Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Can't Wait for There Goes the Groom

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.

There Goes the Groom (A Romance of Rank, # 1.5)

By: Esther Hatch

Expected Publication: May 1, 2023

109 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Regency

( 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--Catching a husband has never been so complicated.

Matthew Harrison has only one task in life: to marry money. After failing miserably in London, his family takes matters into their own hands by arranging his marriage to the wealthy Lucy Bateman. But when he meets Lucy for the first time, his resolve to save his family from ruin crumbles. Lucy looks to be nothing more than a child, and he cannot fathom going through with the union. Without a thought for the consequences of his actions, he runs away.

Lucy Bateman didn’t like the idea of an arranged marriage, but she agreed in order to save her sister from suffering the same fate. However, when she played a trick on her groom-to-be by sending her younger sister to meet him in her place, he fled without a word. Now, three years later, Lucy stumbles upon her long-lost fiance working as a cart driver. Fate has given her a second chance and this time there will be no tricks… other than pretending to be someone else entirely in order to convince him to come home and marry her.

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

Monday, August 29, 2022

Engaging Sir Isaac - Review

Engaging Sir Isaac (Inglewood, # 4)

By: Sally Britton

Publication: February 26th 2020 by Blue Water Books

280 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Regency

( 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--She swore she would win the baronet’s heart in order to break it, never dreaming she would lose her own in the process. Millicent Wedgwood will never obtain her rightful place in Society, which means she will never have an advantageous reputation, marriage, or fortune. All because Millie's sister eloped years before. But there is a chance to rise above that disgrace if Millie will take part in a dare. If she can win the baronet who insulted Lady Olivia, and then shatter his heart, she will earn back her position in Society with Lady Olivia’s sponsorship.

Sir Isaac Fox returned from war with one less arm and a weight upon his soul. Where once he easily charmed Society, he now prefers to remain quietly alone at home. With a failing estate to manage, Isaac is determined to be more responsible and less foolhardy, which leaves no time for romance. Certainly no time for the infuriatingly enchanting Miss Wedgwood.

When Millie realizes her game has put her own heart in jeopardy, she risks losing everything she has so desperately sought to replace in her life. And though Isaac refuses Millie's advances, he cannot deny her charm. But falling for Miss Wedgwood would mean reentering society and losing the peace he has found since the war. Can they find a way to heal their hearts together? Or will Millie's deception ruin them both?

Isaac was introduced as a character in book one, as all of the other characters that have ended up with their own books in this series. Through the previous three books he has been morose at worst and merely happy for his friends and family at best. He's been sad and down. And well, that's understandable given the state he returned home from the war in. He was a happy guy before the war and was often engaged in society with parties, dinners, and balls. And apparently he enjoyed them. But he doesn't see much joy in them anymore.

Millie's family has faced society's scorn since her sister broke off an engagement with a duke's son to run off and marry a solicitor. Millie's mother has been pushing her to find a way back into society's good graces by concocting a scheme for Millie to become friends with a daughter of a Marques. Only this young lady has drama and hate in her heart, it seems--most of which is directed towards Sir Isaac, who once spurned her advances. She wants revenge and tasks Millie with finding out any means of ruining Sir Isaac.

I liked that Millie actually confides in Sir Isaac much sooner than I expected about the predicament that she's in. Their relationship was fun to read as it developed. I did find the excuse about using Edith's help to launch Millie back into good society a bit flimsy. But I'm no expert on the ins and outs of regency society. It just felt like an excuse to keep the conflict resolution from being too easy.

I wasn't sure I liked the way the climax was leading. But ultimately, Sally Britton handled the situation differently than I was expecting which I appreciate. And that kept it from being too obvious.

Favorite quotes:

-Millie was used to facing life's difficulties alone. She would manage. She had no other choice.

-"Misery seeks its own, miss," Sarah had said when Millie voiced her confusion. "People can't accept that they're the only ones unhappy. They're jealous, and waste their time trying to make others feel the same, when really they ought to put their energy into fixing their own problems."

Engaging Sir Isaac hasn't been my favorite of the Inglewood series, but I did enjoy it and didn't want to stop reading. I read it quickly given everything that was going on in real life. I liked Isaac from the moment he was introduced back in Rescuing Lord Inglewood, and Millie was a good match for him. She brought out all of his good sides. Engaging Sir Isaac gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Engaging Sir Issac? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday, August 28, 2022

Sunday Post - 08/28/22

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.

We had a mostly normal week here. It was rainy off and on most of the week so we didn't get out as much as I like to. We did walk a couple of days even though it was sprinkling. Husband got my pantry shelves installed on Thursday. I am so excited to finally be able to use that space. Friday, Baby Boy and I ran some errands. I wanted to see what bins the Dollar Tree had, but unfortunarly I didn't like their selection. I did grab some fall and Halloween things that I want to include in a sensory bin for the kids during those seasons. We ran into Walmart and I was able to find a few bins and containers for the pantry that I liked. I had to get a few things from Walmart anyway. Saturday we had a volleyball party at the house. We spent most of Saturday getting ready for it. The party started at 5 so we ate dinner first and then played. I am quite sore already. I consider myself athletic, but let's be honest, I haven't done much more than a brisk walk and carrying around some heavy babies in a few years. Husband is off on a work trip. He left really early this morning. He'll be back on Wednesday, but the kids and I will miss him. Baby Boy is actually going to spend the time with my parents and that's going to be a huge help so that his naps won't be interrupted with having to get Little Girl from school every day. I'm looking forward to some one on one time with my big kids and hopefully I'll be very productive with some painting and general things that I've been putting off so I can show off my progress when Husband gets back.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Junie B Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth by Barbara Park (3 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Call of the Sea by Sian Ann Bessey

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Engaging Sir Isaac (Inglewood, # 4) by Sally Britton
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:

Miss Newbury's List

By: Megan Walker

Expected Publication: February 7, 2023

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Regency

( 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--England, 1820

Rosalind Newbury loves her family and wants nothing more than to add to their legacy. So when an opportunity arises to marry a duke—a dream come true for her family—despite hardly knowing him, she quickly agrees.

But after rediscovering a childhood wish list, Ros realizes that she has dreams of her own and little time left to fulfill them. She recruits her dearest friend Liza and subsequently Liza’s handsome but wayward cousin Charlie—a gentleman turned rugged boxer—to help her complete her list before her wedding.

From boxing lessons to buried treasure, Charlie helps Ros experience a life and love that she’d never dreamed possible. Soon, Ros is faced with the very decision she’s been running from—to save her family’s future or her 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!

Thursday, August 25, 2022

2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge - August 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 Sandy nor Holly has 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 August giveaway runs from August 25th - September 25th. On September 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

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Can't Wait for The Call of the Sea

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 Call of the Sea

By: Sian Ann Bessey

Expected Publication: November 1, 2022

pages

Genre: Historical Fiction, Adult

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

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

Goodreads description--A Viking Historical Romance

On the eve of her betrothal to a nobleman she’s never met, Rhiannon seeks comfort on the shores of the sea she loves so well. But instead of offering peace to her uneasy heart, the ocean heralds doom with the arrival of dreaded Viking ships. A vicious raid leads to the death of her beloved father and leaves Rhiannon’s life in tatters. Heartbroken, she travels to Ynys Môn, where she takes up residence at the royal court of Owain Gwynedd.

Leif loves voyaging on the open water. As the son of a Viking chief, he’s accustomed to his people’s practice of plundering and looting. But when one of his companions ruthlessly kills an old man in front of the man’s beautiful daughter, Leif is haunted by the memory. Desperate to find forgiveness for the atrocity he allowed to occur, he’s offered a chance at redemption through the kindly teachings of an Irish priest and the unexpected arrival of a royal fugitive. Suddenly thrust into the midst of the Cymry’s political turmoil, Leif is reunited with the dead man’s daughter―Rhiannon. Forced to work side by side to uncover the truth behind the turmoil, they come to discover that love can grow from even the most tragic of beginnings. But with such incompatible backgrounds, surely a future together can never be theirs.

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

Monday, August 22, 2022

Junie B Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth - Review

Junie B Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth (Junie B. Jones, # 3)

By: Barbara Park

Expected Publication: August 24th 1993 by Random House Children's Books (first published 1993)

69 pages

Genre: Children's Fiction, Humor

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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.

Sometimes life is P.U.

Junie B.'s having a rough week. First she got punishment for shooting off her mouth in kindergarten. And now she's in big trouble again! 'Cause Monday is Job Day, and Junie B. told her class that she's got the bestest job of all. Only, what the heck is it?

My daughter is now 6.5 years old. She's finished kindergarten and can finally read. Over the last two years, we've dipped our toe into the world of chapter books. I've read The Little House on the Prairie, Mercy Watson to the Rescue, and we started reading The Secret Garden. I've been wanting to do more read-alouds with the kids, so I looked at what the elibrary had available to borrow immediately and saw some Junie B Jones. I knew nothing about the series, except I remember my niece reading them when she was younger.

Guys, I struggled with this one. For one, Junie B. Jones does have a terribly sassy, disrespectful mouth. I didn't like how she talked to her friends, the kids that were not her friends, her teacher, her parents, or well...anybody. She also has terrible grammar. I don't know if the goal was trying to make her sound young, but if so, I don't think the execution was successful. She just sounds uneducated. And rude. And mean. And I even found myself editing her words while I was reading.

I guess some people could find her humorous, but I don't think I'll be seeking out any more Junie B Jones books for my kids for read-alouds. Of course, we can read books and easily see what we don't want to do by what the characters do and the consequences, but I would prefer read books with better role models for my kids. At the very least, I'd rather not be constantly reading out loud such bad grammar to them. And at most, I don't want to need to edit a children's book language for my kids.

Junie B Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth gets 3 Stars. The kids liked it. But from a parent standpoint, I don't think I can recommend it. And I don't think we'll be reading any other Junie B. Have you read Junie B Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday, August 21, 2022

Sunday Post - 08/21/22

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.

I've had a good week. I don't remember too much about Monday. Tuesday is Husband's off day so he went for a walk with us. I took the boys swimming while Husband ran to the store. I think he ended up going to Lowes/Home Depot every day this week. Wednesday it rained almost all day so I wasn't able to go for a walk. Baby Boy and I just hung out and played. I was able to go through some boxes of hand-me-down clothes from Little Boy to see what will be fitting Baby Boy next. I reorganized some of that and go some stuff in boxes to try to sell at consignment in the fall. Thursday, Baby Boy had his 18 month check up (one month late, he's 19 months old today). All that went well. We went to hang out with my mom until I needed to leave to get him home from nap and get Little Girl from school. Friday was nice because I did get to walk even though it looked like it was going to rain at any moment all day long. It didn't end up raining at all. The pantry shelves arrived this week so hopefully we will get those installed ASAP, and I can finally start using my pantry. I'm so excited. Husband and I have been doing keto again since right after my birthday. I'm down 9 pounds and so excited about it. I've got to get this baby weight off. Saturday was mostly good for me. Husband got one of Little Boy's closet doors hung and I started the first coat on the other door. We walked. We swam. I painted. I cleaned Little Girl's room with minimal protesting from her on things I was throwing out. My, oh my! She is a hoarder at heart. She's like a squirrel storing away all kinds of trash.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of FLIP The Gratitude Switch by Kevin Clayson (4.5 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Loved 10+ Years Ago
Wednesday: Can't Wait for A Hard Day for a Hangover (Sunshine Vicram, # 3) by Darynda Jones

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Junie B Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth (Junie B Jones, # 3) by Barbara Park
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 Boxcar Children (The Boxcar Children, # 1)

By: Gertrude Chandler Warner

Expected Publication: February 6, 1924

160 pages

Genre: Children's, Classics

( 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 Aldens begin their adventure by making a home in a boxcar. Their goal is to stay together, and in the process they find a grandfather.

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Can't Wait for A Hard Day for a Hangover

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 Hard Day for a Hangover (Sunshine Vicram, # 3)

By: Darynda Jones

Expected Publication: December 6, 2022

352 pages

Genre: Adult, Mystery, Humor

( 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--Some people greet the day with open arms. Sheriff Sunshine Vicram would rather give it a hearty shove and get back into bed, because there’s just too much going on right now. There’s a series of women going missing, and Sunny feels powerless to stop it. There’s her persistent and awesomely-rebellious daughter Auri, who’s out to singlehandedly become Del Sol’s youngest and fiercest investigator. And then there’s drama with Levi Ravinder—the guy she’s loved and lusted after for years. The guy who might just be her one and only. The guy who comes from a family of disingenuous vipers looking to oust him—and Sunshine—for good.

Like we said, the new day can take a hike.

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

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Top Ten Books I Loved 10+ Years Ago

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week's topic is Top Ten Books I Loved 10+ Years Ago.
  1. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
  2. Harry Potter by JK Rowling
  3. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
  4. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
  5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
  6. Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend
  7. A Game of Thrones by George R R Martin
  8. The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare
  9. Divergent by Veronica Roth
  10. Crazy Love by Frances Chan
  11. Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Which books were you loving ten years ago? Let me know!

Sunday, August 14, 2022

FLIP The Gratitude Switch - Review

FLIP The Gratitude Switch: A Simple Formula To Change The Trajectory Of Your Life

By: Kevin Clayson

Publication: August 22nd 2016 by Createspace Independent Publishing

212 pages

Genre: Non-Fiction, Self-Help

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

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

Goodreads description--This powerful book is the ultimate guide on how to create real happiness in your life, through finding, cultivating, and activating gratitude no matter what your life circumstances may be... and to do it in a way that will change the trajectory of your life.

This book will show you how to make gratitude something you DO not just something you FEEL, and how to change your life quickly, simply and permanently as a result.

Hal Elrod says, "This is the definitive 'gratitude how-to guide,' a timeless classic... and it's a book that the world has needed for a long time."

All it takes is one FLIP... that single moment when you decide that you want to stop thinking about the life you should be living and ACTUALLY START LIVING IT! This highly anticipated new book will show you that the life you want is a lot closer than you think. It's not what happens to us that defines and shapes our lives - it's how we CHOOSE to react to the things that come our way.

There is only one person who gets to decide how happy and contented you feel, how meaningful your relationships are, how much control you have over your life, and how much success you have... and it's you!

Do you want to create success out of failure?

Do you want to feel hopeful about the future?

Do you want your relationships to grow and thrive?

Do you want to live an abundant life no matter what?

Then it's time to stop focusing on the things that happen TO YOU and start being thankful IN YOUR CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES, whatever they may be. It doesn't matter where you are right now or where you've been. You can begin re-writing your story immediately - and guarantee it will have a happy ending - simply by FLIPping the Gratitude Switch with the simple 4-step FLIP Formula!

I'm not sure much puts a mirror in front of you quite like parenting. Seeing little people mirror back to you things you want to change about yourself somehow motivates you to do better. Of course, I feel like I've always tried to work on myself. My Dad always impressed upon me the importance of being teachable. And he didn't just mean in the classroom. But since becoming a mother I feel like I've been on a consistent course to improve myself. I am impatient and selfish and short-tempered. And I don't want to be those things anymore.

In my journey to improvement my parenting, I found Dr. Paul Jenkins YouTube channel, Live on Purpose. I can't recommend his content enough. Dr. Paul is always stressing the importance of gratitude, but beyond the typical "thanks for my family, thanks for the blue sky and the green grass, thanks for indoor plumbing, and air conditioning." And well, I've done gratitude journals in the past, but I never seemed to get passed those things. Kevin Clayson invites you to be grateful for the hard things in life--the challenges.

FLIP the Gratitude Switch is written in four parts. The first part is a parable style. And I can't say that I enjoyed this section as much as the rest of the book. I felt like the story was supposed to be this grand adventure tale that needed to span the entire book's pages to do the adventure justice. The build-up was slow and the parable's conclusion felt rushed. The other parts of the book were more of what I would expect from a non-fiction, self-help book.

Favorite quotes:

-You are powerless to change the past and you are powerless to control the future. The past was then, the future is over there, and you can affect neither of them in this moment. The only time that has any bearing on your life is the present.

-Practice becoming present and waking up to feel the potential of each moment, because it is only in the NOW that you have power to affect the future.

-WITHOUT gratitude, it doesn't matter whether you make $25,000 a year or $2,500,000 a year--it will never be enough. Without gratitude, the kids will always be too loud. Without gratitude, the checkout line will always be too slow. Without gratitude, traffic will always be terrible. Without gratitude, the movie theater popcorn will always be too expensive. Without gratitude, the weather will always be too hot, too cold, too wet, or too dry.

-One of the best quotes I've ever heard about gratitude is from a great man and religious leader named David A Bednar. He said, "The gift of Gratitude enables our appreciation for what we have to constrain desires for what we want. A grateful person is rich in contentment. An ungrateful person suffers in the poverty of endless disappointment."

-No matter how righteous you attempt to be, counterfeit happiness is always no more than a step away--and it will always appear to be instantly accessible and glistening with the shiny promise of a better life.

-There is success embedded in every failure. Without gratitude, failure is nothing more than disappointment. There is joy embedded in despair. Without gratitude, despair is nothing more than a hole left unfilled. There is hope embedded in tragedy. Without gratitude, tragedy is nothing more than loss of hope. There is healing embedded in pain. Without gratitude, pain is simply unnecessary. There is new beginning embedded in every ending. Without gratitude, endings are always final.

-Each time, after discovering and acknowledging a frustration, I located something I could feel grateful for embedded within the frustration. Then I would choose to pause for a moment and actually experience gratitude for it.

-YOU CAN MAKE GRATITUDE AN ACTIVE, DAILY OCCURENCE... NOT BY BEING GRATEFUL FOR THE STUFF THAT'S ALREADY GOOD, BUT BY FINDING THE "GOOD" EMBEDDED WITHIN THE "BAD" AND BECOMING THANKFUL FOR THAT.

-We need to stop thinking of gratitude as a touchy feely emotion that washes over us from time to time. We also need to stop thinking that gratitude is just a sensation we get when things go well.

-I'm suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances--whatever they may be.

-From where I sit, it seems that we are a nation and really a human family, full of way too many Eeyores. We have a tendency to expect the worst, think negatively, and constantly speak words of pessimism into our lives.

-There is a difference between always living in the future and hoping life will get better someday and beginning to live in the present and acknowledging that life is pretty great right now.

-It is the simple, daily, conscious decision to enact gratitude during the most frustrating times of the day--FLIPping The Gratitude Switch--that allows you to illuminate life's challenges, create more happiness, increase life fulfillment, drive more success, and ultimately deliver total control over all aspects of your life.

-What does the choice to feel the frustration, anger, and annoyance get anyone? Absolutely nothing but anger, frustration, and annoyance.

-You are the only one responsible for how you react to your reality! Even if situations arise over which you had no control, then you are still 100 percent responsible for how you choose to react and feel about the situation.

-And here's the best part: When you take responsibility for your frustrations (whether or not you were the cause), you gain control of them.

-Feeling good and having gratitude for things that are already awesome is important. But it also doesn't require any effort--and it definitely doesn't require any sort of mental shift.

-Sometimes we can't control the big stuff; things just happen. What we can control are the little moments surrounding the big stuff. We can find little moments to be thankful and to discover the awesome in some aspects of our life at the moment that the big stuff is happening.

-Imagine a glass partially filled with water. With certain lenses on, the glass may either look half empty or half full, but I want you to consider viewing the glass differently. What if the glass isn't half empty OR half full? What if the amount of liquid in that glass, regardless of whether it is a drop or a gallon, is simply ENOUGH? There MAY be times when the glass becomes completely drained. Even then, never should that glass be viewed as empty--it should only ever be viewed as refillable.

Those quotes are really just a taste of the content of FLIP the Gratitude Switch. I need these principles in my life. I need to increase my gratitude. And I have not arrived. I still get impatient and short-tempered, but I realize that I'm viewing things from an improper perspective and I seek to find the good in the moments. I am doing better about being grateful for the hard things, the challenges, and life's frustrations. I will probably need to re-read these principles over and over. FLIP the Gratitude Switch gets 4.5 Stars only because I didn't enjoy the parable portion of the book as much as the rest. Have you read FLIP the Gratitude Switch? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 08/14/22

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 back to school. It feels like this last week was a couple of weeks in one. Both kids had a good first week of school. Tuesday, Little Boy and Baby Boy went for a walk with me and we went swimming after. My dad came over three days this week to do a few small fixes around the house that hadn't gotten done yet. We still have several other things for him to finish up, but I don't want him to feel any pressure on getting them done. Wednesday was pretty normal. I'm actually soaking up the time I have just 1 on 1 with Baby Boy. He's at such a fun age now at 18 months old. Thursday we went to my parents for a few hours. I got the linen closet completely finished this week. It's lovely to finally be able to utilize some of our storage space for it's actual purpose. Friday after I dropped the kids off at school I went by the storage building and loaded my car up with toys and kid's books. You would have thought it was Christmas Day the way the kids acted when they got home and saw so many toys they haven't played with in so long. I'm personally thankful for the books because we've only had a small set for over a year now and I'm kind of tired of reading the same ones over and over. Friday night the boys had hair appointments. Little Boy has gotten a faux hawk the last two times. He loves being able to spike it up. Baby Boy just got a trim. I wanted the get the hair out of his eyes and not lose all his curls in the back. She did a perfect job. And it's one experience in the books for him. Saturday we went for a walk as a family. It's rare that Daddy is able to go with us and that made the big kids more excited about going. Then we swam as a family. Even Grammy came by to watch and hang out for a little while. She even stayed to eat lunch with us.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Saving Miss Everly (Inglewood, # 3) by Sally Britton (4 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of FLIP The Gratitude Switch: A Simple Formula To Change The Trajectory Of Your Life by Kevin Clayson
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!

Monday, August 8, 2022

Saving Miss Everly - Review

Saving Miss Everly (Inglewood, # 3)

By: Sally Britton

Publication: November 3rd 2019 by Blue Water Books

274 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Regency

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

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

Goodreads description--Pretending she's her twin gets complicated when Hope is shipwrecked with a handsome castaway. When rescue comes, will she risk her heart to confess the truth or will they part forever?

Pretending to be her sister, Hope Everly finds an adventure at last. The Caribbean's warm waters and tropical islands fulfill nearly all her dreams. When an excursion to visit another island with a naturalist expedition is interrupted by a storm, Hope is stranded on a desert island where she and her fellow castaways are dependent on a handsome stranger for their survival.

Alejandro Córdoba, trapped and alone on the island long enough to give up all dreams of rescue, knows nothing of what has become of his war-torn homeland or his family. When he finds the beautiful Miss Everly washed up on the shore, along with her companions, he does not know if their arrival is a blessing or a curse.

Hope's behavior, acting one way with Alejandro and another with her friends, further confuses things when they begin to fall in love. If rescue ever comes, will telling Alejandro the truth mean losing him forever?

Sometimes, I find myself enjoying an author through multiple books, and even though I've yet to be disappointed by them, I still find myself dreading when specific characters are set to have their own stories. Hope was one of those characters. She's impulsive, loud, and generally goes against society's expectations in search of adventure. I am not a Hope. I'm more of a Grace. So I wasn't sure if I was going to like reading from Hope's perspective. But I did. Of course, I did. Sally Britton hasn't let me down yet. Granted, Hope pretending to be Grace for much longer of the book than Grace pretended to be Hope may have helped me because she was trying to force herself to behave in a way that wouldn't give away her identity.

I loved this story. Hope longs for adventure. Her heart calls to it. So even though being shipwrecked isn't ideal, what grander adventure could she happen upon? And to top it all off, there's a handsome stranger who has been shipwrecked on the very same island a year longer than Hope. He rescues her from the water and at first, you believe they are the only two on the island. How romantic! But then they find some of Hope's other shipmates, the friend she was traveling with and her brother who happens to have designs on courting Grace.

Alejandro as I said was shipwrecked an entire year before Hope's same situation. He's learned the island. He's created a shelter, dug a well, and determined which foods are edible and which are not as well as which animals to steer clear of. Alejandro has also lost his hope of being rescued. Good thing Hope is the one delivered to his island.

Hope and Alejandro have a pretty instant connection, but their relationship is slow-building. There are a lot of imagined obstacles that prevent the couple from declaring their feelings or attempting to pursue anything sooner. Sometimes I got frustrated with them, because what if rescue never did come? I found more sense in them drawing closer rather than pulling away from each other. But this was a journey that kept me turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next.

Favorite quotes:

-Her heart pounded against her chest, her breath caught, and the world shifted to make room for something she instinctively knew would change her.

-Disasters could hardly be mended by losing control of one's emotions.

-How did her sister always maintain calm composure in the face of such stupidity?

-"My heart has not ceased to reach for yours."

-Hardship tended to make people act more themselves, not less.

Hope's story couldn't have been any better if you ask me. Sally Britton did a wonderful job crafting the perfect adventure and the perfect hero for our heroine. Hope didn't frustrate me in the way I expected. And Sally Britton had me turning pages and trying to stay up late to finish this book. I wanted to know all the answers to all the questions. Saving Miss Everly gets 4 Stars. Have you read Saving Miss Everly? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday, August 7, 2022

Sunday Post - 08/07/22

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.

We packed a lot into this last week before school starts. So Monday we took the kids to Majestic Caverns (used to be called DeSoto Caverns). It is a little over an hour and a half away from where we live, but they have all kinds of activities. Ball pit, a maze, a cave maze (one one way forward), putt putt golf, mining for gems, a huge bubble pit. Anyway, we made a day of it and had a really good time. Tuesday, Husband was off work and was our only mostly normal day this week. Wednesday, we had a playdate with a little boy that goes to church with us. He and his mom came over to swim. Then Thursday we had Open House for Little Girl's school. She got to meet her teacher and all that jazz. I can't believe she's in 1st grade this year. (Little Boy is going into K4.) And then Friday we had another playdate with a friend of mine from when I was younger and her two kids that are right at the same ages as my older two. They came to swim and eat lunch. School starts tomorrow. I'm both looking forward to it and dreading it.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: July 2022 EOM Wrap Up
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Isha, Unscripted by Sajni Patel
Thursday: Review of A Tenuous Betrothal (Royal Regency, # 3) by Jen Geigle Johnson (3 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Saving Miss Every (Inglewood, # 3) by Sally Britton
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!

Thursday, August 4, 2022

A Tenuous Betrothal - Review

A Tenuous Betrothal (Royal Regency, # 3)

By: Jen Geigle Johnson

Publication: August 1st 2022 by Covenant Communications

? 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--Rhianna Davies is well-acquainted with heartache after the painful loss of her parents. At the arrival of her ghastly uncle, she is brought even lower: Rhi has been banished from her family’s estate home and must rely on the kindness of her tightly knit Welsh miners for help. Without the protective love of her parents, Rhi has no illusions that hers will be a happy ending—until an addendum to her father’s will arrives in the hands of a prince.

Marc Wilhelm, Prince of Oldenburg, is in Wales with one purpose: to claim his betrothed. A long-ago promise between their fathers forges an indelible link between Rhi and Marc, but there remains just one problem: neither wants to marry a stranger. With no remaining ties to Wales, Rhi agrees to accompany Marc to Oldenburg, where he will forfeit their betrothal so she may have her pick of husbands. But their journey takes them down unexpected paths, from the depths of a Welsh mine to the marriage mart of London to a warm reception in Oldenburg. Rhi and Marc discover that their connection and their challenges run deeper than either anticipated, but whether from their own hesitations or from danger that threatens without, the couple might be thwarted before they can even begin the happily ever after they so richly deserve.

I've only read one book by Jen Geigle Johnson before--His Lady in Hiding. It was good, but not great. I remember enjoying parts of it, but then feeling like other parts just weren't up to my standards. And well, that's basically how I felt about A Tenuous Betrothal.

The story started off well. Rhianna's parents died leaving her under the care of her uncle. Her uncle has no purpose for her. She's basically in his way and has been relegated to a secluded hunting lodge on the family property. Except it turns out that her father made provisions for her before he died in the form of a betrothal to a longtime friend's son. Rhianna has no desire to be in an arranged marriage, but she does desperately hope for a future beyond being stuck in a hunting lodge in a small mining town. And bonus, the friend of her father is a king meaning his sons are princes. And there happens to be several of them to choose from. On top of that, the one who actually shows up to rescue her is quite handsome and the two make a good team upon first meeting.

Marc has no desire to wed any time soon. He is head of security for his country and that means that he's constantly in harm's way from those who wish ill upon their kingdom. He knows that marrying will require him to relinquish his duties so as to not place himself or his wife or family in any undue harm's way. Despite feeling a pull, an attraction toward Rhianna, he constantly tries to pull away.

My biggest frustrations revolved around the wishy-washiness of these characters. One moment they're heading in one direction, the next they change course in another. They're traveling to one location but abruptly go back the way they came. One minute they agree that there's nothing to be between them, the next they're cozying up on a ship only to turn around and part ways as soon as they make land. I found one too many "we can't be togethers" and "you don't understands."

Ultimately, I feel torn about A Tenuous Betrothal. Some parts were good and I was eager to read more, particularly the beginning. Other parts I struggle with wanting to roll my eyes and getting annoyed with the characters. I'm intrigued for future books, but not sure I would want to go back to read the previous in the series (I didn't know this was in the middle of a series when I requested it), and I can't say for sure that I will carry on the series or not. A Tenuous Betrothal gets 3 Stars. Have you read A Tenuous Betrothal? What did you think? Let me know!

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

Can't Wait for Isha, Unscripted

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.

Isha, Unscripted

By: Sajni Patel

Expected Publication: February 14th 2023 by Berkley

336 pages

Genre: 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--Unwilling to yield to familial expectations, an aspiring screenwriter attempts to pursue her dreams during an unforgettable night of chaos in this hilarious and heartfelt novel by Sajni Patel.

Isha Patel is the black sheep of the family. She doesn’t have a “prestigious” degree or a “real” career, and her parents never fail to remind her. But that’s okay because she commiserates with her cousin, best friend, and fellow outcast, Rohan.

When Isha has a breakthrough getting her script in front of producers, it doesn’t go according to plan. Instead of letting her dreams fall through the cracks, Rohan convinces her to snag a pitch session with an Austinite high-profile celeb: the one and only Matthew McConaughey, who also happened to be her professor at the University of Texas years ago—he has to remember her, right?

Chasing Matthew McConaughey isn’t easy. Isha needs a drink or two to muster up courage, and she gets a little help from the cutest bartender she’s ever encountered. But when the search for the esteemed actor turns into a night of hijinks and unexpected—albeit fun—chaos, everything falls apart. Isha’s dreams seem farther than ever, but she soon realizes who she really needs to face and that her future may just be alright, alright, alright.

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

Monday, August 1, 2022

July 2022 EOM Wrap Up

I read 5 book (not including children's books). *These qualify for the 2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
Saving Miss Everly (Inglewood, # 3) by Sally Britton
FLIP The Gratitude Switch: A Simple Formula To Change The Trajectory Of Your Life by Kevin Clayson
A Tenuous Betrothal by Jen Geigle Johnson
From the Jump by Lacie Waldon
A Fate of Wrath & Flame (Fate & Flame, # 1) by KA Tucker
A Curse of Blood and Stone (Fate & Flame, # 2) by KA Tucker

I have reviewed 4 books. *These qualify for the 2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
To Tame a Cowboy (Colorado Cowboys, # 3) by Jody Hedlund
Meet Me in the Middle by Alex Light
The Dreaming Beauty by Anneka Walker
From the Jump by Lacie Waldon

Other Posts:
Sunday Post - 07/03/22
Sunday Post - 07/10/22
Sunday Post - 07/17/22
Sunday Post - 07/31/22
Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases of Q3/Q4 2022
Ten Books I STILL Haven't Read on My TBR List
Can't Wait for The Belle of Belgrave Square (Belles of London, # 2) by Mimi Matthews
Can't Wait for Falling for the Cowgirl (Colorado Cowboy, # 4) by Jody Hedlund
Can't Wait for The Earl's Hideaway, No Ladies Allowed (Romance of Rank, # 2) by Esther Hatch
2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge - July Wrap Up

Goals:
I'm ahead on my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 28 out of 52 books (including children's books).
I've read potentially 2 out of 5-10 series enders.