Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Can't Wait for The Smallest Part

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

The Smallest Part

By: Amy Harmon

Expected Publication: February 13th 2018 by Amy Harmon

345 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--“In the end, only three things matter. How much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.”
- Unknown

It was a big lie. The biggest lie she’d ever told. It reverberated through her head as she said it, ringing eerily, and the girl behind her eyes—the girl who knew the truth—screamed, and her scream echoed along with the lie.

“Are you in love with Noah, Mercedes?” Cora asked. “I mean . . . I know you love him. You’ve been friends forever. We all have. But are you in love with him?”

If it had been anyone else—anyone—Mercedes would have stuck out her chest, folded her skinny arms, and let her feelings be known. She would have claimed him. But it was Cora. Brave, beautiful, broken Cora, and Cora loved Noah too.

So Mercedes lied.

And with that lie, she lost him. With that lie, she sealed her fate.

She was the best friend, the bridesmaid, the godmother, the glue. She was there for the good times and the bad, the ups and the downs, the biggest moments and the smallest parts. And she was there when it all came crashing down. This is the tale of the girl who didn’t get the guy.

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

Monday, January 29, 2018

An Elegant Facade - Review

An Elegant Facade (Hawthorne House, # 2)

By: Kristi Ann Hunter

Publication: July 5th 2016 by Bethany House Publishers

352 pages

Genre: Christian, Historical Fiction, Regency

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--Lady Georgina Hawthorne has worked tirelessly to seal her place as the Incomparable for her debut season. At her first London ball, she hopes to snag the attention of an earl.

With money and business connections, but without impeccable bloodlines, Colin McCrae is invited everywhere but accepted nowhere. When he first encounters the fashionable Lady Georgina, he's irritated by his attraction to a woman who concerns herself only with status and appearance.

What Colin doesn't know is that Georgina's desperate social aspirations are driven by the shameful secret she harbors. Association with Colin McCrae is not part of Georgina's plan, but as their paths continue to cross, they both must decide if the realization of their dreams is worth the sacrifices they must make.

I've read this series all out of order. I read An Uncommon Courtship (book 3) first, then A Noble Masquerade (book 1), then A Lady of Esteem (novella 0.5), and now An Elegant Facade (book 2). Reading these out of order hasn't bothered me. I'd obviously recommend reading them in order, but sometimes you just do what you have to do. The characters are connected and obviously if you read book 3 first then you can figure out how books 1 and 2 ended, but that didn't prevent me from enjoying the journey of any of these books.

Prior to reading An Elegant Facade, I've read a series of fantasy books with a few contemporary ones mixed in here or there. The book I read immediately before this was almost 700 pages and while really enjoyable it was mentally draining. I picked this book up for the contrast in genres from the previous books I've read. And it perfectly fit the bill for what I needed at the time.

I didn't love Georgina when I read A Noble Masquerade. She seemed so spoiled and bratty. We learn that there's much more to the story and appearances in An Elegant Facade than meets the eye. Georgina has a secret that she's been keeping from her family and she feels that marrying someone who's pride and reputation will keep her own in tact should her secret come to life. This means her search for a husband is entirely void of any emotional connection she might feel. Instead she's looking at titles and popularity as the sole criteria for her selection. This makes her a bit cold and calculating to everyone around her.

Colin is a businessman from Scotland. While at home he would be considered a catch, in London Colin is merely a member on the fringes of society tolerated because of his ability to make a lot of money for many of the families and men of high standing. As such, Colin is extremely observant and used to remaining mostly unnoticed. He's utterly put off by Georgina's obvious social aspirations, but he keeps finding himself crossing paths with her. But as he's observant, he eventually discovers Georgina's secret, and he becomes an ally of sorts.

I loved the transition from irritation and annoyance between these two to reluctant allies while noticing things about each other that no one else seemed to pick up on to finally realizing that feelings had changed from friendship to admiration to more. The slow build between these two made them easy to love. Their banter was great, and I loved that Colin always seemed to have inside information that Georgina didn't have access to. It made him always one step ahead of her and that drove her crazy as she tried to orchestrate every aspect of her life. I did wonder early on how in the world these two would end up together based off their early thoughts and opinions of each other. So for Kristi Ann Hunter to pull that off was impressive.

This is a Christian book so there is mention of God as well as a moral throughout the book with the heaviest focus of this within the last 20-30%. I don't feel as though a non-Christian or someone who doesn't enjoy this genre should be put off by this because the book didn't come off as preaching to the reader to me. It truly felt genuine to the story as Georgina herself struggles with her relationship with and understanding of God.

Favorite quotes:

-"Have no fear, little angel, I am an official guest. Though I believe I am supposed to be dancing with the wallflowers, not the Diamonds."

-It would take a beautiful woman, both inside and out, to entice him to marry. He refused to allow his marriage to be nothing more than another business transaction.

-"Trust God to give you what you need when you need it. If you get it too early, you might misplace it."

-"A bit of advice? You need to learn to evaluate the whole game, not just the cards in front of you."

-"You look good in green." Daft man. "Perhaps you should consider spectacles. I'm wearing white." "Ah, yes, but the jealousy has livened your complexion." The absolute gall of the man infuriated her. "Why would I be jealous?" "Because you've lost." Georgina looked at the table. Each couple had two stacks of cards in front of them. "We appear evenly matched at the moment." "Then you aren't looking closely."

I almost forgot to mention that An Elegant Facade does pick up before the events of A Noble Masquerade are finished. I found this aspect interesting as it added another layer of depth to the story I enjoyed in the prior book. But as Kristi Ann Hunter pointed out in her Author's Note at the beginning of the book, Georgina's story begins during the same events as Miranda's. As the Season begins both girls have different parts to play. It wasn't just a repeat of Georgina's intentions toward Ryland, but also where her first several encounters with Colin occur. That makes it essential to her overall story. So if you've read book 1 and find yourself feeling like the beginning of this book is just a repeat, please press on.

An Elegant Facade was just the book I needed to follow up a heavy and lengthy fantasy series. The historical fiction genre and the mix of the Christian aspects were refreshing. I loved the slow build between Georgina and Colin. I especially loved Colin in general. His upstanding character despite not being at the height of social standing. His moral compass. His desire to protect and even rescue Georgina from her secret and herself. His friendship with Ryland and even Trent and Griffith. I appreciated Georgina's unique struggles. That's one thing I've appreciated in general about Kristi Ann Hunter's take on this time period--there's always some aspect that I just don't expect (Ryland's job in book 1 and Georgina's secret here). An Elegant Facade gets 4 Stars. And one of the best recommendations that I feel like I can give is that I actually see myself re-reading this series at some point in the future. Have you read An Elegant Facade? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday, January 28, 2018

Sunday Post - 1/28/18

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.

Tuesday Little Girl spent the day with Grammy and I took Baby Boy to the chiropractor. I'm so curious to see if continuing to go helps his tummy issues. So far we've had several much better nights this past week. Wednesday through Friday I spent every extra minute trying to clean house. Friday night my family came over to celebrate my mom's birthday. Little Girl left to go spend the weekend with my parents. Baby Boy spent a few hours with Grammy Saturday night so Husband and I actually had a date which consisted of going out to eat and a quick trip to Walmart. No new books this week.

THIS PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Keep Her Safe by KA Tucker (3.5 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Restore Me (Shatter Me, # 4) by Tahereh Mafi
Thursday: 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge - January Wrap Up

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of An Elegant Facade (Hawthorne House, # 2) by Kristi Ann Hunter
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2018 to sing 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!

Thursday, January 25, 2018

2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge - January Wrap Up

Time for our first Monthly Wrap Up for the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge hosted by Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know and Holly @ Words Fueled by Love!

Since starting the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge, neither Holly nor Sandy have finished any series enders. Although, I'm at 75% on one so I know I'll have it finished by next month's wrap up.

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

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Can't Wait for Restore Me

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.

Restore Me (Shatter Me, # 4)

By: Tahereh Mafi

Expected Publication: March 6th 2018 by HarperCollins

352 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Dystopian

( 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--Juliette Ferrars thought she'd won. She took over Sector 45, was named the new Supreme Commander, and now has Warner by her side. But she's still the girl with the ability to kill with a single touch—and now she's got the whole world in the palm of her hand. When tragedy hits, who will she become? Will she be able to control the power she wields and use it for good?

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

Monday, January 22, 2018

Keep Her Safe - Review

Keep Her Safe

By: KA Tucker

Expected Publication: January 23rd 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.

Keep Her Safe is told from altering points of view mostly between Noah and Gracie in the present but also between Noah's mother, Jackie, and Gracie's father, Abraham. These points of view also jump around in time. This is usually something that I dislike in books. Despite most authors having a legit reason to write this way, I still struggle. I don't enjoy jumping around and any time the story moved to the past I found myself putting Keep Her Safe down because the past wasn't as interesting to me as the present. Of course, KA Tucker does have a legit reason for presenting her story in this way, so it all made sense in the end. But I still needed to mention that this is something that I struggled with and don't usually enjoy.

I thought I would dislike Gracie more than I did. She started the book with some serious attitude. It's understandable given everything that she's been through and the circumstances that she's currently living in. I can even see myself responding to life and others in a very similar way as Gracie does due to her experiences. Noah was easy for me to like. I felt so bad for him given where he begins the book and the things he learns about his family throughout the story. He was a genuine, stand-up guy and I couldn't find anything that I really disliked about him. I appreciated the slow build between Gracie and Noah considering her trust issues. And I really enjoyed that KA Tucker kept the physical scenes pretty non-descriptive and to a minimum in frequency.

While I didn't predict all of the ins and outs of the story and mystery behind everything that went on between Jackie and Abraham in the past or how Betsy fit into the picture, I did easily pick out the main villain of Keep Her Safe pretty early on in the story. Now I will say that KA Tucker kept throwing things in there that made me doubt what I thought to be true, but I was never fully swayed from my thoughts. Turns out I was right.

Keep Her Safe was an easy and fast read that I kept wanting to come back to, except the sections written in the past that I found easy to put down. While I didn't predict everything, I did nail two pretty big details that should have been surprises. Ultimately, I enjoyed this read, but I can't imagine that Keep Her Safe will be one that I remember much about in say a year or two. Keep Her Safe gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Keep Her Safe? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday, January 21, 2018

Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 1/21/18

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 and Tuesday were pretty normal days. The snow came in Tuesday night. Wednesday Husband was off work due to roads being impassable. That was so nice because he was able to go out with Little Girl in the morning to play in the snow. He let me get a nap as Baby Boy hasn't been sleeping the best this week. And then he took Baby Boy so that I could go out in the snow with Little Girl that afternoon. Having him here to help was a game changer. I truly wish he could be with us every day like that. Thursday and Friday were pretty much back to normal. Baby Boy is so close to laughing. I can't wait to hear him really get a good belly laugh for the first time.

THIS PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard (4 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Pacifica by Kristen Simmons

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Keep Her Safe by KA Tucker
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Thursday: 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge - January Wrap Up

Don’t forget to link up for the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2018 to sing 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.

Iron Gold (Red Rising, # 4)

By: Pierce Brown

Publication: January 16th 2018 by Del Rey Books

480 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Honor and betrayal fuel a caste-shattering revolution in the action-packed new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Red Rising Trilogy. Ten years after the events of Morning Star, Darrow and the Rising are battling the remaining Gold loyalist forces and are closer than ever to abolishing the color-coded caste system of Society for good. But new foes will emerge from the shadows to threaten the imperfect victory Darrow and his friends have earned. Pierce Brown expands the size and scope of his impressive Red Rising universe with new characters, enemies, and conflicts among the stars.

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!

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Can't Wait for Pacifica

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.

Pacifica

By: Kristen Simmons

Expected Publication: March 6th 2018 by Tor Teen

384 pages

Genre: Young Adult,

( 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--Marin is cosario royalty, a pirate like her father and his father before him. Sailing the ocean to chase adventure is in her blood. But these days no one cares that the island town her people call home is named after her grandfather. They have a new leader, one who promises an end to their hunger – and one who thinks that girls are meant for the kitchen or the brothel. Marin knows she's meant for more than that, and with the sudden influx of weapons on the island, and rumors of a pending deal with the enemy oil nation in her wake, she knows a big score to gain the council's favor is the only way to save her people, and herself.

Ross lives a life of privilege. As the president's son he wants for nothing, but he longs for a life of adventure. On a dare, he convinces his best friend Adam to sneak out to the Docks, the site of local race riots between the poor Shorlings and the upper class. But when Adam is arrested along with the other Shorlings, and not even the president is willing to find him, Ross finds himself taking matters into his own hands. He journeys back into the Docks, ready to make deals with anyone, even a beautiful pirate, if it means Adam's safe return.

When Marin and Ross meet in dangerous Shoreling territory he sees a way to get his friend back and she sees her ticket home. The ransom a president’s son would command could feed her people for years and restore her family’s legacy. But somewhere in the middle of the ocean, Marin must decide if her heart can handle handing over the only person who has ever seen her as more than a pirate.

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

Monday, January 15, 2018

A Quiet Kind of Thunder - Review

A Quiet Kind of Thunder

By: Sara Barnard

Publication: January 9th 2018 by Simon Pulse

400 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--A girl who can’t speak and a boy who can’t hear go on a journey of self-discovery and find support with each other in this gripping, emotionally resonant novel from bestselling author Sara Barnard. Perfect for fans of Morgan Matson and Jandy Nelson.

Steffi doesn’t talk, but she has so much to say.
Rhys can’t hear, but he can listen.

Steffi has been a selective mute for most of her life. The condition’s name has always felt ironic to her, because she certainly does not “select” not to speak. In fact, she would give anything to be able to speak as easily and often as everyone around her can. She suffers from crippling anxiety, and uncontrollably, in most situations simply can’t open her mouth to get out the words.

Steffi’s been silent for so long that she feels completely invisible. But Rhys, the new boy at school, sees her. He’s deaf, and her knowledge of basic sign language means that she’s assigned to help him acclimate. To Rhys, it doesn’t matter that Steffi doesn’t talk. As they find ways to communicate, Steffi discovers that she does have a voice, and that she’s falling in love with the one person who makes her feel brave enough to use it. But as she starts to overcome a lifelong challenge, she’ll soon confront questions about the nature of her own identity and the very essence of what it is to know another person.

I've always wanted to learn ASL. I've always thought it would be a great language to know, and then my friend had a baby born deaf and my desire to learn grew even more. I still haven't taken to learn beyond a few signs/words. Regardless, I was interested in the dynamics between a deaf boy and a mute girl. But I didn't really focus on the part of the description that says Steffi suffers from anxiety which is essentially what causes her inability to speak.

Aside from the actual details about what happened within A Quiet Kind of Thunder the biggest thing I took away from this book revolved around the difference between knowing something intellectually and knowing something from experience. I am convinced that no matter how sympathetic we might try to be to others you just can't understand or empathize until you've been in the exact same or similar situation. I struggle with people like Steffi because I don't have the anxiety issues that she has. Sure I'm not always confident. I don't always have everything figured out. I don't always enjoy speaking up in a crowd or with people that I don't know. I prefer to have an idea in my head of what to expect from any given situation, but I've never (up to this point in my life) been crippled like she has with the what ifs and the negative self talk. In years past, I probably would have read this book and hated Steffi as a character, but I didn't hate her. I felt bad for her and was proud of her when she had a victory. Yet her issues did keep me from connecting to her all the way as well.

The side characters were a mixture of characters that I loved and ones that I only slightly enjoyed. Rhys was awesome. I loved just about everything about him. Rhys's mom--what little part she played--was great. Tem was up and down for me. I loved how she was there for Steffi up front, but I saw some destructive behavior in her that worried me and had me distancing myself a bit emotionally. Steffi's dad was great too. He seemed so compassionate. Her mom on the other hand annoyed me a little because she just didn't seem as supportive of Steffi as she should have been. This is totally ironic because I can actually see myself being similar to her mom and my husband being more similar to Steffi's dad. Husband is definitely the more compassionate out of the two of us. And I tend to be more of the "oh suck it up and deal" type of person.

I enjoyed the honest portrayal of family, friendship, first love, and even first time physical experiences. Sara Barnard wrote these things in such a real way that I never questioned the probability that life could happen this way. Nothing felt beyond the realm of possibility.

I will say that A Quiet Kind of Thunder was not a book that had me feverishly turning pages. I'd read some, be happy and involved, and then have to put it down. And I was just fine with putting it down. I picked it back up with a fondness to return to the story but not with a passion to find out what was going to happen next.

I enjoyed A Quiet Kind of Thunder. The focus was more on Steffi's anxiety than I expected, but I found that this didn't annoy me as much as I think it once might have. I appreciated the amount of thought concerning sympathy vs. empathy that this story made me ponder. In the end, A Quiet Kind of Thunder gets 4 Stars. Have you read A Quiet Kind of Thunder? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday, January 14, 2018

Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 1/14/18

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 has been a fast week. Not much going on though. We all seem to be over our colds. I'm so thankful for good health. Little Girl spent some time at Grammy's house on Wednesday playing with one of her big toys that she got for Christmas. That allowed me to finish packing up my Christmas tree. However, I am DYING for a date night with Husband. Truly what I want is an entire meal where we can have an actual conversation without being constantly interrupted. And then I'd love to have a few hours kid-free to clean my house. I am really considering that if we end up having a third child one day that I'd like to hire a cleaning service for the first three months because there is just NO TIME to get the basic house cleaning stuff done. We had lovely weather this week, but we're back to cold temps this weekend and this coming week.

THIS PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole (4.5 Stars)
Tuesday: Ten Books I Meant to Read in 2017
Wednesday: Can't Wait for 99 Lies (100 Hours, # 2) by Rachel Vincent

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2018 to sing 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.

The Sun Is Also a Star

By: Nicola Yoon

Publication: November 1st 2016 by Delacorte Press

348 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

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--Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.

Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.

The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?

The Heart's Appeal (London Beginnings, # 2)

By: Jennifer Delamere

Expected Publication: March 6th 2018 by Bethany House Publishers

368 pages

Genre: Christian Fiction, Historical 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.

Amazon description--Strong-minded and independent Julia Bernay comes to London to study medicine and become a doctor--a profession that has only just opened up to women. She witnesses a serious accident, and through her quick actions saves the life of an ambitious young barrister named Michael Stephenson.

Coming from a family that long ago lost its money and its respectability, Michael Stephenson has achieved what many would have thought was impossible. Hard work and an aptitude for the law have enabled him to rise above his family's stigma and set him on the path to wealth and recognition. But his well-laid plans are upended when the accident brings Julia into his life.

Michael soon discovers he's met a woman every bit as stubborn and determined to make her mark on the world as he is. Sparks fly--but will they find common ground?

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!

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Can't Wait for 99 Lies

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.

99 Lies (100 Hours, # 2)

By: Rachel Vincent

Expected Publication: June 26th 2018 by Katherine Tegen Books

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--They wanted Spring Break to be memorable. Getting kidnapped in the jungle? Impossible to forget.

Lie # 1: I’m Fine Truth is, Maddie’s heart is buried with the hostages who didn’t make it, while Genesis is still fighting to free herself—from her own lies and her vindictive ex.

Lie #16: I’m Still Me Home in Miami, the former hostages try to return to normal life: high school, dating, million-dollar pool parties. But with headlines that declare Maddie and Luke the new “it couple,” Holden a hero, and Genesis a traitor, there’s no escaping the spotlight—or the truth about the ways they betrayed each other in the jungle.

Lie #3: I Forgive You They may have stopped their captors’ main threat, but everyone has a plan B and this time the danger isn’t coming from the outside … it’s what they might do to each other.

Told from the alternating perspectives in countdown format, the gripping conclusion to 100 HOURS delivers an explosive mix of non-stop action and emotional intensity as five elite teens discover that lies are nowhere near as dangerous as the truth.

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

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Ten Books I Meant to Read in 2017

Top 10 Tuesday is a post hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and this week's topic is Top Ten Books I Meant to Read in 2017.
  1. Before She Ignites (Fallen Isles Trilogy, # 1) by Jodi Meadows - I got this for review, but started seeing not the highest ratings for it and my excitement level dropped.
  2. Nyxia (The Nyxia Triad, # 1) by Scott Reintgen - Another one I got for review. I actually started this but the voice wasn't pulling me in. I haven't given it a fair shot, but I haven't been in the mood to go back to it either.
  3. Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, # 6) by Sarah J Maas - I KNOW, RIGHT? How have I not read this yet? Well because it moves from the main storyline plus it is incredibly LONG.
  4. The Last Star (The 5th Wave, # 3) by Rick Yancey - I was dying for this when it released, but somehow I didn't read it immediately and a few ratings that were only 3 Stars had me discouraged.
  5. The Beauty of Darkness (Remnant Chronicles, # 3) by Mary E Pearson - This is the same as The Last Star. I've just put it off because it seems the ending might not be as good as the beginning. I so hate when that happens.
  6. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Harry Potter, # 8) by JK Rowling, John Tiffany, & Jack Thorne - Yeah, no excuses. I just really need to get around to this.
  7. The Great Hunt (Eurona Duology, # 1) by Wendy Higgins - I actually got this for review in 2016 (maybe even 2015) and I STILL haven't read it. I've started it. Might just need to DNF it even though Holly enjoyed it.
  8. The Queen and the Cure (The Bird and the Sword Chronicles, # 2) by Amy Harmon - This released in 2017 and I thought I might pick it up as soon as it released, but I did not.
  9. Cage of Darkness (Reign of Secrets, # 2) by Jennifer Anne Davis - Another one I started, but I put it down for Colleen Hoover's latest release and never got around to picking it back up.
  10. The Becoming of Noah Shaw (The Shaw Confessions, # 1) by Michelle Hodkin - I got this for review, but then I gave birth and fantasy hasn't been what I'm wanting to read right now.

Which books did you intend to read in 2017 but didn't get around to? Let me know!

Monday, January 8, 2018

A Thousand Boy Kisses - Review

A Thousand Boy Kisses

By: Tillie Cole

Published: March 14th 2016 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

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--One kiss lasts a moment. But a thousand kisses can last a lifetime. One boy. One girl. A bond that is forged in an instant and cherished for a decade. A bond that neither time nor distance can break. A bond that will last forever. Or so they believe.

When seventeen-year-old Rune Kristiansen returns from his native Norway to the sleepy town of Blossom Grove, Georgia, where he befriended Poppy Litchfield as a child, he has just one thing on his mind. Why did the girl who was one half of his soul, who promised to wait faithfully for his return, cut him off without a word of explanation? Rune's heart was broken two years ago when Poppy fell silent. When he discovers the truth, he finds that the greatest heartache is yet to come.

A stand-alone young adult tearjerker romance, recommended for ages fourteen and up.

Holly recommended A Thousand Boy Kisses to me when she finished it, and then she recommended it again when I was looking for some contemporary reads after a stretch of several fantasy books. I finally decided to pick it up. And I ended up enjoying it a good bit. As a matter of fact, I cried 3 times within the first 40%. But I only teared up once after that.

Poppy and Rune meet at the age of 5 when Rune's family move from Norway into the house next door to Poppy. These two hit it off immediately and are pretty much inseparable after until Rune's father's job sends the family back to Norway when Rune and Poppy are fifteen years old. Rune and Poppy were both devastated when Rune's family had to move away. But after two months Rune stopped hearing from Poppy. Now two years later, Rune's family returns to the same house and Rune is determined to find out why Poppy stopped answering and returning his calls. But Rune's also not the same boy that Poppy once knew.

I really feel like any more description about the specific events of the story would be spoilers so I'll try to just describe how I felt reading the book. Even though I cried multiple times early on, I felt like things were going too well too quickly for Poppy and Rune. Conflict is necessary for any good story, and the few things that I thought might end up being the main conflict of this story were only minor in comparison.

While I personally enjoyed A Thousand Boy Kisses, I can see this book being an issue for some readers. First off, Poppy and Rune have an intense relationship from a very early age. I've found in my life that some people just don't believe it is possible to have this strength of relationship at this age. Then Poppy and Rune often refer to each other as soulmates which is another thing some don't believe in. Death is a component within the story which is a trigger for some. But beyond that, a positive attitude in death and suffering, faith in God and heaven...all of these things are subjects that I've found some reject. However, all of these aspects are reasons why I enjoyed A Thousand Boy Kisses.

Favorite quotes:

-He kissed me until there was no part of me that didn't know who it belonged to. He kissed me until my heart again fused with his--two halves of one whole.

-"Kiss three hundred and fifty-seven. Against the wall of my house...when Rune took possession of my heart." Rune stilled, his hands tensed, and I finished with, "And my heart almost burst."

I had a few other quotes, but they contained spoilers. A Thousand Boy Kisses was definitely an emotional read all around. I personally found the first half to be better and more emotional than the second half. The second half struggled with some cheesiness for me. The ending was a bit too Notebook-y for me. But this book was exactly what I needed. A Thousand Boy Kisses gets 4.5 Stars from me. Have you read A Thousand Boy Kisses? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday, January 7, 2018

Sunday Post - 1/7/18

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.

Having Husband home on Monday was really nice. I didn't stay up until midnight...because HELLO...sleep is life right now. The entire week all 4 of us have been battling colds. Baby Boy had his 2 month doctor appointment on Wednesday. Other than that, we've been riding out the freezing temperatures inside trying to fight off our colds. Here's hoping we're all feeling better and temps get above 30 degrees next week.

THIS PAST WEEK:

Monday: December 2017 EOM Wrap Up
Wednesday: Can't Wait for My Plain Jane (The Lady Janies, # 2) by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows
Thursday: 2017 EOY Wrap Up
Friday: Review of Paris Lights (Heart of the City, # 1) by CJ Duggan (3.5 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday (maybe)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2018 to sing 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!

Friday, January 5, 2018

Paris Lights - Review

Paris Lights (Heart of the City, # 1)

By: CJ Duggan

Publication: December 1st 2016

Genre: New 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--'You're breaking up with me!' He was silent. 'In Paris.' Eyes dropping. 'Under the Eiffel-[...]-Tower!' I screamed.

Twenty-five-year-old Claire Shorten had looked forward to spending a romantic weekend in Paris for as long as she could remember, and now it was here - three blissful days of strolling through cobbled streets arm-in-arm with her beloved, eating copious amounts of baked goods and soaking up the culture through each and every pore of her body. Well, at least, that was how she'd pictured it . . .

Even after her boyfriend dumps her rather unceremoniously in the most romantic place on earth, Claire is determined not to give up on her dream altogether - with or without a boyfriend. She finds herself a job in the kitchen of a small hotel; Michelin-starred it most certainly is not, but somehow Claire makes a place for herself amidst the dirty dishes and the foreign misfits who run the place.

When the restaurant attracts the attention of the enigmatic - if not slightly terrifying - tycoon Louis Delarue, and Claire manages to survive his high-powered business luncheon from hell, she knows that she can survive anything, surely. But all bets are off when Louis makes a game-changing decision: he's coming back for a second course . . .

I picked up Paris Lights because I'd just read three fantasy books--two of which were extremely slow paced and took me the majority of the month to read. I wanted something that would hook me and that I could read quickly. And that's exactly what happened. I read the first 30% and then basically finished the rest of the book the next day.

The description is a little deceiving. Claire does get dumped by her boyfriend, and she does find a job in the kitchen of a small hotel. But the hotel is more the focus than the kitchen. And Claire pitches in all over the hotel, from manning the reception desk to washing dishes. But the reason Claire pitches in is because the hotel needs saving and Cecile (the owner/manager) gave her a place to stay when her boyfriend dumped her and she decided to stay in Paris. Cecile has managed to get one of those reality TV shows--think Restaurant Impossible or Kitchen Nightmares or I guess Hotel Impossible if such a show existed--to help her save the hotel.

And like Robert Irvine or Gordon Ramsay, Louis Delarue has a tough outer shell. Louis tends to come into a hotel or restaurant and rip the food, accommodations, and staff to pieces. Most people seem to be terrified of him. The problem is that he expects perfection. He has high standards of people. It takes a lot to earn his respect, but when you've gotten it you know that you've earned it. Of course this doesn't sit well with all people and Claire starts off with an intense dislike of Louis. Sure he's attractive physically, but not the way he treats people. And so she challenges him to behave differently. The problem is...she only sees what's on the surface. Beneath is a passionate and generous man. I really appreciated how Claire's opinion of Louis changed rather slowly. And they built their relationship upon shared experiences rather than physical attraction. Of course things do get physical, and CJ Duggan was fairly graphic when things got there. Yet overall there weren't many scenes in the book of this nature.

I felt like some pieces could have been explained better. Like how and why Louis ended up choosing the Hotel Trocadero as one of his project hotels in the first place. Claire's actual duties in the hotel and with the project were vague at best and could have been flushed out more. Just a few issues like that. The only highlights I made were a couple of overused phrases.

Overall, Paris Lights was exactly what I expected--a quick, fun, light read. I read the first 30% quickly and was hooked after that. There was some language and physical scenes, but neither were excessive throughout the book. Paris Lights gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Paris Lights? What did you think? Let me know!

Thursday, January 4, 2018

2017 EOY Wrap Up

At the end of every year and the beginning of the next, I go into contemplative mode. I think about the past year. What happened? What changed in my life? What were the big things that I accomplished? What did I spend my time doing or thinking about? And then I think about the upcoming one as well. What do I want to see happen? What do I want to change in my life? What big things do I want to accomplish? What do I want to spend my time doing and thinking about? What things about last year do I really want to see change in the upcoming one?

My brother asked our church family on Sunday what one word we would use to describe our 2017 year. And I almost instantly came up with the word "change." I got pregnant at the end of January/beginning of February 2017. There are a massive amount of changes that happen in the body during pregnancy. Little Girl grew so much over the past year. She was 15 months old starting 2017 and now she's 27 months. She's speaking in sentences, almost fully potty trained, and she's becoming more and more independent. Changes with her happen daily. Along with my bodily changes from being pregnant, I worked hard on our house to prepare for Baby Boy. We remodeled our biggest bathroom. We moved our bedroom and Little Girl's bedroom in order to free up the nursery for Baby Boy. I was constantly purging unnecessary possessions to donate or trash or sell to make room for all of the additional items that a baby requires. Then, of course, Baby Boy was born and everything changed. Our family changed. Our schedules changed. My body changed yet again. I'm sure I truly have barely touched on the surface of things that have changed this past year.

In a lot of ways, 2017 felt like an entire repeat of 2015. I got pregnant about the same time of year, gave birth 10 days off from my first. Went the majority of the year pregnant. Yet so much of 2017 was different from 2015 because this time around I had Little Girl with me already. 2016 was a whirlwind of craziness as the changes of very young babies through the first year are significant. Our schedules changed multiple times. And 2018 feels like it will be much of a repeat of 2016. Schedule changes. Lack of sleep. Nursing constantly in the beginning to steadily dropping feedings toward the end of the year in order to wean.

I feel like I've found my groove as a stay at home mom, and adjusting to two kids has been faster than I expected--though still overwhelming in a lot of ways. Knowing that I can do this parenting thing makes things easier. Having been through this before helps. Granted each child is different, I still feel more confident in my abilities and techniques as a mom. I'm looking forward to feeling like things are "back to normal" and I can breathe a bit easier, but in the meantime I'm soaking up the snuggles from Baby Boy and enjoying watching Little Girl grow. I can't wait to see them playing together in the near future.

Reading and blogging have not been a top priority for me since 2015. Of course, I still love doing both and don't see myself going anywhere any time soon, but I just have to work them into life where and when I can. 2018 I imagine will feel like I'm in survival mode again, but I know how quickly this time passes. It's hard to imagine that Little Girl is a quarter of the way into her third year of life. My oldest nephew will be turning 16 years old in April and I remember changing his diapers and being there when he was born so I know how quickly the time flies.

EOM Wrap Up Posts for 2017

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Blogging Highlights from 2017

  • Holly and I successfully hosted the 2017 Series Enders Reading Challenge. This was our fourth year. We are returning for 2018 also.
  • I participated in the March Take Control of Your TBR Pile and read 3 books from my TBR pile.
  • Celebrated my 6th Blogoversary.
  • October was my 5th annual All Things Halloween event of Halloween-ish book reviews and such.
  • I continued a feature created in previous years: Discussions Only We Know. Although, I didn't get any Series DNF, Cover Doubles, Upon Further Review, or From the Ashes posts done.
  • I started a new featuring in 2017: Problems Only We Know.
  • I didn't review any movies this year.
  • I didn't listen to any audiobooks because I haven't figured out how to do so with my new day to day.
  • But I did re-read one book this year.
  • I exceeded my Goodreads total books read challenge with 64 out of 52 books read.
  • I completed my Bible-in-a-year reading plan for the 6th year in a row.
  • But I did fall a little short on my Series Enders goal of 10-12 books with 8 series enders read.
  • Books Read in 2017

    *These qualify for the 2017 Series Enders Reading Challenge.

    Traitor to the Throne (Rebel of the Sands, # 2) by Alwyn Hamilton (review coming soon)
    Keep Her Safe by KA Tucker (review coming soon)
    Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely by Lysa TerKeurst
    Rebel of the Sands (Rebel of the Sands, # 1) by Alwyn Hamilton (review coming soon)
    This Tiny World by Lauren Gibaldi (review coming soon)
    Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon (review coming soon)
    This Heart of Mine by CC Hunter (review coming soon)
    Without Merit by Colleen Hoover (review coming soon)
    A Different Blue by Amy Harmon (review coming soon)
    *An Inconvenient Beauty (Hawthorne House, # 4) by Kristi Ann Hunter
    The Lost Letter by Mimi Matthews
    Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West
    PS I Like You by Kasie West (review coming soon)
    Lettering with Purpose: Creative techniques and prompts for making meaningful, inspirational hand-lettered art by Brittany Luiz
    Charged (Saints of Denver, # 2) by Jay Crownover
    Built (Saints of Denver, # 1) by Jay Crownover
    Dividing Eden (Dividing Eden, # 1) by Joelle Charbonneau
    The Butterfly Project by Emma Scott
    The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett (review coming soon)
    An Elegant Facade (Hawthorne House, # 2) by Kristi Ann Hunter (review coming soon)
    *A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses, # 3) by Sarah J Maas
    A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole (review coming soon)
    Anatomy of an Affair: How Affairs, Attractions, and Addictions Develop, and How to Guard Your Marriage Against Them by Dave Carder
    A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, # 2) by Sarah J Maas
    *After the Game (The Field Party, # 3) by Abbi Glines
    A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, # 1) by Sarah J Maas
    Paris Lights (Heart of the City, # 1) by CJ Duggan (review coming soon)
    Shadowcaster (Shattered Realms, # 2) by Cinda Williams Chima
    One Dark Throne (Three Dark Crowns, # 2) by Kendare Blake
    Three Dark Crowns (Three Dark Crowns, # 1) by Kendare Blake
    Bright Side (Bright Side, # 1) by Kim Holden
    *All In (Full Tilt, # 2) by Emma Scott
    Full Tilt (Full Tilt, # 1) by Emma Scott
    Praying the Attributes of God: A Daily Guide to Experiencing His Greatness by Ann Spangler
    God-Shaped Hole by Tiffanie DeBartolo
    The Captain's Daughter (London Beginnings, # 1) by Jennifer Delamere
    Bang by Barry Lyga
    Lies We Believe About God by William Paul Young
    Twist (Dive Bar, # 2) by Kylie Scott
    Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices, # 1) by Cassandra Clare
    Dirty (Dive Bar, # 1) by Kylie Scott
    Kiss of Fire (Imdalind, # 1) by Rebecca Ethington
    Windfall by Jennifer E Smith
    The Bird and the Sword (The Bird and the Sword, # 1) by Amy Harmon
    *The Raven King (The Raven Cycle, # 4) by Maggie Stiefvater
    Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas
    These Things I've Done by Rebecca Phillips
    Until It Fades by KA Tucker
    *Havoc (Mayhem, # 4) by Jamie Shaw
    *Long Way Home (Thunder Road, # 3) by Katie McGarry
    The Law of Moses (The Law of Moses, # 1) by Amy Harmon
    Making Faces by Amy Harmon
    Mr. President (Mr. President, # 1) by Katy Evans
    The Secret History of Us by Jessi Kirby
    100 Hours (100 Hours, # 1) by Rachel Vincent
    The Radius of Us by Marie Marquardt
    Like a River Glorious (The Gold Seer Trilogy, # 2) by Rae Carson
    *Coming Up for Air (Hundred Oaks, # 8) by Miranda Kenneally

    Books DNF'D

    The Sound of Light by Claire Wallis (DNF @ 44%)

    How was your 2017? Are you exciting about moving on to 2018? Let me know!

    Wednesday, January 3, 2018

    Can't Wait for My Plain Jane

    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.

    My Plain Jane (The Lady Janies, # 2)

    By: Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton, & Cynthia Hand

    Expected Publication: June 26th 2018 by HarperTeen

    464 pages

    Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Retellings

    ( 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--You may think you know the story. After a miserable childhood, penniless orphan Jane Eyre embarks on a new life as a governess at Thornfield Hall. There, she meets one dark, brooding Mr. Rochester. Despite their significant age gap (!) and his uneven temper (!!), they fall in love—and, Reader, she marries him. (!!!)

    Or does she?

    Prepare for an adventure of Gothic proportions, in which all is not as it seems, a certain gentleman is hiding more than skeletons in his closets, and one orphan Jane Eyre, aspiring author Charlotte Bronte, and supernatural investigator Alexander Blackwood are about to be drawn together on the most epic ghost hunt this side of Wuthering Heights.

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

    Monday, January 1, 2018

    December 2017 EOM Wrap Up

    I have read 2 books this month (not including children's books). *These qualify for the 2017 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
    Keep Her Safe by KA Tucker
    Traitor to the Throne (Rebel of the Sands, # 2) by Alwyn Hamilton

    I have reviewed 4 books this month. *These qualify for the 2017 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
    Bright Side (Bright Side, # 1) by Kim Holden
    Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely by Lysa TerKeurst
    Love, Life and the List by Kasie West
    *A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses, # 3) by Sarah J Maas

    Other Posts:
    Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 12/3/17
    Sunday Post - 12/10/17
    Sunday Post - 12/17/17
    Sunday Post - 12/24/17
    Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves- 12/31/17
    Top Ten 2018 TBR List (New and Old Releases)
    Can't Wait for Brave (Contours of the Heart, # 4) by Tammara Webber
    Can't Wait for Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West
    Can't Wait for Broken Beautiful Hearts by Kami Garcia
    Can't Wait for Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter
    2017 Series Enders Reading Challenge - December Wrap Up
    2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge - Sign Ups
    2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge - Goals
    Discussions Only We Know: Spoilers

    Goals:
    I finished my Bible-in-a-year reading plan.
    I've read 64 out of 52 books.
    I've read 8 out of 10-12 series enders.