Sunday Post - 07/10/22

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.

Monday we celebrated the 4th with Husband's family. His father passed away on the 4th 7 years ago so every year we think about him while we're shooting fireworks (we don't live in the city). We went over to his mom's to swim and have lunch. We came home and let Baby Boy nap and then went back for dinner and fireworks. Tuesday is Husband's normal day off but he swapped with his work partner this week. Tuesday through Thursday were all normal days. Super hot on our walks, but then we'd go swimming after. Then after lunch we've been doing the devotion that I featured last week. The kids always complain when it's time to do it, but they've been asking more questions about God and talking about Him in their daily conversation more since starting it. So I'm counting this as a win and we will continue it. Plus the illustrations are just beautiful. During Baby Boy's nap I've been painting in the playroom. This is the last big space that needs painting. After this room we'll only have some window casings, door casings, and the linen closet left to do. It's hard to believe it has taken this long yet also hard to believe we're so close to the finish line. Of course with homeownership things are never static for long. Friday was Husband's off day this week, but he ended up working 5 hours because they offered overtime pay for weekend work. Saturday was pretty normal. It rained off and on so the temps finally dropped a good bit and it was just a nice day.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Happy 4th of July!
Tuesday: Top Ten Most Anticpated Releases Q3/Q4 2022
Wednesday: Can't Wait for The Belle of Belgrave Square (Belles of London, # 2) by Mimi Matthews
Thursday: Review of To Tame a Cowboy (Colorado Cowboys, # 3) by Jody Hedlund (4 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Meet Me in the Middle by Alex Light
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:

Breath as Prayer: Calm Your Anxiety, Focus Your Mind, and Renew Your Soul

By: Jennifer Tucker

Publication: August 16th 2022 by Thomas Nelson

208 pages

Genre: Non-fiction, Christian, Devotions

( 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--Find hope amid anxiety through the spiritual practice of breath prayer in this beautifully illustrated and practical guide to connecting body, mind, and spirit during times of stress.

Breath as Prayer will lead you through the practice and the proven health benefits of Christian breath prayer: intentional prayers centered around Scripture that focus our minds on Christ as we calm our bodies through breathing.

Breath as Prayer offers:

More than 80 breath prayers focused on Scripture, along with brief meditations
Gorgeous original full-color illustrations
A quick-start how-to guide to refer to as needed
Guidance on how to implement a breath prayer practice
The science behind breath work and prayer and why it works
An invitation to reflect on the effect of breath prayers on your body
With a beautiful foil-accented cover, Breath as Prayer is an ideal gift for:

Anyone experiencing stress, anxiety, or fear
Grief and anxiety support groups
Prayer groups and prayer ministries
Men and women looking for new avenues for connecting with God
Teens and young adults dealing with stress and anxiety
Adult baptism and confirmation
God created our bodies, minds, and spirits to be intimately connected with one another. Purpose-filled breathing is one of the most effective, calming ways to integrate all aspects of who we are, especially during times of intense stress. Breath as Prayer invites you to the crossroads of Christian contemplative practice, Scripture, psychology, and science to deepen your faith, bring peace to your body, and discover a new reliance on Christ.

Breathe deeply, lean into God's Word, and discover why every breath can be an invitation to pray.

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!

To Tame a Cowboy - Review

To Tame a Cowboy (Colorado Cowboys, # 3)

By: Jody Hedlund

Publication: May 3rd 2022 by Bethany House Publishers

368 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( 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--Brody McQuaid is a broken man, and he knows it. While his body survived the war, his soul did not. Besides loving his little niece, his only other sense of purpose comes from saving the wild horses that roam South Park. Ranchers in the area have taken to killing the horses, which are competing with their cattle to feed on the open grass.

Savannah Marshall is a veterinarian on her family's Colorado ranch. She longs to keep her father happy following the tragic death of her older brother, including marrying a man of his choosing. But days before her wedding, she gets cold feet and disappears to South Park. As she learns more about the destruction of the horses, she joins Brody in an attempt to save the wild creatures. But when Savannah's family and the resentments of the area cattlemen catch up with them both, Brody and Savannah will have to tame their fears if they've any hope to let love run free.

I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy Brody's story or not. His character isn't in a good place when The Heart of a Cowboy ends. But a few years have passed and while Brody still isn't in the best place, things are better than they were at the end of the previous book. Jody Hedlund's choice to begin the book where she does help a ton because I was nearly immediately sucked into this story.

Savannah fled her home days before her wedding was to take place to a man she doesn't love. When Brody stops a fellow rancher from beating a wild mustang, Savannah jumps in to help the horse. She talks Brady and Flinn into taking her on as a temporary veterinarian on their ranch. Flynn agrees because he sees Brody's reaction to Savannah.

Brody has an almost instant connection and attraction to Savannah. I like how Jody Hedlund writes Christian stories, but she doesn't ignore the fact that very real physical things, desires, temptations, etc happen between couples that are attracted to one another. Savannah, Flora (Flynn and Linnea's daughter), and the wild mustangs are the only things that seem to bring Brody to life after the war.

I loved that Ivy was an active character in To Tame a Cowboy because she's so brash. She's young and has a lot to learn. I can't wait to read her story next.

I have to say that I was a little frustrated with how long it took Savannah to decide how to address her father's wishes for her. Regardless, I loved these two and their story.

Favorite quotes:

-"You're fighting demons with your fists, but from what I've seen, no one ever wins a battle with fists or strong drink or even ignoring the hurts."

-"This week, watching you tame that stallion, I couldn't help but notice that you have the most patience for the wildest of creatures. Maybe God has the most patience with the wildest of us too."

She’d grown to admire Hades’s resilience, strength, and perseverance. He cared about his band, his mares and foals, and led them with dignity. And now he glanced in their direction. He nodded, as though communicating with them. Did he know they’d chased him only because they wanted to save his life? Did he realize the fear of the past couple of days would lead to his freedom? Maybe he’d never understand what they’d done, but she liked to think he was thanking them for their efforts anyway. Was that the way God was with His children? Did He drive them through difficulties, up steep mountains, because He cared and was leading them to better pastures? Even when they didn’t understand what He was doing, maybe He was asking them to thank Him regardless.

-"...wounds might shape us, but they can't determine who we are."

-...sometimes loving people meant letting them go through their difficulties instead of providing a way for them to escape.

I particularly liked the messages about Brody's struggles and what it took to bring him back to a relationship with God. I also loved Brody and Savannah's relationship growth. I'm looking forward to Ivy's story to come next. And honestly, there wasn't much I didn't enjoy about To Tame a Cowboy which means it gets 4 Stars. Have you read To Tame a Cowboy? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for The Belle of Belgrave Square

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.

The Belle of Belgrave Square (Belles of London, # 2)

By: Mimi Matthews

Expected Publication: October 11th 2022 by Berkley

432 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

( 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--A London heiress rides out to the wilds of the English countryside to honor a marriage of convenience with a mysterious and reclusive stranger.

Tall, dark, and dour, the notorious Captain Jasper Blunt was once hailed a military hero, but tales abound of his bastard children and his haunted estate in Yorkshire. What he requires now is a rich wife to ornament his isolated ruin, and he has his sights set on the enchanting Julia Wychwood.

For Julia, an incurable romantic cursed with a crippling social anxiety, navigating a London ballroom is absolute torture. The only time Julia feels any degree of confidence is when she’s on her horse. Unfortunately, a young lady can’t spend the whole of her life in the saddle, so Julia makes an impetuous decision to take her future by the reins—she proposes to Captain Blunt.

In exchange for her dowry and her hand, Jasper must promise to grant her freedom to do as she pleases. To ride—and to read—as much as she likes without masculine interference. He readily agrees to her conditions, with one provision of his own: Julia is forbidden from going into the tower rooms of his estate and snooping around his affairs. But the more she learns of the beastly former hero, the more intrigued she becomes…

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

Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases of Q3/Q4 2022

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week's topic is Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases of Q3/Q4 2022.

1. Cursed (Gilded, # 2) by Marissa Meyer
2. A Hard Day for a Hangover (Sunshine Vicram, # 3) by Darynda Jones
3. From the Jump by Lacie Waldon
4. Falling for the Cowgirl (Colorado Cowboys, # 4) by Jody Hedlund
5. The Belle of Belgrave Square (Belles of London, # 2) by Mimi Matthews
6. Built to Last by Erin Hahn
7. A Daughter's Courage (Brides of Laurent, # 3) by Misty M Beller
8. Holding the Line (Love Along the Wires, # 3) by Jennifer Delamere
9. The Earl's Hideaway, No Ladies Allowed (Romances of Rank, # 2) by Esther Hatch
10. A Light in the Flame (Flesh & Fire, # 2) by Jennifer L Armentrout

Which books are on your most anticpated list for the end of 2022? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 07/03/22

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.

Monday I took the kids to my parents after lunch for them to spend a couple of nights away. Since we lived with my parents for almost a year, we haven't had any overnight babysitting in that long. It was wonderful to have some one on one time with Husband. And we were super productive during that time. Monday night we went out to dinner and went to Lowes and Home Depot looking at closet organization systems. We decided what we want which is exciting even if we haven't purchased yet. Tuesday is Hubby's off day, so we worked non-stop all day. We went to our second storage building to load up Little Girl's furniture. We brought it home and set it up. Then drove to the first storage building to get our ottoman and recliner. We decided then to try to merge the two units so we can save on the monthly fee. We took one load from the first building to the second because the second is closer to our house. We took a load from the second unit to our house, and then Husband left me at home to organize, put away, and clean while he went for the 2nd load from the first unit to the second unit. But we got it done. We were almost 8 pm having dinner. And it was midnight before we went to sleep both nights the kids spent away. Wednesday morning I had a dentist appointment so I went to my parents to get the kids after that. Thursday I had my annual doctor's appointment so Grammy came to stay with the kids while I went to that. Little Girl is loving her new room. She is organizing and reorganizing almost every day. We also got her Barbie doll house in from the garage that my Dad made for me as a little girl and revamped it for her for her 5th birthday. I haven't done much on the house since Wednesday morning, but I feel good about our progress. Slow and steady wins the race. We've been able to walk every day this week even though rain and scattered thunderstorms were in the forecast for every day this past week and at least through this coming Thursday.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Discovering Grace (Inglewood, # 2) by Sally Britton (3.5 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Summer 2022 TBR List
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Cursed (Gilded, # 2) by Marissa Meyer
Thursday: June 2022 EOM Wrap Up

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: No blog posts. Happy 4th of July!
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Thursday: Review of Discovering Grace (Inglewood, # 2) by Sally Britton

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:

I AM: 40 Reasons to Trust God

By: Diane Stortz

Publication: February 2nd 2016 by Thomas Nelson

224 pages

Genre: Non-fiction, Christian, Parenting, Devotions

( 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--God’s names tell us who He is, what He is like, and what He does. This beautiful book covers 40 of the Bible’s many names and descriptive titles for God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

Jehovah Jireh

The Lord My Shepherd

Immanuel

Rabbi

I Am

Through Bible stories, short devotions, and prayers, children discover the meaning of each name and how it relates to their lives. As they develop understanding of God’s character and His love for them, children will grow to know, love, and trust the great I Am more and more.

Those who know your name put their trust in you. —Psalm 9:10

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!