To Hunt an Heiress - Review

To Hunt an Heiress

By: Martha Keyes

Narrated By: Paula Hunt

Publication: June 2, 2025 by Paradigm Press

284 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--He’s after her heart—and her money. He’ll have to fight her for his dignity first.

Sebastian Drake is in dire need of a fortune. With limited time and a dearth of wealthy relatives to will him such a thing, he is left with only one marry money. Happily, London is full of eligible heiresses, but it is the newest arrival in Town who catches his eye.

Selina Lawrence is only just rid of one husband—the last thing she wants is to acquire another. When she finds herself the target of the charming Mr. Drake, a suspected fortune hunter, what is she to do but teach the man a valuable lesson?

However, both Sebastian’s attempts to woo Selina and her efforts to humble him backfire in unexpected ways, leaving them entangled in a battle of wits and hearts.

To Hunt an Heiress is a closed-door romance full of banter, fun, and swoony moments. The books in the Bachelors of Blackstone's series can be enjoyed in any order.

Oh my goodness, guys! This was such a fun book! We meet Sebastian and discover that he's in search of a wife, but his most pressing requirement is that she possess a fortune. We don't know why at first. So we see Sebastian propose to a lady with whom he has zero connection. This lady is eccentric at best, but the way she hands Sebastian his tail after this proposal is everything it needed to be. Sebastian then goes back to the drawing board to find a new prospect. His buddies point him in the direction of Miss Lawrence. He thinks that because Selina was not wealthy before her marriage, she might have married for money, as he's trying to do. And his thought process is that she won't fault him for doing the same thing she did. Only, he doesn't expect to find her attractive and enjoy her company.

Selina feels like she was duped into marriage. She feels like her parents pushed her into a marriage that she wasn't ready for. She originally thought her husband loved her, but she came to learn that he liked her for how she appeared as his wife. She was almost a prize to be shown, like one would show a work of art. He didn't love and value her. She isn't mourning his passing. But she doesn't have the desire to marry again at all. She is only sponsoring her sister-in-law's sister and trying to help her marry without the mistakes that Selina made. When the uncle (I think) of the first girl that Sebastian proposed to tells Selina that he only asked her to marry him because he's a fortune hunter, Selina decides to teach him a lesson.

Truth be told, Selina is hurt to find out that Sebastian might be a fortune hunter. She was beginning to genuinely like him. She places a series of challenges before him in such a subtle way that he doesn't realize he's being tested (and failing) until it's almost too late. However, Sebastian has good reasons to seek marriage for money. More than meets Selina's eye. And once he figures out her game, he decides that two can play.

I enjoyed every minute of this audiobook. The narrator, Paula Hunt, does a wonderful job. I never felt pulled out of the story because of her narration style. The marcupial, Pip, adds to the story. Who doesn't love a good monkey sidekick? I wish I had some quotes to share, but it's so hard to get them correct with audiobooks.

Ultimately, I loved this story. Selina and Sebastian were so easy to root for. Their pranks and challenges were hilarious. I even giggled out loud at least once. I will definitely check out more books by Martha Keyes. To Hunt an Heiress gets 4 Stars. Have you read (or listened to) To Hunt an Heiress? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 09/07/25

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Monday was Labor Day for the US, so we didn't have any school. And Husband was off work. We piddled around and didn't do much of anything special. That also meant our afternoon activities were cancelled for that day. Tuesdays we normally go to my parent's house, but they had a funeral in Georgia to go to. So we stayed home. We finised school in the morning. We did grocery pickup. And then the kids went swimming in the afternoon. We've had unseasonably cooler weather. It's still in the high 80s, but that is really mild for this time of year here. The Big Kids had martial arts that night. Wednesday was our first full school day of the week. Husband and I have been working on burning through a giant pile of limbs and tree pieces from where we had several trees cut down. I took Big Boy to his batting practice. Thursday, we did school in the morning, and then we met friends at the park for a playdate. We had a picnic lunch there. The Big Kids also had martial arts that night. Friday was a more challenging school day, but we finished the day. That's a full 4 weeks down into the school year. Husband was off work on Friday to use some PTO. Saturday, Grammy, Big Girl, and I went to a baby shower. That was some fun girl time.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: July & August 2025 EOM Wrap Up
Thursday: Review of Splendor of the Land (The King's Men, # 3) by Connilyn Cossette (4 Stars)
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Booger the Bigfoot

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of To Hunt an Heiress by Martha Keyes
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait Wednesday?
Friday: Homeschool Friday - A Crown for Kate

NEW BOOKS:

Red Queen (Red Queen, # 1)

By: Victoria Aveyard

Expected Publication: February 10, 2015 by HarperTeen

388 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dystopian

Source: Borrowed from the elibrary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--This is a world divided by blood—red or silver.

The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.

That is until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Fearful of Mare's potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.

But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance—Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart.

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 - Booger the Bigfoot

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

Booger the Bigfoot

By: Beau Bryan

Publication: February 14, 2022 by Beau Collins

30 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Books

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Description--The forest is full of fun and adventure...until Kip loses his way. Luckily, Booger the Bigfoot befriends him and shows him the way home. A story full of excitement, friendship, and lots of silly animals.

When my son was five years old, he went through a bigfoot phase. We got this book for his birthday that year, but this was the first time that he read it for himself. It isn't a popular book, and I wasn't able to verify what the reading level actually is. But my son wanted to read this book, and I try to never turn him down when he's requesting to read since he's such a reluctant reader.

Kip and his dog, Beasty, were bored and sitting around. They decide to go play in the woods. They saw many animals and were having fun. But they weren't paying attention to the sun setting as they got deeper and deeper into the woods. Kip suddenly realizes they're lost and it's dark. He remembers that his dad taught him how to be prepared. Then he realizes the forest is too quiet. Suddenly, a bigfoot appears and indicates that he's going to help Kip and Beasty get back home. The bigfoot returns Kip and Beasty back home, and Kip names him Booger.

My kids love trying to spot Booger throughout the book as he's on each opening hiding in the background as he watches Kip and Beasty play and explore.

My son needed some help with a few words, but I was impressed with how well he did. I guess the idea of letting the kids pick out what interests them is really true. He did much better with trying to read the harder words as well as not getting flustered with this book that he wanted to read rather than me forcing him to read one that I've picked.

Booger the Bigfoot gets 4.5 Stars. My son volunteered to read this which is a huge step for him. My kids all love finding Booger on each page. And there's a good moral about not judging what you see, being prepared, but most of all about being kind. Have you or your child read Booger The Bigfoot? What did you think? Let me know!

Splendor of the Land - Review

Splendor of the Land (The King's Men, # 3)

By: Connilyn Cossette

Publication: August 5, 2025 by Bethany House Publishers

400 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian 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--Gavriel, a soldier in the elite company of Yonatan--son of King Saul--dreams of forging his destiny through crafting weapons with his own hands. Despite earning his place among Israel's finest, he is haunted by a dark past that no distraction can dispel. When his reckless behavior forces Yonatan to present him with an ultimatum, Gavriel is sent on a mission to persuade a distant tribe to sever their ties with the Amalekites.

Zahava, a gifted goldsmith hidden behind her father's legacy, lives in the shadows due to her physical affliction. Her talent, unmatched and unrecognized, is a closely guarded secret within her family. Disheartened by a love that seems unattainable, she resigns herself to a life of obscurity. However, when Gavriel arrives in her village, they're tangled together in a way no one could have imagined. As they navigate through unforeseen dangers and enemy threats, Gavriel must confront his past and either bend his knee to the One True King or lose his love forever.

Set against the backdrop of ancient Israel, bestselling author Connilyn Cossette breathes life into the Old Testament era with this exhilarating tale of redemption, courage, and sacrifice.

Gavriel is a character that I've struggled with in the previous books. Zevi and Gavriel didn't seem to care about Shalem being missing when Avidan brought them evidence that he might have survived when they thought him dead. But then Zevi also has an experience that lends more credibility to this. Yet Gavriel is so wrapped up in his own ambitions that he doesn't pursue Shalem. This is a running subplot that ties all of the books together. It isn't the right time for the boys to pursue Shalem, so they don't. But their reasoning doesn't leave me feeling good about any of it.

Gavriel has been a part of Yonathan's (Saul's son) unit, but he's turned to women and drink more and more. Yonathan is sick of it and sends Gavriel on a mission with his friend Emmet. It's "complete this mission well or you're done." The mission is to relocate a group of Kenites away from Amalekite territory before Saul comes in to destroy the Amalekites.

Zavah has been learning her father's metalworking craft as he's slowly going blind. It's a secret that a woman is working in this way. And he's also passing down family trade secrets on how to create red-gold pieces, mostly used in jewelry. Zavah thinks she wants to marry her father's apprentice Rahm as he's the only man she believes will allow her to continue working in this way. Of course, we know that Gavriel would be amenable to that since he, too, has a metalworking background. And we find out that Rahm is more interested in making money and growing his powerful connections than in Zavah.

Zavah and Gavriel are forced to marry, but I do love a marriage of convenience or forced marriage story. Even though neither party wanted this marriage, I love how they both adapted to it quickly to make the best of their situation. Gavriel immediately becomes protective of Zavah and assumes his role as the protector without hesitation. They don't jump into a physical relationship, but the two team up pretty quickly and steadily head in a promising direction.

Now I will say that Zavah makes a decision that causes conflict that must be overcome. The decision is one of self-sacrifice that I suppose is honorable even if it isn't well thought out. These actions frustrate me. I don't find them heroic. Mostly, I just think of how many other people will be put in jeopardy to save you from yourself. But I suppose it was necessary to advance the story.

Favorite quotes:

-For those who feel unseen: The One who lit the stars aflame is calling you by name.

-But sometimes, when I stared at the vastness of the starry host above and listened carefully, it was as if there was a knowing deep in my bones I could not explain. As if the reverberation of an ancient whisper still trembled there at the core of my being--a tune hummed so low only the most astute of ears could detect its melody.

-"Compassion cannot come at the expense of obedience. Yahweh is God above all others, able to discern the heart of each man and woman. He can see what we cannot--past, present, and future. So we must trust the Creator, even when it makes no earthly sense, or suffer the same consequences as those destined for destruction."

-"My father always says Yahweh doesn't give us what we actually deserve, or we'd have nothing but sorrow. He gives us just what we need, even if we don't understand his reasons at the time."

-"Our family legacy is not things we make with our hands. It's our faithfulness to Yahweh."

I didn't really see where the title fit the story. I felt like that was slapped on there at the end. However, I did love the redemptive journey that Gavriel went on. I appreciated how his perception of his stepfather's actions was so far off from what was real. I loved the relationship between Gavriel and Zavah and how quickly they became a team working toward a shared goal. Splendor of the Land gets 4 Stars. I can't wait to see what Shalem has really been up to in the next book. Have you read Splendor of the Land? What did you think? Let me know!

July & August 2025 EOM Wrap Ups

July

I read 6 books (not including children's books).
Secret Nights and Northern Lights by Megan Oliver
A Whimsical Notion (Daughters of the Gentry, # 1) by Jennie Goutet
The Horse and His Boy (Chronicles of Narnia, # 5?) by CS Lewis
A Sea View Christmas (On Devonshire Shores, # 4) by Julie Klassen
Daughter of No Worlds (The War of Lost Hearts, # 1) by Carissa Broadbent
A Wild Hope (Wild Swan Trilogy, # 1) by Celeste De Blasis

I have reviewed 5 books (not including mini reviews of children's books).
Look Before You Leap (Miss Prentice's Proteges, # 2) by Virginia Heath
Sanskari Sweetheart by Ananya Devarajan
Rules for Ruin (The Crinoline Academy, # 1) by Mimi Matthews
Between These Broken Hearts by Lexi Ryan
Heart Marks the Spot by Libby Hubscher

Other Posts:
Sunday Post - 07/06/25
Sunday Post - 07/13/25
Sunday Post - 07/20/25
Sunday Post - 07/27/25
Top Ten Bookish Accessories from Amazon
Can't Wait for The Marriage Method (The Crinoline Academy, # 2) by Mim Matthews
Can't Wait for And Then There Was You by Sophie Cousens
Can't Wait for Brimstone (Fae & Alchemy, # 2) by Callie Hart
Can't Wait for The Forever Cowboy (Noble Ranch, # 1) by Jody Hedlund
Can't Wait for If You'll Have Me by Esther Hatch
Homeschool Friday - Tails Are Not for Pulling
Homeschool Friday - Be Careful & Stay Safe
Homeschool Friday - Be Honest & Tell the Truth
Homeschool Friday - Hands Are Not for Hitting

August

I read 6 books (not including children's books).
House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City, # 1) by Sarah J Maas
One Dark Window (The Shepherd King, # 1) by Rachel Gillig
Splendor of the Land (The King's Men, # 2) by Connilyn Cossette
To Hunt an Heiress by Martha Keyes
Winterset (Summerhaven, # 2) by Tiffany Odekirk
Against a Crescent Storm (The Balkan Legends, # 3) by AL Sowards

I have reviewed 4 books (not including mini reviews of children's books).
A Wild Hope (Wild Swan Trilogy, # 1) by Celeste De Blasis
Poweless (Powerless Trilogy, # 1) by Lauren Roberts
On Wings of Blood (Bloodwing Academy, # 1) by Briar Boleyn
A Sea View Christmas (On Devonshire Shores, # 4) by Julie Klassen

Other Posts:
Sunday Post - 08/03/25
Sunday Post - 08/17/25
Sunday Post - 08/24/25
Sunday Post - 08/31/25
Top Ten Longest Books I've Read
Can't Wait for A Christmas for Mrs. Dickens by Rebecca Connolly
Can't Wait for Marrying the Matchmaker (A Shanahan Match, # 4) by Jody Hedlund
Can't Wait for Room to Breathe by Kasie West
Homeschool Friday - Sharing Time
Homeschool Friday - Have Courage
Homeschool Friday - Noses Are Not for Picking
Homeschool Friday - Voices Are Not for Yelling
Homeschool Friday - Calling All Cars & Tell the Time with Thomas

Goals:
I'm a few days ahead in my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 118 out of 75 books (including children's books).

Sunday Post - 08/31/25

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

We had a good week overall with school and behavior. Monday afternoon, Big Girl had pitching practice. Tuesday, we spent the day at my parent's house and did grocery pick up. Tuesday evening, the Big Kids had martial arts. They are coming up on another belt test this coming week. I did a workout Tuesday night. Wednesday, Big Boy had batting practice. Thursday, we went to the park with a friend who has homeschooled the last two years. She's about to start at a private school though, so I'm glad we got one last hurrah before that. We grabbed Chickfila on the way home from that. The Big Kids had martial arts again. I did another workout. I'm trying to get 3 in a week, but I got off schedule this past week and only got 2. But 2 is better than I used to do. Friday evening we went out to Hibachi. It was Little Boy's first time, and he was terrified. He said he never ever wanted to go back to that restuarant again. Saturday, we went to the zoo with family from out of town that was here for my great nephew's birthday. We had a late night over at Grammy's with them. Husband and I have been catching up on a show at night which has cut into my reading time. I'm also in a little slump/hangover.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of A Sea View Christmas (On Devonshire Shores, # 4) by Julie Klassen (4 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Room to Breathe by Kasie West
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Calling All Cars & Tell the Time with Thomas

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: July & August 20225 EOM Wrap Ups
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait Wednesday?
Thursday: Review of Splendor of the Land (The King's Men, # 3) by Connilyn Cossette
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Calling All Cars

NEW BOOKS:

Room to Breathe

By: Kasie West

Expected Publication: January 6, 2026 by Delacorte Romance

272 pages

Genre: Young 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 critically acclaimed author of Sunkissed comes a new swoony YA romance. Indy and Beau’s friendship is shattered, but getting accidentally locked in a bathroom together just might be what's needed to reconnect.

When the walls close in, the truth comes out.

When Indy’s life came crashing down, she made a no one could know. To the world, she’s still the same Indy—cool, calm, unshaken. But behind the scenes? It’s chaos.

Her tight-knit crew—Beau, Caroline, and Ava—were once her everything. Now they’re strangers she can’t seem to reach—especially Beau. And the only person she talks to these days is Cody, a skater-boy she used to think was so not her type. Funny how everything changes when your world flips upside down.

And then, as if things couldn’t get weirder, Indy finds herself literally stuck in a school bathroom with Beau. After months of silence, and there’s no escape. If they want out, they’ll have to face the messy truth about what happened between them and find a way back to what they once had. Or maybe even more . . .

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 - Calling All Cars & Tell Time with Thomas

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

Calling All Cars!

By: Sonia Sander

Publication: February 28, 2017 by Scholastic Inc.

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Level-1, Early Reader

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Description--Explore the world of LEGO City!

Sound the alarm! The bank is being robbed! Will the police solve the crime or will the bank robbers get away?

We're going through our collection of Step-1 or Level-1 readers with my now 7-year-old. He could probably advance to level-2 at this point, but I want to finish up the Level-1/Step-1 books that we have. He picked up Lego City: Calling All Cars. He played a Lego City game on the Switch so this book was right up his alley.

Lego City: Calling All Cars starts out with a bank robbery. The police are called and must solve the crime. Ultimately, they find the crooks but they still have to stop them. The good guys win in the end.

Lego City: Calling All Cars gets 3 Stars. It's fine. It's good. I liked the action aspect which is appealing to young boys. And Lego City being the setting when my son plays a Lego City game helps him to be interested in reading the book. Have you or your child read Lego City: Calling All Cars? What did you think? Let me know!

Tell the Time with Thomas

By: Christopher Awdry

Publication: July 25, 2006 by Random House Books for Young Readers

24 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Book, Learning

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads )

Description--The day passes quickly as Thomas, James, and all of the Really Useful Engines keep right on schedule. This book includes a large clock with movable hands. It is the perfect way to help all of Thomas’ friends stay right on time!

My son surprised me when he pulled out Tell the Time with Thomas for his book of the day. I haven't been able to find an AR level or reading level for this book, but my 7-year-old was able to read this with a little help from me on a couple of words. We've also been working on the clock in his math so being able to find the clock while reading is an added fun activity that helps the child relate the clock to real-life activities. Only hours were used in this book, but it does address the quarters of the clock at the beginning and ending if you want to go over those with your child as well.

I can't say that my son has been particularly into Thomas the Train at any point, but he has pulled different Thomas books the last two times he chose a book to read. And I like he enjoyed learning the names of the different engines and cars.

Tell the Time with Thomas is a fun activity book that can be used for your child's reading once they start. My son is still reading level-1 books, but he's starting to advance towards level-2. We both recommend Tell the Time with Thomas and give it 4 Stars. Have you or your child read Tell the Time with Thomas? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Room to Breathe

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.

Room to Breathe

By: Kasie West

Expected Publication: January 6, 2026 by Delacorte Romance

272 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

( 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 critically acclaimed author of Sunkissed comes a new swoony YA romance. Indy and Beau’s friendship is shattered, but getting accidentally locked in a bathroom together just might be what's needed to reconnect.

When the walls close in, the truth comes out.

When Indy’s life came crashing down, she made a no one could know. To the world, she’s still the same Indy—cool, calm, unshaken. But behind the scenes? It’s chaos.

Her tight-knit crew—Beau, Caroline, and Ava—were once her everything. Now they’re strangers she can’t seem to reach—especially Beau. And the only person she talks to these days is Cody, a skater-boy she used to think was so not her type. Funny how everything changes when your world flips upside down.

And then, as if things couldn’t get weirder, Indy finds herself literally stuck in a school bathroom with Beau. After months of silence, and there’s no escape. If they want out, they’ll have to face the messy truth about what happened between them and find a way back to what they once had. Or maybe even more . . .

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

A Sea View Christmas - Review

A Sea View Christmas (On Devonshire Shores, # 4)

By: Julie Klassen

Expected Publication: September 2, 2025 by Bethany House Publishers

240 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian 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--With a promise to her youngest sister, Sarah Summers declares that this year's Christmas at Sea View will exceed all expectations. But the arrival of Callum Henshall--dashing Scottish widower and returning guest--blows a flurry of doubts into her mind. Sarah had discouraged his attentions before and is once again torn between attraction and duty. Yet even while she's busy managing the family's guest house, alluring thoughts of a second chance at love weave their way into her practical heart.

Meanwhile, seventeen-year-old Georgiana eagerly anticipates the exciting Christmas of her dreams after last year's dull, disappointing holiday filled with endless chores. She enjoys all the promised parties, music, and dancing, but is taken by surprise when young love comes knocking. Does the festive romance of a Sea View Christmas hold the key to a happily-ever-after for both sisters?

Return to Sidmouth for this highly anticipated holiday companion novella to the Summers sisters' lives and loves on the charming Devonshire shore.

I've never read Julie Klassen before, and I'm coming into this book at the end of the series. But the description pulled me in. I'm not always excited about holiday-themed books, but for some reason, I can tolerate them more in historical fiction than in modern times.

Even though this was the last book in a series, as most historical fiction series are, these are really companion novels that follow different sets of main characters. Sarah is our leading female character in A Sea View Christmas, and apparently, she was pretty front and center in the first book in this series, The Sisters of Sea View, but that book did mostly focus on Viola. Emily is the sister most focused on in book 2. Claire is the leading lady of book 3. And then book 4 returns to Sarah and her Scottish suitor. I hate that I missed out on the initial part of their story, but I enjoyed every moment of A Sea View Christmas.

Last Christmas wasn't a normal year, and Sarah has promised to do Christmas right this year for Georgiana. The inn that the family runs is always a good amount of work. Their mother isn't in the best of health, and so Sarah wonders if she can leave the inn for her own happiness. She isn't sure it's possible. Callum has been given reasons to hope that Sarah might return his regard. He wants to pursue every opportunity to spend time with Sarah to see if she might accept his proposal, since she essentially sent him away before. His intentions are obvious. It's just up to Sarah whether she feels like she can leave her mother and younger sisters behind.

This story was layered, and the side characters were often front and center just as much as the main couple. I did love Georgiana and Collin, and I hope that we'll get her/their story eventually as well. Shoot, I'd love to see Cora get a book, also.

Favorite quotes:

-Sarah thought for a moment, then confessed, "I have not often felt God's presence these last few years. I know He has not changed. I'm the one who has grown distant, busy trying to manage everything and everyone on my own." The truth of the admission pressed hard on her heart. "And yet, I have also seen God's provision in ways I never would have asked for or imagined. He is faithful, even when I am not."

-"Sarah Jane Summers. Do you hold my life in your hands, or does God?"

Initially, I thought I probably wouldn't go back and read the previous books in the series, but as I sit down to write this review, I find that I might. I will definitely check out more books by Julie Klassen in the future. I enjoyed every moment of Sarah and Callem's journey. And I look forward to seeing if Georgie or Cora get a book in the future as well. A Sea View Christmas gets 4 Stars. Have you read A Sea View Christmas? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 08/24/25

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

This week was overall much better than last week. School was much smoother this week now that the kids are adjusted to the back to school routines. Big Girl had pitching practice Monday afternoon. Boy, young girls can be so mean and so sensitive. Tuesday, my parents went out to town so we didn't go to their house like normal. I did do my grocery pickup. Big Girl had martial arts Tuesday night, but Big Boy said his stomach was hurting so he didn't go. Wednesday, Big Boy had batting practice. That went smoothly. Thursday, we did spend the day with my parents. It was a good day. The boys had a nerf battle with my dad, and my mom started teaching Big Girl how to cross stitch. The Big Kids went to martial arts again tonight. Friday was actually a rough day. We had a lot of emotional regulation issues with one child specifically. That child kind of rained on everyone else most of the day. It happens. We settled by the afternoon, and in the evening we spent some time, as a family, practicing how to do better with what went wrong. Saturday, Husband took the kids to a football for a friend of ours. I had a little alone time to decompress from the previous day.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of On Wings of Blood (Bloodwing Academy, # 1) by Briar Boleyn (4 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Longest Books I've Read
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Marrying the Matchmaker (A Shanahan Match, # 4) by Jody Hedlund
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Voices Are Not for Yelling by Elizabeth Verdick (4 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of A Sea View of Christmas (On Devonshire Shores, # 4) by Julia Klassen
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait Wednesday?
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Calling All Cars

NEW BOOKS:

And Then There Was You

By: Sophie Cousens

Expected Publication: November 18, 2025 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 New York Times bestselling author of This Time Next Year comes another "what if" romance about a floundering young woman who signs up for an unusual dating service to find The One . . . at a special cost.

Chloe Perfect is thirty-six, and despite her surname, suspects she’s not most men’s idea of the perfect woman. She wears too much corduroy, has an unglamorous job marketing gardening supplies online and her hair refuses to be straightened however much she tries. Between looking after her plants and her bad-tempered grandmother, she finds herself lonely, despairing she will never meet "her person."

So on a whim, she signs up to Perfect Partners, an experimental dating agency with an unusual model. The caveat? There are many, but Chloe must agree not to date anyone else outside of the program for the duration of the trial. Well, she's never had much luck finding someone the "normal" way, anyway.

After a few days, Chloe is matched with Rob, who checks off all her boxes, and she's instantly smitten. But the more seamless the dates, the more seriously she's forced to weigh the moral complexities of their setup.

And when she meets Oliver, another Perfect Partners participant, who quickly takes on the role of her confidante away from Rob, the more Chloe starts to perhaps her person isn’t someone perfect after all. Perhaps it’s someone just as kooky as she is. But is she really prepared to jeopardise the perfect life she's been wanting for so long? And more importantly, can she?

We Met Like This

By: Kasie West

Expected Publication: September 16, 2025 by Saturday Books

368 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--Beloved author Kasie West's sparkling adult rom-com debut about a hopeless romantic falling for the one man she never expected

Can a swipe right turn into swept away?

Margot Hart is a hopeless romantic. That’s why she wants to be a literary agent—to help bring romance books to the world. It’s also why she hates dating apps with all her romance loving soul. She wants her own love story to be just as much fun as the books she reads—a mixed up coffee order, a mistaken identity. She’s not going to tell the story that she swiped right on future husband’s shirtless pic for the rest of her life.

The problem is that her most consistent relationship over the last several years is with Oliver, a guy she keeps rematching with on the apps. They’ve only been on one date and it was a disaster…well, until the make out session in the car before parting ways. But, she keeps reminding herself, a make out session does not a relationship make. And so there will not be a date two regardless of how witty their app banter is.

When Margot gets fired from her job on the same day she meets Oliver again, her life becomes a veritable shit show. Her dream career is dying right before her eyes, and Oliver thinks she’s interested in only one a repeat of the hot make out session they had three years ago so she can get him out of her system. And maybe that is all she wants from him, because she and Oliver are definitely not compatible—he doesn’t hit the snooze button, he runs five miles every morning, he reads nonfiction, and worst of all, she didn’t meet him in cute way! But in her scramble to keep her dream career alive, by opening her own agency, Oliver is there with his golden retriever energy, more steady and helpful than any man she’s ever dated. Just when she thinks she’s overcome her app bias, she realizes that maybe it’s not her who’s holding back, but him. And his reasons are more than she bargained for.

Kasie West's romantic adult debut is full of witty banter, meet cutes gone awry and, ultimately, true love.

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 - Voices Are Not for Yelling

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

Voices Are Not for Yelling

By: Elizabeth Verdick

Illustrated By: Marieka Heinlen

Publication: March 24, 2015 by Free Spirit Publishing

40 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Manners, Parenting

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.

Description--As parents and teachers know, yelling comes naturally to children. This friendly, encouraging book, geared to preschool and primary children, introduces and reinforces where and when to use an “indoor voice” or an “outdoor voice.” In classic Best Behavior style the author tells young readers, “Your voice is a powerful tool. How you use it is up to you.” Vivid illustrations show the times and places for an indoor voice, the ways people ask us to quiet our voices, and times when yelling might occur. “What happens if you’re mad or frustrated or really, really excited? Your voice gets louder and LOUDER.” But yelling hurts people’s ears and feelings. Children learn that they can quiet their voice and use their words to talk about a problem. “Think before you yell, and use your words well!” Includes a special section for parents and caregivers with activities and discussion starters.

The Best Behavior series uses simple words and delightful full-color illustrations to guide children to choose peaceful, positive behaviors. Select titles are available in two a durable board book for ages baby–preschool, and a longer, more in-depth paperback for ages 4–7. Kids, parents, and teach(more...)

Voices Are Not for Yelling starts off contrasting an inside voice which is quiet with an outside voice, which is loud. It offers up some reasons why one might want to use their outside voice while inside, such as excitement, anger, and when you really want to be heard. Then it tells us that voices aren't for yelling and the reasons why: 1) yelling hurts our ears and 2) yelling hurts our feelings. It tells the child that using your inside voice helps people to hear your words and not your yelling. Then the book goes through a series of steps to help you calm your voice: breathing slowly and deeply until your body calms down. Then it's time to use your words to state what you need or want. The adult in the book thanks the child for using their words and reassures the child that she's there to listen. The book then offers some good things we can use our voices for: laughing, talking, helping, and saying "I love you." The book ends with some additional tips and information for parents.

Yelling is a natural response to anger, excitement, and a desire to be heard, as the book mentions. All kids can easily find themselves yelling. We have at least one child in our house who struggles with emotional regulation and reacts with yelling when things become overwhelming to them. Books like this are great options to bring in information to the child in a way that doesn't feel like an attack on them or their character. But don't think if you have a child who struggles with regulating emotions, simply reading a book to them about not yelling is going to solve your problem. It's a tool to be used, not a solution.

Voices Are Not for Yelling is a great book, especially for younger kids. Any child who might struggle with yelling could benefit from this book as the way the book is laid out focuses on the benefits of not yelling and using one's voice properly. But this isn't a solution if you have a problem with yelling in your house. Voices Are Not for Yelling gets 4 Stars. Have you or your child read Voices Are Not for Yelling? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Marrying the Matchmaker

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.

Marrying the Matchmaker (A Shanahan Match, # 4)

By: Jody Hedlund

Expected Publication: February 3, 2026 by Bethany House Publishers

336 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--As the middle child of the Shanahan family, Zaira does her best to keep the peace. She doesn't share her dream of becoming a published author with her family to spare herself their disapproval. When she's caught in a scandal involving the local matchmaker, Bellamy McKenna, she must put her storytelling ability to good use and feign a match with him to avoid wagging tongues and her parents' anger.

Feeling the growing pressure to marry as a well-known, yet single matchmaker to St. Louis's Irish community, Bellamy reluctantly agrees to a temporary match with Zaira. But even though the matchmakers in his family might be able to find love for others, they have a history of disastrous relationships for themselves. When secrets and danger force Zaira and Bellamy to work together, is it finally the matchmaker's turn to be lucky in love?

Hedlund delivers another captivating romance with sizzling chemistry in this romantic conclusion to her beloved matchmaking series.

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

Top Ten Longest Books I've Read

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 Books with a High Page Count.

1. The Holy Bible - Of course the page count is going to depend on which translation you use and the size font etc. But I've read the Bible yearly for the last 14ish years. I have kind of lost count at this point.
2. A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, # 3) by George RR Martin - 1177 pages
3. A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire, # 5) by George RR Martin - 1125 pages
4. A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire, # 4) by George RR Martin - 1060 pages
5. Heat of the Everflame (Kindred's Curse, # 3) by Penn Cole - 1026 pages (review coming soon)
6. A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire, # 2) by George RR Martin - 1009 pages
7. Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass, # 7) by Sarah J Maas - 989 pages
8. Iron Flame (The Empyrean, # 2) by Rebecca Yarros - 886 pages
9. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, # 5) by JK Rowling - 870 pages
10. A Wild Hope (Wild Swan Trilogy, # 1) by Celeste De Blasis - 843 pages

What are the longest books you've read? Let me know!

PS I did this same post back in 2018. It's interesting to go back and see which books are the same and which ones have been knocked off that list in favor of some of the longer ones on this list.