Return to Satterthwaite Court - Review

Return to Satterthwaite Court (Somerset Stories, # 3)

By: Mimi Matthews

Publication: April 11th 2023 by Perfectly Proper Press

? pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

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--A reckless Victorian heiress sets her sights on a dashing ex-naval lieutenant, determined to win his heart as the two of them embark on a quest to solve a decades-old mystery in the long-awaited sequel to USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews’s critically acclaimed novels The Work of Art and Gentleman Jim.

Lieutenant Charles Heywood has had his fill of adventure. Battle-weary and disillusioned, he returns to England, resolved to settle down to a quiet, uneventful life on an estate of his own. But arranging to purchase the property he desires is more difficult than Charles ever imagined. The place is mired in secrets, some of which may prove deadly. If he’s going to unravel them, he’ll need the assistance of someone as daring as he is.

At only twenty, Lady Katherine Beresford has already earned a scandalous reputation. As skilled with pistols as she is on horseback, she’s never met an obstacle she can’t surmount—or a man she can’t win. That is, until she encounters the infuriatingly somber Lieutenant Heywood. But Kate refuses to be deterred by the raven-haired soldier’s strong, silent facade. After all, faint heart never won handsome gentleman.

From the wilds of rural Somersetshire to the glittering ballrooms of early-Victorian London, Charles and Kate embark on a cross-country quest to solve a decades’ old mystery. Will the greatest danger be to their hearts—or to their lives?

I'm a little miffed because I always get denied for Mimi Matthew's books published through Victory Editing/Perfectly Proper Press. And it makes me angry. I was just denied book 3 in this series before I sat down to review this book, so I might not be in the best frame of mind. BUT I must remind myself that it isn't this book or Mimi Matthew's fault. Whoever is the gatekeeper of these egalleys needs to let me in! Rant over.

It took me way too long to figure out how everyone was connected and how the characters in this book fit in with the characters from the previous two books in the Somerset Stories series. But sheesh, I did read The Work of Art back in 2019 for goodness sakes even though it took me until this past December to get around to Gentleman Jim since I didn't receive a review copy of it. Too much time has passed for me to remember the specifics of book 1 enough to connect the dots. So I'll save you the time. Lieutenant Charles Heywood is the son of Philly and Captain Arthur Heywood from The Work of Art, and Lady Katherine Beresford is the daughter of Margaret & John Beresford (aka Nicholas) from Gentleman Jim.

Katherine is a lot like her mother. Fiesty and not one to entirely follow the rules. She follows her own path. And when she unintentionally meets Lt. Charles Heywood on the streets of London as he is rescuing a street dog, she feels a connection and a spark of interest that she hasn't felt yet in her life. More than anything, Katherine is searching for a hero to sweep her off her feet. She is bored with all of the other options and men she's met in her first season and in her neighborhood. So, she does whatever she can to throw herself into Charles's path. And honestly, I really enjoyed this change-up. I don't think I've ever read a historical fiction book from this time period where a female character so relentlessly pursued the male character before.

Charles isn't sure what to think about Katherine, especially when she so openly pursues him. But his mind is a little preoccupied with a mysterious note he receives that seems to be threatening his mother. Katherine worms her way into the quest to solve the mystery, and Charles finds that he can't (and he doesn't want to) shake Katherine's presence and help.

I'm not normally a huge fan of mysteries. I find that if they are written in a way where things are obvious but the characters miss them, I get annoyed. If I can figure out the information before the characters, I sometimes feel disappointed. Yet if the author doesn't provide enough information for me to even make a guess I often feel cheated. I need just the right mix of figuring things out before the characters and being completely surprised in order to enjoy a mystery on its own. This wasn't the perfect mix for me, but since the romance drove the story for me, I didn't mind too much.

Favorite quotes:

-"Life can't always be exciting," Christine said. "Sometimes we must put our heads down and get on with the business of a lady's day-to-day. There's happiness to be found in the quiet moments. In being industrious and obliging mothers and wives."

-"Don't tempt me, Kate. I can't keep resisting you forever." "I wish you wouldn't resist me at all..."

-"Pursue me there, as I've pursued you."

I did enjoy Katherine's habit of blazing her own trail. She knew what she wanted, and she went after it with a gusto that can only be appreciated. But Charles did his work too. And these two might end up being a favorite couple of mine come the end of the year. Time will tell. I can't wait to see what's going to happen next when we return to the feud between Nicholas and Frederick. Return to Satterthwaite Court gets 4 Stars. Have you read Return to Satterthwaite Court? What did you think? Let me know!

2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge - November Wrap Up

Time for our 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 November giveaway runs from November 25th - December 25th. On December 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

Philippa Holds Court - Review

Philippa Holds Court (Clavering Chronicles, # 2)

By: Jennie Goutet

Publication: March 1, 2021 by KDP Select

232 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: YouTube Audiobook

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--She’s capable of many things—including driving him mad.

At the start of their London Season, Philippa Clavering discovers her friend, Susan, is being pursued by the wrong gentleman and decides to turn Susan’s head to a worthier suitor. Not one to shrink from what she views as her duty and gift, Philippa sets in motion plans to bring about the happy ending her friend deserves. What she does not expect is to have Susan’s older brother watching—and criticizing—her every move.

After a respectable number of years on the town, Jack Blythefield is at last contemplating the idea of settling down. What he seeks is a compliant wife to provide him an heir or two and make his home comfortable, while he spends his evenings at the club where a man can get some peace. What he does not need is a termagant who sets his life on end with madcap schemes, which invariably involve his unwilling assistance.

However, when the reputation of Jack’s family is threatened, Philippa is the one he turns to. And as her most determined suitor grows assured of his conquest, Jack must decide if a comfortable and docile wife is truly what he seeks, or if he should throw down the gauntlet of his heart before Philippa closes court. Philippa Holds Court is the second in the Clavering Chronicles series, after A Fall from Grace, and it is a clean & wholesome Regency romance, written in the traditional style.

Philippa was a side character from A Fall from Grace. It is not her turn to debut into society. Miranda is handling most of her social calendar, and it seems like she is pushing Philippa towards people who will better her own status or her husband's political agendas. Philippa seeks to be in control of her own destiny, or at the very least, she hopes her brothers will step up and help her to get out from under Miranda's thumb. One of the bright spots for Philippa is a friend she's come to be close to. Her friend is meek and I was a little disappointed to see Philippa criticize her friend's intelligence, but I suppose not everyone is on the same intellectual level, and not acknowledging this doesn't make it untrue. Thankfully, she never said anything to her friend about this which would have been inexcusable. As a matter of fact, Philippa does everything she can to help Susan come out of her reserved shell.

Jack is Susan's brother. At first, he is completely annoyed by Philippa. She seems to be turning up everywhere, and she's infiltrated his house to the point where he can't even use his home as a sanctuary. But he learns that Philippa has an interest in politics, and she's very good at reading people and hosting.

I don't remember Philippa Holds Court as being too filled with drama. The biggest thing I remember is Miranda directing Philippa toward a man that Philippa refuses to entertain, she seeks refuge in Lucius's home and her relationship with Selena grows. Jack is seeking a wife but in the wrong place. He's searching for who he thinks he should need by his side to help him politically, but the woman he's interested in doesn't have the guts he needs to stand by his side.

Philippa Holds Court is even better than A Fall from Grace in my opinion. I liked the overall characters and their paths a little bit better. I felt so bad for Philippa being bandied about as a tool for her sister. And I enjoyed the journey. Stevie Zimmerman does a great job as she did before. I've added her to my favorite audiobook narrators. Philippa Holds Court gets 4 Stars. Have you read (or listened to) Philippa Holds Court? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 11/19/23

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.

We had a good week. School went really well this week. Tuesday we did library and the park. We did have a blip at the park, but it ended up okay. Thursday we had a puppy playdate with some friends who have twelve puppies right now. I think they were hoping we would want one. And I did, but I don't think it's the right time for us to get one. We will get a dog or two in the future, but I want to have all my kids potty trained completely first. Baby Boy is doing really well with potty training, but I'm still not ready to add basically a newborn on top of our already packed schedule. They have the puppies for a few more weeks before they will go to new homes, so we get to go visit them again. Saturday we had a nice walk and then the kids went to Grammy's house to make homemade pizzas for lunch. I ended up doing some major house cleaning. Like dusting the crown molding and vacuuming and mopping and even some painting.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Of Jasmine and Roses by Jill E Warner (4 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for With a Little Luck by Marissa Meyer
Friday: Review of My First Prayer and Gratitude Journal by Pia Imperial (4 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Phillipa Holds Court (Clavering Chronicles, # 2) by Jennie Goutet
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday?
Saturday: 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge - November Wrap Up

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!

NEW BOOKS:

How to Plot Payback

By: Melissa Ferguson

Expected Publication: April 2, 2024 by Thomas Nelson

336 pages

Genre: 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--She’s been muddling his plans for years—now he’s the writer for the beloved character she plays on television, and it’s time for payback. Murders have just become so tedious . Finn Masters has been in the business of murders for five years. Writing murders for the television drama Higher Stakes , that is. And he’s more than ready to move up the corporate ladder until, ideally, he gets his own show about almost anything else. So when an unbelievable offer is presented to him—becoming the supervising producer in none other than the nation’s most popular ongoing sitcom, Neighbors —it’s an opportunity he can’t pass up. Despite the fact that the star of the show and of America’s heart is Lavender Rhodes. And everybody loves her. Except him. And for good reason. Because Lavender Rhodes is generous to everyone. But there’s a figurative price to pay for the fortune she bestows time and time again upon those in need, and the one who always ends up “paying” it, unbeknownst to her, is him. Finally, after she unknowingly destroyed his acting career, accidentally wrecked his relationship with the love of his life, and inadvertently begins to tear his new job to shreds, he’s had enough. He’s now the writer for the beloved character she plays on television. And it’s time for payback.

The Lily of Ludgate Hill (Belles of London, # 3)

By: Mimi Matthews

Expected Publication: January 1, 2024 by Berkley

? pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Fortune favors the bold—but is a confirmed spinster daring enough to loosen the reins and accept a favor from the wicked gentleman who haunts her dreams?

Lady Anne Deveril doesn’t spook easily. A woman of lofty social standing known for her glacial beauty and starchy opinions, she’s the unofficial leader of her small group of equestriennes. Since her mother’s devastating plunge into mourning six years ago, Anne voluntarily renounced any fanciful notions of love and marriage. And yet, when fate puts Anne back into the entirely too enticing path of Mr. Felix Hartford, she’s tempted to run…right into his arms.

No one understands why Lady Anne withdrew into the shadows of society, Hart least of all. The youthful torch he once held for her has long since cooled. Or so he keeps telling himself. But now Anne needs a favor to help a friend. Hart will play along with her little ruse—on the condition that Anne attend a holiday house party at his grandfather’s country estate. No more mourning clothes. No more barriers. Only the two of them, unrequited feelings at last laid bare.

Finally free to gallop out on her own, Anne makes the tantalizing discovery that beneath the roguish exterior of her not-so-white knight is a man with hidden depths, scorching passions—and a tender heart.

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!

My First Prayer and Gratitude Journal - Review

My First Prayer and Gratitude Journal: Daily Blessings and Bible Verses for Kids

By: Pia Imperial

Publication: January 9, 2024 by Grosset & Dunlap

80 pages

Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction, Religious, Christian, Devotional & Prayer

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (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--The perfect first journal for young ones beginning their journey of faith.

Complete with devotional prayers and daily bible verses, this thoughtfully designed journal encourages kids to be grateful for all the blessings in their life.

I started homeschooling my two oldest children this year. And one of the things I want to work with them both on is being grateful. In our home, we are blessed far above what we deserve. We don't deserve all that much. And yet, because we don't lack much of what we need or want, we often take for granted the blessings of life that God has given us. I want my children to be mindful and aware of all they have. So when I saw My First Prayer and Gratitude Journal, I knew I wanted to grab it for my kids to try out. My daughter is 8, and my son is 6. He's only in kindergarten right now, so doing this gratitude journal is a lot of writing for him. I ultimately decided that he doesn't have to fill it in yet, but it will be something I want him to do in the future. My daughter has been doing it every day.

There's a place for the date, a range of smiley-frowny faces the child can choose from for their mood of the day, and a section that says "I'm thankful for _____ because ________________." The gratitude journal also has a section for three blessings the day has brought and a Bible verse for the day or a moment of reflection with a question to be answered.

My daughter doesn't always enjoy filling this in, but as with children, they don't always know what's best for them. And even adults don't always want to do the things that are good for us either. I require her to continue to fill it in even if she doesn't want to. But for the most part, she's learned that this is just a part of her day, and she doesn't fight it. I've been interested in seeing what she's thankful for. It's also allowed us to discuss doing a task to the best of our abilities versus just trying to complete it so we can mark it off the list of things to do. But again, even adults don't always do their tasks at level 100 every time. Some days she impresses me with what she writes that she's thankful for that particular day.

I do hesitate to call this a prayer journal. We certainly should make sure not only that we're noting the things we're grateful for, but that we're also thanking God for those things in prayer. Yet, I don't see much in the way of prompting the child to do so. There are prompts in the moments of reflection that ask the child questions to make them think, and sometimes it tells them to write about an experience or how we can show our love to God. I wish there was a little more prompting to pray and offer thanksgiving to God in the daily layout. But I also understand they have limited space to utilize.

My First Prayer and Gratitude Journal is a good starting place for creating a daily habit in your child's life of looking for things to be grateful for. I like Scripture included in every other day's format. Every day would be even better. I do wish there was a more directed approach to guiding the child in prayer prompts. But as I said, this is a good first step. I would love to see this company offer a step up in the process as a second book option which would be a little more detailed. I see big benefits from doing this, and I love starting the kids young. I would recommend My First Prayer and Gratitude Journal for others starting their kids in this habit. I give My First Prayer and Gratitude Journal 4 Stars. I would give it 5 if there was more prompting to pray or guidance for the children in that area. Have you read or used My First Prayer and Gratitude Journal? If so, what did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for With a Little Luck

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.

With a Little Luck

By: Marissa Meyer

Expected Publication: February 13, 2024 by Feiwel & Friends

368 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--After being magically gifted with incredible luck, a boy discovers this gift just may be a curse when it comes to love, in this YA novel by #1 New York Times -bestselling author Marissa Meyer.

Jude is determined to fly under the radar. He just wants to draw his comics, host regular D&D night with his friends, work at his parents’ vinyl record store, and escape high school as unscathed as possible. That is, until the night he comes across a mysterious twenty-sided dice and finds himself inexplicably gifted with a bout of supernatural good luck.

Suddenly, everything Jude has ever wanted is within reach. His first art submission is accepted to his favorite fanzine. He helps his friend’s song become a finalist in a songwriting competition. And he’s the 100th caller to a local radio contest, winning him a pair of coveted concert tickets, which he uses to ask out the popular girl he’s been crushing on since elementary school. For a few blissful weeks, he feels invincible.

But when he loses the magic dice at a local music festival, his luck takes a turn for the worse. He struggles to reclaim his good fortune while fighting off long-buried feelings for his best friend―who is definitely not the girl he’s supposed to be in love with. Can Jude risk stepping into the spotlight long enough to win the true girl of his dreams? Or is he doomed to be unlucky in love forever?

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

Of Jasmine and Roses - Review

Of Jasmine and Roses

By: Jill E Warner

Publication: November 14, 2023

256 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

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--Orphaned as a child, Anna Beasley was raised alongside her titled cousin in the high Society of the ton. But part-Indian Anna knows better than anyone that appearances trump social grace, even to those who raised her. After the loss of both her inheritance and her adoptive family’s support, work as a governess seems to be Anna’s only path forward . . . until she meets a man who is completely unattainable, and she feels seen and accepted for the first time. Aspiring politician William Thaxton had no intention of falling in love with a governess. But from his first embarrassing encounter with Anna, he knew she was exceptional. As William gets to know Anna better, he can’t help falling in love with her, despite the infuriating stumbling block that her social status presents. As they navigate intolerance, cruelty, and William’s own ambitions, William and Anna must prove that love knows no boundaries and that the heart doesn’t play by Society’s rules.

Anna's mother married an Indian man and moved to India. When her mother died, her father was grief-ridden, and with prodding from her mother's sister, he sent Anna to live with her and be raised with her mother's family. Anna's aunt always doted on her as her only tie to her deceased sister. And Anna was raised right alongside her cousins. Anna's uncle gets into a tight financial situation due to a scammer, so Anna refuses to burden their family anymore with her expenses and seeks employment as a governess. Her first position didn't go well, but Anna has finally found a position that she thinks she can last at.

The lady of the house is new to nobility. Her deceased husband made his money as a merchant, and she remarried after he passed to a lord who needed her finances. Although, they seem to have a good relationship. Anna offers much advice to the lady of the house over the proper way the gentry and nobility houses and such work just as much as the role she plays in teaching the lady's two daughters. The older daughter refuses to take much advice from Anna as she's in those lovely teenage years where they think they know everything there is to know. Yet she's also been sheltered from the world of ruined reputations. The youngest daughter has taken to Anna, and they share a special relationship. Because the lady relies upon Anna, she calls her to be a guest and chaperone to the elder daughter at a house party they are hosting. Anna protests, but her pleas go unheard.

The description states that William is an aspiring politician. But the truth is that William's family has aspirations of him being a politician. William isn't sure what he wants to do with his life beyond that, so he follows along. William and Anna meet when she and the youngest daughter are taking a walk and find him lost on his way to the house party. I did find it odd that he later said he grew up visiting the neighboring estate but didn't seem to know his way to their house.

As it turns out, William's twin brother is now engaged to Anna's cousin and are attending the house party, along with Anna's aunt and another cousin. I was surprised, along with Anna, to find what seemed like hostility on the part of Anna's cousins toward her when she only has fond memories of growing up with the two of them. Anna's aunt, however, treats her like a daughter. I found this area to be one of the most interesting conflicts. William's twin brother irritated me so much, and even Anna's cousin (I can't remember anyone's name, hardly).

Hopefully, without giving too much away, Anna's biggest obstacle was her own view of herself and her heritage. She has let society's worst tell her her value, and she's believed them. How can she believe that William can love her when she can't even believe in her aunt and uncle's feelings toward her?

I did enjoy Of Jasmine and Roses. I wish I hadn't let nearly a month go by before writing my review. I liked Anna and her journey to finding her own worth along with her journey with William. Of Jasmine and Roses gets 4 Stars from me. Have you read Of Jasmine and Roses? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 11/12/23

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.

I did end up taking Baby Boy to the doctor on Monday. He did have a double ear infection and pink eye. So he was home with us while I tried to do school with the big kids. Boy that was more difficult than I expected. Tuesday was a mostly normal day, except I cooked chicken and dumplings to take to my niece who recently had her second baby. I took the big kids with me to drop it off at her house and we got to meet the baby. We didn't stay long, but he was so sweet and sleepy and little. Wednesday was a mostly normal day, thankfully. Thursday, we ran to the store to shop for our Samaritan's Purse shoeboxes. We did one boy and one girl box. I've done these before with work, but this is the first year I've done one with the kids. I wanted them to be involved in picking out the items and such. I got to the car after checking out and realized that there was a chapstick we didn't pay for. So we went back into the store to pay for it, and that gave me a great opportunity to talk to the kids about how I could have left without paying for it. The kids didn't know. The store didn't know. But I knew, and God knew. And that even though it took a little more effort, going back to the store to pay for it was the right thing to do. As soon as we got home they packed their boxes, and we had lunch. After lunch, we had a lemonade stand to give out lemonade to our neighbors. It was an opportunity to say thank you to our neighbors. We had several neighbors insist on paying us, and that actually provided a wonderful chance to teach the kids about how generosity often comes back to us. Of course, that's not the reason why we choose to be generous. We ended up doing part of our school work outside at the lemonade stand. And we had some friends come over to visit with us for a while. Friday, we took the day off school. We went to my parents' house. Little Girl asked my mom to teach her how to crochet. She did a little bit, but she lost interest once my sister and niece arrived. The kids spent the night there with my parents, sister, and niece. Husband and I had an impromptu date night out to eat, Hobby Lobby, and Walmart. Then we watched some TV. Saturday morning, I got up and cleaned Baby Boy's room. It isn't easy to do when he's home since my best times are when he's asleep. Then Saturday we went to lunch at my parents' house to celebrate November family birthdays.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Never Wager with a Wallflower (The Merriwell Sisters, # 3) by Virginia Heath (3.5 Stars)
Thursday: Review of Pixels and Paint (The Trinkett Sisters, # 1) by Kristi Ann Hunter (4 Stars)
Friday: Review of The Earl's Hideaway, No Ladie's Allowed (A Romance of Rank, # 2) by Esther Hatch (3.5 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Never Wager with a Wallflower (The Merriwell Sisters, # 3) by Virginia Heath
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday?
Thursday: Review of Pixels and Paint (The Trinket Sisters, # 1) by Kristi Ann Hunter
Friday: Review of The Earl's Hideaway, No Ladies Allowed (A Romance of Rank, # 2) by Esther Hatch

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!

NEW BOOKS:

Iron Flame (The Empyrean, # 2)

By: Rebecca Yarros

Publication: November 7, 2023 by Entangled: Red Tower Books

640 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Dragons

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--“The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.” —Xaden Riorson

Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.

Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.

Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.

But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.

Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.

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!

The Earl's Hideaway, No Ladies Allowed - Review

The Earl's Hideaway, No Ladies Allowed (A Romance of Rank, # 2)

By: Esther Hatch

Publication: December 30th 2022

352 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

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--If there is one woman Samson Rutherford, Earl of Riverton, can’t abide, it is his meddling sister. He has spent his whole life being a pawn in her plans and tricks, but when one of her schemes leaves him dressed in women’s clothing, he has finally had enough. He cannot beat her at her games, or even say no to her, his only option to save his sanity and pride is to run away--and fortunately, his solicitor knows just the place…

Florence Wallace wasn’t born to be a governess, but with her family’s fall from grace, she has become one. A good one. However, when the chance arises to stay at her uncle’s home so she can care for his horticulture project while he is absent, she jumps at the chance. Leaving her position, she plans to gather her sisters together so they can be a family again--even if it is only for a little while.

But the last thing Florence expected to find upon her arrival was her childhood friend. Samson has sequestered himself at the cottage and claims to have been invited to watch over her uncle’s business while he is away. But Florence insists that’s what she’s been asked to do. The quiet retreat is what they both need, but who will get to stay?

Not Samson, because he has never gotten the better of a woman, not since… well, not since Florence let him kiss her years ago…

Come to think of it, perhaps it is time for Samson to win after all.

Samson is surrounded by bossy women. He has nothing but sisters. I can't remember how many. And specifically, he has a twin sister, Dru, who seems set on making his life miserable. He has never been able to say no to Dru, but she seems to have turned her pranks into spiteful attacks over the recent past. He doesn't know what sparked the change in their relationship, but he knows one thing: he has got to get away and get some peace for a while. I truly felt bad for him.

Catherine grew up with Samson, Dru, and her best friend, Meg (one of Samson's sisters). While participating in a play that Dru put on, Samson once kissed Catherine, and everything changed for her after that. She couldn't see him the same anymore. When Catherine's parents lost their fortune, she thought Samson might offer for her, but he never did. She is still trying to recover from her heartbreak. But to make matters worse, her parents sacrificed herself and her two sisters to save face in front of their peers as much as possible. Catherine views this time at her uncle's cottage as an opportunity to reconnect with her sisters, who have been apart for some time.

I struggled to believe that Samson and Catherine could possibly have come to the idea that sharing the cottage wouldn't have repercussions. Society's strict rules would have demanded either they marry or Catherine's reputation would have been ruined. These two knew that. And yet they proceeded to walk a path they knew didn't have a good ending. I always struggle with characters pursuing the easy path based on desires and not reason. I mean, I don't want them to be unfeeling, and of course, we all struggle with doing the right thing sometimes. But I want to read about characters with strong moral standards. Samson and Catherine didn't do anything truly scandalous or wrong.

Favorite quotes:

-"Better to be a prat of my own choosing than have someone make a prat out of me."

-He forfeited, because he always would prefer to let the other person win.

That last quote reminds me of my husband.

In the end, I felt sorry for how Dru treated Samson, and I understood his need to escape and become his own man. I felt sorry for how Catherine's parents treated her and her siblings. I wanted a little bit more backbone from Samson and Catherine both when he came to their choice of putting themselves in a compromising situation. I want to read more of Dru's story and more of Catherine's sisters. I still want Victoria's story as well. I hate to report that even with all of that want, The Earl's Hideaway, No Ladies Allowed has been my least favorite Esther Hatch book. I'm giving it 3.5 Stars. Have you read The Earl's Hideaway, No Ladies Allowed? What did you think? Let me know!

Pixels and Paint - Review

Pixels and Paint (Trinket Sisters, # 1)

By: Kristi Ann Hunter

Publication: July 4, 2023 by Oholiab Creations

362 pages

Genre: Contemporary, Romance

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--For Emma Trinket, life is a delicate balancing act between loving her family and pursuing interests they don’t understand. When the opportunity arises to finally impress them with her job as a computer programmer, she jumps at it even if it means immersing herself in a world she’s despised since childhood. Unfortunately the one man who could crush her prospects is also the best person to help her navigate the lessons she needs to be a success. Artistic expression is both Carter Anderson’s safe space and his livelihood, but his fading inspiration has him worried about his place in life. His encounters with Emma spark a passion to create that he hasn’t felt in years and he isn’t ready to let go of his new muse even if she’s threatening the sanctity of his art world with her digital technologies. As each tries to gain an advantage from the other, Emma and Carter discover they actually might be more compatible than they thought. Will that be enough to unify their opposing missions or will the real differences between pixels and paint tear them apart?

I have long been a fan of Kristi Ann Hunter. And I've been stalking her Goodreads page to see if she had any new releases coming up. And there was nothing and nothing and nothing. And then wham! One day, she had a CONTEMPORARY new release coming. I was shocked. She's always written historical fiction. So I wasn't sure how things would go with her switching genres, but I knew I wanted to check it out. One thing that was a little off-putting to me though was the cover. I can't say that I'm a fan. The characters look a little too cartoony. I'm not the biggest fan of these illustrated types of covers anyway. And I think it was the cover added to the genre switch that had me putting off picking this book up immediately. I finally got a place where I knew I needed to read a review book, and so I chose this one.

I've got to say that Kristi Ann Hunter did the genre switch well. I didn't feel like historical fiction speech patterns were coming out in her writing here, which I imagine might be one of the more challenging parts of switching genres. I was hooked decently early. And I even stayed up until midnight one night reading Pixels and Paint.

Let's talk about Emma. She grew up in a creative family. Her mother and aunt own a clothing boutique, and her twin sister, Amy, has since joined the boutique as a clothing designer. Emma doesn't feel like she fits in with her family. But she allows them to dictate her life in many ways. Amy creates a "look book" for Emma and fills her closet with designer clothing that she's styled with jewelry, a handbag, and shoes to complete each outfit. Emma only wears these outfits to functions she attends with her family. When she was in college, Emma found an entirely new approach to life. She realized that she could dress for comfort, which has resulted in her wearing yoga pants, leggings, and pajama pants with oversized hoodies in her every day life. She also became a computer programmer. And she has no understanding or appreciation for art at all. As a matter of fact, she kind of hates it.

Carter is an artist. He sees Emma at an art gallery showing that she attended with and for her sister. He watches her across the room because she seems contradictory. She is fashionably dressed but doesn't appear to appreciate the art. She almost doesn't even seem comfortable in her own skin. And for the first time in years, Carter is inspired. But you can see how there might an issue with an artist dating someone who practically hates art. When Emma takes on a design project that she initially didn't even want, she soon becomes passionate about the project, and she enlists Carter to become her teacher in appreciating the arts.

Since I was a programmer before becoming a stay-at-home mom, I could immediately see that Emma's job of programming code could be viewed as art...just a different medium. So there was a period where I was a little annoyed that Emma and even Carter couldn't see that. I appreciated her journey to finding herself. And Carter also goes through some transitions as well.

One thing that didn't bother me when I was reading, but I feel like is necessary to mention in the analysis of Pixels and Paint is that these characters were claiming to be Christians. They do mention God, Jesus, going to church, and even some outreach. But I struggled with the character's relationship with Jesus because neither one of them reached out to pray or read Scripture when they were faced with difficulty. It felt like a convenient thing to add to the book to check the Christian box. I didn't see their faith propelling them to action or driving them back to relation with Christ even though He was mentioned once or twice.

Favorite quotes:

-A big of peanut butter M&Ms is not worth the agony I will endure over the next hour as the visions before me burn through the backs of my eyes and imprint themselves in my brain.

This quote reminded me that there were a lot of mistakes in my galley edition for review. I am sure those were corrected in a final editing pass.

-"My point is, even if this is the end with him, even if you cry into your cornflakes for a few weeks, you're better for this time you had with him. Don't count it all bad."

I liked this quote because I felt this when I was dating as well. With each relationship, I felt I was being refined as well as refining what it was I was looking for in a spouse and getting closer and closer to the mark each time. I don't regret the past relationships that I had because of what they taught me and how they led me to where I am now.

-"The way you see the world isn't the only way to see it."

I can definitely be guilty of this. Sometimes my way of thinking can be so ingrained that it literally surprises me when others disagree. It's not that I think I'm always right. It's just that sometimes I forget that others see things differently than I do.

In the end, I think Kristi Ann Hunter did a good job with her first published contemporary novel. I enjoyed Pixels and Paint. I was pulled into her story from the beginning the same way I have found myself pulled into her historical fiction stories. At no point did I think this book sounded like historical fiction which means she did her job well switching genres. I liked Carter and Emma. I appreciated their journey even when some things felt a little obvious, and even despite the lack of religious backbone given to the story or characters. Overall. I think Pixels and Paint gets 4 Stars, and I'm looking forward to continuing the series with Amy's story. Have you read Pixels and Paint? What did you think? Let me know!

Never Wager with a Wallflower - Review

Never Wager with a Wallflower (The Merriwell Sisters, # 3)

By: Virginia Heath

Expected Publication: November 7, 2023

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Romance

( 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 third and final delightful installment in the Merriwell Sister's Regency rom-com series. Miss Venus Merriwell has been waiting for her prince to come since the tender age of fourteen. She wants a man who is selfless, academic like her, and free from all the wretched vices her gambler father enjoyed far too much before he left the Merriwell sisters practically destitute. Unfortunately, after a slew of romantic disappointments, there is still no sign of that prince at twenty-three and the only one true love of her life is the bursting-at-the-seams orphanage in Covent Garden that she works tirelessly for. An orphanage that desperately needs to expand into the empty building next door.

For Galahad Sinclair, gambling isn’t just his life, it’s in his blood. He grew up and learned the trade at his grandfather’s knee in a tavern on the far away banks of the Hudson in New York. But when fate took all that away and dragged him across the sea to London, it made sense to set up shop here. He’s spent five years making a success out of his gaming hell in the sleazy docks of the East End. Enough that he can finally afford to buy the pleasure palace of his dreams—and where better than in the capital’s sinful heart, Covent Garden? The only fly in his ointment is the perfect building he’s just bought to put it in also happens to be right next door to the orphanage run by his cousin’s wife’s youngest sister. A pious, disapproving and unsettling siren he has avoided like the plague since she flattened him five years ago…

While Venus and Galahad lock horns over practically everything, and while her malevolent orphans do their darndest to sabotage his lifelong dream, can either of them take the ultimate gamble—and learn to love thy neighbor?

Since Never Fall for Your Fiancee surprised me in such a good way, the following books in The Merriwell Sisters series have been some of my most anticipated books. My only complaints about Never Rescue a Rogue is that Diana and Giles had to follow in Hugh and Minerva's footsteps and have sex before marriage. I was disappointed that most of the antagonistic part of their relationship was skipped. Not to spoil too much, but Galahad and Venus do have premarital sex, but they don't skip out on the antagonism.

I found Never Wager with a Wallflower to have a slow start. I wasn't excited with Galahad's business ventures. I think around 30% I finally felt hooked into the story where I didn't want to put it down when I had to.

Galahad and Venus had so many similarities, even though many of them seemed like contradictions. I really enjoyed their banter that eased into comraderie and eventually into reluctant appreciation and then into more. Galahad was on board long before Venus.

I felt for Venus. She got royally screwed by someone who never should have been someone who she trusted. In this way I could totally relate to her. I even found myself getting teary over her fear of not being able to trust her instincts about people, especially men. Once you've been screwed over or trusted the wrong person, especially if it happens more than once, you can really begin to become jaded and mistrustful.

Favorite quotes:

-"Dreams, like plans, should always adapt with the circumstances, especially if the circumstances allow them to get bigger and better, and some risks are worth taking."

-...grandpa always said trust had to be given before it was earned...

-"That's cheating." "Maybe--but I'm oddly at peace with it."

Venus's sisters' gave off the impression that she was a lot more prim and proper than she actually is in her own story. Of course this could be explained away, that no one knows our true selves except us. But I felt like this made her a little inauthentic. I did like that Virginia Heath used her history, even back to her father and her desire and trust for him to be a true father and love them, as a means of building Venus's history of trusting the wrong men. This felt more authentic which was needed to balance how Venus is portrayed in the previous books versus who she really is. I loved her work with the orphanage and got invested into the orphan boys that were side characters. Never Wager with a Wallflower was better once I got past the slow beginning, and I give it 3.5 Stars. Have you read Never Wager with a Wallflower? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 11/5/23

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 was a completely adnormal week all around. Monday was Little Boy's birthday. He turned 6 years old. All of the stages of childhood are bittersweet for parents. I really see under five as being little kids and he's really growing. He's learned to read this year. He's already finished his kindergarten level math book, and we've moved into level 1. He's killing it. Baby Boy also had a party at school, and he got to wear his Halloween costume to school. Tuesday, we went to the pumpkin patch with some other homeschool moms and kids. We didn't know many of them, and that has by far been our biggest challenge--finding a community. We are doing things with others pretty consistently, but it isn't the same people each time so we haven't made real connections yet. But we had a good time at the pumpkin patch. The weather literally changed from 80 degrees to 30s in one day. It was drastic. Thankfully, Halloween day did warm up to the high 50s and stayed for trick or treating. Little Girl's friend from softball that is also homeschooling this year and her parents met up with us and went trick or treating. We didn't do any school on Tuesday. Wednesday I had to do grocery pickup since I didn't get it done Tuesday. That put us having a late start, and I didn't get around to school with Little Boy that day because we had to get ready for family pictures. He's so far ahead that I decided to give us both a break. Family pictures went well. Much better than last year considering that Baby Boy cried in almost all of them last year. Thursday, I had my annual physical with my GP. So I had to get up early and get going. By the time I got home we had about 3 hours before another field trip. We went to the Raptor Center at Auburn University. I grew up a short distance from Auburn so it was cool to be in my old stomping grounds. My Husband has tried swaying the kiddos to the dark side (Alabama fans), but seeing Aurea, the golden eagle, at least had Little Girl saying she'd like to go to an Auburn football game to see the eagle fly over the stadium. I told her that it's a super cool experience. Maybe there's hope for her yet. Anyway, we listened to The Adventures of Captain Underpants on audiobook on the way there. I never thought I would be reading books like that, but I'm trying to get Little Boy as interested in books as much as possible. The sacrifices we make as a mom. We then started Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on the way home. Friday and Saturday were our only normal days this week. Friday afternoon, Baby Boy started complaining of his ear hurting. So I was all set to take him to a PriMed or Urgent Care, but Saturday he never said anything else about it, until after nap again when he was running a slight fever.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: All Things Halloween Review of A Queen of Thieves and Chaos (Fate and Flame, # 3) by KA Tucker (4.5 Stars)
Wednesday: October 2023 EOM Wrap Up

My annual "All Things Halloween" event ended. This is my month-long event where I feature reviews from Halloween-y genres (fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, sci-fi, horror, mystery, thriller, and suspense).

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Never Wager with a Wallflower (The Merriwell Sisters, # 3) by Virginia Heath
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday?
Thursday: Review of Pixels and Paint (The Trinket Sisters, # 1) by Kristi Ann Hunter
Friday: Review of The Earl's Hideaway, No Ladies Allowed (A Romance of Rank, # 2) by Esther Hatch

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!

NEW BOOKS:

The Duke Knows Best

By: Jane Ashford

Expected Publication: 01 Nov 2023 Bolinda Audio

Duration: 10 Hours, 8 Minutes

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Romance, Regency

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Lord Randolph Gresham has come to London for one reason only – to find a suitable wife. Verity Sinclair may be intelligent, beautiful and full of spirit, but her father knows a secret about Randolph that makes her entirely unsuitable as his bride. Not right for him at all, never, not a chance.

Verity knows that Lord Randolph lives in a country parish, and she wants nothing more than to escape to town. He may be fascinating, attractive, rich and the son of a duke, but she'll never marry him, nor will she talk to him, flirt with him, walk with him or dine with him. She'll sing a duet with him, but only this one time, and only because everyone insists.

But one duet invariably leads to another.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

By: Roald Dahl

Expected Publication: January 17, 1964

196 pages

Genre: Children's Fiction, Classics, Fantasy, Humor

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--'The ultimate children's story' - David Walliams

Greetings to you, the lucky finder of this Gold Ticket from Mr Willy Wonka! I shake you warmly by the hand! Tremendous things are in store for you!

One miraculous moment changes Charlie Bucket's life forever.

A boy who only gets to eat cabbage soup for breakfast, lunch and dinner finds a Golden Ticket that will take him into Willy Wonka's magical chocolate factory.

Joining him on the tour are four horrible

Augustus Gloop - a great big greedy nincompoop, Veruca Salt - a spoiled brat, Violet Beauregarde - a repulsive little gum-chewer and Mike Teavee - a TV addict.

With a chocolate river, crafty squirrels and mysterious Oompa Loompas, Mr Wonka's chocolate factory is the strangest, most magnificent place Charlie has ever seen.

What other surprises are in store for the lucky ticket winners?

Now you can listen to CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY and other Roald Dahl audiobooks read by some very famous voices, including Kate Winslet, David Walliams and Steven Fry - plus there are added squelchy soundeffects from Pinewood Studios!

The Adventures of Captain Underpants (Captain Underpants, # 1)

By: Dav Pilkey

Publication: September 1, 1997

125 pages

Genre: Children's Fiction, Humor, Graphic Novels, Chapter Books, Comics

Source: Borrowed from the Elibrary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Pilkey plays with words and pictures, providing great entertainment. The story is immediately engaging—two fourth-grade boys who write comic books and love to pull pranks find themselves in big trouble. Mean Mr. Krupp, their principal, videotapes George and Harold setting up their stunts and threatens to expose them. The boys' luck changes when they send for a 3-D Hypno-Ring and hypnotize Krupp, turning him into Captain Underpants, their own superhero creation. Later, Pilkey includes several pages of flip-o-ramas that animate the action. The simple black-and-white illustrations on every page furnish comic-strip appeal. The cover features Captain Underpants, resplendent in white briefs, on top of a tall building. This book will fly off the shelves.

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!

October 2023 EOM Wrap Up

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

I read 3 books (not including children's books). *These qualify for the 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
Pixels and Paint (Trinket Sisters, # 1) by Kristi Ann Hunter
Champion of Fate (Heromaker, # 1) by Kendare Blake
The BFG by Roald Dahl

I have reviewed 6 books (not including mini reviews of children's books). *These qualify for the 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
The War of Two Queens (Blood and Ash, # 4) by Jennifer L Armentrout
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Spice Road (Spice Road Trilogy, # 1) by Maiya Ibrahim
*Grace and Glory (The Harbinger, # 3) by Jennifer L Armentrout
Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, # 1) by Rebecca Yarros
A Queen of Thieves and Chaos (Fate & Flame, # 3) by KA Tucker

Other Posts:
Sunday Post - 10/01/23
Sunday Post - 10/08/23
Sunday Post - 10/15/23
Sunday Post - 10/22/23
Sunday Post - 10/29/23
Can't Wait for Iron Flame (The Empyrean, # 2) by Rebecca Yarros
Can't Wait for A Drop of Venom by Sajni Patel
2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge - October Wrap Up
Homeschool Friday - # 4

Goals:
I'm about 18 days ahead on my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 73 out of 52 books (not including children's books).
I've read 4 out of 5-10 series enders.