Sunday Post - 12/31/23

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 Christmas of course. It's hard to believe it's only been a week since. The kids got up and opened presents. That was a whirlwind. Then Husband's mom and my parents came over for lunch. It was a lovely, but exhausting, day. Tuesday I was in recovery mode. Really the rest of the week. Wednesday, the kids and I and Husband's friend went to the library and to the park. The kids wanted him to go to the park with us. Then we grabbed groceries. Wednesday night our elderly neighbor called me to see if I would bring the mail in for her. I could tell she needed someone to spend some time with so I stayed over there about an hour and a half. Husband's sister and her son came to visit his mom so we went over on Thursday and hung out with them. We got a spontaneous game of baseball going. Friday I took the kids to my parents' house. My mom wanted them to spend the weekend before school starts back. So Friday night, Husband, his friend, and I went out to dinner. Saturday I took our Christmas decorations down. I usually leave them up for longer, but since the kids were away it made for a good opportunity for me to do it. Happy New Year to everyone!

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Merry Christmas!
Wednesday: 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge - Sign Up
Thursday: Review of Someone You Loved by Robin Constantine (4 Stars)
Friday: 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge - Goals
Saturday: December 2023 EOM Wrap Up

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Merry Christmas to all!
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday?
Thursday: 2023 EOY Wrap Up
Friday: 2023 Book Survey

Don’t forget to link up for the 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2024 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!

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!

December 2023 EOM Wrap Up

I read 7 books (not including children's books). *These qualify for the 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
The Lily of Ludgate Hill (Belles of London, # 3) by Mimi Matthews
Someone You Loved by Robin Constantine
On the Bright Side by Anna Sortino
Romancing the Artist (Return to Inglewood, # 1) by Sally Britton
Old Flames and New Fortunes by Sarah Hogle
Calling on the Matchmaker (A Shanahan Match, # 1) by Jody Hedlund
Blood and Steel (The Legends of Thezmarr, # 1) by Helen Scheuerer

I have reviewed 8 books (not including mini reviews of children's books). *These qualify for the 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
His Disinclined Bride (Seasons of Change, # 7) by Jennie Goutet
The Shameless Flirt (The Ashbrooks, # 2) by MA Nichols
A Duchess for the Duke (Claivoir Castle Romance, # 0.5) by Sally Britton
Lord Farleigh and Miss Frost (Claivoir Castle Romance, # 4) by Sally Britton
Champion of Fate (Heromaker, # 1) by Kendare Blake
A Mistletoe Mismatch (A Christmas Match, # ) by Sally Britton
How Great is Our God by Louie Giglio
Someone You Loved by Robin Constantine

Other Posts:
Sunday Post - 12/03/23
Sunday Post - 12/10/23
Sunday Post - 12/17/23
Sunday Post - 12/24/23
Top Ten Winter 2023 TBR List
Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings Me in 2023
Can't Wait for Funny Story by Emily Henry
2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge - December Wrap Up
November 2023 EOM Wrap Up
2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge - Sign Up
2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge - Goals

Goals:
I finished my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 85 out of 52 books (not including children's books).
I've read 4 out of 5-10 series enders.

2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge - Goals

This challenge is for all of you series readers who are scared to death of that last book in the series. You anxiously await it. You stalk it. You get your hands on it as soon as possible. But then…you put off reading it for fear that it might not be everything you thought it would be. Or, maybe you just have a backlog of series started and you need to finish that last book.

Join us in knocking out those pesky last books in a series. This is your chance. Here’s your motivation. Better than that, we have prizes!

Levels: (how many series enders you are planning to read)

Level 1: 1 – 5
Level 2: 5 – 10
Level 3: 10 – 15
Level 4: 15+

Check out the the sign up post to join!

This challenge is hosted by Somewhere Only We Know and Words Fueled by Love.

<a href="https://sandyfarmer.blogspot.com/2023/12/2024-series-enders-reading-challenge.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuP66t42NZp7tgIrn9XjhX3yYdyz3YogMnGdrpxfo1zb_rj1YqsDw4WbD2Rl8RNPL8WavFGSRt-z4XPI9vDLa4SRMvS6fjvvohgrcUfm4yzKn7ZThCUCvuTZbaBZM6NUeCnVhMW6QqV4KiIZfCM3lMXJZV4ZZPqX1GYaiJYdq3UNCNOgyG8NQFgh1EMk-/s320/2024SeriesEnders%20copy.jpg" height="225" width="225" /></a>

My Goals:

1. Almost a Bride (The Bride Ships, # 4) by Jody Hedlund
2. Game Changer (The Field Party, # 6) by Abbi Glines
3. Woodside (Sisters of Woodside Mysteries, # 5) by Mary Kingswood
4. Sword of Desire (Reigning Kingdoms, # 2) by Jennifer Anne Davis
5. The Muse of Maiden Lane (Belles of London, # 4) by Mimi Matthews
6. Marriage & Masti (If Shakespeare Was an Auntie, # 3) by Nisha Sharma
7. A Dawn of Gods and Fury (Fate & Flame, # 4) by KA Tucker
8. Cursed (Gilded, # 2) by Marissa Meyer

Of course, I likely won't get to some of these or I'll come across a new/new-to-me series that I read the entire series during 2024. My main goal is level 1. These are just the enders on my radar right now. It is difficult because many series that I am in the middle over do not have a definitely finale listed nor how many books are expected in the series.

Are you hoping to finish any series this year? You might as well join the challenge and enter for a chance to win monthly prizes. Which ones are on your radar for 2024? Let me know!

Someone You Loved - Review

Someone You Loved

By: Robin Constantine

Publication: June 27, 2023

352 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--A deeply emotional and highly romantic tale of two teens who fall in love while grieving the one person who makes their love impossible; in the vein of You've Reached Sam and The Sky Is Everywhere.

Sarah feels unmoored following her boyfriend’s sudden and tragic death. Their love story was cut short after just two sweet months together, and now all Sarah can think about are the moments she and Alex should be sharing. Sarah distracts herself by consoling Ash—her best friend and Alex’s sister—and by rehearsing for the school play and working at her aunt’s cafe. But none of that is as comforting as her nightly talks with Jake.

Jake is not ready to move on. Unable to sleep at night and “mopey”—according to his girlfriend, who doesn’t understand why he isn’t ready to jump back into partying—Jake is wracked with guilt as a witness to Alex’s death. His one source of joy is talking to Sarah. But between their growing closeness and his taking over as captain of the basketball team, Jake worries he is co-opting Alex’s life.

Both can’t help but wonder if they’re betraying Alex—and Ash—by acting on the feelings they can no longer deny. Given all that stands in the way, is their relationship worth fighting for?

As the description says, Sarah was dating Alex when he died. They hadn't been dating long, but she's grieving. Only she doesn't feel like she has the same right to grieve as others. His sister and her best friend, Ash, has been struggling. She has good days and bad, and Sarah wants to do everything she can to help Ash while also grieving herself. She doesn't go to their house much anymore, and she tiptoes around some things with Ash not to make her cry or break down. One of those things is Alex's best friend Jake. Ash doesn't blame Jake for the accident, but he is a constant reminder of her brother's death.

Jake is struggling also, but he's in therapy for witnessing his best friend's tragic death. He wants to reach out to Alex's girlfriend to ensure she's okay, but he doesn't know how it will be received. See Jake actually had a crush on Sarah first, but Alex is the one who ended up dating her. Sarah appreciates how she can talk about Alex with him in a way that she can't with his other friends or even Ash. They begin talking on the phone at night because they both have trouble sleeping.

Jake and Sarah have a slow-developing relationship. They start out as acquaintances and almost allies in their grief. They officially build to secret friends and even more. But the hiding and sneaking around threaten what they've built together. They have a story where they both have to work on themselves apart from their relationship. Yes, each character helps the other through their grief and struggles, but neither solves all the problems that the other faces.

Some of my favorite parts of this book are spoilers, so I'll have to leave them out. I did get frustrated with the characters at a time of two. I mean, they are teenagers, so poor decisions are bound to happen. But what I liked most of all was how realistic everything felt. Things that might have been dramatized weren't. Sarah is grieving, but thankfully, she wasn't in love with Alex or her grief would have been even worse. Jake was present, and the two had been drinking, but he's never villanized by their friends or especially Alex's family. Sarah occasionally lies to her mom. I like how her mom doesn't exactly let her off the hook for them even while feeling compassion for her. Yet, Sarah also doesn't like lying even when she does it, she feels really guilty. Not guilty enough not to but...believable. I can't say that I loved Mike and his marijuana usage, but I did like how he seemed to utterly adore Ash. I also liked how the relationship with Buzz played out.

A lot of jumbled ramblings all to say that Someone You Loved gets 4 Stars. Have you read Someone You Loved? What did you think? Let me know!

2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge - Sign Up

The 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge wrapped up, and Holly and I decided we're in this for yet another year. Welcome to our 11th Annual Series Enders Reading Challenge. The rules this year are essentially the same as last year, but please be sure to check them out for a refresher.

This challenge is for all of you series readers who are scared to death of that last book in the series. You anxiously await it. You stalk it. You get your hands on it as soon as possible. But then…you put off reading it for fear that it might not be everything you thought it would be. Or, maybe you just have a backlog of series started and you need to finish that last book.

Join us in knocking out those pesky last books in a series. This is your chance. Here’s your motivation. Better than that, we have prizes!

Challenge Guidelines:

1. This challenge will run from January 1, 2024 until December 31, 2024.
2. Anyone can enter. You don’t have to have a blog just as long as you review your books somewhere: on your blog if you have one, Amazon, Goodreads, etc.
3. Any genre, length, or format is acceptable as long as it is the last book in a series where all books in the series have been published and no more books are currently intended to be published in the series. If an author makes a decision somewhere during the year to add on to the series, we will count both the original last book in the series and the “new last” book in the series assuming the author isn’t going to write more than one additional book. Last book published in a series doesn’t count if more books are expected to be published.
4. You can list your series enders ahead of time, but this is not required. If you decide to list them up front, feel free to change them throughout the year as necessary.
5. When you sign up in the linky, please use the direct link to your post about joining the 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge. If you don’t have a blog, please post about it on Facebook or Twitter and include that direct link as your sign up.
6. You can sign up until December 15, 2024. This allows you to join the challenge at any time during the year.
7. On the 25th of every month, we will post a wrap up on both Somewhere Only We Know and Words Fueled by Love with a linky for you to link up your reviews for the month. The monthly giveaway will be open until the next wrap up post goes up (ex. From January 25th to February 25th). For each link to a review, you will get an (1) entry into a drawing for that giveaway. This will be open internationally. Please link each review separately as each link in the monthly wrap up linky acts as an entry in both the monthly giveaway and the grand prize giveaway at the end of the year.
8. Monthly giveaway prizes will be an e-gift card of your choice up to $5 (USD) from Amazon.com. While the challenge and giveaways are open internationally, please make sure that you can receive e-gift cards via Amazon.com or *BarnesandNoble.com. We want to make sure everyone has an equal opportunity to participate and to receive the prizes. Please remember that Holly and I are funding the giveaways out of our own pockets as something that we want to do, and we would like to continue to do so. *BarnesandNoble.com no longer accepts gift cards under $10. BarnesandNoble.com can be used if you win the Grand Prize, but not the monthly prizes.
9. If you miss a wrap-up post and giveaway, you can link your review the next month. Please do not try to link to one review twice. We will be verifying these.
10. December will be the wrap up for the entire year. All reviews linked from January through December will be entered into a Grand Prize giveaway. Also due to Christmas, the December wrap up will post on December 23rd and will be open until January 23rd.
11. You don’t have to follow Somewhere Only We Know or Words Fueled by Love to participate in the challenge, but you do have to follow both of us in order to be entered in the giveaways.
12. Please make sure we have a valid email address or other means of contacting you if you choose to participate. Linking up to Goodreads is perfectly fine, but we have found that Goodreads is not a reliable source for contacting someone should you be selected as one of the monthly giveaway winners. This could be due to your Goodreads notification settings or Goodreads themselves could be at fault. We're not sure which. And since we want to make sure that everyone who is eligible for one of the giveaways will receive their prize should they win one month or the grand prize at the end of the year, it is up to you to ensure that we can contact you and that you respond within a reasonable amount of time (usually stated in the email notifying you of your winning).

Levels: (how many series enders you are planning to read)

Level 1: 1 – 5
Level 2: 5 – 10
Level 3: 10 – 15
Level 4: 15+

If you have any questions, please contact us at: Sandy's Email or Holly's Email or comment on one of the Series Enders blog posts on either or both of our websites.

To join the challenge:

1. Write a blog post about joining the 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge on your blog. For those of you who would like to participate but don’t have a blog, post about it on Facebook or Twitter.
2. In your post, please include: the button, a link back to the sign up page, a link to both Somewhere Only We Know and Words Fueled by Love, the level you hope to achieve, and (optional) a list of the series you hope to complete.
3. Place the button for the challenge in your sidebar (use the “grab this code” at the bottom of the post here).
4. Link up in the linky using the direct link to your post/tweet/etc.

And that’s it! Welcome to the 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge. Good luck!

This reading challenge is hosted by Somewhere Only We Know & Words Fueled by Love.

<a href="https://sandyfarmer.blogspot.com/2023/12/2024-series-enders-reading-challenge.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuP66t42NZp7tgIrn9XjhX3yYdyz3YogMnGdrpxfo1zb_rj1YqsDw4WbD2Rl8RNPL8WavFGSRt-z4XPI9vDLa4SRMvS6fjvvohgrcUfm4yzKn7ZThCUCvuTZbaBZM6NUeCnVhMW6QqV4KiIZfCM3lMXJZV4ZZPqX1GYaiJYdq3UNCNOgyG8NQFgh1EMk-/s320/2024SeriesEnders%20copy.jpg" height="225" width="225" /></a>

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Sunday Post - 12/24/23

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

This past week has been a blur of all the things. Monday the kids and I worked on gingerbread houses. They weren't as into them this year. I have to say that I thought gingerbread houses would be more fun than they are. I'm debating on skipping them next year. I guess we'll see come next December. Tuesday, I did grocery pickup and then we went to hang out with my parents for the day. Little Girl snagged a lizard from the yard and has been keeping it for a pet this past week. She plans to let it go today, but every day she kind of does the "one more day" thing. I have to say that I've been impressed with her taking care of Lizzie. She's fed and watered her. She's given her a bath and cleaned her jar and refreshed her leaves. Plus she's let her out to play a little each day. I also feel bad for her because I think she should be free. Wednesday we baked Christmas cookies. This was the first year I let Baby Boy join us and boy is it much harder baking with three than with two. And have you guys seen that video of the little boy who keeps trying to eat all the things while baking with his grandmother? That was totally Baby Boy. He wasn't quite as bad or as fast as that little boy in the video, but sheesh, it was still exhausting and stressful trying to keep him from licking all the things. Friday, we also had a Christmas party for our church family at my parent's house. Little Boy started feeling sick. He was pitiful. He ended up running a fever about 3:30 in the morning and because of that he missed Christmas with Husband's side of the family. I took Little Girl and had lunch and then came home for nap time and Husband went over while I stayed home for nap with the boys. Baby Boy wasn't running fever, but his cough was terrible so we kept him home too. Husband has a friend from high school coming to stay with us starting this afternoon for a week. So every free moment I had in between all of that was spent cleaning all the things this week. I mean I cleaned all the things...washed curtains, cleaned ceiling fans, dusted doors and windows and air vents. I shampooed the couch and cleaned under it. I cleaned all the cabinets and all the bedrooms and bathrooms. I vacuumed and mopped. I washed all the linens, the blankets for the couches, the rugs, etc. And yet I still feel there's more that I didn't get to. I'm pooped. I feel like this coming week I plan to relax as much as possible. Anyway, Merry Christmas to everyone! I hope you have a great day and wish you all love and joy!

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of A Mistletoe Mismatch (A Christmas Match, # 4) by Sally Britton (4 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings Me 2023
Thursday: Review of How Great is Our God by Louie Giglio (5 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Merry Christmas to all!
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday?
Thursday: Review of Someone You Loved by Robin Constantine

Don’t forget to link up for the 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2023 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!

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!

2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge - December Wrap Up

Time for our last Monthly Wrap Up for the 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge hosted by Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know and Holly @ Words Fueled by Love!

Neither Sandy nor Holly 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 December giveaway runs from December 23rd - January 25th. On January 25th we will use random.org and the linky entries from the entire year to pull a grand prize winner.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

How Great is Our God - Review

How Great Is Our God: 100 Indescribable Devotions about God and Science

By: Louie Giglio (Illustrator: Nicola Anderson)

Publication: November 5, 2019 by Tommy Nelson

206 pages

Genre: Nonfiction, Children, Religion, Devotion, Science

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Invite children to embark on another adventure to discover more about God and His incredible creation. Based on Louie Giglio's popular messages about science and the Bible,?How Great Is Our God?shows kids the awe-inspiring connection between the natural world and the God who created it.

The bestselling children's devotional? 100 Devotions for Kids About God and Science?resonated with more than 500,000 kids, parents, and teachers. Now Louie Giglio offers 100 more devotions about God and science that will expand the curiosity of kids ages 6–10. Including amazing scientific facts, beautiful photography, and fun illustrations,?How Great Is Our God?covers numerous

Space and timeEarth and weatherThe human bodyAnimalsPlantsAnd more!John 8:12 says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” This mind-bending, not-so-typical devotional will deepen your kids’ awe and appreciation for God's wild imagination and infinitely creative creation, from the pink lake in Senegal to the Earth's trip around the sun to the water-holding frog that can live up to five years without a drink (what?!).

Explore Louie Giglio's other books in the bestselling Indescribable Kids

I started a "daily" devotion with my kids last summer. We did I Am: 40 Reasons to Trust God, and I wanted to continue down the path of learning about who God is for my kids. Yes, the stories are important. What God did in the Bible and through history does show us who God is. But they're getting the basics through Bible class on Sundays. I wanted to take a different approach to my personal teaching with them. So we started with the names of God, and now with How Great is Our God, we're seeing God's character through His creation.

How Great is Our God has a Scripture, a scientific topic which is in turn related back to God, a short prayer, and a related fact concerning the topic. The topics are related to space and time, Earth and weather, the human body, animals, and plants.

My kids are ages 7, 5, and 2. The two year old didn't usually read this with us, but we typically read one of the topics every other night. And once we started homeschool, we incorporated these into our homeschool two days a week. Some days my kids were so excited to hear the topic, and other days they'd sigh and say "awe man." But when they saw I got the two other books, Indescribable and The Wonder of Creation, they were excited.

Theology is where I struggle with going to sources outside of the Bible to teach my children. I want to ensure I'm teaching truth to them. For the most part, How Great is Our God didn't dip into theological areas too much. I did find myself editing somewhere around 3 topics. But this wasn't anything too bad at all. As for theology, I highly recommend this book.

Sometimes when I'm reading a religious book I find that what I'm going through in life will directly relate to what I'm reading about. That didn't happen as much as I expected, but that's probably just the nature of the content. It did happen in one specific topic that stands out in my mind, and I did tear up reading that one. My child I'd been struggling with parenting that particular day did stare at me in wonder when the book addressed the exact thing we'd been discussing earlier that day. The last several topics I found to be the best in the book.

How Great is Our God is a great option for a regular devotion with your child(ren), especially if your children are interested in science at all. The topics are short enough not to lose a child's attention but filled with goodness through and through. How Great is Our God gets 5 Stars. Have you read How Great is Our God ? What did you think? Let me know!

Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings 2023

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 Hope Santa Brings 2023

1. Running Wild (The Simple Wild, # 4) by KA Tucker
2. Cursed (Gilded, # 2) by Marissa Meyer
3. A Soul of Blood and Ash (Blood and Ash, # 5) by Jennifer L Armentrout
4. A Return to Hawthorne House (Hawthorne House, # 5) by Kristi Ann Tucker
5. Light Bringer (Red Rising, # 6) by Pierce Brown
6. Committing to the Cowgirl (Colorado Cowgirls, # 1) by Jody Hedlund
7. Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Child's Heart to the Beauty of Learning by Sally Clarkson
8. The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin
9. Moonlight and Magic (Betwixt & Between, # 4) by Darynda Jones
10. Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne M.Ed.

Which books are on your winter 2023 TBR list? Let me know!

A Mistletoe Mismatch - Review

A Mistletoe Mismatch (A Christmas Match, # 4)

By: Sally Britton

Expected Publication: November 23, 2021 by Pink Citrus Books, LLC

182 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Clean Romance, Christmas

Source: YouTube Audiobooks

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--If Jessica and Ellis can put the past behind them to work together, it will be a Christmas miracle. Childhood enemies fight to end one relationship while trying not to fall into one of their own.

Christmas comes but once a year -- a relief for Jessica Nettle, because that means she need only see the horrid Mr. Webb when he visits his cousin. Jessica has been at war with Mr. Webb for as long as she can remember. What started as children playing pranks has grown to a competitive feud. This year promises to be the worst of all, especially when Jessica learns that her sister is falling in love with that cousin. A match between the two of them would be a disaster.

Ellis Webb spends every Christmas in the country with his cousin. The holiday is one of the highlights of his year, despite the prickly Miss Nettle's attempts to ruin it for him. This year, Ellis's cousin has a mind to marry, and he's looking with increasing interest at Miss Nettle's younger sister. Such a marriage, with such a family, will surely end in disappointment and broken hearts. When Miss Nettle proposes to Ellis that they join forces to keep the ill-fated couple apart, he swallows his distaste and agrees to her plan.

Amid the merriment of celebrations, Jessica and Ellis scheme to keep two hearts apart. But as the days pass and the magic of season works upon Jessica, she realizes she may have lost her clever game -- and her heart -- to her childhood enemy.

A Mistletoe Mismatch was the cutest story. Jessica's family has always been close with their neighbors. I can't remember their last name, but Franklin is the oldest of the neighbor's sons, and Ellis is his cousin. Ellis has been coming to spend the summer and Christmas with his cousins since his youth. Jessica developed a crush on Ellis, and when she was 14 or 15, he broke her heart. She has been pranking him ever since.

Jessica is a flawed character, it's true. She got hurt, and she's sought to hurt Ellis in return ever since. Normally, I'm against this behavior. But since we don't learn everything at once, I found their rivalry funny. The pranks she's pulled made me giggle. Of course, I would never condone someone behaving this way in real life. And Ellis was so patient with her, never retaliating in return. He doesn't have a clue why they went from childhood friends to rivals.

But the two make a truce in order to sort through the business of Franklin's pursuit of Jessica's sister. Again, I can't remember her name. And since I listened to the audiobook instead of reading this one, I can't just so look it up easily. Regardless, Jessica's dismissal of Frank's interest was a little annoying--perhaps the most annoying part of the book to me. But I guess she had some trauma she needed to unpack before she could wrap her head around it. Ellis wanted to ensure his cousin wouldn't change his feelings and damage a long-standing relationship between the two families.

I loved Aunt Temperance and her little dog. I liked how her meddling was helpful and impactful for one sister and painful for the other. Sometimes good intentions still cause pain.

When all is said and done, I enjoyed this enemies-to-lovers tale. Jessica grows in much-needed ways. Ellis also sees where he's been wrong in the past. Two happily-every afters. What's not to like? A Mistletoe Mismatch gets 4 Stars. Have you read A Mistletoe Mismatch? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 12/17/23

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 a normal day for us. School in the morning and afternoon. Tuesday, we went to the library and picked up groceries. Then we came home to put groceries away and eat lunch. After lunch we went up to a local church that has a playground open to the public. The kids were the only ones there, but again they played with each other so well. We got home and did afternoon school. Wednesday was our only other normal day of the week with morning and afternoon school again. Thursday, Husband was off work for the rest of the week. We took the kids to see Santa. We always wander around Bass Pro Shop while we're there. Then we went to lunch. And finally we took the kids "sibling shopping." We usually go to Five Below and just let them pick out gifts to buy for each other. That was more stressful for me this year because Baby Boy is almost three so he was trying to grab everything while I was helping Little Girl shop. But we succeeded. The bigger kids are finally getting to a point where behavior is much better out in public, in restuarants and on trips. When we got home, Husband had to turn around and go out to get some gifts that we haven't been able to nail down yet. And I helped the kids wrap their presents to each other. Thursday was also our last school day for the Christmas break. Friday, Little Girl went to Baby Boy's school with him to be a teacher helper. She'd begged the 4 year old teacher she had when she was there to let her come help in her classroom one day, and we decided that the last day before Christmas break would be the best time. She was so excited. Baby Boy's class had their Christmas partry. I went shopping for stocking stuffers, mailed my Christmas cards, and then came home to get ready. We went straight to my parent's house after getting Little Girl and Baby Boy from school because we were celebrating Christmas with my side of the family this year. Our family is getting bigger and bigger. The first round of grandkids for my parents are getting married and having babies of their own so we have a much bigger crew than years passed. We had a really good visit with everyone. The older I get the more I appreciate these times we get to spend with one another. Saturday was my greatniece's birthday party. She turns two next week. Her party was at this giant park in Auburn. We had a good time celebrating her. How about you guys? Are you finished with your Christmas preparations? Kids out of school yet?

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of A Duchess for the Duke (Claivoir Castle Romance, # 0.5) by Sally Britton (4 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Winter 2023 TBR List
Thursday: Review of Lord Farleigh & Miss Frost (Claivoir Castle Romance, # 4) by Sally Britton (4 Stars)
Friday: Review of Champion of Fate (Heromaker, # 1) by Kendare Blake (3 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Mistletoe Mismatch (A Christmas Match, # 4) by Sally Britton
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday?
Thursday: Review of How Great Is Our God by Louie Giglio

Don’t forget to link up for the 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2023 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!

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!

Champion of Fate - Review

Champion of Fate (Heromaker, # 1)

By: Kendare Blake

Expected Publication: September 19, 2023

480 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Behind every great hero is an Aristene.

Aristene are mythical female warriors, part of a legendary order. Though heroes might be immortalized in stories, it’s the Aristene who guide them to victory. They are the Heromakers.

Ever since she was an orphan taken in by the order, Reed has wanted to be an Aristene. Now, as an initiate, just one challenge stands in her way: she must shepherd her first hero to glory on the battlefield. Succeed, and Reed will take her place beside her sisters. Fail, and she’ll be cast from the only home she’s ever known.

Nothing is going to stop Reed--until she meets her hero. Hestion is fiery and infuriating, but what begins as an alliance becomes more, and as secrets of the order come to light Reed begins to understand what becoming an Aristene may truly cost. Battle looming, she must choose: the order and the life she had planned, or Hestion, and the one she never expected.

I missed the Anna Dressed in Blood craze back in 2011 and 2012. But I did read Three Dark Crowns and One Dark Throne. I liked the synopsis, but the execution of these books fell flat for me. I decided to DNF the series after book 2. With that said, I went into Champion of Fate hesitantly. After series like Throne of Glass or Fourth Wing or shoot even The Hunger Games and Divergent, the synopsis behind this book had a lot to live up to as well. I was nervous that the execution would fall short with this book as well.

Champion of Fate had a slow start with the three girls training. Reed and her two friends are as close as sisters. Of course, it's easy to be that way when they are the only ones around to be friends. Reed has this spark that's somehow visible to some of the Airestne warriors. She was chosen at an early age to train. Lyonene is the most natural of the three girls. She is fierce. Gretchen is perhaps the nicest. They are all working towards becoming Aristene Warriors.

The concept of the Aristene tripped me up at times. They are the force behind many men and women destined to be great throughout history. But the Aristene themselves are not to be remembered. I didn't see how this concept was possible. Reed connects with so many other people besides Hestion. I can't think of any specific examples at the moment, but as I was reading this book, I kept thinking that there were holes in the concept of the Aristene.

Hestion and Reed have been fated since Reed was young, and she saw his face in the well when she wasn't supposed to. He's been in her dreams ever since. Because of this, she feels a connection to him. She feels like she knows him. And while it isn't forbidden for an Aristene and her warrior to have a relationship, the relationship can't last. The Aristene always move on. Mortal as they are, the warriors will eventually die. Hestion is all about trying to have a relationship with Reed, but Reed fights it. I think because she knows that if she allows herself to go there, she will fall and fall hard.

Just as I was getting interested in the story and the characters, things started taking a turn in a direction that I wasn't excited about. And the ending left me feeling uninterested in continuing the series.

Favorite quotes:

-...you are are so afraid to fail. But if you don't fail here then your first failure will be real--and you will be dead.

-"If you fight only for glory I will tell you now: the glory isn't worth it."

Ultimately, Champion of Fate fell a little flat for me. The beginning was slow. I was driven for a while by the potential romance. But the ended left me wanting...not in a good way. And I felt like the concept of the Aristene had some holes that didn't make sense. All of that left me uninterested in continuing the series. Champion of Fate gets 3 Stars. Have you read Champion of Fate? What did you think? Let me know!

Lord Farleigh & Miss Frost - Review

Lord Farleigh and Miss Frost (Clairvoir Castle Romances, # 4)

By: Sally Britton

Publication: November 21, 2022

253 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Romance

Source: YouTube Audiobooks

( 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--An Irish miss and a duke's son have little in common, but Christmas at the castle has a way of bringing the most unlikely people together.

Isleen Frost wishes her family had stayed in Dublin for Christmas but understands it would have been folly to decline an invitation to the Duke of Montfort’s Christmastide house party. Isleen refuses to allow the opulent castle and powerful duke to impress her. But the duke’s eldest son, Lord Farleigh, is another matter entirely.

Raised as the heir to a duke, Simon Dinard, Lord Farleigh, has learned to project a calm self-assurance despite an inner fear he will never be as confident a leader as his father. When a friendly wager and a spirited Irish lady challenge all his unspoken thoughts, he determines to prove her wrong—and ignore the growing attraction between them.

Christmas celebrations at the castle are always full of surprises, but Isleen and Simon are not at all prepared for the feelings the season inspires between them. An Irish miss and a duke’s son have no business falling in love. But the magic of sleigh rides, snow-covered hills, and mistletoe might change their minds...

This novel is a sweet Regency romance and can be read as a stand-alone, though readers of the previous books will enjoy seeing old friends again.

Simon is the future Duke of Montfort. He is used to women and matchmaking mamas attempting to catch him in various forms. Either they want to catch his eye by flirting or catch him by trapping him in situations that would require him to marry. He's become jaded and conceited about women's attention. So he is refreshed to meet Miss Frost who has no designs to lure him into her web.

Miss Frost is simply visiting England with her brother and family as her brother attempts to strengthen his political alliances. She is supportive of her brother, but she is also sensitive about her Irish heritage. I suppose she is expecting to be viewed as lesser because of it. But she is feisty. And like A Companion for the Count, Miss Frost and Simon get pulled into a friendly wager by their friends. It is an attempt to get Simon to lighten up and enjoy a bit of frivolity, which has been lacking in his life the last few years.

Simon and Isleen have such a sweet romance. I loved the humor in this book. And I had some secondhand embarrassment for Simon with some of the tasks he was assigned. But he took it all in stride and good humor.

Whereas Sally Britton said at the beginning of the series that she needed to write something lessy heavy, something simply sweet and happy as an escape from real world events of the pandemic, the books have progressively gotten more intense with their plotlines. I still wouldn't classify Lord Farleigh & Miss Frost as intense exactly, but I wanted to illustrate the progression of the conflict.

Lord Farleigh & Miss Frost easily gets 4 Stars. This might have been my favorite book in the series. I hope that Sally Britton continues exploring these characters as we still have 3 siblings left--although they are younger than the ones we've read about so far. Have you read (or listened to) Lord Farleigh & Miss Frost? What did you think? Let me know!

Top Ten Winter 2023 TBR List

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 Winter 2023 TBR List

1. Fairest of Heart (Texas Ever After, # 1) by Karen Witemeyer
2. Rocky Mountain Promise (Sisters of the Rockies, # 2) by Misty M Beller
3. The Trial of the Sun Queen (Artefacts of Ouranos, # 1) by Nisha J. Tuli
4. Calling on the Matchmaker (A Shanahan Match, # 1) by Jody Hedlund
5. Dark Age (Red Rising Trilogy, # 5) by Pierce Brown
6. Finding Us (Pictures of the Heart, # 2) by Tracie Peterson
7. Love, Just In by Natalie Murray
8. The Getaway List by Emma Lord
9. Blood and Steel (The Legends of Thezmarr, # 1) by Helen Scheuerer
10. Tree. Table. Book. by Lois Lowry

Which books are on your winter 2023 TBR list? Let me know!