Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Can't Wait for The Primal of Blood and Bone

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 Primal of Blood and Bone (Blood & Ash, # 6)

By: Jennifer L Armentrout

Expected Publication: June 10, 2025 by Blue Box Press

640 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Vampires, Werewolves

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--In the shadows and flames, Primals will fall…

And from the blood and ash, new gods will rise.

In the thrilling penultimate chapter of the viral BLOOD AND ASH series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout, Poppy and Casteel face their most perilous challenges yet as old enemies rise and ancient powers stir from their slumber.

Bound by love but driven by destiny, they must navigate a world on the brink of devastation—where every choice has deadly consequences. With their bond tested and their future hanging in the balance, the fate of the realm rests on the strength of their hearts and the power of the Deminyen.

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

Monday, February 10, 2025

Running Wild - Review

Running Wild (The Simple Wild, # 3)

By: KA Tucker

Publication: January 25, 2022 by K.A. Tucker

370 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Veterinarian Marie Lehr knows unrequited love all too well after pining for her best friend, only to watch him marry another woman. It’s a mistake she will never make again, especially not when she can practically hear the clock ticking on her childbearing years.

The trouble is, she can’t seem to find anyone who appeals to her even a fraction as much as that burly bush pilot did. Competitive musher Tyler Brady certainly doesn’t, especially not after the heated altercation with the handsome but arrogant, spiteful man.

Or so she thinks.

While volunteering at the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, Marie discovers that first impressions may have been false, and her attraction to Tyler is very real. But his heart belongs to someone else, leaving him with nothing to offer but friendship. Marie’s been down this road before and knows how that ends. Yet, no matter how hard she works to keep from falling for Tyler, it seems she’s doomed to follow her own trail once again.

From the internationally bestselling author of The Simple Wild comes the story of a woman at a crossroads in her life, struggling between the safe route and the one that will only lead to more heartbreak.

Oh man, I did not like Marie in the previous books. Having a little too much personal experience with women who want to be friends with married men yet are actually in love with them (or have a crush on them), I'm not a fan of this at all. As a matter of fact, I have a strong stance on how much men and women can be friends when one of them is married. It wouldn't be a popular stance, but protecting my marriage is more important to me than any other friendship could ever be. So I would have been happy for Marie to fall off the face of the book world.

Yet I also knew I would soften to her if I were in her head. I put off reading her book because I wanted to stay mad at her for existing and for daring to have feelings for Jonah. Thankfully, in most of this book, Marie is past her feelings for Jonah. She sees what he has with Calla. And if anything, she's not jealous of Calla being with Jonah but of wanting what Calla and Jonah have together. She just wants to love someone and be loved in return. And she's beginning to feel like it is impossible. Being in rural Alaska, her choices are slim. Not to mention, the amount of time she dedicates to her business doesn't allow for much time to socialize. 

Marie gets a tip that a new musher has moved into the area and might be mistreating his dogs. She enters his property illegally to accuse him of animal abuse. Unsurprisingly, Tyler doesn't take kindly to the accusations, stated or implied. Tyler is a widow, and his wife's younger brother lives with him. Everything he knows about mushing comes from his wife and her family. He plans to do the Idatrod Sled Dog race in honor of his wife, and he doesn't appreciate people storming onto his property and accusing him of mistreating his dogs.

Of course, Marie realizes she's wrong about her accusations, and it doesn't take her long to catch feelings for Tyler. Unfortunately, Tyle isn't quite emotionally available at first. And Marie has had her fill of emotionally unavailable men. She doesn't see the point in pursuing something that is going nowhere. And I felt for her in this respect. I was proud of her for holding her ground. But yet, I was rooting for her and Tyler at the same time.

Running Wild did exactly what I expected it to do. I softened towards Marie once I could read her thoughts and emotions. I wanted to see her get her happily ever after because she was so, so lonely. Running Wild gets 4 Stars. Have you read Running Wild? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday, February 9, 2025

Sunday Post - 02/09/25

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.

I started off the week still sickly from a sinus infection. I don't remember much about Monday. Tuesday, we normally spend the day with my parents, but my dad is having surgery this coming Tuesday and we didn't wnat to risk him getting the sickness that we were dealing with. I did have to do grocery pick up Tuesday afternoon and get our dog's flea/tick/heartworm medication from the vet. Tuesday evening, the big kids had belt ceremony. They both earned their green belts in Taekwondo. Wednesday, I ended up keeping Little Boy home from school because he was coughing worse. And it gave me a little more chance to rest too. We found out on Monday or Tuesday that Husband's cousin died suddenly of an aortic aneurysm. Thursday, we had a field trip in Birmingham at the McWayne Center with our co-op. That was a lot of fun. We were there from about 10 am until 2 pm. Thursday evening we went to the visitation for Husband's cousin. I've never seen so many people at a visitation before. The line was out of the church sanctuary, down a few hallways, and back, and then all the way out of the door to the outside. We stood in line for over 2 hours to see the immediate family. Friday we had a normal school day, but it felt like a ping pong match between all three kids against me at one time. I ended the day exhausted and may have yelled a time or two which I really try hard not to do. Husband took a half day off work to go with his mom to the funeral. Saturday, we had a girl's afternoon at a friend's house playing cards. I took Big Girl with me to play with a couple of other little girls.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: DNF Review of The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith
Tuesday: Ten Book Releases I Didn't Get to in 2024
Wednesday: Can't Wait for We Met Like This by Kasie West
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Teeth Are Not for Biting

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Running Wild (The Simple Wild, # 3) by KA Tucker
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait Wednesday?
Friday: Homeschool Friday - The Wonder of Creation

NEW BOOKS:

A Soul of Ash and Blood (Ash and Blood, # 5)

By: Jennifer L Armentrout

Publication: July 18, 2023 by Blue Box Press

712 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Vampire, Werewolves

Source: Borrowed from 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--TA great primal power has risen. The Queen of Flesh and Fire has become the Primal of Blood and Bone—the true Primal of Life and Death. And the battle Casteel, Poppy, and their allies have been fighting has only just begun. Gods are awakening across Iliseeum and the mortal realm, readying for the war to come.

But when Poppy falls into stasis, Cas faces the very real possibility that the dire, unexpected consequences of what she is becoming could take her away from him. Cas is given some advice, though—something he plans to cling to as he waits to see her beautiful eyes open once more: Talk to her.

And so, he does. He reminds Poppy how their journey began, revealing things about himself that only Kieran knows in the process. But it’s anybody’s guess what she’ll wake to or exactly how much of the realm and Cas will have changed when she does.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. But this time, Hawke gets to tell the tale.

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!

Friday, February 7, 2025

Homeschool Friday - Teeth Are Not for Biting

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.

Teeth Are Not for Biting

By: Elizabeth Verdick

Illustrated By: Marieka Heinlen

Publication: April 15, 2003 by Free Spirit Publishing

24 pages

Genre: Children's Literature, Picture Books, Parenting

( Goodreads | Amazon )

Goodreads description--“Crunch crunch crunch. Teeth are strong and sharp. Crunch crunch crunch. Teeth can help you chew. But teeth are not for biting. Ouch! Biting hurts.” Sooner or later, almost all young children will bite someone—a friend, a parent, a sibling. This upbeat, colorful, virtually indestructible book helps prevent biting and teaches positive alternatives. Teeth Are Not for Biting gives reasons why children might want to bite. Little mouths feel sore when new teeth come in; sometimes kids bite when they’re hungry, tired, cranky, frustrated, angry, bored, distressed, or seeking attention. Author Elizabeth Verdick suggests positive things children can do instead of chew a chewy toy, drink a cold drink, get a hug, tell a grown-up. This book also includes helpful tips for parents and caregivers. Best Behavior® Series Simple words and lively full-color illustrations guide children to choose positive behaviors.

We have been studying manners in our homeschool. So when I saw Teeth Are Not for Biting for review, I grabbed it. My older children don't have any issues with biting, but occasionally my youngest will bite. It isn't often, but when he does it he goes all in. The content in Teeth Are Not for Biting is best suited for smaller children (under the age of 4).

I liked how the book starts off with how teeth are strong and sharp and used for eating. This establishes that teeth are good and used for a purpose. Then the title phrase is used in addition to the phrase "Ouch! Biting hurts." This phrase is used repetitively throughout the book to drive home this point. Teeth are again presented in a positive light for the child by telling the child that they will have more teeth as they grow. Children always want to be bigger than they are, so this gives them something to look forward to. Instead of first addressing that children feel angry and choose to bite, I like that the idea of the child's mouth hurting when new teeth are coming in. This offers up the idea that biting might be comforting to the child and not something done out of bad behavior. But then the title phrase and subsequent line is repeated. Suggestion are offered on how the child might soothe their mouths without biting others. After this the behavior issue is addressed that biting might be used when a child feels sad or angry, etc. The title phrase is repeated and the suggestions on what to do instead are again offered. And then last of all, the scenario is presented that maybe another child bites you and how to handle that. Finally, teeth are presented as being for the purpose of smiling--wrapping things up with another positive.

All in all, I think Teeth Are Not for Biting gets 4 Stars. Have you or your child read Teeth Are Not for Biting? What did you think? Let me know!

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Can't Wait for We Met Like This

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.

We Met Like This

By: Kasie West

Expected Publication: September 16, 2025 by Saturday Books

368 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--Beloved author Kasie West's sparkling adult rom-com debut about a hopeless romantic falling for the one man she never expected

Can a swipe right turn into swept away?

Margot Hart is a hopeless romantic. That’s why she wants to be a literary agent—to help bring romance books to the world. It’s also why she hates dating apps with all her romance loving soul. She wants her own love story to be just as much fun as the books she reads—a mixed up coffee order, a mistaken identity. She’s not going to tell the story that she swiped right on future husband’s shirtless pic for the rest of her life.

The problem is that her most consistent relationship over the last several years is with Oliver, a guy she keeps rematching with on the apps. They’ve only been on one date and it was a disaster…well, until the make out session in the car before parting ways. But, she keeps reminding herself, a make out session does not a relationship make. And so there will not be a date two regardless of how witty their app banter is.

When Margot gets fired from her job on the same day she meets Oliver again, her life becomes a veritable shit show. Her dream career is dying right before her eyes, and Oliver thinks she’s interested in only one a repeat of the hot make out session they had three years ago so she can get him out of her system. And maybe that is all she wants from him, because she and Oliver are definitely not compatible—he doesn’t hit the snooze button, he runs five miles every morning, he reads nonfiction, and worst of all, she didn’t meet him in cute way! But in her scramble to keep her dream career alive, by opening her own agency, Oliver is there with his golden retriever energy, more steady and helpful than any man she’s ever dated. Just when she thinks she’s overcome her app bias, she realizes that maybe it’s not her who’s holding back, but him. And his reasons are more than she bargained for.

Kasie West's romantic adult debut is full of witty banter, meet cutes gone awry and, ultimately, true love.

Kasie West is an author I've really enjoyed in the young adult genre. I can't wait to see what she does with an adult book. I know I'll love it though. What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Ten Books Released in 2024 That I Didn't Get To

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 Released in 2024 That Didn't Get To
  1. Ex Marks the Spot by Gloria Chao
  2. Tale of the Heart Queen (Artefacts of Ouranos, # 4) by Nisha J Tuli
  3. A Drop of Venom (Venom, # 1) by Sajni Patel
  4. A Kingdom to Claim by Sian Ann Bessey
  5. The Outlaw Noble Salt by Amy Harmon
  6. I Want to Trust You But I Don't by Lysa TerKuerst
  7. A Touch of Shadows (The Lost Queen, # 1) by Jessica Thorne
  8. Midnights With You by Clare Osongco
  9. Nothing Like the Movies (Better Than the Movies, # 1) by Lynn Painter
  10. Til Heist Do Us Part (Simi Chopra, # 2) by Sara Desai

Which new releases of 2024 have you still not gotten around to yet? Let me know!

Monday, February 3, 2025

The Rose Bargain - DNF Review

The Rose Bargain

By: Sasha Peyton Smith

Publication: February 4, 2025 by HarperCollins

400 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction

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 Cruel Prince meets The Selection in this captivating duology opener brimming with heart-pounding romance, vicious competition, and beautiful, cruel fae, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Witch Haven, Sasha Peyton Smith.

Every citizen of England is granted one bargain from their immortal fae queen.

High society girls are expected to bargain for qualities that will win them suitors: a rare talent for piano in exchange for one’s happiest childhood memory. A perfect smile for one’s ability to taste.

But Ivy Benton’s debut season arrives with a shocking twist: a competition to secure the heart of the Queen’s fae son, Prince Bram. A prize that could save Ivy’s family from ruin… and free her sister from the bargain that destroyed her.

Yet every glittering fae deal has a rotting heart—and at the center of this contest is a dark plot that could destroy everything Ivy knows.

Sweepingly romantic and deceptively enchanting, this alternate history romantasy will enthrall readers of Holly Black, Stephanie Garber, and Adalyn Grace.

Fae fantasy meets historical regency England is basically the idea behind The Rose Bargain. It's an alternate reality kind of historical fiction mixed with fantasy elements. I did enjoy The Selection series even though it wasn't without flaws, but I haven't read The Cruel Prince that the description refers to. All of that said, I thought mixing my two (current) favorite genres would be a definite winner in my book. Unfortunately, things didn't work out so well for me. In order for me to write a DNF review, I have to make it to at least 25%. I decided to DNF at 35%.

While I was reading The Rose Bargain, I felt like the reasons for DNFing were so obvious. The characters are all overdramatic. The writing is a bit extreme. So much of the story and the queen reminded me of Bridgerton. Queen Charlotte and Queen Moryen both find some kind of entertainment at the expense of their subjects. Yet the Princes were confusing as well. The girls that were in competition with Ivy. And Ivy herself. Everyone was too extreme and dramatic.

One example is the first challenge the contestants must participate in is basically a maypole dance until only one is crowned the maypole queen. The last six girls participating advance to the next round, and the ones who fell before are now out of the competition.

-Onlookers gasp and cheer as we twirl, but I can't help but feel that they're just waiting to watch us fall like toy soldiers. This is blood sport.

The maypole dance. Where some girls fall down in the mud. Is equated to blood sport. Dramatic much?

I just couldn't. I rolled my eyes. I signed too much. I shook my head. I was annoyed. And I just didn't want to continue. Is the marriage of these two genres impossible to like? Or was it the execution by Sasha Peyton Smith to blame? I tend to lean toward the later. Regardless, I chose to DNF at 35%. Have you read The Rose Bargain? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday, February 2, 2025

Sunday Post - 02/02/25

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.

This is only our second full week of homeschool since the Christmas breaks. The big kids had martial arts Monday night. Tuesday, I took the kids to my parents and then ran to the dentist. After hanging out with my parents for a while, we ran to pick up my groceries. We still had afternoon school to do. And then the big kids had belt testing at martial arts that night. We had a late night and ended up grabbing some fried chicken on the way home for dinner. Wednesday was a good day, and it was nice not to have too much going on. Thursday, we had co-op. My youngest started to get sick Wednesday evening/Thursday morning. Well Friday morning he coughed directly in my face, and big surprise, I woke up Saturday morning with a sore throat. Could be coincidental. I don't feel terrible, but I don't feel well either. Friday was a pretty normal day as well. I've been reading, but I'm still in a little bit of an Onyx Storm hangover.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of The Serpent and the Wolf (Dark Inheritance, # 1) by Rebecca Robinson (4 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Twelve New-To-Me Authors I Read in 2024
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Manners Time and January 2025 EOM Wrap Up

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: DNF Review of The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait Wednesday?
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Teeth Are Not for Biting

NEW BOOKS:

Look Before You Leap (Miss Prentice's Protegees, # 2)

By: Virginia Heath

Publication: June 24, 2025 by St. Martin's Griffin

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--The second hilarious and heartwarming novel in the Miss Pretence’s Protégées Regency romp of a series

Nine years ago, Lord Guy Harrowby, Viscount of Wennington, was publicly humiliated when a reckless romantic gesture went very wrong. Despite that, his mother held tight to the promise he made her then: that she would have a house full of grandchildren by his thirtieth birthday. Still single, embittered, and swiftly approaching that milestone birthday, there’s not a grandchild in sight. His heart now lies with his land and work is his life. In desperation, his mother decides that if he refuses to venture back into society to find her future daughter-in-law, the only solution is to bring society to him via a weeklong houseparty so that she can find one for him. The first Guy knows about her plan is when her hand-picked gaggle of debutantes arrive at his estate, all competing to be his wife.

After failing miserably as a governess, Lottie Travers isn’t proving to be any better at being a lady’s companion. As the only girl in an all-male household growing up, she’s developed several bad habits she can’t shake and keep getting her dismissed. Even after years of Miss Prentice’s teachings, Lottie still climbs a tree better than she embroiders, and still cannot seem to curb the desire to gallop astride a horse in breeches whenever an opportunity arises. But with the family farm in trouble, and her father now in dire need of her wages to keep it afloat, she’s determined to conquer her wildness once and for all and concentrate on her career.

Even with his home full of eligible women, there is only one that catches Guy’s eye, as much as he tries to deny it. And succeeding in her new role is easier said than done for Lottie when the Wennington Estate is filled with horses and she can’t help but feel a spark around the grumpy Lord. By the end of the week, will the two of them remain stuck in their ways, or will they learn that they may just be the perfect match?

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!

Friday, January 31, 2025

January 2025 EOM Wrap Up

I read 10 books (not including children's books).
Shadow & Storms (The Legends of Thezmarr, # 4) by Helen Scheuerer
There Goes the Groom (A Romance of Rank, # 3) by Esther Hatch
A Lady of Conscience (Somerset Stories, # 5) by Mimi Matthews
Ruthless Fae (Zodiac Academy, # 2) by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti (Not pictured/will not be reviewing)
The Reckoning (Zodiac Academy, # 3) by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti (Not pictured/will not be reviewing)
A Fire in the Sky by Sophie Jordan
He is Here!: 25 Days Of Christmas Devotions by Browning Montgomery Wood
Shadow Princess (Zodiac Academy, # 4) by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti (Not pictured/will not be reviewing)
Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, # 3) by Rebecca Yarros
The Power of a Praying Kid by Stormie Omartian

I have reviewed 6 books (not including mini reviews of children's books).
Beyond the Crescent Sky (The Balkand Legends, # 2) by AL Sowards
Better Than Revenge by Kasie West
Let's Call a Truce by Amy Buchanan
Cruel Winter with You (Under the Mistlete Collection, # 1) by Ali Hazelwood
Shield of the Mighty (The King's Men, # 2) by Connilyn Cossette
The Serpent and the Wolf (Dark Inheritance Trilogy, # 1) by Rebecca Robinson

Other Posts:
Sunday Post - 01/05/25
Sunday Post - 01/12/25
Sunday Post - 01/19/25
Sunday Post - 01/26/25
Top Ten Most Anticipated Book Releases of Q1/Q2 2025
Top Twelve New-To-Me Authors I Read in 2024
Can't Wait for Watch Me (Shatter Me: The New Republic, # 1) by Tahereh Mafi
Can't Wait for Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games, # 0.5) by Suzanne Collins
Can't Wait for Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
Homeschool Friday - Cool Down and Work Through Anger
Homeschool Friday - The Giver
Homeschool Friday - I See Love
Homeschool Friday - Manners Time
2024 EOY Wrap Up
2024 EOY Book Survey
Saying Goodbye to the Series Enders Reading Challenge

Goals:
I'm a few days ahead in my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 12 out of 75 books (including children's books).

Homeschool Friday - Manners Time

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.

Manners Time

By: Elizabeth Verdick

Illustrated By: Marieka Heinlen

Publication: August 1, 2009 by Free Spirit Publishing

24 pages

Genre: Children's Literature, Picture Books, Parenting

( Goodreads | Amazon )

Goodreads description--Manners start with a smile—then you add the words. There are polite words to use when you greet someone, ask for something, or (oops!) make a mistake. There’s even a nice way to say no. This book gives toddlers a head start on manners, setting the stage for social skills that will last a lifetime.Book Board BookPublication 8/1/2009 24Reading Age 4 and Up

We have been doing a "unit" study on manners in our homeschool. I'm not sure you can call it a unit study because we've been learning about manners all year long so far, and considering we still have much to improve upon, I think we'll keep right on trucking with our manners "study" until we see some improvement. So when I saw Manners Time for review, I grabbed it. 

The content seems best suited for smaller children. My youngest son is currently 4 years old, and I think he would benefit the most from this book. He already knows these concepts, but seeing them and hearing them in book form would hopefully help to solidify these in his mind. 

At the same time, the words are written in simple enough terms that my 7-year-old old who is reading more and more could easily read this book. And now that I think about it, I will probably make him do just that. 

The concepts are basic. Say hi. Look people in the eyes. Say please, thank you, and you're welcome. Say "I'm sorry. " Etc. I would add that I'm a little bit frustrated by equating "I forgive you" with "That's okay." On the one hand, I appreciate that the book encourages saying "I forgive you" instead of "That's okay" after someone else apologizes. That's something I've taught my kids. But I've taught my kids to say "I forgive you" instead of "that's okay" because it isn't "okay." If one of my children hits another one, it isn't "okay", but my other child can say "I forgive you" and that can be true. This is a little bit semantics, but I did want to note it. 

All in all, I think Manners Time gets 4 Stars. Have you or your child read Manners Time? What did you think? Let me know!

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Top Twelve New-To-Me Authors I Read in 2024

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 New-To-Me Authors I Read in 2024
  1. Lexi Ryan
  2. Lauren Tarshis
  3. Tessa Bickers
  4. Stephanie Garber
  5. Penn & Kim Holderness
  6. AL Sowards
  7. Peter Brown
  8. Sophie Cousens
  9. Amy Buchanan
  10. Katie Holt
  11. Ali Hazelwood
  12. Rebecca Robinson

Which authors were new to you in 2024 that you enjoyed? Let me know!