September 2024 EOM Wrap Up

I read 6 books (not including children's books). *These qualify for the 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
To Sir Phillip with Love (The Bridgertons, # 5) by Julia Quinn
Twisted Knight (Tangled Hearts, # 1) by K Bromberg
ADHD is Awesome by Penn & Kim Holderness
*Knight of the Goddess (Blood of a Fae, # 4) by Briar Boleyn
The Death King (Death, # 1) by Penelope Barsetti
Beneath a Crescent Shadow (The Balkans, # 1) by AL Sowards

I have reviewed 5 books (not including mini reviews of children's books). *These qualify for the 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
*A Provinvial Peer (Georgian Gentlemen, # 6) by Sian Ann Bessey
A Game of Hearts (The Cartwells, # 1) by Joanna Barker
To Charm a Lady (The Cartwells, # 2) by Joanna Barker
So True a Love by Joanna Barker
Tree. Table. Book. by Lois Lowry

Other Posts:
Sunday Post - 09/01/24
Sunday Post - 09/08/24
Sunday Post - 09/15/24
Top Ten Fall 2024 TBR List
Can't Wait for Sunshine and Spice by Aurora Palit
Can't Wait for The Thirteenth Child by Erin A Craig
Can't Wait for Adam and Evie's Matchmaking Tour by Nora Nguyen
Fear the Flames by Olivia Rose Darling
2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge - September Wrap Up
Homeschool Friday - Mouse's Hide-and-Seek Words
Homeschool Friday - I Know Mad
Homeschool Friday - Julia Rothman's Farm Anatomy Activity Book

Goals:
I'm a few days ahead on my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 84 out of 65 books (not including children's books).
I've read 4 out of 5-10 series enders.

Sunday Post - 09/29/24

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.

Two Monday's ago, Big Girl had a softball game and Big Boy martial arts practice. Tuesday they had belt testing and both kids had games immediately after belt testing. That Thursday, we had a field trip with our homeschool co-op to the Blue Bell creamery in Sylacauga, Alabama. That was fun. The ice cream was delicious of course. Big Boy had a baseball game Thursday night, and Big Girl had batting practice. Finally, Friday night was free. Then Saturday, we went to Athen's Alabama for my nephew's wedding. That was a lot of fun, but made for a late night for us. We didn't get home until about 11:15 pm. Sunday after church, I took the kids to the local trampoline park. We'd gotten tickets on sale over the summer, and they were about to expire. I didn't realize their hours would change when school started back so that made it harder for us to go. This past Monday night Big Boy had a baseball game and Big Girl had practice. Tuesday, Big Boy went to belt ceremony. He passed and is now an Orange belt. Big Girl had a softball game so she didn't get to go to belt ceremony. We'll have to take her to a class this week to get her new belt. After that we're taking a break from martial arts again for a month. Wednesday we started getting rain from the hurricane. Thankfully, we were on the west side of the hurricane so rain and some gusts up to 20-30 mph was all that we got. Thursday, it poured as we went to co-op. All activities were cancelled for Thursday night, but we all appreciated the break. We did take my car in for an oil change and some needed repairs. Friday was a normal day. We did finish school early, and the weather was beautiful for us. We do pray for everyone affected by the hurricane and the flooding going on all over the southeast. Saturday, we had a birthday party to go to for a kid from church. I'm pooped, but we won't be slowing down until a brief reprieve in the month of November before we ramp back up for the holidays.

THE PAST TWO WEEKS

Monday 9/16: Review of To Charm a Lady (The Cartwells, # 2) by Joanna Barker (4 Stars)
Wednesday 9/18: Can't Wait for Adam and Evie's Matchmaking Tour by Nora Nguyen
Friday 9/20: Homeschool Friday - Julia Rothman's Farm Anatomy Activity Book
Monday 9/23: Review of So True a Love by Joanna Barker (4.5 Stars)
Tuesday 9/24: Top Ten Fall 2024 TBR List
Wednesday 9/25: Can't Wait for Fear the Flames by Olivia Rose Darling & 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge - September Wrap Up
Friday 9/27: Review of Tree. Table. Book. by Lois Lowry

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: September 2024 EOM Wrap Up
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday?
Thursday: Review of Iron Flame (The Empyrean, # 2) by Rebecca Yarros
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Review of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

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:

Better Than Revenge

By: Kasie West

Expected Publication: December 31, 2024 by Delacorte Romance

320 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--A swoony new romance from the author of Sunkissed! When her football-player boyfriend and now ex lands the podcast job she’s been dreaming of, a girl takes matters into her own hands by enlisting the help of his nemesis to get revenge.

Seventeen-year-old Finley has only ever had one to become a famous podcaster. This includes coming up with the perfect pitch to land her on her school's podcast team. But when her football-obsessed boyfriend, Jensen, decides to also try out—and uses her idea—she's left confused and betrayed.

Determined to get back at him, Finley and her friends try to find the perfect revenge scheme, but quickly discover that Jensen is almost-impossible to best. Keyword, almost.

By chance, Finley discovers a knack for kicking and decides to take Jensen's spot on the football team. To help her train, she recruits Jensen's cute but conceited nemeses, Theo. Soon the two discover that their connection runs deeper than football. But Finley can't let herself get distracted, and Theo has secrets of his own. Is true love really better than the perfect revenge?

Ex Marks the Spot

By: Gloria Chao

Expected Publication: December 31, 2024 by Viking Books for Young Readers

384 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--A swoony rivals-to-lovers romance . . .

Family secrets that can't stay buried . . .

A globe-spanning treasure hunt with puzzles to solve . . .

This latest YA novel by acclaimed writer Gloria Chao takes readers on a soaring adventure through love, loss, and the lively streets of Taiwan.

For Gemma's whole life, it has always been her and her mom against the world. As far as she knew, all her grandparents—and thus her ties to Taiwanese culture—were dead. Until one day when a mysterious man shows up at her door with two shocking the news that her grandfather has just recently passed, and the first clue to a treasure hunt that Gemma hopes will lead to her inheritance.

There's just one major to complete the hunt, she has to go to her grandfather's home in Taiwan. And the only way she can get there is by asking her ex and biggest high-school rival, Xander, for help. But after swallowing her pride, Gemma finds herself halfway across the world, ready to unearth her life-changing prize. Soon Gemma discovers that the treasure hunt is about much more than money—it's about finally learning about her family, her cultural roots, and maybe even finding true love.

Filled with ingenious puzzles, a vibrant Taipei setting, and a delicious romance, Ex Marks the Spot is an exciting adventure by award-winning writer Gloria Chao, perfect for fans of Loveboat Taipei, The Inheritance Games, and Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes.

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.

The Perfect Rom-Com

By: Melissa Ferguson

Expected Publication: February 11, 2025 by Thomas Nelson

336 pages

Genre: 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--She's written dozens of smash hit novels as a ghostwriter. Too bad no one knows it.

Aspiring author Bryony Page attends her first writers conference bursting with optimism and ready to sell her manuscript with long-shot dreams of raising awareness for The Bridge, her grandmother's financially-struggling organization where she teaches ESL full-time. But after a disastrous pitching session, she stumbles into correcting another author's work in a last-ditch attempt to make a good impression with the agent. And she, as it turns out, is spot on.

No one is more surprised than Bryony when the agent offers her the opportunity to be a ghostwriter for Amelia Benedict, popular rom-com novelist. Bryony agrees on one she'll write books for this vain, demanding woman just as long as Jack Sterling, literary agent of the legendary Foundry Literary Agency, works to sell her own book too.

What nobody predicted, however, was that Bryony's books would turn Amelia Benedict into the Amelia Benedict, household name and bestselling author with millions of copies sold around the world.

And just like that, the Foundry Agency can't let her go.

But on a personal note, Jack is realizing he can't either.

The Death King (Death, # 1)

By: Penelope Barsetti

Expected Publication: August 29, 2024 by Hartwick Publishing

341 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Dragons, Abuse

( 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 was fifteen when the Death King came for us.

With a mighty black dragon and the ability to command the dead, he raised an army of our fallen soldiers to fight for him—and conquered us in the night. My father, King Laurier of Scorpion Valley, couldn’t stop him. I tried to flee but came face to face with the man in black armor, the man who looked more like a god than a human. Instead of killing me, he chose to show me mercy…but it didn’t feel like mercy.

Not when the next ten years of my life are spent as a slave in the Arid Sands, digging for Black Diamonds from sunrise to sunset. I'm also the personal slave of General Titan—a man who has grown obsessed with me. The work under the hot sun is unbearable—but I prefer it to his company any day. I’ve never tried to escape because there’s nowhere to run in the desert, but all of that changes when I hear the news—that the Death King is coming.

I sneak out in the middle of the night to steal his dragon, but that backfires in my face—because you can’t steal a dragon. Khazmuda is no mindless beast. He can speak directly into my mind and hear my thoughts in return. The Death King is about to kill me, but Khazmuda changes his mind—because I have the gift.

The ability to speak with dragons.

The Death King spares my life once again and takes me back to his castle. He has no idea who I am, has no idea what he did to my family ten years ago. He asks me to fight for his cause—but he won’t tell me exactly what that cause is. And then he tells me he wants more from me…desires me more than any other because, like him, I have the gift.

I can’t deny he’s the most handsome man I’ve ever seen, with eyes black like midnight, a jawline as sharp as his dragon’s talons, the height of a mountain, and shoulders as broad as a stream. But no amount of attraction will ever change the fact that he destroyed my life. The answer is no—and it’ll always be no.

But the Death King doesn’t accept that answer.

Trigger Contains dark themes including rape and suicide.

A Dawn of Gods and Fury (Fate and Flame, # 4)

By: KA Tucker

Publication: September 3, 2024 by Penguin

528 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Fae

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--"Prophecy always finds a way."

The will of the fates has come to pass. Monsters swarm from the depths, while dragons soar overhead. And the throne of Islor lies vacant… but not for long.

Fleeing the merciless sirens, Tyree and Annika find themselves stranded on a distant shore. Forced together to survive, they find old magics and terrifying new enemies.

For Romeria and Zander, the long-held secrets of the casters’ magic reveal a chance to finally master the power that has held all their lives in the balance for too long. But with power comes betrayal. And sacrifices must be made.

The final book in the captivating Fate & Flame series.

Beyond the Crescent Sky (The Balkans, # 2)

By: AL Sowards

Expected Publication: January 7, 2025 by Shadow Mountain

368 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--Helena is a healer. Ivan is her prisoner. Caught in the crossfire of war, they must choose: loyalty, or love.

The Balkans, 1383

A sudden conflict between Serbs and Greeks has forced Ivan to join his brother and fight with the Serbian army. On the battlefield, Ivan is wounded and captured by the hostile Greeks, becoming a hostage in a deadly bid for power.

Helena, a Greek midwife, is tasked to care for Ivan, a request that will not only test her healing abilities but also her loyalty. Though war has made her reluctant patient an enemy, she can’t help but forge a connection with him, yet falling in love with him could turn her world upside down and brand her a traitor.

As the Ottoman Empire extends its grip into the Balkans, events beyond their control force Ivan and Helena to choose between loyalty to their families and people or following the longings of their hearts.

Award-winning historical novelist A. L. Sowards creates an engaging world of overlords and spies, rebellions and battlefields, and forbidden love.

The Serpent and the Wolf

By: Rebecca Robinson

Expected Publication: November 19, 2024 by S&S/Saga Press

352 pages

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Magic

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--Perfect for fans of Raven Kennedy and Thea Guanzon, Rebecca Robinson’s thrilling romantasy debut combines high-stakes political intrigue and a steamy, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance.

All her life, Vaasa Kozár has been sharpened into a blade.

After losing her mother—her only remaining parent—to a mysterious dark magic that has since awakened within her, Vaasa is certain death looms. So is her merciless brother, who aims to eliminate Vaasa as a threat to his crown. In one last political scheme, he marries her off to Reid of Mireh, a ruthless foreign ruler, in hopes that he can use her death as a rallying cry to finally invade Reid’s nation. All Vaasa has to do is die.

But she is desperate to live. Vaasa enters her new marriage with every intent to escape it, wielding the hard-won political prowess and combat abilities her late father instilled in her. But to her surprise, Reid offers her a deal: help him win the votes to rise in power, and she can walk free. In exchange, he will share his knowledge about the dark magic running through her veins—and help keep it at bay.

This proposal may be too good to refuse, yet Vaasa and Reid’s undeniable attraction threatens to break the rules of their arrangement. As her brother’s lethal machinations take form, everything is at stake: Vaasa must learn to trust her new husband, but how can she, especially when their perfect political marriage begins to feel like the real thing?

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!

Tree. Table. Book. - Review

Tree. Table. Book.

By: Lois Lowry

Publication: April 1, 2024 by Clarion Books

208 pages

Genre: Middle Grade

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--The latest compelling work from the master storyteller

Everyone knows the two Sophies are best friends. One is in elementary school, and one is . . . well . . . in a little trouble of late. She’s elderly, sure, but she’s always been on her game, the best friend any girl struggling to fit in could ever have. The Sophies drink tea, have strong opinions about pretty much everything, and love each other dearly. Now it seems the elder Sophie is having memory problems, burning teakettles, and forgetting just about everything. It looks like her son is going to come and get her and steal her away forever. Young Sophie isn’t having that. Not one bit. So she sets out to help elder Sophie’s memory, with the aid of her neighborhood friends Ralphie and Oliver. But when she opens the floodgates of elder Sophie’s memories, she winds up listening to stories that will illustrate just how much there is to know about her dear friend, stories of war, hunger, cruelty, and ultimately love.

I've never read Lois Lowry before, but through the years I've seen a few of her books get some high ratings like The Giver and Number the Stars. Well might daughter is reading chapter books now and approaching that Middle Grade genre. So I knew I needed to start reading some books here and there to be able to recommend books to her as she gets older. Personally, I struggle with books in this age group. So I thought I'd give Lois Lowry a try.

Early on I realized that I would still likely struggle through this book so I would read a little at a time before allowing myself to read something I was actually interested in reading. And this worked. I was able to make progress and eventually finish Tree. Table. Book. using this method.

Sophie, the main character and narrator, is a little hard for me to connect to. She's a little rude/abrasive to her friends, Ralphie mostly. She seems to think she's smarter than others. She has her quirks, but mostly she was a sweet kid concerned about losing her best friend in the world. When Sophie's parents point out older Sophie's memory issues, young Sophie's sets out to prove everyone wrong by using the DSMR that Ralphie's dad has. She gives older Sophie's a series of tests that sparks her to share some of her life stories. Young Sophie has to come to grips with reality which isn't easy for her at all.

Overall, Tree. Table. Book. is a story about love and loss and moving forward even when we want to dig in our heels to stay right where we are. I can't say that I personally loved it as this isn't my preferred age range and young Sophie was a little grating for me. Tree. Table. Book. gets 3 Stars from me. Have you read Tree. Table. Book.? What did you think? Let me know!

2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge - September Wrap Up

Time for our Monthly Wrap Up for the 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge hosted by Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know and Holly @ Words Fueled by Love!

Sandy finished Knight of the Goddess (Blood of a Fae, # 4) by Briar Boleyn.

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 Auguest giveaway runs from August 25th - September 25th. On September 25th we will use random.org and the linky entries from the entire year to pull a grand prize winner.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Can't Wait for Fear the Flames

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.

Fear the Flames (Fear the Flames, # 1)

By: Olivia Rose Darling

Expected Publication: September 17, 2024 by Delacorte Press

384 pages

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Dragons

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--An exiled princess teams up with the last man she thought she could trust in the start of a dazzling and unforgettable epic fantasy romance series.

As a child, Elowen Atarah was ripped away from her dragons and imprisoned by her father, King Garrick of Imirath. Years later, Elowen is now a woman determined to free her dragons. Having established a secret kingdom of her own called Aestilian, she’s ready to do what’s necessary to save her people and seek vengeance. Even if that means having to align herself with the Commander of Vareveth, Cayden Veles, the most feared and dangerous man in all the kingdoms of Ravaryn.

Cayden is ruthless, lethal, and secretive, promising to help Elowen if she will stand with him and all of Vareveth in the pending war against Imirath. Despite their contrasting motives, Elowen can’t ignore their undeniable attraction as they combine their efforts and plot to infiltrate the impenetrable castle of Imirath to steal back her dragons and seek revenge on their common enemy.

As the world tries to keep them apart, the pull between Elowen and Cayden becomes impossible to resist. Working together with their crew over clandestine schemes, the threat of war looms, making the imminent heist to free her dragons their most dangerous adventure yet. But for Elowen, her vengeance is a promise signed in blood, and she’ll stop at nothing to see that promise through.

An immersive fantasy filled with a sizzling reluctant-allies-to-lovers romance, a world to get lost in, dangerous quests, dragon bonds, and an entertaining band of characters to root for, Fear the Flames marks the stunning debut of Olivia Rose Darling.

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

Top Ten Fall 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 Fall 2024 TBR List

1. A Drop of Venom by Sajni Patel
2. Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum, # 30) by Janet Evanovich
3. The Outlaw Noble Salt by Amy Harmon
4. Love, Just In by Natalie Murray
5. Cursed (Gilded, # 2) by Marissa Meyer
6. The Art of Us by Julie Wright
7. The Serpent and the Wolf by Rebecca Robinson
8. A Fire in the Sky by Sophie Jordan
9. A Dawn of Gods and Fury (Fate and Flame, # 4) by KA Tucker
10. If the Boot Fits (Texas Ever After, # 2) by Karen Witemeyer

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

So True a Love - Review

So True a Love

By: Joanna Barker

Publication: September 3, 2024 by Shadow Mountain

256 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Regency

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--Danger and passion collide in a Regency backdrop when a plucky young woman becomes embroiled in a Bow Street investigation alongside a handsome officer.

London, 1803

As the daughter of a renowned actress, Verity Travers is a privileged lady of high society —and the last woman one would suspect of working as a private investigator. But after one case nearly costs her everything, she makes the hard decision to hang up her hat and live the uninspiring life of a gentlewoman. However, when she and her dearest friend become victims of a harrowing armed robbery, Verity finds herself swept back into the clandestine world of mystery and crime as she seeks to bring the thief to justice. There’s just one complication: the persistent and dashingly handsome Bow Street Runner Nathaniel Denning, who always seems to cross her path.

Verity is confident she could accomplish her work quickly if only Nathaniel would stay out of her way. While she appreciates his keen mind and quick wit on a case, his interference is muddling her progress—and her heart. Focusing on the task at hand becomes more and more difficult as she constantly bumps into Nathaniel, who is determined to keep her out of danger.

When the two rival investigators learn they are both pursuing the same cunning criminal, they must figure out how to navigate the delicate dance of cooperation amid a backdrop of increasing peril and an irresistible passion that sets their hearts ablaze.

Joanna Barker has come up with some original story ideas, and So True a Love is just one of them. Verity has dreams (or did at one time) of becoming a female Bow Street Runner. Her brother worked with Bow Street. (You can read his story in A Heart Worth Stealing.) Jack taught her everything he knew, and he often enlisted her help with cases. She has a good mind for detective work. After Jack married and settled, Verity thought she might try doing some cases personally. She was doing pretty well, but one case went a little off that scared her, and rightly so. Verity was with a friend's family when they were all robbed. But something is off with the thief. Verity takes after him and literally bumps into Bow Street Runner, Nathaniel. Verity is urged by her friend to take on this case personally as a note was in her friend's reticule that could ruin her.  

Nathaniel is immediately irritated and intrigued by Verity. She seems to be popping up everywhere he is, disrupting his investigation. He didn't want to take this case because it would be like finding a needle in a haystack, and it also doesn't pay well. But he doesn't have a choice. Nathaniel quickly realizes that keeping Verity away from this case isn't going to happen, and so the two team up. I couldn't have been more excited about this duo. Nathaniel doesn't take much longer than teaming up with her to realize that he might want more from a relationship with her. But Verity doesn't plan to marry. She's keeping a secret that she doesn't want to be exposed.

The mystery wasn't the driving force for me, which is actually a good thing in my opinion. I felt like the mystery was central enough to the plot that it does guide most of the story, but my drive to read wasn't from wanting to find out the "who done it," but to find out if Verity would let her guard down to let Nathaniel in.

Favorite quotes:

-The next morning, I set out, determined to put my plan into action. It was two-pronged, as any worthwhile plan was.

-"Trust is a valuable thing, Miss Travers," he responded. "One mustn't give it away too easily."

-"A girl must use all the skills at her disposal," I replied. "You would be surprised how often I am underestimated."

-"I do not drink while working," he said eventually, his voice almost too steady. As if he'd offered this explanation many times before. "I prefer to have my wits about me." "I see," I said, trying not to show how very intrigued I was. "Wits are rather hard to come by. Best not to frighten them off."

-"Oh, none of that formality," I said. "Please call me Patience."

-"There is, perhaps, no surer mark of folly," he went on, "than an attempt to correct the natural infirmities of those we love."

-"Always one step forward and two steps back," he said in a soft voice. "But I am undeterred."

-"I find it quite impossible to forget anything about you."

-"I've never known anyone like you," I said quietly. "You say what you feel, and you mean it. No guile or deception."

-I'd learned firsthand from my parents that love could be both selfish and caring.

-A young lady passed him, eyeing him with unmistakable interest. I could hardly blame her--the man certainly knew how to lean on a wall--but I still glared at her back.

-"That is why we work so well together," I replied with a saucy wink. "You plan; I improvise."

As you can see there are some real gems in the banter between Nathaniel and Verity. Their relationship was supportive, and they admired each other's talents and abilities. I loved their entire journey. And they might be one of my favorite couples that I've read this month. So True a Love gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read So True a Love? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Julia Rothman's Farm Anatomy Activity Book

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.

Julia Rothman's Farm Anatomy Activity Book

By: Julia Rothman

Expected Publication: September 24, 2024 by Storey Publishing, LLC

64 pages

Genre: Match-ups, Word Puzzles, Quizzes, Mazes, Projects, Secret Codes

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--Julia Rothman, bestselling author and illustrator of Farm Anatomy, presents a companion activity book for kids aged 8 and up, with pages of creative learning activities, including matching challenges, mazes, ID and drawing exercises, word puzzles, and observational challenges.

The author invites you to try your hand at identifying, drawing, and learning the parts and pieces of life on a farm. Loaded with Rothman's original illustrations, this interactive format features fun challenges on every page, including labeling the parts of a rabbit, buzzing though a pollinator's maze, figuring out a secret farm code, identifying tools and equipment, and learning to draw a sheep and a horse. Rothman's lively collection of on-the-page quizzes, puzzles, and activities will intrigue and entertain you, whether you live on a farm or not.

I'm having a hard time figuring out how to review this book. The art work and illustrations are beautiful. The activities look fun, engaging, and informative for children. Yet, I couldn't actually get my kids to look at it or try any of the activities out as I received a digital version of this book, and printing wasn't allowed for understandable reasons.

Julia Rothman's Farm Anatomy Activity Book has a mixture of learning, activities, games, riddles, drawing, puzzles, etc. If you have a child interested in farming, gardening, or farm animals, or if you're doing a unit study in your homeschool on farming, this book would be a great resource. I don't know how this might work for you if you have multiple kids. I guess you would need to purchase a copy per child--no different than purchasing a coloring book or activity book per kid for something else. If a digital version is available where you can print off multiple copies of the activities you need per how many children you have, you'd still run into instances where an entire page has a colored background which is beautiful to look at but is costly to print at home. This book is one of the few instances where having a physical review book would have been helpful to see what the real size and layout would have been like to review this properly.

Julia Rothman's Farm Anatomy Activity Book gets 4 Stars. I couldn't try out any of the activities or worksheets with my kids because I couldn't print them, but I can easily see how this would be a great resource. Have you read or used Julia Rothman's Farm Anatomy Activity Book? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Adam & Evie's Matchmaking Tour

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.

Adam & Evie's Matchmaking Tour

By: Nora Nguyen

Expected Publication: September 24, 2024 by Avon

304 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Travel

( 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 rollicking, unforgettable romance about two strangers finding love despite their best efforts as they embark on a sweeping matchmaking tour through Việt Nam, perfect for readers of Carley Fortune and Abby Jimenez.

What’s a few weeks to a lifetime of promise?

Evie Lang’s life is in shambles. On the heels of losing her beloved aunt, she's unceremoniously fired from her poetry professorship by her secret boyfriend. Lacking income and inspiration, she's stuck in Ohio with no idea how to move forward—until hope arrives in a surprising letter.

Auntie Hảo left Evie the deed to her San Francisco row house, a place full of Evie’s happiest memories. The catch? To inherit, she must go on a pre-arranged matchmaking tour in Việt Nam. The last thing Evie wants is to spend time with a group of strangers looking for love. But she can't resist the chance to finally visit her family’s native home.

A world away, Adam Quyền has a chip on his shoulder. He’s working around the clock as CMO for his sister’s elite matchmaking business, a job complicated by her insistence that he knows nothing about love. He’s desperate to prove himself, so when she challenges him to join the inaugural tour, he reluctantly agrees.

Adam thinks Evie is chaotic and unpredictable. Evie thinks Adam is grumpy and uptight. But from the bustling streets of Hồ Chí Minh City to the soaring waterfalls in Đà Lạt, they keep getting thrown together, their animosity charged with attraction…and they discover that true love may be out there, if they are willing to take a leap.

Two stubborn hearts, one whirlwind adventure, Adam & Evie’s Matchmaking Tour is a story of how loving (and living) bravely can lead you to the most unexpected places—and the most imperfectly perfect loves.

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

To Charm a Lady - Review

To Charm a Lady (The Cartwells, # 2)

By: Joanna Barker

Publication: June 6, 2024 by Rose Petal Press

294 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Clean Romance, Regency

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--Cora Atherton wants nothing more than to finally fall in love—real love, not the unrequited sort. When she is invited to attend a house party without her disapproving, overbearing mother, Cora leaps at the chance, desperate to make a match of her own. That is, until she finds that Oliver Cartwell is also attending the party. Oliver, the boy she has loved since she was a girl and the man she is determined to forget.

A house party in the country is just what Oliver needs to distract himself from the shadows of his past. When he discovers that Cora, his sister’s best friend, is in need of a little matchmaking, he resolves to help her in her search for a husband. He quickly learns that no man is good enough for her, least of all himself. Why, then, does he find himself fighting his attraction to gentle, beautiful Cora at every step?

As the two draw closer together, Cora is forced to confront the feelings that have tortured her for years. With her future on the line and a deadline fast approaching, can she trust that flirtatious Oliver has changed for the better—or will he leave her heart in pieces once again?

Cora and Oliver's story was setup in A Game of Hearts. Oliver was in a flirtatious relationship with Cora and Marigold's friend, Sylvia, until she chose not to support Marigold when her reputation suffered a small blow before she and Tristan got engaged. Sylvia never did choose to reconcile with Marigold. Thus Oliver and Cora both cut ties with her. Oliver has been a party boy, not taking life or his responsibilities too seriously. 

Cora has loved Oliver since she was about ten. But her mother is overbearing and refuses to say anything nice about Oliver. She doesn't view him as a serious young man and assumes he will make a terrible husband no matter who he marries. When Cora's mother injures her leg and cannot attend a house party as Cora's chaperone, Cora jumps at the chance for Lady Englefield to play chaperone for her. Cora wants so badly to find love from without the heavy burden of her mother's disapproval. 

I think what I liked most about this book was that there were few truly awful characters. Of course, there's Oliver's friend and the married lady continually hitting on Oliver, but other than that, all of the other characters just felt normal and human and mostly "good". Oliver's parents, although loving, still said something hurtful that he overheard, and has affected him deeply. Cora unintentionally leads on Lord Stanton. Lord Stanton and Oliver have a history from their school days, but even now, he seems to have matured and doesn't take offense to plenty of things he could have. Oliver has made poor choices in his youth but finally sees his need to change. Lady Englefield wasn't as attentive of a chaperone as she should have been, but her overall goodness shines through. Cora's mother is only tainted by her own experiences and hurts and mostly wants her daughter not to be hurt by an irresponsible rake. I could go on, but I think I've made my point. The characters were not perfect, but you could see goodness shining through most of the time.

The only quote I highlighted:

-"You are too easily deceived, Cora," Mother said. "You know so little of this world, of what people can truly be like." "Perhaps," I said. "But I do not think I will ever regret being generous with my good opinion. I would much rather be kind than indifferent."

I barely touched on Cora and Oliver's relationship or their journey to each other. I haven't even touched on what each must overcome. But I will tell you that it was worth the journey. It was enjoyable every step of the way. Most of us can relate to having unrequited feelings for someone else at some point. And that makes this story one that anyone can relate to. To Charm a Lady gets 4 Stars. I can't wait to see who gets a story next. Have you read To Charm a Lady? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 09/15/24

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.

Monday was a normal school day. Monday night, Big Girl had her first fall softball game. She played first base and did well, but I could tell she had a little nerves. We got home really late because they decided to play an extra inning with 5 minutes left on our time limit. Big Boy went to martial arts that night. Tuesday, we had a lazy morning which was much needed with running in two directions balancing two extracurriculars. We did do my grocery pickup, and I let the kids go swimming after lunch. They didn't stay in long because the water temperature is so cold. I did a little weeding and yard cleaning while they swam. Tuesday night, Big Girl had another game. She mostly played outfield in that game, but they won that one. Husband took her to that while I took Big Boy to martial arts. Belt testing is this week so we're trying to squeeze in as much extra practice as possible. Wednesday was a normal day if I remember correctly. There were no evening activities to run to that night. Thursday, we have co-op and it rained all day. Big Boy baseball game was cancelled due to rain so both big kids went to martial arts. Friday, we had a good school day. The weather was overcast but also really beautiful and windy. No evening activities for Friday night either and so I worked in the garage a bit. Husband is still renovating his friend's house that was trashed by renters. Saturday, my plan was to be lazy. I need some downtime. Between running to all the extras and teaching school and just being mom...my battery was running a little low this week. Thankfully, belt testing is Tuesday, and we'll be able to go back to one extracurricular activity for the next month and a half.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of A Game of Hearts (The Cartwells, # 1) by Joanna Barker (4 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for The Thirteenth Child by Erin A Craig
Friday: Homeschool Friday - I Know Mad

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of To Charm a Lady (The Cartwells, # 2) by Joanna Barker
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday?
Friday: Homeschool Friday

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:

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 - I Know Mad

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.

I Know Mad (We Find Feeling Clues)

By: Lindsay N. Giroux

Illustrated By: Alicia Teba Godoy

Publication: September 3, 2024 by Free Spirit Publishing

36 pages

Genre: Children's, Emotions

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--Children learn to recognize and cope with feeling mad, frustrated, and jealous.

A young feelings detective looks for clues, both physical and emotional, to identify anger, frustration, and jealousy in themselves and in others. The child uses a special notebook to draw their feelings and identify how they feel. By noticing the clues, the feelings detective is able to find a new plan to overcome feeling jealous and even help their mom when she is feeling frustrated.

We Find Feelings Clues

Increase children's emotion vocabulary and boost their emotional literacy. This series helps children learn how to find, notice, and use a variety of clues to identify and name their emotions and those of others. Clues are found in facial expressions and body language, sensations within the body, and knowledge of past experiences. After identifying an emotion, children also learn how they can feel better when their emotions are overwhelming. Each book features a child using the tool of the feelings detective notebook to record their feelings through drawings and words. Additional information and strategies on recognizing and dealing with feelings are included at the back of each book.

I Know Mad helps in the important task of teaching children how to label their emotions. The book guides them through a variety of situations, facial expressions, and ways their bodies might feel during the emotions of anger, frustration, and jealousy. I know there's a limit to the amount of information you can include in a children's book, but I wish that anger being a secondary emotion would have been discussed. Anger (or as the book describes "mad") happens after another emotion like sadness, fear, loneliness, or hurt. Understanding our emotions is crucial to having good mental health as well as healthy relationships.

I Know Mad did focus on coping strategies. The idea of a "feel better basket" is one that I might incorporate into my own home. Suggestions were even made about what to include in this type of basket. Asking for help from an adult and talking things out with someone else were both strategies used. Most of all, empathy towards others who might be feeling similar strong emotions is a great inclusion to this topic. The last page of the book shows the word "calm" on the artwork that a child created for his emotional artwork. Calmness is the goal. I recently heard the saying "All emotions are welcome, but not all behavior is welcome." And I think even though calmness is the goal, teaching children that some emotions are negative lends to some shame around feeling those emotions when they do arise, which they inevitably will.

I read I Know Mad with my six-year-old son who struggles with regulating his emotions and frequently falls into anger and frustration. I think the ideal age for this book is a little younger than my son. But I asked him when we were done reading it if he thought it would help children understand and work through their anger. He said he thought so. Now, is this a book that he wants to read again? Not really, unfortunately. I can see where my younger son might benefit from this book even more, I just haven't had an opportunity to read it with him since it's on my computer instead of my phone or a physical copy.

I Know Mad is a great introduction to helping young kids understand, label, and process their emotions of mad, frustration, and jealousy. I do wish there were a few things that were added or different. Overall, I think I Know Mad gets 4 Stars. Have you read I Know Mad? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for The Thirteenth Child

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 Thirteenth Child

By: Erin A. Craig

Expected Publication: September 24, 2024 by Delacorte Press

512 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Horror, Gothic, 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--This is the story of Hazel, a young healer navigating a ruthless court to save the life of the king, grappling with a pantheon of gods with questionable agendas as she fights for agency and true love in her own life as the goddaughter of none other than Death himself.

All gifts come with a price.

Hazel Trépas has always known she wasn’t like the rest of her siblings. A thirteenth child, promised away to one of the gods, she spends her childhood waiting for her godfather—Merrick, the Dreaded End—to arrive.

When he does, he lays out exactly how he’s planned Hazel’s future. She will become a great healer, known throughout the kingdom for her precision and skill. To aid her endeavors, Merrick blesses Hazel with a gift, the ability to instantly deduce the exact cure needed to treat the sick.

But all gifts come with a price. Hazel can see when Death has claimed a patient—when all hope is gone—and is tasked to end their suffering, permanently. Haunted by the ghosts of those she’s killed, Hazel longs to run. But destiny brings her to the royal court, where she meets Leo, a rakish prince with a disdain for everything and everyone. And it’s where Hazel faces her biggest dilemma yet—to save the life of a king marked to die. Hazel knows what she is meant to do and knows what her heart is urging her toward, but what will happen if she goes against the will of Death?

From the astonishing mind of Erin A. Craig comes the breathtaking fairy tale retelling readers have been waiting for— what does a life well-lived mean, and how do we justify the impossible choices we make for the ones we love?

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

A Game of Hearts - Review

A Game of Hearts (The Cartwells, # 1)

By: Joanna Barker

Publication: October 6, 2022 by Rose Petal Press

321 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Clean Romance, Regency

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--If you can't join them, beat them.

Marigold Cartwell has only one to defeat her long-time rival on the archery field. She knows she can outshoot irritating, cynical Tristan Gates, but the local bowmen’s society—the one he belongs to—refuses to allow women to compete. Spurred on by their rejection, Marigold decides to start a new society. Naturally, it has only one no men.

Tristan Gates is used to Marigold Cartwell always getting her way, so he is far from surprised when she forms her own society. He knows how relentless she can be, something he learned firsthand facing her at the targets. But Tristan has enough worries of his own, what with his bachelor uncle falling in love with a fortune hunter. He has no time to entertain Marigold’s ambitions.

However, after a visit to the seashore ends in disaster—and scandal—Marigold and Tristan soon realize how little they know about each other. The strained tension between them quickly turns to simmering attraction, but an important archery competition looms ahead. Lines are drawn all around them, with Marigold and Tristan on opposite sides, and neither can afford to lose. Yet winning might be the very thing to tear them apart.

Joanna Barker is a sneaky author in that I often don't see much marketing for her books before they are released. Some I have found on NetGalley, but often not. Some of her books slip up on me even though I regularly check my repeat authors for upcoming books. A Game of Hearts snuck up on me. I would have loved to have read this one back when it was published, but here we are.

A Game of Hearts reminded me of Highcliffe House by Megan Walker. Marigold and Tristan have an antagonistic relationship. Marigold thinks Tristan thinks he's a better archer than her, but he generally annoys her. Tristan thinks Marigold is spoiled and used to getting what she wants. He thinks that no matter the rules of society or the situation, she will steamroll ahead until she gets whatever she wants. Often, enemies-to-lovers stories have hints of flirting, but the interactions between Marigold and Tristan weren't backed by romantic tension at first. That is until the trip to the seashore alluded to in the description.

But let's back up. Marigold is the 2nd child. She has a sizable dowry. Yet her parents were a love match, and she hopes for the same. She had one season in London and came back with an interested suitor who is likely to propose soon if given more time in her company. But most of all, Marigold has a passion for archery. And she's good. She practices constantly. Her goal has been to be accepted into a local archery club that only allows men since only clubs are allowed to compete in prize tournaments. When she sees that this isn't happening, she creates a women's club for archery and has a surprising turnout.

Tristan is the heir to his uncle's estate. His uncle is widowed, but he's young enough yet to remarry. Tristan has been living with his uncle since his parents passed away. And he's worried that his uncle is being led into a relationship with a potential fortune hunter. Tristan loves archery too, but he has more on his plate than archery at the same time. But that's easy to say when he's allowed into the club and the prize tournaments because he's male. Marigold is often an annoyance to him, but he finds himself trapped in a position of doing the honorable thing or not.

I liked that Marigold and Tristan didn't have a typical start. Both were opposed to marriage to each other at first. But circumstances pushed these two together, and I liked the work they had to put in to come out on the other side stronger. But hey, I'm a sucker for forced marriage storylines.

A Game of Hearts was a solid, enjoyable book. I liked that Tristan and Marigold mostly misunderstood each other, and were opposed to any relationship at first. I like to see what couples are forced to go through to make things go from nonexistent to allies to team to happily married. A Game of Hearts gets 4 Stars. Have you read A Game of Hearts? What did you think? Let me know!