Sunday Post - 05/24/26

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.

The kids spent the night with my parents' last Sunday and Monday. Sunday night, Husband and I went out to dinner. Then I spent most of Monday deep cleaning my two boys rooms. Both boys are mostly responsible for cleaning their bedrooms, but I needed to do a deep clean. I also went through all of their clothes to pull out anything that was too small. I felt really productive and listened to an audiobook during the process, so that was nice. Tuesday, I spent most of the day reading or watching a show which was nice to do uninterrupted. We had our meeting with the psychologist to go over the assessments that our middle child had taken. The clinical diagnosis is that he does NOT have ADHD. Now, we haven't gotten an official "he does not have dyslexia" but he scored really high on reading comprehension and vocabulary, but a little slow on reading speed. His handwriting scores were really low compared to his other tests, so we can't fully rule out dyslexia or some other problem there. But for now, we will work on handwriting to improve in this area. We picked the kids up from my parents' on the way home from the meeting. Wednesday was our first real day of summer break I guess. That was nice. Thursday, the kids did have one last nature class, and we met up with some friends at the park after that. We also stopped in at the library. Friday felt like Saturday. I spent a few hours cleaning our pool. It was clear and blue but low on salt. It's amazing how quickly it can go from clear and blue to green and cloudy. The kids have been asking if the neighborhood kids can swim with them. And I feel torn on it. I do want them to play and have fun, but sometimes the neighborhood kids don't come from families with the same morals as us. It's disheartening to hear 8 year old boys cursing and 13 year old girls talking about "puck bunnies" (IYKYK). These same kids have told my 5 year old that Santa Claus isn't real. So I'm in my feels about all of this.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of Seek the Traitor's Son (The Burning Empire, # 1) by Veronica Roth
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Miss Beresford and the Beast (Daughters of Somerset, # 1) by Mimi Matthews
Friday: Homeschool Friday - If You Give a Dog a Donut

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Reivew of Fallen City (Fallen City Duology, # 1) by Adrienne Young
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Coat of Many Colors

NEW BOOKS:

Daggermouth (The Heart, # 1)

By: H.M. Wolfe

Expected Publication: March 3, 2026 by Scarlett Press

544 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Dystopian

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--Set in a corrupt surveillance state ruled by the masked elite, this true enemies-to-lovers dystopian romance that’s Conform meets V For Vendetta follows a mercenary who botches the assassination of the president’s son and ends up forced to marry him.

The first thing you’ll learn in New Found Haven is that mercy doesn’t exist. The second thing is that, from the highest glass atrium in the Heart to the windowless slums of the Boundary, the Veyra are always watching.

The last lesson is the hardest, but you must remember it: Love outside of your ring is a death sentence.

The city is carved into rings of privilege and poverty, ruled by the masked elite who will do whatever it takes to hold onto power. Obedience is demanded. Rebellion is crushed.

Greyson Serel has spent his life caught between two worlds. Publicly, he’s the flawless heir to the presidency. Privately, he’s entangled in secrets that could topple the regime. But when he’s forced into a political marriage meant to bind him tighter to the government’s brutal laws, he finds himself shackled to a bride as lethal as she is unwilling.

Shadera Kael is a mercenary raised to kill, not to wed. Yet when her bullet misses its mark, survival leaves her tied to the very man she was sent to eliminate. Trapped inside the corrupt heart of the city, she becomes both prisoner and wife, her every step watched, her every move tested.

Their union is no love story—it’s a battlefield. As secrets come to light and betrayals fester within the walls of power, Greyson and Shadera must decide between annihilating each other or burning the city to the ground together.

In a world where passion has consequences and loyalty is paid for in blood, their forced bond may be the spark that ignites a revolution. Or the fire that consumes them both.

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 - If You Give a Dog a Donut

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.

If You Give a Dog a Donut (If You Give a..., # 8)

By: Laura Joffe Numeroff

Illustrated By: Felicia Bond

Publication: October 4, 2011 by HarperCollins

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--If you give a dog a donut, he’ll ask for some apple juice to go with it. When you give him the juice, he’ll drink it all up. Then, before you can say “Woof”... Dog is off on a backyard adventure!

The exuberant dog who first appeared in 'If You Give a Pig a Party' (2005) is now the star of his very own book. Written in the irresistible 'If You Give...' tradition, 'If You Give a Dog a Donut' (2011) is another home run from the beloved team of Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond.

Fans of 'If You Give a Mouse a Cookie' (1985) will love this joyful new addition! This book is a great introduction to the 'If You Give...' Series, and also a perennial favorite among children. With its spare, rhythmic text and circular tale, 'If You Give a Dog a Donut' (2011) is perfect for beginning readers and story time. Sure to inspire giggles and requests to "read it again!" for years to come.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is a classic. And my kids have all been familiar with it. When my son was born, I choose a moose theme for his nursery, so it only made sense to get If You Give a Moose a Muffin. And then when we had a donut-themed birthday party for my son's first birthday, If You Give a Dog a Donut was a given. Accelerated Reader ranks If You Give a Dog a Donut as level 2.1. My kids love these books.

If You Give a Dog a Donut follows a dog and his kid. The dog starts out with a donut, but of course, he's going to need some juice to wash it down. The dog bounces around from thing to thing, being triggered by one item to the next. The concept for these stories had to come from a parent or grandparent. I actually giggle internally when reading these books because it's such an accurate portrayal of how children behave. The items always end up coming full circle.

There isn't necessarily a moral to this story, but I think it does give children a bird's eye view of how exhausting it can be to be the one constantly trying to satisfy someone who is randomly bouncing around from one thing to the next. Either way, these are clean, enjoyable books that the whole family loves. If You Give a Dog a Donut gets 4 Stars. Have you or your child read If You Give a Dog a Donut? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Miss Beresford and the Beast

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.

Miss Beresford and the Beast (Daughters of Somerset, # 1)

By: Mimi Matthews

Expected Publication: August 4, 2026 by Perfectly Proper Press

? pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Retelling

( 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 spirited Victorian beauty with a fondness for fairytales unwittingly falls under the power of a beastly, scandal-plagued nobleman in the first book in USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews’s new Daughters of Somerset series.

Charlotte Beresford has spent far too long under the iron rule of strict governesses and unflinching finishing school teachers. When she’s offered a brief window of freedom—an invitation to spend the summer with a recent acquaintance in a remote corner of Yorkshire, far from societal expectations—she jumps at the chance. Never mind that her new friend is odd, their chaperone questionable, and the village rumored to be cursed. Charlotte knows how to look after herself. All she must do is show a friendly face, keep her wits about her, and—above all—avoid the derelict manor house that stands on the edge of the moors…

Battle-scarred and bad tempered, Magnus Sterling never intended to return to England, let alone Yorkshire. But now he’s inherited the title, it’s his responsibility to settle his late father’s affairs. It should be simple enough to do without riling up the superstitious locals. Indeed, they don’t even need to know that the infamous son of the equally infamous Earl of Eversleigh is back on British soil. Magnus will keep to himself, and to the crumbling manor house, and for once in his miserable life avoid any cloud of scandal. A straightforward enough plan, or so he believes, until he catches sight of the bold, auburn-haired intruder infiltrating the grounds of his estate…

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

Seek the Traitor's Son - Review

Seek the Traitor's Son (The Burning Empire, # 1)

By: Veronica Roth

Narrated By: Imani Jade Powers; Max Meyers; Rebecca Soler; Steve West

Expected Publication: May 12, 2026 by Tor Books

432 pages

Genre: Adult, Dystopian, Fantasy, Science 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--A new epic romantic, dystopian fantasy begins in Seek the Traitor's Son, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth

Elegy Ahn did not ask for destiny to find her.

She is happy with her life as a soldier, defending her small country from the Talusar, a powerful nation who worships a deadly Fever. A fever that blesses half of its victims with mysterious gifts.

But then she’s summoned to hear a prophecy–her, and the most ruthless of Talusar generals, Rava Vidar. Brought face to face, they learn that one of them will lead their people to victory over the other…but they don’t know which. And at the center of both of their fates: a man. A man that, Elegy is told, she will fall in love with.

In just one day, Elegy’s old life–her job, her purpose, and her future–is over. She and Rava are destined to collide, with the fate of their nations hanging in the balance. And when they do, only one will be left standing.

Elegy intends to make sure it’s her.

Seek the Traitor's Son had a slow start for me. I liked the idea of two people receiving the same prophecy. The prophecy isn't set in stone on which woman will come out as the "winner," but both will be the rise or fall of their people. Both will fall in love with a man. Man, I'm butchering this. Check out the description to see the details about the prophecy.

Elegy has always been the spare daughter. Her mother has served a prominent role in her nation, and her sister will be the heir to receive the role after their mother passes. Elegy doesn't even know her real father, but her adoptive father is basically the one who raised her. Elegy has an entire life. And not to spoil things, but the reader would know quickly upon the start of the book that Elegy is married at the beginning. So to hear this prophecy that she (or Rava Vidar) will be the one to conquer the other for their nations, and Elegy will fall in love with a man, she knows that it isn't her husband. Elegy rejects the idea of being the Hope of Cedrae. The reader has to know that Elegy's husband is either destined to die or they will get divorced. The reader just doesn't know which.

I am thankful that I had Seek the Traitor's Son on audiobook. This is definitely a book that would have been put off for months or years if I were actually reading it. The narrators did well. I was kind of sick of hearing the whole name Rava Vidar by the end of the book. I guess I would have likely felt that way whether listening or reading. But the emphasis that was put on this name was a little annoying. It kind of added to her character build-up that I didn't think was deserved.

Theron was up and down for me. He didn't have any more choice in his destiny than Elegy did. He was thrust into a position that he wasn't fully prepared for. He was once a coward, and then had to go through extensive difficulty to come out a different person. Theron's relationship with the guy who hated him felt forced to me. I can't remember his name, and due to having the audiobook copy, I can't exactly go hunting for it. This didn't feel realistic to me at all. I honestly chose to block it from my memory until the time to write this review. Had I known that this content was present within the book, I probably would have taken a pass on it.

The book ended on a cliffhanger, and at the time, I definitely thought I would need to find out what was going to happen next. But now that I've had a little distance between finishing Seek the Traitor's Son and writing this review, I've already lost a lot of my interest in seeing what's going to happen next. I can definitely see myself not continuing this series. It was complex, but I kept feeling like the story was lagging. Overall, not my favorite book from Veronica Roth. Seek the Traitor's Son gets 3 Stars. Have you read or listened to Seek the Traitor's Son? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 05/17/26

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.

This was our last week of homeschool. We are all so ready for a break. Monday night, Big Girl had pitching practice. Tuesday, we spent the day with my parents, got groceries, and then the Big Kids had martial arts. Wednesday was a normal school day, and then Wednesday night we tried out a new church for youth group type activities. We love our normal church and won't be leaving it, but there aren't many kids. We are looking to build more friendships with fellow Christians. Thursday, we went to the park with some friends. Big Girl fell at the park and has hurt her foot again. We haven't gone to the doctor yet, but if swelling isn't down by tomorrow we will probably go just to get it x-rayed. I'm praying she doesn't have another break. We didn't get to martial arts Thursday night because Husband and my dad have been building a ramp for a family in need. The mother needs back surgery, and the son (50) is in need of knee replacement surgery which has been scheduled. They will both need to get into their house without using stairs soon. Friday was our last day of school. It went well, and we are all excited for summer break. Saturday, I put an "end of the year" party together for the kids. I always cook a special breakfast and give them a few goodies including a Lego set and a new book to read over the summer. I also spent the day working on cleaning the pool and doing various house chores.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: DNF Review of The Last Page by Katie Holt
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Igniting Lies by Rebecca Donovan
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Gus Loses His Grip

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Reivew of Seek the Traitor's Son by Veronica Roth
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Friday: Homeschool Friday - If You Give a Dog a Donut

NEW BOOKS:

Igniting Lies (Burning, # 1)

By: Rebecca Donovan

Expected Publication: June 16, 2026 by Rebecca Donovan

? pages

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary,

Source: Author (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--Sadie, Collin and Jonathan have been best friends since childhood. Sadie's the bleeding heart, always seeking a cause. Collin's the comedic peacemaker of the trio. And Jonathan's the protector of them all.

The summer before their senior year of high school, Sadie and Jonathan finally admit to having feelings for each other, putting their lifelong friendship at risk.

Jonathan’s notorious for getting into fights, a reputation Sadie’s chosen to ignore. Collin’s always been the one to smooth things over and de-escalate Jonathan’s rage.

After witnessing a dispute she wasn’t meant to see, Sadie suspects there’s more to the cuts and bruises than Jonathan's troublemaker reputation. Maybe she doesn’t know him as well as she thought. And this time, Collin’s words can’t twist what she saw with her own eyes.

All Jonathan wants is to be believed. To be known as something other than the monster he’s been labeled. There’s one person in his life who wants to see the truth, even his darker side. Except believing him may cost Sadie everyone she loves, including Jonathan.

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!