Merriment and Mayhem - Review

Merriment and Mayhem (Under the Mistletoe Collection, # 4)

By: Alexandria Bellefleur

Publication: November 12, 2024 by Amazon Original Stories

58 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday

Source: Amazon Prime

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--This Christmas, a hot fireman makes a holiday rescue and sparks fly in this funny, sexy holiday short story by bestselling author Alexandria Bellefleur.

When Everleigh Dangerfield’s baking disaster necessitates a call to 911, firefighter Griffin Brantley douses the flames in the kitchen, but the ones he stokes in Everleigh are an entirely different story. Unfortunately, Everleigh’s only visiting and doesn’t do casual hookups, no matter how smoldering the temptation. But Everleigh’s holiday mishaps have just begun. And Griffin is seemingly always on call. If Everleigh is game for a change of plans, he can give her the merriest Christmas of her life.

Alexandria Bellefleur’s Merriment and Mayhem is part of Under the Mistletoe, a stirring collection of December romances that thrill and tingle all the way. They can be read or listened to in one swoony sitting.

I didn't request this book from NetGalley when I saw it available for review because I don't usually do short stories. But when I saw it free on Amazon for Prime I figured I would snag it for a short Christmas story. I didn't even read the description. This was doubly exciting when I realized that I also had access to the audiobook which would sync with my reading. So I could read when I had time and then switch to the audiobook while driving or cooking. 

The beginning of Merriment and Mayhem was good. I liked the repeated 911 calls that forced Everleigh and Griffin together. I liked that there was an instant attraction that prompted Griffin to pursue Everleigh. But I felt like the pacing was completely off. I don't know this author at all. And I know this was always intended to be a short story, but so many pieces were mentioned that went nowhere. It felt like this was written for a longer story and things were cut or not addressed to force it to fit the short story needs. 

Because it was a short story, Everleigh flipped quickly from rejecting Griffin to being "so, so tired of pretending this is not what I want." Thankfully there were no declarations of deeper feelings at this point.

However, it felt like half the story was the sex scene. Granted it was only about the last 30%. Regardless, I wasn't a fan of these two jumping into the sheets. It felt jarring to me. Too much, too soon. Of course, as a Christian, my preference would be for them to wait until they get married, but that's not today's culture. I spent this entire section of the book skipping ahead and rolling my eyes. 

I also felt like the language was excessive for this story. And all of these things put together turned me off the idea of searching for more books by this author. 

Merriment and Mayhem's pacing felt completely wrong to me. The plot and details didn't fit the story length. The characters went from one thing and then completely flipped to a different thing. And things progressed in their relationship (physically and relationally) entirely too fast. Thankfully no "I love yous" were thrown out, but one character is considering a move to be with the other after three/four encounters. Merriment and Mayhem gets 2 Stars. Have you read Merriment and Mayhem ? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Iron & Embers

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.

Iron & Embers (The Ashes of Thezmarr, # 1)

By: Helen Scheuerer

Expected Publication: January 28, 2025 by Alchemy

614 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--“I’ve made no secret of what I want... You. It’s always been you.”

Wren Embervale, alchemist-turned-assassin, finds solace in only one thing: seeking vengeance for the death of her friends. The wars of the past may be over, but her thirst for revenge is far from quenched.

For years, she has been content with her poisons and potions for company, but when an unknown form of alchemy is used to attack a king of the midrealms, Wren’s time in the shadows comes to an end.

She’s offered a place at the ancient alchemy academy of Drevenor to find a cure to the dark magic threatening the kingdoms. To win her spot, she must conquer the Gauntlet, a grueling series of deadly trials that could cost her sanity, or her life.

More is at play than sabotage from fellow competitors. Magic wielders are being targeted and Wren becomes tangled in a dangerous web of deception and bloodshed that puts the entire realm at risk.

But the biggest threat of all might come from the man assigned to protect her—Torj Elderbrock, the silver-haired war hero who has hated her since she assassinated his last charge.

Their shared history ignites a simmering tension that threatens to consume them both.

Peace is fragile, trust is scarce and enemies lurk around every corner… Will love heal all wounds—or will it be the most lethal poison of all?

Iron & Embers is the breathtaking first installment in the epic fantasy romance series, The Ashes of Thezmarr. With its lush world-building, sizzling chemistry, and heart-pounding action it’s perfect for fans of Fourth Wing, From Blood & Ash, and The Bridge Kingdom.

A slight spoiler for the previous series, which I haven't finished. Bummer. What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Top Ten Winter 2024 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 2024 TBR List

1. A Fire in the Sky by Sophie Jordan
2. The Monstrous Kind by Lydia Gregovic
3. A Touch of Shadows (The Lost Queen, # 1) by Jessica Thorne
4. He is Here!: 25 Days Of Christmas Devotions by Browning Montgomery Wood
5. I Want to Trust You But I Don't by Lysa TerKeurst
6. After Life by Gayle Forman
7. Cross My Heart by Megan Collins
8. The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson
9. Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, # 3) by Rebecca Yarros
10. The Candymakers (The Candymakers, # 1) by Wendy Mass

Which books are you hoping to read this winter? Let me know!

Lady Helen's Misalliance - DNF Review

Lady Helen's Misalliance (Seasons of Love, # 2)

By: Jessica Spencer

Publication: October 9, 2024

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--Clean Regency What is a lady to do when the man she loves is determined to sacrifice their love for honor?

Lady Helen is not overly concerned that she is only passably pretty and not likely to attract many suitors during her London Season. Only a shallow man would choose his wife for her looks. She wants a husband who is likable and worthy of respect, possesses a good character, and has a pleasant disposition.

Mr. Luke Turner is what the ton contemptuously refers to as a Cit. His wealth and upbringing can give him entry into London Society but not make a match with a young lady of birth.

Helen knows that Luke is the only man she can marry. He is kind and gentle and makes her feel comfortable about herself. He loves her, she knows he does, but is adamant about keeping away for fear of endangering her place in Society.

But when the notorious Lord Frampton fixes his sights on her, Luke is the only one she can trust. Will he put aside his scruples to keep her safe?

I went through a rough spell with my reading and DNFd 3 books in a row. Believe it or not, DNFing (Did Not Finish) is actually pretty rare for me. I've DNF'd roughly 57 books over 11 years. But I've come to learn a bit more about what I enjoy reading and what I don't. And I'm less patient with books to see how things end up if I'm not enjoying one. I don't have time to waste reading something that I'm not liking. 

Lady Helen's Misalliance was a disaster. Almost immediately, I questioned DNFing. The writing is truly terrible. I do not criticize someone's work lightly. It takes a lot to sit down and write a book. To execute a plot on paper. I haven't done it. But this book was so, so badly written. I DNF'd at 34%. 

So much of the book was dialogue. When I was younger, I'd often skip descriptions and get straight to the dialogue. Or if I'm in a part that seems to be dragging on, I might skim until the next statement a character says aloud. But I almost felt like Jessica Spencer forgot that you can't write an entire book based on dialogue alone. So much of the in-between description and narration was completely missing. 

And then, the real kicker is that the characters start acting like and even naming themselves as being in love without having more than two interactions between them. The first interaction is where the MC runs over the FMC with his horse. She's stunned. He is attractive. They barely talk. They then meet again where it's discussed that they shouldn't meet again for reputation purposes. I mean 15 words between the two of them might have been exchanged. And this comes from an author who writes nearly exclusively in dialogue. Yet the FMC declares herself to be in love. Then the MC's sister basically tells him that she can tell he's in love based upon some eye contact bologna. 

-"Who was that?" Dora asked.
"Who do you mean?"
"The young woman who left just now. I saw you watching her. Who is she? Is she a lady?"
"Dora, what's it with these questions?"
"Are you in love with her? I think you are. Does she love you too?"
"She is Lady Helen. Lord Frampton was misbehaving with her. Dora, would you mind if we leave? We can come again tomorrow if you wish. I want to be sure that Lord Frampton is not lying in wait for Lady Helen."

You guys, I wish I was exaggerating. I couldn't take it anymore. The writing was weak. The characters had an insta-love thing based upon absolutely nothing. I can't. I can't. I can't. DNF @ 34%. Have you read Lady Helen's Misalliance? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 12/15/24

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.

It rained from last Sunday night through all day Tuesday. Monday went pretty well from what I can remember. Last minute we asked my parents to keep the kids for the night so we could build Little Boy's big boy bed. He needed one a year ago, but we made the crib work for almost 4 years. We also made a last minute decision to shop for stocking stuffers Monday night. Tuesday, we spent the day at my parent's house and did grocery pickup. Wednesday was a normal school day. Thursday we had co-op. Thursday and Friday were rough behavior days. It's been a while since we had some really rough ones, but we had two in a row. Friday started off good but ended up a challenge. I actually took a nap when school was over because I was mentally and emotionally exhausted. Saturday, we celebrated October birthdays with Husband's side of the family. We just haven't been able to get together for those and we had a major one (50!) in the mix. Today we had our Christmas party and fellowship meal after church.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of Not in My Book by Katie Holt (4.5 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for The Folklore of Forever (Moonville, # 2) by Sarah Hogle
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Go Away, Spot

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: DNF Review of Lady Helen's Alliance by Jessica Spencer
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday?
Thursday: Review of Merriment & Mayhem (Under the Mistletoe Collection, # 4) by Alexandria Bellefleur
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Look for the Lorax

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!

NEW BOOKS:

No new books to feature this week.

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

Homeschool Friday - Go Away Spot

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

Go Away, Spot

By: Scott Foresman

Publication: September 15, 2003 by Penguin Young Readers

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Level-2 Readers, Early Reading

Source: Personal 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--Millions of Americans remember Dick and Jane (and Sally and Spot, too!). Now Dick and Jane and all their pals are back with revised editions of these classic readers for a whole new generation of readers to enjoy!

Go Away Spot

Dick said, "Down, Spot. I cannot play. Down, Spot, down. Go away, little Spot. Go away and play."

I've mentioned before that many Step-1 or Level-1 readers are published by Scholastic or Random House. Although, Penguin obviously publishes early readers also. They typically consist of 32 pages with one or two short sentences per page or opening. Go Away, Spot is a Read with Dick and Jane book originally published in 1951. And well, things have changed a good bit since then. This book is 32 pages, but each page is filled with multiple sentences--sometimes up to 7 sentences per page. While this isn't an abundance, my now 7-year-old gets quickly overwhelmed when he sees paragraphs or what is to him many words on one page. He intended to read this book in parts, like half now and half another day. But I kind of tricked him into reading the entire thing in one sitting--which he is completely capable of.

Go Away, Spot is a deceiving title. Only half of the book involves Spot at all. This book is full of repetitive words and phrases. The stories don't rhyme necessarily, but they do promote mastery. You can tell by the words used in the book as well as the illustrations that this was written many years ago. But I don't think newer is always better. If this is the level-1 readers of 1951, our 32 pages with 2 sentences a page seems a little piddly.

Go Away, Spot gets 4 Stars. I liked that many of the same words and phrases were used throughout the book to promote mastery. And I also liked that this book was a bit more of a challenge to my son who gets easily overwhelmed. It wasn't the words themselves that were challenging, but simply seeing so many words on one page was the challenge. Have you or your child read Go Away, Spot? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for The Folklore of Forever

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

The Folklore of Forever (Moonville, # 2)

By: Sarah Hogle

Expected Publication: April 8, 2025 by G.P. Putnam's Sons

400 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, 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--From the acclaimed author of Old Flames and New Fortunes comes a steamy enemies-to-lovers romantasy about a paranormal skeptic who is roped into a ghost hunting romp by the charming boy next door . . . who might just show her what real fantasies are made of.

Paranormal skeptic Zelda Tempest is hoping for a much-needed creativity boost for a new paranormal mystery novel. But despite the alleged magic of her hometown, Moonville, Ohio, she’s as stuck as ever.

With two witch sisters, not believing in magic is strange for a Tempest, but no one is more disappointed than Morgan Angelopoulos, the charming man next door. So, to cure her of her writer's block and her disbelief in magic, Morgan ropes her into a ghost-hunting romp, only for Zelda to discover something else bizarre, never-before-seen creatures that appear as ordinary pets to everyone else.

Curious about what else might be lurking in Moonville's woods, Zelda and Morgan embark on a quest to uncover the true magic that lies in their midsts . . . and perhaps, just maybe, they will find that the magic they're searching for has been with them all along.

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

Not in My Book - Review

Not In My Book

By: Katie Holt

Publication: December 10, 2024 by Alcove Press

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

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 Hating Game meets Beach Read in this sexy and hilarious contemporary romance from a debut Peruvian-Tennessean voice.

Rosie, an idealistic and passionate Peruvian-American who has grown up without strong ties to her culture, leaves her Tennessee hometown to pursue her dream of making it in New York as a writer. But her plan is derailed when she ends up in class with her arch-nemesis and ex-crush, Aiden Huntington—an obnoxious, surly, and gorgeous literary fiction writer who doesn’t have much patience for the romance genre, or for Rosie.

Rosie and Aiden regularly go to verbal battle in workshop until their professor reaches her breaking point. She allows them to stay in her class on one condition: they must co-write a novel that blends their genres.

The reluctant writing duo can’t help but put pieces of themselves into their accidentally steamy novel, and as they slowly get to know each other, they try to put their differences aside. Meanwhile, their manuscript-in-progress provides an outlet for them to confess their feelings—and explore their attraction toward each other.

When Rosie and Aiden find themselves competing against each other for a potentially career-changing opportunity, the flames of old rivalry reignite, and their once-in-a-lifetime love story is once again at risk of being shelved—unless they can find a way to end the book on their own terms.

I don't often read a book and say the description was 100% on point. But the description for Not in My Book tells you pretty much everything you need to know about what happens in this book. As stated, Rosie is doing her best to get her degree, but she can only afford to take one class at a time. She's also working a part-time job every spare moment (except the weekends). And she's writing in her off time as her dream is to become an author. But she's been struggling to be vulnerable in her writing. She needs this class. To begin with, she worked hard to get into this class. She really respects the teacher. Rosie also reluctantly admits that Aiden is a talented author. She saw him read a piece of his writing before they officially met, and she immediately developed a crush on him. He was cute and talented. But when they are in a previous class together, Aiden responds negatively to Rosie's preferred genre--romance--and boundary lines formed marking them both clearly in enemy territory. Now, their repeated disruptions of heated arguments in class have the professor ready to force them both to drop the class. Reluctantly, Rosie and Aiden agree to work together on their writing project for this class. The criteria is that they must have a romance with a literary fiction ending--meaning no happily ever after. 

This book was so fun. The banter between Rosie and Aiden was on another level. I mean heated. And the tension was so thick you could cut it with a butter knife. I loved seeing how uncomfortable Aiden was with trying to write a romance. Yet, Rosie annoyed me because she was even more against literary fiction and stories that end unhappy or unresolved. There was one scene in particular that was so intense because the two of them wrote it together. If you've read the book then you know the one. And this is coming from someone who has a lower tolerance level for explicit scenes.

Favorite quotes:

-Aiden had an annoying editorial eye that ended up making everyone around him a better writer.

-There's so much more to a romance than just love.

-I wanted the kind of love you treated gently, like it could break. The kind that was intense and real. The kind you fought for, not against.

-"We get close but not close enough to get burned, right?"

-The best part of my day was fighting with him.

-"When I am in love, I don't want to have to wonder, if it's love, you know? I want to know with certainty that there is nothing else I would rather feel."

-I just...wanted to be loved so badly that I thought being hurt was part of the deal.

-"What do you want for Christmas?" .... "Right now I feel like I have everything I need."

-"You know, ever since your family arrived, you've developed a southern accent."

-"Love wouldn't seem worth it without the risk of losing it."

-The love I had read in romance novels was so epic and monumental. I'd spent a lifetime craving grand gestures and sweeping proclamations. I hadn't known the small moments like this would feel as good.

Any other quotes are spoilers. 

I did notice a few small inconsistencies. For example, at one point Aiden criticizes the phrase often used in romance "eyes darkening" and he wonders what that even is. But in one of his sections of writing for the joint project, he uses the same phrase. I don't know if this was an accident. Like, it was overlooked by the editing. Or if this was done purposefully to show that he's grown as an author to include things he never once would have considered. But I lean toward the first option as he didn't seem willing to compromise what he considers good writing to fit a specific genre. I think there was another small inconsistency, but I didn't see it highlighted when I went back to look so I can't remember. 

Overall, I devoured Not in My Book. I've read several books now that focus on the love of writing in various forms. I have adored them all. But Not in My Book was focused on a love for the romance genre, as well as writing in general. And I'm here for it. Not in My Book gets 4.5 Stars and is easily one of my favorite reads of 2024. Have you read Not in My Book? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 12/8/24

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 it was hard to get back into our routine after being off school for Thanksgiving week. But Tuesday, Husband took off work, and we took the kids to see Santa. We always let them shop for us and each other after that. We call it "sibling shopping." They did the best this year out of all years past. Wednesday it was again hard to get back into the routine of school. We are all feeling the Christmas-break-itis. Thursday, we had co-op. And that was probably our best co-op day so far also. The kids are finally getting used to that being our normal Thursday. Friday was a good day. I did end up taking the kids to Walmart after getting Little Boy from mother's day out to pick up some things for goodie bags for his class. Of course, it's always a bigger ordeal when the kids go inside with me. Saturday, we went to Anniston to our annual family reunion and dirty Santa ornament swap. That was a good day and nice visit as well. This is a super busy season for us, but I love it--even if I'm not in as festive of a moood as some years. I did finish two books this week (in like two days). So I've gotten a good bit of reading done lately.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of A Yorkshire Carol (A Christmas Match, # 3) by Jennie Goutet (4 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Rules for Ruin (The Crinoline Academy, # 1) by Mimi Matthews
Thursday: Review of ADHD is Awesome by Penn & Kim Holderness (5 Stars)
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Go, Go, Go

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Not in My Book by Katie Holt
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday?
Thursday: Review of A Dawn of Gods and Fury (Fate & Flame, # 4) by KA Tucker
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Go Away, Spot

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!

NEW BOOKS:

No new books to feature this week.

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

Homeschool Friday - Go, Go, Go

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

Go, Go, Go

By: Marjorie Blain Parker

Publication: September 1, 2004 by Spotlight

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Level-1 Readers, Early Reading

Source: Personal 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--A collection of reissued stories with simple vocabulary featuring Dick, Jane, and other familiar characters.

I've mentioned before that many of the Step-1 or Level-1 readers we have are published by Scholastic or Random House. They typically consist of 32 pages with one or two short sentences per page or opening. Go, Go, Go is a Read with Dick and Jane book originally published in 1956s. And well, things have changed a good bit since then. This book is 32 pages, but each page is filled with multiple sentences--sometimes up to 7 sentences per page. And while this isn't an abundance, my now 7-year-old gets quickly overwhelmed when he sees paragraphs or what is to him many words on one page. He intended to read this book in parts, like half now and half another day. But I kind of tricked him into reading the entire thing in one sitting--which he is completely capable of.

Go, Go, Go is filled with repetitive words and phrases. The stories don't rhyme necessarily, but they do promote mastery. You can tell by the words used in the book as well as the illustrations that this was written many years ago. But I don't think newer is always better. If this is the level-1 readers of 1956, our 32 pages with 2 sentences a page seems a little piddly.

Go, Go, Go gets 4 Stars. I liked that many of the same words and phrases were used throughout the book to promote mastery. And I also liked that this book was a bit more of a challenge to my son who gets easily overwhelmed. It wasn't the words themselves that were challenging, but simply seeing so many words on one page was the challenge. Have you or your child read Go, Go, Go? What did you think? Let me know!

ADHD is Awesome - Review

ADHD is Awesome

By: Penn & Kim Holderness

Publication: April 30, 2024 by Harper Horizon

292 pages

Genre: Adult, Nonfiction, Parenting, Self-Help, Psychology, Mental Health

Source: Borrowed from the e-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--Hi, friend! Welcome to the ADHD club.

You're here because, like me, you've been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder—which, by the way, just might be the worst name for a condition ever—and you're trying to figure out how to make your life a little more manageable. Or because, like my wife, Kim, you love, teach, or work with someone who has ADHD, and you're trying to figure out how to best support them.

The world isn't built for ADHDers, and navigating it can wear us down. But we'll let you in on a little secret: having ADHD doesn't have to be a burden. It can actually be a superpower that propels you to creative heights and allows you to achieve more than you ever thought possible.

We want to give you a new perspective on ADHD, whether it's your own brain or a friend or family member's that you're trying to understand. We hope you come away with strategies you can employ to make things a little easier. (We also hope you laugh out loud, at least once or twice.)

Most of all, we want you to silence that voice that whispers that you're broken or a mess or a failure. None of that is true. You have ADHD—and that makes you awesome.

—Penn Holderness

My almost seven-year-old son has not been officially diagnosed with ADHD, but he has a lot of indications that he might have ADHD. He, more than my other two children, has prompted me to study and learn about child development. I just haven't figured out why he struggles so much in a few key areas. When his Pre-K4/MDO teacher suggested he might have ADHD at the age of 5, I immediately rejected the idea and thought he was just being a boy and boys having trouble sitting still and such. Well, fast forward about 2 years, and I've done a good bit more research, plus had more time to observe him, and I think she might be right. So much of  ADHD and what he's going through seems negative. When I came across a video by The Holderness Family about ADHD, Penn talked about the book they co-wrote called ADHD is Awesome. I immediately added it to my TBR list. Thankfully, the e-library got a copy of the audiobook, and I jumped on it to listen.

I am so thankful for Penn and Kim writing this book. Penn shares his experiences of having "a raging case of ADHD" with this book. Having an adult be able to describe what happens in his own brain helps me so much to relate to my son. I've never understood why he can never remember where his shoes are or why an item ceases to exist in his brain when he puts it down. How he can not remember so much has always baffled me. And I've often thought and even accused him of lying to me. And I can easily say that doing so has damaged our relationship. Penn's candor has provided me with some relief. Similar to the relief he felt after being diagnosed. I feel relief in learning more about and understanding more about things my child struggles with or deals with and how his brain works. I cried. Multiple times. From guilt over how I've handled things in the past, sadness over the struggles he has and why everything feels harder for him, hope for the future, and fear for the same. 

Penn and Kim do a wonderful job of presenting ADHD as it is. They don't sugarcoat things. Penn's struggles and the negative side of having ADHD are there in all its ugliness. But there are positives to having ADHD or being close to someone who has ADHD, and those positives are essentially never pointed out. They want everyone to know that it isn't all bad. And I can so appreciate that. As someone whose child is still very young, I feel like we have an uphill battle in front of us, but there is hope. They offer coping strategies. This was one of the most practically applicable books I've ever read on a similar topic (not ADHD specifically). I appreciate that so much. And I appreciate Penn and Kim Holderness for putting this book out there. I needed it. And I'm sure so many others do too.

The humor kept the topics light enough that this didn't feel like a heavy book even though I was quite emotional through portions of it. I suppose if it were heavy or dull the ADHD brain would abandon it, most likely. Penn definitely wrote with other ADHDers in mind. 

I also loved the discussion of the name ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The name truly doesn't describe the condition. And that contributes to the condition being so highly misunderstood. Addressing the misconceptions around ADHD was really helpful for me, and it helped me see that I had a lot of unfounded preconceived ideas of what ADHD is that are completely false. 

I can tell you that I would have had way too many quotes highlighted if I'd read this on my Kindle, but since I listened to the audiobook, I don't have any to share. I will tell you that I will 100% get a physical or digital copy of this book to have for myself to read again and probably even more than once. The audiobook version is wonderful being narrated by Penn and Kim directly. I don't know how much sidebar-type stuff they added to the physical book. It almost seemed like some things were added in their audio narration that wouldn't be in a physical copy, but I couldn't tell you that for sure without comparing the two. But their narration made the audiobook fun and easy to listen to (the goal). The only reason I want a physical copy for myself and not the audio version to own is that finding a passage for reference would be much easier in a physical copy. 

If you have ADHD or have a loved one with ADHD, I think you should definitely check out ADHD is Awesome by Penn and Kim Holderness. If nothing else, you can commiserate with someone who understands your struggles. ADHD is Awesome gets 5 Stars from me. Have you read (or listened to) ADHD is Awesome? What did you think? Let me know!

P.S. I have purchased a digital copy for Kindle since writing this review.

Can't Wait for Rules for Ruin

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.

Rules for Ruin (The Crinoline Academy, # 1)

By: Mimi Matthews

Expected Publication: May 20, 2025 by Berkley

400 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Victorian

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--No one betrays the Academy. But now Euphemia must decide: break the rules for her enemy, or let the rules break her heart.

On the outskirts of London sits a seemingly innocuous institution with a secretive aim—train young women to distract, disrupt, and discredit the patriarchy. Outraged by a powerful politician’s systematic attack on women’s rights, the Academy summons its brightest—and most bitter—pupil to infiltrate the odious man’s inner circle. A deal is struck: bring down the viscount, and Miss Euphemia Flite will finally earn her freedom.

But betting shop owner Gabriel Royce has other plans. The viscount is the perfect pawn to insulate Gabriel’s underworld empire from government interference. He’s not about to let some crinoline-clad miss destroy his carefully constructed enterprise—no matter how captivating he finds her threats.

From the rookeries of St. Giles to the ballrooms of Mayfair, Euphemia and Gabriel engage in a battle of wits and wills that’s complicated by a blossoming desire. Soon Euphemia realizes it’s not the broken promises to her Academy sisters she should fear. . . . It’s the danger to her heart.

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

A Yorkshire Carol - Review

A Yorkshire Carol (A Christmas Match, # 3)

By: Jennie Goutet

Publication: November 11, 2021 by Millefeuille Press

203 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christmas, Regency, Clean Romance

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--The heart is deceitful above all things. Who can understand it?

When Juliana Issot’s godmother invites her to spend the month of Christmas for a house party in Yorkshire, Juliana feels compelled by affection to accept. Never mind that she escaped Yorkshire at first chance to secure a more glittering match in London, and the only matrimonial prospect at home is her childhood playmate, Willelm.

Willelm Armitage is a born and bred Yorkshireman, and as far as he is concerned, Juliana belongs here, too—and at his side. However, the one time he tried to convince her of this, she speedily gave him the right-about, making him question whether she truly was the right choice for him. After all, if she cannot see how well they suit, he is not about to force her hand.

A Christmas house party with pudding, games, charades, riding, and carols turns out to be just the thing to remind Juliana of how much she loves Yorkshire. But when her nostalgia slips into love will she be able to admit that Willelm knew the longings of her heart better than she knew her own?

I listened to Yorkshire Carol on audio back in the fall of 2023. However, when it came time to write my review I couldn't remember enough about it. I kept putting off my review so long that I decided to re-listen to it since I knew I enjoyed it the first time and it's a short book so I knew it wouldn't take long. I am so thankful to Jennie Goutet for posting it to YouTube. 

The A Christmas Match series is written by several authors: Jennie Goutet, Sally Britton, Laura Rollins, Jen Geigle Johnson, and Laura Beers. I have only read listened to two of these books because they are available on YouTube audiobooks. The others aren't that I'm aware of. Each author has set her book during Christmas time and each book includes a matchmaker facilitating a match. 

Juliana comes from York but has been enamored with London and fashionable society. She desired to escape York and branch out into the world of sophistication. Her godmother has been after her to visit and circumstances occur that would make it rude for Juliana to turn down her invitation to spend Christmas with her godmother at her house party. Unknown to her, but her godmother is trying to play matchmaker. She hopes for Juliana to match with her old friend, Willelm. 

Willelm followed Juliana to London during her first season. He sought her out at dances and such only for her to tell him that she didn't come to London to dance with her playmates. Willelm was heartbroken because he had been hoping to make Juliana his wife. He sees this Christmas house party for what it is--his last chance to show Juliana that he is the right man for her.

Juliana is reminded of the things she loves about York (and Willelm). She never left because she hated the place, but she still loved London. The two don't have an entirely direct path to happiness. And I liked the way Jennie Goutet worked in the actual Christmas carol to fit the title. I also liked that Willelm explored all his options as Juliana wasn't reciprocating at first. He didn't want to force something that wasn't right for her. Jennie Goutet worked this angle well. Juliana was forced to face the idea that Willelm might not always be waiting on her. The old adage "you don't know what you've got until it's gone."

Yorkshire Carol was good enough to listen to twice. I originally rated it 4 Stars, and I stand by that rating after a second listen. I liked Juliana and Willelm. And I enjoyed seeing them each come to view each other as their match. I want to continue this series, but I don't know if I will considering the other books aren't on YouTube audio. Have you listened to (or read) Yorkshire Carol? What did you think? Let me know! 

A great choice to get you in the mood for the holiday season.

Sunday Post - 12/1/24

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.

Husband's friend came to visit last Sunday and stayed through Friday. So Monday we had a down day where we just hung at home. Tuesday, I had to take Big Girl to an early morning check up for her broken toe. Her x-rays looked even better than right after they set it last week. She has to keep wearing the shoe and we go back in 3 weeks. Then we hung at my parent's house all day. I had forgotten to thaw meat to cook for dinner, so we ended up going to Cracker Barrel for dinner Tuesday night. Wednesday, I took Big Girl back to my mom's house so she could help her cook for Thanksgiving. Big Girl loves cooking and baking, and my mom said she was a big help. At home I got a lot of cleaning done--things I'd meant to do before company came. Thursday, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving at my parent's house. Almost all of our normal family was there. We were missing my niece's husband. He's a firefighter and had to work. And then also my nephew that got married in September was with his new wife's family this year. But we had some entended family come as well. It ended up being a really good day. We did stay late so I could help my parent's clean up and the kids got into watching a Christmas movie. Friday, my cousin has a family reuinion at her house every year. It's always so good to see them because this is about the only time of the year that we do get to see any of them anymore. Saturday, I wasn't feeling the best. You know how when you've been so busy you just get run down and exhausted and then end up getting sick. I think that's kind of what happened. I rested most of the day with the exception of the tasks that must get done.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens (4.5 Stars) and 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge - November Wrap Up
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Ex Marks the Spot by Gloria Chao
Thursday: Review of The Art of Us by Julie Wright (4 Stars)
Saturday: November EOM Wrap Up

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of A Yorkshire Carol (A Christmas Match, # 3) by Jennie Goutet
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday?
Thursday: Review of ADHD is Awesome by Kim and Penn Holderness
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Go Go Go

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!

NEW BOOKS:

The Ballad of Never After (Once Upon a Broken Heart, # 2)

By: Stephanie Garber

Publication: September 13, 2022 by Flatiron Books

416 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--After Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, betrays her, Evangeline Fox swears she'll never trust him again. Now that she’s discovered her own magic, Evangeline believes she can use it to restore the chance at happily ever after that Jacks stole away.

But when a new terrifying curse is revealed, Evangeline finds herself entering into a tenuous partnership with the Prince of Hearts again. Only this time, the rules have changed. Jacks isn’t the only force Evangeline needs to be wary of. In fact, he might be the only one she can trust, despite her desire to despise him.

Instead of a love spell wreaking havoc on Evangeline’s life, a murderous spell has been cast. To break it, Evangeline and Jacks will have to do battle with old friends, new foes, and a magic that plays with heads and hearts. Evangeline has always trusted her heart, but this time she’s not sure she can...

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!

November 2024 EOM Wrap Up

I read 10 books (not including children's books). *These qualify for the 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens
Beyond the Crescent Sky (The Balkan Legends, # 2) by AL Sowards
Not In My Book by Katie Holt
Better Than Revenge by Kasie West
*Running Wild (Wild, # 4) by KA Tucker
Shield of the Mighty (The King's Men, # 2) by Connilyn Cossette
Let's Call a Truce by Amy Buchanan
Merriment and Mayhem (Under the Mistletoe, # 4) by Alexandria Bellefleur
Cruel Winter with You (Under the Mistletoe, # 1) by Ali Hazelwood
The Serpent and the Wolf (Dark Inheritance Trilogy, # 1) by Rebecca Robinson

I have reviewed 7 books (not including mini reviews of children's books). *These qualify for the 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
The Gentleman's Confession (Matchmaking Mamams, # 3) by Anneka R Walker
Beneath a Crescent Shadow (The Balkan Legends, # 1) by AL Sowards
Twisted Knight (Tangled Hearts, # 1) by K. Bromberg
Lady Anna's Favor by Karen Tuft
*The Muse of Maiden Lane (Belles of London, # 4) by Mimi Matthews
The Art of Us by Julie Wright
Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens

Other Posts:
Sunday Post - 11/03/24
Sunday Post - 11/10/24
Sunday Post - 11/17/24
Sunday Post - 11/24/24
Can't Wait for Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, # 3) by Rebecca Yarros
Can't Wait for Variation by Rebecca Yarros
Can't Wait for The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson
Can't Wait for Ex Marks the Spot by Gloria Chao
Homeschool Friday - Know and Follow Rules
Homeschool Friday - Biscuit Meets the Class Pet
Homeschool Friday - Ice Cream Everywhere!
2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge - November Wrap Up
October 2024 EOM Wrap Up

Goals:
I'm a few days ahead on my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 92 out of 65 books (not including children's books).
I've read 8 out of 5-10 series enders.