November 2018 EOM Wrap Up

I have read 3 books (children's books not listed below). *These qualify for the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
You'd Be Mine by Erin Hahn
Sadie by Courtney Summers
Tricky Twenty-Two (Stephanie Plum, # 22) by Janet Evanovich

I have reviewed 5 books. *These qualify for the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
Dance of Thieves (Dance of Thieves, # 1) by Mary E Pearson
Bible Journaling Made Simple by Sandy Allnock
A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews
The Brave Art of Motherhood by Rachel Marie Martin
Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West

Other Posts:
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 11/4/18
Sunday Post - 11/11/18
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 11/18/18
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 11/25/18
Ten Books I'm Thankful For
Top Ten Villains
Can't Wait for The Sound of Love by Geneviève Reese
Can't Wait for Daughters of the Northern Shores (Sons of Blackbird Mountain, # 2) by Joanne Bischof
Can't Wait for In Another Life by CC Hunter
Can't Wait for Rules We're Meant to Break by Natalie Williamson
2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge - November Wrap Up

Goals:
I'm finished with my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 80 out of 52 books.
I've read 6 out of 10-12 series enders.

Can't Wait for Rules We're Meant to Break

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.

Rules We're Meant to Break

By: Natalie Williamson

Expected Publication: June 11th 2019 by Swoon Reads

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--Amber lives by strict rules to survive her mother’s love life: Always keep your eyes on the horizon and never get close to anyone connected to Mom's boyfriends.

But after they move in with Kevin, the latest of her mom's “soulmates,” the rules become increasingly difficult to follow. Kevin’s daughter, Cammie, keeps acting like Amber’s friend, even though she’s definitely not. And Jordan—star basketball player, hottest boy in school, and Cammie's best friend—keeps showing up at the most inconvenient moments.

Amber has reasons for every one of her rules, and following them is the only way to protect her heart when her mom inevitably moves on. But as she spends more time with Kevin, his daughter, and especially Jordan, she starts to wonder if the rules might be worth breaking this time.

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

Listen to Your Heart - Review

Listen to Your Heart

By: Kasie West

Expected Publication: May 29th 2018 by Point

336 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( 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.

I say in every Kasie West book review that I'm a big fan. She publishes a book. I read and review that book. Half of her books I tend to get for review and the other half I get denied for. I don't mind. She's an auto-buy author for me so I know I'll read them all eventually anyway. I also say in every review (because it's true) that I can always count on her for clean and feel good books with happily-ever-afters. She's consistent. I love consistent. I love knowing when I pick up a Kasie West book that I'm going to be satisfied when I turn the last page. And I have been. Some, of course, leave me more satisfied than others.

I loved that Listen to Your Heart had the making of a podcast at the heart of it. I don't listen to podcasts right now as there's no opportunity, but I have in the past and found this to be a fun and unique aspect.

Kate was an interesting character. I can't say that I remember reading too many antisocial characters. She's not really antisocial. She just has a small inner circle, and I see nothing wrong with that. I loved her friendship with Alanna. Alanna makes my list of favorite BFFs. She had Kate's back at every turn.

I find it doesn't happen often when I like the main girl more than the main guy, but for some reason in this case I did. Diego was nice enough but I guess I fought the idea of him actually ending up with Kate and so I resisted liking him a little. Don't get me wrong. I didn't dislike him either.

My one big complaint about Listen to Your Heart was the predictability. Granted, much of the meat of this book is spelled out in the description, but I was a little disappointed to find zero surprises. I don't mind figuring things out, but I have learned that I prefer when there's at least a little doubt in my mind that I'm right.

Despite feeling Listen to Your Heart was too predictable for my preferences, I still ended up cheesing my face off reading the end. Kasie West does it again. This wasn't my favorite of her books, but it was still what I've come to expect from her. Listen to Your Heart gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Listen to Your Heart? What do you think? Let me know!

2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge - November Wrap Up

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

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

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

Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 11/25/18

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.

Another super busy week. Monday I had a hair cut and had to run by Walmart. Man it was packed. Tuesday the kids had doctor appointments for their one year and three year check ups. Little Girl is in the top 10% for height and top 20% for weight. Little Boy is in the top 5% for height and average for weight. He tested negative for RSV and his lungs and ears were clear so the doctor said he probably just had a sinus infection. After the doctor we ran by my mom's house to eat lunch. Little Girl spent the night with my parents and then went with my mom to my Nanny's house the next day. Wednesday was just me and Little Boy. We had a good time. Thursday we got up early to travel to Mobile to Nanny's house for Thanksgiving. There was a good group of extended family this year, and Little Girl had a blast playing with all of her cousins. We were late getting home Thursday night and so bedtimes went a bit rough. Friday we went to Husband's mom's house for lunch and dinner. Saturday things were mostly back to normal except we took a quick trip to Hobby Lobby to stock up on wrapping paper for Christmas. Busy weeks mean fast weeks which is great, but I'm looking forward to things being back on a more normal schedule starting tomorrow.

THIS PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of The Brave Art of Motherhood by Rachel Marie Martin (3.5 Stars)
Tuesday Ten Books I'm Thankful For
Wednesday: Can't Wait for In Another Life by CC Hunter
Today: 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge - November Wrap Up

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Friday: November 2018 EOM 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.

Turbo Twenty-Three (Stephanie Plum, # 23)

By: Janet Evanovich

Publication: November 15th 2016 by Bantam

288 pages

Genre: Adult, Humor, Mystery, Romance

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--In the heart of Trenton, N.J., a killer is out to make sure someone gets his just desserts.

Larry Virgil skipped out on his latest court date after he was arrested for hijacking an eighteen-wheeler full of premium bourbon. Fortunately for bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, Larry is just stupid enough to attempt almost the exact same crime again. Only this time he flees the scene, leaving behind a freezer truck loaded with Bogart ice cream and a dead body—frozen solid and covered in chocolate and chopped pecans.

As fate would have it, Stephanie’s mentor and occasional employer, Ranger, needs her to go undercover at the Bogart factory to find out who’s putting their employees on ice and sabotaging the business. It’s going to be hard for Stephanie to keep her hands off all that ice cream, and even harder for her to keep her hands off Ranger. It’s also going to be hard to explain to Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, why she is spending late nights with Ranger, late nights with Lula and Randy Briggs—who are naked and afraid—and late nights keeping tabs on Grandma Mazur and her new fella. Stephanie Plum has a lot on her plate, but for a girl who claims to have “virtually no marketable skills,” these are the kinds of sweet assignments she does best.

The Beholder

By: Anna Bright

Publication: June 4th 2019 by HarperTeen

448 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retellings

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--Selah has waited her whole life for a happily ever after. As the only daughter of the leader of Potomac, she knows her duty is to find the perfect match, a partner who will help secure the future of her people. Now that day has finally come.

But after an excruciatingly public rejection from her closest childhood friend, Selah’s stepmother suggests an unthinkable solution: Selah must set sail across the Atlantic, where a series of potential suitors awaits—and if she doesn’t come home engaged, she shouldn’t come home at all.

From English castle gardens to the fjords of Norge, and under the eye of the dreaded Imperiya Yotne, Selah’s quest will be the journey of a lifetime. But her stepmother’s schemes aren’t the only secrets hiding belowdecks…and the stakes of her voyage may be higher than any happy ending.

Bring Down the Stars (Beautiful Hearts Duet, # 1)

By: Emma Scott

Publication: August 19th 2018 by Amazon Digital Services

292 pages

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Retellings

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon $3.99 | 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--I fell for Connor Drake. I didn’t want to; I fought against it, but I fell in love with him anyway. With his words. With his poetry. With him. The gentleness and beauty of his soul that speaks directly to mine. He writes as if he can feel my heart, hear its cadence and compose the exact right lyrics to accompany every beat and flow.

I’m in love with Connor…so why do I feel an inexplicable pull to his best friend, Weston? Grouchy, sullen, brooding Weston Turner, who could cut you down with a look. Fiercely intelligent with a razor sharp wit and acid tongue, he’s the exact opposite of Connor in every way, and yet there’s electricity in the air between us. The thorny barbs Weston wraps around himself can’t keep me away.

But the more time I spend with these men, the more tangled and confused my emotions become. When they both sign up for the Army Reserves during a time of increasing strife in the Middle East, I fear I’ll never unravel my own heart that sometimes feels as if it will tear straight down the middle…for both of them.

**********

Bring Down the Stars is an emotional, angst-filled novel of unrequited love by bestselling author, Emma Scott, and is inspired by the classic tale, Cyrano de Bergerac. (Roxanne) It is Book I in the Beautiful Hearts Duet, coming this summer. Book II, Long Live the Beautiful Hearts, to be released a few weeks later. THIS IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL LOVE TRIANGLE #confusedhearts #notamenage

Long Live the Beautiful Hearts (Beautiful Hearts Duet, # 2)

By: Emma Scott

Expected Publication: October 14th 2018 by Amazon Digital Services

286 pages

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Retellings

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Never again would I allow my heart to become the plaything of someone else.
Never again would I let a man (or men) come between me and my goals.
Never again would I love without feeling the fullness of that love in return.
Not until I knew it was real. And if that took me a lifetime to find, so be it.

Those were my vows, and after all that had happened with Connor and Weston, I was determined to keep them. To protect my heart.
And then he came home, and my vows became his promises.

He held my heart in his hands with reverence and care.
He helped me find my soul’s greatest purpose in life.
He loved me with a love so pure and vibrant, I knew I’d never feel anything like it in a hundred lifetimes.
It was real.

Until it wasn’t.
Until it all came crashing down when I discovered the deep love I thought I’d found was nestled in a web of lies—so soft and silken I hadn’t noticed it was there.
Until it was too late.

**********
Long Live the Beautiful Hearts is the emotional, heart-wrenching conclusion to the Beautiful Hearts Duet by bestselling author, Emma Scott, and is inspired by the classic tale, Cyrano de Bergerac. (Roxanne) THIS IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL LOVE TRIANGLE #confusedhearts #notamenage THIS BOOK IS NOT A STANDALONE. It should not be read without first reading Bring Down 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!

Can't Wait for In Another Life

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.

In Another Life

By: CC Hunter

Expected Publication: March 26th 2019 by Wednesday Books

320 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--Chloe was three years old when she became Chloe Holden, but her adoption didn’t scar her, and she’s had a great life. Now, fourteen years later, her loving parents’ marriage has fallen apart and her mom has moved them to Joyful, Texas. Starting twelfth grade as the new kid at school, everything Chloe loved about her life is gone. And feelings of déjà vu from her early childhood start haunting her.

When Chloe meets Cash Colton she feels drawn to him, as though they're kindred spirits. Until Cash tells her the real reason he sought her out: Chloe looks exactly like the daughter his foster parents lost years ago, and he’s determined to figure out the truth.

As Chloe and Cash delve deeper into her adoption, the more things don’t add up, and the more strange things start happening. Why is Chloe’s adoption a secret that people would kill for?

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

Ten Books I'm Thankful For

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week's topic is Top Ten Thanksgiving Freebie.

So I decided to go with ten books that I'm thankful for.

1. Twilight (Twilight, # 1) by Stephenie Meyer - To be honest, Twilight is what rekindled my love for reading. I loved reading in high school but stopped until I picked this book up. And I haven't stopped since.
2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - Started my love for historical fiction as well as my willingness to give the Classics a chance.
3. The Forest of Hands and Teeth (The Forest of Hands and Teeth, # 1) by Carrie Ryan - My first zombie book.
4. Harry Potter (the series) by JK Rowling - Because who knew that a book series could be this epic?
5. The Power of a Praying Woman by Stormie Omartian - The book that changed my prayer life for the best.
6. Crazy Love by Francis Chan - Changed the way I thought about a lot of things related to my faith.
7. Slammed (Slammed, # 1) by Colleen Hoover - Sparked my love for her books. As of now she's an auto-buy author.
8. Boundaries by Henry Cloud & John Townsend - This book...It is Christian based, but there's so, so, so much that anyone could get out of it when it comes to setting proper boundaries. I cannot recommend this book enough.
9. Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassins, # 1) by Robin LaFevers - This series has it all. Strong female characters. History and strategy. Twists. Romances. And SYMBOLISM!
10. Captivating by Stasi & John Eldredge - This book broke me a little bit. It made me cry more than once. This book revealed my heart to me.

Which books are you thankful for? Let me know!

The Brave Art of Motherhood - Review

The Brave Art of Motherhood: Fight Fear, Gain Confidence, and Find Yourself Again

By: Rachel Marie Martin

Publication: October 9th 2018 by Waterbrook Press

208 pages

Genre: Non-fiction, 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--Full-time FindingJoy.net blogger, speaker, marketer, podcaster, and single mom of seven, Rachel Martin presents a pivotal book for moms to spark the hope they need to overcome self-doubt, fear, pressure, and isolation.

This book is part encouragement and part rally cry for moms everywhere who have gotten lost within the pages of their own story, undervaluing all they do every day and exchanging the beauty of who they are for a Pinterest-perfect illusion. It gives you the tools you need to overcome fear, loneliness, and inaction. By drawing on anecdotes and lessons from her own life, Rachel empowers moms to forget their past mistakes, celebrate what they've already accomplished, and dare to be real about their struggles. She teaches them to cheer each other on toward better days, so that "alone" is replaced with "comradeship" and "fear" is replaced with "courage." You can make changes. You can overcome fear and doubt. You can pursue dreams, find yourself, and live a life of deep happiness and uncontainable joy.

First I need to say that I've been extremely busy in my personal life. *I'm planning and executing a joint birthday party for my one year old and three year old. I'm cleaning house in all of my free time and when I'm not cleaning house I've been working on a side project. That's left me very little time to read. And while this isn't a fault of the book itself, it does factor into my experience of the book, I fell asleep almost every time I finally got a chance to pick this book up. It wasn't that the information wasn't interesting. But the slow speed I made progress was really dragging me down. Again the book isn't really to fault for this--real life got in the way.

I will say that the beginning of this book was a struggle to me. Rachel Marie Martin spends the beginning of the book setting up her struggles so that she can through the rest of the book show her personal transformation and how far she's come. And I knew that was likely the case, but as is the case with fictional characters, when they're struggling it can be a challenge for me as a reader to go through the struggles with them. She also discusses her assumptions made upon others and the church which turned out to be false assumptions, but this wasn't easy for me to read either. While I might not always remember that what we see isn't always all there is to other people, I do try not to assume that others have it all together or have a perfect life that I don't have. It does help that the spiritual family I'm a part of is very open with each other about our struggles. But what she was seeing--or assuming that she saw--of ofthers and the church hit some nerves with me. Thankfully the point of this section is exactly to show the error in her thinking.

I ended up highlighting quite a few passages from The Brave Art of Motherhood. Here are a few of my favorites:

-"Be brave," says my spirit. "Wait," says fear. "Have courage," says my soul. "Not yet," says worry. "Dare," says my heart.

-Do you know what is on the other side of hiding? Freedom.

-... the heart, left unchecked, can easily override the brain's logic and accept irrational, unwise, and incorrect agreements about self, beauty, worth, and ability.

-No one can create agreements in our hearts without our approval.

-Worry will never change a situation.

-...when it is harvest time, you focus on the harvest, not on the barn.

The biggest complaint--if you can call it that--is that I don't know how to quantify this book. It isn't really a Christian book, it isn't really self-help, it isn't really a book about motherhood, it isn't really a book about friendship... I'm just not sure how to categorize this book. It is all of these things and none of them at the same time.

I enjoyed The Brave Art of Motherhood even though it took me so long to finish it. I couldn't quite figure out how to categorize this book, but that didn't stop me from soaking up each part of it. Rachel Marie Martin was both inspiring and relateable. The Brave Art of Motherhood gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read The Brave Art of Motherhood? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 11/18/18

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 I decided to go ahead and go see my regular doctor since Urgent Care was ZERO help. Thankfully, my normal doctor was able to give me some shots and antibiotics. Not even 24 hours later I felt like I new person. Husband was so good helping me out with the kids and such this week since I was feeling so poorly. We had a light snow here in central Alabama on Thursday. This is the first I've ever heard of snow in Alabama in November (in my lifetime at least). It didn't stick of course, but we take the novelty when we can. I cannot believe this week is Thanksgiving already. The year is coming to a close very quickly.

THIS PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews (4.5 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Daughters of Northern Shores (Sons of Blackbird Mountain, # 2) by Joanne Bischof

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of The Brave Art of Motherhood by Rachel Marie Martin
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Thursday: Happy Thanksgiving!!

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.

Tricky Twenty-Two (Stephanie Plum, # 22)

By: Janet Evanovich

Publication: November 17th 2015 by Bantam

282 pages

Genre: Adult, Humor, Mystery, Romance

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--Something big is brewing in Trenton, N.J., and it could blow at any minute.

Stephanie Plum might not be the world's greatest bounty hunter, but she knows when she's being played. Ken Globovic (aka Gobbles), hailed as the Supreme Exalted Zookeeper of the animal house known as Zeta fraternity, has been arrested for beating up the dean of students at Kiltman College. Gobbles has missed his court date and gone into hiding. People have seen him on campus, but no one will talk. Things just aren't adding up, and Stephanie can't shake the feeling that something funny is going on at the college - and it's not just Zeta fraternity pranks.

As much as people love Gobbles, they hate Doug Linken. When Linken is gunned down in his backyard it's good riddance, and the list of possible murder suspects is long. The only people who care about finding Linken's killer are Trenton cop Joe Morelli, who has been assigned the case, security expert Ranger, who was hired to protect Linken, and Stephanie, who has her eye on a cash prize and hopefully has some tricks up her sleeve.

You'd Be Mine

By: Erin Hahn

Publication: April 2nd 2019 by Wednesday Books

304 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

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--"Witty and charming, with an off-the-charts, irresistible blend of romance, humor, and characters who steal your heart from page one. Erin Hahn is an author to watch." - Karen M. McManus, New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying

Annie Mathers is America’s sweetheart and heir to a country music legacy full of all the things her Gran warned her about. Superstar Clay Coolidge is most definitely going to end up one of those things.

But unfortunately for Clay, if he can’t convince Annie to join his summer tour, his music label is going to drop him. That’s what happens when your bad boy image turns into bad boy reality. Annie has been avoiding the spotlight after her parents’ tragic death, except on her skyrocketing YouTube channel. Clay’s label wants to land Annie, and Clay has to make it happen.

Swayed by Clay’s undeniable charm and good looks, Annie and her band agree to join the tour. From the start fans want them to be more than just tour mates, and Annie and Clay can’t help but wonder if the fans are right. But if there’s one part of fame Annie wants nothing to do with, it’s a high-profile relationship. She had a front row seat to her parents’ volatile marriage and isn’t interested in repeating history. If only she could convince her heart that Clay, with his painful past and head over heels inducing tenor, isn’t worth the risk.

Erin Hahn’s thrilling debut, You’d Be Mine, asks: can the right song and the perfect summer on the road make two broken hearts whole?

In Another Life

By: CC Hunter

Expected Publication: March 26th 2019 by Wednesday Books

320 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

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--Chloe was three years old when she became Chloe Holden, but her adoption didn’t scar her, and she’s had a great life. Now, fourteen years later, her loving parents’ marriage has fallen apart and her mom has moved them to Joyful, Texas. Starting twelfth grade as the new kid at school, everything Chloe loved about her life is gone. And feelings of déjà vu from her early childhood start haunting her.

When Chloe meets Cash Colton she feels drawn to him, as though they're kindred spirits. Until Cash tells her the real reason he sought her out: Chloe looks exactly like the daughter his foster parents lost years ago, and he’s determined to figure out the truth.

As Chloe and Cash delve deeper into her adoption, the more things don’t add up, and the more strange things start happening. Why is Chloe’s adoption a secret that people would kill for?

Daughters of Northern Shore (Blackbird Mountain, # 2)

By: Joanne Bischof

Expected Publication: March 12th 2019 by Thomas Nelson

368 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian 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--Aven Norgaard understands courage. Orphaned within an Irish workhouse, then widowed at just nineteen, she voyaged to America where she was wooed and wed by Thor Norgaard, a Deaf man in rural Appalachia. That the Lord saw her along the winding journey and that Aven now carries Thor’s child are blessings beyond measure. Yet while Thor holds her heart, it is his younger brother and rival who haunts her memories. Haakon—whose selfish choices shattered her trust in him.

Having fled the farm after trying to take Aven as his own, Haakon sails on the North Atlantic ice trade where his soul is plagued with regrets that distance cannot heal. Not even the beautiful Norwegian woman he’s pursued can ease the torment. When the winds bear him home after four years away, Haakon finds the family on the brink of tragedy. A decades-old feud with the neighboring farm has wrenched them into the fiercest confrontation on Blackbird Mountain since the Civil War. Haakon’s cunning and strength hold the power to seal many fates, including Thor’s which is already at stake through a grave illness brought to him as the first prick of warfare.

Now Haakon faces the hardest choice of his life. One that shapes a battlefield where pride must be broken enough to be restored, and where a prodigal son may finally know the healing peace of surrender and the boundless gift of forgiveness. And when it comes to the woman he left behind in Norway, he just might discover that while his heart belongs to a daughter of the north, she’s been awaiting him on shores more distant than the land he’s fighting for.

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!

A Holiday by Gaslight - Review

A Holiday by Gaslight

By: Mimi Matthews

Expected Publication: November 13th 2018 by Perfectly Proper Press

175 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction, Holiday, Christmas, Victorian

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--A Courtship of Convenience

Sophie Appersett is quite willing to marry outside of her class to ensure the survival of her family. But the darkly handsome Mr. Edward Sharpe is no run-of-the-mill London merchant. He’s grim and silent. A man of little emotion—or perhaps no emotion at all. After two months of courtship, she’s ready to put an end to things.

A Last Chance for Love

But severing ties with her taciturn suitor isn’t as straightforward as Sophie envisioned. Her parents are outraged. And then there’s Charles Darwin, Prince Albert, and that dratted gaslight. What’s a girl to do except invite Mr. Sharpe to Appersett House for Christmas and give him one last chance to win her? Only this time there’ll be no false formality. This time they’ll get to know each other for who they really are.

This is my second Mimi Matthews book, and I feel like I can now say that she is an author that can easily pull me in and make me quickly care about her characters. A Holiday by Gaslight starts in the middle of scene between Ned Sharpe and Sophie Appersett. They've been courting, and Sophie has decided to break things off despite the financially stable position that marrying Ned would put her in. I mean if that doesn't make you interested and immediately asking questions about these characters and what will happen between them I don't quite know what will.

I pretty much liked everything about this novella. I could easily appreciate Sophie's stance of breaking off an engagement to a man that won't interact with her. She knows that her family needs her marriage to a man with stable finances, but she won't lower herself to marrying for convenience without even a hint of the possibility of being happy or content in the marriage. Ned isn't from the same class as Sophie so he isn't sure how he should behave exactly and the bad advice he's received has kept him closed off. This was a great concept to me because a lack of communication between couples due to cultural hindrances is so much of the conflict in books from this time period. I also loved the inclusion of so many timely advances in technology and society.

I thought I was going to find Sophie's sister extremely annoying but in the end I really just wanted more of her story. Her thought process. Etc.

I find that I don't have anything at all negative to say about A Holiday by Gaslight other than wanting more of it. I loved the characters. I loved the setting. I loved the historically accurate tidbits included. A Holiday by Gaslight gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read A Holiday by Gaslight? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 11/11/18

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 week has focused around the fact that I've come down with an Upper Respiratory Infection. BOO! I don't feel awful (most of the time), but sheesh. I started feeling bad on Tuesday and by Thursday I went to the doctor. The doctor said this could last for about 2 weeks. Now that it's Sunday I can say that I don't feel much better (or worse) than I did on Thursday. I'm hoping this passes quickly from here though. Friday my mother-in-law kept the kids while I went to the dentist. Side note, I highly discourage dental work while suffering from an upper respiratory infection. The ONLY reason why I went ahead to the appointment and didn't reschedule was that I had already rescheduled once and my appointment got pushed back 3 months! My mom came on Saturday to pick up my daughter to help out. Husband had some work to do outside. Little Boy is still nursing (3 times a day--we're in the process of weaning) or she would have taken him with her as well. Being sick has zapped me from any extra energy so I haven't read much this week.

THIS PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Dance of Thieves (Dance of Thieves, # 1) by Mary E Pearson (4.5 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Backlist Books
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Sound of Love by Geneviève Reese
Thursday: Review of Bible Journaling Made Simple by Sandy Allnock

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews
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!

Bible Journaling Made Simple - Review

Bible Journaling Made Simple

By: Sandy Allnock

Publication: October 23rd 2018 by North Light Books

144 pages

Genre: Christian, Non-fiction, Art, Crafts

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--Draw closer to God and creatively unlock more of the Good Book!

Your relationship with God is unique. Shouldn't your Bible reflect and celebrate that bond? In this introduction to Bible journaling, you'll discover meaningful ways to combine art, heart and scripture--from backgrounds to hand-lettered verses to beautiful full-page drawings. No expensive supplies or artistic skills are required...only a desire to honor and enhance your spiritual life.

To guide your creative worship experience, this book provides:
Prompts to engage you with the text, then visually interpret Scripture in words and pictures
Basic techniques for working with colored pencils, watercolor pencils and watercolor paints
21 step-by-step tutorials for drawing trees, flowers, skies, mountains, maps, water, light and other popular themes
Tons of inspirational page samples and suggested verses to illustrate
Downloadable icons and technique videos available on the author's website

Whether you're new to Bible journaling or looking for fresh ideas, this book will lead you on a rewarding spiritual journey. Success is not measured in the complexity or polish of the art, but in a deeper, more personal connection with God.

"Our lives are busy, and we leave a trail of things-we-should-remember on the ground behind us. Instead, scoop them up and journal them. Preserve the lessons vital to our growth as Christians." page 12

I've been following Sandy Allnock on YouTube for a while now. I didn't think much about it when she talked about creating a book, but then when I saw it available for review on NetGalley, I knew I'd want to get it and review it. And I'm so glad that I did.

I'm fairly new to these kinds of books. I read and reviewed my first arts/craft book last year and recently I've been on a kick with them as my creative juices have been overflowing. I purchased Complete Guide to Bible Journaling last year and it was so full of great content that I wasn't sure Bible Journaling Made Simple would really have anything to add, but I was so wrong. This book ended up being so much more than I expected it to be.

First off, I love that Sandy Allnock set up this book as a guide for teaching/participating in a Bible journaling group. But if you choose to follow alone that's perfectly fine. The group suggestion is mentioned in the beginning with a guide on how you could go about working the book around a group, but this isn't mentioned over and over throughout the book which I appreciated.

I loved that there are art tutorials, but symbolism is talked about a lot so that why you are creating a particular design for a particular Scripture makes sense. Yet Sandy Allnock really stresses how much the focus is on spending time with God and not simply creating perfect art. As a matter of fact, at times she purposefully encourages you to be imperfect with your art to keep yourself focused on what really matters most.

The art itself and the tutorials on how to create the same or similar pieces feels both challenging and achievable which is a huge line to balance without going over too far to either side. There were certainly examples of her art that is currently beyond my skill level. Yet there were so many things I felt I could replicate in my own style.

Each chapter has a subfocus of a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5) so it was almost like a devotional at the same time. I appreciated that I could nod my head to the Spiritual things she discussed while she maintained distance from doctrinal issues that might be controversial making this book a good fit for any who claims the name Christian.

Also included in each chapter was a list of verses and topics applicable to the tutorials and subjects of each chapter. I really love that this was included because it makes the book practical for the very beginner level of Bible Journaling or a very new Christian.

Bible Journaling Made Simple was so exciting for me because it exceeded my expectations in every way. There's art that challenging yet achievable. There's Scripture and subject focused chapters. And there's focus on symbolism. Bible Journaling Made Simple gets 5 Stars. Have you read Bible Journaling Made Simple? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for The Sound of Love

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 Sound of Love

By: Geneviève Reese

Expected Publication: November 11th 2018 by UNCANNY PUBLISHING INC

320 pages

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--Born and raised on her family farm in rural East Tennessee, Danielle Adams always dreamed of moving to Nashville—known in her family as the “big city”. She had the voice of an angel and her skills on the piano put her on par with some of the best pianists in the world. On her twenty-first birthday, Danielle’s parents bought her a one-way ticket to “the big city” and gave her enough money to live for a year. Her parents—along with everyone at their church and all through the town—knew of her talents and felt it was time she shared her GOD-given gifts with the world.

Danielle’s life in Nashville starts off rocky, but eventually she finds her way. Before long, a music producer notices her talents and signs her to a record deal. After performing in a few shows, she instantly becomes the new darling of Nashville. One day while performing, Danielle notices that her hearing seems to be going in and out. After this happens a couple more times, Danielle decides it’s time for her to go see a doctor. To her shock, she learns that she has a rare genetic disorder that will cause her to eventually become deaf. Her doctor gives her a referral to someone who can teach her sign language and other useful devices that will make life easier once her hearing is fully gone. Danielle—devastated to say the least—falls into a deep depression and begins questioning GOD’s plan for her life.

Eventually, Danielle goes to meet with the doctor’s referral, Walker Davenport; who turns out to be an exceptionally handsome and kind man—who also happens to be a musician himself. He helps her prepare for life as a deaf person—starting with making her a hearing “bucket list”. Walker even shows her ways she can still have music in her life even if she is unable to hear. Over time, Daniele and Walker become close and eventually fall in love. Their young love blossoms, and marriage seems to be right on the horizon. That is, until the day that they had been planning for finally arrives—when Danielle’s hearing is completely gone.

Unable to handle her new reality, Danielle rebuffs Walker, and shuts out the rest of the world—even her close nit family. Walker then finds himself trying to prove to her that the sound of love can still be heard even when your world is silent.

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

Top Ten Backlist Books

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week's topic is Top Ten Backlist Books.

1. Significance (Significance, # 1) by Shelly Crane - To be honest, I started this one and I'm not dying to get back to it. I've had it in my possession for years though.
2. Brightest Kind of Darkness (Brightest Kind of Darkness, # 1) by PT Michelle - This one I've had for years too and even though it has good ratings on Goodreads, I don't know anyone who has read it.
3. Thorn Queen (Dark Swan, # 2) by Richelle Mead - I've got no excuse.
4. Ruin and Rising (The Grisha, # 3) by Leigh Bardugo - I loved the first book, the second book was only okay for me, and I'm not sure I'm excited for the direction things were heading. I started this book and read like 10% but it was such a slow start that I haven't come back to it.
5. Sempre: Redemption (Sempre, # 2) by JM Darhower - I devoured the first book. I have had this one for years. The only real thing stopping me for picking this one up is that so long has gone by since I read the first book that my interest has waned.
6. End of Days (Penryn and the End of Days, # 3) by Susan Ee - I started this one too. Actually made it about 30%. Put it down for various reasons and that 30% that I've read hasn't been enough to pull me back in. I'm feeling apathetic.
7. The Glittering Court (The Glittering Court, # 1) by Richelle Mead - I didn't like the direction this one was heading so I put it down. Even though I've had friends tell me that book 2 is so much better and even book 3, I'm just finding it hard to even think about coming back to this book.
8. The Becoming of Noah Shaw (The Shaw Confessions, # 1) by Michelle Hodkin - I quite liked Michelle Hodkin's writing style, but the way the Mara Dyer series ended just left me feeling a bit blah. I loved Noah, but something was just missing from that last book that's left me dreading starting this series.
9. Iron Gold (Red Rising, # 4) by Pierce Brown - Why haven't I read this yet? I'll tell you...these books are big investments. Not just length, but emotionally. I'll get to it, I promise. And when I do, I'm sure I'll be kicking myself for waiting so long.
10. Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, # 6) by Sarah J Maas - I just need to break down and do it already. Part of the problem is that I have this on Holly's kindle that I've borrowed, but her Generation 1 kindle does not have a backlight which makes reading at night (the only real time I have to read) nearly impossible. Or at the very least, highly inconvenient.

Which books are on your backlist? Let me know!