Homeschool Friday - Lucky Goes to School

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.

Lucky Goes to School

By: Gail Herman

Illustrated By: Norman Gorbaty

Publication: July 9, 2001 by Penguin Young Readers

32 pages

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

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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Goodreads description--When Lucky's owner goes to school, where will Lucky go? Who will he meet? Find out in this fun-filled Level 2 reader.

Lucky Goes to School is one of our Level-2 readers. This one was given to us and not one that I bought. Lucky wakes up one morning, and his boy has to go off to school. Lucky is worried he will be bored all day without his boy. He walks his boy to school and meets many other dogs. They go to the park and play together, doing various doggie things. And then it's time to go back and pick up Lucky's boy. Then they go home happy because tomorrow is another day of school.

Sometimes as a homeschool mom, I'm sad when books build up typical school. Of course, these books are written for the kids that are going to traditional school rather than homeschooled kids. I think it can make my children feel like they're missing out. But that's life. Someone is always missing out on an experience. Traditionally schooled kids are missing out on the homeschool experience. It's opportunity costs. But I've dived off into the weeds on this one.

My son read this book just fine. I don't think there were any words he struggled with. He didn't dread reading it, but he wasn't excited about it either. There wasn't a specific moral for him to take away, either. Lucky Goes to School! gets 3 Stars. Have you or your child read Lucky Goes to School? What did you think? 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!

The House Saphir - Review

The House Saphir

By: Marissa Meyer

Narrated by: Rebecca Soler

Publication: November 4, 2025 by Macmillan Young Listeners

Duration: 12 Hours, 15 Minutes, 3 Seconds

432 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retelling

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 #1 New York Times bestselling "Queen of Fairytale Retellings" and author of Cinder and Heartless, this is the tale of Bluebeard as it's never been told before—a thrilling romantasy and murder mystery.

Mallory Fontaine is a fraud. Though she comes from a long line of witches, the only magic she possesses is the ability to see ghosts, which is rarely as useful as one would think. She and her sister have maintained the family business, eking out a paltry living by selling bogus spells to gullible buyers and conducting tours of the infamous mansion where the first of the Saphir murders took place.

Mallory is a self-proclaimed expert on Count Bastien Saphir—otherwise known as Monsieur Le Bleu—who brutally killed three of his wives more than a century ago. But she never expected to meet Bastien's great-great grandson and heir to the Saphir estate. Armand is handsome, wealthy, and convinced that the Fontaine Sisters are as talented as they claim. The perfect mark. When he offers Mallory a large sum of money to rid his ancestral home of Le Bleu's ghost, she can’t resist. A paid vacation at Armand’s country manor? It’s practically a dream come true, never mind the ghosts of murdered wives and the monsters that are as common as household pests.

But when murder again comes to the House Saphir, Mallory finds herself at the center of the investigation—and she is almost certain the killer is mortal. If she has any hope of cashing in on the payment she was promised, she’ll have to solve the murder and banish the ghost, all while upholding the illusion of witchcraft.

But that all sounds relatively easy compared to her biggest learning to trust her heart. Especially when the person her heart wants the most might be a murderer himself.

I have an up-and-down relationship with Marissa Meyer's books. I loved the Lunar Chronicle series. And I enjoyed the first book in the Gilded series. I never finished book 2. I wasn't sure about The House Saphir, but I decided to take a chance and check it out. And I am glad that I got the audiobook version so I could do that.

The House Saphir is about a girl who is pretending to be a witch in order to trick people into paying for haunted house tours, seances, trinkets, potions, and various other things. She and her sister are simply trying to survive by whatever means necessary. Specifically, she is using a local mansion in disrepair where the owner is known to have killed his four wives before he himself died.

Mallory is approached on one such tour by the descendant of Count Bastian Saphir who wants to use her services to expell the ghost of the count from the house. Mallory and her sister move into the house hoping to milk the experience for all the time and money they can. Only Mallory begins to develop feelings for Armand, the man who hired her. And things aren't quite as they seem all around.

I am so thankful that I listened to this book on audio. I have nearly zero experience with French. And many, many words would have been horribly butchered or skipped entirely had I been reading this book myself and not listening to it. The narrator did a wonderful job.

I can't say that anything about the story itself, plot wise, was a surprise. Things played out pretty expectedly. The creatures and the magic were fairly unique at least to my knowledge. Again, I'm not up on any French folklore if these beasts were inspired by anything or completely fictional created by Marissa Meyer.

There was enough of a romance to satisfy me. I don't usually enjoy reading if that's entirely missing. I don't remember much cursing. And there are no spicy scenes to worry about.

The House Saphir was better than I was expecting. Yet I wasn't expecting a lot given that I was on the fence about this book. I've liked Marissa Meyer in the past, but the description didn't seem entirely something that I would normally gravitate towards. Unless you're familiar with French, I do suggest listening to the audiobook. The House Saphir gets 3 Stars. Have you read or listened to The House Saphir? What did you think? Let me know!

Secret Nights and Northern Lights - Review

Secret Nights and Northern Lights

By: Megan Oliver

Publication: November 18, 2025 by Berkley

384 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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Goodreads description--Childhood best friends and first loves are reunited on a make-or-break work trip to Iceland, with old feelings coming to the surface in this charming romance from debut author Megan Oliver.

Mona Miller lives her life by she’s just fine, thanks; all good; not a problem! Everything is right as rain—even if it’s all a lie. Everyone at the travel magazine where she works knows her as a team player (in other words, the one who won’t complain about the endless fluff pieces pushed her way). But, feeling snubbed after being passed over for a promotion, Mona jumps at an international assignment to Iceland, even though she’s woefully unprepared.

She’s determined to prove her worth, though, and her can-do attitude will scale any glacier. But the freelance photographer paired with her is none other than Benjamin Carter. Ben, her childhood best friend who understood her even when her family didn’t. Ben, her first love—first everything. And Ben, the boy who ghosted her fourteen years ago and left her brokenhearted.

There is a decade’s worth of resentment Mona needs to ignore if she wants to make it through this trip. She’ll put on her “No worries!” façade and hold Ben at a distance. But the more time they spend together, the more the ice around her heart melts. And as those old feelings spark back to life, Mona must decide if she’s willing to go on the biggest adventure of all.

Secret Nights and Northern Lights is the second book I've read in a short span of time that is set in Iceland. I thought that was funny. But I also recognized some of the places from the previous book. At least, I recognized their names and descriptions. I haven't actually visited these places for myself. The scenes came to life through Megan Oliver's description. It was easy to see that she had taken the same or a similar journey as these characters. And then, after the book was over, she states that she did, in fact, take a similar trip. It was obvious through her descriptive writing.

Mona is working as a journalist at a travel magazine. Until recently, she's only been assigned to cover locally. But this is the opportunity of a lifetime, she's being offered an international assignment to Iceland. The only trouble is that she's being assigned a photographer with whom she has a history.

Mona and Ben were once first loves. Ben was best friends with her brothers and was around all the time growing up. They had something special, or so Mona thought. But Ben basically removed himself from their entire family with no word. Mona was heartbroken. Yet she refuses to let her past with him stand in the way of the promotion she's been working toward.

Ben asked for this assignment. The travel magazine that Mona works for has been after him as a photographer for years. But he only agreed to the assignment if he was partnered with Mona. He's read to tell Mona what happened all those years ago, but Mona isn't ready to listen. She just wants to accomplish the job. The only problem is that they are forced together through so many experiences that can't help but bring the two of them together.

I was a little annoyed with Mona. She was heading towards rekindling things with Ben but without being willing to talk to him about what happened to tear them apart all those years ago. How can you consider starting up again when you don't know what went wrong the previous time? It blows my mind.

I will say that a major, MAJOR complaint of mine was the number of GDs used. Some cursing I can skim over. I think there might have been 16ish. I mean multiple uses of this word in a chapter--sometimes as many as three times in a chapter. It was excessive. And I have a particular disdain for this word.

One other small note is that Mona fell asleep on Ben on the airplane and did the whole "waking up so comfortable, not realizing that she's actually snuggled up to him." And then Megan Oliver has her turn around and do this again at another point in the book. I find that to be poor writing. Once is enough if you're going to throw in something cliche like that.

Other than those issues, I did enjoy Secret Nights and Northern Lights. The description of the places that Mona and Ben visited came to life, making me feel like I'd visited them too. I liked the direction Mona went with her article. I liked the backstory and even the reason why Ben left abruptly back when they were still in high school. But all those GDs were killing me. Secret Nights and Northern Lights ultimately gets 3 Stars. Have you read Secret Nights and Northern Lights? What did you think? Let me know!

Threaded Lies - Review

Threaded Lies (Tangled Hearts, # 2)

By: K. Bromberg

Expected Publication: October 14, 2025 by Bramble

352 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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Goodreads description--Holden
I let my guard down.
And got screwed over by a woman without even knowing why.
But it won’t happen again.
Because the only thing I care about is burning this whole place down.

Rowan
Two can play this game.
I gave my heart to a man who set out from the get-go to destroy it.
Now I’m more than ready to show him just who he messed with.
You wanted a war, Holden Knight.
You’ve got one.

Holden Knight has a plan to take down two men and their families that were responsible for the hit and run that killed his brother along with the coverup that resulted. In the previous book, Twisted Knight, you can see that Holden's plan originally included taking down Rowan as well. He had an interaction or two with her twin sister that led him to believe she was the same as the rest of her family, but he has since realized that she isn't. And his plans have changed. But all of the lies that he told at the beginning of the previous book are catching up with him.

Rowan fell in love with Holden. But now she's uncovered a piece of his plan which was to cut her out of the company she has worked so hard to keep going for her grandmother's sake. She loves the company, and she realizes that she never trusted Holden, perhaps with good reasons. She goes about trying to acheive her goal by other means which is to get married so she can get her inheritance. She agrees to marry, Chad, one of the men in Holden's sights and a man that has been in love with her his whole life. Chad knows she isn't agreeing to marry him because she loves him. But he's willing to play his part to get what he wants. Only Rowan begins to see that Holden is keeping up his end of the bargain and giving her all of the things he agreed to.

Language is intense. But thankfully, the physical scenes weren't as intense as the previous book--except maybe the dress scene. There wasn't as many of them, I don't think. It isn't like I counted them. I do wish skipping those spicy scenes was easier to do on audio.

The plot brought me back for this second book. And I do plan to finish the series out. But personal preferences are less language and less spice. I am giving Threaded Lies 3 Stars. If I wasn't already invested, I probably would have skipped this series, but now that I'm here, I need to know what's going to happen in the end. Have you read or listened to Threaded Lies? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Juniper's Christmas

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

Juniper's Christmas

By: Erin Colfer

Publication: October 31, 2023 by Roaring Brook Press

368 pages

Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Christmas

Source: Personal Kindle 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--From the acclaimed, mega-bestselling Eoin Colfer comes a heartwarming, adventurous Christmas the perfect gift for readers of all ages who believe in the power of hope, kindness, and holiday magic.

Eleven-year-old Juniper Lane is thrown into a Christmas adventure like no other when she seeks the help of a mysterious woodsman living in her local park, who she suspects is Santa himself, and accidentally gets exposed to North Pole magic. Join a boisterous cast of characters―including a neighbor who always believed in Santa, a young reindeer in training, and a cutthroat crime boss out to steal Santa’s magic―on an unpredictable journey bursting with Eoin Colfer’s signature exuberance and merriment. Complete with cheerful, festive illustrations, this is a beautifully packaged tale of wonder, sure to inspire the Christmas spirit in the whole family.

Celebrate the holidays with a story of hope, magic, and saving Santa Claus, from a celebrated author beloved for his spirited storytelling. Juniper’s Christmas is the perfect holiday read, year after year.

I have been wanting to read a seasonal read-aloud book with my kids for a few years. It never lined up for us to start a new read-aloud at a time that made sense to begin a Christmas book until this past year. We started Juniper's Christmas on December 5th, but we didn't finish until March 11th. We typically read every other night, but when activities make us late for bed, we skip reading those nights. So, it took WAY too long to read this book.

The book starts with Juniper's mom, Jennifer, going missing. Juniper is immediately thrust into a highly stressful and traumatic life event. Her father died shortly before the events of this book. So she has no guardian to look after her. Her parents have both been involved in charitable work, so a homeless lady, Duchess, who is familiar with the family and has babysat for Juniper before, steps in as her temporary guardian until Jennifer can be found. However, Juniper stumbles upon a man Duchess says can help her, and Juniper is convinced that he is Santa Claus, who has been missing for nearly 10 years. There are many layers to this book.

The high stakes had my kids invested in what was happening and what had happened to Juniper's mom from the beginning. The fictional world revolving around Santa Claus was done respectfully. I wasn't worried about my kids' belief being shattered. There is plenty of magic to be had, but I stressed ahead of time that this was a fictional story.

Why has Santa been missing for 10 years? What happened to Juniper's mom? Will the charity event that Juniper's dad was always involved in around Christmas continue? Or will it be shut down by selfish adults and thieves? What will happen now that Juniper has bonded with a reindeer? To top things off, Santa must pull out the wish list letters from his sack this year or Christmas will be destroyed forever. Many questions needed to be answered. Many challenges were wrapped together into one big ball. However, even with all of that, there were too many lulls in the story for my liking. That being said, our reading pace could have caused this particular feeling.

The writing style wasn't my favorite. It's hard to describe why. For one, I regularly stumbled when reading aloud because the words I expected to come next weren't the actual words. I imagine that many of the words used were based on some actual language I'm unfamiliar with. Skara, gifslaad, timboble, Tomescu, Sarika, etc. Being unfamiliar with the language of origin caused me to stumble even more. These would have been even more difficult words for a child reading this book on their own. A few comments were made that are mountain out of molehill things with ideology, but I noted them anyway. Nothing too severe or inappropriate for children, but noted regardless.

Favorite quote:

-"Mean words are the fruit of a sad tree," so Juniper couldn't help wondering what sad thing was making Rusty so mean.

-People are not born mean, and usually the journey from kind to mean is a long and torturous one filled with harsh life lessons...

Juniper's Christmas started off with a bang in the emotional stakes of Juniper's mom going missing. This created a desire to keep reading to find out what happened to her. However, I personally found there to be some lulls in the story, and I wasn't as interested in Trude Madden or her part of the story. Juniper's Christmas wasn't quite the Christmas story I was looking for. My 9-year-old daughter enjoyed it more than my 7-year-old son. Juniper's Christmas was just okay for me, so it gets 3 Stars. Have you or your child read Juniper's Christmas? What did you think? Let me know!

All Things Halloween Review - Iron & Embers

Iron & Embers (The Ashes of Thezmarr, # 1)

By: Helen Scheuerer

Publication: January 28, 2025 by Alchemy

614 pages

Genre: 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--“I’ve made no secret of what I want... You. It’s always been you.”

Wren Embervale, alchemist-turned-assassin, finds solace in only one thing: seeking vengeance for the death of her friends. The wars of the past may be over, but her thirst for revenge is far from quenched.

For years, she has been content with her poisons and potions for company, but when an unknown form of alchemy is used to attack a king of the midrealms, Wren’s time in the shadows comes to an end.

She’s offered a place at the ancient alchemy academy of Drevenor to find a cure to the dark magic threatening the kingdoms. To win her spot, she must conquer the Gauntlet, a grueling series of deadly trials that could cost her sanity, or her life.

More is at play than sabotage from fellow competitors. Magic wielders are being targeted and Wren becomes tangled in a dangerous web of deception and bloodshed that puts the entire realm at risk.

But the biggest threat of all might come from the man assigned to protect her—Torj Elderbrock, the silver-haired war hero who has hated her since she assassinated his last charge.

Their shared history ignites a simmering tension that threatens to consume them both.

Peace is fragile, trust is scarce and enemies lurk around every corner… Will love heal all wounds—or will it be the most lethal poison of all?

Iron & Embers is the breathtaking first installment in the epic fantasy romance series, The Ashes of Thezmarr. With its lush world-building, sizzling chemistry, and heart-pounding action it’s perfect for fans of Fourth Wing, From Blood & Ash, and The Bridge Kingdom.

Wren was one of my favorite character from The Legends of Thezmarr series. Torj also. But Wren has been through a lot. The war in the previous series left her broken and hurting. And as a result, she pushed everyone she loved away. She allowed herself to become filled with bitterness and anger. And she wanted revenge on those still alive who didn't "pay" the ultimate price for their participation in the downfall of the realms and ultimately the death of her sister and countless others. I don't do well with a victim mentality. And that's definitely the place were Wren started and spent a good portion of this book.

Because of the bad mental space that Wren finds herself in, Audra won't recommend her to the alchemy academy of Drevenor that has been Wren's dream for years. But she finally makes it in, and Wren must turn her mental state around or she won't survive. But her place isn't garunteed and she has to make it past the gauntlet to be allowed true entry into her studies.

Torj and Wren haven't yet shared too much together. But their draw to each other was obvious. Torj is assigned to guard Wren as one of the last Embervale sisters and heir to the crown. The tensions between them can't help but bubble to the surface with all of their close contact. Especially since not all the evil in the realm has been conquerered. Magic weilders have begun to be targeted. And that means Wren isn't safe anymore.

I liked Wren and Torj, but I was really, really annoyed at the decisions made at the end of the book. I know that's because the main characters in a series can't really be together in the first book. There must be some kind of conflict to split them apart that they must overcome over the next however many books. Yet it felt out of characters, out of the blue, and such an overused plot devices that I couldn't help but roll my eyes. I mean this event itself took down my Star rating an entire point. It took a perfectly good book into the "meh" category for me. And even though I plan to continue the series, this ending has me not rushing out to pick up book 2 even though it's been published for several months as this point.

On page spice and language are present in high amounts. More than I prefer. So if this is a deal-breaker for you then Iron and Embers isn't going to be the book for you.

Favorite quote:

-"I had no idea they would be used in this way." "Nor do most creators envision their work being used for evil when they're deep in the throes of innovation. But there is danger in inventions, risk in all design. You will come to learn that here at Drevenor."

I liked this quote because it is so true. Evil is evil. And evil people with evil intentions will find a way to accomplsih their evil purposes one way or the other. And it sucks when something was created for good but those evil people use it for their evil purposes.

-"Shut up and eat your sweets, Warsword."

Iron and Embers was overall a frustrating read for me. I was annoyed with Wren and her mental state through the beginning of the book. The middle of the book was the most enjoyable. That is about all I can say without spoilers. And the ending was a load of horse mess. I'm giving Iron and Embers 3 Stars. Have you read Iron & Embers? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

All Things Halloween Review - A Soul of Ash & Blood

A Soul of Ash and Blood (Ash and Blood, # 5)

By: Jennifer L Armentrout

Publication: July 18, 2023 by Blue Box Press

712 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Vampire, Werewolves

Source: Borrowed from 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--TA great primal power has risen. The Queen of Flesh and Fire has become the Primal of Blood and Bone—the true Primal of Life and Death. And the battle Casteel, Poppy, and their allies have been fighting has only just begun. Gods are awakening across Iliseeum and the mortal realm, readying for the war to come.

But when Poppy falls into stasis, Cas faces the very real possibility that the dire, unexpected consequences of what she is becoming could take her away from him. Cas is given some advice, though—something he plans to cling to as he waits to see her beautiful eyes open once more: Talk to her.

And so, he does. He reminds Poppy how their journey began, revealing things about himself that only Kieran knows in the process. But it’s anybody’s guess what she’ll wake to or exactly how much of the realm and Cas will have changed when she does.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. But this time, Hawke gets to tell the tale.

I really waffled on whether or not to read A Soul of Ash and Bone. I'm over the retelling of a story from the opposite perspective for the most part. If a story needs two perspectives, then write it that way from the beginning. However, I decided to continue in this series, and read it because it is listed as a main book and not an in-between story. I will say that one event toward the ending makes it feel like you probably don't need to skip this book if you want to continue the series without being confused when book 6, The Primal of Blood and Bone, is released. However, maybe you could just search that spoiler if you don't want to relive the events of From Blood and Ash.

All of that being said, it's been over four years since I read From Blood and Ash, so I thought I wouldn't mind the refresher. I did like that Jennifer L Armentrout decided to have Casteel tell Poppy his version of the events for a purpose. You'd have to read this book to understand what I mean.

Upon my re-read, I felt like the language was much worse than the first book. This is probably because Casteel uses worse language than Poppy in general, but also Poppy was The Maiden at this point in the story and much more subdued than she is in the current books. The spicy scenes seemed even more spicy than before as well. Again, maybe from a male's perspective. And, I just have to say that the relationship between Casteel, Poppy, and Kieran is so weird. I feel like JLA forgot her audience. I know this series is rated for adults, yet it feels like you get invested and then thrown into a weird menage situation that you dreaded she might have been alluding to, but thought surely not. There are no specific menage scenes in A Soul of Ash and Blood, thank goodness, but there were enough weird comments. I just cannot fathom Casteel wanting to share his heartmate with someone else, even Kieran. It's just so weird. And I am still teetering on the idea of DNFing the series if this continues.

Another pet peeve of mine is that these characters keep evolving into greater and stronger, more powerful beings. Poppy has gone from The Maiden to half-Altantian, Princess to Queen, Goddess to Primal, and I'm probably forgetting some steps in between. Now Casteel has his own transformations that are taking place. I know this is a fantasy series, but this just seems so far beyond the realm of possibility. But I guess they have to keep getting stronger because they keep facing bigger and bigger villains as well. I just end up rolling my eyes every time some new level is unlocked.

In the end, I've found this series to be more and more disappointing as the books have gone by instead of getting better and better. I'm holding out hope for the *last book to be redeeming or at the very least, closure. In many ways, I feel like you could skip A Soul of Ash and Blood. it was okay, and I'd rate it 3 Stars. Maybe 3.5. Have you read A Soul of Ash and Blood? What did you think? Let me know!

*I wrote this review back in February 2025 to save for my "All Things Halloween" series. Since writing this review, Jennifer L Armentrout has announced that she will be splitting "book 6" into two books.

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

Homeschool Friday - Calling All Cars & Tell Time with Thomas

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

Calling All Cars!

By: Sonia Sander

Publication: February 28, 2017 by Scholastic Inc.

32 pages

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

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Description--Explore the world of LEGO City!

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

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

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

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

Tell the Time with Thomas

By: Christopher Awdry

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

24 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Book, Learning

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads )

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

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

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

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

A Wild Hope - Review

A Wild Hope (Wild Swan Trilogy, # 1)

By: Celeste De Blasis

Publication: October 8th 2020 by Bookouture (first published 1984)

843 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Banished from her uncaring family home for her growing friendship with older neighbor St. John, Alexandria Thaine is unprepared for the new life she encounters with her distant cousins in England’s West Country. She blossoms under the warmth of the Falconers, and as she throws herself into the thrilling danger of the family’s smuggling trade, Alex forms an unbreakable bond with the eldest son, Rane.

But just as Alex begins to imagine a future in Devon with Rane at her side, the death of her older sister forces her back home to care for her sister’s motherless twins. Still yearning for Rane, Alex grows to love the helpless babies, and as she rekindles her friendship with St. John, she finds herself caught between her heart and her home.

When the opportunity comes to start anew in Maryland’s lush horse country, Alex faces the agonizing choice between the life she dreamed of and the promise of the new world. But starting over in a golden land on the brink of war brings unforeseen dangers to her door, and when Alex’s new family is threatened, can she find the strength to risk her happiness today for the wild hope of a brighter tomorrow?

The sweeping, epic and emotional novel by beloved storyteller Celeste De Blasis, available in eBook for the first time. Perfect for readers who love Poldark, Outlander and Daphne du Maurier.

A Wild Hope was originally published as Wild Swan.

The description of A Wild Hope is what drew me in and caused me to request this book for review back in 2020. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that it was 843 pages long. And more than anything, the length of the book put me off picking it up time and time again.

A Wild Hope starts with Alex being a young girl. She's unloved by her mother and older sister. Her father loves her, but he can't bring himself to stand up for her against her mother. Her grandmother has a special love for her and does her best to pour love and knowledge into her whenever she can. However, Alex's mother hates the time she spends with her grandmother as well. At some point, Alex's sister gets engaged to a neighbor with whom Alex has always had a special bond. Alex warns him that the two of them won't suit each other and will only make each other miserable. This causes a big stink. And her grandmother arranges for Alex to go stay with some distant relatives to get away from any harm her mother and sister might cause her. The relatives share a great great great grandfather or something like that. And there, Alex finds a home and love of all kinds. 

Rane and Alex have a special relationship. Rain is 4 years older than Alex, I believe. Not much, but enough to be considered an adult, whereas she is still a child. Alex stays with his family for about a year, which is long enough for Rane to realize that he's in love with her. Yet he won't act on his feelings until Alex is sixteen. Waiting is hard for him, but he is trying to do the right thing. 

Alex is called home by her mother. Her older sister died shortly after childbirth to twins. Alex is needed essentially to care for the twins. The hope Alex feels in being useful to her mother so that her mother might finally love her is heartbreaking. Leaving the family that has accepted her and loved her as their own is heartbreaking. Alex begins to care for the twins as if they were her own until St. John comes back from the war. But when he does return, he's been wounded in battle--essentially, he's lost his arm. Alex and her grandmother, along with St. John's manservant and the wet nurse for the twins, nurse him back to health. St. John has no qualms about waiting until Alex is 16, unlike Rane. He takes advantage of her--albeit she's as willing as possible given her age-- but then decides to try to do right by her and marry her. The only problem is that their marriage won't be sanctioned by the church since St. John was married to Alex's sister. The two claim marriage, but it isn't legal by any means.

Early marriage is rocky for them. St. John is used to living the life of a gentleman who doesn't need to work for money. Alex takes on the responsibility of the finances, and eventually, he comes on board with a plan of his own--horse racing. Alex uses the skills her grandmother taught her to be a healer of sorts. People pay her in coins, food, and various other trade items. Their intimate relationship is also rocky. St. John takes his pleasure with no thought to Alex, it seems. And then Rane shows up on Alex's 16th birthday, ready to ask for her hand in marriage.

I need to pause and discuss some of how I felt about the story up until this point before I go any further. The writing style for A Wild Hope is very different from modern novels. This book was all tell and very little show. Any character was open to popping into the narrative with their point of view randomly. The narrator told so much of the story instead of the reader witnessing the story through the experiences and mind of the main character. Because so much time was spent on Alex's time in Devon with Rane's family, and because we got to see the extent of the bond between Alex and Rane, it was nearly impossible not to root for them. Yet, once Alex married St. John, I couldn't support any cheating physically or emotionally. She chose her path. And she needs to stick with it, even with a rocky marriage. 

Rane stays a few days before leaving. He'd hoped that Alex would go with him because she was not legally married, but she wouldn't leave St. John, and good for her. Except for the adultery, she had to live with. Her brief time with Rane showed her that the intimate time between a husband and wife can be enjoyable for both parties. And basically, her time with him in turn saved her marriage with St. John. After Alex and St. John's daughter Christinia died, Alex needed to get away from England. Get away from proximity to her mother, and St. John's family, who had cut him off, get away from memories of where Christinia died, memories of Rane and her adultery with him (although she couldn't fully leave that behind since Morgan was born). They decide to go to Maryland. 

In America, they are finally able to set up their lives on a farm, raising racehorses. It takes time. The book covers a span of about 18 years, I think. Which begins to make sense why it was 800+ pages long. Rane has also relocated to Maryland and owns his own ships while partnering with Caleb Jennings--a man he and Alex saved back in Devon. Rane is also married, but his wife is insane. It was hard to know if she was literally insane or if she was just a narcissist. It seemed like more than anything, she just didn't want anyone, especially Rane, to be happy. 

I don't want to discuss the character's time in America too in depth. There's much to unpack there. But again...800+ pages. Alex and St. John ended up having a good life and a good marriage. Of all the characters, I felt bad for Rane. He spent his life pining for a girl he fell in love with at 18 years old. He spent at least 18 years unable to be truly happy. He tied himself to a woman who was miserable and made everyone around her miserable. I also felt sorry for St. John. Coming home from the war, wounded as he was, was a big adjustment for him. His wife was unfaithful and continued to share a special bond with another man despite her love for him. One of the children he believed to be his wasn't. His path was just a little sad. Even though I didn't really like how he swooped in on Alex when he was vulnerable, and she was as well. 

Alex is a character that I didn't hate. But when I analyze her, I struggle. She turned away from God because the church in England did not allow her and St. John to get married. If she spent any time reading her Bible, she would know that God Himself would not have opposed her marriage. And we can't equate God with the failings of man. I couldn't support her relationship with Rane after she married St. John. Obviously, there was the infidelity. And even though once they moved to the United States, her relationship with Rane never crossed any boundaries, the bond between the two was still there. I have a few more issues with her, but I don't want to spoil any more than I already have. 

There isn't much cursing at all. A few words. But nothing at all like today's books. And the physical scenes are present but brief. It's tame compared to today's books that include these scenes. But if you'd rather it not be included at all, now you know.

Considering this book was originally published in 1983, I was surprised at the number of errors--misspellings, incorrect or missing words, etc. 

Favorite quotes:

-She could see that the child was drawn to love as a moth to flame, and she was resolved that Alexandria would have the warmth and the light without the harm.

-It occurred to her that there were forms of poverty that had nothing to do with physical hunger.

-He thought how curious it was that a father's greatest hope was that his son should become a fine man, and yet, it was so hard to relinquish the child.

-"It's much more enjoyable to look and know that I don't have to decide."

-"You can have anything, but you cannot have everything."

And one quote that I disliked:

-"To tell St. John might relieve your burden in some paroxysm of self-abasement and confession, but it would do only hurt to him."

I don't agree with that statement at all. I think all parties who have something hidden from them would prefer to have the knowledge of the secret. I'm sure there are exceptions, but in general, one wants to choose for themselves, and without all the information, the choice is taken from them. In the case of Alex and St. John, it worked out as far as we know, yet I can't say it was for the best. Especially, I can't say that keeping a secret such as she did was for St. John's good. 

I am so glad that I no longer have A Wild Hope hanging over my head, taunting me that I haven't read it in 5 years. I apologize to the publisher who granted me access to this title that it's been so long before I got it read and reviewed. I was hooked on the story even though the writing style is so different from modern books. The length was nearly obnoxious. I often felt like putting it down for a breather, but then something would happen and I would have the opportunity to read. I pushed forward and would find myself hooked into the story again. Yet, I can't condone much of the actions of the main characters. And that makes it hard to recommend this book. In the end, I think A Wild Hope gets 3 Stars. Have you read A Wild Hope? What did you think? Let me know!

Tale of the Heart Queen - Review

Tale of the Heart Queen (Artefacts of Ouranos, # 4)

By: Nisha J Tuli

Publication: November 26, 2024 by Forever

672 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Fae

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--After Lor makes the biggest mistake of her life, she finds herself on the run from the Aurora King and decides it's time to end this, once and for all. But when a new enemy emerges to claim her freedom, the entire fate of Ouranos comes to rest on her shoulders.

As the land continues to rebel, Lor must admit she is the key to saving the continent, whether she likes it or not. To fight for Nadir, she must lie, steal, and do whatever it takes to hunt down the remaining arks. Growing more and more desperate, she worries her actions are turning her into something she doesn't recognize, dooming her to repeat her grandmother's mistakes.

When the Aurora King finally comes for her, Lor ventures into the Underworld's shadowy depths, where, once again, she finds herself at the heart of another deadly test. Only this time, she’s competing for everyone's future, not just a crown.

The only thing Lor ever wanted was to be free, but she may soon find she was always destined for a cage.

I was torn on even wanting to start Tale of the Heart Queen. If you haven't read the previous books in the series, be warned that spoilers for the previous books will be involved in this review.

Lor and Nadir start this book separated. Lor thinks she's killed Nadir by accidentally striking him with her lightning power that she can't control while trying to strike his father instead. Nadir is kidnapped by Zerra and held for ransom to get Lor to steal some objects that Zerra needs from one of the other kingdoms. Lor has to go on a mission to find that object. At the same time, Zerra plans to marry Nadir herself as a replacement for Herric, who hurt her many years ago. 

Gabriel is also a narrator. He's left in the Aphelion to pick up the pieces after exposing Atlas for stealing the crown from his brother, Tyr. Tyr isn't in a place to be the king after his ordeal. Yet, he is still the reigning king. Gabriel is needed for the support of the kingdom as well as stability for Tyr. He has a romance building with Hylene, but there isn't too much time spent on that. His story was in place mostly for resolution for the Sun Kingdom, which is where a large portion of the story takes place over the series. 

I have enjoyed Nadir and Lor's story, but when things went to a higher level to include Zerra, Heric, and Lor's grandparents, I lost interest in that part of the story. I thought the series probably would have been just as enjoyable without the higher level of conflict. Had Nadir's father just been evil and attempted to steal Heart's power for himself to become a more powerful king than the others in Ouranos, I would have enjoyed that more. Zerra and Heric were particularly unnecessary in my opinion. Lor's grandparents' story could be arguably necessary because it adds to the conflict of Heart regaining its power and Lor and Nadir being Primaries over their respective territories. 

Now I need to discuss Rion, Nadir's father. I don't want to spoil anything for readers who haven't read this book yet. So highlight for spoilers: I'm all for a redemption story. But this happened way too quickly. Nadir's father has been built up as the pinnacle of evil throughout this entire series. And all of a sudden, we find out that it is really because he had his heart broken. He was in love with a woman, Rachel. But he slipped up and got another woman pregnant, Nadir's mother. He ended up marrying and bonding with Nadir's mother for his crown, despite not caring for her at all. And he proceeded to hate her over time, as well as the two children she bore him. He tortured Lor for years while she was in prison. Yet we learn he's been prodded by Herric all this time. And he basically loses it in this book. He goes from the ultimate bad to a sniveling pawn. Again, I'm all for a redemption story. No one is incapable of being redeemed. Everyone is capable of change through Jesus. Yet this happening was so jarring and out of character development that I couldn't get on board with it. I can't believe the path Nisha J Tuli chose for him. It didn't feel honest. It didn't feel authentic. It felt like a convenient plot hole filler. 

While I'm in spoiler mode: what about the innkeeper that Nadir and Lor stayed at. Is that not Rachel in truth? Rion believed her to be dead, but I wondered if she were really alive and if Herric was lying to him about her being in the Underworld. Nothing was said about it, so either this was left unaddressed on purpose, this was a hole, or I was reaching.

Another thing I want to address is a pet peeve of mine. I don't drink alcohol. It feels like I'm in the minority when it comes to like the entire world, although Google says only 32% of the world population drinks (how they know, I have no idea). But I get so frustrated in literature when drinking alcohol to forget or escape problems is used. I suppose there are times when we are discussing alcoholism where this would make the most sense to include, but it's mentioned so often in books in this way that I feel like the world has begun to believe that this is how one handles one's problems. Escaping through alcohol and/or drugs. It isn't healthy. And I'm kind of tired of seeing it in books. Is this a case of life imitating art or art imitating life? Do people drink to drown their problems because that's what's natural to them, and thus, people write about it? Or do people do it because they've seen it so much on TV and in literature that they just do it because that's what they're told is supposed to be done? Getting off my soapbox now.

Only to hop back on. I have always struggled with books that focus on diversity for diversity's sake. I suppose this can be done in a way that isn't as in-your-face, but this series checks nearly every diversity box available. If this is something that bugs you, I thought you might like to know. If you like this to be in your books, now you know. 

Tale of the Heart Queen was okay. I am glad that I finished the series. I did prefer the first two books in the series over the last two. It wasn't without problems for me. I felt like the conflict was forced in some areas and would have been better served to have been simplified a bit. Even though I love a redemption story, Rion's character path was so jarring and felt inauthentic with his journey up until this book. I still rooted for Lor and Nadir. Overall, Tale of the Heart Queen gets 3 Stars. Have you read Tale of the Heart Queen? What did you think? Let me know! 

A Wager with the Matchmaker - Review

A Wager with the Matchmaker (A Shanahan Match, # 3)

By: Jody Hedlund

Publication: May 6, 2025 by Bethany House Publishers

352 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--After her brother's entanglement with an Irish gang threatens their family's safety, Alannah Darragh flees St. Louis and her troubled past, seeking refuge as a maid for the affluent Shanahan family. Alannah's resolve to avoid romance is tested by the undeniable attraction she feels for Kiernan Shanahan. Determined to maintain her position and the safety it provides, she vows to resist the pull of her heart despite the growing bond between them and their undeniable chemistry.

In the wake of a devastating fire, Kiernan Shanahan sees a shrewd opportunity to invest in a clay mine and brickyard to aid the city's rebuilding. To secure his venture, he seeks a wealthy bride with a substantial dowry. However, the matchmaker he consults has different plans. As danger looms and Alannah fights to keep her brother safe, Kiernan's protective instincts draw them closer together, but a future with him seems too far out of reach. It will take a miracle--or a wager with the wily matchmaker--to bring the unlikely couple together.

Be swept away in a tale of love, danger, and destiny in this captivating historical romance from bestselling author Jody Hedlund.

So I've read 12 books by Jody Hedlund. After a while, you start to get a feel for an author. Some of her books I've rated 4 Stars and some 3 Stars. I don't think I've had a 5-star book from her yet, but she's been consistent. One of the things I like about her is that her books are clean, often Christian fiction, yet they don't deny physical attraction and longing. She can bring some yearning into her books. At the same time, the last three I've read by her (including this one), felt almost like a formula. They each felt either lacking in an area that I couldn't describe, or they felt rushed. I did miss the second book in the A Shanahan Match series. I hope to come back to read it eventually. 

Basically, Alannah is being sheltered at Kieran's sister's house as a maid. Her brother got entangled in an Irish gang upon arriving in St. Louis. Unfortunately, that means his loved ones are in danger from the backlash of his trying to get away from this gang. Kieran is attracted to Alannah and wants to see her settled and protected. Of course, he doesn't immediately consider himself as an option for protecting her, even though he takes on the responsibility of finding her suitable work. Sometimes I'm all about forbidden love stories, and other times I'm frustrated with the characters for making poor choices. I found that I was unhappy with the characters choosing to spend time together alone in what would have been a compromising position had they been discovered. Yet. I wanted to root for them at the same time. 

Favorite quotes:

-"The only sure thing about luck is that it will change."

-"You never miss the water till the well has run dry."

-"We cannot be blaming the problems we create on God."

-"God could turn His nose up at us for all the times we think we know best and go our own way. But He doesn't. Instead, He's there offering to help clean up our problems and walk with us through them."

-"Maybe you're expecting God to answer your prayers the way you think He should when He's actually answering the way He knows is best."

-"Doncha be prodding me along without telling me where you're pushing me."

All of that being said, A Wager with the Matchmaker was not my favorite Jody Hedlund book. They can't all be the best. I have been a little frustrated with the last three books that I've read by her, yet I still plan to read more because I've read enough of her books to know what she's capable of writing. A Wager with the Matchmaker gets 3 Stars. I'm looking forward to Bellamy & Zaira's story. Have you read A Wager with the Matchmaker? What did you think? Let me know!

Blood of the Old Kings - Review

Blood of the Old Kings (Old Erth, # 1)

By: Sung-Il Kim

Publication: October 8, 2024 by Tor Books

368 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Dragons

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Blood of the Old Kings begins an epic adventure in which three strangers journey through a vast Empire that uses the power of dead wizards to conquer and subdue, from award-winning author Sung-il Kim and translated by the highly-acclaimed Anton Hur.

Powered by the corpses of sorcerers, the Empire has conquered the world. It claims to have brought peace and stability to its conquered lands, but some see that peace for what it is—a lie—and will give everything in the fight against it.

Loran is desperate for revenge after the Empire killed her family, so much so that the swordswoman climbs the volcano where the legends say an ancient dragon slumbers and leaps in. She finds that the legends are true, and Loran leaves the mountain with a sword made of dragon’s fang and a great purpose before her.

Cain arrived in the Imperial Capital lost and orphaned, and it’s only thanks to the kindness of a stranger-turned-mentor that he survived on the city’s streets. When his friend is found murdered, he will leave no stone unturned to find those responsible, even if it means starting a war.

Arienne’s future has never been in question—born a sorcerer, she’ll be a Power Generator for the Empire upon her death. But when she starts to hear the voice of a powerful necromancer in her head, she realizes the only thing more terrifying than dying for the Empire is never getting to truly live in the first place.

When peace is a lie, there is power in truth—and as Loran, Cain, and Arienne hunt for answers in their own lives, any one of their small rebellions could be the stone that brings the Empire toppling down.

Coming off Onyx Storm I just wanted more dragons. So when I saw Blood of the Old Kings available for audiobook review, I decided to check it out. Even though I often read fantasy, this isn't the normal fantasy type of book I read. Having it on audio is probably the only way I finished Blood of the Old Kings. As a matter of fact, I listened to three hours in one day because I was driving my kids on a field trip out of town. This allowed me to get invested in the story a little. And then I just listened a little at a time here and there until I finished it.

There are three main characters and three audio narrators. Each did a wonderful job. I appreciated having different narrators for each POV. Eunice Wong, Major Curda, and Suzy Jackson were the narrators.

The book starts with Loran climbing into the volcano where the last fire dragon is chained. She makes a deal with him, and he gifts her a fang used as a sword. She then starts calling herself the Princess of Arland (*sp?). After taking on a group of legionary soldiers on her own and rescuing another man, people begin to spread the word of the Princess of Arland. Hope sparks anew in their bellies, and rebellion grows against the Empire. 

Arienne is born a sorcerer and is on a path to becoming a power generator. Power generators are kind of terrifying. They are dead sorcerers hooked up to machines using their magic to power things from lights to machines to this mysterious circuit of destiny. Arienne hears a voice in her head of a long-dead sorcerer who has been turned into a power generator. The sorcerer has plans of his own, but in the process, he helps Airenne discover power she didn't know she had. 

Cain is a collector of favors. He doesn't collect them for power, but because he genuinely enjoys helping people when he can. He's trying to carry on the gift given to him when he showed up in the capital alone. He does interact with Arienne. And then Arienne interacts with Loran. So in a way, all of the stories are tied together. 

Overall, I enjoyed Blood of the Old Kings. It was entertaining. I didn't dread listening to it, but I didn't feel compelled to keep listening. I always prefer stories with romances, but this was missing a romance altogether. Not all stories need them. And it would have been weird for this book to have had one, I think. But I still prefer to read relationship-driven books over plot-driven ones. Blood of the OId Kings gets 3.5 Stars. I don't think I'll continue the series. Have you read (or listened to) Blood of the Old Kings? What did you think? Let me know!

*Since I listened to the audiobook, I have no way of knowing the spelling of various characters and places within the story. Goodreads provided me with character name spellings, but the places were not listed.

Homeschool Friday - The Giver

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 Giver (The Giver, # 1)

By: Lois Lowry

Publication: April 26, 1993

225 pages

Genre: Middle Grade, Science Fiction, Dystopian

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Life in the community where Jonas lives is idyllic. Designated birthmothers produce new children, who are assigned to appropriate family units; one male, one female, to each. Citizens are assigned their partners and their jobs. No one thinks to ask questions. Everyone obeys. Their community is a precisely choreographed world without conflict, inequality, divorce, unemployment, injustice ... or choice.

Everyone is the same.

Except Jonas.

At the Ceremony of Twelve, the community's twelve-year-olds eagerly accept their predetermined Life Assignments. But Jonas is chosen for something special. He begins instruction in his life's work with a mysterious old man known only as The Giver. Gradually, Jonas learns that power lies in feelings. But when his own power is put to the test -- when he must try to save someone he loves -- he may not be ready. Is it too soon? Or too late?

At 38 years old, I've finally experienced Lois Lowry. I listened to The Giver on a family vacation while driving there and home. Middle Grade isn't my favorite, but I'm reading more in this age range to offer my kids suggestions when the time comes. 

I was easily hooked into this story of The Giver. I could easily see myself recommending this to my kids. As the story progressed, I questioned whether I would still recommend it. The world-building happened at just the right pace. At first, the reader doesn't notice much difference between the fantasy world The Giver is set in compared to the real world. Slowly, differences emerged. And the differences and Jonas's reaction to them propel the reader forward. 

Jonas begins the book at 11 years old. And he will soon participate in the Ceremony of Twelve where the kids his age will be given a job to help the community. Jonas is given a "special" job. And it's this job that the majority of the story is about. But I can't discuss it in detail because that would be spoilers. 

Parts of this story didn't feel appropriate for younger children. But I guess I am more of a sheltering parent than most. And if you really get analytical about some aspects of this world things do begin to break down. 

As someone who doesn't love ambiguity, I can't say I loved the ending. Yet the unique world and wanting to learn more propelled me to keep listening. At the same time, I'm not sure if I want to recommend this book to my kids or others. I guess I give The Giver 3 Stars. Have you read (or listened to) The Giver? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Look for the Lorax

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.

Look for the Lorax

By: Tish Rabe

Publication: January 10, 2012 by Random House Books for Young Readers

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Level-1 Readers, Early Reading, Step Into Reading

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--Look out for the Lorax! Dr. Seuss's lovable grump makes his Step into Reading debut in this wonderland adventure through hills of green where the Truffula trees sway. Through easy words and simple sentences, the youngest readers will discover the Lorax's paradise, from singing Swomee-Swans to playful Bar-ba-loots.

We're going through our collection of Step-1 or Level-1 readers with my now 7-year-old. He could probably advance to level-2 at this point, but I want to finish up the Level-1/Step-1 books that we have. He picked Look for the LORAX thinking there would be a hide-and-seek element to the book. There's not. Don't be confused. The Lorax isn't hiding at all. The "story" mentions some things that the Lorax sees.

Look for the LORAX is written in a style reminiscent of Dr. Seuss, meaning there is a rhyming scheme. I like that it repeats phonetic principles so that the child can see how changing just a few letters here or there makes a similar but different word. And I like that the Step-1 readers we have are a mix of repetitive words and phrases as well as repetitive phonics principles.

Look for the LORAX gets 3 Stars. It's fine. It's good. The title is a little confusing. And there's nothing wrong with it. But I wasn't overly impressed with anything. Have you or your child read Look for the LORAX? What did you think? Let me know!

Lady Anna's Favor - Review

Lady Anna's Favor

By: Karen Tuft

Expected Publication: November 26, 2024 by Shadow Mountain

272 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--London, England, 1814

Lady Anna Clifton will stop at nothing to find her missing brother—even if it means working alongside the dashingly handsome but sometimes infuriating Mr. Jennings, who just might steal her heart.

Lady Anna Clifton has arrived in London with a purpose known only to a few. Her soldier brother has been reported wounded and missing in France, and if he is dead, his title and their family’s estate will go to a horrible distant cousin, and Lady Anna will be homeless. Desperate to find her brother alive, she contacts old family friends, the Bledsoes, who vow to help her in any way they can. However, Lord Bledsoe’s efforts come up empty, except from the Duke of Aylesham, who offers his yacht to carry her to France when Anna decides she must look for her brother there herself.

James cannot board the Duke of Aylesham’s yacht to take him to France fast enough. After his sister’s rushed marriage to the duke himself, James wants nothing more than to enjoy a relaxing journey back to Paris before rejoining England’s diplomatic war efforts against Napoleon. When he boards the ship, he cannot deny his instant attraction to the strikingly beautiful young woman who will be joining him across the sea. But when he receives only a cold reception from her, James dismisses her outright—until he learns the tragic reason she has set out on such a perilous journey. As infuriating as Lady Anna’s brash behavior and indifference to him is, her search seems much too dangerous for a young lady of the ton to undertake alone, so James reluctantly offers to assist her in her quest.

Together, they embark on a search that will take them across the sea and through France to uncover the truth all while trying to reconcile their differences and the preconceived notions they have about each other. With every step, they come closer to solving the mystery surrounding Lady Anna’s brother’s disappearance—but each step also pushes their hearts closer together.

First, I wish this book was listed as at least 3rd in a series. There could be even more prior books that I'm unaware of. But I've read The Duke Meets His Match and An Accidental Romance. These books all have connecting characters. James is the lead male character in this story. His sister Rebecca was the leading female in An Accidental Romance. And then James's sister Susan married the Duke of Aylesham in The Duke Meets His Match. I'd at least like to know all of the books that are connected to these stories. 

I've read multiple historical fiction books where a character had a family member or loved one lost during the war. But I can't say that I've ever read any Regency books where the lead female character actually left the country in search of their lost, potentially dead, sibling. I almost couldn't believe that Lady Anna actually went so far as to search for her brother in a foreign country physically. But I'm thankful that even with the help of two male companions (one a servant and one a good-hearted gentleman) the road was filled with challenges and complications. 

Anna is kind-hearted, but she puts her poor servants through it sticking to her mission to hunt down her brother who was injured or killed in the line of duty. Thankfully, James sees that Lady Anna is completely outside her abilities and will face many obstacles and potential danger if she pursues her mission. He can't let her go alone, especially because neither she nor her two servants speak any French. James takes on the mission to help her find her brother. 

There were a lot of mishaps and misfortunes along the way, and I wasn't sure if her brother would be there when they reached their final destination. Wondering if he would be there propelled me even more than wondering if Anna and James would ever acknowledge the tension between themselves. 

Favorite quote:

-"But the sight of the rising sun fills me with awe and reminds me of good days in the past and better days to come."

I can't say that Lady Anna's Favor was my favorite book. Not by far. I did enjoy it. But I probably won't remember the details in the coming days, unfortunately. Sometimes the plot can drive me more than the romance, but those don't seem to be the books I love or the ones that stick with me. Lady Anna's Favor gets 3 Stars. Have you read Lady Anna's Favor? What did you think? Let me know!

Twisted Knight - Review

Twisted Knight (Tangled Hearts, # 1)

By: K. Bromberg

Expected Publication: September 24, 2024 by Bramble

416 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--Kings of Sin meets It Ends With Us in a gritty, heated romance from New York Times bestselling author K. Bromberg.

Holden
They thought they’d managed to get rid of me once and for all. They thought I’d just forget what they did to my brother. But I’m going to make sure that they never forget. If only I can stop thinking about her.

Rowan
No one sees me. Behind my brother, I’m a ghost, managing the family business that he claims to run. But I’m tired of second fiddle. I’m tired of pretending. I’m going to take what’s mine. The only problem? Well, he just came back to town.

First, I mentally missed that this is the first book in a series, even though I listed it as book 1 in my Sunday Post and on my spreadsheet. Somehow my brain still thought this was a standalone book. So know that Twisted Knight is the first in a series. No idea how many books are intended for the series, but you need to know more than one. Otherwise, you might look up at 90% and realize there's too much left unresolved to be wrapped up in the last 10%. Another thing you should note if you're planning on going into this series is that language and sexual content is HIGH. I thought about DNFing many times based on these two issues alone. The good thing about an audiobook version is that you can click that little 10-second skip-ahead button and breeze through any content that might bother you. But you'd be breezing through such a large portion of this book. The dirty talk was just too much for me guys. I would have laughed in my husband's face if he said some of the stuff to me that Holden said to Rowen. Laughed and laughed and laughed. And then considering so many of the scenes were written from Holden's perspective, so the male narrator, Patrick Zeller, had to perform these scenes (and perform he did!) had me wondering what the narrator thought about these scenes which of course pulled me out of any kind of story. Honestly, I'm not a prude, but I prefer books not filled with so much explicit content. The language and the scenes. So many f-bombs. So so many GDs. I would have DNFd because of these things if I had known there would be a sequel. I thought I would push through and be done. 

Now the actual story content was interesting. Holden HATES the Rothschilds, specifically Rhett Rothschild. He has issues with Chad Williams, Rhett's best friend. And he seems to have a small place of anger toward Rowen but it's unclear why at first. You know that Rhett has somehow offended him in the past but the story is slowly leaked in flashbacks throughout the book. It all makes sense. And you know Holden plans to take down the entire Rothschild family because of this past. But his plan isn't entirely revealed either. 

Poor Rowen is caught up in everyone's games and manipulation. Her brother sells the family company without telling her. This devastates her because she promised her grandmother that she would keep the company in the family's hands and get it back on track. Her mother is trying to marry her off to Chad who she only feels friendship towards. Her grandmother left her money and a seat on the board in her will but only if Rowen meets certain conditions. And Holden is using her to enhance his destruction of the Rothschild family. She's the only one you can really root for in this story because despite who her family is, she's always wanted to be different and hated the role her family has wanted her to play. She isn't at all what Holden expected her to be. Yet I can't fully root for a character that pursues a path she knows she shouldn't just because it feels good. Morally this goes against everything I believe in. 

Ultimately, I liked the story. I wanted to know what happened to Holden for him to hate the Rothschilds so much. And I wanted to see how his plan would unfold. I wanted to see how Rowen fit into the entire story. Yet I found myself almost laughing out loud while cringing at the sex scenes. I debated DNFing especially over the content and language. But I pressed on not realizing until the last 10% that this book is only the first of a series I don't know if I'll continue. In the end, I'm giving this one 3 Stars. Have you read (or listened to) Twisted Knight ? What did you think? Let me know!