifically, he needs an heiress. His estate is nearly falling apart, and he has three children to provide for. I love how choosing Julia was one of the few selfish choices he's made in his life since the war. It reminded me of something husband said to me back when we were dating.

This was one of those marriage of convenience stories where both characters felt more than they were initially willing to share. It did remind me a little of Mimi Matthews' other book, The Work of Art. But I also appreciated that Mimi Matthews explains where she pulled inspiration from in the author's note at the end. In some ways, it makes me want to go back and read some of the books she pulled from, although I doubt I will.

Favorite quotes:

-“You're very changeable, sir.”

-“That wasn’t a rescue. That was naught but a minor service.” Jasper’s eyes held hers, his voice dark with promise. “When I rescue you, Miss Wychwood, you’ll know it.”

-“Old sins cast long shadows,”

- “I can’t give myself to you if I don’t know who you truly are.”

-“I told you. I value your opinions.” “I would that you’d valued my confidence a little more,”

It's no surprise that Finchley makes an appearance in this book, but I love when authors tie in multiple series together. Fan service and all. I don't know if it was intentional, or not, but there's also a character referenced named Nanny Plum which if you have kids you might be familiar with Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom.

Overall, I enjoyed The Belle of Bellgrave Square much more than The Siren of Sussex, and I am actually looking forward to Anne's story now even if I dread reading about her ridiculous mother. Julia and Jasper had a lovely story, and I enjoyed the whole experience of their journey. I did have a couple of questions at the end*, but I don't like to ponder on things like that too much. I usually like to enjoy the story for what it is and move on. The Belle of Bellgrave Square gets 4 Stars. Have you read The Belle of Bellgrave Square? What did you think? Let me know!

*Highlight for spoiler question: 1. If you've ever watched Catfish then you know, in real life, forgiving someone who has lied about something as big as their identity is nearly impossible to forgive. 2. Are Jasper and Julia truly not planning on telling the children? Because it's hard to imagine that information won't come out one day, especially if Julia slips up and calls him James in front of them one day. But it would be the same betrayal all over again. Just questions I wondered briefly about. End.

Sunday Post - 11/27/22

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 I took the boys to the doctor. Little Boy had 103 temperature when we got there. Baby Boy was 101.5. They both tested negative for the flu which is what I thought they had. Little Boy was clear for his throat and ears, but Baby Boy's throat was so red the doctor decided to run a strep test. That was also negative. His ears had some fluid in them, but the fluid wasn't infected yet. The doctor gave us a prescription to keep his ears from getting infected. But we spent the next few days with fever, coughs, and runny noses. Thankfully, everyone was well enough to visit family for Thanksgiving Day. We went to Georgia to Husband's sister's. It was a wonderful day full of good food and good company. Friday morning I did some online shopping. Husband had to work a few hours, and then we went to Troy. My cousins had a big reunion meal. They own a farm and so the kids got to feed the goats and chickens. We went on a hayride which was better than any pumpkin patch we've been to. It was so good to see family members that we just don't get to see often. Many of these family members I grew up with and were close to until everyone grew up and got married. Saturday, we started decorating for Christmas. There's still more to do, but it's a start.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of The Second Blind Son (Chronicles of Saylok, # 2) by Amy Harmon (4 Stars)
Friday: 2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge - November Wrap Up

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of The Belle of Bellgrave Square (Belles of London, # 2) by Mimi Matthews
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2022 to sign 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!

NEW BOOKS:

No new books this week.

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!

2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge - November Wrap Up

Time for our Monthly Wrap Up for the 2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge hosted by Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know and Holly @ Words Fueled by Love!

Sandy finished Holding the Line (Love Along the Wires, # 3) by Jennifer Delamere. Holly hasn't 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 November giveaway runs from November 25th - December 23rd. On December 23rd we will use random.org and the linky entries to pull a grand prize winner.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

The Second Blind Son - Review

The Second Blind Son (Chronicles of Saylok # 2)

By: Amy Harmon

Publication: July 20th 2021 by 47North

448 pages

Genre: 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--An insidious curse is weakening the Norse kingdom of Saylok, where no daughters have been born in years. Washing up on these plagued shores is Ghisla, an orphaned stowaway nursed back to health by a blind cave dweller. Named for a mysterious god, the boy, Hod, is surrounded by prophecy. To Ghisla, he’s a cherished new friend. To Hod, the girl is even more so. For when Ghisla sings, Hod can see.

Unable to offer safe shelter, Hod urges Ghisla onward to become a daughter of the temple, where all the kingdom’s girl children have been gathered. But because of a magical rune, the two cannot be separated, no matter the time or the distance.

Now, subject to a ruthless king, Ghisla enters a desperate world of warring clan chieftains and catastrophic power struggles. Who among them can be trusted is unknowable. So are the sacrifices Ghisla and Hod must make to defeat the cursed forces that could destroy a kingdom and the fated bond between two souls.

A lost girl and a blind boy discover their greatest strength is their bond with each other in a beguiling fantasy by the New York Times bestselling author of The First Girl Child.

Amy Harmon has written multiple books that I've rated 5 Stars. She is an author that I almost always want to read. Her characters are always deep and full of life. And her stories are beautiful, each in their own way. One thing I've noticed about her books is that the pacing isn't always the best for me. Her stories always seem to get me invested, but they aren't always quick to do so. And that doesn't make her pacing bad. Because most of the time, I end up thinking they're nearly perfectly done. The problem lies with me. I've struggled to find the amount of time to read that I would like to have. And so I often gravitate toward books that will hook me early and not let me go. The Second Blind Son did have a slow start for me. And I actually put it down more than once in favor of reading something else. I believe after 30% or so I felt invested enough not to want to put it down in favor of anything else.

The Second Blind Son overlaps in time with The First Girl Child for most of the book. Some events even get repeated, simply from a different perspective.

Hod is the older half brother of Bayr from The First Girl Child. Hod's mother is sick and dying and comes to the Keeper's Temple to receive a blessing for her son. Master Ivo does bless him and sends him to the Cave Keeper, Arwin, to learn and to wait. Hod has rune blood, and Arwin trains him to use his other senses to be able to defend himself and more. Arwin and thus Hod believe his path is to one day also become a keeper. But that changes for Hod when Ghisla washes up on his shore.

Ghisla is a Songr. Her home was plagued and she was essentially the only one to survive. She got on a boat, but was swept overboard during a storm. Ghisla also has rune blood and her songs bring sight to Hod. Not sight like his eyes suddenly work, but when she sings he can see what she's describing, sometimes her memories, sometimes just whatever she sees. The two form a pretty quick connection to one another. Each is the other's only friend.

Like Bayr and Alba from book 1, Ghisla and Hod spend most of the book separated. There are years that go by without them even seeing each other. This makes the story feel like it's dragging a little, yet it also makes the events feel more real, more desperate. The distance between the characters brings life to the pages.

Favorite quotes:

-The moment an exception was made, the rule ceased to exist.

-"Arwin says the pain will become strength if we embrace it," he said.

-"There is no liar as skilled as pain. Pain will say anything to save itself."

-She did not want to do great things. She wanted a place to lay her head and a family to love her. She wanted a friend and a fire and a song that would make the ache go away.

-It looked like fear and fondness, an odd combination. Mayhaps it was fear of fondness....

-And yet she kept on singing, and he kept on listening, doing his best to shoulder her sorrow and speak relief to her soul.

The Second Blind Son gets 4 Stars from me. It had a slower start than I prefer, but that was necessary to establish the characters and their backgrounds enough to allow the story to flow as it should. Once I got to about 30%, I was hooked. And Amy Harmon always finds a way to make her stories beautiful. I look forward to more. I hope it will be Elayne and Aidyn. Have you read The Second Blind Son? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 11/20/22

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.

This was a more normal week. Tempatures have dropped here below freezing a few days, but thankfully it warms to the mid-to-upper 50s by midday. Tuesday it rained all day. And that was frustrating to not be able to get outside like we normally do, but Husband got my curtains hung in the bedroom. And I hung a few picture frames on the walls. Things are really starting to come together. I finished painting the last interior door casing. I'm not quite done with all painting, but we're really down to the piddly stuff now. Thursday, Little Boy had a terrible day with behavior. I kept my calm all day, but man was it challenging. He was so disrespectful and throwing fits any time I told him something he slightly didn't like. Baby Boy had an ear check with the doctor. Ears were all clear, but the doctor said he did hear some congestion. I told him that I'd noticed him coughing and worried he might be getting sick again. If he ends up with another ear infection, he's going to refer us to an ENT for tubes. Friday was a much better day for Little Boy, but we still had a couple of moments of bad behavior. After dropping the big kids off at school I ran to the grocery store. Usually I do grocery pick up but I wanted to be able to pick my own substitutions if necessary since Thanksgiving is this coming week. Saturday, Baby Boy woke up with a fever and a runny nose. So here we go again. I had to take Little Girl to basketball evaluations and by the time we got back Little Boy was also running a fever. The boys slept most of the afternoon, and Husband stayed home with them while Little Girl and I went to a going away party for some friends of ours from Korea. They're moving back to Korea on the 29th. Happy Thanksgiving week to all of our US friends.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of In Honor's Defense (Hanger's Horsemen, # 3) by Karen Witemeyer (4 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of The Second Blind Son (Chronicles of Saylok, # 2) by Amy Harmon
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2022 to sign 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!

NEW BOOKS:

Crossed Lines (Love Along the Wires, # 2)

By: Jennifer Delamere

Publication: August 3rd 2021 by Bethany House Publishers

384 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian 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--Emma Sutton knows she should be satisfied with her position at London's Central Telegraph Office. But ever since she was orphaned young, she's longed for a family of her own. Things look up when a handsome engineer is thrown into her orbit and he sends Emma the love note of her dreams.

Mitchell Harris's sharp wit and facility with a pen have enabled him to thrive despite serious obstacles. That the woman of his dreams works just one floor above his should make life perfect. But a childhood accident has left Mitchell convinced he'll never draw a woman like Emma Sutton's attention. When his best friend--who once saved his life--falls in love with Emma, too, and asks for help writing her love letters, Mitchell is torn between desire and loyalty.

Believing the writer of the letters is the answer to her prayers, but confused over her growing attraction to Mitchell, Emma's heart must decide where to call home.

A Heart Worth Stealing

By: Joanna Barker

Expected Publication:

288 pages

Genre: Adult, 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--Sowerby, England, 1802

Miss Genevieve Wilde—a magistrate’s daughter and independent heiress—is determined to meet life’s challenges all on her own, just as her late-father had taught her. So when her father’s pocket watch is stolen, she will do anything to get it back, especially when the local authorities prove incompetent.

Upon reading an advertisement in the paper, she takes a chance and contacts a thief-taker to find the watch. It’s a choice Ginny regrets when former Bow Street officer Jack Travers arrives on her doorstep. He is frustratingly flirtatious, irritatingly handsome, and entirely unpredictable, and Ginny wonders if she’ll be able to resist such a man.

But after Ginny discovers that the missing watch is just a small part of a larger, more frightening plot against her, she needs Jack’s help more than ever. To protect her home and her reputation, the two enter into a risky charade—pretending Jack is her cousin so he can begin his investigation, starting with the household staff. As they work together to unravel the mystery, Ginny finds herself falling fast for her charismatic thief-taker, leaving her heart in just as much danger as her life.

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!

In Honor's Defense - Review

In Honor's Defense (Hanger's Horsemen, # 3)

By: Karen Witemeyer

Publication: June 7th 2022 by Bethany House Publishers

384 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--Luke Davenport has been fighting all his life--for respect, for country, and most recently, for those unable to fight for themselves. But now that his Horsemen brothers are domesticated, he's left alone to battle the wildness within. When an opportunity arises to take a job on his own, he jumps at the chance.

Damaris Baxter has mastered the art of invisibility. Plain and quiet, she hides in books and needlework, content to be overlooked. Until her brother dies suddenly, leaving her custody of her nephew. She moves to Texas to care for Nate, determined to create the family for herself that she never thought she'd have.

When Nate stumbles into the path of the rustlers Luke is tracking, Luke acts to protect him and winds up gravely injured. Feeling indebted, Damaris nurses Luke back to health. But suspicions grow regarding the death of her brother. And the more questions they ask, the more danger appears, threatening the family Luke may be unable to live without.

I can't say why I put these books off. I enjoyed book 1 and was excited about continuing the series. If I'd had book 2 immediately, I probably would have read it immediately. But time dimmed my excitement to return to the series, so I put off reading book 2. And even though I enjoyed it as well, I only finished reading it right before book 3 released. I knew I would want to read the third book eventually, but I didn't want to jump into it immediately. So I put it off. Now that I try to analyze it, I wonder if the mystery is what puts me off. I know the entire book isn't dedicated to the love story but also to some mystery or bad guy that has to be addressed. And something about the book description for this particular book just had me putting on the breaks.

I guess, ultimately, I'm glad that I waited to read this book when I did because it spurred me out of a reading slump. I went from not reading at all, and not even having much desire to do so, to devouring this book within a couple of days. Considering how busy real life is right now, that was a feat.

Luke is the Horseman the group calls Preach. That's because he's always reciting Bible verses. But Luke doesn't have a cheery past. His mother left when he was ten, and his father was an abusive drunk. The faith Luke found when he was in the army, as well as the brothers that adopted him as their own, gave him purpose. But now his fellow horsemen are settling down, and Luke feels adrift. He takes a solo job that brings him to Maris and Nate.

Demaris is used to being overlooked. She has been deemed a spinster and sent to be the companion to her aunt. Her older brother was the only one who could pull her out of her shell. And when he dies, leaving his fourteen year old son an orphan, Demaris steps in to raise him so he can stay on the property his father and mother are buried on. But Nate is an angry teen and blames their neighbor for his father's death. As a result, Nate has been pulling nightly pranks. Things like hacking up a garden, leaving snakes in various places, etc. He doesn't realize that he's about to stumble into real danger.

Luke has been hired by the Baxter's neighbor to find the rustlers and missing cattle they've been stealing. And Mr. Grimes is set on blaming Nate Baxter for his missing beeves since Nate has been a nuisance. One night when Luke is keeping watch, the rustlers appear attempting to steal another cow when Nate accidentally stumbles upon them in an attempted prank on Mr. Grimes. Luke saves Nate from the rustlers but ends up with multiple stab wounds. And Nate gets Demaris to transport Luke to their home and nurse him back to health.

Of course, Luke and Demaris begin to form a relationship, and Luke even sees himself in Nate, and he takes him under his wing. I won't give any more details than that about the plot or twists. But even though I wasn't sure I would like this storyline, I actually did. Mary Whitmeyer does a great job of establishing characters you can't help but root for. Even Nate, with all his anger and teenage acting out, was easy to feel sorry for and hope he could overcome his grief.

Favorite quotes:

-Invisible people rarely received correspondence.

-To be chosen for herself--it was the secret desire of her heart. To be important to someone. More than a glorified servant who fetched and carried and entertained at her aunt's whim. To be wanted truly for herself. Seen instead of invisible. Valued instead of tolerated.

--...one who'd rather rail at the world for dealing him a raw hand than actually do anything to make it better.

-"Your aunt's not the kind of woman to choose what's easy over what's right," Luke said.

-"Contentment isn't chained to a certain set of circumstances, Luke. It's portable. You can take it with you wherever you go."

I'm so glad that I picked In Honor's Defense up when I did. This book was exactly what I needed to spur me out of a deep reading slup--one of the worst I've been in for years. Luke and Demaris had a sweeter journey than I expected. And I don't know why I felt a little dread before starting this book. In the end, In Honor's Defense gets 4 Stars. Have you read In Honor's Defense? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 11/13/22

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.

I think this was a mostly normal week. I did take the boys to the store on Tuesday to get some essentials. Little Boy wanted to spend some of his birthday money. He was the sweetest because he insisted on buying a small toy for both his little brother and his big sister. i was so proud of him in that moment for sharing his money in that way. Husband finished installing my closet organization system. I am so excited to be using my closet now. We still need to get the kids' closets done. Thursday I took the boys to my parents. It was a good visit with them. When I got Little Girl from school she complained of a headache, and she had a fever when I took her temperature when we got home. The flu is going around and her symptoms match. Friday was terrible. The kids were fussing. Little Boy was acting out. And my tolerance for the same old struggles just wasn't what it should have been. Saturday, I took Little Boy to basketball evaluations. We played ball in the yard. The big kids got into Lego for the first time. I've kept it away knowing that we had littles who might put some small pieces in one's mouth.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Never Rescue a Rogue (The Merriwell Sisters, # 2) by Virginia Heath (4 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of In Honor's Defense (Hanger's Horsemen, # 3) by Karen Witemeyer
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2022 to sign 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!

NEW BOOKS:

Spice Road (The Spice Road Trilogy, # 1)

By: Maiya Ibrahim

Expected Publication: January 24th 2023 by Hodder & Stoughton

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--The first book in an epic fantasy series for fans of Sabaa Tahir, Hafsah Faizal and Elizabeth Lim, set in an Arabian-inspired land. Raised to protect her nation from the monsters lurking in the sands, seventeen-year-old Imani must fight to find her brother whose betrayal is now their greatest threat.

In the hidden desert city of Qalia, secret spice magic awakens affinities in those who drink the misra tea. With an affinity for iron, seventeen-year-old Imani wields a dagger like no other warrior, garnering her the reputation as the next greatest Shield for battling the dangerous djinn, ghouls, and other monsters that lurk in the sands beyond city limits.

Her reputation has been overshadowed, however, by her brother who tarnished the family name after he was discovered stealing their nation's coveted spice - a tell-tale sign of magical obsession. He disappeared soon after, believed to have died beyond the Forbidden Wastes, and leaving Imani reeling with both betrayal and grief.

But when Imani uncovers evidence her brother may be alive and spreading their nation's magic beyond the desert, she strikes a deal with the Council to find him and bring him back to Qalia before he can reveal the city's location. Accompanied by Qayn, a roguish but handsome djinni, and Taha, a powerful beastseer whose magical talents are matched only by his arrogance, they set out on their mission.

Imani will soon discover there are many secrets that lie beyond the Forbidden Wastes - and in her own heart - but will she find her brother before his betrayals endanger the fate of all of Qalia?

In this epic and action-packed fantasy, one young heroine navigates the treacherous road between protecting the ones you love and staying loyal to the place you call home.

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!

Never Rescue a Rogue - Review

Never Rescue a Rogue (The Merriwell Sisters, # 2)

By: Virginia Heath

Expected Publication: November 8th 2022 by St. Martin's Griffin

368 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Regency, Romance

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--Virginia Heath’s Never Rescue a Rogue, the next book in the Merriwell Sisters series, is filled with whip-smart banter, swoony romance, hilarious mishaps, and twisty reveals that will make you gasp and laugh in delight.

Diana Merriwell and Giles Sinclair only tolerate one another for the sake of their nearest and dearest. Everyone believes that the two of them are meant to be together, but Diana and Giles know that their constant pithy barbs come from a shared disdain—not a hidden attraction. Diana loves the freedom of working at the newspaper too much to give it up for marriage, and Giles is happily married to his bachelor lifestyle. But they do have one thing in common—the secrets they can’t risk escaping.

When Giles’ father, the curmudgeonly Duke of Harpenden unexpectedly turns up his toes, it’s only a matter of time before someone comes crawling out of the woodwork who knows the true circumstances of his only son's birth. As the threat of blackmail becomes real, Giles must uncover the truth of his parentage first, or else he and all those who depend upon him will be ruined—and dogged bloodhound Diana is his best hope at sniffing out the truth. As Giles and Diana dive into his family’s past, the attraction that the two of them insisted wasn’t there proves impossible to ignore. Soon, the future of the Sinclair estate isn’t the only thing on the line…

One of the best things about Giles and Diana from Never Fall for Your Fiance was their banter. Diana was quick to call Giles out on his reputation, and Giles wasn't just going to sit and take it. And unfortunately, Never Rescue a Rogue pretty much skipped to where Giles and Diana have come to a mutual understanding of the other being a part of their lives. They've even made it far enough in their relationship to already have regard for each other. So I felt like we missed some of the best opportunities that come with an enemies-to-lovers story.

The first time I read a book where the scoundrel turned out to have a reason for his reputation I thought it was super clever. And then I read another story and another story. And now the idea isn't as original as it once was for me. Yet, I've also read more than one story where the rake was truly uninterested in his reputation or a lady's before where the story begins. Giles was somewhere in the middle of these two. Giles has a reason for keeping distance between himself and eligible single ladies who are pursuing a husband. Yet he also is not innocent.

Diana is sassy and determined to follow her dreams. Husbands and men, in general, tend to let you down and try to control you. Or at least that's her experience with them up until her sister Minerva marries Hugh. And Giles doesn't easily fit into the category that Diana once assigned him. No matter what, she isn't interested in giving up her career or her freedom. She took much longer to come around to the idea of a relationship with Giles.

The mystery these two set out to solve was interesting and not entirely predictable while also not being entirely unfathomable either. As always, the mysteries/story always takes a backseat to the relationships in my preferences. Never Rescue a Rogue straddled the fence of being both relationship and story-driven.

A small pet peeve is that Giles and Diana ultimately followed the exact journey in their relationship that Hugh and Minerva did. I don't see why these two couldn't have forged a slightly different path. I suppose that would require too much time in the storytelling to get two people properly married before they could get to the physical stuff since I guess Virginia Heath is more of a romance writer? I'm guessing there. Just a smallish pet peeve. I don't remember there being an abundance of physical descriptions, but I'm writing this review exactly one month after finishing the book so my memory isn't the best.

Favorite quotes:

-"You continue to linger on the periphery of my life like a bad smell."

-"One of those teas is for drinking and the other is for dunking." To prove that, he picked up a shortbread finger and plunged it into Diana's cup. "That way, all the dunking sludge remains in this cup while the other is sludge-free. Don't you just hate a chewy beverage?

I had another favorite quote but it was long and spoilerish. Anyway, Never Rescue a Rogue was such an enjoyable book. I do think there was a missed opportunity with Giles and Diana being on much more friendly terms when the story started than I expected. We still get some funny quips, but most of the hatred-to-friends piece has already taken place before this book began. I enjoyed the mystery, but I always enjoy the relationship even more. Overall, I really liked Never Rescue a Rogue, but I think my expectations might have been a smidgen too high. Either way, Never Rescue a Rogue gets 4 Stars. And I'm looking forward to book 3. Have you read Never Rescue a Rogue? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 11/06/22

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.

The kids got to dress up for school Monday. They both loved that. This was the most calm I've been during trick or treating prep since the very first year we had children. Baby Boy hated his costume. He was an owl. Little Boy was an army man. He wanted all of the weapons that came with the costume. Little Girl was Princess Peach from Super Mario. We had a great time and the kids could have kept going I think. Tuesday, I had some errands to do. I had to pick up consignment stuff that didn't sell, then run by Walmart to pick up toilet paper and paper towels. After that I went by our storage building to get a few things. Wednesday was a normal day. Thursday morning I had my annual physical. So I was up early to get my blood work done. All was normal with my labs and everything. I talked to my doctor about Little Girl's finger that is infected. He suggested we take her to the doctor to have it checked since we've been doctoring it for as long as we have. So I made an appointment for the same afternoon. My mom came over to visit for a while. We went for a walk and had lunch. She put Baby Boy down for a nap for me while I checked Little Girl out of school and took her to the doctor. She's on an antibiotic now. Friday was pretty normal. Although Little Girl came home with homework that said "go outside and explore". Husband and I knew that her teacher just wanted her to get outside and play, but she's so literal that she said explore meant something new so we had to go somewhere new. There's an old Fort (Fort Toulouse) in Wetumpka that we decided to go to on Saturday. They have walking trails and various things that we could explore. Come to find out, Fort Toulouse was having Frontier Days which was awesome. Plus we ran into Holly, my niece and her husband and daughter.

THE PAST WEEK:

Tuesday: October 2022 EOM Wrap Up
Thursday: Review of A Daughter's Courage (Brides of Laurent, # 3) by Misty M Beller (3 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Never Rescue a Rogue (Merriwell Sisters, # 2) by Virginia Heath
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2022 to sign 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!

NEW BOOKS:

The War of Two Queens (Blood & Ash, # 4)

By: Jennifer L Armentrout

Expected Publication: March 15th 2022 by Evil Eye Concepts, Inc

628 pages

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Vampire, Werewolves

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

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

Goodreads description--From the desperation of golden crowns…

Casteel Da’Neer knows all too well that very few are as cunning or vicious as the Blood Queen, but no one, not even him, could’ve prepared for the staggering revelations. The magnitude of what the Blood Queen has done is almost unthinkable.

And born of mortal flesh…

Nothing will stop Poppy from freeing her King and destroying everything the Blood Crown stands for. With the strength of the Primal of Life’s guards behind her, and the support of the wolven, Poppy must convince the Atlantian generals to make war her way—because there can be no retreat this time. Not if she has any hope of building a future where both kingdoms can reside in peace.

A great primal power rises…

Together, Poppy and Casteel must embrace traditions old and new to safeguard those they hold dear—to protect those who cannot defend themselves. But war is only the beginning. Ancient primal powers have already stirred, revealing the horror of what began eons ago. To end what the Blood Queen has begun, Poppy might have to become what she has been prophesied to be—what she fears the most.

As the Harbinger of Death and Destruction.

Holding the Line (Love Along the Wires, # 3)

By: Jennifer Delamere

Expected Publication: December 1, 2022

384 pages

Genre: Adult, 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--A widow at just 30 years of age, Rose Finlay is determined to put all ideas of marriage and family behind her and pursue an independent life. But when she notices a young woman about to be led astray by a roguish aristocrat, bitter memories from her past arise, and she feels compelled to intervene. The unintended consequences of her efforts will ultimately force Rose to reexamine her life in a new light.

As the overseer of his two widowed sisters' financial and domestic affairs, John Milburn carries heavy responsibilities for a single man. But he's faced with his biggest challenge when his headstrong niece falls prey to the attentions of a powerful man who could ruin both her and her family.

When Rose and John join forces to protect his niece, they put everything they hold dear--including their growing attraction--in jeopardy.

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 Daughter's Courage - Review

A Daughter's Courage (Brides of Laurent, # 3)

By: Misty M Beller

Publication: November 1st 2022 by Bethany House Publishers

? 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 accidentally destroying the intricate chalice her people have treasured for over a hundred years, Charlotte Durand sets out on an expedition in search of a skilled artisan who can repair the damage. What she expected to be a two-day hike becomes much more daunting when a treacherous snowstorm sets in.

The last thing Damien Levette needs in the middle of a mountain blizzard is to tend to another person, but he can't leave behind the mysterious woman he found half-frozen at the edge of a mountain lake. As they battle both the elements and each other, Charlotte and Damien must work together to survive the peril of the mountains--or it could be the downfall of them both.

I'm not exactly sure what I want to say about A Daughter's Courage. Misty M Beller is sometimes hit or miss for me. I didn't love the first book in this series, but I enjoyed book 2 much better than the first. I decided to go ahead and check out book 3, and I landed somewhere in the middle with my feelings on it.

Charlotte is quiet, yet stubborn. And proud too. Admitting when we've made a mistake is quite difficult sometimes. Yet so much could have been avoided if only she'd talked to her father from the beginning. Of course, that wouldn't have been much of a story, would it? Damien wants to be alone. He's still grieving his twin sister's death. And yet he can't stop himself from helping Charlotte when he sees her out in a snow storm on her own.

One of my issues with A Daughter's Courage is how similar it is to other stories both in this series and in Beller's Hearts of Montana series. Two people on a journey in the mountain wilderness surviving by themselves and dependent upon each other.

My other and perhaps biggest issue was the lack of dialogue within the first half of the book between the two main characters. Yes Charlotte is quiet and Damien appreciates this quality about her, but two people need to talk in order to develop more than just an attraction to each other. Beller tells us that the two talked about this subject or that subject at one point, but the actual dialogue was lacking for a large portion of the story.

I enjoyed A Daughter's Courage. I didn't speed through it, but it didn't seem to drag on either. The only problems I had revolved around the lack of dialogue in the first portion of the book which led to a tell vs show issue and that the story was very similar to what I've read of Beller's work in the past. I rooted for the characters, and I enjoyed their growth. In the end, A Daughter's Courage gets 3 Stars. Have you read A Daughter's Courage? What did you think? Let me know!

October 2022 EOM Wrap Up

October is my annual "All Things Halloween" event. Except, I kind of forgot about it earlier in the year. See I usually save up all of my fantasy reviews through the year to post during the month of October. This year, it snuck up on me and I had to scramble to post. Thankfully, I got at least 4 reviews posted this month, but I was kind of disappointed in my event this year. Coming off the reading slump from September and considering October is our busiest month of the year for our family, I'm surprised that I was able to read as much as I did.

I read 7 book (not including children's books). *These qualify for the 2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
I Am: 40 Reasons to Trust God by Diane Stortz
*In Honor's Defense (Hanger's Horsemen, # 3) by Karen Witemeyer
Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
*Reforming Lord Neil (Inglewood, # 5) by Sally Britton
Forgiving What You Can't Forget: Discover How to Move On, Make Peace with Painful Memories, and Create a Life That's Beautiful Again by Lysa TerKeurst
Defender of Walls (Kingdom of Walls, # 1) by Tanya Bird
Book Lovers by Emily Henry

I have reviewed 4 book. *These qualify for the 2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
A Fate of Wrath & Flame (Fate & Flame, # 1) by KA Tucker
A Curse of Blood & Stone (Fate & Flame, # 2) by KA Tucker
Sword of Rage (Reigning Kingdoms, # 1) by Jennifer Anne Davis
Defender of Walls (Kingdom of Walls, # 1) by Tanya Bird

Other Posts:
Sunday Post - 10/02/22
Sunday Post - 10/09/22
Sunday Post - 10/16/22
Sunday Post - 10/23/22
Sunday Post - 10/30/22
Can't Wait for These Infinite Threads (This Woven Kingdom, # 1) by Tahereh Mafi
2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge - October Wrap Up
September 2022 EOM Wrap Up

Goals:
I'm ahead on my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 43 out of 52 books (including children's books).
I've read potentially 3 out of 5-10 series enders.