Meet Me in the Margins - Review

Meet Me in the Margins

By: Melissa Ferguson

Publication: February 15th 2022 by Thomas Nelson

320 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--Savannah Cade is a low-level editor at Pennington Publishing, a prestigious publisher producing only the highest of highbrow titles. And while editing the latest edition of The Anthology of Medieval Didactic Poetry may be her day job, she has two secrets she’s hiding.

One: She’s writing a romance novel.

Two: She’s discovered the Book Nook—a secret room in the publishing house where she finds inspiration for her “lowbrow” hobby.

After leaving her manuscript behind one afternoon, she returns to the nook only to discover someone has written notes in the margins. Savannah’s first response to the criticism is defensive, but events transpire that force her to admit that she needs the help of this shadowy editor after all. As the notes take a turn for the romantic, and as Savannah’s madcap life gets more complicated than ever, she uses the process of elimination to identify her mysterious editor—only to discover that what she truly wants and what she should want just might not be the same. Melissa Ferguson’s latest—a love letter to books, readers, and romance—will leave fans laughing out loud and swooning in the same breath.

I pretty much devoured Meet Me in the Margins. I seem to have a love for mysterious/anonymous correspondence love stories. Perhaps it's because my husband and I fell in love through correspondence even though we both knew each other in real life and knew exactly who we were talking to. But I just have a soft spot where these love stories come from. And Meet Me in the Margins handled all of the pieces so well.

Savannah has been working as an editor at a small publishing house in Nashville, Tennessee. She's also been secretly working on her own novel for years. Only the publisher she works for looks down on commercial fiction--specifically romance. Savannah feels like she barely has it together. Her long-time on-again-off-again boyfriend is now engaged to her sister. And she's living with the same sister. Her family prioritizes sticking together and helping each other out no matter what. Only Savannah seems to be the one who always has to sacrifice for the good of other members of the family and not the other way around. She dumps her manuscript in a hidden room at the publishing company in an attempt to hide it one day, but when she returns to it someone has written notes in the margins--essentially editing her novel. At first, she's incensed, but she comes to realize the editor has some good points.

Will left his position in New York as an editor for one of the bigger publishing houses. He hopes to save the drowning smaller publishing company that his mother founded. Only, the going isn't easy. He has his hands full trying to make the changes the company really needs to survive. And Savannah just happens to give him some candid information. He learns to trust her opinion and judgment. Now we're left to hope and wonder if Will is the mystery editor or not. Of course, I won't ruin things for you by telling you the answer.

I absolutely loved the insight into the author/editor relationship. I think almost all readers are fascinated by the process. We don't get to see the entire publishing process. We only see the end result. And I found every piece of this interesting.

My only real critique is that so much of the book was dedicated to the romantic build-up and big reveal that I didn't feel like I got to enjoy the payoff as much as I wanted.

Favorite quotes:

-Maybe the best thing to do now would be to play dead.

-Free books. Free prerelease books. Only a true reader would understand.

-The man took my ardently felt monologue, gave it a polite pat on the head, and told it to go and play while the adults stayed on task.

-Writing is what makes me happy. Writing, even, is how I feel I contribute to the world. Reminding people of what's important. Letting them escape the harsh parts of life, even if just for a few hours. Feeling happiness in watching happily-ever-afters unfold. Remembering truths. Recalling their self-worth. Loving others. Living well. Learning. I want to do that.

Meet Me in the Margins wasn't just a great love story. Meet Me in the Margins was a love story to readers, to authors, to publishers, to the love of books and stories, to the writing and crafting of them. I only wish I had more time to dwell on the happily-ever-after before it was over. But being left wanting in this way is a good thing. I stayed up until midnight reading this book, and I also neglected working on Baby Boy's birthday party in favor of finishing this book. That ought to tell you something. Meet Me in the Margins gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read Meet Me in the Margins? What did you think? Let me know.

Sunday Post - 02/27/22

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 crazy week. Husband was off work for President's Day, but the kids had to go to school. He spent the day working at the house. I ran by after putting Baby Boy down for morning nap and worked on painting until time to get Little Boy from school. I ran to do grocery pickup on the way back from getting Little Girl from school. Tuesday, Little Boy's coach messaged that the ball field was too muddy to practice so his practice was cancelled. Little Girl's coach didn't feel the same way, so her practice was still on. That meant we went to hang with Grammy after school and ate dinner with her. Then we went to the ball field for Little Girl to practice. We rushed home to take baths and go straight to bed. Wednesday, I also ran by the house after putting Baby Boy down for nap until I needed to get Little Boy from school. This time I worked on taping the trim off in the master bedroom so it could be painted. The roofer came by to fix some issues, but he only fixed on issue and didn't address some other areas that need attention. Thursday, Husband took his laptop to our house to work because we had the HVAC people coming and the tile guy as well. That afternoon, Mom, Little Boy, Baby Boy, and I went to my dad's retirement party at work. I rushed back from there to drop mom and Baby Boy back off at their house, and then ran Little Boy to his ball practice. His practice ran long so I was late dropping him off with Grammy and picking Little Girl up to take her to her ball practice. Then her practice ran long and I had to go back to get Little Boy from Grammy's. And my gas light came on so I had to stop and get gas on the way back to my mom's. Got home about 45 minutes past normal bedtime and Little Girl still needed to take a bath. (Little Boy took one at Grammy's thankfully.) Husband did all of the school runs for me on Friday and it was so nice not to have to by on the road rushing from here to there constantly. I got to spend some quality one on one time with Baby Boy. Bless him, I feel like I'm leaving him all of the time, but I know that as soon as we get back in our house I'll be able to spend more time with him. So I'm trying to do what I can now to get us home sooner. The front porch and kitchen backsplash tile was installed on Friday. It still needs to be grouted. Saturday, Little Girl had a softball camp put on by the high school softball team as a fundraiser. She was a little nervous about that, but I am so proud of her for stepping out of her comfort zone. My dad, brother, sister-in-law, and sister-in-law's parents came on Saturday to help us out at the house. They did so much work that would have taken us weeks to do. We still have so much to get done, but my dad's last day of work is Monday only for an hour, and he plans to work full-time at our house until we can move back home. I'm so thankful for him and the expertise he has. And I'm thankful for our family that came Saturday. It was such a big help. Even though they weren't doing the physical labor of house work, Grammy and Grandma (my mom) split childcare duty to allow us to both work.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma (4 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for The Valet's Secret by Josi S Kilpack
Friday: 2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge - February Wrap Up

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson
Tuesday: February 2022 EOM Wrap Up & 11th Blog Anniversary Month Begins
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2022 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:

Bargaining for the Barrister

By: Anneka R. Walker

Expected Publication: March 7th 2022 by Covenant Communications

240 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical 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--Louisa Cox is tired of fortune hunters pursuing her dowry. So when Lady Kellen offers to help her find an eligible suitor, Louisa eagerly accepts and makes a list of what she wants in a husband. The man selected is barrister Paul Sheldon. He may be a complete stranger, but he has one thing in his favor: he is unaware of her fortune. What Louisa did not anticipate was his curious behavior—or being so attracted to him. When Paul catches wind of the matchmaking organization his mother and her friends are establishing, he pities the fellow who will be caught in their scheme—until he realizes he is to be their first victim. Horrified, Paul determines to thwart his mother’s plans by whatever means necessary. After meeting his intended, however, his increasing desire to be near her threatens to disrupt his convictions. Louisa is everything he could want in a wife, and when an unexpected adventure sets in motion the very plan he had determined to halt, he almost wishes his mother’s plot could succeed. But Paul harbors a secret and a past that make it impossible for him to give Louisa the life she deserves.

May His Face Shine Upon You: 90 Biblical Blessings for Mother and Child

By: Susie Larson

Expected Publication: March 29th 2022 by Bethany House Publishers

192 pages

Genre: Non-fiction, Devotional, Christian

( 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 this beautifully designed collection of 90 blessings--for both mother and child--Susie Larson provides hope-filled biblical declarations so both of you can receive strength and nourishment for your souls. Speak life into your children, sowing God's Word into their hearts as you too are rooted in the promises of God.

Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World: How One Family Learned That Saying No Can Lead to Life's Biggest Yes

By: Kristen Welch

Expected Publication: January 26th 2016 by Tyndale Momentum

272 pages

Genre: Non-fiction, Self-Help, Christian

( 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--"But everyone else has it." "If you loved me, you'd get it for me!" When you hear these comments from your kids, it can be tough not to cave. You love your children--don't you want them to be happy and to fit in?

Kristen Welch knows firsthand it's not that easy. In fact, she's found out that when you say yes too often, it's not only hard on your peace of mind and your wallet--it actually puts your kids at long-term risk. In Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World, Kristen shares the ups and downs in her own family's journey of discovering why it's healthiest not to give their kids everything. Teaching them the difference between "want" and "need" is the first step in the right direction. With many practical tips and anecdotes, she shares how to say the ultimate yes as a family by bringing up faith-filled kids who will love God, serve others, and grow into hardworking, fulfilled, and successful adults.

It's never too late to raise grateful kids. Get ready to cultivate a spirit of genuine appreciation and create a Jesus-centered home in which your kids don't just say--but mean!--"thank you" for everything they have.

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!

2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge - February Wrap Up

Time for our Monthly Wrap Up for the 2022 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 Febrary giveaway runs from February 25th - March 25th. On March 25th 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

Can't Wait for The Valet's Secret

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 Valet's Secret

By: Josi S Kilpack

Expected Publication: March 8th 2022 by Shadow Mountain

288 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical 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-- A passionate kiss from a handsome valet becomes a Regency Cinderella story when he is revealed to be an earl.

York, England, 1819.

As a once happily married woman, Rebecca Parker lived a charmed life, but now widowed and working for a living, she feels alone and living a mundane existence. That is until the day a valet speeding by on a horse nearly runs her off the road. Mr. Malcolm Henry is apologetic, gentle, and very handsome. She’s instantly drawn to him, which is why, rather than stopping him from kissing her, she finds herself kissing him back, reigniting a nearly forgotten passion in her. But love at first sight only happens in fairy tales—never to an ordinary woman like her.

Still, she cannot stop thinking about Mr. Henry and the kiss they shared. The more time she spends with the earl’s valet, the more she knows she cannot in good conscience allow Mr. Timoltson to continue to court her, even though a marriage to him would provide her financial security and independence from her overbearing father’s control. The heart wants what it wants, and her heart wants Mr. Henry.

But while working in the kitchens during a fancy dinner party, she sees something strange: the valet—the valet she kissed—is sitting at the right hand of the baroness. She realizes that Mr. Henry is not the earl’s valet; he is the earl—Kenneth Winterton.

Heartbroken, angry, and betrayed, Rebecca isn’t sure she can trust Lord Winterton, much less accept his apology. But when Lord Winterton proves he is as kind and gentle as “Mr. Henry” was, she finds herself willing to give him a second chance. But will he still take a chance on her, when choosing a commoner means he might lose his inheritance?

Trust, love, loneliness, and passion collide in this story about a man who will risk it all to fight for the woman he loves and a woman who no longer believes in fairy tales—until she finds herself living in one.

I actually have a copy of this one already, but I still wanted to feature it. What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Dating Dr. Dil - Review

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.

I have kind of been on a contemporary Indian kick since Spring of 2020. I have found the culture fascinating to read about. As with any book, though, you don't know the content until you've read it. I can say upfront that Dating Dr. Dil had more descriptive scenes than I prefer. The word "smut" came to mind a few times. And it's kind of a shame in my mind because the rest of the story was worthy enough to stand on its own without the "extra." But I know there are many readers who really enjoy the exact thing I'm complaining about.

Kareena put her dating life on hold to accomplish her career goals and now she's turning thirty and feeling lonely. It doesn't help that her younger sister is getting married and her father and grandmother have started to get pushy. Kareena's father drops the bomb that he's planning to retire and sell their house, the one that Kareena's mother designed and Kareena loves. She wants to buy it from him, but she doesn't have the money. He would give her the money for a downpayment on a house if she were engaged though.

Prem is a practicing doctor that also hosts a television show on a South Asian TV network geared towards bringing awareness to issues specific to the South Asian community. He ultimately wants to open a community health center, but he needs funding from investors to make it happen. After he and Kareena go viral having an argument over whether or not love exists or is an illusion, one of his investors backs out. Prem needs to prove his family-oriented attitude to this investor. So he comes up with the idea for these two to fake get engaged to both get the financial backing they need.

I liked that Kareena and Prem didn't actually fake date. They contemplated it. And they spent some time getting to know one another while Prem tried to convince Kareena to try his plan. Kareena is intent on marrying for love and since Prem can't give her what she's looking for, she can't bring herself to give up on the idea. So she's still trying to find the right match for herself.

I really liked these two and the journeys that each needed to go on in order to come together. I also liked the side characters. I'm torn on continuing the series. Because on the one hand, I liked the side characters enough to want to see each get a chance at a happily ever after, but I also don't really want more smut which I imagine will be included in future books.

The only highlighting I really did was over errors in the galley version I read. Pronoun shifts, the wrong name mentioned once or twice, the wrong word, etc. I'm sure these things will be corrected in the final copy.

I liked Dating Dr. Dil. It hit the spot when I was interested in a book that I hoped I would finish quickly. My contemporary Indian craving was satisfied for a while. And I am both looking forward to and dreading future books in the series. Dating Dr. Dil gets 4 Stars. Have you read Dating Dr. Dil? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 02/20/22

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Monday and Tuesday were rough. There was a wreck on the interstate on my way to get Little Boy from school, and I needed to detour. When it was time to leave to get Little Girl from school I got a message from tball coach that practice was starting this week. I kind of freaked out about that. I contacted a few more contractors about getting an estimate for what's left of our home renovation after we fired our original contractors. I also realized that I scheduled my grocery pick up order for the wrong time and had to scramble to go get that. I was so in my head that I passed the gas station and had to turn around and go back. I also forgot that I was supposed to go by the house and pick up Little Girl's asthma breathing treatment medication that had been delivered earlier that day. I scheduled some contractors to come look at the house on Tuesday. I wasn't thinking about the fact that Husband would have my car with the car seats because he does school drop off, and then because he met with a contractor at the house he was late getting back and I needed to leave to take Little Boy to get his hair cut. Thankfully, his stylist didn't have an appointment scheduled immediately after him so we were able to just be late. We went and got the oil changed in my car after that. Husband met with two other contractors at the house Tuesday afternoon. Out of all three of those, only one contractor is licenced and willing to give us a quote. One wasn't licensed, and one was too busy to take on a project the size of ours. My parents also went to my grandmother's house to work on some things that need to be done there in order to sell it Tuesday morning and returned Thursday. Wednesday night we took the kids to get ball equipment and went out to eat. Thursday, I took the kids to Grammy's after school to hang out until time for Little Boy's tball practice. That went well. We were late getting back and had to scramble with dinner and baths before bed. Saturday, Husband, my dad, and I went to the house to work. I worked on painting the master bedroom while the guys worked on the kitchen cabinets. My mom brought the kids over to me and went back with Baby Boy while I took Little Girl to softball practice. And things are just getting started. But with the progress made this weekend, we might be able to move back home in a couple of weeks. Also, happy 50th birthday to my sister-in-law.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Summerhaven by Tiffany Odekirk (4 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for A Healer's Promise (Brides of Laurent, # 2) by Misty M Beller

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2022 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 A Healer's Promise

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.

A Healer's Promise (Brides of Laurent, # 2)

By: Misty M Bellery

Expected Publication: May 1st 2022 by Bethany House Publishers

304 pages

Genre: Adult, 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--Levi Masters's time as a British spy hasn't ended, though his country's war with America has. Overhearing a scout reveal a discovery that could give America an upper hand in future conflicts, Levi is sent to investigate. While trekking through the Canadian Rockies, he is convicted about his life of lies and half-truths. But just as he decides to embrace truth at any cost, warriors from a hidden mountain village take him captive.

Village healer Audrey Moreau is more curious than afraid of the outsider. And she's drawn to his commitment to honesty even at his own expense. But despite her arguments, the council decides he's too great a risk. Compelled to help him escape, she sneaks him out of the village. But when Levi faces a life-threatening injury and the fierce mountain winter closes in, Levi and Audrey are forced to discover just how far they'll go to ensure the safety of the other and the love growing between them.

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

Summerhaven - Review

Summerhaven

By: Tiffany Odekirk

Publication: February 14th 2022 by Covenant Communications

272 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Regency

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Hannah Kent and Oliver Jennings pledged their hearts to each other as children. Now, years later, Hannah is thrilled to receive an invitation to spend the summer at Oliver’s family’s country estate. The path to wedded bliss is clear—so long as Oliver’s highbrow older brother, Damon, has ceased his juvenile antics, Hannah’s future looks bright indeed.

But from the moment Hannah arrives at Summerhaven, nothing is as she expected. Oliver seems disinterested in renewing their acquaintance, and Damon is not the brutish boy she remembers but a man intent on avoiding marriage. Although she has loathed Damon her whole life, when he contrives a ruse designed to win them both what they desire, Hannah warily agrees. All she has to do to reclaim Oliver’s attention is pretend to be madly in love with Damon. But when Damon is surprisingly convincing in his role as a suitor, it proves difficult to discern the line between pretense and true love.

Summerhaven is kind of like Vampire Diaries (the TV show, not the books) where the main character is in love with one brother and comes to realize the other brother is a much better fit for her. And they both happen to be named Damon. Summerhaven has no vampires though.

On a more serious note, Hannah is oh so naive at the start of this story. Her mother died a couple of years ago and she never really had a proper come out. She preferred to stay with her father, and she wasn't too concerned since she all but had an understanding with her best childhood friend. The problem is that the two haven't spoken in years and they have grown up and apart. Not to mention that Oliver learns a bit more of the world and his place in it. If he is to remain in society with any standing, he must marry for money. And even though Hannah is considered a gentleman's daughter, her father has no significant dowry for her.

Hannah's mother and Oliver's were the best of friends and so Hannah cannot refuse an invitation to spend the summer at the home where her fondest memories were made. Here is her opportunity to reconnect with Oliver. Only, Damon--Oliver's older brother and once Hannah's tormentor--is there to greet her. He comes up with a plan to get Oliver to notice Hannah, but Hannah begins to notice Damon instead.

I thoroughly enjoyed Summerhaven. I read it quickly because I did not want to put it down. Hannah and Damon were such an easy couple to root for. I did find myself rolling my eyes over the major conflict, but all is well that ends well. Summerhaven gets 4 Stars. Have you read Summerhaven? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 02/13/22

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, Grammy kept Baby Boy while, Husband, Mom, and I went to the house to clean up and get ready for the floors to go down in the bedrooms at the house. Husband didn't get the painting done that he wanted because there was too much clean up and prep work to be done first. The rest of the week was fairly normal. Little Boy and I went on a 1:1 date Thursday night to a local trampoline park. Friday, Grandma kept Baby Boy for a couple of hours for me while I taped off the baseboards to get ready for painting. The contractor we hired to do our bedrooms finished his part this week. Unfortunately the bedrooms weren't a part of the original contract so we haven't made much progress in the rest of the house this week. Things are moving so slow with us doing the work ourselves until we can get another contractor signed on. Thankfully, my dad has experience as he worked for my uncle's contracting business for many years. Saturday, we also had to take the kids to the ball field to get their uniform sizes and meet their coaches for baseball and softball. Little Boy is playing t-ball, and Little Girl is playing softball. This might not have been the best year to sign them up, but I didn't want to keep putting it off. Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Gilded (Gilded, # 1) by Marissa Meyer (4 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Book Lovers by Emily Henry

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Summerhaven by Tiffany Odekirk
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2022 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 Valet's Secret

By: Josi S Kilpack

Expected Publication: March 8th 2022 by Shadow Mountain

288 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical 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-- A passionate kiss from a handsome valet becomes a Regency Cinderella story when he is revealed to be an earl.

York, England, 1819.

As a once happily married woman, Rebecca Parker lived a charmed life, but now widowed and working for a living, she feels alone and living a mundane existence. That is until the day a valet speeding by on a horse nearly runs her off the road. Mr. Malcolm Henry is apologetic, gentle, and very handsome. She’s instantly drawn to him, which is why, rather than stopping him from kissing her, she finds herself kissing him back, reigniting a nearly forgotten passion in her. But love at first sight only happens in fairy tales—never to an ordinary woman like her.

Still, she cannot stop thinking about Mr. Henry and the kiss they shared. The more time she spends with the earl’s valet, the more she knows she cannot in good conscience allow Mr. Timoltson to continue to court her, even though a marriage to him would provide her financial security and independence from her overbearing father’s control. The heart wants what it wants, and her heart wants Mr. Henry.

But while working in the kitchens during a fancy dinner party, she sees something strange: the valet—the valet she kissed—is sitting at the right hand of the baroness. She realizes that Mr. Henry is not the earl’s valet; he is the earl—Kenneth Winterton.

Heartbroken, angry, and betrayed, Rebecca isn’t sure she can trust Lord Winterton, much less accept his apology. But when Lord Winterton proves he is as kind and gentle as “Mr. Henry” was, she finds herself willing to give him a second chance. But will he still take a chance on her, when choosing a commoner means he might lose his inheritance?

Trust, love, loneliness, and passion collide in this story about a man who will risk it all to fight for the woman he loves and a woman who no longer believes in fairy tales—until she finds herself living in one.

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 Book Lovers

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.

Book Lovers

By: Emily Henry

Expected Publication: May 3rd 2022 by Berkley

384 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

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

Goodreads description--One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn’t see coming…

Nora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby.

Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.

If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.

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

Gilded - Review

Gilded

By: Marissa Meyer

Publication: November 2nd 2021 by Feiwel & Friends

512 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

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

Goodreads description--Marissa Meyer, #1 New York Times-bestselling author, returns to the fairytale world with this haunting retelling of Rumpelstiltskin.

Long ago cursed by the god of lies, a poor miller's daughter has developed a talent for spinning stories that are fantastical and spellbinding and entirely untrue.

Or so everyone believes.

When one of Serilda's outlandish tales draws the attention of the sinister Erlking and his undead hunters, she finds herself swept away into a grim world where ghouls and phantoms prowl the earth and hollow-eyed ravens track her every move. The king orders Serilda to complete the impossible task of spinning straw into gold, or be killed for telling falsehoods. In her desperation, Serilda unwittingly summons a mysterious boy to her aid. He agrees to help her… for a price. Love isn't meant to be part of the bargain.

Soon Serilda realizes that there is more than one secret hidden in the castle walls, including an ancient curse that must be broken if she hopes to end the tyranny of the king and his wild hunt forever.

Marissa Meyer has blown me away time and time again with her retellings. And I wondered how in the world she would be able to make Rumplestilskin into something modern, believable, and yet remain true to the original fairy tale. But as usual, she's blown me away. But what will I be able to tell you about the story without spoiling any of it?

Gilded took about 10% for me to feel hooked into the story. While that might not seem very long, at 502 pages 10% is 50 pages. But once I was hooked, I wanted to keep reading. Even though I often found the fantasy descriptions a little long-winded. I suppose so much of the world was unique enough to need these descriptions, but I skimmed a little if I'm honest. Another issue I had was the words I had no reference for pronunciation. I don't mind unique words, but so many of them I just have no clue how to go about pronouncing correctly. And my last major complaint was the brief PC push on gender limitations.

I'm not sure I could say that Serilda was the most likable character. Of course, I still rooted for her, but something just kept me from loving her to her core. I did love her love of stories even though I also wanted to skim some of the stories that she told. Those became more important as the overall story moved along.

I liked the ghost story and darker elements brought to the fairytale. This couldn't just be about a king wanting earthly wealth and a poor girl who falls in love with the greedy king.

Favorite quotes:

-She was met with eager curiosity, the children leaning closer with bright eyes and growing smiles. Despite the cold, Serilda flushed with her own excitement. There was a shiver of anticipation, for even she rarely knew what twists and turns her stories would take before the words slipped from her tongue. Half the time, she was as surprised by the revelations as her listeners. It was part of what drew her to storytelling— not knowing the end, not knowing what would happen next. She was on the adventure every bit as much as the children were.

-full-hearted commitment was the only way to persuade someone of an untruth.

-After all, why be accommodating when one can be difficult?”

-“You’re saying the story made you feel something then?” “Of course it made me feel something. And that something is awful!”

-“Oh no. Not until you tell me what happens next.” She huffed. “I don’t know what happens next.” His expression was priceless. A little dismayed, a little horrified. “How can you not know? It’s your story.” “Not every story is willing to reveal itself right away. Some of them are bashful.”

-This was the worst part of Serilda’s terrible habit. It was so easy to forget what lies one had told, and in what detail.

-It’s hard to be close to someone when you can’t trust them.

My review copy did have a few corrections needed, specifically the very last sentence of the book. But I'm sure those have long been corrected for the final release.

Gilded ends in what is supposed to be a cliffhanger. I have a love/hate relationship with cliffhangers, but this was my favorite kind...one that gives the character and the reader hope. Of course, there's much more of the story to come, but I enjoyed Marissa Meyer's unique retelling of Rumplestilskin. Gilded gets 4 Stars. Have you read Gilded? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 02/06/22

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 was my mom's birthday. She and my dad went out to dinner that night. Tuesday, I was supposed to take the kids to the dentist, but I forgot and sent Little Girl off to school. Since we're so far away from the school by the time I realized my mistake I didn't have time to get her back from school and make it to the appointment so I had to reschedule. After school, we took the kids to the circus. They were only in town for one day and the kids have never been. We had a good time. Wednesday, we celebrated Mom's birthday with my brother and his family with dinner. Thursday and Friday were super rainy here, and the rain brought colder weather. Saturday, Husband spent the whole day working on the house. Mostly he was cleaning up and getting the floors ready to lay the LVP. I wish I could help more but one of us has to stay with the kids because taking them with us to work on the house means nothing gets done.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Rage and Ruin (The Harbinger, # 2) by Jennifer L Armentrout (4 Stars)
Tuesday: January 2022 EOM Wrap Up
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Places We've Never Been by Kasie West

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Gilded (Gilded, # 1) by Marissa Meyer
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2022 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 Singles Table (Marriage Game, # 3)

By: Sara Desai

Publication: November 16th 2021 by Berkley

336 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Borrowed from the e-library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

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

Goodreads description--Opposites attract in this laugh-out-loud romantic comedy about a free-spirited lawyer who is determined to find the perfect match for the grumpy bachelor at her friend’s wedding, from the author of The Dating Plan.

After a devastating break-up, celebrity-obsessed lawyer Zara Patel is determined never to open her heart again. She puts her energy into building her career and helping her friends find romance through the wedding season. She's never faced a guest at the singles table she couldn’t match, until she crosses paths with the sinfully sexy Jay Donovan.

Former military security specialist Jay has no time for love. His life is about working hard, staying focused, and winning at all costs. When charismatic Zara crashes into his life, he's thrown into close contact with exactly the kind of chaos he wants to avoid. Worse, they're stuck together for the entire wedding season.

So they make a deal. She'll find his special someone if he introduces her to his celebrity clients. But when their arrangement brings them together in ways they never expected, they realize that the perfect match might just be their own.

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 Places We've Never Been

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.

Places We've Never Been

By: Kasie West

Expected Publication: May 1st 2022 by Delacorte Press

336 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 sweet and swoony contemporary Young Adult novel about a cross-country family road trip that puts one girl and her childhood best friend on an unexpected road to romance!

Norah hasn’t seen her childhood best friend, Skyler, in years. When he first moved away, they'd talk all the time, but lately their relationship has been reduced to liking each other’s Instagram posts. That’s why Norah can’t wait for the joint RV road trip their families have planned for the summer.

But when Skyler finally arrives, he seems...like he’d rather be anywhere else. Hurt and confused, Norah reacts in kind. Suddenly, her oldest friendship is on the rocks.

An unexpected summer spent driving across the country leads both Norah and Skyler down new roads and to new discoveries. Before long, they are, once again, seeing each other in a different light. Can their friendship-turned-rivalry turn into something more?

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

January 2022 EOM Wrap Up

I read 4 books (not including children's books). *These qualify for the 2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma
The Companion (Sisters of Woodside Mysteries, # 3) by Mary Kingswood
Gilded (Gilded, # 1) by Marissa Meyer
Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson

I have reviewed 5 books. *These qualify for the 2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
The Whole Brain Child by Daniel J Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson
The Governess (Sisters of Woodside Mysteries, # 1) by Mary Kingswood
The Chaperon (Sisters of Woodside Mysteries, # 2) by Mary Kingswood
How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind by Dana K White
Rage and Ruin (The Harbinger, # 2) by Jennifer L Armentrout

Other Posts:
Sunday Post - 01/02/22
Sunday Post - 01/09/22
Sunday Post - 01/16/22
Sunday Post - 01/23/22
Sunday Post - 01/30/22
Ten Most Recent Newly Acquired Books
Ten Books I Didn't Get to in 2021
Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read in 2021
Can't Wait for Beauty and the Besharam by Lillie Vale
Can't Wait for This Woven Kingdom (This Woven Kingdom, # 1) by Tahereh Mafi
Can't Wait for Stranger at the Hall (Strangers, # 6) by Mary Kingswood
2021 EOY Wrap Up
2021 Book Survey
2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge - Goals
2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge - January Wrap Up

Goals:
I'm on track with my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 4 out of 52 books (including children's books).
I've read 0 out of 5-10 series enders.