Can't Wait for The Courting of Bristol Keats

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 Courting of Bristol Keats (The Courting of Bristol Keats, # 1)

By: Mary E Pearson

Expected Publication: November 12, 2024 by Flatiron Books

560 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Fae

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--From NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Mary E. Pearson comes a thrilling romantic fantasy full of dangerous fae, dark secrets, and addictive romance

After losing both their parents, Bristol Keats and her sisters struggle to stay afloat in their small, quiet town of Bowskeep. When Bristol begins to receive letters from an “aunt” she’s never heard of who promises she can help, she reluctantly agrees to meet—and discovers that everything she thought she knew about her family is a lie. Even her father might still be alive, not killed but kidnapped by terrifying creatures to a whole other realm—the one he is from.

Desperate to save her father and find the truth, Bristol journeys to a land of gods and fae and monsters. Pulled into a dangerous world of magic and intrigue, she makes a deadly bargain with the fae king, Tyghan. But what she doesn't know is that he's the one who drove her parents to live a life on the run. And he is just as determined as she is to find her father—dead or alive.

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

Lost Crows and Fallen Stars - Review

Lost Crows and Fallen Stars (Bonds of the Imnicus, # 1)

By: Abelia Sumpter

Publication: April 9, 2024 by Rose & Lavender Press, LLC

383 pages

Genre: New Adult, Science Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--For romantasy readers who want to dip their toe into sci-fi, this enemies-to-lovers thriller will enchant you before it breaks you.

Today I met my husband for the first time . . . again.

Milo Arris–the young ruler of two planets–is as cruel as he is handsome, and for some reason, he chose me to be his wife. He chose me to be the Columess–the girl he seems to hate more than the invaders who wiped my memories.

But I have bigger problems than Milo’s cold words. Servants in the palace are hiding strange burns on their bodies. A maid is murdered at the ball. Not to mention there’s the looming mystery of why my memories were wiped to begin with.

Danger lurks in the shadows, and with every strange occurrence, I fear someone aboard the Imnicus may be putting both our lives in jeopardy.

Lost Crows & Fallen Stars is a new-adult space romantasy. Please see the author’s website for a full list of content warnings.

I was sucked into the story of Lost Crows and Fallen Stars pretty quickly. Amnesia stories bring intrigue from the questions immediately thrust upon the character and the reader. Margot wakes up from what appears to have been an attack where she was tortured for information. She doesn't know who she is, but her lady's maid is brought to the hospital to help her figure out who she is. We learn that she's the Colum's wife (Colum = King). 

Let's pause here and discuss this world. This is a science fiction story. The Colum, Milo, is the ruler over two plants, Lavenai & Ashtanabo. His home is on a space station, type of ship, or something that hovers near both planets. His father was Colum before him and conquered Lavenai. From what he shares with Margot, it seems like Lavenai just wants its independence back and is causing problems for Milo and his rule. He paints the picture that he's just trying to help Lavenai get back on its feet after the war, but they are rejecting all his attempts to aid them.

Milo has a group of special, military type of soldiers that he keeps close called proditors. They have superhuman abilities that deal with the mind when they touch other people. I got the impression that each one has a little uniqueness to their abilities, but only one was discussed in detail as to what that proditor could do. These people are stronger than the Colum but are his most trusted warriors, I guess. I'm struggling to find the right description for aspects of this book. There are five of these proditors that live on the Imnicus (the ship/space station where the Colum lives) that are the strongest and closest to Milo. I'll come back to them in a bit.

There was so much about this book that didn't make sense to me or didn't feel fully fleshed out. Margot wakes up from her amnesia and only remembers her first name. She gets immediately annoyed when she learns she's married and her husband hasn't come to visit her. It felt like she wrote him off immediately based on that. The two have a combative beginning. She's told they fell in love, but she's annoyed by the smallest things that he does. At one point, he even tells her that he hated her even before the amnesia. So how did they have this whirlwind love affair that resulted in their marriage while simultaneously hating each other? Aside from that, Margot makes several assumptions about life and other people in a way that doesn't seem to make sense given her amnesia. Granted, I don't fully understand how amnesia works, but I felt she was too opinionated over things she didn't know anything about.

Margot takes down a proditor that snuck up on her. They explain that her body has this muscle memory that her brain might not realize is associated with past memories. She's told she was a soldier who quickly worked up the ranks to become a spy. Apparently, she was extremely good at this. Later, we find out that Margot wasn't all that athletic when it came to physical fights, so how she had the muscle memory to take down a proditor doesn't make sense. The muscle memory thing is not over yet as far as not making sense. She opens a locked tablet with a passcode that her brain doesn't remember, but her fingers apparently do. She's ultimately sent on a spy mission for Milo. Before the mission, no one is particularly concerned about her amnesia because "don't worry, her muscle memory will take over." I feel confident that spies probably use their brains and training just as much as any muscle memory. The goal of a good spy would be to never need to be in a combat situation, right? Anyway, the only opportunity the reader has to see Margot spying is that she once follows Milo around for a week, trying to sneak up on him. He tells her almost immediately that he knew she was following him. And then we learn he even knew where she was so she didn't catch him off guard. This could be explained away with some spoilers, but I don't think the explanation makes any more sense than anything else about this book. Not to mention that we do learn that Margot wasn't all that capable of a spy in the first place.

Margot and Milo supposedly fall in love. I say "supposedly" because there are no events that happen that should create any deep connection between these two. Sure, they have several surface-level interactions. But there's no depth of feeling involved. There's no analysis of the other person's character that inspires any emotion. It's just like we're told they fall in love, and so we're supposed to believe it. Perhaps this is a telling versus showing problem. If anything, I believe there was some attraction and lust, but I didn't experience anything that would lead me to believe these two were in love at all.

Back to the proditors. The term crows is used about the proditors and their abilities. Someone's crows are sick. Someone else's aren't powerful enough to give them full proditor abilities. These guys are so confusing. There are 5 of them on the Imnicus. Two Margot has an immediate liking to. They feel like old friends in a way. One of them, she doesn't meet until her spy mission, and then he is only mentioned in passing. This HAS to be set up for some piece in the future of the series because otherwise, he was entirely unnecessary. One appears to hate her for no reason she can determine. One keeps getting her drunk and seems like he just wants to hang out with her. How their abilities work, how they work for Milo, nearly everything about them is just confusing. What in the world do crows have anything to do with anything? How many crows are there?

There's a giant twist that should make things make more sense. In some ways, the twist does, but in other ways, I just ended up with more questions. 

I read Lost Crows and Fallen Stars really quickly. I was driven forward to keep reading because I wanted the answers to Margot's memories. Who was she before all of this happened to her? But so much of this world and the events of this story didn't make any logical sense. I had more questions after the book than I did to start with. And I can't fully say that I loved any of the characters. Margot was made out to be some top-level spy with an epic love story with her husband that she doesn't remember yet falls in love with again. Milo seemed like a good enough leader with perhaps a short temper, yet I couldn't find anything in his character to draw Margot to him. And I couldn't see why he came to love her either, except perhaps she showed a little spunk. There are plenty of spoilers I can't talk about, but I have to say that I'm not sure if I'll continue this series or not. I'm curious about what might happen next, but with so much not making sense logically and with characters that I don't really care about, I am not sure I'll find the desire to continue the series all that strong when the time comes. I'm giving Lost Crows and Fallen Stars 2.5 Stars. Have you read Lost Crows and Fallen Stars? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 05/05/24

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 good week. We all struggled with some kind of colds this week. The three kids had coughs. I had a runny/stopped up nose. Monday night we usually have games, but neither big kid had one that night so we had a nice day. It rained off and on Tuesday. We got groceries and hung at the house. Big Boy's team won their game 14-3. He hit two home runs. At this age, if the ball goes to the outfield there is at least some chance of it being a home run. Big Girl's team won their game barely. Like 10-9 I think. That allowed them to win the league as we only have two teams in her age range in our league and even though we still have to play them one more time we have won the majority. Wednesday night, Big Girl helped me cook dinner. She planned out the menu and did most of the cooking. I only chopped veggies and helped to manage the flow of the cooking. She did all the seasoning and stirring. We had shredded chicken tacos, nachos, and peach/tomato summer salad. It was all really yummy. Thursday, we ran to the grocery store to get a few things I forgot on Tuesday. The kids always love going in the store with me. It's a rare experience for them since I usually do grocery pickup. Thursday night her team had a game and we won that one also. I can't remember the score. It was close, but we still won by a couple of runs. She got a triple which has been her best hit so far. It wasn't from errors either, it was an earned triple. And since she'd been in a batting slump a few weeks ago I'm really proud of her. She also got an out at 2nd and an out at 1st. Friday night Big Boy's team played well but they didn't quite get the win. It was 13 to 17. He did get another home run his first at bat. He had quite a few bobbles at 2nd base, but considering he never played that position in practice, I think he's doing well there. I hate the season is almost over. He only has two games left this coming week. Saturday, Big Girl went to spend the day with a friend of hers. The boys and I went for a walk and then I let them swim. It's still too cold for me to get in, but I stuck my legs in. Honestly, it won't be long before we're all out there swimming every day. I let the boys hang at Grammy's house for a while, and I mopped the whole house and prepped blog posts. I used to be a month or so ahead, and I've got to get back to that. We only have three more weeks of school left. The summer is upon us.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Court of Claws (Blood of a Fae, # 2) by Briar Boleyn (3 Stars)
Tuesday: Top 9 Reasons I DNF Books (Or Lower a Rating)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Shield of the Mighty (The King's Men, # 2) by Connilyn Cossette
Friday: Homeschool Friday - The Beginner's Bible Jesus and His Friends (4 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Lost Crows and Fallen Stars (Bonds of the Imnicus, # 1) by Abelia Sumpter
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday?
Friday: Homeschool Friday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2024 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:

Beneath a Crescent Shadow (The Balkan Legends, # 1)

By: A.L. Sowards

Expected Publication: June 4, 2024 by Shadow Mountain

351 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--After an arranged marriage, Konstantin and Suzana must find a way to meet the demands of a conquering Ottoman sultan amid a torrent of setbacks and dangers much closer to their Balkan home.

The Balkans, 1373

A devastating battle claimed the lives of Konstantin's father, uncle, and most of their Serb army, leaving him to rule as a vassal of the Ottoman sultan, a role he is wholly unprepared for. Between war, famine, and a persistent band of brigands, Konstantin is nearly bankrupt. He will need to find a wealthy bride to marry if he is to have any hope of saving his lands and securing his future.

A betrothal to Suzana, the daughter of a prosperous merchant, is soon arranged, and upon meeting her, Konstantin immediately feels hope that their marriage could someday grow into love. Yet, from the moment of Konstantin and Suzana's betrothal, enemies threaten their lives, outlaws prey on their lands, and the terrors of Suzana's abusive past haunt their fragile new relationship. As this onslaught of threats closes in, the two face challenges that will test their love, their faith, and their hope to save their people and win their freedom from the heavy weight of Ottoman oppression.

A Proper Facade (Proper Scandal, # 4)

By: Esther Hatch

Expected Publication: August 20, 2024 by Covenant Communications

248 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Mercy Rothschild has always been granted an unusually long tether by her parents, who have never pushed her to marry until she’s ready. She assumes that when the right man comes along, she will marry for love. However, even her long-suffering parents have their limits. As she embarks on her third Season, they begin to pressure her to find a match. And the Duke of Harrington is the perfect candidate.

Nicholas Kendrick, Duke of Harrington, follows the rules of the ton meticulously. When he determines that Mercy is the ideal candidate for a wife, he marches dutifully toward her along the courtship path. Desperate to extricate herself from Harrington’s advances, Mercy concludes that there is only one course of action: she must push her intended into the arms of another woman. But when Mercy becomes acquainted with the man behind the proper facade, her plans come crashing down as she realizes that stiff and proper Harrington might be the very man she’s been waiting for. If only she hadn’t been so successful in her plot to thwart her chances with him.

Highcliffe House

By: Megan Walker

Expected Publication: May 7, 2024 by Shadow Mountain

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Regency

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Love ignites when two rivals vie to secure a possible fortune at the seaside town of Brighton.

Brighton, England, 1813

When a romantic entanglement leaves her humiliated and reeling, Anna Lane wants nothing more than for her father to whisk her away from the gossip of the ton. Unfortunately, he has obligations elsewhere, leaving her stuck in London.

Graham Everett’s financial security depends on an investment with Mr. Lane, his long-time friend and business partner. He’ll do just about anything to secure it for his family, even if it means fighting spoiled, embittered Anna for her father’s attention.

Luckily, Mr. Lane concocts a plan that will give everyone what they wat, with one stipulation: Anna must accompany Graham to Brighton in her father’s stead and make a decision to invest—or not—based on a thorough report.

But it will take more than a day at the beach for these two headstrong hearts to admit that they’ve been wrong about each other. If they are willing to invest a little time working out their differences, they might have a chance at real love.

By: Nisha J Tuli

Expected Publication: June 4, 2024 by Forever

556 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Fae

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--The highly anticipated third installment of the steamy Artefacts of Ouranos series journeys deeper into the glittering fae world as Lor puts both her life and her heart on the line in this enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance.

With the Heart Crown now in her possession, Lor must navigate the dangers of being an heir on the run, knowing more than one power-hungry ruler is after her blood. When she returns to Aphelion to unlock her magic and recover her family's legacy, it becomes clearer than ever that all that’s gold doesn’t sparkle. No stranger to battles, she continues to fight her attraction to the Aurora Prince, understanding this might be the one she finally loses.

As the past mixes with the present, Lor uncovers the truth about the Artefacts and their role in shaping her destiny. Now, her future hangs in the balance, leaving her closer than ever to getting everything she's ever wanted... or losing it all forever.

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

Homeschool Friday - Jesus and His Friends

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

The Beginner's Bible Jesus and His Friends

By: Kelly Pulley & Mission City Press Inc.

Publication: June 10, 2007 by Zonderkidz

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Bible, My First Readers

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Jesus loves many people. He has lots of friends who love him, too. Jesus and his friends help people. They share their food. Best of all, Jesus and his friends tell people about God. This My First I Can Read! book, with basic language, word repetition, and great illustrations, is perfect for shared reading with a child. It aligns with guided reading level J and will be of interest to children Pre-K to 3 rd grade.

Jesus and His Friends was pretty good. It's written in a way that young children should be able to understand the gist of the story. This book covers who the twelve apostles were (by name only), and two of Jesus's miracles--the feeding of the five-thousand and healing the centurion's daughter. The healing is mentioned only in passing with little detail. The feeding of the five-thousand has a little more details.

I suppose since this is a "shared reader" level that means the parent is mostly reading to the child. I originally requested these books thinking that my son who is 6 and learning to read would be able to read this on his own. I didn't actually ask him to try, but there were words that I know he hasn't been exposed to either the phonics rules or the words themselves. That is no fault of the book. I just didn't pay close enough attention when I requested it. Overall, I give The Beginner's Bible Jesus and His Friends 4 Stars. Have you read this book? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Shield of the Mighty

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.

Shield of the Mighty (The King' Men, # 2)

By: Connilyn Cossette

Expected Publication: August 20, 2024 by Bethany House Publishers

352 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Biblical Fiction

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Captured by the Philistines as a young boy, Zevi has grown into a formidable warrior. As a captain in King Saul's army, he is assigned a crucial mission: Recruit soldiers, gather tribute for the royal coffers, and find talented artisans for the king's court. But when he is sent to Maresha, the town he was forced to leave as a child, he faces a startling truth--the elder council rejects King Saul and his campaign against their enemies.

Yochana, a widow and skilled woman of business, is captivated by a stranger who enters her perfume shop. Upon discovering he is not only a soldier but a captain responsible for enlisting young men to die in battle, fury and pain from her past loss resurfaces, threatening to consume her. But when Zevi's actions in Maresha entangle Yochana in his radical scheme, they're forced to confront present dangers and past scars.

Embark on a journey through ancient Israel with bestselling and award-winning author Connilyn Cossette in this exhilarating tale of vengeance, justice, and healing.

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

Top Nine Reasons I DNF Books (Or Lower Their Rating)

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 Petty Reasons You DNF Books Or Lower Their Ratings

1. Content is beyond my threshold. I have a fairly mild content threshold.
2. Author has an agenda or is preaching at the reader instead of letting the events of the story and the characters shape the content.
3. LGBTQAI push. I'm so over how books can't be published without at least a side character being LGBT. Sometimes I'm just in a mood, and if I feel like the author is pushing this for no reason I'll DNF. I don't DNF every book with an LGBT character though. Mood, context, character personality and many other factors play into my decision.
4. Characters that let their emotions rule at the expense of their brains. We all feel emotions, but when a character does something they know is wrong just because it "feels good" or "feels right"...I bounce.
5. When the writing just isn't good. It's often hard to describe bad writing, but if I don't like the prose I'll drop the book quickly.
6. Similar to above. Too much telling and not enough showing can get me to DNF.
7. Characters with mental health issues if I didn't know from the description. I read for fun. I like lighthearted books for the most part. And I don't want heavy books sneaking up on me. Mental health issues usually feel like heavy books.
8. A heavy focus on bullying. Usually you'll know by the book description, and I won't even pick these up. But I got so tired of reading bullying books that I just DNF these.
9. Too much feminism. I'm all for strong female characters, but I hate female characters taking over at the expense of male characters. We don't have to put men down in order to raise women up.

Let's be honest, I really don't DNF very often. I've only DNF'd 53 books in about 12 years. That averages to a little over 4 books a year. And I'm not sure that's an accurate count because some of the books on my Goodreads DNF shelf I never actually started. But these seem to be the general reasons that I'll put a book down and not pick it back up again. Why do you DNF? Let me know!

Court of Claws - Review

Court of Claws (Blood of a Fae, # 2)

By: Briar Boleyn

Publication: June 30, 2023 by Starwater Press

409 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Bound to a man she hates more than she ever thought possible...

Everything Morgan Pendragon knows and loves is gone as she wakes in the dangerous court of the Siabra. The man she was falling in love with is dead, and in his place is a man she barely knows. Surrounded by liars and knives in the dark, all Morgan wants to do is run the other way but Kairos Draven is determined to keep her by his side.

As Morgan and Draven's lives become even more irrevocably entwined, little do they know the sins of the past are coming for them both…

Court of Claws picks up shortly after Queen of Roses ended. Except for the prologue, epilogue, and a few dreams from another character's POV, the story is told from Morgan's perspective. We left the previous book with Morgan being fatally injured, but Draven bonds with her to save her life. Of course, Morgan doesn't know this. 

Morgan wakes up in Draven's home court where he is the Prince who should be Emporer. His stepmother has been running the court as Queen Regent. And she's not thrilled to give up her rule. Draven and other candidates enter a contest called the Blood Rise to see who will ultimately win the crown.

Morgan has only been accepted into the court begrudgingly as Draven's paramour. And she isn't happy about playing the role. But he knows that is the only way to keep her safe and untouchable. I was just as frustrated with Draven as Morgan with his lack of information. She does learn some of what she needs to know. But Draven keeps so much to himself that he could have easily opened up about more than he did to save himself and Morgan some drama. But that wouldn't make for easy conflict, would it?

Morgan is so judgmental about some things while so accepting of others. It was somewhat frustrating that her view of the world and morality is offered up as "well of course this is wrong" or "of course this is okay." Like no one could possibly view things any differently than her without being morally out of whack. What is the standard she's following for such morality lines? Nothing but her own thoughts and feelings.

This was also a frustrating book in that Draven did seem to be working for the greater good and obviously cared about Morgan, but she just couldn't cut him any slack. And as soon as anything went out of her liking, he was public enemy number one in her mind. Granted, he did keep several secrets that were pretty big, and of course, trust would be broken in so doing.

Court of Claws does have the troupe of a game that must be played/challenges that must be won. Books like Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Hunger Games, Divergent, Throne of Glass, Red Rising, etc are hits because of similar games/challenges. I will say I got a little confused about how the court was able to watch the trials when the contestants were in a cave, and the court was not. (I'm really going to date myself here, but I totally pictured something like the '90s kids' game show Fun House when reading about the trials.)

This series is obviously a feminist or semi-feminist twist on King Arthur/Camelot where almost all of the strong male characters from the original are either female, LGBTQ, or toxic masculinity abusive males. I DNF'd Kristen White's feminist Camelot retelling for similar issues. Only I do find Briar Boleyn's retelling more interesting. I like that Draven is still such a strong male character. But (highlight for spoiler) I don't understand why he couldn't have been Emporer and Morgan Empress through their bond without him having to "let" her take the position. His line about not wanting to leech power from her felt a bit thin to me. End spoiler.

Favorite quote:

-"How many times can you deny a gift before the gift no longer comes when you call it?”

I read Court of Claws quickly given its size. I stayed up late reading, and I don't give up sleep easily these days. I didn't want to put it down when I needed to. But at the same time, looking back I feel I can only give Court of Claws 3 Stars. Morgan's attitude was challenging for me through a large part of the book. Draven's refusal to share information only felt like a weak plot idea to be able to create conflict later rather than an actual need to keep said information to himself for any real reason that I can discern up to this point. I will be continuing the series; however, I hope it improves, and this book just suffers from SBIASS (second book in a series syndrome). Have you read Court of Claws ? What did you think? Let me know! 

Sunday Post - 04/28/24

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 both kids had ball games. Big Girl's team played terrible. They just didn't have it together. Big Boy's team played well. He hit a ball that bounced and hit the fence. The other team still beat them out. Tuesday was the first Tuesday in months that we haven't had somewhere to be. It was nice not to have plans. Wednesday was a mostly normal day. Little had been coughing for over a week, but Wednesday it seemed to be worse. Thursday, we spent the day at my parents. We missed the previous two Thursdays so that was nice to be back there. Little Boy was getting worse it seemed. I kept taking his temperature, but he wasn't running any fever until nap time. He woke during the night and got in our bed. Thursday night the big kids had games again. Big Girl's team didn't do well again. She seems to be in a hitting slump. Big Boy's team won and he played 2nd base for the first time in a game. He did really well considering he's never played there before. He got two outs and almost got a double play. That was a close game, but we won which advanced them to the next round of the tournament. Friday I kept Little Boy home from school. I managed to mostly do normal school with the big kids with him home, although that was challenging. Friday night, Big Boy had another game against a team we've played twice and has always been drama. There was MORE drama of course. Big Boy didn't do as well at 2nd base, but again, he's only played there once before so he doesn't know the position that well. They lost by one point. Saturday, we had a pretty chill day. Husband mowed grass. The big kids went to Grammy's to "help in her flower garden" and I mostly hung with Little Boy.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Old Flames and New Fortunes by Sarah Hogle (4 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for A Lady of Conscience (Somerset Stories, # 5) by Mimi Matthews
Thursday: 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge - April Wrap Up
Friday: Homeschool Friday - The Den That Octopus Built (3 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Court of Claws (Blood of a Fae, # 2) by Briar Boleynn
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday?
Friday: Homeschool Friday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2024 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:

Lost Crows and Fallen Stars (Bonds of the Imnicus, # 1)

By: Abelia Sumpter

Publication: April 9, 2024 by Rose & Lavender Press, LLC

383 pages

Genre: New Adult, Science Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--For romantasy readers who want to dip their toe into sci-fi, this enemies-to-lovers thriller will enchant you before it breaks you.

Today I met my husband for the first time . . . again.

Milo Arris–the young ruler of two planets–is as cruel as he is handsome, and for some reason, he chose me to be his wife. He chose me to be the Columess–the girl he seems to hate more than the invaders who wiped my memories.

But I have bigger problems than Milo’s cold words. Servants in the palace are hiding strange burns on their bodies. A maid is murdered at the ball. Not to mention there’s the looming mystery of why my memories were wiped to begin with.

Danger lurks in the shadows, and with every strange occurrence, I fear someone aboard the Imnicus may be putting both our lives in jeopardy.

Lost Crows & Fallen Stars is a new-adult space romantasy. Please see the author’s website for a full list of content warnings.

One Question a Day to Stay Close and Curious

By: Gina Senarighi PhD CPC

Publication: April 23, 2024 by Zeitgeist

176 pages

Genre: Adult, Non-Fiction, Self-Help

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--From bestselling author Dr. Gina Senarighi, a journal to support couples as they build a long and enriching life together. One Question a Day to Stay Close & Curious is for ALL couples who wish to deepen their connection while spending fun, meaningful time with the one they love!

Couples who maintain a sense of fascination about one another report longer relationships and more passionate connection. What’s more, couples who understand each other’s inner worlds fare better through life’s unexpected ups and downs. One Question a Day to Stay Close & Curious brings couples together to laugh, share, and explore who their partner is, what shaped them, and who they wish to become. A journal for all couples—married and unmarried, new and decades seasoned—the questions here will bring you together for conversations to support a lifetime of love.

• Questions to grow closer. Questions inspire curiosity and closeness, taking you inside each person’s history, desires, dreams, and goals. It’s like falling in love all over again.
• A ritual of connection. As life gets busy, it becomes harder to connect. The journal offers an easy way to return to one another, with as little as one line a day.
• Time for undistracted communication. Set a daily ritual, spice up date night, or come together during long-distance periods to keep your connection strong.
• Space for each person to journal. Write love notes, share stories, doodle memories—this journal offers space for each partner to express themselves and their desires.
• An ideal couple’s gift for any stage of the relationship, from the newly engaged and newlyweds to those celebrating anniversaries and Valentine’s Day.

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

Homeschool Friday - The Den That Octopus Built

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

The Den That Octopus Built

By: Randi Sonenshine

Illustrated By: Anne Hunter

Publication: May 21, 2024 by Candlewick Press

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Science & Nature

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Follow one of the ocean’s most mysterious animals in this warm but candid look at its dramatic life cycle, from the creators of The Nest That Wren Built.

These are the shells she wears like a sheath,
keeping her safe from Tiger Shark’s teeth
when she’s far from the den that Octopus built . . .

The solitary and ingenious octopus is a master of disguise and invention, creating her den out of the objects of the ocean, from shells and rocks to tiny glass shards. Using creative methods of hunting and construction, the octopus prepares for the biggest task of her life: motherhood. With one last, poignant gesture of love, the mother octopus sends her hatchlings on their way, starting a new cycle of life for the tiny offspring who face peril of their own. Offering deeply informative back matter, including an author’s note, a glossary, and fascinating “octo-knowledge” (did you know that octopuses have nine brains, including one in each of their independently operating arms?), this third in a series from author Randi Sonenshine and illustrator Anne Hunter continues the work of gently introducing children to the reality of the animal world.

I got gung-ho when we started homeschooling about wanting to review more children's books that we could use in our school. This shouldn't surprise me, but I don't love reading children's books on the computer. Of course, get the print version and you don't have to deal with that.

The Den That Octopus Built is a cute, rhyming book that follows a female octopus through different challenges or daily events. I was surprised that she dies in the book, but I was reminded of Charlotte's Web where her babies live on after her. The book then follows a hatchling to complete the circle of life. 

The artwork is beautiful. It almost looks like colored pencils and maybe even penwork were used to create the illustrations. I'm no art expert, but I liked the style a lot. 

I had no issues with the story itself. I found it cute and informative. I don't always read the pages at the end of children's books with more information. Since homeschooling, I have been reading these more, but since I am reviewing this book, I wanted to read every page. I was not surprised, but was disappointed, to see references to an old-Earth worldview. Beyond that was a wildly outrageous claim about the evolution of octopuses that claimed they lost their shells and how they evolved into extremely intelligent creatures. Considering I am a Christian, I take a young-Earth worldview and believe that God created the octopus exactly as He wanted it to be... soft-bodied and yet incredibly intelligent from the start. Of course, you can skip/edit these parts when reading to your children if your worldview is similar to mine. Or simply take the opportunity to discuss the differences in worldviews with your children as they organically come up while reading.

The Den That Octopus Built did teach me some things I didn't know about octopuses. I enjoyed the illustrations. The story itself was sweet and informative, but I would need to edit the extra information after the book to either fit our worldview or be prepared to discuss with my children statements made as facts that I don't believe from a creationist, Christian, young-Earth worldview. The Den That Octopus Built gets 3 Stars. Have you read The Den that Octopus Built? What did you think? Let me know!

2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge - April Wrap Up

Time for our Monthly Wrap Up for the 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge hosted by Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know and Holly @ Words Fueled by Love!

Sandy finished These Twisted Bonds (These Hollow Vows, # 2) by Lexi Ryan.

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 from the entire year to pull a grand prize winner.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Can't Wait for A Lady of Conscience

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

A Lady of Conscience (Somerset Stories, # 5)

By: Mimi Matthews

Expected Publication: July 30, 2024 by Perfectly Proper Press

? pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--A Victorian bluestocking with a passion for lost causes attracts the unwilling attention of a frost-hearted viscount during her tumultuous debut season in Bath in USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews’s fifth book in her acclaimed Somerset Stories series.

West Country beauty Hannah Heywood may be quiet with fashionable strangers, but when it comes to animals in need, she has no trouble finding her voice. Newly arrived in Bath for her very first season, all she desires is to find one like-minded gentleman. A man of warmth and compassion, as sensitive to animals as he is to people. But if such a man exists, he dare not approach her. Not with the tall, blond, and menacing Viscount St. Clare standing in the way.

James Beresford, Viscount St. Clare has often been described as a sentient block of ice. A man so cold and dispassionate, he would never suit a young lady of Hannah’s disposition. And she would certainly never suit him. Focused on repairing his family’s infamous reputation, James requires a diamond of the first water. The daughter of a duke or a marquess, at least, not a simple country girl with a passion for four-legged creatures.

And yet, there’s something about conscience-driven young Hannah that draws James, first to Bath, and then into one increasingly hare-brained scheme after another. She confounds him at every turn, subverting his expectations and threatening to do what no lady has succeeded in doing before—thawing his ice-cold heart.

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

Old Flames and New Fortunes - Review

Old Flames and New Fortunes

By: Sarah Hogle

Publication: April 2, 2024 by G.P. Putnam's Sons

384 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--From the celebrated author of You Deserve Each Other and Just Like Magic , a steamy second-chance romance about a magical florist’s unexpected reunion with her high school sweetheart as she fake dates his soon-to-be stepbrother.

A small, magical town tucked away in rural Ohio, Moonville is the perfect place for flora fortunist Romina Tempest to expand her shop, where she uses the language of flowers to help the hopeful manifest their love lives. After giving up on her own big romance eleven years ago, at least she can bask in the promise of others’.

So, when the shop’s potential financier shares news of his wedding, Romina jumps on the opportunity to discuss buying the business. What better place to negotiate a deal than at a wedding, even if she has to fake-date her chaotic colleague Trevor to get an invitation? But all hell breaks loose when she discovers Trevor’s soon-to-be stepbrother is none other than Alex her high school sweetheart. Her greatest love. The boy who, eleven years ago, broke her heart, and who now thinks she and Trevor are dating.

What starts as an innocent misunderstanding becomes a week-long fake dating scheme, as Romina resolves to make Alex pay for breaking her heart. The only issue? She can’t deny their still-burning connection. Caught between proving to Alex what he lost, and coming clean and risking her business, Romina must decide whether giving Alex another chance means going back on herself, or finally releasing her hold on the past.

I wasn't sure about Old Flames and New Fortures when I first started. I don't always enjoy magical realism. Magic that happens in a magical world I have no problem with, but magic that happens in the real world stumps me. So when I tried to classify this book I got confused. Does Romina think she's actually a witch? Or is this supposed to be a magical world? Once I decided to stop trying to figure it out and just enjoy the story, things got better for me.

Romina and her sisters own a shop in town and they want to expand to the building next door, but they need some additional funding to renovate the space. Trevor's dad is just the investor they need. But Trevor doesn't have the best relationship with his dad. When they think his dad has finally agreed to meet with them about the loan, they come to find out that Trevor's dad is just trying to tell him that he's getting married. 

I can't remember if the fake-dating scheme came before or after running into Alex. I feel like it came before. If I remember correctly, Romina tries to jump to Trevor's rescue when his cousin or a girl he likes cousin starts putting him down. And then Alex kind of witnessed or overheard Romina's declaration. Romina and Trevor decide to roll with it in hopes of making the girl that Trevor actually likes see what she's missing and for Alex to see that Romina has moved on with her life.

If there's one thing Sarah Hogle knows how to write, it is relationships that have gone bad and are restored again. The tension between Alex and Romina was so strong and intoxicating. Alex was so obviously still into Romina. Romina was trying so hard not to be still affected by Alex that it was comical. As a matter of fact, I think I did laugh out loud at least once. But man, the steps that Alex took to prove himself were so attractive. How could anyone not be won over by actions such as that?

Favorite quotes:

-We are a vast population of hurting hearts that miss people who haven't come into our lives yet.

-...it feels as if he takes something; as if, every time I meet his gaze, he siphons off a little piece of me to keep.

-"We'd be a lot further ahead right now if you'd just been honest."

-Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

-"Romina, I would've picked up the sun with my bare hands and moved it if you didn't like the position of your shadow..."

-I don't get to be part of what happens next, who she becomes. But I can take heart in knowing I did my very best in the short time we had together.

That last quote reminded me of a particularly emotional piece of the book that I don't want to say anything more about so I don't give anything away. Given my cousin had an experience that reminded me very much of the one that Romina experienced makes it even more so for me. 

Old Flames and New Fortunes was so much better than I thought it was going to be when I first started it. Keep pushing forward if the beginning is a little confusing or off-putting for you like it was for me. Old Flames and New Fortunes gets 4 Stars. Have you read Old Flames and New Fortunes? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 04/21/24

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 the kids had dentist appointments. All had a good report. Big Boy had a baseball game Monday night. They lost, but it was a good game. We were a little slow batting, but just when the kids started hitting better we ran out of time. Tuesday, we went with some friends to the u-pick strawberry farm nearby. We got two buckets of strawberries. We ate one bucket there. They have a nice play area, and the kids had a blast. We'll definitely go back another time. After that, we grabbed Chick-fil-a and picked up groceries. Wednesday was a normal school day for us. Thursday, we went to the zoo with another friend of ours. We had a great time there. We brought Big Girl's friend home with us while her mom ran some errands. Then Big Girl went over to her friend's house before their softball game. Both big kids had games Thursday night. I went with Big Boy and his team pulled out a win on a very close game. There was a little drama from the other team. I just don't understand 6U baseball being that serious. Anyway, Big Girl's team won their game too. Friday, we had a normal school day also. Saturday morning, Big Boy's team had practice. We went for a short walk and just hung around the house the rest of the day. I did finish a book this week and also DNF'd one. I won't be reviewing the DNF on my blog, but I did give a mini-DNF-review on Goodreads.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Queen of Roses (Blood of a Fae, # 1) by Briar Boleyn (4 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for The Muse of Maiden Lane (Belles of London, # 4) by Mimi Matthews
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Baby Moses and the Princess (4 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Old Flames, New Fortunes by Sarah Hogle
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday?
Thursday: 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge - April Wrap Up

Don’t forget to link up for the 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2024 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:

These Twisted Bonds (These Hollow Vows, # 2)

By: Lexi Ryan

Publication: July 19, 2022 by HarperTeen

481 pages

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy

Source: Personal Kindle Library - On sale this week!

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Brie finds herself caught between two princes and two destinies while the future of the fae realm hangs in the balance.

After Abriella's sister was sold to the fae, she thought life couldn't get any worse. But when she suddenly finds herself caught in a web of lies of her own making ­- loving two princes and trusting neither - things are not quite as clear as she once thought.

As civil war wages in the Court of Darkness, Brie finds herself unable to choose a side. How can she know where she stands when she doesn't even know herself anymore? In this darkly romantic thrill ride, the more Faerie is torn apart from the inside, the clearer it becomes that prophecies don't lie and Brie has a role to play in the fate of this magical realm - whether she likes it or not.

The Four Tendencies

By: Gretchen Rubin

Publication: September 12, 2017 by Harmony

273 pages

Genre: Adult, Non-Fiction, Self-Help

Source: Personal Kindle Library - On sale this week!

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--In this groundbreaking analysis of personality type, bestselling author of Better Than Before and The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin reveals the one simple question that will transform what you do at home, at work, and in life.

During her multibook investigation into understanding human nature, Gretchen Rubin realized that by asking the seemingly dry question "How do I respond to expectations?" we gain explosive self-knowledge. She discovered that based on their answer, people fit into Four Tendencies: Upholders, Questioners, Obligers, and Rebels. Our Tendency shapes every aspect of our behavior, so using this framework allows us to make better decisions, meet deadlines, suffer less stress, and engage more effectively.

More than 600,000 people have taken her online quiz, and managers, doctors, teachers, spouses, and parents already use the framework to help people make significant, lasting change.

The Four Tendencies hold practical answers if you've ever thought...

· People can rely on me, but I can't rely on myself.
· How can I help someone to follow good advice?
· People say I ask too many questions.
· How do I work with someone who refuses to do what I ask or who keeps telling me what to do?

With sharp insight, compelling research, and hilarious examples, The Four Tendencies will help you get happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative. It's far easier to succeed when you know what works for you.

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

Homeschool Friday - Baby Moses and the Princess

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

The Beginner's Bible Baby Moses and the Princess

By: Kelly Pulley & Mission City Press Inc.

Publication: August 30, 2009 by Zonderkidz

33 pages

Genre: Children's, Bible, My First Readers

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Mom must give up Miriam’s baby brother, Moses. She puts him in a basket on the river. But Miriam is worried. Will anyone discover him? This My First I Can Read! book, with basic language, word repetition, and great illustrations, is perfect for shared reading with a child. It aligns with guided reading level E and will be of interest to children Pre-K to 2 nd grade.

Baby Moses and the Princess was pretty good. It's written in a way that young children should be able to understand the gist of the story. Of course, there are some pretty scary parts of the real Biblical story that were left out. Ex: Pharoh's command to kill all the Jewish baby boys is changed into "the mean king want's to take baby Moses away." Much of this is understandable. I do sometimes question why pieces are altered in the storytelling process that seem unnecessary. Like the Princess finding Moses in the basket before he cried. The truth can stand up for itself and doesn't need to be altered in this way. Not a huge deal, but unnecessary if you ask me.

I suppose since this is a "shared reader" level that means the parent is mostly reading to the child. I originally requested these books thinking that my son who is 6 and learning to read would be able to read this on his own. I didn't actually ask him to try, but there were words that I know he hasn't been exposed to either the phonics rules or the words themselves. That is no fault of the book. I just didn't pay close enough attention when I requested it. Overall, I give The Beginner's Bible Baby Moses and the Princess 4 Stars. Have you read this book? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for The Muse of Maiden Lane

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 Muse of Maiden Lane (Belles of London, # 4)

By: Mimi Matthews

Expected Publication: November 19, 2024 by Berkley

384 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--A silver-haired equestrienne and a charismatic artist turn a scandalous bargain into a vibrant portrait of love.

Stella Hobhouse is a brilliant rider, stalwart friend, skilled sketch artist—and completely overlooked. Her outmodish gray hair makes her invisible to London society. Combined with her brother’s pious restrictions and her dwindling inheritance, Stella is on the verge of a lifetime marooned in Derbyshire as a spinster. Unless she does something drastic…like posing for a daring new style of portrait by the only man who’s ever really seen her.

Aspiring painter Edward “Teddy” Hayes knows true beauty when he sees it. He would never ask Stella to risk her reputation as an artist’s model but in the five years since a virulent bout of scarlet fever left him partially paralyzed, Teddy has learned to heed good fortune when he finds it. He’ll do anything to persuade his muse to pose for him, even if he must offer her a marriage of convenience.

After all, though Teddy has yearned to trace Stella’s luminous beauty on canvas since their chance meeting, her heart is what he truly aches to capture….

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

Queen of Roses - Review

Queen of Roses (Blood of a Fae, # 1)

By: Briar Boleyn

Publication: April 15, 2023 by Starwater Press

361 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--A doomed love, a dangerous mission, and a kingdom on the brink of war...
A cast-off princess…

Born into a life of duty and sacrifice, Morgan Pendragon’s destiny has never been her own. Rumored to carry the tainted blood of the fae in her veins, her birthright is stolen from her when she is a mere child. Growing up in the shadow of her brother the king, she has been promised to the goddesses when she comes of age. So, when her brother commands that she seek out a fae weapon of legendary power, Morgan seizes the chance to break free from the chains of her fate.

A dangerous temptation…

As she travels, Morgan finds herself drawn into a strange group of outcasts, led by a dark and enigmatic warrior whose sharp wit and fierce beauty set her heart ablaze. But while Morgan struggles to reconcile her desires with her duty, she and her new comrades discover dangers that await them beyond anything in their wildest nightmares.

A slumbering kingdom awoken by blood…

Believed to have vanished generations ago, a fae kingdom dreaded by mortals is ascending once more, bound to reclaim what was lost by violence and bloodshed. As the fae world, with its intricate web of lies and mysteries, is slowly revealed to Morgan, she is led to the terrible realization that the secrets she carries in her blood make her a greater threat than she could ever have imagined.

The first in an action-packed new series brimming with magic, danger, and spellbinding slow-burn romance, Queen of Roses is perfect for fans of Holly Black, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Sarah J. Maas.

Morgan is the firstborn child of the king of Pendrath. Her mother was fae...either full-blooded or part, she isn't quite sure. Her mother used to take medication to suppress any fae traits, and Morgan has taken the same medication all her life. Morgan is traumatized by her childhood--specifically the death of her mother. Her father went on to have two more marriages, and she has a half-brother from each marriage. Because her father came to hate the fae blood in both her mother and herself, he changed the line of succession from Morgan to her brother Arthur. Morgan loves her brothers, but Arthur has steadily followed in their father's footsteps, which has led him further and further away from her.

The world is loosely based on Camelot, King Arthur, and that mythology. Briar Boleyn changes almost everything, so that's why I say loosely based. Arthur is evil (or at least seems to be), Lancelet is a girl, Galahad is going into service to the temple, and Merlin is a girl and is said to be mostly powerless despite being the head priestess over their religion. Lancelet and Galahad are both gay. The LGBTQ pieces were mentioned repeatedly but not dwelled on continually, and I didn't feel like the author was trying to preach, even if she was trying to present this version of the world as she would like it to be when it comes to this topic.

I felt terrible for Morgan. She has witnessed so much--at the hands of her father, Florian, and even Arthur himself. Yet she was generally pretty naive. She ignored so many red flags from Arthur. I guess we do sometimes get blinded by those we love. And, of course, the entire Vesper storyline was so obvious to me. I suppose her naivete is necessary for the storyline, but if you ever want to shake a heroine into common sense, you'd probably want to do so with Morgan.

Draven is assigned to take Morgan on a mission for her brother to retrieve Excalibur. Morgan doesn't trust Draven, but he's never done anything to make her mistrust him...other than perhaps being a little bit of a jerk when they first met. Obviously, the reader can see he is keeping secrets. Morgan knows he's likely keeping secrets, too, but she doesn't push him to reveal those secrets either.

The only highlights I made were of things I thought might come back in the future. So I have no quotes to share with you today.

Queen of Roses was a solid first book in a new series for me. I was hooked early on. I wanted to keep reading when I needed to stop for real life, which is always a good sign that things are going well. I like Morgan and want to see her succeed, even though I want to shake her a few times to have her wake up from her naivete. I didn't mention earlier that I don't like when book descriptions compare a book to others I've loved because it can feel like expectations build up too much. Time will tell whether this series stands up to the likes of Sarah J Maas or Jennifer L Armentrout. For now, Queen of Roses gets 4 Stars. Have you read Queen of Roses? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 04/14/24

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 night was raining but both big kids still had ball games. There was no lightning so things proceeded as normal. Big Boy's team won their game, and he hit really well. Big Girl's team got slaughtered. Tuesday, we went on a field trip to a farm that used to have a pumpkin patch every year before COVID. They're just now getting back into events and such. Tuesday night, Big Girl's team won their game. Monday and Wednesday were tough school days for Big Boy. Thursday, we normally go to my parents' house to hang for the day, but they were replacing their flooring--taking up carpet and putting down LVP. So we walked around the neighborhood and just piddled around the house. Big Boy's team won their game again even though it was a pretty evenly matched team they played against. Friday was a much better school day. Big Girl got to go onto the field with the high school softball team due to a camp she participated in. We stayed to watch the high school girls play. They won in a really good game. Then we went for a late dinner. Saturday, Big Boy had practice, and we piddle around the house and the yard. Today is picture day so we'll be back up at the field for that.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Romancing the Artist (Return to Inglewood, # 1) by Sally Britton (4 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Marriage & Masti (If Shakespeare Was an Auntie, # 3) by Nisha Sharma
Thursday: March 2024 EOM Wrap Up

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Romancing the Artist (Return to Inglewood, # 1) by Sally Britton
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday?

Don’t forget to link up for the 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2024 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 Gentleman's Confession (Matchmaking Mamas, # 3)

By: Anneka R Walker

Publication: October 22, 2024 by Shadow Mountain

288 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Inexperienced in courtship and love, Jemma turns to her best friend, Miles, for guidance on how to win a man’s heart—not knowing that Miles has secretly loved her for years.

Brookeside, England, 1822

Jemma Fielding has always considered herself an independent woman, but to honor her beloved grandmother’s dying wish, she makes a promise that she will marry and fall in love. To fulfill her promise, she turns to the Matchmaking Mamas Society for assistance and is paired with the charming Mr. Bentley. Though he is everything Jemma could hope for in a match, she is clueless about how to win his heart. Desperate to make a good impression, she seeks guidance from her dearest friend, Miles Jackson, a humble rector with a talent for understanding matters of the heart.

However, Miles’s secret affection for Jemma has spanned years, and teaching her to love someone else threatens to betray his own heart. Despite his selfless nature, Miles fears he will never be more than a humble rector in her eyes.

Even as he gives Jemma lessons in love, Miles grapples with the challenge of convincing her that Mr. Bentley may be a perfect gentleman but he is not the perfect match for her. Will Miles’s advice in romance jeopardize their years of friendship, or will it reveal the attraction that has quietly blossomed between them, proving that this time, the Matchmaking Mamas may have made a mistake? Miles must decide if he’s brave enough to confess his feelings to Jemma before she is whisked away forever.

A Provincial Peer (Georgian Gentlemen, # 6)

By: Sian Ann Bessey

Expected Publication: May 7, 2024 by Covenant Communications

248 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Georgian

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Lord Benning is no ordinary nobleman. The heir to an earldom, he feels more at home working on the farm at his country estate than socializing in the ballrooms of London. So when a mysterious, veiled woman mistakes him for a farmhand, he takes the assumption in stride. And though he is not offended, he is intrigued.

Following a devastating outbreak of smallpox, Caroline Granger and her young daughter, Meg, retreat to Caroline’s childhood home in the village of Leyfield in Gloucestershire. Left widowed and weakened by the ravages of the disease, Caroline wears a veil to hide her facial scars and to prevent the inevitable gasps of horror or murmurs of pity others offer in response to her altered appearance.

Caroline is mortified when she learns of her error in addressing Lord Benning—or Benedict, as she called him during their growing-up years—as a farmhand. But shared childhood memories and a precocious four-year-old inevitably draw Benedict and Caroline together, and it’s not long before Caroline realizes that Benedict accepts every part of her—including her scars. With newfound courage and a growing love for Benedict, Caroline feels the first stirrings of hope. But when the disease that took so much from Caroline finds its way to Leyfield, she stands to lose more than she can bear, and Benedict must decide exactly how much he is willing to risk for a chance at love.

The Lady Glass

By: Anneka R Walker

Publication: July 9, 2024 by Covenant Communications

288 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

NetGalley description--Theresia Dvorak has nothing left of her parents—nothing save her dowry, a priceless crystal vase stolen and sold by her own stepmother. Theresia will do anything to secure what is rightfully hers—even assume a false identity and steal her future back. When she gains entrance to a house party and has a memorable run-in with the handsome navel captain Rolland Reese, her mission is compromised. She swore never to trust an Englishman again, but when he makes a daring proposal she cannot refuse, she must work side by side with him if either of them is to achieve their aim.

Rolland is stunned when his homecoming from the war takes a decidedly deadly turn. The quickest solution is to throw a house party and invite all the suspects. With the stakes incredibly high, Rolland must root out the killer before they turn their sights to the next potential victim: his own father. The mysterious Theresia is undoubtedly the most suspicious of his guests, but against all odds, he finds himself risking everything to protect her. As Rolland unravels a tangle of clues, he faces the greatest threats of all: a heart of fire and a future as fragile as glass.

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!