December 2025 EOM Wrap Up

I read 6 books (not including children's books).
Brimstone (Fae & Alchemy, # 2) by Callie Hart
The Last Wish of Bristol Keats (The Courting of Bristol Keats, # 2) by Mary E Pearson
Empire of Flame and Thorns (Flame and Thorns, # 1) by Marion Blackwood
We Met Like This by Kasie West
Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater
I Want to Trust You, but I Don't by Lysa TerKeurst

I have reviewed 5 books (not including mini reviews of children's books).
Better Than the Movies (Better Than the Movies, # 1) by Lynn Painter
The Governess and the Rogue (Somerset Stories, # 6) by Mimi Matthews
A Presumptuous Hope (Daughters of the Gentry, # 3) by Jennie Goutet
The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer

Other Posts:
Sunday Post - 12/14/25
Sunday Post - 12/21/25
Sunday Post - 12/28/25
Top Ten Winter 2025 TBR List
Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings Me 2025
Last Ten Books I Added to My TBR List
Can't Wait for A Love Most Daring by Joanna Barker
Can't Wait for The Night Bus by Tessa Bickers
Can't Wait for First and Forever by Lynn Painter
Can't Wait for The Escape Room by Marissa Meyer & Tamara Moss
Homeschool Friday - Courageous World Changers: 50 True Stories of Daring Women of God
Homeschool Friday - The Storm that Stopped
Homeschool Friday - The Children's Book of Virtues
November 2025 EOM Wrap Ups

Goals:
I finished my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 163 out of 75 books (including children's books).

Last Ten Books I Added to My TBR List (December 2025)

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 Last Ten Books I Added to My TBR List

1. Seek the Traitor's Son by Veronica Roth
2. The Bible in 52 Weeks Devotional for Boys: A Year of Growing in Faith by Lord Badu
3. The Bible in 52 Weeks Devotional for Girls: A Year of Growing in Faith by Jaseña S'vani
4. A Novel Engagement by Anneka Walker
5. First and Forever by Lynn Painter
6. The Escape Room by Marissa Meyer
7. The Proposition of the Season (Fairfax Sisters, # 3) by Michelle Kenney
8. Spellcast (A Fire in the Sky, # 3) by Sophie Jordan
9. An Unconventional Lady by Sarah E Ladd
10. Empire of Flame and Thorns (Flame and Thorns, # 1) by Marion Blackwood

Have you read any of these? Or are these on your TBR list? Which books have you added to your TBR list? Let me know!

The House Saphir - Review

The House Saphir

By: Marissa Meyer

Narrated by: Rebecca Soler

Publication: November 4, 2025 by Macmillan Young Listeners

Duration: 12 Hours, 15 Minutes, 3 Seconds

432 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retelling

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--From the #1 New York Times bestselling "Queen of Fairytale Retellings" and author of Cinder and Heartless, this is the tale of Bluebeard as it's never been told before—a thrilling romantasy and murder mystery.

Mallory Fontaine is a fraud. Though she comes from a long line of witches, the only magic she possesses is the ability to see ghosts, which is rarely as useful as one would think. She and her sister have maintained the family business, eking out a paltry living by selling bogus spells to gullible buyers and conducting tours of the infamous mansion where the first of the Saphir murders took place.

Mallory is a self-proclaimed expert on Count Bastien Saphir—otherwise known as Monsieur Le Bleu—who brutally killed three of his wives more than a century ago. But she never expected to meet Bastien's great-great grandson and heir to the Saphir estate. Armand is handsome, wealthy, and convinced that the Fontaine Sisters are as talented as they claim. The perfect mark. When he offers Mallory a large sum of money to rid his ancestral home of Le Bleu's ghost, she can’t resist. A paid vacation at Armand’s country manor? It’s practically a dream come true, never mind the ghosts of murdered wives and the monsters that are as common as household pests.

But when murder again comes to the House Saphir, Mallory finds herself at the center of the investigation—and she is almost certain the killer is mortal. If she has any hope of cashing in on the payment she was promised, she’ll have to solve the murder and banish the ghost, all while upholding the illusion of witchcraft.

But that all sounds relatively easy compared to her biggest learning to trust her heart. Especially when the person her heart wants the most might be a murderer himself.

I have an up-and-down relationship with Marissa Meyer's books. I loved the Lunar Chronicle series. And I enjoyed the first book in the Gilded series. I never finished book 2. I wasn't sure about The House Saphir, but I decided to take a chance and check it out. And I am glad that I got the audiobook version so I could do that.

The House Saphir is about a girl who is pretending to be a witch in order to trick people into paying for haunted house tours, seances, trinkets, potions, and various other things. She and her sister are simply trying to survive by whatever means necessary. Specifically, she is using a local mansion in disrepair where the owner is known to have killed his four wives before he himself died.

Mallory is approached on one such tour by the descendant of Count Bastian Saphir who wants to use her services to expell the ghost of the count from the house. Mallory and her sister move into the house hoping to milk the experience for all the time and money they can. Only Mallory begins to develop feelings for Armand, the man who hired her. And things aren't quite as they seem all around.

I am so thankful that I listened to this book on audio. I have nearly zero experience with French. And many, many words would have been horribly butchered or skipped entirely had I been reading this book myself and not listening to it. The narrator did a wonderful job.

I can't say that anything about the story itself, plot wise, was a surprise. Things played out pretty expectedly. The creatures and the magic were fairly unique at least to my knowledge. Again, I'm not up on any French folklore if these beasts were inspired by anything or completely fictional created by Marissa Meyer.

There was enough of a romance to satisfy me. I don't usually enjoy reading if that's entirely missing. I don't remember much cursing. And there are no spicy scenes to worry about.

The House Saphir was better than I was expecting. Yet I wasn't expecting a lot given that I was on the fence about this book. I've liked Marissa Meyer in the past, but the description didn't seem entirely something that I would normally gravitate towards. Unless you're familiar with French, I do suggest listening to the audiobook. The House Saphir gets 3 Stars. Have you read or listened to The House Saphir? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 12/28/25

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 good day. Big Girl had pitching practice, and they did a little gift swap with goodies. Tuesday, we spent the day with my parents and got groceries. Big Kids did martial arts. Wednesday, Husband was off work early. I spent a large part of the day cleaning and prepping food. I made cinnamon rolls from scratch for Christmas morning. They were delicious, but so rich. I also went ahead and prepped my sweet potato casserole. Husband and I had to do our part to put Christmas out under the tree before we could go to bed. I just could not sleep that night. We had a wonderful Christmas Day. The kids were so well behaved and peaceful all day. It truly felt like one of the best Christmases we've had in a long time. My parents and Husband's mom came over for Christmas lunch. They stayed for a few hours. I tried getting a little nap after they left, but I didn't get much of one. Friday, Husband was back at work. We had a good day overall. Saturday, we did Christmas with Husband's side of the family. It was a wonderful day with lots of good food, talking, and presents. I often dread the two weeks after Christmas because behavior isn't always the best with the kids coming off the high of so many parties, presents, and sugar. But I'm praying this will be a smoother transition. I am already ready to get back on my diet and take down Christmas decorations. I'm sure I'll get to all of that really soon. How was your Christmas?

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of A Presumptuous Hope (Daughters of the Gentry, # 3) by Jennie Goutet (3.5 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings 2025
Wednesday: Can't Wait for The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer & Tamara Moss
Friday: Homeschool Friday - The Children's Book of Virtues (5 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Reivew of The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: December 2025 EOM Wrap Up
Thursday: Happy New Year!
Friday: 2025 EOY Wrap Up
Saturday: 2025 EOY Book Survey

NEW BOOKS:

My peeps don't buy me books anymore. But I do get gift cards, so I'm sure I'll have some new books to share before long.

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 - The Children's Book of Virtues

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.

The Children's Book of Virtues

Edited By: William J. Bennett

Illustrated By: Michael Hague

Publication: October 1, 1995 by Simon & Schuster

112 pages

Genre: Children's, Classics, Philosophy, Short Stories, Picture Book

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--The perfect companion to William J. Bennett's number-one bestseller; The Book of Virtues, The Children's Book of Virtues is the ideal storybook for parents and children to enjoy together:

With selections from The Book of Virtues, from Aesop and Robert Frost to George Washington's life as well as Native American and African folklore, The Children's Book of Virtues brings together timeless stories and poems from around the world.

The stories have been chosen especially for a young audience to help parents introduce to their children the essentials of good character: Courage, Perseverance, Responsibility, Work, Self-discipline, Compassion, Faith, Honesty, Loyalty, and Friendship.

Lavishly illustrated by the well-known artist Michael Hague, these wonderful stories and the virtues they illustrate come to life on these pages.

The Children's Book of Virtues is an enduring treasury of literature and art that will help lead young minds toward what is noble and gentle and fine.

I decided that my children needed a course on manners, and since we homeschool, I could easily incorporate manners into our daily study time. I pieced together my own "unit" on the subject. And even though we're *one week shy of finishing the school year, I still plan to incorporate manners study into our next year as well. This might end up being an ongoing unit. The unit that never ends. All of that to say, I got The Children's Book of Virtues to go with our manners unit in our homeschool.

This is a book that includes various stories on topics covering courage and perseverance, responsibility, work and self-discipline, compassion and faith, and honesty, loyalty, and friendship. The selections are pulled from Aesop, Robert Frost, George Washington's life, and even Native American and African folklore. The stories and poems included are all informative about the good character we all need to develop. Many of these stories are familiar to me from my childhood as well.

And so often we learn so much from stories. Including good stories with good moral character and moral lessons helps to build us up and strengthen our ethics. Reading these types of stories to your children will pay dividends down the road.

The Children's Book of Virtues almost feels like a staple for any library of a family with young children. Including stories with good morals and life lessons into our children's daily life will help them grow in these areas as they see from outside themselves. The Children's Book of Virtues gets 5 Stars. Have you or your child read The Children's Book of Virtues? What did you think? Let me know!

*This review was written in May 2025, but not posted on my blog until later.

Can't Wait for The Escape Game

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 Escape Game

By: Marissa Meyer & Tamara Moss

Expected Publication: April 7, 2026 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

416 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller

( 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 unforgettable YA murder mystery set in an escape-room themed game show, by Marissa Meyer, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles, and Tamara Moss, rising star and acclaimed author of Lintang series.

It’s all fun and games until someone ends up dead.

Six months ago, season four of The Escape Game ended in horror when contestant Alicia Angelos was found murdered on set.

Now season five is underway, and new contestants are ready to put their skills to the test solving the show's trickiest escape rooms. There's Adi, the cryptographer; Carter, the math whiz; Beck, the wannabe game master, and . . . Sierra Angelos, the girl who got away with her sister’s murder. Or so everyone believes.

But Sierra’s not just here to win. She’s here for justice.

When the contestants begin uncovering clues that hint at the identity of Alicia’s true killer, it becomes clear that the stakes aren’t high in this competition, they’re deadly. If these teens want to win—and survive—the game, they must solve the biggest mystery of who killed Alicia Angelos?

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Marissa Meyer and rising star Tamara Moss comes a twisty thrill-ride, filled with sabotage, betrayal, and puzzles to die for.

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

Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings 2025

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week's topic is Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings 2025

1. Forgotten Home Apothecary: 250 Powerful Remedies at Your Fingertips by Dr. Nicole Apelian
2. The Seamstress (Sisters of Woodside Mysteries, # 4) by Mary Kingswood
3. Woodside (Sisters of Woodside Mysteries, # 5) by Mary Kingswood
4. Light Wielder (Fire & Metal, # 2) by Rachel Schneider
5. A Gentleman's Reckoning by Jennie Goutet
6. No Match for Love by Karen Thornell
7. Frankly, My Dear Clara (London Dreams, # 1) by Kristi Ann Hunter
8. Saved by the Matchmaker (A Shanahan Match, # 2) by Jody Hedlund
9. Persuaded to the Sea by Amanda Taylor
10. Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving by Judi Kingry & Lauren Devine

Have you read any of these? What books do you hope Santa brings you? Let me know!

A Presumptuous Hope - Review

A Presumptuous Hope (Daughters of the Gentry, # 3)

By: Jennie Goutet

Publication: September 12, 2024 by Millefeuille Press

272 pages

Genre: Adult, Regency, Historical Fiction, Clean Romance

Source: Listened to for free from the author's YouTube channel (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--Who declared that every lady of a certain age must of a certainty wish for marriage? Who said a handsome man of fortune might command any woman he pleases for the role of wife?

In the quiet countryside of Lincolnshire, Christine Grey is perfectly content with her life of spinsterhood, finding solace in the companionship of her beloved animals. In the tranquil routine of her days, she spends time with her married friends and puts up with her brother who would try the patience of a saint. Content in her independence, she asks for nothing more.

Alexander Thorne arrives in Horncastle a newly minted knight and owner of the long-dormant Ashbourne—an estate, which borders the Greys'. His aspirations to prove his worthiness lead him to pursue the life and sport of a country gentleman, and through it a clash with his pretty neighbor. His arrival stirs whispers among the locals, and skepticism in Christine’s heart.

When circumstances force them into a compromising situation, they have no choice but to face the necessity to wed. To their surprise, the connection between them deepens even as doubts continue to linger. Christine wonders if her hopes for a happy marriage are too presumptuous, particularly for a woman of her station. Alexander must grapple with his own insecurities as he strives to be husband to a woman as worthy as Christine.

A Presumptuous Hope is a companion book in a series. I think it's probably 3rd in the series (Daughters of the Gentry), but Goodreads didn't list it as part of a series, so it was hard for me to determine it's exact location within the series. I am only using the relationship statuses from side characters that have their own books which take place prior to this book as a guide to determine the order. But I didn't know any of that before starting A Presumptuous Hope.

Christine lives with her brother. She handles his household business as if she is the mistress of the house. Yet she also enjoys getting her hands dirty with things like cleaning, gardening, etc. She also has a love for animals--specifically dogs. When she and her dogs are almost run over by a man gallopping through the woods, she's immediately put off by someone who would endanger her beloved dogs.

Alex is new to the area and has recently taken up residence in the neighboring estate to Christine and her brother. Alex and Christine have a handful of awkward and perhaps off-putting experiences. I found this to be a fun twist on enemies-to-lovers. They aren't enemies exactly, but there's definitely a level of dislike or at the very least awkwardness between them.

Alex and Christine find themselves in an abandoned hut one night when on the way to a country ball or event of some kind (I can't remember the details). They arrive seperately, but Christine nearly drowned in the process of escaping the rising floodwaters. Alex cannot abandon her. Unfortunately, they are compromised simply from being alone together. Circumstances push Alex to propose, yet Christine doesn't want to force anyone to marry her. I appreciated her stance, especially given their initial interactions. Yet I also liked the view of how even the friends and family of the two parties involved suffered the mistreatment of others as a result of her decision to refuse Alex's proposal.

I listened to A Presumptuous Hope on audio, so I don't have any quotes to share with you. This was a quick and fun story--exactly the type of book that I enjoy breaking up some heavier or longer books with a change in genre and tone. A Presumptuous Hope gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read (or listened to) A Presumptuous Hope? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 12/21/25

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

Monday was a normal day. Big Girl had pitching lessons. We'd intended to take the kids to martial arts too, but the temps were so low we decided not to. Husband and I both have been battling colds this week. I feel better, but he started getting sick later than me so he probably has a few more days. Thankfully, I don't think it's the flu which seems to be going around in our area and probably everywhere. Tuesday, we normally go to my parent's house, but our co-op friends were meeting at Sky Zone (a local trampoline park) so we joined in that and had big fun. We grabbed Chick-fil-a for lunch on the way home. The Big Kids did go to martial arts Tuesday night. Wednesday was our last day of school. Little Boy had a party at his mother's day out/preschool. Thursday, we went to see Santa and did what we call "sibling shopping." That's where we take the kids to shop for each other. They love it. This year they went really fast. We went to eat lunch at Huey Magoo's after that. Friday was a day at home with not much going on. I packed up the Christmas puzzle I'd borrowed from my mom and finally finished. And then I spent a large part of the day listening to an audiobook while working on a diamond art snowman. We did do "gingerbread" (graham cracker) houses. Big Girl's is the only one who stood. Mine collapsed from a lack of patience. Big Boy made a "spreadsheet" by spreading all his icing on two crackers and then putting all his candy onto the flat space. Little Boy squirted all his icing onto one cracker and made a sandwich and then proceeded to eat all of his candy. Personally, I'd like to give up this tradition, but the kids asked to do it this way this year. Saturday, we spent the day with my parents and my side of the family celebrating. We didn't have everyone together this year, which is sad. But that's the nature of a growing family. The bigger the family the harder it is to get everyone's schedules to align. Also, when some move from the area that always adds to difficulty as well. But it's life. I am glad we still get together with those who can make it and not cancel altogether. Merry Christmas to everyone this coming week! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday!

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of The Governess and the Rogue (Somerset Stories, # 6) by Mimi Matthews (3.5 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Winter 2025 TBR List
Wednesday: Can't Wait for First and Forever by Lynn Painter
Friday: Homeschool Friday - The Storm that Stopped

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Reivew of A Presumptuous Hope (Daughters of the Gentry, # 3) by Jennie Goutet
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait Wednesday?
Thursday: Merry Christmas!
Friday: Homeschool Friday - The Children's Book of Virtues by Michael Hague

NEW BOOKS:

First adn Forever

By: Lynn Painter

Expected Publication: May 12, 2026 by Berkley

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--A football star and a diehard fan entangled in a PR stunt—that only one side knows is fake—might be the right play in this new romantic comedy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lynn Painter.

Duffy Distefano loves three things: her dad, the family cat, and Minneapolis Coyotes football. So when she gets booed out of a game and becomes the internet’s villain, she is distraught—and disgruntled. All she did was shove Coyote Carl away when he made a move on her, but everyone else just saw a woman attacking their team’s beloved mascot. Eager to clear the air, Duffy agrees to an interview on a hit morning show. She doesn’t expect a co-guest to join her—especially not the Coyotes’ star tight end.

When MVP Connor Cunningham gets tasked with damage control to help his team out of their PR nightmare, he thought that meant saying a few words on the team’s behalf. Instead, he finds himself in a highly amusing verbal sparring match with a recently wronged fan on live TV. Duffy pelts him with fiery jabs but is also clearly diehard about the Coyotes—color him intrigued…and attracted.

The interview instantly goes viral, and the public is obsessed with them. A strong push from the Coyotes’ PR team to ride the wave results in Connor asking Duffy out. Despite his distaste for PR stunts, he’s surprised to discover being with Duffy is much easier than he thought, and somehow it doesn’t feel fake to him. Harboring this secret can only blow up, but all he knows is that if he messes things up with Duffy, it’ll be the greatest fumble of his life.

The Bible in 52 Weeks Devotional for Girls: A Year of Growing in Faith

By: Jaseña S'vani

Expected Publication: February 3, 2026 by Callisto Kids

152 pages

Genre: Children, Devotions, Christian, Non-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--An interactive, yearlong journey through the Bible for girls ages 8 to 12

This one-year journey through the Bible guides young girls into the habit of reading, reflection, and prayer, with inspiring passages from Scripture that show them how God's wisdom can help and support them as they learn and grow. Spending a little time with their faith every week will give girls the confidence to tackle anything—because they'll know God is cheering them on!

One year of weekly Scripture—Each of these 52 weekly devotions features a Bible passage, stories and commentary that explain the theme for the week, a prompt to respond to, and a prayer to keep in mind.

Reflect on what matters—Young girls will find God's guidance on topics that relate to their lives, such as staying positive, being a leader, and discovering who they're meant to be.

A few minutes at a time—These prompts and prayers are simple and brief, so it's easy for kids to find time for them no matter how busy they get!

Study with the whole series—Give the gift of deeper faith to everyone in your life with the companion books from this USA Today bestselling series, including The Bible in 52 Weeks for Women, The Bible in 52 Weeks for Families, and The Bible in 52 Weeks Devotional for Boys.

Help preteen girls grow into the smart and strong women God created them to be with this inspiring girls' devotional!

The Bible in 52 Weeks Devotional for Boys: A Year of Growing in Faith

By: Lord Badu

Expected Publication: February 3, 2026 by Callisto Kids

152 pages

Genre: Children, Devotions, Christian, Non-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--An interactive, yearlong journey through the Bible for boys ages 8 to 12

This one-year journey through the Bible guides young boys into the habit of reading, reflection, and prayer, with inspiring passages from Scripture that show them how God's wisdom can help and support them as they learn and grow. Spending a little time with their faith every week will give boys the confidence to tackle anything—because they'll know God is cheering them on!

One year of weekly Scripture—Each of these 52 weekly devotions features a Bible passage, stories and commentary that explain the theme for the week, a prompt to respond to, and a prayer to keep in mind.

Reflect on what matters—Young boys will find God's guidance on topics that relate to their lives, such as being a good friend, dreaming big, not judging others, and practicing honesty.

A few minutes at a time—These prompts and prayers are simple and brief, so it's easy for kids to find time for them no matter how busy they get!

Study with the whole series—Give the gift of deeper faith to everyone in your life with the companion books from this USA Today bestselling series, including The Bible in 52 Weeks for Women, The Bible in 52 Weeks for Families, and The Bible in 52 Weeks Devotional for Girls.

Help preteen boys grow into the smart and strong men God created them to be with this inspiring boys' devotional!

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 - The Storm that Stopped

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.

The Storm That Stopped

By: Alison Mitchell

Illustrated By: Catalina Echeverri

Publication: February 1, 2016 by The Good Book Company

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Non-fiction, Christian, History, Picture Book

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--Third in the 'Tales that Tell the Truth' series comes The Storm that Stopped!

Based on the account of Jesus calming the storm from Mark chapter 4, this dramatic storybook will teach children about who Jesus really is, as they witness his power over nature.

Stunningly illustrated by Catalina Echeverri, author and illustrator of several bestselling children's books as well as the first two storybooks from the 'Tales that Tell the Truth' series: The Christmas Promise and The One O'Clock Miracle.

Written by Alison Mitchell, author of The Christmas Promise and several of our children's tracts.

The Storm that Stopped covers the New Testament story of when Jesus calmed the storm while in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. The story starts with Jesus teaching a multitude of people all day, and then he decides to go with his apostles across the sea. He fell asleep in the boat on the way, and suddenly a storm arose. The wind and the waves are so big and strong that the boat is taking on water, and the apostles fear they are going to drown. Jesus sleeps through this all until they wake him.

I appreciated the illustrations included. The beauty of contrast from the light pages to the darker, stormy pages was jarring in the perfect way. I liked the page with the wind o'meter, wave o'meter, sink o'meter, and panic o'meter. My children thought those were particularly funny.

I also liked that when Jesus calms the sea, the book focuses on what he doesn't do. He doesn't help bail the water out of the boat, he doesn't help row, he speaks, but not to the apostles. He speaks to the wind and the waves.

The book (as well as the Biblical story) then focuses on who Jesus is that he could possibly have control over the wind and the waves. He was teaching His disciples that He is God. Like Jesus and the Lions' Den, this book includes a "how do we know about the storm that stopped" section at the end. I love that they include this.

The Storm that Stopped is about as good as a children's picture book can get for me. The illustrations are striking. There's a little humor. The content is Biblical, which I appreciate. And the teaching goes beyond the surface. The Storm that Stopped is a great addition to any home library. The Storm that Stopped gets 5 Stars. Have you or your child read The Storm that Stopped? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for First and 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.

First adn Forever

By: Lynn Painter

Expected Publication: May 12, 2026 by Berkley

320 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--A football star and a diehard fan entangled in a PR stunt—that only one side knows is fake—might be the right play in this new romantic comedy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lynn Painter.

Duffy Distefano loves three things: her dad, the family cat, and Minneapolis Coyotes football. So when she gets booed out of a game and becomes the internet’s villain, she is distraught—and disgruntled. All she did was shove Coyote Carl away when he made a move on her, but everyone else just saw a woman attacking their team’s beloved mascot. Eager to clear the air, Duffy agrees to an interview on a hit morning show. She doesn’t expect a co-guest to join her—especially not the Coyotes’ star tight end.

When MVP Connor Cunningham gets tasked with damage control to help his team out of their PR nightmare, he thought that meant saying a few words on the team’s behalf. Instead, he finds himself in a highly amusing verbal sparring match with a recently wronged fan on live TV. Duffy pelts him with fiery jabs but is also clearly diehard about the Coyotes—color him intrigued…and attracted.

The interview instantly goes viral, and the public is obsessed with them. A strong push from the Coyotes’ PR team to ride the wave results in Connor asking Duffy out. Despite his distaste for PR stunts, he’s surprised to discover being with Duffy is much easier than he thought, and somehow it doesn’t feel fake to him. Harboring this secret can only blow up, but all he knows is that if he messes things up with Duffy, it’ll be the greatest fumble of his life.

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

Top Ten Winter 2025 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 2025 TBR List

1. The Folklore of Forever (Moonville, # 2) by Sarah Hogle
2. Save Me (Maxton Hall, # 1) by Mona Kasten
3. The Magician of Tiger Castle by Louis Sachar
4. The Ever Queen (The Ever Seas, # 2) by LJ Andrews
5. We Met Like This by Kasie West
6. A Carol for Mrs. Dickens by Rebecca Connolly
7. The Mist Thief (The Ever Seas, # 3) by LJ Andrews
8. Fallen City (Fallen City Duology, # 1) by Adrienne Young
9. Gilded in Vengence by Lyssa Mia Smith
10. And Then There Was You by Sophie Cousens

Oh this is too funny! All 10 of these books were on my Fall 2025 TBR list, and I didn't read a single one of them. So they are all making a reappearance for winter! Which books are you hoping to read this winter? Does anyone else use these seasonal top ten lists more for the books you should be reading and less for the books you will actually read during this season? Let me know!