Sunday Post - 03/22/26

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 was a normal day. Ball games got rained out, and I was glad because the temperature dropped to the 30s here. The Big Kids went to martial arts. Thankfully, we finally have a belt testing date. Tuesday, we went to my parent's house. Then we did grocery pickup. Big Girl and Big Boy had their first ball games. Big Boy played on the pitcher's mound. He's in his last year of coach pitch. He got a couple of outs. His first three at bats, he hit directly to someone and was thrown out at first. His last at bat he hit a home run. His team won in OT 18-16. Big Girl had her first time pitching in a game. She did better than I was expecting. She struck one batter out. She did hit two batters, but she had a lot of wild pitches as well. They lost. I don't even know the score. Wednesday was a normal day, except we switched pitching practice from Mondays to Wednesdays now that games have started. I showed her coach a video from her game, and we were able to pinpoint one issue she was having. Thursday, the Big Kids had their homeschool nature class. I worked with Little Boy one on one a little. Then we went to the park with friends after nature class. Little Boy had a game Thursday night. His team won 12-10. He hit twice and had two balls come to him in left field. Friday, Little Boy had an ice cream party at his school. We had a normal school day. And then I had to work the concession stand, and the Big Kids had games again. Big Boy's team lost 12-16. He got a couple of outs again, but still didn't hit the best. Always hitting directly to someone to throw him out. Big Girl did so much better pitching in her second game. She struck out two batters in the first inning (one of which was the lead off batter). And then she struck out three in the 2nd inning (not quite 3 up and 3 down, but I'm still really proud). She did hit three. But she didn't have nearly as many wild pitches. And I was so proud of her. She also got a triple at bat. Coach ended up switching our pitchers for the third inning, and we ended up losing 9-11. Saturday, I spent most of the day cleaning our pool from the leaves that settled over the winter. It was a lengthy process, but I'm thankful it's done. The kids actually got in, but of course, it's too cold for them to stay in long. I won't be caught in the pool until the end of May at the earliest.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of The Duke's Sacred Vow (Brides of the Regency, # 1) by Isabel Jacobs (4.5 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Green Book Covers
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Ruling Out Robyn (Men of the Isles, # 3) by Deborah M. Hathaway
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Mater's Birthday Suprise

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Reivew of Firebird (Fire that Binds, # 1) by Juliette Cross
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Lucky Goes to School

NEW BOOKS:

Embrace (Off the Ice, # 4)

By: Bal Khabra

Publication: August 4, 2026 by Berkley

400 pages

Genre: Adult, Romance, Sports

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--An unexpected spark between a hockey player and the coach’s daughter might cause them to cross the line in the next Dalton University book from international bestselling author Bal Khabra.

Kian Ishida is all about parties, hockey, and living in the moment. But when he realizes he’s headed to the NHL without his degree, his late dad’s one wish for him, he’s determined to make up those last few credits. Desperate for help, he joins a study group led by none other than Scarlett Kilner. She’s as gorgeous as she is smart. Too bad he doesn’t know yet that she’s his coach’s daughter.

After making a reputation for herself, all Scarlett wants for her senior year is to prove she’s more than her mistakes and graduate without tarnishing her well-respected father’s name. But when Kian Ishida, one of her dad’s star hockey players, joins her study group, things get complicated.

As Scarlett helps Kian, their study sessions turn into something more—stolen glances, lingering touches, and a connection neither of them expected. Kian has to decide what’s more the dream he’s worked for his whole life or the girl he never saw coming.

An Honorable Love (The Gentlemen's Gamble, # ?)

By: Audra Wells

Expected Publication: March 19, 2026

244 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--One grump. One thief. One highly-questionable adventure.

Leonard Stanton has perfected the art of being alone. He keeps to the edges of ballrooms, and society, whenever possible. But when a priceless family heirloom is stolen off his very person, he finds himself dragged into the one thing he hates most—a social entanglement.

Enter Miss Honora Gillingham. Vexingly cheerful, utterly unpredictable, and the last person Leonard should trust. Mostly because . . . she’s the one who stole from him.

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 - Mater's Birthday Surprise

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.

Mater's Birthday Suprirse

By: Melissa Lagonegro

Publication: January 10, 2012 by RH/Disney

32 pages

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

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Mater thinks all his friends in Radiator Springs have forgotten his birthday—until they throw him the best surprise party ever! This Step 2 reader starring Lightning McQueen, Mater, and the rest of the cars from Disney/Pixar Cars and Cars 2 will make a perfect birthday gift for children ages 4 to 6. Step 2 readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories. For children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help.

Finding books that my child wants to read isn't always easy. We have a stack of early readers that was passed down to us from friends, and then we have ones that I've purchased as well. Our copy of this book has seen better days. A dog has chewed on it. Someone's taken scissors to several of the pages. Yet, this book is one that my child enjoyed reading more than many of the others he's read recently.

The characters from Disney's Cars are getting together to plan a surprise birthday party for Mater. However, Mater is hiding on almost every page peeping things out and spoiling the surprise. All of the aspects of a birthday party are present, and Mater is observing them all. My son had a great time spotting Mater on each page. There were some challenging words, as several of the characters' names were difficult.

Sometimes, entertaining wins out over a deep or beautiful moral to a story in the eyes of a seven-year-old boy. Mater's Birthday Surprise gets 4 Stars. Have you or your child read Mater's Birthday Surprise? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Ruling Out Robyn

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.

Ruling Out Robyn (Men of the Isles, # 3)

By: Deborah M. Hathaway

Expected Publication: April 10, 2026 by Draft Horse Publishing

? 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--Robyn Lane is sunshine embodied. Or so her fans call her. She really has it all—loving parents, protective older brothers, unfailing optimism, and millions of subscribers on YouTube. She also has a dream job that is about to become even dreamier.

Having fallen into the unpredictable world of crowdfunding, Robyn has found her calling in life by filming herself partaking in whatever her millions of fans wish her to do, whether that be skydiving, attempting to repair a 1933 Ford Roaster, or auditioning for every singing competition in America—all without being a singer.

And now? Well, now, she’s about to pack up all her belongings and live out an entire year on a dilapidated sheep farm in Snowdonia, Wales to see if she can revive the farm from the ground up. Does she know one thing about sheep or farming? Not even a lick. Is she even aware if Snowdonia is a real place? Well, she is now, thanks to Google. (It is real, BTW.) But she’s not concerned. She’s thrilled. Everything is going to be amazing. It always is for her.

And yet, running the farm is nothing like she expects. She finds herself falling short in every way—including fitting in with the locals, particularly with her neighbor on the adjoining sheep the surly, impatient, and insanely attractive Cedric Davies. Apparently, the guy used to be some famous soccer—oh, sorry, football—player for England, but after an injury, he chose live out the remainder of his days on this rainy, windy land like some crazy recluse. A recluse who isn’t afraid to express his disapproval with her filming her life from sun-up to sun-down.

Robyn can handle anything life throws at her—even this frigid sheep farm. And yet, when Cedric’s wind-tossed hair and scruff-covered jawline become more appealing than anything else, including her job…she isn’t sure what she can handle anymore.

This is the third book in the clean and sweet romcom Men of the Isles series by Deborah M. Hathaway. Although this dual POV, grumpy/sunshine, sports, and celebrity romance is a stand-alone novel, the books are best enjoyed when read in order as minor spoilers are given about previous characters.

Don't miss the other novels in this series!

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

Top Ten Green Book Covers

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 Green Book Covers

1. Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, # 3) by Sarah J Maas
2. Old Flames and New Fortunes by Sarah Hogle
3. The Gentleman's Confession (Matchmaking Mamas, # 3) by Anneka R Walker
4. A Whimsical Notion by Jennie Goutet
5. Drive Me Crazy by Lizzy Dent
6. Rule of the Aurora King (Artefacts of Ouranos, # 2) by Nisha J Tuli
7. Sir Andrew and the Authoress (Clairvoir Castle Romances, # 3) by Sally Britton
8. Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet (Charley Davidson, # 4) by Darynda Jones
9. Fate & Furies (The Legends of Thezmarr, # 3) by Helen Scheuerer
10. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (Harry Potter, # 6) by JK Rowling

Which books have you read that feature green book covers? Let me know!

The Duke's Sacred Vow - Review

The Duke's Sacred Vow (Brides of the Regency, # 1)

By: Isabel Jacobs

Publication: September 25, 2025 by Grace Romance

262 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Betrayed by her betrothed, she flees to a stranger. Haunted by his past, he offers salvation. Can two wounded souls find healing in each other?A wronged debutante and a disillusioned duke enter into a marriage of convenience—only to discover that trust, grace, and healing can grow even from the ashes of betrayal.

She needs to escape …
When Miss Annabel Ridley learns of her fiancé’s shocking betrayal, she knows she cannot proceed with the match—even if it means defying her father’s wishes and igniting scandal. Trapped between duty and danger, she flees to the one man powerful enough to help her—the Duke of Halmesbury, a stranger with a formidable reputation … and a surprising offer.

He needs to make amends …
Philip Markham, Duke of Halmesbury, has spent years hiding from heartache and mistakes he cannot undo. When a determined young woman arrives on his doorstep, desperate and brave, he sees an opportunity to do one thing right. He proposes a marriage of convenience to protect her—but as they draw closer, he finds himself yearning for more.

Can two hearts bound by necessity learn to love—and find peace in the providence neither dared to hope for?

As old wounds resurface and secrets come to light, Annabel and Philip must learn to trust one another—and to believe that sometimes, the most unexpected unions are those most touched by grace.

The Duke’s Sacred Vow is the moving first novel in the Brides of the Regency series by Isabel Jacobs. If you enjoy noble heroes, courageous heroines, and stories of romance woven with faith and emotional depth, then you will be captivated by this heartfelt tale of love, trust, and quiet redemption.

If I remember correctly, I got The Duke's Sacred Vow as a freebie. Sometimes, I don't expect a lot out of freebies, but I've been in the mood for historical fiction to get me out of my fantasy rut. So I decided to take a chance on The Duke's Sacred Vow, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Annabel is engaged to a man that she's known for a long time. They've been friends. Richard was a close friend of her brother's, but as she got older, Richard became a confidant for Annabel. She thinks they have a love match, but one day, Annabel stumbles upon Richard and her maid in the stables. After that, Annabel is determined to get out of the marriage. Yet Richard plans to move forward with the wedding, and Annabel's father won't hear of ending the engagement either. Annabel seeks out Richard's cousin who lives fairly close by in hopes that he will talk sense into Richard. He is heralded as an honorable man, and he is a duke. Well Annabel is surprised to find that Phillip's solution to her problem is to marry her himself.

Phillip is a widower. He needs to remarry to ensure his duty to produce and heir. Yet he dreads the idea of the marriage mart. And his previous marriage was a struggle between two ill-suited people. He doesn't want that. Annabel surprises him by showing up at his house. However, he is immediately impressed by her. He makes an impulsive offer, but it will solve two problems at once. He can rescue her from his roguish cousin, and he can secure himself a wife. They both know they wouldn't be marrying for love, but Annabel is satisfied with an honest marriage with mutual admiration.

The two do get married within a week of meeting each other. They both have pasts that need to be worked through. Phillip never really grieved his previous wife nor the falling apart of his relationship with his cousin which he has just made more complicated by stealing his cousin's bride. Annabel falls first and she isn't sure whether Phillip married her because he was trying to get revenge against his cousin. Plus she and her brother are estranged, and she has no idea why.

I was hooked into this story early. And I never had any complaints with the writing style or pacing. I will say that I was so impressed with the prayer life and personal relationships of Annabel and Phillip. I feel this is probably more of a reflection upon Isabel Jacobs (the author) than the characters themselves. The frequency that these characters spoke to God was so impressive. This is a situation where many might find it idealistic, but I find it inspiring. And I wish more literature showed the world as it could be rather than as it is. I will be reading more of her books just to see if this is as common with her other characters as it was with these two. But it helps to remind me to be as constantly in conversation with God throughout my day.

Favorite quotes:

-“You must pray over this, child. If the Lord opens a door, it’s ours to walk through, but you must be certain it’s not one you’ve forced open yourself.”

-God is so kind, she thought, pausing at the door. He does not always answer in the way we expect, but He never forgets us.

-“But I would rather stand before God having erred on the side of mercy than having hardened my heart.”

-“You see, the world turns something holy into something coarse. But Scripture speaks of marriage as a picture of Christ and the Church. Tender, patient, honoring. A true husband waits for his bride, honors her hesitations, and sees intimacy as a gift, not a demand.”

The Duke's Sacred Vow gets 4.5 Stars. It's one of my favorite tropes--marriages of convenience. I loved the personal relationship the two main characters had with God. My one critique is that Phillip nearly had to fight himself to figure out that he loved Annabel, yet he pulls the "I've loved you since the first day" thing. If not for that, I might have given this one 5 Stars. Have you read The Duke's Sacred Vow? What did you think? Let me know!