Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 12/31/17

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 week was wonderful. Monday was Christmas and Little Girl was beyond excited with the entire experience. Personally my favorite part was watching her and spending time with my family. After doing Santa Christmas morning, we went to my parents' house for Christmas with them and my siblings and families. Tuesday Husband had to work, but when he got home we went to his mom's to do Christmas with his siblings and family. Wednesday I took the kids back to Husband's mom's to spend a few hours while his family was here from Georgia. Wednesday Little Girl started getting sick. By Friday night Baby Boy and myself were starting to come down with it too. Thankfully it seems to just be a small cold with runny noses and cough. No fevers as of yet. Saturday Husband kept the kids while I ventured out to Walmart. This might not sound like a big deal but it was my first time out of the house with ZERO children for at least two months. Baby Boy turned 2 months old on Saturday. Oh and surprisingly I only received one book for Christmas this year. Hope all have a Happy New Year.

THIS PAST WEEK:

Tuesday: Top Ten 2018 TBR List (New and Old Releases)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter
Thursday: Review of A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses, # 3) by Sarah J Maas (4 Stars)
Friday: 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge - Sign Ups
Saturday: 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge - Goals

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: December 2017 EOM Wrap Up
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Thursday: 2017 EOY Wrap Up
Friday: Review of Paris Lights (Heart of the City, # 1) by CJ Duggan
Saturday: 2017 EOY Book Survey (maybe)

Don’t forget to link up for the 2017 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until January 23rd, 2018 to link up your reviews. 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!

You can now sign up for the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge!

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Lucky in Love

By: Kasie West

Publication: July 25th 2017 by Scholastic

352 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

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--Maddie doesn't believe in luck. She's all about hard work and planning ahead. But one night, on a whim, she buys a lottery ticket. And then, to her astonishment -- She wins!

In a flash, Maddie's life is unrecognizable. No more stressing about college scholarships. Suddenly, she's talking about renting a yacht. And being in the spotlight at school is fun... until rumors start flying, and random people ask her for loans. Now, Maddie isn't sure who she can trust.

Except for Seth Nguyen, her funny, charming coworker at the local zoo. Seth doesn't seem aware of Maddie's big news. And, for some reason, she doesn't want to tell him. But what will happen if he learns her secret?

With tons of humor and heart, Kasie West delivers a million-dollar tale of winning, losing, and falling in love.

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!

2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge - Goals

This challenge is for all of you series readers who are scared to death of that last book in the series. You anxiously await it. You stalk it. You get your hands on it as soon as possible. But then…you put off reading it for fear that it might not be everything you thought it would be. Or, maybe you just have a backlog of series started and you need to finish that last book.

Join us in knocking out those pesky last books in a series. This is your chance. Here’s your motivation. Better than that, we have prizes!

Levels: (how many series enders you are planning to read)

Level 1: 1 – 5
Level 2: 5 – 10
Level 3: 10 – 15
Level 4: 15+

Check out the the sign up post to join!

This challenge is hosted by Somewhere Only We Know and Words Fueled by Love.

<a border="0" href="https://sandyfarmer.blogspot.com/2017/12/2018-series-enders-reading-challenge.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQel7IrBKPxToZoUrdsc6CctUCxf8NULYh2l07hN9sgC7hjqmWe2KVI78NYbYX1gnCMdysu-M-2ZGCNOxlzik6OoAwrVmBL_oYt1sm3ppLi8_GuGIGc0mMMvHvpZozsnTgpcnY8Er6RBco/s320/2018SeriesEnders.jpg" height="225" width="225" /></a>

My Goals:

1. Finale (Hush, Hush, # 4) by Becca Fitzpatrick
2. Unforgiven (Fallen, # 4) by Lauren Kate
3. Ruins (Partials, # 3) by Dan Wells
4. Ruin & Rising (The Grisha, # 3) by Leigh Bardugo
5. Until We Fly (Beautifully Broken, # 4) by Courtney Cole
6. Swear (My Blood Approves, # 5) by Amanda Hocking
7. Always and Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boys I've Loved Before, # 3) by Jenny Han
8. The Eye of Andromeda (Age of X, # 3) by Richelle Mead
9. A Beautiful Funeral (The Maddox Brothers, # 5) by Jamie McGuire
10. The Last Star (The 5th Wave, # 3) by Rick Yancey
11. Brave (Contours of the Heart, # 4) by Tammara Webber
12. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Harry Potter, # 8) by JK Rowling & John Tiffany
13. End of Days (Penryn & the End of Days, # 3) by Susan Ee
14. Never Never Part 3 by Colleen Hoover & Tarryn Fisher
15. The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles, # 3) by Mary E Pearson
16. Inspiring You (Unraveling You, # 4) by Jessica Sorensen
17. Emerald Green (The Ruby Red Trilogy, # 3) by Kerstin Gier
18. Hero at the Fall (Rebel of the Sands, # 3) by Alwyn Hamilton

Of course, I likely won't get to some of these (a few of them have been on my goals list for the last four years), or I'll come across a new/new-to-me series that I read the entire series during 2018. So we'll see what happens. These are just the enders on my radar right now.

2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge - Sign Ups

The 2017 Series Enders Reading Challenge was another success, and so Holly and I decided we're in this for yet another year. Welcome to our 5th Annual Series Enders Reading Challenge. While the rules this year are essentially the same as last year, we did tweak the wording on a few and add some clarification so please be sure to check them out for a refresher.

This challenge is for all of you series readers who are scared to death of that last book in the series. You anxiously await it. You stalk it. You get your hands on it as soon as possible. But then…you put off reading it for fear that it might not be everything you thought it would be. Or, maybe you just have a backlog of series started and you need to finish that last book.

Join us in knocking out those pesky last books in a series. This is your chance. Here’s your motivation. Better than that, we have prizes!

Challenge Guidelines:

1. This challenge will run from January 1, 2018 until December 31, 2018.
2. Anyone can enter. You don’t have to have a blog just as long as you review your books somewhere: on your blog if you have one, Amazon, Goodreads, Shelfari, etc.
3. Any genre, length, or format is acceptable as long as it is the last book in a series where all books in the series have been published and no more books are currently intended to be published in the series. If an author makes a decision somewhere during the year to add on to the series, we will count both the original last book in the series and the “new last” book in the series assuming the author isn’t going to write more than one additional book. Last book published in a series doesn’t count if more books are expected to be published.
4. You can list your series enders ahead of time or do a singular wrap up post. If you decide to list them up front, feel free to change them throughout the year as necessary.
5. When you sign up in the linky, please use the direct link to your post about joining the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge. If you don’t have a blog, please post about it on Facebook or Twitter and include that direct link as your sign up.
6. You can sign up until December 15, 2018. This allows you to join the challenge at any time during the year.
7. On the 25th of every month, we will post a wrap up on both Somewhere Only We Know and Words Fueled by Love with a giveaway and a place for you to link up your reviews for the month. The monthly giveaway will be open until the next wrap up post goes up (ex. From January 25th 2018, to February 25th 2018). For each link to a review, you will get an (1) entry into a drawing for that giveaway. This will be open internationally.
8. Monthly giveaway prizes will be an e-gift card of your choice up to $5 (USD) from Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com. While the challenge and giveaways are open internationally, please make sure that you can receive e-gift cards via Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com. We want to make sure everyone has an equal opportunity to participate and to receive the prizes. Please remember that Holly and I are funding the giveaways out of our own pockets as something that we want to do, and we would like to continue to do so.
9. If you miss a wrap-up post and giveaway, you can link your review the next month. Please do not try to link to one review twice. We will be verifying these.
10. December will be the wrap up for the entire year. All reviews linked from January through December will be entered into a Grand Prize giveaway. Also due to Christmas, the December wrap up will post on December 23rd and will be open until January 23rd.
11. You don’t have to follow Somewhere Only We Know or Words Fueled by Love to participate in the challenge, but you do have to follow both of us in order to be entered in the giveaways.
12. Please make sure we have a valid email address or other means of contacting you if you choose to participate. Linking up to Goodreads is perfectly fine, but we have found that Goodreads is not a reliable source for contacting someone should you be selected as one of the monthly giveaway winners. This could be due to your Goodreads notification settings or Goodreads themselves could be at fault. We're not sure which. And since we want to make sure that everyone who is eligible for one of the giveaways will receive their prize should they win one month or the grand prize at the end of the year, it is up to you to ensure that we can contact you and that you respond within a reasonable amount of time (usually stated in the email notifying you of your winning).

Levels: (how many series enders you are planning to read)

Level 1: 1 – 5
Level 2: 5 – 10
Level 3: 10 – 15
Level 4: 15+

If you have any questions, please contact us at: Sandy's Email or Holly's Email or comment on one of the Series Enders blog posts on either or both of our websites.

To join the challenge:

1. Write a blog post about joining the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge on your blog. For those of you who would like to participate but don’t have a blog, post about it on Facebook or Twitter.
2. In your post, please include: the button, a link back to the sign up page, a link to both Somewhere Only We Know and Words Fueled by Love, the level you hope to achieve, and (optional) a list of the series you hope to complete.
3. Place the button for the challenge in your sidebar (use the “grab this code” at the bottom of the post here).
4. Link up in the linky using the direct link to your post/tweet/etc.

And that’s it! Welcome to the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge. Good luck!

This reading challenge is hosted by Somewhere Only We Know & Words Fueled by Love.

<a border="0" href="https://sandyfarmer.blogspot.com/2017/12/2018-series-enders-reading-challenge.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQel7IrBKPxToZoUrdsc6CctUCxf8NULYh2l07hN9sgC7hjqmWe2KVI78NYbYX1gnCMdysu-M-2ZGCNOxlzik6OoAwrVmBL_oYt1sm3ppLi8_GuGIGc0mMMvHvpZozsnTgpcnY8Er6RBco/s320/2018SeriesEnders.jpg" height="225" width="225" /></a>

Like last year, we had to use Simply-Linked for the yearly sign up linky because InLinkz has made some changes to the basic package. The monthly link ups will be the typical InLinkz linky that we used for the past challenges.

A Court of Wings and Ruin - Review

A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses, # 3)

By: Sarah J Maas

Published: May 2nd 2017 by Bloomsbury Childrens Books

699 pages

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Fae, Faeries

Source: Borrowed from Holly

( 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 nightmare, I’d told Tamlin. I was the nightmare.

Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin’s maneuverings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit—and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well. As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords—and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

The ending of A Court of Mist and Fury didn't exactly have me rushing out to pick up A Court of Wings and Ruin immediately. Of course, I wanted to read it and knew that I would, but the precarious situation of the characters that I care so much about made me feel the need for a break. So I read a contemporary and a non-fiction book between these two. Not a spoiler if you've read A Court of Mist and Fury, but we pick up the story with Feyre back in the Spring Court as a spy for Rhys. Tamlin and everyone else thinks that the King of Hybern broke the mating bond between Feyre and Rhys, but what he broke was actually just the bargain they created Under the Mountain in A Court of Thorns and Roses. Feyre pretty much loathes Tamlin at this point because not only did he ignore her wishes of leaving her and Rhys in peace, but he also sold his soul and his court basically to Hybern to get her back. And in the process, her sisters were captured and turned into Fae against their will.

As I said, I wasn't happy with where the characters begin this story. Not only is Feyre back in Tamlin's court but Azriel and Cassian were both injured and we have little knowledge of how they're healing. This time with Feyre playing spy against Tamlin wasn't the most enjoyable for me, but thankfully it didn't drag on too long. Maybe 20% if I remember correctly.

As always, Sarah J Maas has so many pieces of her puzzle to weave together that it's hard to imagine her keeping it all straight. Yet, I've learned that each piece has a purpose and therefore some things that possibly should have been twists and turns were a bit more predictable for me than I'd like. Holly and Lacy both said they were surprised at some of these pieces so it's good to know that not everyone will feel the same way that I did. Holly and Lacy both told me they prefer not to try to guess how things are going to turn out, but my brain can't help but analyze all of the pieces of this puzzle along with my knowledge of all prior books that I've read to see which pieces will play out in certain ways. I don't always mean to predict the events of the book (right or wrong). I just can't help it. And surprisingly for me compared to how frequently Sarah J Maas surprised me with her Throne of Glass series, I actually found myself guessing correctly* more times than not. I truly hope this doesn't come off as arrogant as I've sometimes felt other reviewers to be when mentioning pieces of books that they've figured out. I personally enjoy a mix of being able to predict twists while also remaining surprised at some of the turns as well. Because, as I said, I've seen Sarah J Maas do just that, I found myself a little disappointed with not being as surprised with this series ender.

Speaking of series ender...this is one of those times when the true ending seems unclear. Sarah J Maas states in her FAQ on her website that A Court of Thorns and Roses is intended to be a trilogy, but that she has more books planned for this world. This indicates a spin-off series, but I'm curious to see what the spin-off will be named as Goodreads currently has ACoTaR showing as a 6 book series.

Regardless of my predictions, there is still much that I'm dying to know about. Things were left very open for most of our side characters that I feel a pressing urge to know more about--to see how things will play out. My biggest questions revolve around Elain and Lucien* as well as Nesta and Cassian*. I don't want to give anything away between these characters, but I will say that I was left wanting to know much more than I was given. Speaking of side characters, I was not entirely happy with the actions of Tamlin or Mor. Tamlin's behavior toward the end of A Court of Mist and Fury as well as A Court of Wings and Fury felt a good bit out of character from the man he appeared to be in A Court of Thorns and Roses. I suppose in some ways he redeemed himself, but I wasn't completely satisfied overall. Mor gives Feyre a detailed explanation of her complicated relationships with both Cassian and Azriel. But beyond her actual revelation, I was disappointed and downright angry with her treatment of the two guys, but specifically Azriel. She was beyond unfair but utterly selfish and even what I would call cruel in truth. This story didn't endear her to me. I didn't feel sorry for her or her struggles. Instead, I felt her story made her weaker than I felt she'd been throughout the prior two books. In the end, I was just really disappointed in the direction that Sarah J Maas chose to go with her.*

Favorite quotes:

-"You can't be too careful while sharing camp with enemies..."

-"You come between a male and his mate, Nate Archeron, and you're going to learn the consequences the hard way."

-I realized that the color of death, of sorrow, was white. The lack of color. Of vibrancy.

-I see you ... And it does not frighten me.

-"Remember that you are a wolf. And you cannot be caged."

I'm sure I'm not saying much of what should be said about A Court of Wings and Ruin. I am including a rather lengthy spoiler section at the end of this review so check that out if you're interested...or avoid it if you don't want anything spoiled. I found A Court of Wings and Ruin a little more predictable than I wanted it to be. But I was still completely sucked into the story. I was connected to the characters so much, and I wanted to see how everything was going to play out. In the end Sarah J Maas left me wanting more and I can't wait to see which pieces get tied up even more in her spin-off series to come. A Court of Wings and Ruin gets 4 Stars from me. Have you read A Court of Wings and Ruin? What did you think? Let me know!

Highlight for spoilers: Feyre's mission to retrieve the mirror for the Bone Carver: It was obvious to me that she would indeed look into the mirror and come away just fine. Otherwise mentioning the mission and visiting the Bone Carver at all would have been pointless and a waste of words and pages for nothing.

I also never bought Rhys's death. Once a character dies and comes back to life no matter the method (actually being resurrected, a faked death, or however), I find all other deaths in the series to be lacking in impact because the potential is for them to "come back" also. And because Feyre survived her broken neck by the High Lords bringing her back to life, I didn't emotionally connect to Rhys dying or Feyre's panic and heartbreak through these scenes. Not to mention, Sarah J Maas's constant planting of how "Rhys would sacrifice all so that the others don't have to" (I'm paraphrasing here) felt like overkill. She essentially prepared me for his death by constantly offering it up as an option throughout the book.

In the same way, Amren's betrayal didn't affect me at all because given her relationship with Varian in addition to her speech about how transforming into her original form would mean that she lost who she had now become. It was obvious that in doing so Amren would consider this a loss too great to risk. She didn't intend to do it because she didn't want to lose the family she'd come to love. So I didn't buy her betrayal.

Also predictable was the girls' father returning with his past actions not being as they all assumed. This is another thing I've come to learn. Any time a character assumes without foolproof knowledge leaves their assumption open for being flat-out wrong. And in this case, it was.

I need to know if there's hope for Elain and Lucien or if their story would end up being one where the mating bond "chose incorrectly."

Similarly, much was said that could indicate that Nesta and Cassian are actually bonded as well. Yet, I couldn't be 100% sure that this was the case. Either way, I'm dying to know.

I feel like I said all I needed to say about Mor. Despite her turning out gay, I was so disappointed that she's been using Azriel as a cover essentially for 500 years. !!!500 years!!! She led him on. She let him continue to love her. Even if she didn't encourage him necessarily, she could have (SHOULD HAVE) been up front with him about her feelings. She didn't even have to explain that she was gay. But she owed it to him at some point during the last 500 years to DISCOURAGE him in a more clear manner than periodically sleeping with someone and rubbing it in his face.

Can't Wait for Not If I Save You First

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.

Not If I Save You First

By: Ally Carter

Expected Publication: March 27th 2018 by Scholastic Press

304 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

( 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--Maddie thought she and Logan would be friends forever. But when your dad is a Secret Service agent and your best friend is the president's son, sometimes life has other plans. Before she knows it, Maddie's dad is dragging her to a cabin in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness.

No phone.
No Internet.
And not a single word from Logan.

Maddie tells herself it's okay. After all, she's the most popular girl for twenty miles in any direction. (She’s also the only girl for twenty miles in any direction.) She has wood to cut and weapons to bedazzle. Her life is full. Until Logan shows up six years later . . . And Maddie wants to kill him.

But before that can happen, an assailant appears out of nowhere, knocking Maddie off a cliff and dragging Logan to some unknown fate. Maddie knows she could turn back- and get help. But the weather is turning and the terrain will only get more treacherous, the animals more deadly.

Maddie still really wants to kill Logan.
But she has to save him first.

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

Top Ten 2018 To Be Read List (New and Old Releases)

Top 10 Tuesday is a post hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and this week's topic is Top Ten 2018 TBR List (new and old releases).

1. Iron Gold (Red Rising, # 4) by Pierce Brown
2. Broken Beautiful Hears by Kami Garcia
3. Say You'll Remember Me by Katie McGarry
4. Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West
5. Hero at the Fall (Rebel of the Sands, # 3) by Alwyn Hamilton
6. Dance of Thieves (Dance of Thieves, # 1) by Mary E Pearson
7. Untitled (Throne of Glass, # 7) by Sarah J Maas (not pictured)
8. Lucky in Love by Kasie West
9. Always and Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boys I've Loved Before, # 3) by Jenny Han
10. Lord of Shadows (The Dark Artifices, # 3) by Cassandra Clare

Most of these release in 2018, but the last 3 are old releases. Which books are on your 2018 TBR list? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 12/24/17

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 week was super busy. Monday I took the kids to see Santa. Tuesday the guys came to do our fall check up on our heating unit. Wednesday I took the kids to visit Husband at work. He wanted Little Girl to see the Christmas decorations and show Baby Boy off. Thursday my sister, nephew, and niece came to hang out with us for a while. That night we went to my aunt's house for dinner. Friday we went to my mom's to bake cookies. No new books this week. I'm sure that'll change tomorrow. Merry Christmas everyone!

THIS PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West (3.5 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Broken Beautiful Hearts by Kami Garcia
Saturday: 2017 Series Enders Reading Challenge - December Wrap Up

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Merry Christmas!!!
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Thursday: Review of A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses, # 3) by Sarah J Maas

Don’t forget to link up for the 2017 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until January 23rd, 2018 to link up your reviews. 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!

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!

2017 Series Enders Reading Challenge - December Wrap Up

Time for our last Monthly Wrap Up for the 2017 Series Enders Reading Challenge hosted by Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know and Holly @ Words Fueled by Love!

Since the November Wrap Up, neither Holly nor Sandy have finished any series enders.

Announcements/Reminders:

1. Please make sure we have a valid email address or other means of contacting you if you choose to participate. Linking up to Goodreads is perfectly fine, but we have found that Goodreads is not a reliable source for contacting someone should you be selected as one of the monthly giveaway winners. This could be due to your Goodreads notification settings or Goodreads themselves could be at fault. We're not sure which. And since we want to make sure that everyone who is eligible for one of the giveaways will receive their prize should they win one month or the grand prize at the end of the year, it is up to you to ensure that we can contact you and that you respond within a reasonable amount of time (usually stated in the email notifying you of your winning).
2. While the challenge and giveaways are open internationally, please make sure that you can receive e-gift cards via Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com. Again, we want to make sure everyone has an equal opportunity to participate and to receive the prizes. Please remember that Holly and I are funding the giveaways out of our own pockets as something that we want to do, and we would like to continue to do so.

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 December giveaway runs from December 25th - January 23rd. On January 25th we will use random.org and the linky entries to pull a winner.

FYI, the series enders challenge will be back for 2018. Look for the sgn up post coming soon.

Cant Wait for Broken Beautiful Hearts

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.

Broken Beautiful Hearts

By: Kami Garcia

Expected Publication: February 6th 2018 by Imprint

368 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--In this gritty, contemporary romance, an injured star athlete escapes to a small southern town after an abusive relationship leaves her reeling.

Before, Peyton was a star soccer player with the perfect boyfriend, Reed. Now, she has a torn knee ligament, a scholarship on the line, and a shattered sense of self. No one believes Reed pushed her, causing her injury, and Peyton just wants to leave the trauma behind. Living with her uncle and twin cousins in their small, football-obsessed town seems like a great escape plan.

There, Peyton meets Owen—high school classmate and local MMA fighter. Though Owen is charming and gentle, Peyton is determined to repress her growing attraction. But when her old and new life collide, Peyton must reclaim the truth of her past in order to save her future.

With southern charm, underground martial arts, and red-hot chemistry, Kami Garcia’s second contemporary romance will steal your breath away.

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

Love, Life, and the List - Review

Love, Life, and the List

By: Kasie West

Published: December 26th 2017 by HarperTeen

384 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (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--Everyone knows Abby Turner is in love with her best friend, Cooper Wells. Including Cooper Wells. But despite what people tell her, it doesn’t affect their friendship. And she’s practically over it, anyway. What she really can’t get over is when her boss at the local museum tells her that her paintings lack heart.

Art is Abby’s passion and she hopes her future as well. She is determined to change his mind and earn her way into the upcoming exhibit at the gallery. So along with her family’s help, she compiles “The Heart List,” a series of soulstretching experiences that are sure to make her a deeper person and better artist in six weeks or less. When Cooper decides to complete the list along with her, she realizes this list is expanding her heart in more ways than one. Maybe she needs to start another project.

Love, Life, and the List is about a girl who, in an effort to bring more emotional depth to her art, compiles a list of soul-stretching experiences to complete with her best friend—a boy she also happens to be in love with.

This is the first in a set of three standalone books with crossover characters.

I seriously think the description could be narrowed down to that last paragraph and you'd know everything you need to know. The rest of it pretty much gives everything away.

Ok so I'm an avid Kasie West fan, right? I've read all of her published books but one (I believe). I went and checked and the lowest rating I've given to a Kasie West book is 4 Stars. That means she's consistently written really good books for me. I've said in almost all of my reviews of her books that I like how she always keeps her books clean, and I know to expect characters I can connect to even if her plots aren't always original. Well it had to happen eventually, but I felt a little disappointed with Love, Life, and the List. It's not that the book wasn't good or enjoyable, but it would easily qualify as my least favorite Kasie West book. And I'll tell you why.

The majority of this book is about unrequited love. And while that's something that I can definitely relate to, I'd rather read about two characters in the process of falling in love. I mean I'm pretty sure we've all had crushes or even serious feelings for someone who didn't return those feelings. I personally had a huge crush on this guy who flirted with me for YEARS in high school. And when I finally worked up the courage to tell him (over email), he never responded. It didn't stop him from continuing to flirt with me in person though. I've also been on the other side of that coin. I've had guys confess feelings for me that I didn't return as well. And from my experience on both of these sides, I personally don't feel like you can go back to being just friends in most cases--especially depending upon the depth of feelings. Those feelings don't tend to disappear. They end up festering, and it can make moving on almost impossible. And again, I say that from both points of view. So...while I empathized with Abby's predicament, I felt like her attempts to continue a friendship with someone she's in love with was not helping her out at all.

At the same time, the curiosity about whether Cooper might eventually return Abby's feelings or if Abby would move on to another guy kept me intrigued and wanting to read. Of course, at a certain point you realize that the author has spent the majority of the book headed in one direction that to change course wouldn't leave a satisfying ending. I will say that even though Love, Life, and the List had a "happy ending", I wouldn't exactly say that I was satisfied with how things went.

I will say that the rest of the aspects of Love, Life, and the List were spot on. I enjoyed Abby's journey to gain emotional depth. I absolutely loved her grandfather. Abby's mom's struggle with agoraphobia was unique. I've not read any other books that touch on this subject (at the time of writing this review...ironically enough the very next month after reading this book I read another one that touched on agoraphobia as well). And I appreciated Kasie West's decision to have some "major" characters from Abby's life present in that they exist, but not present in that they don't take up too much of the story. Specifically two of her best friends who were traveling for the summer vacation as well as her father who is in the military and stationed elsewhere.

Despite my frustrations with the romantic relationship, I did actually shed a few tears while reading this book. Abby experiences one big situation where pretty much everyone in her life lets her down at the same time. My heart broke for her and I felt her anger, hurt, and frustration in each of those situations.

Favorite quotes:

-"Nobody else's opinions about your art are going to matter to you until yours does."

-"What have you learned?" he asked. "That we can only control ourselves. No matter how much we wish we could twist and bend someone's will to ours, they have to want it too."

Love, Life, and the List will unfortunately fall into the category of "my least favorite Kasie West book." That being said, I still enjoyed this book to the point where it did make me cry. I'm sure a large portion of that was pregnancy hormones, but hey, that counts. While I enjoyed all of the other relationships that Abby had, I felt that her relationship with Cooper fell flat through the majority of the book and then wrapped up a bit too easily in the end for me. Love, Life, and the List gets 3.5 Stars from me. Have you read Love, Life and the List? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 12/17/17

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.

Another week I don't really remember now that it's gone. Baby Boy is sleeping better at night. Not perfect, but I'll take any progress we can get. I had a doctor's appointment on Friday and was released from all of my restrictions. YAY! Saturday was the first day that we didn't have any plans on a Saturday since Baby Boy was born. Sunday we hung out and ate lunch with my parents after church. I can't believe we're essentially 1 week out from Christmas. This week should be quite busy. No new books this week.

THIS PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Uninvited by Lysa TerKeurst (4.5 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2017 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until January 23rd, 2018 to link up your reviews. 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!

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!

Can't Wait for Listen to Your Heart

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.

Listen to Your Heart

By: Kasie West

Expected Publication: May 29th 2018 by Point

336 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

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

Goodreads description--Talking to other people isn't Kate Bailey's favorite activity. She'd much rather be out on the lake, soaking up the solitude and sunshine. So when her best friend, Alana, convinces Kate to join their high school's podcast, Kate is not expecting to be chosen as the host. Now she'll have to answer calls and give advice on the air? Impossible.

But to Kate's surprise, she turns out to be pretty good at the hosting gig. Then the podcast gets in a call from an anonymous guy, asking for advice about his unnamed crush. Kate is pretty sure that the caller is gorgeous Diego Martinez, and even surer that the girl in question is Alana. Kate is excited for her friend ... until Kate herself starts to develop feelings for Diego. Suddenly, Kate finds that while doling out wisdom to others may be easy, asking for help is tougher than it looks, and following your own advice is even harder.

Kasie West's adorable story of secrets, love, and friendship is sure to win over hearts everywhere.

Kasie West is an auto author for me. I just love her books. What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Uninvited - Review

Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely

By: Lysa TerKeurst

Publication: August 9th 2016 by Thomas Nelson

240 pages

Genre: Non-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--The enemy wants us to feel rejected . . . left out, lonely, and less than. When we allow him to speak lies through our rejection, he pickpockets our purpose. Cripples our courage. Dismantles our dreams. And blinds us to the beauty of Christ’s powerful love.

In Uninvited, Lysa shares her own deeply personal experiences with rejection—from the incredibly painful childhood abandonment by her father to the perceived judgment of the perfectly toned woman one elliptical over.

With biblical depth, gut-honest vulnerability, and refreshing wit, Lysa helps readers:

Release the desire to fall apart or control the actions of others by embracing God-honoring ways to process their hurt. Know exactly what to pray for the next ten days to steady their soul and restore their confidence. Overcome the two core fears that feed our insecurities by understanding the secret of belonging. Stop feeling left out and start believing that "set apart" does not mean "set aside." End the cycle of perceived rejection by refusing to turn a small incident into a full blown issue.

I really enjoyed Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst so when I saw that she had a new book coming out I was excited to check it out. Yet when I read the title and description, I felt like maybe this book wasn't exactly for me. See, I don't tend to get my feelings hurt when others don't invite me to specific events and while I definitely have my struggles, I'm pretty comfortable with who I am and don't feel like I need the approval of others to make me feel valuable. But then I saw it on NetGalley and thought it would be a good one for me to review. And I'm glad that even though I wasn't initially approved, the publisher changed their minds and let me review this one because it was about so much more than not being invited to places or events with others.

The truth is that we have all been rejected in one way or other in various aspects of our lives. Maybe it was a relationship that didn't last, or one that never started, or a job that you didn't get, or a parent that left, or any number of rejections. Lysa shares her personal rejections in the areas of a relationship she once thought would be her forever, a friendship that ended, her father who left, and ministry opportunities that didn't pan out. Her own personal vulnerability in sharing her struggles and her heart helps the reader understand that they are not alone with their own rejections. Ms. TerKeurst's writing style is as easy to read as her stories are relate-able. I highlighted a ton from her wording and her message.

Favorite quotes:

-In the quiet of an early morning, honesty finds me. It calls to me through a crack in my soul and invites the real me to come out, come out, wherever you are.

-As long as I suspect that honesty's intention is to expose me and hurt me, it will always feel like a dangerous thing.

-Rejection steals the best of who I am by reinforcing the worst of what's been said to me.

-Things of this world all eventually reveal what incapable anchors they really are.

-I couldn't keep my old broken beliefs, nail a little Jesus truth to the side, and expect stability.

-We must tie our identities to our unchanging, unflinching, unyielding, undeniably good, and unquestionably loving God.

-...when we go to the truth instead of our feelings for the answer to this question, we can understand God's goodness in a whole new light.

-What consumes my thinking will be the making or the breaking of my identity.

-"God, I want Your truth to be the loudest voice in my life. Correct me. Comfort me. Come closer still. And I will trust. God, You are good at being God."

Truthfully I highlighted so much that I wish I could share them all with you, but I had to cut them off somewhere.

All of this to say that Uninvited was so much more than I first assumed it would be based off the title. Lysa TerKeurst writes in a way that is beautiful at times, moving, and certainly relate-able to all. I'd highly recommend Uninvited to all women (and men too really). I love how she approached the questions "Is God good? Is God good to me? And is God good at being God?" Uninvited gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read Uninvited? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 12/10/17

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.

You guys I can barely remember this past week. I feel like there was a lot going on, yet I know I didn't really go anywhere until Thursday. On Thursday we had family pictures made. This was really to get 2 year old pictures for Little Girl and 1 month (really 5 week) pictures for Baby Boy. Baby Boy was fussy almost the whole time, yet we still got some good pictures. Friday Little Girl spent the day with her grandmother while I took Baby Boy to his 1 month doctor checkup. He was diagnosed with reflux and put on a prescription for that. I pray that'll make a big difference for him. He also has an umbilical hernia, but apparently those are fairly common and not a concern. He's gaining weight great and is up to 11 pounds 6 ounces already. Friday it also snowed. I realize for much of the world this isn't a big deal, but being here in central Alabama this happens only every few years. Beyond that it was actually cold enough to stick and since it snowed all through the night Friday night we woke up Saturday morning to a winter wonderland. (Or fall wonderland since it isn't officially winter yet.) Saturday we didn't get to play in the snow though because we had to travel north to an annual family reunion. No new books this week.

THIS PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Bright Side (Bright Side, # 1) by Kim Holden (4.5 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Brave (Contours of the Heart, # 4) by Tammara Webber

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely by Lysa TerKeurst
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to sign up for the 2017 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15, 2017 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!

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!

Can't Wait for Brave

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.

Brave (Contours of the Heart, # 4)

By: Tammara Webber

Expected Publication: December 19th 2017

300 pages

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Courage means rising up to defend your beliefs... or daring to question them.

Erin McIntyre was captivating, but forbidden
His professional subordinate
The embodiment of unearned privilege
The daughter of his sworn enemy

Isaac Maat was impossible to read
Smart, ambitious, and emotionally detached
Hotter than anyone's boss should ever be
And definitely hiding something...

He told himself that getting to know her would help him take down her father.
She told herself that getting under his skin would distract her wrecked heart from its misery.

Neither predicted their private war would lead to an intimate battle in which the victor would be the first one to SURRENDER.

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

Bright Side - Review

Bight Side (Bright Side, # 1)

By: Kim Holden

Published: July 4th 2014 by Do Epic LLC

423 pages

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary

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--Secrets.
Everyone has one.
Some are bigger than others.
And when secrets are revealed,
Some will heal you ...
And some will end you.

Kate Sedgwick’s life has been anything but typical. She’s endured hardship and tragedy, but throughout it all she remains happy and optimistic (there’s a reason her best friend Gus calls her Bright Side). Kate is strong-willed, funny, smart, and musically gifted. She’s also never believed in love. So when Kate leaves San Diego to attend college in the small town of Grant, Minnesota, the last thing she expects is to fall in love with Keller Banks.

They both feel it.
But they each have a reason to fight it.
They each have a secret.

And when secrets are revealed,
Some will heal you …
And some will end you.

I'm not sure why, but the last three out of four books I've read have involved a very similar topic. I haven't sought it out. This has actually been quite random as one was recently recommended to me just as a really good read, one was recommended several months ago and just happened to go on sale recently, and the other was one I received for review. I didn't know anything about the two that were recommended to me, and only read the book description for the other before requesting it for review. Yet each book has been a good bit different from the others. I'll just focus on Bright Side for this review, but I had to mention the coincidence.

As the description says, Kate is extremely optimistic. This is a choice she's made and continually makes to live and think this way. She could easily be negative or pessimistic considering the things that she's been through in her life. Yet she isn't. And this was by far my favorite character trait that she possesses. It takes an incredible individual to choose to see the bright side of every situation they're faced with. So many times characters, and people, just whine and complain and portray themselves as victims. But Kate chooses not to do this.

Kate is also loyal and kind. Because of the difficult things that she's been through and endured she understands how much it means when someone is there for you through your worst days. And how much of a difference it makes when you reach out to someone else, be it to offer them a kind word, take them on as a friend, or to simply sit by them when they make the toughest decisions of their lives.

Yet Kate, and Bright Side, touch on a few subjects that I don't personally support. Despite that, I still fell in love with this story. One of my biggest frustrations with Bright Side was the amount of language. There are f-bombs all over the place. I mean it was really quite ridiculous and this caused me to put the book down rather frequently while reading the first half.

The other characters are vivid as well. Keller and Gus...boy it wasn't always easy to choose between the two. I expected (because I didn't read the description of this book before picking it up), that Kate and Gus would work things out and move past their friendship and into a relationship. Yet when Keller enters the story, I could easily see that Gus wasn't likely to win Kate's heart. Yet Gus still remained my favorite character besides Kate due to his intense friendship with her. Clayton, Peter, Shelly, Duncan, and Stella round out the main cast of side characters. Each added a necessary component to who Kate really was.

I should also mention that Kate doesn't claim to be religious, yet she frequently talked to God throughout the book. Characters that actually believe in God enough to talk to Him are incredibly rare in mainstream young adult and new adult literature. At least that I've found. (Excluding the Christian genre.) I appreciated Kate's relationship with God and this being included throughout the book even if I wish Kate took this relationship a bit further. Either way, thank you Kim Holden for not portraying God in a negative light, and for not having Kate resent Him for the things she's experienced in her life.

Favorite quotes:

-A person knowingly doing harm to his or her body is a pet peeve of mine. A lot of people would give anything for a healthy body. Your body is a temple.

-The happiness, the thoughtfulness, the humor was part of her, but it was also deliberate, a conscious choice.

Bright Side wasn't a perfect read for me as I struggled with the language, and a few side stories don't fit my personal reading preferences. However, this story broke me down. I cried FIVE (let me say that again....FIVE) times while reading this book. Granted, I'm sure a bit of that relates to pregnancy hormones. Plus every time I got to a scene that made me cry, I'd put the book down and come back after I'd composed myself...only to find myself in tears once again. I loved Kate's attitude and her tendency to talk to God. Bright Side gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read Bright Side? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 12/3/17

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.

Obviously I've been on a blogging break for the month of November. Much needed. And truthfully, it would have been impossible to have blogged during this past month. I did manage to read two books while nursing which is more than I expected.

THIS PAST WEEK:

You guys...I'm exhausted. You so forget the true amount of sleep deprivation and cluelessness involved with having a newborn. Baby Boy has some gas and reflux issues which make him uncomfortable a large portion of the time. Lying flat on their backs is the recommended safe sleeping position, but for someone with reflux this is the worst position so Husband and I have gotten little sleep with holding him large portions of the night. Of course this doesn't stop Little Girl from being wide open when she's awake. We go back to the doctor on Friday so I pray we can get some plan together to help Baby Boy not be in pain.

Saturday: Discussions Only We Know: Spoilers

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Bright Side (Bright Side, # 1) by Kim Holden
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to sign up for the 2017 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15, 2017 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!

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely

By: Lysa TerKeurst

Expected Publication: August 9th 2016 by Thomas Nelson

240 pages

Genre: Non-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--The enemy wants us to feel rejected . . . left out, lonely, and less than. When we allow him to speak lies through our rejection, he pickpockets our purpose. Cripples our courage. Dismantles our dreams. And blinds us to the beauty of Christ’s powerful love.

In Uninvited, Lysa shares her own deeply personal experiences with rejection—from the incredibly painful childhood abandonment by her father to the perceived judgment of the perfectly toned woman one elliptical over.

With biblical depth, gut-honest vulnerability, and refreshing wit, Lysa helps readers:

Release the desire to fall apart or control the actions of others by embracing God-honoring ways to process their hurt. Know exactly what to pray for the next ten days to steady their soul and restore their confidence. Overcome the two core fears that feed our insecurities by understanding the secret of belonging. Stop feeling left out and start believing that "set apart" does not mean "set aside." End the cycle of perceived rejection by refusing to turn a small incident into a full blown issue.

Rebel of the Sands (Rebel of the Sands, # 1)

By: Alwyn Hamilton

Publication: March 8th 2016 by Viking Books for Young Readers

314 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic

Source: Borrowed from the e-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--She’s more gunpowder than girl—and the fate of the desert lies in her hands.

Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mystical beasts still roam the wild and barren wastes, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinni still practice their magic. But there's nothing mystical or magical about Dustwalk, the dead-end town that Amani can't wait to escape from.

Destined to wind up "wed or dead," Amani’s counting on her sharpshooting skills to get her out of Dustwalk. When she meets Jin, a mysterious and devastatingly handsome foreigner, in a shooting contest, she figures he’s the perfect escape route. But in all her years spent dreaming of leaving home, she never imagined she'd gallop away on a mythical horse, fleeing the murderous Sultan's army, with a fugitive who's wanted for treason. And she'd never have predicted she'd fall in love with him... or that he'd help her unlock the powerful truth of who she really is.

Traitor to the Throne (Rebel of the Sands, # 2)

By: Alwyn Hamilton

Publication: March 7th 2017 by Viking

518 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic

Source: Borrowed from the e-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--Rebel by chance. Traitor by choice.

Gunslinger Amani al'Hiza fled her dead-end hometown on the back of a mythical horse with the mysterious foreigner Jin, seeking only her own freedom. Now she’s fighting to liberate the entire desert nation of Miraji from a bloodthirsty sultan who slew his own father to capture the throne.

When Amani finds herself thrust into the epicenter of the regime—the Sultan’s palace—she’s determined to bring the tyrant down. Desperate to uncover the Sultan’s secrets by spying on his court, she tries to forget that Jin disappeared just as she was getting closest to him, and that she’s a prisoner of the enemy. But the longer she remains, the more she questions whether the Sultan is really the villain she’s been told he is, and who’s the real traitor to her sun-bleached, magic-filled homeland.

Forget everything you thought you knew about Miraji, about the rebellion, about Djinn and Jin and the Blue-Eyed Bandit. In Traitor to the Throne, the only certainty is that everything will change.

Keep Her Safe

By: KA Tucker

Expected Publication: January 2nd 2018 by Atria Books

448 pages

Genre: Adult, Romance, Suspense

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--Making a Murderer meets Scandal in this story of police corruption, family secrets, and illicit affairs from bestselling author K.A. Tucker, celebrated for her “propulsive plot twists and searing seduction” (USA TODAY).

Noah Marshall has known a privileged and comfortable life thanks to his mother, the highly decorated chief of the Austin Police Department. But all that changes the night she reveals a skeleton that's been rattling in her closet for years, and succumbs to the guilt of destroying an innocent family's life. Reeling with grief, Noah is forced to carry the burden of this shocking secret.

Gracie Richards wasn't born in a trailer park, but after fourteen years of learning how to survive in The Hollow, it's all she knows anymore. At least here people don't care that her dad was a corrupt Austin cop, murdered in a drug deal gone wrong. Here, she and her mother are just another family struggling to survive...until a man who clearly doesn't belong shows up on her doorstep.

Despite their differences, Noah and Gracie are searching for answers to the same questions, and together, they set out to uncover the truth about the Austin Police Department's dark and messy past. But the scandal that emerges is bigger than they bargained for, and goes far higher up than they ever imagined.

Complex, gritty, sexy, and thrilling, Keep Her Safe solidifies K.A. Tucker's reputation as one of today's most talented new voices in romantic suspense.

Live Fearless: A Call to Power, Passion, and Purpose

By: Sadie Robertson

Expected Publication: February 6th 2018 by Thomas Nelson

224 pages

Genre: Self-Help

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--Sadie Robertson, bestselling author and star of Dancing with the Stars, has an important message for her generation: you don’t have to be held back by fear, anxiety, or loneliness anymore. In Live Fearless, Sadie takes you on a thrilling personal journey toward power, passion, and purpose as you live at the center of who God created you to be!

Dear friends,

I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty tired of the struggle. You know which one I mean—fear, loneliness, not knowing who I am or what I’m meant to do. . . . Sound familiar?

I struggled with insecurity, comparison, and isolation for too many years, from thigh gaps to eyebrows to the lifestyles I felt I had to live up to. I was so afraid of being “found out,” that everyone in my life would somehow figure out that I was fearful and small and that I struggled to make my faith a reality and to be secure in who I am. It took a major perspective shift from staring at comments on a screen to really digging into the pages of my Bible to see what God actually says about overcoming fear.

Setting aside the fear, anxiety, and comparison to become the joy-filled person God created you to be is exactly what God is inviting you into. To really be seen and known. To be an agent of change by choosing compassion, connection, and acceptance for everyone you come in contact with. Inside this book are ways to find your power, passion, and purpose—and reach for your dreams. Plus, there are places to jot down notes, fun lists, practical ways to make changes, and thoughts on how living fearless can change everything.

Are you tired of the awful comparison game? Are you exhausted from trying to keep up, from feeling small and afraid that people will find the real you and be disappointed? There is so much more for you. No matter who you are, where you come from, or what your fears are, freedom is available to you. It’s just a matter of saying yes. You in?

Hope you’ll join me on this wild adventure as we learn to Live Fearless together.

Love,

Sadie

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!