Sunday Post - 08/24/25

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

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

THE PAST WEEK

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

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

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

NEW BOOKS:

And Then There Was You

By: Sophie Cousens

Expected Publication: November 18, 2025 by G.P. Putnam's Sons

384 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--From the New York Times bestselling author of This Time Next Year comes another "what if" romance about a floundering young woman who signs up for an unusual dating service to find The One . . . at a special cost.

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

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

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

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

We Met Like This

By: Kasie West

Expected Publication: September 16, 2025 by Saturday Books

368 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

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

Can a swipe right turn into swept away?

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday Post - 08/17/25

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

I'm recapping two weeks since I forgot to post my Sunday Post last week. Monday the 4th, I took the kids to get new tennis shoes for back to school. Tuesday the 5th, my mom and I took the kids to Gulf Shores to visit my sister and niece. We met up with them at Chickfila for lunch. Then we went back to their apartment. We let the kids swim in the pool at their apartment complex. Then they had a little time to play at the apartment before we had to leave to come home. Wednesady the 6th we had a normal day at home. Thursday the 7th, the boys had haircuts that morning. I don't really remember Friday or Saturday that much. I've been fighting sinus gunk since Tuesday the 5th. Monday the 11th was our first day back to school. Big Girl had pitching practice that afternoon. She did really well. Tuesday the 12th, we did some school in the morning and then spent the rest of the day with my parents. It was a rocky morning, but then we had a good period. It ended a bit rocky again. The big kids went to martial arts. Wednesday, was also a challenge. Getting back into the routine of school is expected to have some bumps in the road. Big Boy had batting practice. Our co-op is paused for fall because the church that hosts us is having some rennovations. I plan to do some field trips and park dates on Thursdays in the fall. We didn't go anywhere this time because it was supposed to rain. The big kids had martial arts again. Friday we finished our first week of school. Man this felt like a long week. But we ended the school week on a good note. Saturday was a chill day. I always need some time to recover from the weekend. That's the weekends for me. I have been blowing through some books. I'm reading and listening to one at the same time and so I'm knocking out two at a time.

Side note: My husband has been creating some music. His newest album released on Friday. Check it out on YouTube Music. It streams on all streaming services and can be purchased on Amazon Music too.

THE PAST TWO WEEKS

Monday 8/4: Review of A Wild Hope by Celeste De Blasis (3 Stars)
Friday 8/8: Homeschool Friday - Have Courage by Cheri J Meiners (4.5 Stars)
Monday 8/11: Review of Powerless (The Powerless Trilogy, # 1) by Lauren Roberts (3.5 Stars)
Wednesday 8/13: Can't Wait for A Carol for Mrs. Dickens by Rebecca Connolly
Friday 8/15: Homeschool Friday - Noses Are Not for Picking by Elizabeth Verdick (3.5 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of On Wings of Blood (Bloodwing Academy, # 1) by Briar Boleyn
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait Wednesday?
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Voices Are Not for Yelling

NEW BOOKS:

A Christmas for Mrs. Dickens

By: Rebecca Connolly

Expected Publication: September 23, 2025 by Shadow Mountain Publishing

176 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christmas

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--Catherine Dickens, wife of Charles Dickens, experiences her own Christmas Eve transformation as she magically travels through her cherished memories to rediscover her lost love of Christmas.

By 1851, all of London has fallen in love with A Christmas Carol, heralding Charles Dickens as “the man who invented Christmas.” But for his wife, Catherine, Christmas is less of a reason for celebration and more of a burden. Between hosting lavish parties, decorating her home, and caring for her eight children—with one more on the way—she feels more like Scrooge than herself this year.

But everything changes after a chance encounter with a kitchen cook, who reminds her that Christmas can be a time of miracles and magic, if she is willing to open her heart.

Armed with a magical sprig of holly, Kate embarks on three transformative journeys into her past, hoping to reconnect with the love she once felt for the holiday—and with herself. But can these memories be enough to reignite her Christmas spirit? Or are such miraculous transformations only meant for the characters in her husband’s beloved tales?

Inspired by real individuals, A Carol for Mrs. Dickens reminds us that the true spirit of the holiday lies in love, faith, and the joy of giving.

Against a Crescent Storm (The Balkan Legends, # 3)

By: AL Sowards

Expected Publication: November 4, 2025 by Shadow Mountain Publishing

368 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian 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 Serbs defied the world’s most powerful ruler, and now Danilo and Maja must fight to save their people and their newly forged love before the sultan exacts his revenge.

The Balkans, 1389

Three years ago, Danilo’s people won their freedom from the hated Ottoman Empire, but with enemies on every side, the Serbs’ hard-earned peace remains fragile. Knowing the sultan will soon come for revenge, Danilo sets out to gain key allies for the coming war—and to escape the haunting grief of personal loss.

War has orphaned Maja and her brother, but they’ve moved forward from the turbulent aftermath of battle by crafting religious mosaics. Yet after being cheated and robbed, they are desperate for help. Rescue comes from Danilo, the man who once saved them from slavery to the Turks. What begins as an offer for safe escort is soon complicated by threats from a Hungarian noble who suspects them of conspiracy and from Iskandar, an Ottoman spy consumed by a vendetta against Danilo and a dangerous obsession with Maja.

As their journey grows more perilous, Danilo and Maja are drawn together by shared grief and affection. Yet upon returning home, Danilo finds that his župan, unaware of Danilo’s growing emotional entanglement with Maja, plans to use Danilo’s hand in marriage as a tool to forge a crucial alliance. Danilo is soon torn between love for Maja and loyalty to his family and people.

As tensions escalate, sabotage and vicious rumors weaken Christian unity, and hope of victory in the Balkans grows dim. Allies and enemies converge on the fields of Kosovo, where an epic battle will shape the destiny of nations for centuries to come.

Winterset

By: Tiffany Odekirk

Expected Publication: October 7, 2025 by Shadow Mountain

272 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Regency

( 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 hidden past. A house with secrets. And one chance for two wounded hearts to find love together.

Northern England, Late Fall, 1820

Katherine Lockwood is hiding for her life in the most unlikely of places: the forgotten priest holes in the abandoned Winterset Grange manor house. When Kate learns that Winterset’s long-absent owner, Mr. Oliver Jennings, is about to return, she is desperate to find a way to make him leave, even if it means “haunting” him from behind her protective walls.

After a grand tour of the Continent, Oliver returns home to England determined to make the most of his inheritance. But from the moment he arrives, nothing is as he expected. His manor is in disrepair, the steward hired to care for his estate is a thief, and to top it all off, Winterset is haunted. Undeterred, Oliver resolves to reclaim his life, piece by piece.

When Oliver discovers the hidden rooms, he’s shocked and pleased that his “ghost” is actually a beautiful young woman. Captivated by Kate and her story, he invites her to stay at Winterset under his protection.

Yet, danger persists as the man who threatens Kate’s safety learns of her ruse and attempts to exact his revenge. Kate and Oliver find themselves ensnared in a perilous game of cat and mouse against a powerful opponent while also trying to untangle their blossoming feelings in this enthralling gothic Regency romance.

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!

Sunday Post - 08/03/25

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

Big Girl ended up having pitching practice on Monday. Tuesday, we spent the day with my parents, and I had a dentist appointment. We did grocery pickup. And then the big kids had martial arts. Wednesday, Big Boy had batting practice. Thursday and Friday I spent cleaning house for a guest. Husband's friend from Japan was here to visit for the weekend. Thursday afternoon, Little Boy grabbed a stick after Husband and Big Boy had burned some boxes. He burned his hand pretty badly. It's blistered up. Thankfully, he wasn't injured worse. Friday, Husband's friend got here about noon. The kids were super high energy wanting to show him all the things and tell him all the things. Saturday, we spent the day at Grammy's house since Husband's sister and her family were in town. His friend is leaving this afternoon to go back to Detroit. His job is based out of Detroit even though he lives in Japan. Little Boy also has open house at his mother's day out/preschool program today as well. We have one more week before school starts back.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of Heart Marks the Spot by Libby Hubscher (4 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for If You'll Have Me by Esther Hatch
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Sharing Time by Elizabeth Verdick (3.5 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of A Wild Hope by Celeste De Blasis
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait Wednesday?
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Have Courage

NEW BOOKS:

To Hunt an Heiress

By: Martha Keyes

Narrated By: Paula Hunt

Expected Publication: June 2, 2025 by Paradigm Press

284 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

Sunday Post - 07/27/25

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

This week has been focused on house cleaning. We did go swimming a couple of days this week. The Big Kids had martial arts Monday night and Tuesday night. Tuesday we spent the day with my parents. My dad is getting around pretty well after his hip surgery. I can't believe he's been released to drive already, but I guess it makes sense due to his surgery being on his left leg which isn't the leg used to operate the gas and brake pedals. We also did grocery pickup. Wednesday we swam. Then I took Big Boy to batting practice. And then almost immediately after that I took Big Girl to pitching practice. Thursday, I finally spent most of the day cleaning house. Big Girl helped me cook dinner. Or I should say that I helped her cook dinner. She's wanting to cook every so often, and I'm really proud of her considering that she's not even 10 years old yet. We made hamburgers, baked french fries, macaroni and cheese, steamed broccoli, and salad. Friday, I also spent the day cleaning. Then Saturday, we celebrated Holly's birthday with a pool party.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of Between These Broken Hearts (These Hollow Vows, # 4) by Lexi Ryan (4 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for The Forever Cowboy (Noble Ranch, # 1) by Jody Hedlund
Friday: Homeschool Friday - (4 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Heart Marks the Spot by Libby Hubscher
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait Wednesday?
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Sharing Time

NEW BOOKS:

Save Us (Maxton Hall, # 3)

By: Mona Kasten

Translated By: Rachel Ward

Expected Publication: November 4, 2025 by Berkley

336 pages

Genre: New 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--The third and final book in the international bestselling Maxton Hall series, now in English for the first time.

Can they save themselves? Or will they destroy each other?

Ruby is in Her worst nightmare has come true, and now Oxford and all her dreams that finally seemed within reach are at risk. Worst of all, everything points to James as the one responsible, even after everything they’ve been through together. Ruby thought that she had met the real James—the one who has his own dreams, the one who makes her laugh and makes her heart beat faster with a single glance.

However, after an explosive fight between the two, they discover a terrible truth. Together, Ruby fights to graduate, as James tries to clear her name at school. But that means once again James must challenge his father and his expectations for him. And despite everything, James still threatens to break under the obligations to his family. Ruby and James must ask themselves if the worlds they live in are perhaps too different after all, or if they can finally find a way back to each other.

Save Us (Maxton Hall, # 3)

By: Mona Kasten

Expected Publication: November 11, 2025 by Berkley

368 pages

Genre: New 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--A love just for show grows into something more in this swoonworthy romance from the author of The Romantic Agenda.

Zinnia is an ambitious, successful businesswoman who is not about to wait around for her One True Love. She turns her dating profile into a marriage-merger a few strategic meetings, move in together, get married—all within thirty days. Her friends think it will never work… until she meets Jordan, a near-perfect applicant with a big secret.

Jordan’s family has spent the last decade starring in a massively popular reality show about their lives. He has finally agreed to join the cast, but production wants him to marry an actress (his ex) in a romantic storyline to boost viewership.

Convinced Zinnia is perfect for the role instead, Jordan proposes a mutually beneficial marriage she gets her business partner husband, and he gets to help his family on his terms. Together they face strict schedules, wild plot twists, and behind-the-scenes hostilities, all while acting like besotted newlyweds—an intense performance that evolves into a relationship they never expected.

As the line between reality and show blurs, Zinnia and Jordan must choose between a clean contract or a beautifully messy love story.

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!

Sunday Post - 07/20/25

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

As per usual, I can't remember much about Monday. I know the big kids had martial arts. Tuesday, we spent the day with my parents and did my grocery pickup. The big kids had martial arts again. Wednesday was a rough day behavior wise. It happens. Big Boy had batting practice. He's improving. Thursday, we had a decent day. I had a doctor's appointment. Just an annual checkup. The kids hung at Grammy's while I was gone to that. Big Boy had earned a reward for reading 20 books so he and Daddy went to see a movie. He let Little Boy tag along with him which I was okay with because he doesn't have a goal yet to work towards earning mama/daddy dates himself just yet. Big Girl and I went to pitching practice. Friday, I ended up having a haircut. I forgot that I'd scheduled that. My parents kept the kids for me. Saturday, we hit up Walmart for tax-free weekend. We didn't have to get much, just a few school supplies. Little Boy needed a new backpack for MDO. And Big Boy also needed a new backpack for co-op. After lunch, the kids went to Grammy's while Husband was mowing her grass. I managed to float in the pool for nearly two hours uninterrupted while listening to an audiobook. It was glorious.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of Rules for Ruin (The Crinoline Academy, # 1) by Mimi Matthews (4 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Brimstone (Fae & Alchemy, # 2) by Callie Hart
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Be Honest and Tell the Truth (4.5 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Between These Broken Hearts (These Hollow Vows, # 4) by Lexi Ryan
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait Wednesday?
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Hands Are Not for Hitting

NEW BOOKS:

No new books this week.

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!

Sunday Post - 07/13/25

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

Monday, Big Girl ended up having pitching practice. It was out of her normal time, and we won't do that regularly. But she was able to have a couple of friends in the class so that was fun for her. Tuesday, we spent the day with my parents. The big kids had martial arts. And then I was able to meet up with a lot of the moms from our co-op for dinner. That was fun. Wednesday we went for a walk and went swimming. Wednesday was Holly's birthday. She hasn't been as active on her blog, but she's still around. Thursday my dad had hip replacement surgery. I didn't want to get involved with much because I planned to meet them when they got home to help him get in the house. I did have a few errands to run. And the big kids had martial arts again. Friday was our puppy's first birthday. We gave him a couple of new toys. Big Girl has had it in her heart to take him to Starbucks to get him a pup cup. So we did that. He also got a treat in the form of some chicken and beef liver gravy to go on top of his kibble for a special birthday treat.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of Sanskari Sweetheart by Ananya Devarajan (3.5 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for And Then There Was You by Sophie Cousens
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Be Careful and Stay Safe (5 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Rules for Ruin (The Crinoline Academy, # 1) by Mimi Matthews
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait Wednesday?
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Be Honest & Tell the Truth

NEW BOOKS:

The Marriage Method (The Crinoline Academy, # 2)

By: Mimi Matthews

Expected Publication: November 25, 2025 by Berkley

416 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--The Academy always comes first . . . which makes marriage to its most formidable adversary an exceedingly inconvenient arrangement.

Well removed from London’s more curious eyes, the Benevolent Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies strives toward one clandestine to distract, disrupt, and discredit men in power who would seek to harm the advancement of women—by appropriate means, of course.

When intrepid newspaper editor Miles Quincy starts to question the school’s intentions, the Academy appoints Penelope “Nell” Trewlove, one of their brightest graduates, to put this nuisance to rest. An easy enough mission, she supposes. Or it would be, if Miles wasn’t so fascinating—too fascinating to resist—and if Nell’s visit to London didn’t perfectly coincide with the murder of one of Miles’s reporters.

When the inexorable claws of fate trap Nell and Miles in a compromising situation, they agree to an arrangement that will save their reputations while enabling them to investigate the story that led to a man’s death, as well as the surprising chemistry between them . . .

Save Me (Maxton Hall, # 1)

By: Mona Kasten

Translated By: Rachel Ward

Publication: July 1, 2025 by Berkley

368 pages

Genre: New 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--The first book in the international bestselling Maxton Hall series—now an Amazon Prime streaming series—in English for the first time.

They come from different worlds, and yet they are meant for each other.

Money, glamour, luxury, power—Ruby Bell couldn’t be less interested in these things if she tried. After being awarded a scholarship to one of England’s most prestigious and expensive private schools, Maxton Hall, all she wants is to keep her head down, work hard, and get accepted to Oxford. She keeps her distance from everyone, especially the arrogant, rich, and extremely handsome James Beaufort, ringleader of the school’s party boys.

When Ruby discovers a scandalous secret about the Beauforts, she is suddenly on James’s radar. It only gets worse when James is forced to work with her to plan the school's annual gala. Yet the more time they spend together, the more they realize they share much more than they thought.

Falling for James Beaufort was never part of her plan, yet Ruby can’t help but let her feelings sweep her away. But James must make a decision for will he choose what’s expected of him, or what he feels for her?

Save You (Maxton Hall, # 2)

By: Mona Kasten

Translated By: Rachel Ward

Expected Publication: September 2, 2025 by Berkley

352 pages

Genre: New 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--The second book in the international bestselling Maxton Hall series—now an Amazon Prime streaming series—in English for the first time.

After all the hurt between them, will they be able to find their way back to each other?

Ruby Bell thought that she and James Beaufort had something special. She’s never had such strong feelings for someone. And after his betrayal, she’s also never felt this much hurt. Ruby just wants her old life back before she knew anyone at Maxton Hall, before she knew James. She used to be able to rely on her studies to keep her focused, but school is no longer a refuge—not when she sees James everywhere. But she has to stay on track, especially with university looming over them and the uncertainty of what the future holds.

Despite everything, Ruby wants to support James as he struggles with his father’s expectations of him taking over the family business. But she makes one thing very clear: she is not willing to forgive him or give him a second chance. As love and hate compete for Ruby's heart, James will try everything he can to win her back.

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!

Sunday Post - 07/06/25

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

After last week, I was determined to be lazy this week. Recovery was really the key. We can't always be going all of the time, and that's the entire purpose of summer break. It's a break. So I had a lot of lazy days. We did our maintenance house chores. My big kids had baseball and softball 1:1 practices. We didn't have martial arts this week because of melt ceremony and the holiday. We didn't spend the day with my parents on Tuesday because my dad had pre-op for his upcoming hip replacement surgery this week. Husband got off work early on Thursday. We spent all day Friday at his mom's house. The 4th of July has a double meaning for his family as his dad passed away on the 4th 10 years ago. Saturday, I was ready for a project but didn't have one.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: May & June 2025 EOM Wrap Ups
Tuesday: Top Ten Bookish Accessories from Amazon
Wednesday: Can't Wait for The Marriage Method (The Crinoline Academy, # 2) by Mimi Matthews
Thursday: Review of Look Before You Leap (Miss Prentice's Proteges, # 2) by Virginia Heath (4 Stars)
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Tails Are Not for Pulling (5 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Sanskari Sweetheart by Virginia Heath
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait Wednesday?
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Be Careful & Stay Safe

NEW BOOKS:

No new books.

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!

Sunday Post - 06/29/25

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

Most of this week was spent preparing for a family party that we had on Saturday. I barely remember Monday. Tuesday, I dropped the kids at my parents' house, and then went to renew my driver's license. Thankfully, that went really quickly. We spent the day with my parents. And then we grabbed groceries on the way home. Wednesday, Little Girl's friend and her mom came over to swim with us. They had lunch with us, and then I hit it hard cleaning after they left. Big Girl did have pitching practice Wednesday night. That was the best she's pitched so far. Thursday, we went for a walk and went swimming. And then focused on cleaning. Friday, I ran the kids to Walmart to get a few things we needed for the party. And then we focused on cleaning. My sister and her family came up after her husband got off work and spent the night with my parents. Big Girl went to spend the night as well since my niece is just a year younger. They rarely get to see each other. But since the boys weren't invited we took the boys to eat and then to a local trampoline park. It was 9 when we got home. The party went well, but it's never long enough with family that you don't see very often. I'm still exhausted.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of Tale of the Heart Queen (Artefacts of Ouranos, # 4) by Nisha J Tuli (3 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Most Anticiapted Releases of Q3/Q4 2025
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Against a Crescent Storm (The Balkan Legends, # 3) by AL Sowards
Friday: Homeschool Friday - 180 Days™: Spelling and Word Study for Second Grade (4 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: May & June 2025 EOM Wrap Ups
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait Wednesday?
Thursday: Review of Look Before You Leap (Miss Prentice's Protegees, # 2) by Virginia Heath
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Tails Are Not for Pulling

NEW BOOKS:

No new books.

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!

Sunday Post - 06/22/25

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

Seems like it rained a lot this week. Off and on anyway. Monday was a normal day. The big kids had marital arts that evening. Tuesday, we spent the day at my parent's house. Then we grabbed grocery pickup on the way home. Tuesday night the big kids had martial arts again. Wednesday we went for a walk and went swimming. Big Boy had batting practice, and then big girl had pitching practice. Thursday, we also went for a walk and went swimming. It was nice not to have any activities in the evening. I've been working on cleaning the house for our party on Saturday of this week. I always spend about two weeks cleaning before a party. I have my routine down now, but it's what many would consider "spring cleaning" where I clean things that don't get cleaned weekly. Although, I have had the kids doing more chores during the summer, and that's been really nice. Chores teach so many life lessons. If you don't have your children doing chores (if you have children), I highly recommend it. Friday, we ran to Kohls to get a few things we needed for a wedding. I worked on cleaning in the garage and then went swimming in the afternoon. Saturday was my birthday. We had a nice lazy morning. We ate lunch at my mother-in-law's house. And then we went to a wedding in the afternoon.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of Risking It All (Pushing the Limits: The Next Generation, # 1) by Katie McGarry (4 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Summer 2025 TBR List
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Splendor of the Land (The King's Men, # 3) by Connilyn Cossette
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Feet Are Not for Kicking (4 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Look Before You Leap (Miss Prentice's Protegees, # 2) by Virginia Heath
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait Wednesday?
Friday: Homeschool Friday - 180 Days of Spelling for Second Grade

NEW BOOKS:

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

By: Connilyn Cossette

Expected Publication: August 5, 2025 by Bethany House Publishers

400 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

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

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

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

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!

Sunday Post - 06/15/25

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

I missed last week's Sunday Post because last Saturday I took the kids to the beach and forgot to prep my post. I really can't remember much of the week before that. That Saturday we loaded up early and left the house before 7 am to head to Panama City Beach, Florida. We were meeting Holly, my niece, my niece's husband, and their two children there. About an hour and a half into our trip two out of my three kids were dealing with car sickness. Car sickness is a thing we deal with fairly regularly on long trips so I have a kit in my car just in case. Thankfully, when Little Boy threw up the first time, being prepared meant that we didn't have a huge mess on our hands. He wanted to keep going and said he felt better. Both kids took a short nap and that helped. Little Boy ended up throwing up again, but we were already in Panama City at that point so turning around made less sense than just continuing to the beach. We got there almost an hour later than I had planned due to stopping and traffic. Thankfully, the area we went only had single red flags as the regular side of the beach had double red flags. We go to the jetty side of St. Andrew's state park which is actually more of a tidal pool than a regular beach area. The kids had a blast. They played so well in the water and didn't go too far. I didn't even have to get in which is great as I'm not a fan of that kind of water anymore. We stayed until a little after 4 pm. At which point we rinsed off, changed clothes, and went out to dinner before heading home. I listened to Iron Flame as a re-read on the way there and back.

Sunday was a normal day. Monday as well. The kids started back martial arts this week. Tuesday, we spent the day with my parents, and then did grocery pickup. The kids did martial arts. Tuesday I started feeling a little sick. Honestly, I'd felt a little something on the way to the beach, but it didn't come on until a few days later. Wednesday, I had haircuts scheduled for the boys, and then we met some friends at the park for a playdate. It was a decent day, but I remember why we usually skip the park during the summer. The kids didn't play nearly as long as normal. I grabbed Chickfila for lunch for us on the way home. Big Boy's batting practice got switched to Thursday. The kids and I went for a walk on Thursday and then went swimming. Husband took Big Boy to his batting practice, and I took Big Girl to pitching practice. Friday was a nice day. We walked and swam as well. Saturday, I pressure washed the concrete around our pool. I try to do that every couple of years. I finished Iron Flame and tried to start another book but didn't really make it past the trigger warnings for that one. I'm so far behind on writing book reviews that it isn't funny. Like I'm talking 17 books. I used to have a 2 book rule. I'm really frustarted with myself. Even if I have a span of knocking out 5 or so book reviews at a time I can't seem to get caught up. I'm reading far faster than the time I spend on a computer these days, and creating a review from my phone is frustrating. Happy Father's Day!

THE PAST TWO WEEKS

Monday 6/2: Review of Fate & Furies (The Legends of Thezmarr, # 3) by Helen Scheuerer (4.5 Stars)
Wednesday 6/4: Can't Wait for A Secret Infatuation by Jennie Goutet
Friday 6/6: Homeschool Friday - Bears (4 Stars)
Monday 6/9: Review of Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, # 3) by Rebecca Yarros (4 Stars)
Wednesday 6/11: Can't Wait for Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber
Friday 6/13: Homeschool Friday - Be Polite and Kind (4.5 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Risking It All (Pushing the Limits: The Next Generation, # 1) by Katie McGarry
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait Wednesday?
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Feet Are Not for Kicking

NEW BOOKS:

On Wings of Blood (Bloodwing Academy, # 1)

By: Briar Boleyn

Publication: October 25, 2024 by Starwater Press (Indie)

523 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Dragons, Vampires

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--I didn't sign up for this.

A half-fae in a school of highblood vampires? That's a recipe for torment.

I'm Medra Pendragon—last of the dragon riders, or so they tell me. Funny thing is, there are no dragons left. Not a single one. But somehow, that hasn't stopped the vampires from deciding I'm worth capturing. Now I'm stuck at Bloodwing Academy, where the highbloods run everything and blightborn like me? We're just blood in their veins, pawns in their games.

But that's not even the worst part. Enter Blake Drakharrow. Cold, arrogant, and way too gorgeous for his own good. He's been tormenting me since the moment we met, and now, thanks to some ancient ritual, we're betrothed. He acts like he owns me, but I'm not going down without a fight.

Bloodwing isn't just a school—it's a battlefield. Highbloods fight for power, and if you're weak? You're dead.

Between deadly competitions, lies that could get me executed, and a dragon-shaped secret looming over my head, all I have to do is survive. Easy, right? Except I'm starting to think the real danger isn't the academy—it's what I'm becoming in this twisted game of power.

And Blake? He might just be the one who pushes me over the edge.

They think they can control me. They think they can use me.

But they have no idea what they've awakened.

The Ever Queen (The Ever Seas, # 2)

By: LJ Andrews

Expected Publication: September 16, 2025 by Ace

512 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Fae, Romance, Pirates

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--The Songbird:
Captive. Challenger. Queen.

Enemies took her from the man who holds her heart. They might see her as weak, as a pawn in wicked games, but they’re no match for the first Ever Queen.

Let them think they’ve won. Her heart belongs to a beautiful monster, and she will never stop fighting until she’s back in his arms.

The Serpent:
Captor. Villain. King.

His enemies stole the woman who claimed his soul. They betrayed him out of greed and desire for the crown, but they won't die for that betrayal. No.

They’ll die for touching her.

His heart belongs to a stunning little bird. He will never stop searching for her light across the skies. Not until the blood of his enemies spills at her feet, and his queen wears their bones around her neck.

Welcome back to the world of the Ever Kingdom where pirates collide with Vikings in passionate romance, brutal battles, and an unforgettable dark fantasy world. This book concludes the love story between Erik and Livia, but new, standalone romances with other favorite characters will continue to build the world. Readers are encouraged to check the TW inside the book for their reading comfort.

The Mist Thief (The Ever Seas, # 3)

By: LJ Andrews

Expected Publication: October 14, 2025 by Ace

528 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Fae, Pirates, Romance

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--She tried to kill him, so he made her his wife.

Skadi first met her husband-to-be with blades in hand on the opposite side of a battle. She lost, and he claimed his prize.

To her horror, the king of the shadow elven agrees to marry her off to Jonas, a prince in the fae realms, as a way to unite their kingdoms against a shared enemy—the light elves. Skadi knows the marriage is nothing but a political game. Feelings won’t come into play.

Except her new husband makes not falling in love . . . challenging.

When new threats arise, Skadi must decide to either love her enemy, or keep him alive by betraying him to another.

Welcome to another installment in the Ever Seas world where pirates, fae, and elves collide with Vikings in a dark fantasy romance between a morally gray cinnamon roll and the broken princess who steals his heart.

*This book is a standalone with a guaranteed HEA, and can be read before The Ever King/Queen, but to see the full impact of their story, it’s recommended to read that duet first. This series is set in the same world as the bestselling Broken Kingdoms series, but can be read independently, and readers are encouraged to read the list of triggers inside.*

Secret Nights and Northern Lights

By: Megan Oliver

Expected Publication: November 18, 2025 by Berkley

384 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--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.

Heart Marks the Spot

By: Libby Hubscher

Expected Publication: July 22, 2025 by Berkley

384 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--A treasure hunter and the bestselling adventure novelist who broke her heart after one successful expedition reunite for a summer to search for lost riches.

Treasure hunter Stella Moore dreams of having it all—wealth, love, and a flourishing career—but knows she’ll never be that lucky. Every summer she and her childhood friends travel to search for hidden treasure, but she can barely manage her bills, let alone a relationship. Then, a chance encounter with alluring novelist Huck Sullivan during an expedition in Iceland has Stella thinking maybe her fortune has changed.

After his last book bombed, Huck hasn’t written a word. Joining Stella and her crew on an adventure seems like the perfect distraction from his problems, and when the crew finally uncovers hidden treasure, he is certain that he’s found more than just inspiration for his next novel. Huck and Stella’s undeniable connection gives way to an unforgettable night on a black sand beach.

After Huck disappears without a goodbye, Stella vows to put the heartbreak behind her—but that’s easier said than done when, a year later, every bookstore has a life-size cutout of her ex-lover next to stacks of his latest record-breaking bestseller. Good thing it’s time for another summer treasure hunt. Stella throws herself into mapping the path to a shipwreck off Key West, but the last thing she expects is an extra crew member showing up in search of material for a sequel and a second chance.

Stella and Huck are prepared for storms, sharks, sea sickness, even a tentative truce. But facing the feelings they buried and confronting the devastating truth about why Huck left is the only way to find what their hearts have been searching for all along.

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!

Sunday Post - 06/01/25

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

The kids spent a few nights with my parent's Sunday through Wednesday. We got a dumpster delivered for my birthday/Mother's Day/anniversary present. We had things that were just too big to go into our normal trash can. So we spent Monday through Wednesday cleaning up junk that had accumulated in the yard, the garage, the storage building, and throughout the house. I also took two loads of donations off as well. Tuesday, I also got groceries, and husband and I had a date dinner. I got the kids from my parents on Wednesday. Big Boy had a batting practice. And then Thursday, Big Girl had pitching practice. Friday I nearly sent everyone to their rooms for the day, but they brought it around and the day ended up going pretty well. This was the first Saturday in a while that we haven't had plans. I try to soak up those days. I did finish one book this week, but it was 700+ pages so there's that.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: No Blog Posts - US Memorial Day
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Threaded Lies (Tangled Hearts, # 2) by K. Bromberg
Thursday: Review of The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson (4 Stars)
Friday: Homeschool Friday - The Close Shave (4.5 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Fate & Furies (The Legends of Thezmarr, # 3) by Helen Scheuerer
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait Wednesday?
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Bears

NEW BOOKS:

Gilded in Vengeance

By: Lyssa Mia Smith

Expected Publication: November 4, 2025 by Storytide

384 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, 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--Revenge meets The Gilded Age in this thrilling YA fantasy set among the glittering magical elite of late-1800s New York society, from Revelle author Lyssa Mia Smith.

Two girls attended a magical ball, but one was never seen again.

At least that’s what those who betrayed her believed.

Two years after being framed for fraud by the Society of the Charmed, an exclusive club of New York’s wealthiest—and most magical—citizens, Emmy Vallillo wastes away in prison, utterly alone.

Until her cell wall explodes, revealing Jack Fontaine, one of the Society’s favorite sons, now imprisoned for a crime he swears he didn’t commit. They make a deal: He’ll help Emmy escape if she helps destroy those who’ve wronged them.

Using Emmy’s magic to transform their appearances, the two break free and, unrecognized, soon become the Society’s new darlings. Now their enemies want to dine with them. Attend lavish balls with them. Marry them. But ruining lives requires Emmy to trust Jack with hers, despite his dark secrets—and the infuriating attraction between them.

When another betrayal brings their enemies to their doorstep, Emmy must choose: complete their revenge, or give up the money, the magic, and her safety in this cutthroat world for the most treacherous thing of all—love.

The Magician of Tiger Castle

By: Louis Sachar

Expected Publication: August 5, 2025 by Ace

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, 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--The beloved author of Holes presents his first adult novel, a modern fantasy classic of forbidden love, a crumbling kingdom, and the unexpected magic all around us.

Long ago and far away (and somewhere south of France) lies the kingdom of Esquaveta. There, Princess Tullia is in nearly as much peril as her struggling kingdom. Esquaveta desperately needs to forge an alliance, and to that end, Tullia's father has arranged a marriage between her and an odious prince. However, one month before the "wedding of the century," Tullia falls in love with a lowly apprentice scribe.

The king turns to Anatole, his much-maligned magician. Seventeen years earlier, when Anatole first came to the castle, he was regarded as something of a prodigy. But after a long series of failures—the latest being an attempt to transform sand into gold—he has become the object of contempt and ridicule. The only one who still believes in him is the princess.

When the king orders Anatole to brew a potion that will ensure Tullia agrees to the wedding, Anatole is faced with an impossible choice. With one chance to save the marriage, the kingdom, and, of most importance to him, his reputation, will he betray the princess—or risk ruin?

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

By: Stacia Stark

Expected Publication: January 20, 2026 by Avon

432 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Vampires, Magic, Paranormal

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

Sunday Post - 05/25/25

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

This was our first full week of no school for summer. You'd think the adjustment wouldn't be too bad since we homeschool, and we're home anyway. There's been a lot of sibling fussing and whatnot. I don't remember much of Monday. Tuesday, the kids had the dentist. All is well there. Big Boy has 2 loose teeth. Big Girl had one molar that is getting loose. We went straight from there to grocery pickup. Wednesday, Big Boy had batting practice. He was struggling. His coach gave him one tip that he began overcorrecting, and they spent the entire lesson working to undo his overcorrection. Thursday, Big Girl had pitching lessons. We also pinpointed something that she needs to tweak in her starting position, and so her entire lessons was focused around that tweak. We have been walking more around the neighborhood. I miss doing that. Since we started homeschooling, I have strugglged to find a way to work walking into my daily schedule. Up until the year before this past year, I've been walking daily for years! At least ten years or more. So I'm missing my daily walks. Friday afternoon, we met a friend at the splash pad. I was so disappointed because we didn't go last year and they've removed some of the water pieces. It's much more babyish than it used to be. My kids were over it in less than 10 minutes to be honest. I forced them to stay until our friend came, and once she was bored, we let them change and go to the playground which was right beside the splash pad. We then moved it to Burger King to let the kids play and eat dinner. Burger King is one of the only fast food restuarants here that has a playplace. Our Chickfila has one, but it is for really little kids. We got home later than I intended, and I felt terrible because Husband was running a fever. It was probably good that we were gone so he could sleep uninterrupted. Saturday, we had our quarterly women's devotion with church. That went well. My sister-in-law, niece, and her kids came over to swim and eat lunch with us. After they left, I helped Husband burn tree limbs from where we had the tree guy come a couple of weeks ago.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of Quicksilver (Fae & Alchemy, # 1) by Callie Hart (4 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for A Gentleman's Reckoning by Jennie Goutet
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Cooking with the Cat (3.5 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: No Blog Post - US Memorial Day
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait Wednesday?
Thursday: Review of The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson
Friday: Homeschool Friday - The Close Shave

NEW BOOKS:

Fallen City (Fallen City Duology, # 1)

By: Adrienne Young

Expected Publication: November 4, 2025 by Saturday Books

416 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mythology

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--In the great walled city of Isara, political turmoil ignites a rebellion one hundred years in the making. But when a legionnaire falls in love with a Magistrate's daughter, their love will threaten the fate of the city and the will of the gods.

Luca Matius has one purpose—to carry on the family name, maintaining its presence in the Forum once his powerful and cruel uncle dies. But his noviceship with the city's Philosopher places him in the middle of a catastrophe that will alter the destiny of his people.

Maris Casoeria was raised amidst the strategic maneuvers of the Citadel's inner workings, and she knows what her future holds—a lifetime of service to a corrupt city. But her years of serving as a novice to the last Priestess who possesses the stolen magic of the Old War has made her envision a different kind of future for the city. When she meets Luca, a fated chain of events is set into motion that will divinely entangle their lives.

As a secret comes to light and throws the city into chaos, Luca and Maris hatch a plot to create a calculated alliance that could tip the scales of power. But when an execution forces Luca to become the symbol of rebellion, he and Maris are thrown onto opposite sides of a holy war. As their fates diverge, they learn they are at the center of a story the gods are writing. And even if they can find their way back to each other, there may be nothing left.

Sanskari Sweetheart

By: Ananya Devarajan

Expected Publication: May 20, 2025 by HarperCollins

272 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Raina needs to win the National Bollywood Dance Circuit Scholarship. That will show her mother that dance can be a financially stable career and prove to her boyfriend and co-captain, Aditya, that they’re still the perfect couple, even if all they seem to do these days is fight. There’s only one problem—Aditya breaks up with her, their Nationals choreography crumbles on stage, and Raina, as well as her hopes of winning the scholarship, is taken right down with it.

All Raina wants is a do-over, so when she wakes up the next morning to a miracle—another chance at Nationals with Aditya by her side—she couldn’t be happier. But as the events of the day start repeating, Raina realizes she’s stuck in a time loop, cursed to humiliate herself at Nationals and then get dumped—over and over again.

Raina is certain that if she follows all the right steps, she can break out of the time loop, win Nationals, and earn back the heart of her one true love in the process. But what if perfection isn’t enough?

Drive Me Crazy

By: Lizzy Dent

Expected Publication: January 6, 2026 by G.P. Putnam's Sons

368 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Can they navigate the twists and turns of love without crashing and burning?

As one of the first female team principles in Formula 1, Chloe Coleman is determined to prove herself and transform her failing team from underdogs to champions. Nothing can ruin her strategy—except maybe the surprising new addition of a cocky, top-tier driver who’s lost his edge. And he just so happens to be her estranged childhood crush who still sends her heart racing.

Matt Warner needs a comeback. A former champion, he hasn’t won a race since the disastrous crash that landed his best friend and teammate in the hospital. If there’s a silver lining to this scandalous demotion, it’s his fierce and familiar new boss, Chloe. But as the competition heats up, so does an unexpected spark that turns dangerously and passionately hot. With the world watching and pressures of the season mounting, will their chemistry lead them to victory, or spin them out of control?

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!