September 2019 EOM Wrap Up

I have read 6 books (not including children's books). *These qualify for the 2019 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
Iron Gold (Red Rising, # 4) by Pierce Brown
The Dirt on Ninth Grave (Charley Davidson, # 9) by Darynda Jones
Hope's Highest Mountain (Heirs of Montana, # 1) by Misty M Beller
Aiming for Love (Brides of Hope Mountain, # 1) by Mary Connealy
The Upside of Falling by Alex Light
The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson

I have reviewed 5 books. *These qualify for the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
Verity (The Sugar Baron's Daughter, # 2) by Lisa T Bergren
*Always and Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boys I've Loved Before, # 3) by Jenny Han
Never Have I Ever by Lauren Blakely
The Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey
Saving Everest by Sky Chase

Other Posts:
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 09/01/19
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 09/15/19
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 09/29/19
Ten Books I've Been Avoiding
Top Ten Fall 2019 TBR List
Can't Wait for Would Like to Meet by Rachel Winters
Can't Wait for The Runaway Bride (The Bride Ships, # 2) by Jody Hedlund
Can't Wait for Selah (The Sugar Baron's Daughter, # 3) by Lisa T Bergren
Can't Wait for Throw Like a Girl by Sarah Henning
2019 Series Enders Reading Challenge - September Wrap Up

Goals:
I'm 6 days ahead of schedule with my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 69 out of 52 books (including children's books).
I've read 4 out of 5-10 series enders.

Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 09/29/19

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.

I did it again. I missed last week's recap. I usually prep my Sunday Post on Saturday, but last week we were traveling for my niece's birthday party. She was such a doll and a great gift opener. Every gift was like her favorite thing ever. (She's 3.) Little Girl and Little Boy both had so much fun playing with her. This week was pretty normal. We walked when we could. The earlier part of the week had cooler (still high 80s) temps. We played outside. Thursday I took the kids on a spontaneous trip to the park. A large cloud hung out over the park while we were there which kept things cooler than they would have been otherwise. Friday, Little Boy and I had to run some errands after dropping sister off at school.

THE PAST TWO WEEKS:

Monday 9/16: Review of Never Have I Ever by Lauren Blakely (4 Stars)
Wednesday 9/18: Can't Wait for Selah (The Sugar Baron's Daughter, # 3) by Lisa T Bergren

Monday 9/23: Review of The Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey (3.5 Stars)
Tuesday 9/24: Top Ten Fall 2019 TBR List
Wednesday 9/25: Can't Wait for Throw Like a Girl by Sarah Henning & 2019 Series Enders Reading Challenge - September Wrap Up
Friday 9/27: Review of Saving Everest by Sky Chase (3.5 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: September 2019 EOM Wrap Up
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Thursday: All Things Halloween Review of Iron Gold (Red Rising, # 4) by Pierce Brown + Giveaway

Don’t forget to link up for the 2019 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2019 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.

A Pursuit of Home (Haven Manor, # 3)

By: Kristi Ann Hunter

Expected Publication: November 5th 2019 by Bethany House Publishers

352 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--When she learns the family she thought dead might be alive and in danger, Jess Beuchene knows her secrets can only stay buried for so long. Desperation brings her to Derek Thornbury, an expert in history and artifacts, to help her decipher the clues in an old family diary. Will their search to uncover the truth of the past lead to a future together?

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!

Saving Everest - Review

Saving Everest

By: Sky Chase

Expected Publication: October 8th 2019 by Wattpad Books

352 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--From the outside, Everest has it all, but there’s only one girl who can see him for who he truly is...and it changes his life forever.

Everest is the most popular guy in school. As the handsome and wealthy captain of the football team, he has the world at his fingertips, but he’s desperately unhappy. Unconvinced that he should live, he tries to take his life. On the surface, Beverly’s different from Everest in every way. Quiet, shy, and hard working, she keeps to herself, focusing on her schoolwork and part-time job to distract herself from her less-than-perfect home life.

When Everest returns to school, in more pain than ever, he’s discarded by his friends and girlfriend, and draws little empathy and too much attention from those who surround him. But when Beverly and Everest meet unexpectedly in a dusty corner of the library, together they discover how just how rich life can be.

I was hesitant about requesting Saving Everest. Sometimes I look forward to dark stories that can move me emotionally, and sometimes they just end up draining me. In the case of Saving Everest, I did begin to wonder if the depression that Everest was suffering from was too much for my personal "read for fun" time. I mean his depression was bad enough to cause him to attempt suicide. But thankfully the story didn't stay here too long.

I will say before moving on from that too much that we do see some of the things Everest was struggling with. His father is domineering, unsupportive, and harsh. His mother seems uninvolved or uninterested. He has friends and a girlfriend but I suppose we learn that they're not true friends. And he plays football, but I never really figured out if he hated football, the attention it brought him, or the pressure he felt to perform. So I found myself questioning how things got so bad for him to consider ending his own life. But maybe that was the point of it all? You're not really supposed to understand depression because it isn't always logical.

It was a little hard for me to believe that Everest is completely surrounded by people who are so cold and callous. That ranging from close family to supposed friends to random strangers to teachers could all be very cold toward him and the things that he was struggling with. Again, thankfully the book didn't stay stuck in this place for too terribly long. But I did have to question that there weren't more people with softer hearts.

Beverly was a breath of fresh air. She breathed life into the book just as much as she breathed life into Everest. I worried that things would be too literal with the title and Beverly single-handedly saving Everest from his depression. It's never a great idea to bank your entire happiness upon another person as that person could be taken from you at any time. And while Beverly does change things for Everest, I don't think the credit is only hers.

I was a little confused as to how Nami could be popular enough socially to be student body president when she seemed to be so abrasive to so many people. Of course, I came to really enjoy her character.

Saving Everest had moments that felt like continuity errors to me. Some I've already mentioned. Also, Everest complained at one point about the pressure to perform with football and how he'd come to hate people approaching him and praising him based off the game, yet when he turned to singing the same thing happened. He put pressure on himself to be perfect, to perform. And he constantly had more and more people approaching him in response to his music. At the same time, especially toward the end of the book, I felt like there were entire missing pieces of the story. A little more polish would have helped.

All of that being said, I read Saving Everest pretty fast. I didn't want to stop. As a matter of fact, I stayed up a little late two nights just to keep reading. It wasn't a perfect read for me. I felt some pieces were missing and others were contradictory. But overall, I loved Everest and Beverly. Saving Everest gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Saving Everest? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Throw Like a Girl

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.

Throw Like a Girl

By: Sarah Henning

Expected Publication: January 7th 2020 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

368 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--Friday Night Lights meets Morgan Matson's The Unexpected Everything in this contemporary debut where swoonworthy romance meets underdog sports story.

When softball star Liv Rodinsky throws one ill-advised punch during the most important game of the year, she loses her scholarship to her fancy private school, her boyfriend, and her teammates all in one fell swoop. With no other options, Liv is forced to transfer to the nearest public school, Northland, where she'll have to convince its coach she deserves a spot on the softball team, all while facing both her ex and the teammates of the girl she punched... Every. Single. Day.

Enter Grey, the injured star quarterback with amazing hair and a foolproof plan: if Liv joins the football team as his temporary replacement, he'll make sure she gets a spot on the softball team in the spring. But it will take more than just a flawless spiral for Liv to find acceptance in Northland's halls, and behind that charismatic smile, Grey may not be so perfect after all.

With well-drawn characters and a charming quarterback love interest who's got brains as well as brawn, Throw Like a Girl will have readers swooning from the very first page.

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

2019 Series Enders Reading Challenge - September Wrap Up

Time for our Monthly Wrap Up for the 2019 Series Enders Reading Challenge hosted by Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know and Holly @ Words Fueled by Love!

Since our last monthly wrap up, Holly finished Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass, # 7) by Sarah J Maas.

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

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Top Ten Fall 2019 TBR List

Top 10 Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish, but is currently hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is Top Ten Fall 2019 TBR List.

1. Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass, # 7) by Sarah J Maas - Holly finally finished so I'm just knocking out some review books before I pick this up.
2. Dark Age (Red Rising, # 5) by Pierce Brown
3. A Pursuit of Home (Haven Manor, # 3) by Kristi Ann Hunter
4. Diamond in the Rough (American Heiress, # 2) by Jen Turano
5. Realm of Knights (Knights of the Realm, # 1) by Jennifer Anne Davis
6. Fireborne (The Aurelian Cycle, # 1) by Rosaria Mundo
7. The How & the Why by Cynthia Hand
8. The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson
9. The Hive by Barry Lyga & Morgan Baden
10. The Number of Love (The Codebreakers, # 1) by Roseanna M White

Which books are on your fall 2019 TBR list? Let me know!

The Library of Lost Things - Review

The Library of Lost Things

By: Laura Taylor Namey

Expected Publication: October 8th 2019 by Inkyard Press

384 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--From the moment she first learned to read, literary genius Darcy Wells has spent most of her time living in the worlds of her books. There, she can avoid the crushing reality of her mother’s hoarding and pretend her life is simply ordinary. But when a new property manager becomes more active in the upkeep of their apartment complex, the only home Darcy has ever known outside of her books suddenly hangs in the balance.

While Darcy is struggling to survive beneath the weight of her mother’s compulsive shopping, Asher Fleet, a former teen pilot with an unexpectedly shattered future, walks into the bookstore where she works…and straight into her heart. For the first time in her life, Darcy can’t seem to find the right words. Fairy tales are one thing, but real love makes her want to hide inside her carefully constructed ink-and-paper bomb shelter.

Still, after spending her whole life keeping people out, something about Asher makes Darcy want to open up. But securing her own happily-ever-after will mean she’ll need to stop hiding and start living her own truth—even if it’s messy.

I usually try to review a finished book before moving onto a new book, but these days it's easier to move on to another book than it is to sit down and type up a review. So The Library of Lost Things isn't as fresh in my mind as I'd like.

I picked up The Library of Lost Things because of the hoarding aspect. I can't say that I've ever read a book that dealt with this subject in any form. So the uniqueness really brought me in. Husband isn't a hoarder, but he certainly attaches sentiment to objects whereas I'm much less sentimental with material things. And Laura Taylor Namey really took on the topic well I thought. Of course, we weren't seeing the hoarding from Darcy's mother's perspective but from Darcy's.

While I liked Darcy and I liked Asher, I did feel like the romance between the two was missing something. It was a slow build for sure, which I usually like, but I wish there would have been a bit more heat or passion I guess. I don't know. Something hard to put my finger on was missing.

Initially I was annoyed with Darcy's "word of the day". This is a little overused in YA books where characters are prepping for the SATs. But this wasn't the deal at all and was worked into the overall story much better than I've ever seen it before.

For a debut, I thought Laura Taylor Namey showed a lot of promise. She wrote with a purpose. Her words chosen specifically and often poetically. It wasn't lyrical like I've seen from Lauren Oliver, Maggie Stiefvater, or Tahereh Mafi. But her words had multiple meanings at times which I can certainly appreciate. I will look out for future books from her, but I also hope to see some continued polish with pacing, the romantic relationship, and a few other areas.

The one area and character that never disappointed was best friend Marisol. The easiest choice for the best best friend of the year so far. Everything about her was wonderful. She was supportive. She never battled Darcy for center-stage. She was amazing. I loved her. I wish I had my own Marisol.

Favorite quote:

-"Don't you know? You've got me, Wells."

I want to talk more about the cause of the hoarding and how Darcy handled her relationship with her mother, but I feel like most of that is spoiler-area. I will say that some of the ultimate conflict didn't have the "oomph" that I was looking for.

The Library of Lost Things was a solid debut for author Laura Taylor Namey. It wasn't perfect. I wanted a little bit more passion from the romance and felt ultimately the build up behind the hoarding wasn't quite what I wanted it to be. Yet, I loved the side relationships. Marisol, in particular, was awesome. I'll be looking out for more from this author. The Library of Lost Things gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read The Library of Lost Things? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Selah

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.

Selah (The Sugar Baron's Daughter, # 3)

By: Lisa T Bergren

Expected Publication: March 3rd 2020 by Bethany House Publishers

352 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

( 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 Banning has come of age on the West Indies island of Nevis, shaped by experiences far beyond the typical upbringing of a young British lady in 1777. She never anticipated that the most tumultuous time of her life might await her in the year ahead.

Jedediah Reed, a young Methodist preacher with a call to serve the slaves of Nevis, has settled at Selah's family's plantation, the Double T. As Selah's heart is drawn to the same people, their shared purpose brings them together--despite her guardians' concern with a romance that promises little security for the future.

As Jedediah's faith and Selah's abolitionist leanings lead to changes on the plantation, the Revolutionary War continues to build in the States. With the threat of starvation and the conflict with island mogul Angus Shubert growing ever stronger, the future of the Double T and its people hangs in the balance.

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

Never Have I Ever - Review

Never Have I Ever

By: Lauren Blakely

Narrated By: Amanda Ronconi & Jason Clarke

Publication: July 30th 2019 by Audible Studios

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--What happens when two frenemies can't stop pushing each other's buttons? Find out in this tender, laugh-out-loud funny romance from number-one New York Times best-selling author Lauren Blakely, available in audio first!

Never Have I Ever been so infuriated by a man I wanted to kiss.

They say opposites attract, but I beg to differ. Combust is more like it. Because every single time I talk to Zach Nolan, I see red.

The too-good-looking, too-smart, too-effortlessly-charming single dad who works down the hall from me has turned getting under my skin into a sport. Call it the battle of wits between the wedding planner and the divorce attorney. Trouble is, when we’re forced into closer quarters, planning an engagement party for our best friends, I start to see his other sides.

And I fear I’m falling for the enemy.

***

I’m not out to make friends. My goals are simple -- fight till the end for my clients, and my family. The last thing I need is a vibrant, outgoing, snarky, and surprisingly big-hearted wedding planner to spend my precious free time with…except, watching Piper bond with my daughter just might break down the cinder block walls I’ve built around my heart these last few years. Second chances don’t come around for guys like me…or do they?

I listened to the majority of this book while mowing the grass one day after Husband had his Lasik procedure and cutting grass wasn't allowed. It was so relaxing to be productive and enjoy a good book at the same time.

Never Have I Ever is a dual narrative. I enjoyed both the male and female audiobook narrators. The only times I didn't enjoy this as an audiobook was during the steamy scenes. I prefer those to be kept to a minimum or non-existent, and there were only two maybe three scenes max so I wasn't affected too terribly much by that. But even less would have better fit my reading preferences.

I wasn't sure how the game "Never Have I Ever" would fit into a story about wedding planning and divorce lawyers. But Lauren Blakely worked it in in a classy manner. It started with a bride wanting to play the game with her wedding party, and Piper tactfully explains why this would be a terrible idea. It's hard for me to believe that adults still play this game, and to try to work it into your wedding events kind of blows my mind, but I can also see that a very specific type of person might very well try to do just that. But then Piper ends up playing the game with Zach's daughter in a very light and G rated way. The game, of course, works its way into Zach and Piper's interactions, but I felt like this could have even been played up a bit more.

Zach was what you would think and more at the same time. He sounds like a typical male Romance lead, but he's not a player. He's not some bad boy out sleeping around until he finds the one who will make him change his ways. No. He's always been a one-woman man. He loved deeply his first wife before she died. And now that he has kids, he's not even interested in becoming anything different. I respected him for that. He wasn't about trying to sow his wild oats now that his wife was gone. He was more concerned about his children and their needs than anything else.

Piper was easy to like. She's built her business from the ground up. She's made a name for herself. She cares deeply for her clients and pulling off the wedding of their dreams, even if that means stepping into roles that shouldn't really be needed of a wedding planner. But she's got their backs. I loved how Piper first established a relationship with Zach's daughter before softening to him at all.

I could have done without Piper's sister's side story. I suppose she was there to round things out and give Piper a little added conflict and tension for making everything in her business work. But I think just simply needing and wanting to succeed might have been enough for me.

All in all, I very much enjoyed Never Have I Ever. It wasn't perfect for me, but it was a fun, cute book that inspired me to try and fit more audiobooks back into my life. The characters were easier to respect and thus like than I sometimes find from the adult romance genre. Never Have I Ever gets 4 Stars. Have you read (or listened) to Never Have I Ever? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 9/15/19

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.

Husband was off work all but Tuesday of the week before last. He needed to use some PTO. It was really nice having him home. We left Friday after getting Little Girl from school for LaGrange, Georgia to spend the weekend at Great Wolf Lodge. This was our first real vacation with having two kids. I mean we've been to visit relatives but not really a family vacation. And since we took two trips earlier this summer without them we really wanted to take them somewhere they would enjoy. The kids had a blast. They loved the water park. Little Girl probably enjoyed it the most of all of us. I had to keep telling her she couldn't just run off without me. Little Boy did have fun, but boy did he want Daddy to just carry him around a lot. The kids were late getting to bed the first night but slept really well. And then none of us slept good Saturday night. We left after breakfast and check out Sunday morning to go visit our niece and her newborn baby. This week was back to normal. Back in our own beds and on our normal schedule. Little Girl is loving school still. Even on days that aren't school days (she only goes 3 days a week) she asks me if she can go to school anyway. We went for walks when we could (weather depending since it's been so hot). Played outside. I've been catching up on things around the house. It's amazing how being gone a little over 48 hours causes a back up in ALL THE THINGS.

THE PAST TWO WEEKS:

Monday 9/2: Labor Day (US) - No Blog Post
Wednesday 9/4: Can't Wait for Would Like to Meet by Rachel Winters
Thursday 9/5: Review of Verity (The Sugar Baron's Daughter, # 2) by Lisa T Bergren (4 Stars)

Monday 9/9: Review of Always and Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boys I've Loved Before, # 3) by Jenny Han (4.5 Stars)
Tuesday 9/10: Ten Books I Have Been Avoiding Reading
Wednesday 9/11: Can't Wait for The Runaway Bride (The Bride Ships, # 2) by Jody Hedlund

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Never Have I Ever by Lauren Blakely
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2019 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2019 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.

Devil's Ballast

By: Meg Caddy

Publication: May 7th 2019 by Text Publishing

288 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction

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--ANNE Bonny was eighteen when she ran away from her violent husband, James, into the arms of pirate captain Calico Jack Rackham. Now she’s ensconced aboard Jack’s ship Ranger, passing as a cabin boy, and playing her ruthless part in a crew that is raining down mayhem and murder on the ships of the Caribbean.

But James Bonny is willing to pay to get his ‘property’ back. And pirate-hunter Captain Barnet is happy to take his money.

The Ranger’s a fast ship: Anne might just be able to outrun Barnet. But can she outrun the consequences of her relationship with Calico Jack?

Action-packed yet nuanced, culturally relevant and sharp as a cutlass, this new novel by the remarkable Meg Caddy brings to life one of history’s most fascinating anti-heroines.

Realm of Knights (Knights of the Realm, # 1)

By: Jennifer Anne Davis

Publication: September 10th 2019 by Reign Publishing

270 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

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--Reid has spent her whole life pretending to be a man so she can inherit her father’s estate, but when a chance encounter threatens to expose her lie, she is forced to risk everything.

In the kingdom of Marsden, women are subservient to men and land can only pass from father to son. So when Reid Ellington is born, the fifth daughter to one of the wealthiest landholders in the kingdom, it’s announced that Reid is a boy.

Eighteen years later, Reid struggles to conceal the fact she’s actually a young woman. Every day, her secret becomes harder to keep. When one of Marsden’s princes sees her sparring with a sword, she is forced to accept his offer and lead her father’s soldiers to the border. Along the way, she discovers a covert organization within the army known as the Knights of the Realm. If Reid wants to save her family from being arrested for treason and robbed of their inheritance, she will have to join the Knights and become a weapon for the crown.

To protect her family, Reid must fight like a man. To do that, she’ll need the courage of a woman.

The Stars We Steal

By: Alexa Donne

Publication: February 4th 2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

400 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, 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--Engagement season is in the air. Eighteen-year-old Princess Leonie “Leo” Kolburg, heir to a faded European spaceship, only has one thing on her mind: which lucky bachelor can save her family from financial ruin?

But when Leo’s childhood friend and first love Elliot returns as the captain of a successful whiskey ship, everything changes. Elliot was the one that got away, the boy Leo’s family deemed to be unsuitable for marriage. Now, he’s the biggest catch of the season and he seems determined to make Leo’s life miserable. But old habits die hard, and as Leo navigates the glittering balls of the Valg Season, she finds herself failing for her first love in a game of love, lies, and past regrets.

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 The Runaway Bride

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 Runaway Bride (The Bride Ships, # 2)

By: Jody Hedlund

Expected Publication: March 3rd 2020 by Bethany House Publishers

384 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

( 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--Wealthy Arabella Lawrence flees to British Columbia on a bride ship still wearing the scars of past mistakes. One of the few single women in the boomtown, she immediately has suitors, but she is determined not to find herself trapped again by a poor choice.

Vying for her hand are two very different men. Lieutenant Richard Drummond is a gentleman in the Navy and is held in high esteem. Peter Kelly is the town's baker and has worked hard to build a thriving business. He and Drummond not only compete for Arabella's affections, but clash over their views of how the natives should be treated in the midst of a smallpox outbreak.

As Arabella begins to overcome her fears, she discovers someone in dire need—a starving girl abandoned by her tribe. Intent on helping the girl, Arabella leans on Peter's advice and guidance. Will she have the wisdom to make the right decision or will seeking what's right cost both her and Peter everything?

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

Ten Books I Have Been Avoiding Reading

Top 10 Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish, but is currently hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is Top Ten Books On Your TBR That You've Been Avoiding.

1. Stormcaster (Shattered Realms, # 3) by Cinda Williams Chima - I was really excited to get to this book when I finished book 2, but when I started the first chapter, I was quickly disappointed and not sure I even will continue at this point sadly.
2. Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass, # 7) by Sarah J Maas - So Holly and I have swapped old kindle devices so that we can have access to ALL of the other's books. It's a grand system if you have someone you share reading preferences with and you have an older device that you're not using. Well our only "rule" is that we won't read books the other has until they've read them first. SO I'm patiently waiting on Holly to finish before I can pick this one up. She's at 90% though so hopefully it won't be too much longer.
3. The Passage (The Passage, # 1) by Justin Cronin - I've seen great reviews for this series, but dang these books are just so long.
4. The Glittering Court (The Glittering Court, # 1) by Richelle Mead - Richelle Mead is a favorite author of mine, but this book just wasn't doing it for me. I read about 30% before I put it down. I need to see about getting it on audio so I can move on in the series as my friend Lacy told me the other two books were better than this one.
5. The Becoming of Noah Shaw (The Shaw Confessions, # 1) by Michelle Hodkin - I loved the writing of the Mara Dyer series, but the last book kind of left me disappointed. I've wanted to read this series, but I just haven't been able to bring myself to start it. I LOVE the covers though.
6. End of Days (Penryn and the End of Days, # 3) by Susan Ee - I was loving this series, but then it kind of turned a bit too weird. I've read about 30% of this one and put it down too. I don't know. I'm not feeling a big pull to go back to it, but I would like to be finished too.
7. The Walking Dead Compendium 1 by Robert Kirkman - I love the show. I'm interested in seeing for myself all of the differences in the comics, but I guess my biggest problem is having an opportunity to read this where I don't have to worry about the kids seeing the gory pictures.
8. Cage of Darkness (Reign of Secrets, # 2) by Jennifer Anne Davis - Another one I started, but put on hold back when I was pregnant with baby # 2. I just haven't come back to it yet.
9. Ruin and Rising (The Grisha, # 3) by Leigh Bardugo - Another that I started. I read about 10% and then got bored and put it down. I need to see about the audiobook for this one too.
10. Redemption (Sempre, # 2) by JM Darhower - Again, I LOVED book 1. I was dying for book 2, but it was years between reading book 1 and purchasing book 2. And now I'm unsure about reading book 2. Maybe I need to re-read book 1 first.

Which books have you been avoiding reading? Let me know!