Can't Wait for Variation

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.

Variation

By: Rebecca Yarros

Expected Publication: November 19, 2024 by Montlake

464 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Fourth Wing comes a new contemporary romance about the summer a celebrated dancer returns home and unearths years of family secrets with the Coast Guard rescue swimmer she never forgot.

Elite ballerina Allie Rousseau is no stranger to pressure. With her mother’s eyes always watching, perfection was expected, no matter the cost. But when an injury jeopardizes all she’s sacrificed for, Allie returns to her summer home to heal and recover. But the memories she’s tried to forget rush in and threaten to take her under.

As a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Hudson Ellis knows that hesitation can mean the difference between life and death. He’s always prided himself on being in the right place at the right time, especially when it came to Allie Rousseau…until the night he left for basic. After the biggest regret of his life, the secrets he keeps mean he can never be with the one woman he wants more than his next breath.

When Hudson’s niece shows up on Allie’s doorstep, desperate to find her birth mother, Allie finds herself in an unimaginable position. Allie and Hudson’s past and present might be endlessly complicated. The thread that tied them to each other all those years ago may have unraveled, but the truth could pull them back together, or drive them apart forever.

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

Twisted Knight - Review

Twisted Knight (Tangled Hearts, # 1)

By: K. Bromberg

Expected Publication: September 24, 2024 by Bramble

416 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday Post - 11/10/24

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.

Well this was probably the best week we've had in a while. Thankfully we weren't completely running around like a chicken with our heads cut off. Monday was a normal day. Tuesday, we went to hang out with my parents. We played bingo for a long time and then my dad pitched ping pong balls to the big kids to work on their batting. We got groceries on the way home. And then Tuesday night we started back martial arts. Wednesday was another normal day. Thursday, we had co-op and martial arts. We had a few rocky moments on Thursday that carried over into Friday morning. But Friday smoothed out and ended up being a really good day as well. I'm in a fall cleaning mood. We have a guest coming for Thanksgiving week and I want to get the house cleaned from top to bottom before I pull out any Christmas decorations. I have finally started listening to Christmas music. Some years I start early and other years I'm not in the mood. I think the cleaning is actually helping to get me into the spirit. We had planned to go to Fort Toulouse for Frontier Days Saturday morning, but it was raining. We ended up going to Hobby Lobby and Kirkland's instead. We always have to get ornaments to take with us to a Dirty Santa gift exchange family reunion in December. I haven't been impressed with the selections lately. I get the need for plastic, non-breakable ornaments, but they just seem so cheap. I love the real stuff. And it's hard to find without breaking the bank. We ran into some friends and made plans for tomorrow.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of The Gentleman's Confession (Matchmaking Mamas, # 3) by Anneka R Walker (4 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, # 3) by Rebecca Yarros
Thursday: Review of Beneath the Crescent Shadow (The Balkan Legends, # 1) by AL Sowards (4.5 Stars)
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Know and Follow Rules

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Twisted Knight (Tangled Hearts, # 1) by K Bromberg
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday?
Thursday: Review of Lady Anna's Favor by Karen Tuft
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Biscuit Meets the Class Pet

Don’t forget to link up for the 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2024 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:

Juniper's Christmas

By: Erin Colfer

Publication: October 31, 2023 by Roaring Brook Press

368 pages

Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Christmas

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

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

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

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

The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember

By: Fred Rogers

Publication: May 14, 2019 by Hachette Books

197 pages

Genre: Non-fiction, Philosphy, Self-Help

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--A timeless collection of wisdom on love, friendship, respect, individuality, and honesty from the beloved PBS series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.

There are few personalities who evoke such universal feelings of warmth as Fred Rogers. An enduring presence in American homes for over 30 years, his plainspoken wisdom continues to guide and comfort many. The World According to Mister Rogers distills the legacy and singular worldview of this beloved American figure. An inspiring collection of stories, anecdotes, and insights--with sections devoted to love, friendship, respect, individuality, and honesty, The World According to Mister Rogers reminds us that there is much more in life that unites us than divides us.

Culled from Fred Rogers' speeches, program transcripts, books, letters, and interviews, along with some of his never-before-published writings, The World According to Mister Rogers is a testament to the legacy of a man who served and continues to serve as a role model to millions.

A Shadow in the Ember (Flesh and Fire, # 1)

By: Jennifer L Armentrout

Publication: October 19th 2021 by Blue Box Press

647 pages

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( 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--Born shrouded in the veil of the Primals, a Maiden as the Fates promised, Seraphena Mierel’s future has never been hers. Chosen before birth to uphold the desperate deal her ancestor struck to save his people, Sera must leave behind her life and offer herself to the Primal of Death as his Consort.

However, Sera’s real destiny is the most closely guarded secret in all of Lasania—she’s not the well protected Maiden but an assassin with one mission—one target. Make the Primal of Death fall in love, become his weakness, and then…end him. If she fails, she dooms her kingdom to a slow demise at the hands of the Rot.

Sera has always known what she is. Chosen. Consort. Assassin. Weapon. A specter never fully formed yet drenched in blood. A monster. Until him. Until the Primal of Death’s unexpected words and deeds chase away the darkness gathering inside her. And his seductive touch ignites a passion she’s never allowed herself to feel and cannot feel for him. But Sera has never had a choice. Either way, her life is forfeit—it always has been, as she has been forever touched by Life and Death.

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

Homeschool Friday - Know and Follow Rules

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

Know and Follow Rules

By: Cheri J. Meiners M.Ed.

Publication: March 31, 2005 by Free Spirit Publishing

40 pages

Genre: Children's, Non-fiction, Teaching

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--A child who can’t follow rules is a child who’s always in trouble. This book starts with simple reasons why we have to help us stay safe, learn, be fair, and get along. Then it presents just four basic “Listen,” “Best Work,” “Hands and Body to Myself,” and “Please and Thank You.” The focus throughout is on the positive sense of pride that comes with learning to follow rules. Includes questions and activities adults can use to reinforce the ideas and skills being taught. The Learning to Get Along® Series

The Learning to Get Along series helps children learn, understand, and practice basic social and emotional skills. Real-life situations, lots of diversity, and concrete examples make these read-aloud books appropriate for home and childcare settings, schools, and special education settings. Each book ends with a section of discussion questions, games, and activities adults can use to reinforce what children have learned. All titles are available in English-Spanish bilingual editions.

On the one hand, Know and Follow Rules looks a little outdated to me. The colors and illustrations remind me a little of the 1980s. At the same time, I like that the illustrations are very clear and detailed--even down to the little girl with her tongue sticking out as she's coloring. What the characters are intending to do is obvious. Their thoughts and feelings are quite clear. I like the diversity of characters included. 

The content of the book is beautifully well done. What I mean by that is that the information is presented so clearly. There's a reason we have rules: to know what to do. Rules are different depending on the situation or location: work, play, school classroom, cafeteria, playground, gym, library, etc. There are benefits to having rules: we're all able to learn, help us show respect, remind us to be polite, help make things fair for everyone, help keep everyone safe, when we use the rules things go better for us, help us have personal responsibility, and when everyone follows the rules it helps us get along. Examples of some rules are: listening while others are speaking, asking questions when we need help, following instructions, doing things the first time we're told, trying our best, thinking carefully, taking time to do a good job, keeping our hands and feet to ourselves, asking permission to use something that doesn't belong to us, saying "please" and "thank you," help others, waiting our turn, let everyone participate, walking in the hallway, use things carefully, This subject is just spelled out in such a simplistic way that it helps the reader see the benefits of following the rules. 

I have been doing a study on manners in our homeschool, and Know and Follow Rules is a perfect choice to add to my study for my kids. Most of this information is stuff the older ones already know, but presented in this way, helps to solidify why we follow rules. Showing the benefits of following rules is a way to help children get on board. Know and Follow Rules gets 5 Stars from me. Have you read Know and Follow Rules? What did you think? Let me know!

Beneath a Crescent Shadow - Review

Beneath a Crescent Shadow (The Balkan Legends, # 1)

By: A.L. Sowards

Publication: June 4, 2024 by Shadow Mountain

351 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--After an arranged marriage, Konstantin and Suzana must find a way to meet the demands of a conquering Ottoman sultan amid a torrent of setbacks and dangers much closer to their Balkan home.

The Balkans, 1373

A devastating battle claimed the lives of Konstantin's father, uncle, and most of their Serb army, leaving him to rule as a vassal of the Ottoman sultan, a role he is wholly unprepared for. Between war, famine, and a persistent band of brigands, Konstantin is nearly bankrupt. He will need to find a wealthy bride to marry if he is to have any hope of saving his lands and securing his future.

A betrothal to Suzana, the daughter of a prosperous merchant, is soon arranged, and upon meeting her, Konstantin immediately feels hope that their marriage could someday grow into love. Yet, from the moment of Konstantin and Suzana's betrothal, enemies threaten their lives, outlaws prey on their lands, and the terrors of Suzana's abusive past haunt their fragile new relationship. As this onslaught of threats closes in, the two face challenges that will test their love, their faith, and their hope to save their people and win their freedom from the heavy weight of Ottoman oppression.

I've gotten interested in historical fiction, but I've stuck to mostly one period while reading. I have watched a few TV shows that are historical fiction not in the same period. So that encouraged me to branch out and try reading about the Ottoman Empire and The Balkans as this book is set in 1373. I did struggle in the beginning with the language because there's so much I don't know or understand about what things are called. The clothes they wore. Their armor. It's an entire language on its own. I've learned much about Regency England through many many books, so I tried to give myself grace with all the new to me terms.

One thing I have no issues getting hooked into is arranged marriages or marriages of convenience. Konstantin needs to marry for money. He needs the dowry that a wife can bring to him to protect his lands and his people. Suzana doesn't necessarily need to marry, but she wants to get out of her father's household. At the same time, her relationship with her father hasn't set her up for much knowledge about how a healthy relationship should be between a husband and wife. Her father is a wealthy merchant, so providing a dowry for her isn't difficult. But Suzana has a secret that might keep away prospective husbands. 

Suzana is a timid mouse. She's not been treated well and finds it hard to trust Konstantin. Konstantin can't figure out why she is so scared of him. But they haven't even returned to Konstantin's home before Suzana is attacked. Konstantin is being attacked on all sides. Someone is out to get him. That much is obvious. 

Favorite quotes:

-...tragedy does not make happiness impossible.

-"As much as I want to, I can't take away your fear. You have to ask God if He can take it from you or help you bear it."

-Sometimes life was like that. Compromise. Balancing different wants and needs into something that would work, even if it wasn't perfect for anyone.

-"Death is not better than hardship."

-"Hope doesn't have to be practical in order to be real, in order to be just. The timing is not right, not now. Maybe not for years. But that doesn't mean we stop dreaming of it."

-"You do not have to be invincible to have my love. And you don't have to be without sin to have God's forgiveness."

-"I know what it is to be haunted by the past, but, Kostya, the past doesn't have to hold hostage your future."

I ended up really enjoying Beneath a Crescent Shadow. The Christian elements were so enjoyable. I love seeing characters that are real and that struggle. And I love it when books don't shy away from the hard questions or the difficult subjects. Sometimes we just don't have all the answers. Beneath a Crescent Shadow was so much better than I was expecting it to be. I loved the characters, main and secondary. And I can't wait to see what happens with Ivan's story next. Beneath a Crescent Shadow gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read Beneath a Crescent Shadow? What did you think? Let me know!