Discovering Grace - Review

Discovering Grace (Inglewood, # 2)

By: Sally Britton

Publication: August 13th 2019 by Blue Water Books

224 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Regency

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Goodreads description--To avoid being sent across an ocean, Grace switches places with her sister. The only man aware of their deception? A dear friend, and her secret love.

Grace Everly has no desire to set sail for the Caribbean, unlike her adventurous twin sister, Hope. Thanks to her sister’s irresponsible behavior and subsequent banning from the journey, Grace’s father decides to send her in Hope’s place. Desperate to remain where things are familiar, Grace proposes an unthinkable plan: that she and sister switch places. They only have to keep up the act long enough for Hope to board a ship in London. When the man who has stolen Grace’s heart learns of their secret, things get more complicated.

Jacob Barnes, soon to be ordained a vicar, has known Grace and Hope his whole life. Though close to both sisters, he’s dreamed of courting Hope for months. When he realizes his friends have switched places, putting the woman he admires out of his reach, he agrees to help with the subterfuge despite his bruised heart. As he watches Grace stumble in her acting abilities, attempting to change who she is, he realizes how much she means to him. But how does he tell her, without risking their friendship?

The deception puts their relationship to the test. As Grace hides her heart and her identity, Jacob examines his feelings, and no one in their community will be happy when the truth is discovered.

Ugh, you guys! I did it again! I am finally sitting down and forcing myself to write my review of Discovering Grace 20 days after I finished it. My real problem is that I don't currently have a regularly scheduled time to sit down at the computer. Real-life has been random and sporadic. And the time I used to sit down at the computer desk has been filled with painting and getting the house back in order from our renovation that feels like it will never end. Besides that, with Husband working from home now, I don't even have a computer desk that I feel like I have access to during the day. Oh well, I'm rambling at this point. Let's get into the book.

Grace is the quiet twin. She is subdued. She's happy to be behind the scenes and let her sister, Hope, take center stage. Hope prefers the attention and adventure anyway. Grace is often the mastermind and Hope gets to take the credit because she becomes the face of whatever Grace has thought up. Of course, up until now, that has never been a problem. Hope is impulsive and in your face. She's outspoken and loud. She's dramatic and fun. And when Hope gets the two sisters into a pickle with their father, Grace has to mastermind again. Hope was set to go on a trip with some friends and while Grace was heartbroken to be separated from her sister, she all out panics when their father told them they will be switching places.

On top of all that, there's Jacob. Grace has been in love with Jacob for as long as she can remember. The problem is that Jacob can only see Hope. And he's also heartbroken that Hope will be leaving. Jacob has always been close to both sisters, and he realizes where no one else does that Grace is pretending to be Hope. He's angry for a couple of reasons. 1) He wanted more time with Hope. Ultimately, he'd hope to make his interest known and perhaps begin courting Hope. And 2) He's going to become a clergyman, and he doesn't feel like he can support the deception that Grace is currently trying to pull off. Yet he won't leave her alone.

I don't feel like there's much to say beyond this that won't spoil the story. I found Grace and Jacob's journey to each other to be enjoyable. Jacob was a little slow on the upswing, but I appreciated the way Sally Britton handled the situation. I wasn't sure how I could be okay with the switch of affection from one sister to the other, but she wrote it in a way that made sense. And I loved that she didn't spell it out word for word for the reader. (**Highlight for spoiler: Basically, Jacob loved the aspects he thought were Hope's characteristics like her altruism while he disliked her tendency to buck societal norms. And the altruistic tendencies that he thought he loved about Hope were actually ideas that Grace had and executed herself while allowing Hope to be the face and get the credit. At the same time, Grace never struggled with chaffing against society like her sister.**end spoiler.)

Favorite quote:

-Pretending to be someone else was tiresome.

I'm a little torn about Hope's book. On the one hand, Sally Britton has done a great job of pulling me into her stories quickly and hooking me. On the other hand, I struggle with characters like Hope at times. Ultimately, I'm putting off reading her story for now because I have too many other review books that I need to read first.

I enjoyed Discovering Grace almost as much as I enjoyed Rescuing Lord Inglewood. Jacob and Grace had a nice journey to each other. Unrequited love can be a favorite trope. Discovering Grace gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Discovering Grace? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 06/26/22

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.

Husband was off work Monday and Tuesday. Monday, Baby Boy woke up from his nap with a fever. Tuesday was my birthday. I ended up taking Baby Boy to the doctor. Just a viral infection, but he ended up running a fever off and on until Friday. Thursday we hung out at my parent's for a few hours. Saturday was a wonderful temperature compared to how hot it's been the last two weeks. We went for a walk and stopped at a lemonade stand for another little girl in our neighborhood. The big kids and I went swimming when Baby Boy was down for nap. Daddy signed up for weekend work this weekend. This coming week is going to be pretty busy, but that's okay.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World by Kristen Welch (5 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for A Daughter's Courage (Brides of Laurent, # 3) by Misty M Beller
Thursday: 2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge - June Wrap

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Discovering Grace (Inglewood, # 2) by Sally Britton
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2022 to sign up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

NEW BOOKS:

Reminders of Him

By: Colleen Hoover

Publication: January 18th 2022 by Montlake Romance

335 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

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

Goodreads description--A troubled young mother yearns for a shot at redemption in this heartbreaking yet hopeful story from #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover.

After serving five years in prison for a tragic mistake, Kenna Rowan returns to the town where it all went wrong, hoping to reunite with her four-year-old daughter. But the bridges Kenna burned are proving impossible to rebuild. Everyone in her daughter’s life is determined to shut Kenna out, no matter how hard she works to prove herself.

The only person who hasn’t closed the door on her completely is Ledger Ward, a local bar owner and one of the few remaining links to Kenna’s daughter. But if anyone were to discover how Ledger is slowly becoming an important part of Kenna’s life, both would risk losing the trust of everyone important to them.

The two form a connection despite the pressure surrounding them, but as their romance grows, so does the risk. Kenna must find a way to absolve the mistakes of her past in order to build a future out of hope and healing.

Junie B Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth (Junie B. Jones, # 3)

By: Barbara Park

Expected Publication: August 24th 1993 by Random House Children's Books (first published 1993)

69 pages

Genre: Children's Fiction, Humor

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Sometimes life is P.U.

Junie B.'s having a rough week. First she got punishment for shooting off her mouth in kindergarten. And now she's in big trouble again! 'Cause Monday is Job Day, and Junie B. told her class that she's got the bestest job of all. Only, what the heck is it?

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

2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge - June Wrap Up

Time for our Monthly Wrap Up for the 2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge hosted by Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know and Holly @ Words Fueled by Love!

Neither Sandy nor Holly has finished any series enders this month.

Which series enders did you finish? Link the up below. Don't forget to include the title, your name, & your blog name (Ex: Requiem - Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know) Also, the June giveaway runs from June 25th - July 25th. On July 25th we will use random.org and the linky entries to pull a grand prize winner.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Can't Wait for A Daughter's Courage

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

A Daughter's Courage (Brides of Laurent, # 3)

By: Misty M Beller

Expected Publication: November 1st 2022 by Bethany House Publishers

? pages

Genre: Adult, Christian, Historical Fiction

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

Goodreads description--After accidentally destroying the intricate chalice her people have treasured for over a hundred years, Charlotte Durand sets out on an expedition in search of a skilled artisan who can repair the damage. What she expected to be a two-day hike becomes much more daunting when a treacherous snowstorm sets in.

The last thing Damien Levette needs in the middle of a mountain blizzard is to tend to another person, but he can't leave behind the mysterious woman he found half-frozen at the edge of a mountain lake. As they battle both the elements and each other, Charlotte and Damien must work together to survive the peril of the mountains--or it could be the downfall of them both.

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

Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World - Review

Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World: How One Family Learned That Saying No Can Lead to Life's Biggest Yes

By: Kristen Welch

Publication: January 26th 2016 by Tyndale Momentum

272 pages

Genre: Non-fiction, Self-Help, Christian

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

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

Goodreads description--"But everyone else has it." "If you loved me, you'd get it for me!" When you hear these comments from your kids, it can be tough not to cave. You love your children--don't you want them to be happy and to fit in?

Kristen Welch knows firsthand it's not that easy. In fact, she's found out that when you say yes too often, it's not only hard on your peace of mind and your wallet--it actually puts your kids at long-term risk. In Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World, Kristen shares the ups and downs in her own family's journey of discovering why it's healthiest not to give their kids everything. Teaching them the difference between "want" and "need" is the first step in the right direction. With many practical tips and anecdotes, she shares how to say the ultimate yes as a family by bringing up faith-filled kids who will love God, serve others, and grow into hardworking, fulfilled, and successful adults.

It's never too late to raise grateful kids. Get ready to cultivate a spirit of genuine appreciation and create a Jesus-centered home in which your kids don't just say--but mean!--"thank you" for everything they have.

Man, parenting is HARD. I feel like I am constantly looking for resources and information to help me better myself and my parenting. Nothing quite puts the mirror in front of your face like having a mini version of yourself reflecting your good and bad traits and habits. And one thing I've noticed is that my kids have been lacking in grateful hearts and seem to have an abundance of entitlement. But man if this book didn't help me to see that I too have struggled with this, and all my kids have learned, they've learned from me. I have already made some adjustments in my life to see the good, to see the blessings, to appreciate the excess. And the very first day I put this into practice, my daughter commented to Husband that she wanted me to put her to bed that night because I was being so nice that day. Gratitude bleeds out into all areas.

I love Kristen Welch's heart. I feel such a kindredness in her. You can tell that she loves her kids and wants what's best for them. And sometimes what's best for them isn't what you always think on the surface level. I have always found myself appreciating a tough-love approach. I don't find it loving to enable people. I don't find it loving to treat them in ways that cause them to form bad habits. Thankfully Husband tends to balance me out pretty well, but it was nice to see that there are indeed benefits of tough love in some instances.

Kristen Welch talks about how difficult it can be to raise kids in a way that is counter-cultural. In our culture, everyone seems to be out for themselves. What can they get? What can they have? Who has more than me and how can I get the same or better than them? It's sad, really. And I loved her reasoning for wanting to swim against the current. Kristen's ideas on some parenting concepts are going to be off-putting to some for this simple reason. She is going against the grain. And so if you're easily offended, perhaps this isn't the book for you. But if you're brave enough to fight the easy path for the sake of your children, then I dare you to check out this book.

Husband and I will be going through Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World together as a devotional soon. I got so much out of this book that I can't wait to discuss it with him together. This is a book that I feel like every parent needs to read (or listen to). Yet I know it won't be one that always inspires the same level of excitement and possibility as it did for me. Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World gets 5 Stars from me. This is my first 5 Star rating for 2022. Have you read Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World? What did you think? Let me know!