Homeschool Friday - The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross

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 Garden, the Curtain and the Cross

By: Carl Laferton

Illustrated By: Catalina Echeverri

Publication: February 18, 2016 by The Good Book Company

33 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Book, Christian, Nonfiction

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.

Goodreads description--This picture book takes children on a journey from the garden of Eden to God's prefect new creation.

Retelling the Easter story through a Bible overview, children will discover that 'because of our sin, we can't go in' but because of Jesus' victory on the cross, an even better garden awaits us...

The Garden, The Curtain, & The Cross is a Christian children's picture book that condenses the entire story of the Bible into 33 pages. It starts with the Garden of Eden where everything was perfect and wonderful. There was nothing bad and nothing sad. And better yet, God was also there. Then Adam and Eve sinned and decided they didn't want God to be in charge. And they were kicked out of the garden. To show people they had to stay outside of the garden, God put angels in front of the garden as a big keep out sign. Now things were sometimes bad and sometimes sad. People continued to sin because they didn't want God to be in charge. And God said, "Because of your sin, you can't come in." The book states that God wanted the people to remember the wonderfulness of living with Him, so He instructed them to build a special building called His temple, where He would reside. This isn't entirely true. David had the idea to build a temple for God, and God agreed. Regardless, in the middle of the temple was a wonderful place where God was with nothing bad and nothing sad. And God told the people to put a big curtain that had pictures of angels on it as a big keep out sign. For hundreds of years, the temple curtain reminded the people that God said, "Because of your sin, you can't come in." It goes through Jesus's birth and dedication at the temple. And then discusses that because people still didn't want God to be in charge, they put Jesus to death on the cross. But Jesus had a plan. On the cross, Jesus took our sins. All the bad things we do, and all the sad things they cause, and the curtain tore. The big keep out sign was ripped up. Because Jesus died, we can go in! The book also discusses Jesus's resurrection and His invitation to everyone to come and live with Him in heaven.

That's a shortened and simplified message of the gospel of Christ. It's written in a way that young kids can understand the message. I like that the positive pages are beautifully illustrated with vivid color. Whereas, the negative or sad pages are black, white, and sepia-toned. The contrast is visually striking.

I only had minimal issues with the content of the book. The overall message was spot on. And this is an easy way to get children to hear and see that gosepl of Christ and the entire Bible message in an understandable format for their ages. The Garden, The Curtain, and The Cross gets 5 Stars from me. Have you or your child read The Garden, The Curtain, and The Cross? What did you think? Let me know!

*Edit to add: I don't worry too much about whether or not this contains the entirety of the Biblical plan of salvation or that some details aren't entirely accurate because I will be continually teaching my children through the Bible and not children's books alone the gospel message. It's not like I will be consistently referencing The Garden, the Curtain, and the Cross for my children as the message of Jesus. This is intended (on my part anyway) to be an introduction to the gospel message. My teaching will not start or stop with this book. Thus, I don't care too much about the inaccuracies, and I will take the opportunity to discuss inaccuracies with them as I feel they are ready for them.

Nothing Like the Movies - Review

Nothing Like the Movies (Better Than the Movies, # 2)

By: Lynn Painter

Publication: September 24, 2024 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

448 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

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--In this highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling Better than the Movies, Wes and Liz struggle to balance their feelings for each other with the growing pains of being a college student.

For a few beautiful months, Wes had his dream girl: strong-willed girl-next-door Liz. But right as the two were about to set off to UCLA to start their freshman year together, tragedy struck. Wes was left dealing with the fallout, which ultimately meant losing Liz in the process.

Flash forward months and months later and Wes and Liz find themselves in college, together. In a healthier place now, Wes knows he broke Liz’s heart when he ended things, but he is determined to make her fall back in love with him.

Wes knows Liz better than anyone, and he has a foolproof plan to win her back with the rom-com worthy big gestures she loves. Only…Liz will have none of it. Wes has to scheme like a rom-com hero to figure out how to see her. Even worse, Liz has a new friend…a guy friend.

Still, Wes won’t give up, adapting his clever plans and going hard to get Liz’s attention and win back her affection. But after his best efforts get him nowhere, Wes is left wondering if their relationship is really over for good.

I requested Nothing Like the Movies for review without really realizing that it was the second book in a series. It took me way too long to get my hands on the first book, but I finally got it read and reviewed (Better Than the Movies). So I finally got around to reading Nothing Like the Movies.

Wes and Liz actually start Nothing Like the Movies broken up. The reader doesn't really know what happened between them. Honestly, Liz doesn't even know why Wes broke up with her. But it's been about two years since they first came to college together. We do know that Wes's dad died, and he returned home to help out for a while. But lo and behold he shows back up at UCLA and a party that Liz's roommates are hosting. Liz panics and tells him that she's dating Clark, her current best friend. Clark goes along with Liz because he has her back.

Not only is Liz still majorly into music, but she's also developed a love of photography and, more specifically, sports photography. She currently has an internship with a great mentor who has her working closely with the baseball team, for which Wes is a pitcher. This puts them in close proximity. Not to mention that Wes is determined to win Liz back, even though he likes Clark. He just doesn't see them as having chemistry, and he knows that Liz is the one for him.

Personally, I thought there was a little unnecessary drama in this book. It fits the typical book patterns that I'm used to. There's a conflict, one character decides to self-sacrifice to save the other character, but only ends up hurting themselves and the other character worse. The truth ends up coming out. I appreciated that Liz didn't just let this slide, and I liked her real-world response in wondering if this behavior would repeat itself should another conflict arise in the future. Yet, I also think that people just aren't this self-sacrificing in real life. We very often don't break up with someone else for their good. A breakup might ultimately benefit the other person, but there has to be a benefit to us as well to actually end a relationship. At least, that's been my experience in observing human nature.

Believe it or not, I didn't highlight hardly anything. This might be due to the fact that I kept switching back and forth between reading this book and listening to it on audio. Both are equally good. I will say that I was negatively impressed with the amount of cursing in Nothing Like the Movies. I don't remember there being as much of this in Better Than the Movies. Maybe that is because the characters are supposed to be older, or maybe I blocked it out in my reading of the first book. Either way, it stood out negatively to me in this book. I tend to skim over language unless it's excessive.

Nothing Like the Movies was a decent wrap-up to Wes and Liz's story. I felt like some of the conflict was forced. I mean, if there was going to be a second book, there would have to be additional conflict. But I didn't exactly find all of it to be plausible, even if I devoured the book. In the end, I'm giving Nothing Like the Movies 3.5 Stars. Have you read Nothing Like the Movies? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for An Accidental Marriage

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.

An Accidental Marriage (The Gentlemen's Gamble, # ?)

By: Deborah M. Hathaway

Expected Publication: March 19, 2026 by Draft Horse Publishing

? 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--He expected a quick visit. He left with a wife instead.

Charles Shepherd is in no rush to marry. He's sure he'll find a wife eventually with his good looks, small fortune, and considerable charm. After all, everything always works out for him… doesn’t it?

***The Gentlemen's Gamble is a series about seven men racing to the altar in order to avoid losing a wager. Starting January, the books will release in surprise order so as not to give away who the final bachelor and loser of the wager is.***

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

We Met Like This - Review

We Met Like This

By: Kasie West

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.

We Met Like This is Kasie West's first adult book. She usually writes YA books with happily ever afters. I find her to be a consistent author, but when I heard she wrote an adult book, I knew I wanted to check it out. And I am so glad that I did.

I will say that We Met Like This definitely starts out with some spice and shows the reader early that this isn't the young adult they might be expecting from Kasie West. Now, I can do without spice, but I do appreciate adult characters with adult storylines. There weren't too many scenes even if there were innuendos and comments throughout the book. The language was definitely more than you will find in one of her other books. But again, I suppose this is to be expected.

Margot works as an assistant/junior literary agent. She's been at this job for over three years without moving up despite being very good at her job, working beyond the scope of her title, and being verbally promised by her boss that she will advance. She's also been looking for love in all the wrong places. She keeps settling and getting disappointed. She's looking for a meet cute, but she keeps using dating apps to try to meet people. She feels a little bit like a failure compared to her sister who has what Margot considers the perfect life. But Margot is just her own person.

Oliver and Margot start off the book in her car making out after a terrible first date. The date went wrong, but the making out is on point. Oliver wants to slow down and get to know one another, but Margot has already written him off. She decides to leave instead. Through the next three years they match on the dating apps off and on and chat a few times laughing it off that they had such a terrible first date.

For Oliver's part, he was fresh off of a break where his girlfriend cheated on him when he went on that date with Margot. Apparently that girlfriend wasn't the only one to cheat on him either, and that's created some trust issues. I could relate to Oliver in that way. He works for himself in tech. I think software engineer, coder, and maybe some other titles were mentions which could all be quite different. But in my experience, a lot of techy people are pretty well-rounded even if not all of them know how to code. (I can do some coding in the old COBOL and DYL280 languages which were way old even when I was using them. They are pretty much obsolete nowadays. And of course, I use HTML and JavaScript with my blog.) But I'm nowhere on par with my techy brother who has worked his entire career in the field in various positions.

I loved Margot and Oliver's relationship development. I did feel like the secret that was kept was pretty obvious and it was also a little annoying that this was used in the climax of the plot for the thing the characters needed to resolve. Things did resolve fairly easily, so at least there's that.

I thought Kasie West did a wonderful job with all of the side characters. From Sloane, Margot's roommate, to Audrey, Margot's sister, Margot's parents, Sloane's boyfriend, Margot's boss, and even some of her co-workers. They all seemed to be pop-off-the-page characters even when they didn't have much page time.

Favorite quote:

-“Your friends are so lucky to have you,”

We Met Like This was exactly what I needed when I read it. I was having trouble getting into a story before I picked this one up. Margot and Oliver were so fun to read. I really appreciated that the guy was almost more interested in a real relationship than the girl at first. We Met Like This gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read We Met Like This? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 01/25/26

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

The kids spent the night with my parents last Sunday and Monday night. Husband and I went on a date Sunday night to a local pizza restuarant and then to Walmart. It isn't a date night without a stop by the grocery store or home improvement store. Monday, I worked on making some homemade ketchup and canning it. Husband worked on our pool filter. The o-ring busted and it was leaking pretty significantly. While he had it open he decided to switch out the filter sand. Tuesday, I had a hair appointment. Just a cut. Then I went to my parents. We hung out, and I grabbed my grocery pickup order on the way home. The Big Kids had martial arts Tuesday night. Wednesday was back to school and a normal schedule. Thursday, Scout had a grooming appointment. So I had to drop him off and pick him up. We did school work. And the Big Kids had martial arts again. Friday was the best day we have had with school since starting back from after Christmas.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of We Who Will Die (Empire of Blood, # 1) by Stacia Stark (3.5 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for A Fortunate Miscalculation (The Gentlemen's Gamble, # ?) by Karen Thornell
Friday: Homeschool Friday - The Lemonade War

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Reivew of We Met Like This by Kasie West
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Friday: Homeschool Friday - The Garden, the Curtain, the Cross

NEW BOOKS:

A Fortunate Miscalculation (The Gentlemen's Gamble, # ?)

By: Karen Thornell

Expected Publication: March 19, 2026

252 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--Andrew Langford thought his chance at love was long gone, but with the woman he once loved returned, married but needing his help, how can he manage to both win love and his childhood wager?

The Last Page

By: Katie Holt

Expected Publication: May 12, 2026 by Alcove Press

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

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--A bookseller with a dream of running her beloved bookstore vs. the owner’s out-of-touch grandson who inherits everything. Game on.

From the author of Not in My Book comes another irresistible, bookish contemporary romance.

Ella has grown up at The Last Page, a charming local bookstore in New York City where she now works. Her first kiss was in the women’s health section. A boyfriend dumped her in comedy. The owner is like a second father to her and has begun training her to take over the store. So when he unexpectedly dies and his estranged grandson is left everything in the will, Ella is devastated.

Henry doesn’t know the first thing about running a bookstore. With his aging mom back in Tennessee, he plans to stay in New York just long enough to ensure things are running smoothly and then head back home. What he never could have counted on was the beautiful, funny bookseller who loves The Last Page more than any place in the world—and who sees him as the villain who’s come to ruin her life.

But when it becomes evident that the store is in deep financial trouble and Henry and Ella are both at risk of losing everything, they have no choice but to put their differences aside and team up—despite the inconvenient chemistry blossoming between them.

Fans of Christina Lauren and Ali Hazelwood will adore this rivals-to-friends-to-lovers bookish romance!

The Mysterious Benedict Society

By: Trenton Lee Stewart

Publication: April 1, 2008 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

497 pages

Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Mystery, Adventure

( Goodreads | Amazon - currently on sale )

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

Goodreads description--Dozens of children respond to this peculiar ad in the newspaper and are then put through a series of mind-bending tests, which readers take along with them. Only four children-two boys and two girls-succeed. Their to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and inventive children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules. But what they'll find in the hidden underground tunnels of the school is more than your average school supplies. So, if you're gifted, creative, or happen to know Morse Code, they could probably use your help.

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 Lemonade War

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 Lemonade War

By: Jacqueline Davies

Publication: April 23, 2007 by Clarion Books

177 pages

Genre: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Family

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.

Goodreads description--For a full hour, he poured lemonade. The world is a thirsty place, he thought as he nearly emptied his fourth pitcher of the day. And I am the Lemonade King.

Fourth-grader Evan Treski is people-smart. He’s good at talking with people, even grownups. His younger sister, Jessie, on the other hand, is math-smart, but not especially good with people. So when the siblings’ lemonade stand war begins, there really is no telling who will win—or even if their fight will ever end. Brimming with savvy marketing tips for making money at any business, definitions of business terms, charts, diagrams, and even math problems, this fresh, funny, emotionally charged novel subtly explores how arguments can escalate beyond anyone’s intent.

Awards: 2009 Rhode Island Children's Book Award, 2007 New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, North Carolina Children’s Book Award 2011, 2011 Nutmeg Award (Connecticut)

My niece-in-law recommended The Lemonade War to me because it is largely about sibling relationships. Evan and Jessie are brother and sister. Evan is older. He's going into fourth grade. Jessie has just found out that she will be skipping a grade and will be in the same grade as Evan when school starts back. Jessie is nervous to be in class with kids that she doesn't know. Evan has always had her back and helped her when she didn't understand social situations. Jessie is so glad that Evan will be in class with her so she won't be alone and scared. But Evan isn't so happy about this situation. He expects his friends to make fun of him for having his younger sister be in the same class with him. As the summer comes to a close and school is about to start back, tensions rise between the siblings. Jessie doesn't understand why Evan is being so mean to her.

Evan and Jessie have a big fight that ends with them having a lemonade challenge. Whoever sells the most lemonade (as in makes the most amount of money) or reaches $100 first wins. Jessie and Evan go back and forth in methods of selling their lemonade through the last week of summer in order to get the most amount of money they can.

Jessie has a business strategy that she uses to help her. But both are determined not to be the loser. I can't tell you what happens, but I will tell you that Jessie learns some lessons about friendship and about business. Evan learns some lessons about being a big brother. Both learn about loving each other better. It's a heart-warming story that's going to make your kid(s) want to have a lemonade stand.

The Lemonade Stand is a great story about siblings. We don't always get along with our siblings. Sometimes we have to sacrifice for each other because we love our siblings. But also, The Lemonade Stand gave some practical business advice that anyone can implement. My kids loved this story, and of course, they wanted to have a lemonade stand after we finished it. The Lemonade Stand gets 4 Stars. Have you or your children read The Lemonade Stand? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for A Fortunate Miscalculation

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 Fortunate Miscalculation (The Gentlemen's Gamble, # ?)

By: Karen Thornell

Expected Publication: March 19, 2026

252 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--Andrew Langford thought his chance at love was long gone, but with the woman he once loved returned, married but needing his help, how can he manage to both win love and his childhood wager?

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

We Who Will Die - Review

We Who Will Die (Empire of Blood, # 1)

By: Stacia Stark

Expected Publication: January 20, 2026 by Avon

432 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Vampires, Magic, Paranormal

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 bestselling author of the Kingdom of Lies series comes a slow-burn romantasy set in a Roman-inspired world ruled by merciless vampires. Filled with breathtaking combat, vengeful gods, and magical creatures, We Who Will Die is the epic first installment in an enthralling new series perfect for fans of Carissa Broadbent, Jasmine Mas, and Rebecca Yarros.

Life in the perilous Thorn district is a constant battle for Arvelle and her younger brothers. And the vampire standing on her doorstep is about to turn their world upside down.

Faced with an unthinkable choice, Arvelle makes a magically binding vow to do the impossible: kill the emperor, an ancient vampire created by the god Umbros. But first, she must enter the Sundering—an arena where only the fastest, strongest, and deadliest survive long enough to be selected for the emperor’s elite guard.

She quickly draws the ire of the Primus, the powerful figure charged with protecting the emperor. But the vampire under the armor is the last person Arvelle expects to encounter in the emperor’s court.

With her brothers’ lives in the balance, Arvelle has no choice but to ally with the man who once shattered her heart… and with the emperor’s sadistic son, Rorrik—two vampires whose motives are impossible to pin down. Rorrik holds the key to understanding the powers Arvelle is developing—abilities that would put a price on her head if discovered by the emperor.

To survive the arena and complete her mission, Arvelle must get to the bottom of a conspiracy that will change everything she thought she knew about herself—and the two vampires who are deeply entwined with her destiny…

Arvelle has been left with her brothers to care for. One of her brothers was injured in an accident that caused damage to his lungs. He needs help that she just can't provide. One night, he is so sick she thinks he is going to die. It just so happens that a vampire has been waiting to use this to trap her into an agreement. He will cure her brother and take both of her brothers under his protection (or captivity, depending on how you look at it) if she will compete in the Sundering--which is a gladiator-style competition where the victors are allowed entrance into emporer's elite gaurd. Ultimately, her agreement with the vampire is that she will kill the emperor.

Arvelle has lost so much, she's barely living. She is only surviving to keep her brothers alive and well. Nearly everyone in the Sundering has magic of some kind. Arvelle is "sigilmarked," and she does have a "gold crown," but her magic is small. Either way, vampires are the rulers of this world. The Primus and Arvelle have a history. It takes her a while to realize who he is. The reader definitely understands before she does.

Arvelle's mother was addicted to glister, but that isn't the only substance in this world that is addictive. Vampire blood/bite is as well. Many of the quotes I highlighted had to do with addiction.

Favorite quote:

-There's no worse feeling than watching someone you love die. The helplessness slices you into pieces. And grief sets those pieces on fire. Until you're nothing but ash.

-"I'm not going to kill you. That would be far too easy. Almost...boring. I'm going to take everything you love, everything you remotely care about, and I'm going to ruin it." ... "Why?" I ask, and Rorrick's eyes glint with amusement. "Because I can."

-Loving an addict is like being an addict yourself. Only you're addicted to hope. You constantly tell yourself that this time will be different. Things will get better. And always, always, you know that one day, when they're dead and cold, after their addiction has sucked the breath from their lungs...you'll still wonder if you could have done more. If you could have been more--even though their addiction was sucking the breath from your lungs too.

-When you love an addict, you know their addiction isn't their fault, even as you resent everything about them that made them fall prey to it.

I do wonder if Rorrik is going to turn out to be a Damon Salvatore if you catch my drift. Right now, he seems crazy, but you can also tell that there's more to his story than has been revealed.

I'm torn on wanting to continue the series. Overall, I felt like We Who Will Die was "okay." Pieces of it had me hooked. And pieces still have me curious as to what will come. The language was high, and there were some spicy scenes if you'd rather skip over those. We Who Will Die gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read We Who Will Die? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 01/18/26

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

This was a rough week with behavior. We have them every now and then. And this whole week was rough. Monday, Big Girl had pitching practice. Tuesday, we spent the day with my parents and then got groceries. The Big Kids had martial arts. Wednesday was the best day we had this week with behavior. Thursday, the boys had haircuts, and the Big Kids had martial arts again. Friday wasn't terrible compared to the rest of the week, but it wasn't quite as good as Wednesday. Friday, I had to pick up donuts for Little Boy's birthday party. Saturday was the big day. Little Boy's 5th birthday party was at a local trampoline park. We had a blast, and I'm so thankful for his friends and family that came to celebrate him. His actual birthday is on Wednesday of this week. I can't believe my youngest baby is 5 already! They say the days are long but the years are fast, and I have completely found that to be true. I've been killing my reading so far this month. I've already finished 8 books, but I do find January to be a good reading month for me usually. Now if I can just get myself to write some reviews I'd be doing even better.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of Room to Breathe by Kasie West (3.5 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases of Q1/Q2 2026
Wednesday: Can't Wait for A Foolish Proposal (The Gentlemen's Gamble, # ?) by Kasey Stockton
Thursday: Review of And Then There Was You by Sophie Cousens (4 Stars)
Friday: Homeschool Friday - The Magical Yet

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Reivew of We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Friday: Homeschool Friday - The Lemonade War

NEW BOOKS:

The Duke's Bargain

By: Megan Walker

Expected Publication: May 5, 2026 by Shadow Mountain

320 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--Ruined by scandal, Georgiana bargains with a duke to regain her place in Society. But their pretend friendship sparks real love, risking reputations, duty, and unexpected happily-ever-afters.

Eight months after a stolen kiss ruined her reputation, Miss Georgiana Wood is a recluse, cast out of Society without any hope of ever finding a suitable match. Longing for redemption, she never expects her salvation to arrive in the form of a handsome, temperamental duke.

After a failed bargain left the Duke of Marlow without a promised wife and heir, he must face courtship a final time. He plans to entice his future bride with a priceless family heirloom—one now in the possession of Miss Wood, who agrees to return it if he takes her on three outings in London during the Season to restore her reputation.

As the pair navigate Society’s expectations and whispered gossip, Marlow soon sees a new side to Georgiana—an ally and friend. Her wit and courage, grace and allure far exceed that of the eligible ladies he intended to court, and soon, he’d do almost anything to secure her happiness.

As Marlow wrestles with duty and desire, Georgiana begins to hope that she could be loved not despite her past, but because of who she truly is. When hearts are tested, truth and secrets revealed, will love be enough to risk it all?

Next Level Love

By: Shameez Patel

Narrated By: Shahjehan Khan; Jensen Olaya

Publication: January 20, 2026 by Forever

384 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Multicultural

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--When your favorite player turns out to be your very real boss, the rules are a lot more complicated.

Elizabeth Gordon-Bettencourt is rebuilding her life on her own terms, starting with a new internship, a shot at her dream job as a civil engineer, and a whole lot of distance from her family’s drama. With her life full of change, the one constant is @theanswerisno, a charming gamer who seems to just . . . get her. Even if he has no interest in meeting her in real life.

Elizabeth would feel a lot more confident about her job if her new boss wasn’t so hard to read. Lincoln Carden is quiet, demanding, and adamant about avoiding small talk—especially in the office. What she doesn’t know is that online, he’s someone else entirely: quick, confident, and a little bit flirty. And his favorite player to team up with is @pancakesareelite, the one person who never makes him feel like he has to try so hard. As their two worlds start to collide, Elizabeth and Lincoln start to wonder: with their careers on the line and their online friendship at risk, is a romance IRL worth it?

Two Twisted Crowns (The Shepherd King, # 2)

By: Rachel Gillig

Narrated By: Lisa Cordileone

Publication: October 17, 2023 by Orbit

437 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic, Gothic

Source: Borrowed from the e-library

( 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 the luscious, dark sequel to One Dark Window, Elspeth must face the consequences of what she's wrought - perfect for readers of Hannah Whitten's For the Wolf and Alexis Henderson's The Year of the Witching.

Elspeth and Ravyn have gathered most of the twelve Providence Cards, but the last, and most important one remains to be found: The Twin Alders.

If they are going to find it before the Solstice and cure the kingdom of the dark magic infecting it, they will need to journey beyond the dangerous mist-cloaked forest that surrounds their kingdom.

And the only one who can lead them there is the monster that shares Elspeth's head. The Nightmare. And he's not eager to share any longer.

The Road of Bones (The Ashen, # 1)

By: Demi Winters

Publication: June 27, 2023 by Delacorte Press

500 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Magic

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( 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 woman on the run. A crew of Viking mercenaries. A forbidden romance. And the secret which threatens them all.

Silla Nordvig is running for her life.

The queen of Íseldur has sent warriors to bring Silla to Sunnavík, where death awaits her. When her father is killed, his last words set Silla on a perilous quest: travel the treacherous Road of Bones–a thousand-mile stretch haunted by warbands, creatures of darkness, and a mysterious murderer–and go to Kopa, where a shield-house awaits her.

After barely surviving the first stretch of road, a desperate Silla sneaks into a supply wagon belonging to the notorious Bloodaxe Crew. To make it to Kopa, she must win over Axe Eyes, the brooding leader of the Crew, while avoiding the Wolf, his distractingly handsome right-hand man. But the queen’s ruthless assassin has other plans and hunts Silla obsessively.

Will Silla make it safely to Kopa? Or will she fall prey to the perils of the Road of Bones?

Featuring an immersive world blending fairy tale with Vikings, The Road of Bones leads you on an adrenaline-fueled chase with fun banter and a slow-building enemies to lovers romance. The first book in the Ashen Series, you are one click away from reading it!

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 Magical Yet

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 Magical Yet

By: Angela DiTerlizzi

Illustrated By: Lorena Álvarez

Publication: April 14, 2020 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

40 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Book, Inspirational, Growth Mindset

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.

Goodreads description--This Yet finds a way, even when you don't,
And, Yet knows you will, when you think you won't.

Each of us, from the day we're born, is accompanied by a special companion--the Yet. Can't tie your shoes? Yet! Can't ride a bike? Yet! Can't play the bassoon? Don't worry, Yet is there to help you out.

Told in tight rhyme reminiscent of the great Dr. Seuss himself, this rollicking, inspirational picturebook is perfect for every kid who is frustrated by what they can't do . . . YET!

The Magical Yet is pretty much what you expect it to be. This is a book all about teaching children that just because you can't do something now doesn't mean you won't be able to in the future. If we change our attitudes from "I can't" to "I can't yet" we open up a whole new world of possibilities. And we don't just give up trying to learn something new.

I don't fully love the idea of "The Magical Yet" being an entity. But I did like the idea of showing children all of the things they've already gone from being unable to do to able (ex: walking). I like how hard work and practice, mixed with perseverance and determination, are what is highlighted in this book.

There is a rhyming scheme. Usually ABCB. Sometimes rhyming schemes mess me up when I'm reading aloud because they aren't always the words I'm expecting to come next.

The Magical Yet is a 4.5 Star book for me. The messaging is good. I just don't like that "yet" is a being. I don't know why this feels like such a big deal to me. But keeping on keeping on, trying again and again...all of those messages are ones that I want to reiterate to my children. Have you or your child read The Magical Yet? What did you think? Let me know!

And Then There Was You - Review

And Then There Was You

By: Sophie Cousens

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?

This was not the book I was expecting to read. And I think probably that's why it's received fairly low ratings. I think the publisher has worked hard not to spoil things for the reader. And I haven't read other reviews, so I can't say what other readers took issue with. I don't want to spoil things for future readers because the experience can be part of the journey. But maybe readers going into this book thinking they're getting a mostly contemporary romance and finding themselves thrust into a futuristic, science/realistic fiction book is the cause of the disharmony with readers. At least, that was my issue. And that's spoiler enough, but I will mark other spoilers in the review clearly below.

Chloe went to Oxford. And she had a group of close friends at the time. She is still only in touch with one of them. Her best friend is married and has a baby now. Her writing partner from school, Sean, who expressed feelings for her that she didn't return, has gone on to become a famous Hollywood director. And their other mutual friend, John, she hasn't kept up with because he and Sean were close. Once Sean confessed his feelings and Chloe rejected his advances, Sean got a new girlfriend who wasn't content with his relationship with Chloe. He chose the girlfriend over Chloe. And then moved. Chloe emailed him at some point, and he never replied. Now they are having a class reunion, and Chloe has nothing to show for her last ten years. She still lives at home with her parents. She is single. And she hasn't advanced at her job, meaning she's still a glorified assistant. Her acting career never took off. She hasn't written anything in years. She feels like a loser. So she seeks out a dating service to find someone to take with her to the reunion.

****SPOILERS AHEAD**** (highlight to read) The man that the dating service hooks Chloe up with is actually a BioBot, meaning an AI humanoid robot. He feels like a human. He smells human. And he kisses like a human. So much of Chloe's experience with "Rob" feels real. He reacts to her emotions. He helps her with her goals, professional and fitness. He is designed with Chloe in mind specifically. But he isn't real. He did have a few glitches, which I was thankful for. Otherwise, he seemed too good to be true. And Chloe could feel the draw to him. She could see how someone might choose a BioBot instead of a real human partner. But this isn't what we contemporary romance readers were here for. ****END SPOILER****

I need to proceed on shaking ground here as well, but Sean isn't what Chloe is after either. They were great friends, but for her, it never went past that. She was never drawn to him physically...even if she tried to talk herself into it. Haven't nearly all of us been there? What does happen is that Chloe is reminded of a mysterious person always in the background of all of her college experiences. She thought this mystery person was Sean. And that's why she tried to convince herself that she was in love with him despite feeling nothing physically for him. Yet she comes to discover who this mystery person actually was. And this is the element of the story that I kept reading for. Because, to be honest, once I got to that spoiler paragraph above, I almost bounced. It's one thing for a book to surprise you with a plot twist, but it's another thing for a book to turn into an entirely different genre than you were expecting.

Favorite quotes:

-Was this fiction's fault? Had reading ruined men for her?

I think we've all felt that way at some point.

-"And if you soak too long in nostalgia, you'll drown in it."

-Was there any greater salve for sadness than the cold nose of a friendly dog?

-"I've spent my life not saying the things I should have."

-"Oh, I thought he was trying to hit me in slow motion," Rob said. "My apologies."

-Looking around at people walking through Oxford, she felt a nagging dread about the future, about what the world would look like when everyone had a Rob. But then, seeing the glow of a screen lighting up every face, she wondered if they already did.

-"I don't think I was supposed to be your perfect person," he said, his voice steady. "I think I was meant to show you what it feels like, when it is right. To give you the confidence to trust your instincts again."

-"You're not annoying," he said. "And if you are, I can't wait to be annoyed by you."

-"People are messy and flawed. Unpredictable. Sometimes they get things wrong, do things they can’t explain, articulate themselves poorly. They can be selfish and smelly and irritating.” Chloe grew more animated. “They’ll contradict you, tell you you’re wrong, forget your birthday, and leave their wet towels on the floor however many times you tell them not to. But then— then— they’ll also say something so ridiculous, that will make you cry with laughter until you can’t breathe. They’ll surprise you, disarm you, love you in million tiny ways that you never even thought to imagine. And I love that about us.”

All of that being said, I ended up enjoying And Then There Was You. If you allow yourself to push through a little discomfort of a genre that you weren't expecting, you might find that you enjoy this story, as I did. Mostly, I enjoyed the real story behind the extra stuff I wasn't expecting. I also enjoyed the author's note at the end of the book. And Then There Was You gets 4 Stars. Have you read And Then There Was You? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for A Foolish Proposal

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 Foolish Proposal (The Gentlemen's Gamble, # ?)

By: Kasey Stockton

Expected Publication: March 19, 2026 by Golden Owl 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--One careless remark. One outrageous proposal. One Season to discover love where they least expect it.

Caroline Whitby needs a husband. Unfortunately, her charmingly infuriating neighbor Tristan Shepherd just ruined her best prospect—and then had the audacity to propose himself. If only she didn’t despise him and his insufferably flirtatious grin.

***The Gentlemen's Gamble is a series about seven men racing to the altar in order to avoid losing a wager. Starting January, the books will release in surprise order so as not to give away who the final bachelor and loser of the wager is.

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

Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases Q1/Q2 2026

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 Most Anticipated Releases Q1/Q2 2026

1. Her Hidden Fire by Cliodhna O'Sullivan
2. First and Forever by Lynn Painter
3. The Last Page by Katie Holt
4. A Love Most Daring by Joanna Barker
5. Bloodsinger (The Fire That Binds, # 2) by Juliette Cross
6. A Novel Engagement (The Gentlemen's Gamble, # ?) by Anneka R Walker
7. A Fortunate Miscalculation (The Gentlemen's Gamble, # ?) by Karen Thornell
8. A Bewildered Bachelor (The Gentlemen's Gamble, # ?) by Holli Jo Monroe
9. A Foolish Porposal (The Gentlemen's Gamble, # ?) by Kasey Stockton
10. An Accidental Marriage (The Gentlemen's Gamble, # ?) by Deborah M Hathaway

Which books are you most anticiapting for the first half of 2026? Let me know!

Room to Breathe - Review

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 . . .

Kasie West is an auto-read author for me. I've read nearly all, if not all, of her published books, and I find her to be a consistent author which is nothing to sneeze at. Most of her books are YA with clean romance. That's what genre Room to Breathe is categorized as well.

Room to Breathe is told by a then/now method. I don't always love books written in this method. Although, I do understand why they are done. I didn't love or hate it in Room to Breathe. You might find that you enjoy it more than I did if this isn't something that typically bothers you.

Here's the crux...Indy has had a falling out with her friends. And she find herself locked in a teacher's bathroom at school one afternoon. And she just happens to have gotten locked in with her ex-best friend, Beau. Slight spoilers, but Indy's dad was being investigated when his job noticed some iffy things. I can't remember if Kasie West spells it out for us, but I think it's embezzlement. Because he is being investigated in a criminal case, her parents and the officers have stressed that this isn't something that Indy is allowed to talk about with her friends. No one can know what's going on until the investigation is complete. It even gets to the point where Indy begins to question her own father and stress is building in her household between her parents and generally, everything. This is a lot on a kid. I remember two specific instances where my parents instructed me as a kid to keep quiet about two different situations. And I ended up feeling like I was going to burst. In one instance, I did talk to an acquaintance. We weren't fairly close but she knew my family, and it ended up okay, but apparently she did talk to her dad who then ran into my dad and it was made known that I blabbed. The other instance, I ended up talking to a teacher, and as far as I know it didn't go any further. But secrets like that are hard for anyone to keep. And if it was causing the stress that it was on their family, of course, that stress would leak out to her friends.

Indy wasn't allowed to talk to her friends about what was going on with her. She did begin to make some questionable decisions which didn't help matters. But her friends could have put some weight into their history and given her the benefit of the doubt as well.

As I said, Kasie West is a consistent author. And one thing I find is that while I enjoy her stories, I never put too much weight into them. Like I don't overanalyze them or deconstruct them. I don't say this to put them down because I really enjoy them. But I enjoy them as they are for me, which is almost like a palate cleanser. I love reading them in between heavier books. They are usually light books that you know will have a happily ever after.

Favorite quote:

-But I also could no longer deny, without the distance we’d forced ourselves into over the past two months, that I missed him so much. More than I realized. But missing him wouldn’t fix anything. It was easier to be mad. Because the alternative was sad. And I was worried sad might destroy me. I’d been holding back that feeling for a long time. I’d been holding back a lot of feelings for a long time. The only one I had let flourish over the past several months was anger. And it had flourished. It had blossomed and bloomed and become beautiful.

Room to Breathe was another good book by Kasie West. I enjoyed it. I read it quickly. I can count on her to give me characters that I can like and root for, and Indy and Beau were just that. Room to Breathe gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Room to Breathe? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 01/11/26

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 we started easing back into our normal routine. Big Girl had pitching practice. Tuesday, we spent the day at my parent's house and then did grocery pickup. The Big Kids had martial arts. Wednesday, we started back to school. It was about as good as you could hope for a back to school. My aunt and uncle that live in Colorado were at my parent's house to visit, so I took the kids over there to visit for a while after we finished school. Thursday, we debated on going to the park, but it rained during the night so everything was wet. We did a short school day and then just played around the house. The Big Kids had martial arts again. Friday, we wrapped up school. It wasn't quite as smooth as Wednesday. Saturday, we woke up to some bad weather that had us in our safe place for a while. Thankfully, it passed by without forming a tornado despite the rotation in the clouds and the capability of one. We spent the rest of Saturday cleaning up. I did some blog prep as well.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of Drive Me Crazy by Lizzy Dent (4 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten I Read in 2025
Wednesday: Can't Wait for A Novel Engagement by Anneka R Walker
Thursday: Review of I Want to Trust You, But I Don't by Lysa TerKeurst (4.5 Stars)
Friday: Homeschool Friday - This Book Is On Fire!

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Reivew of Room to Breathe by Kasie West
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Thursday: Review of And Then There Was You by Sophie Cousens
Friday: Homeschool Friday - The Magical Yet

NEW BOOKS:

Firebird (The Fire That Binds, # 1)

By: Juliette Cross

Publication: April 8, 2025 by Bramble

400 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Magic, Dragons

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( 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 conqueror captivated…
A witch prophesied to save them all…
An unforgiving world where dragons rule Rome.

Julian Dakkia, Roman general and nephew to the emperor, has played his role as conqueror well. Yet, the moment he laid eyes on Malina, he was enthralled by the Dacian dancer. Years later, the fierce beauty stands before him, a captive on a scarred battlefield, her life in danger. He instinctively shifts into his fierce dragon form to save her, an action that may mean his head on the imperial gate.

The rules of their world dictate that he is the conqueror and she is the captured. But he and his dragon know one thing: their bond has nothing to do with the laws of mighty Rome. She belongs to them. And they belong to her.

Fierce and powerful, twenty-one-year old Malina has survived the loss of her family and she is determined to fight until her dying breath. Still, she can’t believe that the centurion who had once bestowed a secret talisman on her is the Roman general of legendary brutality…and now holds her life in his hands. Nor can she deny how her soul has always seemed to answer his. Slowly she learns that Julian is caught in his mad uncle’s machinations for domination, and helps him plot the downfall of the empire itself.

As they navigate a world where flying deathriders conquer and burn, their love will ignite a firestorm that can only end in heartbreak or death. Or both.

Firebird is a fantasy with some dark themes, including elements of master/slave relationship, attempted sexual assault (not between MCs), and dubious consent (not between MCs). Readers who may be sensitive to these elements, please take note.

Bloodsinger (The Fire That Binds, # 2)

By: Juliette Cross

Narrated By: Blair Dade; Kale Williams

Publication: April 7, 2026 by Macmillan Audio

400 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Magic, Dragons

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 spellbinding gift...

A plea answered by the gods...

An unforgiving world where dragons rule Rome.

Lela Bihari’s village was invaded on her wedding night, her betrothed murdered right in front of her. While her sisters were either dragged away or escaped, Lela was sold to Valerius, a consul of Rome.

When she tried to kill Valerius her first night as his slave, her bloodsinger gift manifested… and she was punished for it. Now she’s paraded in front of the other senators for their amusement.

But Trajan Tiberius, the newly elected tribune to the senate, is different. He has no love for the brutality around him. When he frees Lela from enslavement and hides her, Lela is set on a path of vengeance, and using her gift puts her in more danger than ever before.

Now trapped inside the walls of Rome while deathriders circle the skies, how can she possibly trust a Roman dragon? Especially when it is clear Trajan has ulterior schemes of his own? As her powers grow stronger, danger draws closer, and Lela realizes it isn't just her life at stake, but also her heart.

Bloodsinger is a fantasy with some dark themes, including elements of master/slave relationship, attempted sexual assault, and dubious consent—none of which is between the MCs. There is also a scene with self-injury. Listeners who may be sensitive to these elements, please take note.

Reckless (Powerless Trilogy, # 2)

By: Lauren Roberts

Publication: July 2, 2024 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

383 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Paedyn and Kai battle with duty and desire in this highly anticipated second installment in the sizzling and epic romantic fantasy trilogy that’s packed with spicy tension and edge-of-your-seat betrayal.

The kingdom of Ilya is in turmoil…

After surviving the Purging Trials, Ordinary-born Paedyn Gray has killed the King and kickstarted a Resistance throughout the land. Now she’s running from the one person she had wanted to run to.

Kai Azer is now Ilya’s Enforcer, loyal to his brother Kitt, the new King. He has vowed to find Paedyn and bring her to justice.

Across the deadly Scorches, and deep into the hostile city of Dor, Kai pursues the one person he wishes he didn’t have to. But in a city without Elites, the balance between the hunter and hunted shifts—and the battle between duty and desire is deadly.

A Love Most Daring

By: Joanna Barker

Expected Publication: March 3, 2026 by Shadow Mountain

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Regency

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 best-selling author Joanna Barker: Proper romance meets page-turning mystery in this captivating tale of danger, redemption, and love worth fighting for.

After years of whispered gossip and quiet exile in the countryside, Beatrice Lacey arrives in London determined to reclaim her life. But her resolve is shaken when she witnesses a horrific attack tied to a chilling high-profile murder case gripping the city.

Thrust into sudden danger, Beatrice finds herself under the reluctant protection of Alexander Rawlings—a brooding Bow Street officer with a guarded heart and a fierce sense of duty. Though it's clear he’d rather be chasing the killer than shielding a scandal-stained Society miss, their forced closeness begins to unravel his defenses. In the unnerving moments between danger and discovery, every sharp exchange and lingering glance fans a slow-burning connection—one neither of them expected and neither can resist.

With danger closing in and old wounds resurfacing, trust may be their only refuge—and love their most daring risk of all.

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!