An Alleged Rogue - Review

An Alleged Rogue (Georgian Gentlemen, # 3)

By: Sian Ann Bessey

Publication: November 8th 2021 by Covenant Communications

332 pages

Genre: Adult, 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.

Goodreads description--Lord Adam Dunsbourne is a tyrant. At least, that’s what everyone says. The tales are shocking: accounts of a man who gambled away the family fortune and keeps his younger sister, Emily, captive in their home at Dunsbourne Manor. So when Adam and his sister make an unexpected appearance at a dinner party, the scandalized whispers cannot be contained. New to the town, Phoebe Hadford hears the condemning rumors and determines to do all she can to help the baron’s oppressed sister. Upon entering Dunsbourne Manor, however, she quickly discovers that all is not what she has been led to believe.

Adam, unsure of whether he can trust the intentions of his beautiful neighbor, is quickly drawn in by Phoebe’s genuine nature. But even as Adam and Phoebe’s connection deepens, a dangerous enemy from Adam’s past reemerges. For years, Adam has hunted for the man who betrayed him, not realizing he had only to wait. His foe has returned, and this time, he will threaten everything Adam cherishes most—including the woman he loves.

I'm just not a huge fan of mysteries, but I have found a love for historical romance. And I always feel like there's a surprising lack of the particular genre releasing that I seem to get hooked on at any one time. So I found myself branching out from historical romance to historical romance/mystery.

Whether I end up enjoying these books as much as I would like or not largely depends on whether the mystery takes over the story and is the focus or if the relationship is. I found that An Alleged Rogue was a good mix of both. I almost didn't make it past the very beginning since the villain narrates, and this tends to be a pet peeve of mine. But his narrations were usually short and the author moved on to the main characters very quickly each time. So I was able to get back into the flow without feeling too jarred.

Another pet peeve of mine is dialect. I do not like to get pulled out of the story over trying to read in a specific dialect. In this case, I suppose I am familiar enough with the dialect used that I didn't slow down because of its use. However, as a general rule, I prefer to avoid these.

Adam was easy to root for. He is working as hard as possible to save his family from financial ruin. He isn't afraid of doing manual labor. And he loves his sister quite fiercely. After being thrust into his responsibilities when his father died, he has neglected Emily's social needs basically because he was in survival mode. Emily didn't seem to mind. But now she is of the age where she needs to embark upon society if she is ever going to have a London season. So he sets about that course of action and kind of stumbles his way through.

Phoebe is all goodness. She cannot but help to assist Emily in her social needs. She befriends her as well as helps guide her through her needs for society such as learning a new dance and having some newer, more modern dresses designed for her. Phoebe's friendship with Emily opens her eyes to the unfair gossip about Adam and she begins to learn of his true character.

Of course, there is the "mystery" or I guess maybe it's not even that. Maybe it's suspense. I'm not sure. But I was on pins and needles during the height of this aspect of the story. I never doubted that the book would have a happy ending, but my goodness, this author had me feeling for Adam so much I could have cried. (I didn't.)

Even though I prefer to stick to stories that don't have this aspect of mystery/suspense to them, I find that An Alleged Rogue was a good mix for me. The relationship-building between Adam and Phoebe is still what drove the rest of the story for me. An Alleged Rogue gets 4 Stars. Have you read An Alleged Rogue? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 11/28/21

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 really can't remember much about the week before this one. I remember last Sunday we celebrated Thanksgiving with my side of the family. This was a first for my side of the family as every year is usually spent at my Nanny's house. However, her health has been steadily declining over the last year. This was the first year my mom and her siblings decided against having Thanksgiving at Nanny's. My immediately family alternates years between my side of the family and Husband's side. It was his year for Thanksgiving with his family. The kids were out of school all week. Thursday was nice. We spent the day with his family who we haven't seen nearly as much as normal since we're living with my parents and not two houses down from his mom. We celebrated a couple of birthdays too while we were all together. Friday night we went to dinner at my aunt's house. They are moving to be closer to their oldest daughter. And I have to say that I am more emotional over them moving than I was over my parents leaving the house my Dad built when I was 6 years old. Saturday we did travel to visit with Nanny. Traveling with three kids 6 years old and under is so stressful. Every time I think that we need to travel more frequently so that they get used to it, and at the same time, I think I never want to travel again because of how stressful it can be.

THE PAST TWO WEEKS:

Monday 11/15: Review of The Dating Playbook (The Boyfrield Project, # 2) by Farrah Rochon (4 Stars)
Wednesday 11/17:Can't Wait for When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord
Monday 11/22: Review of A Warrior's Heart (Brides of Laurent, # 1) by Misty M Beller (3 Stars)
Wednesday 11/24: Can't Wait for Meet Me in the Middle by Alex Light

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of An Alleged Rogue (Georgian Gentlemen, # 3) by Sian Ann Bessey
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2021 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2021 to sign up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

NEW BOOKS:

No new books this week.

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!

2021 Series Enders Reading Challenge - November Wrap Up

Time for our Monthly Wrap Up for the 2021 Series Enders Reading Challenge hosted by Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know and Holly @ Words Fueled by Love!

Neither Holly nor Sandy have finished any series enders this month.

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

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Jessica wins by default.

Can't Wait for Meet Me in the Middle

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.

Meet Me in the Middle

By: Alex Light

Expected Publication: July 12th 2022 by Harperteen

384 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--A romance interrupted by tragedy sets two people on different paths in Wattpad superstar Alex Light’s latest YA romance.

Eden had her best friend Katie—she didn’t need anyone else. But then there was Truman.

Katie’s older brother, the artist. The recluse. The boy with the innocent smile and the dangerous eyes.

Eden had never really known Truman—not until the night of Katie’s accident. That was the night they’d finally let each other into their orbits—only to have the sky come crashing down on them.

With Katie in the hospital and Truman fleeing from his grief without a word, Eden is left alone to grapple with her own pain. But when Truman returns to the city, can Eden let him back into her life knowing that their first kiss is what tore their world apart?

Wattpad superstar Alex Light is back with another poignant romance perfect for fans of Jennifer Dugan and Laura Taylor Namey.

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

A Warrior's Heart - Review

A Warrior's Heart (Brides of Laurent, # 1)

By: Misty M Beller

Publication: August 31st 2021 by Bethany House Publishers

320 pages

Genre: Adult, 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--Brielle Durand is a key defender and hunter for her people's peace-loving French settlement in the Canadian mountains. When a foreigner wanders too near to their secret homes, she has no choice but to disarm and capture him. She won't allow another massacre like the one that killed her mother a dozen years before. But now, what to do with this man who looks at her in a strange way?

Evan MacManus was on assignment to find among the caves the mineral pitchblende that might help America win the War of 1812. Despite being taken prisoner, Evan is determined to complete his mission. But when that assignment becomes at odds with his growing appreciation of the villagers and Brielle, does he follow through on the promise he's made to his government or take a risk on the path his heart tells him is right? Either choice will spell death for someone.

I read Misty M Beller's Hearts of Montana series and really enjoyed it. So I decided to read her next release which is the start of a new series. A Warrior's Heart is book 1 of the Brides of Laurent series. And I was a little disappointed.

The characters were fine. Brielle is the head of the guard of this secret village in the mountains. She's worked hard to achieve this position. And it seems that for the most part, her job has actually involved hunting for the tribe. She finds a man getting much too close to the village entrance and shoots him with a sleep potion tipped arrow. Evan is brought into the village and guarded in a storage room until the Brielle can find out what he is doing in the area and if the council deems him safe enough to release. Of course, the two spend time together and eventually open up to each other. In the process of getting to know each other, both find qualities about the other they admire and begin to develop feelings.

Now the romance is always what drives a story in my opinion. And I enjoyed Brielle and Evan's journey. The side characters were interesting and mostly likable when they were supposed to be and despicable when those were supposed to be. But I guess where I struggled most was the whole secret village piece. I've previously read a story with a family that was sequestered high on a mountain alone for a long period of time until they were stumbled upon, and I struggled with that too. I guess for me it's kind of like mermaid stories. I like the sound of the concept, but the execution has fallen flat for me both times. Maybe, I find it a little too unbelievable. That doesn't even feel like the right word. But something I can't put my finger on doesn't appeal to me.

I imagine Audrey will be the next character in the series to take center stage because she was the next most present female character in this book. I liked Audrey. She was sweet and all things good. But I also feel like my overall enjoyment of the concept of the hidden village might prevent me from enjoying her story as much as I would like. So that leaves me wondering if I will attempt to read more of this series when the time comes or not. I'm unsure at this point.

A Warrior's Heart gets 3 Stars from me. I liked Brielle and her strong female character. And I enjoyed the build between her and Evan. But I wasn't blown away by many of the side characters. And the secret village part of the concept left me wanting...but not in a good way. I'm unsure whether I will continue the series at this point. Have you read A Warrior's Heart? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for When You Get the Chance

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.

When You Get the Chance

By: Emma Lord

Expected Publication: January 4th 2022 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--Nothing will get in the way of Millie Price’s dream to become a Broadway star. Not her lovable but super-introverted dad, who after raising Millie alone, doesn’t want to watch her leave home to pursue her dream. Not her pesky and ongoing drama club rival, Oliver, who is the very definition of Simmering Romantic Tension. And not the “Millie Moods,” the feelings of intense emotion that threaten to overwhelm, always at maddeningly inconvenient times. Millie needs an ally. And when a left-open browser brings Millie to her dad’s embarrassingly moody LiveJournal from 2003, Millie knows just what to do. She’s going to find her mom.

There’s Steph, a still-aspiring stage actress and receptionist at a talent agency. There’s Farrah, ethereal dance teacher who clearly doesn’t have the two left feet Millie has. And Beth, the chipper and sweet stage enthusiast with an equally exuberant fifteen-year-old daughter (A possible sister?! This is getting out of hand). But how can you find a new part of your life and expect it to fit into your old one, without leaving any marks? And why is it that when you go looking for the past, it somehow keeps bringing you back to what you’ve had all along?

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

The Dating Playbook - Review

The Dating Playbook (The Boyfriend Project, # 2)

By: Farrah Rochon

Narrated By: Rebecca Lee

Publication: August 17th 2021 by Forever

368 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Sports

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 a personal trainer agrees to fake date her client, all rules are out the window in this delightful romantic comedy from the USA Today bestselling author of The Boyfriend Project!

When it comes to personal training, Taylor Powell kicks serious butt. Unfortunately, her bills are piling up, rent is due, and the money situation is dire. Taylor needs more than the support of her new best friends, Samiah and London. She needs a miracle.

And Jamar Dixon might just be it. The oh-so-fine former footballer wants back into the NFL, and he wants Taylor to train him. There's just one catch -- no one can know what they're doing. But when they're accidentally outed as a couple, Taylor's game plan is turned completely upside down. Is Jamar just playing to win . . . or is he playing for keeps?

I have already discussed this season of life that has me in the car for so long each day. And what better way to pass the time than an audiobook. So I checked out the ones available on NetGalley and requested The Dating Playbook. I ran into a problem though. Shortly after I got this audiobook, my son started wanting to ride with me to pick up Little Girl from school. So instead of having 30 minutes one way and 45 minutes another trip on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and 45 minutes on Tuesday and Thursday, I was losing that 45-minute trip every day. And thus my listening opportunity severely dwindled again. And one thing I've noticed over the years is that the length of time it takes me to finish a book does influence my overall opinion and enjoyment.

That being said, I was enjoying The Dating Playbook okay. Taylor is in a bind financially. She made some bad business decisions and racked up a good bit of debt that she needs to pay off. She's got ideas on how to take her business to the next level, but she's stuck in the daily grind to just make ends meet. Jamar requests her to take him on as a client with her being his personal trainer. She is really skeptical at first, but eventually, she agrees. The description says that the two are accidentally outed as a couple. Well, that's not exactly how things happened. To avoid spilling the beans that Jamar is training again in hopes of returning to the NFL, Taylor redirects the reporter with the story that the two are dating. And then they begin the fake dating trope.

I don't mind fake dating books. Even though I usually know exactly what's going to happen, I still enjoy going on the journey. And things were bee-bopping along just fine with Taylor and Jamar. And then Jamar makes a little trip home to visit his parents and I actually laughed out loud listening to this book. Twice. This bit of humor took my enjoyment level up from 3.5 to 4 Stars. Although, I do have to say that if I prefer my books less descriptive, I doubly feel that way about audiobooks. I do NOT enjoy descriptive scenes narrated out loud. Gives me a severe case of uncomfortableness. Anyway, The Dating Playbook gets 4 Stars. Have you read (or listened to) The Dating Playbook? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 11/14/2021

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.

Little Girl began running fever off and on last Friday afternoon. By the time Monday rolled around she had to stay home from school and I was able to get her in to see the doctor. She got an antibiotic and prescription cough medicine. Doctor said she could return to school on Wednesday. When I picked Little Boy up from school Wednesday he was running a fever. And thus he has followed her exact symptom pattern. Both kids were home from school Thursday due to Veteran's Day. (Thank you to all the veterans out there.) And Little Boy had to stay home Friday because he did run fever Thursday night as well. Our house project is still on-going and has generally been a nightmare. We have learned a lot of lessons about what not to do. We originally planned to live at our house while the project was going on, but in June decided to move into my parent's house so that Husband could work at his new job (fully remote) without interruption and background noise. As well as a ton of construction dust in the air. Well the bedrooms that we left furnished with our possessions are covered in concrete dust. So we have been load by load bringing possessions to my parent's house for me to clean and then hauling them off to storage until our project is complete. It has been time consuming, disheartening, exhausting, and many other things. But I am in some ways thankful for the forced excuse to handle all of our possessions and declutter as much as I possibly can. I have donated more clothes than I've decided to keep. And hopefully we will have quite a toy purge which is timely with Christmas around the corner. Friday, my mom went back to Nanny's for the weekend. I briefly got to visit with my nephew also on Friday. He lives out of town and I might see him two or three times a year now. He's all grown up too. Friday afternoon on the way home from school, Little Girl threw up in the car. She gets car sick, and she didn't tell me it was coming on because she didn't want to be "forced" to take a ginger tablet. Bless her. Between her cough medicine and her antibiotic, neither tastes good and so getting her to take medicine hasn't been exactly easy with this sickness.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Never Fall for Your Fiancee (The Merriwell Sisters, # 1) by Virginia Heath (4 Stars)
Wednesday 10/27:Can't Wait for Always Jane by Jenn Bennett

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of The Dating Playbook (The Boyfriend Project, # 2) by Farrah Rochon
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2021 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2021 to sign up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

NEW BOOKS:

No new books this week.

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 Always 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.

Always Jane

By: Jenn Bennett

Expected Publication: March 29th 2022 by Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers

384 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--A chauffer’s daughter finds herself in the middle of a love triangle with the sons of her boss’s wealthy next-door neighbors in this delightfully romantic story from the author of Alex, Approximately, Jenn Bennett.

Love—and Fen Sarafian—do not care about your summer plans.

Eighteen-year-old chauffeur’s daughter Jane Marlow grew up among the domestic staff of a wealthy LA rock producer, within reach of bands she idolizes, but never a VIP. Every summer, Jane and her father head to the Sierras to work at the producer’s luxury lodge at Lake Condor—a resort town and the site of a major musical festival.

The legendary family who runs the festival are the Sarafians, and Jane’s had a longtime crush on their oldest son, Eddie—doltish but sweet. So when a long-distance romance finally sparks between them, she doesn’t hesitate to cross class lines.

But Jane’s feelings about Eddie are thrown into question after she returns to the lake and reconnects with his alluringly intense brother, the dark horse of her placid summer plans. A fellow lover of music—and hater of the game—Fen Sarafian has been ousted from the family and is slumming it at a vinyl record shop. He burns for Jane like a house on fire and will do anything to sabotage his older brother, even if it means taking a wrecking ball to a multi-million-dollar music festival. Or Jane’s heart.

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

Never Fall for Your Fiancee - Review

Never Fall for Your Finacee (The Merriwell Sisters, #1)

By: Virginia Heath

Expected Publication: November 9th 2021 by St. Martin's Griffin

368 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Regency

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

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

Goodreads description--The first in a new historical rom-com series, a handsome earl hires a fake fiancée to keep his matchmaking mother at bay, but hilarity ensues when love threatens to complicate everything.

The last thing Hugh Standish, Earl of Fareham, ever wants is a wife. Unfortunately for him, his mother is determined to find him one, even from across the other side of the ocean. So, Hugh invents a fake fiancée to keep his mother’s matchmaking ways at bay. But when Hugh learns his interfering mother is on a ship bound for England, he realizes his complicated, convoluted but convenient ruse is about to implode. Until he collides with a beautiful woman, who might just be the miracle he needs.

Minerva Merriwell has had to struggle to support herself and her two younger sisters ever since their feckless father abandoned them. Work as a woodcut engraver is few and far between, and the Merriwell sisters are nearly penniless. So, when Hugh asks Minerva to pose as his fiancée while his mother is visiting, she knows that while the scheme sounds ludicrous, the offer is too good to pass up.

Once Minerva and her sisters arrive at Hugh's estate, of course, nothing goes according to his meticulous plan. As hilarity and miscommunication ensue, while everyone tries to keep their tangled stories straight, Hugh and Minerva’s fake engagement starts to turn into a real romance. But can they trust each other, when their relationship started with a lie?

Never Fall for Your Fiancee is one of those books that could never really happen in real life. The story is so outlandish to be believable. But it was delightful just the same. Hugh has been lying to his mother for years about being engaged to a fictitious woman named Minerva. His stories have been a means of deflecting her matchmaking intentions. But since she lives in America, she has no way of verifying his accounts of his engagement and fiancee.

Hugh's mother knows him well and she's long since believed Minerva to be an invention of Hugh's imagination. So she determines to come back for a visit. In the meantime, Hugh randomly meets a woman named Minerva and offers to pay her to pretend to be his fiancee. Minerva wanted to say no to his request but he offered her such a large amount of money that it would change her and her sister's life for years to come.

Minerva and Hugh have an instant connection and attraction. But neither can act upon their interest. Hugh is so far above her station, but most of all, Hugh has been open with her about his disinterest in marriage as well as his flaws as he sees them. Hugh's father and grandfather were both disloyal husbands and his attention has never stayed on one woman either. So he believes himself to be incapable of being a good and loyal husband.

Hugh and Minerva both have quick wits, and I loved the banter between them. I can only imagine how much fun it is going to be to read Diana and Giles's story which I assume will come next. Their banter and hate to love potential romance is something I anticipate.

Never Fall for Your Fiancee was a light and fun read. I finished it quickly and didn't want to put it down which is always a good thing if you ask me. I loved the characters...all of them...and I can't wait to read the other sisters' stories as well. I was surprised by the direction this book took in the physical sense. I guess the series will be more historical romance than I usually read, but it wasn't overly much. Never Fall for Your Fiancee easily gets 4 Stars. Have you read Never Fall for Your Fiancee? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 11/7/21

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 forgot to prep and post a Sunday Post for last week, so this is covering two weeks. The kids got to dress in their Halloween costumes the Friday before Halloween. Little Girl was a fairy, rainbow skeleton. Little Boy was a ninja. Mostly the week focused on Little Boy's birthday on Saturday. Saturday morning, he and I had a 1 on 1 date. We're trying to do those monthly. So I took him to Launch (a local trampoline park). Then we went to McDonald's for Happy Meals and milkshakes. I tried to talk him into something nicer, but he was insistent. And then we walked through the Target toy section to look at nerf guns which he is now obsessed with. Daddy took the big kids to the park but it was too cold for them to play much, and we ordered takeout for dinner (he wanted shrimp and I'm not a fan of cooking that). Sunday was normal church and then we did trick or treating that night. We actually went to fewer houses and streets than we normally do and got more candy. They really racked up. It's been cold this week, but I'm enjoying the temps. Not much to report. I had my annual physical on Thursday and my lab results show all of my numbers to be in the normal range. I thank God for this. Things are trucking on. And although I never decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving, I have started listening to Christmas music. Also, today is my nephew's birthday. He doesn't read my blog, but a happy 19th birthday to him anyway.

THE PAST TWO WEEKS:

Monday 10/25: All Things Halloween Review of Bewitched (Betwixt & Between, # 2) by Darynda Jones (4 Stars) & 2021 Series Enders Reading Challenge - October Wrap Up
Wednesday 10/27:Can't Wait for House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City, # 2) by Sarah J Maas
Friday 10/29: All Things Halloween Review of Bequiled (Betwixt & Between, # 3) by Darynda Jones (4 Stars)
Monday 11/1: Review of Beyond the Point by Claire Gibson (3.5 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Never Fall for Your Fiancee (The Merriwell Sisters, # 1) by Virginia Heath
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

My annual "All Things Halloween" event is starting. This is my month-long event where I feature reviews from Halloween-y genres (fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, sci-fi, horror, mystery, thriller, and suspense). Over the last few years I've had mostly fantasy books as I just haven't been in the mood for much horror, but still...these are books that can get you in the mood for Halloween.

Don’t forget to link up for the 2021 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2021 to sign up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

NEW BOOKS:

The Chaperon (Sisters of Woodside Mysteries, # 2)

By: Mary Kingswood

Expected Publication: September 6th 2018 by Sutors Publishing

365 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Romance, Mystery

Source: Personal Audiobook 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--A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom.

Poor and widowed, Lucy finds a post as chaperon to two young ladies while their mother is awaiting the birth of her child. It sounds like easy work, well suited to her sociable nature, but the sisters squabble over their suitors, and there are tensions below the surface of the seemingly happy family. Then there is the charming Mr Audley, who is more interested in flirting with Lucy than in discovering where his sisters have disappeared to. And as for Lucy’s uncle, who lives nearby, she’s quite convinced he is hiding something. Curiosity is Lucy’s abiding sin, and one day it will get her into trouble.

Mr Leo Audley is rich, handsome and very successful with the ladies - until he meets widow Lucy Price, who isn’t the least bit susceptible to his flirtatious charm. His pride is piqued - surely he can find a way to seduce her? But Lucy challenges everything about him, and he finds himself unexpectedly falling for her. He’s never been in love before, but can he convince her that he’s more than a heartless rake? And when she draws him into her investigations of the mysteries surrounding his family and hers, they find themselves in deeper trouble than they could have imagined, and facing the possibility that someone in the family is a murderer.

Book 2 of the 5-book Sisters of Woodside Mysteries series, each a complete story with a HEA, but read all of them to find out all the secrets of the Winterton family!

Dating Dr. Dil

By: Nisha Sharma

Expected Publication: February 22nd 2022 by Avon

352 pages

Genre: 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--Nisha Sharma’s hilarious new romantic comedy inspired by Taming of the Shrew features a love-phobic TV doctor who must convince a love-obsessed homebody they are destined to be together.

Kareena Mann dreams of having a love story like her parents, but she prefers restoring her classic car to swiping right on dating apps. When her father announces he’s selling her mother’s home, Kareena makes a deal with him: he’ll gift her the house if she can get engaged in four months. Her search for her soulmate becomes impossible when her argument with Dr. Prem Verma, host of The Dr. Dil Show, goes viral. Now the only man in her life is the one she doesn’t want.

Dr. Prem Verma is dedicated to building a local community health center, but he needs to get donors with deep pockets. The Dr. Dil Show was doing just that, until his argument with Kareena went viral, and he’s left short changed. That’s when Kareena’s meddling aunties presented him with a solution: convince Kareena he’s her soulmate and they’ll fund his clinic.

Even though they have conflicting views on love-matches and arranged-matches, the more time Prem spends with Kareena, the more he begins to believe she’s the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with. But for Prem and Kareena to find their happily ever after, they must admit that hate has turned into fate.

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!

Beyond the Point - Review

Beyond the Point

By: Claire Gibson

Publication: April 2nd 2019 by William Morrow Paperbacks

528 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

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Goodreads description--In this powerful debut novel set at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, three women—a nationally-ranked point guard, the granddaughter of an Army general, and a rebellious Homecoming Queen—are brought together in an enthralling story of friendship, heartbreak, and resilience.

Duty. Honor. Country. That’s West Point’s motto, and every cadet who passes through its stone gates vows to live it. But on the eve of 9/11, as Dani, Hannah and Avery face four grueling years ahead, they realize they’ll only survive if they do it together.

Everyone knows Dani is going places. With athletic talent and a brilliant mind, she navigates West Point’s predominantly male environment with wit and confidence, breaking stereotypes and embracing new friends.

Hannah’s grandfather, a legendary Army general, offers a stark warning about the dangers that lie ahead, but she moves forward anyway, letting faith guide her path. When she meets her soul mate at West Point, the future looks perfect, just as planned.

Wild child Avery moves fast and doesn’t mind breaking a few rules (and hearts) along the way. But she can’t outpace her self-doubt, and the harder she tries, the further it leads her down a treacherous path.

The world—of business, of love, and of war—awaits Dani, Hannah, and Avery beyond the gates of West Point. These three women know that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. But soon, that adage no longer rings true—for their future, or their friendship. As they’re pulled in different directions, will their hard-forged bond prevail or shatter?

Beyond the Point is a heartfelt look at how our closest friends can become our fiercest battle buddies. After all, the greatest battles we fight rarely require a uniform.

I don't usually read "friendship" stories. There's nothing wrong with them. I just prefer romantic relationships. But I was hoping that Beyond the Point might have three romances. Regardless, I ended up putting off reading this book for years because I knew it wasn't something I would normally pick. When I saw this available in the audiobook format from the e-library, I decided to check it out.

I listened to about 60% of Beyond the Point from the audio version and then transferred to the egalley I got a few years ago to finish up. I liked that each girl's POV has a different narrator for the audiobook.

Each of the girls is so different from each other. Dani is the heart and the glue that keeps this trio together. She was the most talented basketball player and one of the side characters describes her as being the smartest. Hannah is religious. She's steady and serious. Sweet. And then Avery is the wild child. She's always chasing boys (or being chased by boys) and trying to get away with breaking as many rules as possible. In some ways, it was hard to see how these girls fit, but proximity and shared experiences really bond people together.

A large portion of the story took place during the girls' time at West Point, but most of the story took place after--which makes sense considering the title. I'd like to talk about what happened after, but I worry I'd spoil too much. I will say that each girl goes through some major life events. And ultimately war and death put it all into perspective.

I was feeling like Beyond the Point was just "okay" until the end. Of course, I still prefer romance stories, but the ending pushed my overall enjoyment of the story up a notch.

Favorite quotes:

-What was it going to take for someone to finally see her for who she really was? And like what they saw?

-Faith isn’t really faith until it’s beat up and put through a fire. When you’re crushed, you feel like you’re dying. But you’re actually coming to life. When you’re broken, that’s when the best of you comes out.”

-“Hindsight is an unfair standard to use against yourself,” Dani replied.

-“I don’t feel like I deserve to feel upset about my life,” Avery admitted. “I should be fine.”“You should be what you are,” said Dani.

-When you allowed yourself to enter someone else’s trauma, there were so many benefits: a righted perspective, a deeper sense of friendship, a holy devotion to the sacredness of now.

-None of this makes sense. But the story isn’t over.”

-I wanted perfection. But it turns out, here on earth, we don’t get perfection; we get people.”“And people suck.”“And even the ones that don’t suck let us down,”

-The point of life isn’t to quench our thirst, it’s to realize we’re thirsty for something that we can’t find here.”

-pain comes for you, body and soul, whether you’re ready or not...

Beyond the Point is not my normal reading preference. But it was still an enjoyable story about three girls who meet in college, shouldn't have anything in common, but form life-long bonds that can survive through life, love, war, and loss. Beyond the Point gets 3.5 Stars from me. Have you read Beyond the Point? What did you think? Let me know!