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 a normal day. Ball games got rained out, and I was glad because the temperature dropped to the 30s here. The Big Kids went to martial arts. Thankfully, we finally have a belt testing date. Tuesday, we went to my parent's house. Then we did grocery pickup. Big Girl and Big Boy had their first ball games. Big Boy played on the pitcher's mound. He's in his last year of coach pitch. He got a couple of outs. His first three at bats, he hit directly to someone and was thrown out at first. His last at bat he hit a home run. His team won in OT 18-16. Big Girl had her time pitching in a game. She did better than I was expecting. She struck one batter out. She did hit two batters, but she had a lot of wild pitches as well. They lost. I don't even know the score. Wednesday was a normal day, except we switched pitching practice from Mondays to Wednesdays now that games have started. I showed her coach a video from her game, and we were able to pinpoint one issue she was having. Thursday, the Big Kids had their homeschool nature class. I worked with Little Boy one on one a little. Then we went to the park with friends after nature class. Little Boy had a game Thursday night. His team won 12-10. He hit twice and had two balls come to him in left field. Friday, Little Boy had an ice cream party at his school. We had a normal school day. And then I had to work the concession stand, and the Big Kids had games again. Big Boy's team lost 12-16. He got a couple of outs again, but still didn't hit the best. Always hitting directly to someone to throw him out. Big Girl did so much better pitching in her second game. She struck out two batters in the first inning (one of which was the lead off batter). And then she struck out three in the 2nd inning (not quite 3 up and 3 down, but I'm still really proud). She did hit three. But she didn't have nearly as many wild pitches. And I was so proud of her. She also got a triple at bat. Coach ended up switching our pitchers for the third inning and we ended up losing 9-11. Saturday, I spent most of the day cleaning our pool from the leaves that settled over the winter. It was a length process, but I'm thankful it's done. The kids actually got in, but of course, it's too cold for them to stay in long. I won't be caught in the pool until the end of May at the earliest.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of The Duke's Sacred Vow (Brides of the Regency, # 1) by Isabel Jacobs (4.5 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Green Book Covers
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Ruling Out Robyn (Men of the Isles, # 3) by Deborah M. Hathaway
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Mater's Birthday Suprise

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Reivew of Firebird (Fire that Binds, # 1) by Juliette Cross
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Lucky Goes to School

NEW BOOKS:

Embrace (Off the Ice, # 4)

By: Bal Khabra

Publication: August 4, 2026 by Berkley

400 pages

Genre: Adult, Romance, Sports

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--An unexpected spark between a hockey player and the coach’s daughter might cause them to cross the line in the next Dalton University book from international bestselling author Bal Khabra.

Kian Ishida is all about parties, hockey, and living in the moment. But when he realizes he’s headed to the NHL without his degree, his late dad’s one wish for him, he’s determined to make up those last few credits. Desperate for help, he joins a study group led by none other than Scarlett Kilner. She’s as gorgeous as she is smart. Too bad he doesn’t know yet that she’s his coach’s daughter.

After making a reputation for herself, all Scarlett wants for her senior year is to prove she’s more than her mistakes and graduate without tarnishing her well-respected father’s name. But when Kian Ishida, one of her dad’s star hockey players, joins her study group, things get complicated.

As Scarlett helps Kian, their study sessions turn into something more—stolen glances, lingering touches, and a connection neither of them expected. Kian has to decide what’s more the dream he’s worked for his whole life or the girl he never saw coming.

An Honorable Love (The Gentlemen's Gamble, # ?)

By: Audra Wells

Expected Publication: March 19, 2026

244 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

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--One grump. One thief. One highly-questionable adventure.

Leonard Stanton has perfected the art of being alone. He keeps to the edges of ballrooms, and society, whenever possible. But when a priceless family heirloom is stolen off his very person, he finds himself dragged into the one thing he hates most—a social entanglement.

Enter Miss Honora Gillingham. Vexingly cheerful, utterly unpredictable, and the last person Leonard should trust. Mostly because . . . she’s the one who stole from him.

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

Homeschool Friday - Mater's Birthday Surprise

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.

Mater's Birthday Suprirse

By: Melissa Lagonegro

Publication: January 10, 2012 by RH/Disney

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Level-2

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Mater thinks all his friends in Radiator Springs have forgotten his birthday—until they throw him the best surprise party ever! This Step 2 reader starring Lightning McQueen, Mater, and the rest of the cars from Disney/Pixar Cars and Cars 2 will make a perfect birthday gift for children ages 4 to 6. Step 2 readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories. For children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help.

Finding books that my child wants to read isn't always easy. We have a stack of early readers that was passed down to us from friends, and then we have ones that I've purchased as well. Our copy of this book has seen better days. A dog has chewed on it. Someone's taken scissors to several of the pages. Yet, this book is one that my child enjoyed reading more than many of the others he's read recently.

The characters from Disney's Cars are getting together to plan a surprise birthday party for Mater. However, Mater is hiding on almost every page peeping things out and spoiling the surprise. All of the aspects of a birthday party are present, and Mater is observing them all. My son had a great time spotting Mater on each page. There were some challenging words, as several of the characters' names were difficult.

Sometimes, entertaining wins out over a deep or beautiful moral to a story in the eyes of a seven-year-old boy. Mater's Birthday Surprise gets 4 Stars. Have you or your child read Mater's Birthday Surprise? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Ruling Out Robyn

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.

Ruling Out Robyn (Men of the Isles, # 3)

By: Deborah M. Hathaway

Expected Publication: April 10, 2026 by Draft Horse Publishing

? pages

Genre: 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--Robyn Lane is sunshine embodied. Or so her fans call her. She really has it all—loving parents, protective older brothers, unfailing optimism, and millions of subscribers on YouTube. She also has a dream job that is about to become even dreamier.

Having fallen into the unpredictable world of crowdfunding, Robyn has found her calling in life by filming herself partaking in whatever her millions of fans wish her to do, whether that be skydiving, attempting to repair a 1933 Ford Roaster, or auditioning for every singing competition in America—all without being a singer.

And now? Well, now, she’s about to pack up all her belongings and live out an entire year on a dilapidated sheep farm in Snowdonia, Wales to see if she can revive the farm from the ground up. Does she know one thing about sheep or farming? Not even a lick. Is she even aware if Snowdonia is a real place? Well, she is now, thanks to Google. (It is real, BTW.) But she’s not concerned. She’s thrilled. Everything is going to be amazing. It always is for her.

And yet, running the farm is nothing like she expects. She finds herself falling short in every way—including fitting in with the locals, particularly with her neighbor on the adjoining sheep the surly, impatient, and insanely attractive Cedric Davies. Apparently, the guy used to be some famous soccer—oh, sorry, football—player for England, but after an injury, he chose live out the remainder of his days on this rainy, windy land like some crazy recluse. A recluse who isn’t afraid to express his disapproval with her filming her life from sun-up to sun-down.

Robyn can handle anything life throws at her—even this frigid sheep farm. And yet, when Cedric’s wind-tossed hair and scruff-covered jawline become more appealing than anything else, including her job…she isn’t sure what she can handle anymore.

This is the third book in the clean and sweet romcom Men of the Isles series by Deborah M. Hathaway. Although this dual POV, grumpy/sunshine, sports, and celebrity romance is a stand-alone novel, the books are best enjoyed when read in order as minor spoilers are given about previous characters.

Don't miss the other novels in this series!

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

Top Ten Green Book Covers

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 Green Book Covers

1. Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, # 3) by Sarah J Maas
2. Old Flames and New Fortunes by Sarah Hogle
3. The Gentleman's Confession (Matchmaking Mamas, # 3) by Anneka R Walker
4. A Whimsical Notion by Jennie Goutet
5. Drive Me Crazy by Lizzy Dent
6. Rule of the Aurora King (Artefacts of Ouranos, # 2) by Nisha J Tuli
7. Sir Andrew and the Authoress (Clairvoir Castle Romances, # 3) by Sally Britton
8. Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet (Charley Davidson, # 4) by Darynda Jones
9. Fate & Furies (The Legends of Thezmarr, # 3) by Helen Scheuerer
10. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (Harry Potter, # 6) by JK Rowling

Which books have you read that feature green book covers? Let me know!

The Duke's Sacred Vow - Review

The Duke's Sacred Vow (Brides of the Regency, # 1)

By: Isabel Jacobs

Publication: September 25, 2025 by Grace Romance

262 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

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--Betrayed by her betrothed, she flees to a stranger. Haunted by his past, he offers salvation. Can two wounded souls find healing in each other?A wronged debutante and a disillusioned duke enter into a marriage of convenience—only to discover that trust, grace, and healing can grow even from the ashes of betrayal.

She needs to escape …
When Miss Annabel Ridley learns of her fiancé’s shocking betrayal, she knows she cannot proceed with the match—even if it means defying her father’s wishes and igniting scandal. Trapped between duty and danger, she flees to the one man powerful enough to help her—the Duke of Halmesbury, a stranger with a formidable reputation … and a surprising offer.

He needs to make amends …
Philip Markham, Duke of Halmesbury, has spent years hiding from heartache and mistakes he cannot undo. When a determined young woman arrives on his doorstep, desperate and brave, he sees an opportunity to do one thing right. He proposes a marriage of convenience to protect her—but as they draw closer, he finds himself yearning for more.

Can two hearts bound by necessity learn to love—and find peace in the providence neither dared to hope for?

As old wounds resurface and secrets come to light, Annabel and Philip must learn to trust one another—and to believe that sometimes, the most unexpected unions are those most touched by grace.

The Duke’s Sacred Vow is the moving first novel in the Brides of the Regency series by Isabel Jacobs. If you enjoy noble heroes, courageous heroines, and stories of romance woven with faith and emotional depth, then you will be captivated by this heartfelt tale of love, trust, and quiet redemption.

If I remember correctly, I got The Duke's Sacred Vow as a freebie. Sometimes, I don't expect a lot out of freebies, but I've been in the mood for historical fiction to get me out of my fantasy rut. So I decided to take a chance on The Duke's Sacred Vow, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Annabel is engaged to a man that she's known for a long time. They've been friends. Richard was a close friend of her brother's, but as she got older, Richard became a confidant for Annabel. She thinks they have a love match, but one day, Annabel stumbles upon Richard and her maid in the stables. After that, Annabel is determined to get out of the marriage. Yet Richard plans to move forward with the wedding, and Annabel's father won't hear of ending the engagement either. Annabel seeks out Richard's cousin who lives fairly close by in hopes that he will talk sense into Richard. He is heralded as an honorable man, and he is a duke. Well Annabel is surprised to find that Phillip's solution to her problem is to marry her himself.

Phillip is a widower. He needs to remarry to ensure his duty to produce and heir. Yet he dreads the idea of the marriage mart. And his previous marriage was a struggle between two ill-suited people. He doesn't want that. Annabel surprises him by showing up at his house. However, he is immediately impressed by her. He makes an impulsive offer, but it will solve two problems at once. He can rescue her from his roguish cousin, and he can secure himself a wife. They both know they wouldn't be marrying for love, but Annabel is satisfied with an honest marriage with mutual admiration.

The two do get married within a week of meeting each other. They both have pasts that need to be worked through. Phillip never really grieved his previous wife nor the falling apart of his relationship with his cousin which he has just made more complicated by stealing his cousin's bride. Annabel falls first and she isn't sure whether Phillip married her because he was trying to get revenge against his cousin. Plus she and her brother are estranged, and she has no idea why.

I was hooked into this story early. And I never had any complaints with the writing style or pacing. I will say that I was so impressed with the prayer life and personal relationships of Annabel and Phillip. I feel this is probably more of a reflection upon Isabel Jacobs (the author) than the characters themselves. The frequency that these characters spoke to God was so impressive. This is a situation where many might find it idealistic, but I find it inspiring. And I wish more literature showed the world as it could be rather than as it is. I will be reading more of her books just to see if this is as common with her other characters as it was with these two. But it helps to remind me to be as constantly in conversation with God throughout my day.

Favorite quotes:

-“You must pray over this, child. If the Lord opens a door, it’s ours to walk through, but you must be certain it’s not one you’ve forced open yourself.”

-God is so kind, she thought, pausing at the door. He does not always answer in the way we expect, but He never forgets us.

-“But I would rather stand before God having erred on the side of mercy than having hardened my heart.”

-“You see, the world turns something holy into something coarse. But Scripture speaks of marriage as a picture of Christ and the Church. Tender, patient, honoring. A true husband waits for his bride, honors her hesitations, and sees intimacy as a gift, not a demand.”

The Duke's Sacred Vow gets 4.5 Stars. It's one of my favorite tropes--marriages of convenience. I loved the personal relationship the two main characters had with God. My one critique is that Phillip nearly had to fight himself to figure out that he loved Annabel, yet he pulls the "I've loved you since the first day" thing. If not for that, I might have given this one 5 Stars. Have you read The Duke's Sacred Vow? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 03/15/26

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.

We were back to health this week. I am so thankful. Monday, I took Big Girl to pitching practice. Then I took her and Little Boy to ball practice. Big Boy had practice later that night that Husband took him to. Tuesday, Little Boy had his 5 year old check up, and Big Girl had a medicine check. After that we went to my parent's house to hang out until I needed to go get my grocery pickup. Tuesday evening the Big Kids went to martial arts. Wednesday was an off night as far as activities go. Husband grilled some steak and hamburgers for us. It was delicious. Thursday was kind of rainy and wet. But we still had activities. Big Kids went to martial arts. Big Boy went straight from martial arts to baseball practice. Big Girl came home for a bit and then went to softball practice. It was a late night for us as both practices went late. Friday, we didn't have any evening activities. Friday also ended our 3rd quarter of homeschool. We start quarter 4 on Monday. Saturday, Little Boy had baseball practice. Ball games start this week. It'll be even more hectic than normal since they haven't belt tested yet.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of Next Level Love by Shameez Patel (4.5 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Books With Titles Featuring Ordinal Numbers
Wednesday: Can't Wait for A Most Unfortunate Happenstance (Supposed Scandal, # 6) by Esther Hatch

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Reivew of The Duke's Sacred Vow (Brides of Regency, # 1) by Isabel Jacobs
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Mater's Birthday Surprise

NEW BOOKS:

The Sea Spinner (Reign of Remnants, # 2)

By: Julie Johnson

Publication: April 28, 2026 by Ace

544 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Fae, Romantasy

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--Blazing with reawakened magic, a young woman challenges the tides of fate in this highly anticipated installment of Julie Johnson’s romantasy series.

Everything changed for Rhya Fleetwood in the battle of Fyremas. Her grief is heavy, her rage volatile. Caeldera lies in ruins. Her friends are dead or wounded. And Pendefyre, their newly crowned king, is shutting her out. The Remnant of Fire needs all his focus for his kingdom, his people, and—perhaps more than anything—his insatiable need for revenge.

When a twist of fate leads Rhya to the last place she expected—the Water Court—the novice wind weaver is forced to confront the limitations of her untrained power as well as her increasingly complicated relationships. For enigmatic King Soren of Llŷr is as different from Penn as sparks are from the sea. The more insight he offers into the maegic that binds them together, the more confused Rhya feels—about her future as a Remnant, about her deepest desires, and about her role in the coming war.

Enemies circle close, ready to strike. And if Rhya isn’t careful, she’ll lose more than just her heart.

She’ll lose her life.

A Bewildered Bachelor (The Gentlemen's Gamble, # ?)

By: Holli Jo Monroe

Publication: March 5, 2026 by Brillig Press

250 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--The bet was simple. The plan was perfect. The result was bewildering.

Meticulous Ambrose Hartley had every step of his courtship mapped out—until the outspoken, utterly unpredictable Susanna Fenton returned to his life.

It turns out the one thing he didn't plan for was love.

Seven Gentlemen. One Reckless Wager. A Fortune in Play—and Their Hearts on the Line.

***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 an unannounced order to keep the loser of the wager a surprise.

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 Great Toy Escape

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 Great Toy Escape

By: Kitty Richards

Publication: May 4, 2010 by RH/Disney

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Level-2

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Sunnyside Daycare appears to be a toy's dream come true. But when Buzz, Woody, and the rest of Andy's toys arrive, they discover that it's actually a toy's nightmare. Now they have to escape—and it's up to Woody to lead the way!

So lately my Homeschool Friday posts have been featuring books with high moral character and lessons to be learned. Those are all well and good. As matter of fact, I love those types of books, and I especially love when that content can be implemented into lower level readers. However, sometimes you just need to read a book for fun. My son needed a break from a level-2 chapter book we were reading, and he chose this one for his daily reading.

The Great Toy Escape isn't going to win any awards. It was good. It was fine. The story was similar to the movie, of course, he did point out where things were different. But he enjoyed that he already knew the basics of the story since he's seen the Disney movie. The words weren't challenging for him in that he didn't stumble on any of them, yet you can tell this is a step up from Level-1 readers.

The Great Toy Escape gets 3 Stars. There's nothing wrong with it. The story and difficulty level was what he needed at the time. Sometimes you just need a quick win under your belt, a fast read that you can enjoy for entertainment purposes only. Have you or your child read The Great Toy Escape? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for A Most Unfortunate Happenstance

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 Most Unfortunate Happenstance

By: Esther Hatch

Expected Publication: June 24, 2026 by Arbory 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--Will the storm that brought them together be the scandal that tears them apart?

Captain Frederick Calder has finally secured the means and standing to propose to the woman he has dreamed of since the day they met—and a house party offers the perfect opportunity to become reacquainted with her.

But a violent storm on the road to Blackwell changes everything. The cold and damp strike Frederick down with a sudden and violent return of the ague.

Evelyn Blackwell, traveling to her family’s estate to secure a suitor for her disgraced cousin, is caught in the same storm and forced to take refuge alone in an abandoned cottage. The door flies open to reveal a fevered stranger who promptly collapses at her feet. She keeps vigil through thunder, darkness, and delirium, certain he may not survive.

But he does survive and in the morning light, they promise to leave as strangers, hopefully never to see each other again, bound only by the secret of a shared night together.

However, days later, Frederick arrives at Evelyn’s house party. Now they must spend weeks together while Evelyn balances arranging a match for her cousin with memories of that night—memories Frederick does not share.

The longer they spend in each other’s company, the more Evelyn wonders if her cousin’s happiness can come only at the cost of her own—and whether the storm that brought her and Frederick together has set her heart on a course to be broken apart.

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

Top Ten Books with Titles Featuring Ordinal Numbers

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 Book Titles Featuring Ordinal Numbers

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I mean you can't get much more on the nose than my first series to fit this top ten list.
1. Charley Davidson by Darynda Jones- First Grave on the Right, Second Grave on the Left, Third Grave Dead Ahead, Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet, Fifth Grave Past the Light, Sixth Grave on the Edge, Seventh Grave and No Body, Eighth Grave After Dark, The Dirt on Ninth Grave, The Curse of Tenth Grave, Elenth Grave in Moonlight, The Trouble with Twelfth Grave, Summoned to Thirteenth Grave

The rest of these aren't favorites so much as the only other books I've ever read that feature ordinal numbers in the titles--with the exception of Fourth Wing. That's definitely a favorite.

2. First Comes Like (Modern Love, # 3) by Alisha Rai
3. The First Girl Child (Chronicles of Saylok, # 1) by Amy Harmon
4. The Second Blind Son (Chronicles of Saylok, # 2) by Amy Harmon
5. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer
6. Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, # 1) by Rebecca Yarros

Which books have you read that feature ordinal numbers in the titles? Let me know!

Next Level Love - Review

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?

I listened to Next Level Love when my family was hit with a fever virus. Everyone was down for the count, including me. Having something to listen to helped me pass the time when I felt like I didn't want to move and didn't have the energy to watch TV or hold my Kindle. Of course, I find that my enjoyment of a story tends to go up the faster I finish it. That being said, I finished Next Level Love in one day.

Lincoln is an engineer and gamer. His dad died when he was young, about eight, I think, when he was hit by a car as he was walking down the road. The road had no sidewalks. So, Lincoln has focused his engineering career on roads. He also has ADHD, so he struggles with distractions and has developed coping mechanisms to help him through his work. But he's always struggled to connect with other people. He has a group of friends, but he has always felt a little bit like an outsider with them. His mother is remarrying and moving out of his childhood home. She is expecting him to pack his father's office. Lincoln is being offered a trial run as a supervisor at his company, but he has to figure out how to manage people, specifically an intern.

Elizabeth is the stepdaughter of a famous guy. Yet she's escaped him and his influence and is trying to make her way in the engineering field. She's landed an internship that she's not sure she earned. Everyone treats her a specific way due to her last name (her stepfather's name). In her free time, she loves to play online games. Only she's beginning to suspect that the Link she's been chatting with online for years might actually be her boss.

I really appreciated that Next Level Love didn't have any on-page spice. Things "fade to black," so to speak. I can't remember any cursing, but if there was any, it would have been minimal. To be fair, I wasn't in my top brain while listening, so I might have missed it. But I love it when a story can prove that those things aren't needed to make a good and enjoyable book.

My eight-year-old son has, I believe, undiagnosed ADHD, so seeing an adult character with a rewarding and complicated career, with a friend group, and a love life. It helps my mama heart to see that some of the struggles we are having now might be able to be overcome because some days it feels hopeless, which I know isn't true.

The dual narrators, Shahjehan Khan and Jensen Olaya, did a great job. I felt their performances, and they never pulled me out of the story. That's the note of a good narration job.

Next Level Love was a really enjoyable book for me. I liked the ADHD representation. You could tell that Lincoln isn't white, but his race wasn't harped on, which I also appreciated. The relationship and all of the side pieces of the story came together very well, and every piece of the puzzle popped off the page feeling real and well-rounded. Next Level Love gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read (or listened to) Next Level Love? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 03/08/26

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 one of the worst weeks we've had in a while. Little Boy was running fever last weekend. Last Sunday night was the last time he ran fever. The Big Kids started running fever on Sunday. I kept Little Boy home on Monday. I did a medication run Monday afternoon. Tuesday, we stayed home from my parent's house and did my grocery run. Tuesday afternoon I started running a fever. Wednesday, Husband took Little Boy to school for me and picked him up. Big Boy was finally fever free. I ran fever again Wednesday night. Husband took Big Boy to his nature school homeschool class on Thursday. Big Girl ran fever at least once a day each day. I am quite sure we have had the flu. We never went to the doctor because if it was the flu there was nothing they would do for us besides tell us to treat our symptoms. Little Boy only had fever. Big Boy had fever and diarrhea. Big Girl had fever and cough. I have had fever, cough, and congestion. All of us have had headache with fever. Husband took the boys to baseball practices on Thursday night, but Big Girl missed all of her practices and activities this week. Two of the kids actually have regular checkup appointments this coming week. Saturday was my 15th Blogoversary. I just didn't have the energy to do anything to celebrate it.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of A Love Most Daring (Bow Street, # 3) by Joanna Barker (4 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for A Love Once Lost (The Bridwells' Grand Tour, # 1) by Jennie Goutet

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Reivew of Next Level Love by Shameez Patel
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Friday: Homeschool Friday -

NEW BOOKS:

The Spare's Season of Light (Brides of the Regency, # 3)

By: Isabel Jacobs

Publication: January 25, 2026 by Grace Romance

290 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

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--Betrayed by her betrothed, she flees to a stranger. Haunted by his past, he offers salvation. Can two wounded souls find healing in each other?A wronged debutante and a disillusioned duke enter into a marriage of convenience—only to discover that trust, grace, and healing can grow even from the ashes of betrayal.

She needs to escape …
When Miss Annabel Ridley learns of her fiancé’s shocking betrayal, she knows she cannot proceed with the match—even if it means defying her father’s wishes and igniting scandal. Trapped between duty and danger, she flees to the one man powerful enough to help her—the Duke of Halmesbury, a stranger with a formidable reputation … and a surprising offer.

He needs to make amends …
Philip Markham, Duke of Halmesbury, has spent years hiding from heartache and mistakes he cannot undo. When a determined young woman arrives on his doorstep, desperate and brave, he sees an opportunity to do one thing right. He proposes a marriage of convenience to protect her—but as they draw closer, he finds himself yearning for more.

Can two hearts bound by necessity learn to love—and find peace in the providence neither dared to hope for?

As old wounds resurface and secrets come to light, Annabel and Philip must learn to trust one another—and to believe that sometimes, the most unexpected unions are those most touched by grace.

The Duke’s Sacred Vow is the moving first novel in the Brides of the Regency series by Isabel Jacobs. If you enjoy noble heroes, courageous heroines, and stories of romance woven with faith and emotional depth, then you will be captivated by this heartfelt tale of love, trust, and quiet redemption.

Seek the Traitor's Son

By: Veronica Roth

Narrated By: Imani Jade Powers; Max Meyers; Rebecca Soler; Steve West

Expected Publication: May 12, 2026 by Tor Books

432 pages

Genre: Adult, Dystopian, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--A new epic romantic, dystopian fantasy begins in Seek the Traitor's Son, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth

Elegy Ahn did not ask for destiny to find her.

She is happy with her life as a soldier, defending her small country from the Talusar, a powerful nation who worships a deadly Fever. A fever that blesses half of its victims with mysterious gifts.

But then she’s summoned to hear a prophecy–her, and the most ruthless of Talusar generals, Rava Vidar. Brought face to face, they learn that one of them will lead their people to victory over the other…but they don’t know which. And at the center of both of their fates: a man. A man that, Elegy is told, she will fall in love with.

In just one day, Elegy’s old life–her job, her purpose, and her future–is over. She and Rava are destined to collide, with the fate of their nations hanging in the balance. And when they do, only one will be left standing.

Elegy intends to make sure it’s her.

Chase Me If You Can

By: Heather Frances

Expected Publication: June 23, 2026 by Berkley

400 pages

Genre: 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--Two storm chasers find a love that could blow them away in this electric debut romance.

Wedding photographer Sloane Michaels might spend most of her year running after brides, but she lives for the six weeks each spring she chases tornadoes instead. When the prestigious magazine Nature Shots announces a cover contest, Sloane knows that winning could be the chance she needs to break up with taffeta for good and establish herself in landscape photography.

The last thing she needs is a distraction in the form of reckless “Wild Wes” Talbot. A legend among storm chasers, he’s been Sloane’s close, personal frenemy for the last decade and is the man to beat for the cover contest.

Sloane isn’t surprised when Wes gets in an accident that jeopardizes his season. But with an active weather pattern emerging, she doubles down on her need to beat Wes fair and square, and begrudgingly invites him to join her for the remainder of the season.

As they race through hail, high winds, and stormy skies, Sloane realizes that Wes might be more than the rich, flirty, Texas wildcard she thought she knew — and that the feelings blooming between them are more charged and dangerous than the storms they’re chasing.

The Queen's Crown (Leauge of Rulers, # 1)

By: Jennifer Anne Davis

Publication: September 19, 2023 by Reign Publishing

306 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

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--Eighteen-year-old Princess Sabine Ludwig of Backley thought her biggest problem was finding a man remotely interesting to dabble with while trying to fill her days with something other than knitting or drinking tea. But when her dear sister is brutally murdered in a foreign kingdom a week before she’s to be married, Sabine suddenly wishes for boring, ordinary days again.

Seeking retribution, Sabine decides to take her sister’s place and marry the mysterious king of Lynk. It’s the only way she can hunt down and find the killer. It’s the only way she can get revenge. When she finds the king far more appealing than she’d intended, it becomes difficult to keep her wits about her and remember why she’s there.

Thrown into a world of lies, power struggles, and seduction, Sabine must learn to navigate through the foreign kingdom’s dangerous court as she seeks her sister’s killer. The closer she gets to discovering who it is, the more she questions who she can trust—including herself.

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!