Can't Wait for A Fortunate Miscalculation

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.

A Fortunate Miscalculation (The Gentlemen's Gamble, # ?)

By: Karen Thornell

Expected Publication: March 19, 2026

252 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--Andrew Langford thought his chance at love was long gone, but with the woman he once loved returned, married but needing his help, how can he manage to both win love and his childhood wager?

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

We Who Will Die - Review

We Who Will Die (Empire of Blood, # 1)

By: Stacia Stark

Expected Publication: January 20, 2026 by Avon

432 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Vampires, Magic, Paranormal

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 bestselling author of the Kingdom of Lies series comes a slow-burn romantasy set in a Roman-inspired world ruled by merciless vampires. Filled with breathtaking combat, vengeful gods, and magical creatures, We Who Will Die is the epic first installment in an enthralling new series perfect for fans of Carissa Broadbent, Jasmine Mas, and Rebecca Yarros.

Life in the perilous Thorn district is a constant battle for Arvelle and her younger brothers. And the vampire standing on her doorstep is about to turn their world upside down.

Faced with an unthinkable choice, Arvelle makes a magically binding vow to do the impossible: kill the emperor, an ancient vampire created by the god Umbros. But first, she must enter the Sundering—an arena where only the fastest, strongest, and deadliest survive long enough to be selected for the emperor’s elite guard.

She quickly draws the ire of the Primus, the powerful figure charged with protecting the emperor. But the vampire under the armor is the last person Arvelle expects to encounter in the emperor’s court.

With her brothers’ lives in the balance, Arvelle has no choice but to ally with the man who once shattered her heart… and with the emperor’s sadistic son, Rorrik—two vampires whose motives are impossible to pin down. Rorrik holds the key to understanding the powers Arvelle is developing—abilities that would put a price on her head if discovered by the emperor.

To survive the arena and complete her mission, Arvelle must get to the bottom of a conspiracy that will change everything she thought she knew about herself—and the two vampires who are deeply entwined with her destiny…

Arvelle has been left with her brothers to care for. One of her brothers was injured in an accident that caused damage to his lungs. He needs help that she just can't provide. One night, he is so sick she thinks he is going to die. It just so happens that a vampire has been waiting to use this to trap her into an agreement. He will cure her brother and take both of her brothers under his protection (or captivity, depending on how you look at it) if she will compete in the Sundering--which is a gladiator-style competition where the victors are allowed entrance into emporer's elite gaurd. Ultimately, her agreement with the vampire is that she will kill the emperor.

Arvelle has lost so much, she's barely living. She is only surviving to keep her brothers alive and well. Nearly everyone in the Sundering has magic of some kind. Arvelle is "sigilmarked," and she does have a "gold crown," but her magic is small. Either way, vampires are the rulers of this world. The Primus and Arvelle have a history. It takes her a while to realize who he is. The reader definitely understands before she does.

Arvelle's mother was addicted to glister, but that isn't the only substance in this world that is addictive. Vampire blood/bite is as well. Many of the quotes I highlighted had to do with addiction.

Favorite quote:

-There's no worse feeling than watching someone you love die. The helplessness slices you into pieces. And grief sets those pieces on fire. Until you're nothing but ash.

-"I'm not going to kill you. That would be far too easy. Almost...boring. I'm going to take everything you love, everything you remotely care about, and I'm going to ruin it." ... "Why?" I ask, and Rorrick's eyes glint with amusement. "Because I can."

-Loving an addict is like being an addict yourself. Only you're addicted to hope. You constantly tell yourself that this time will be different. Things will get better. And always, always, you know that one day, when they're dead and cold, after their addiction has sucked the breath from their lungs...you'll still wonder if you could have done more. If you could have been more--even though their addiction was sucking the breath from your lungs too.

-When you love an addict, you know their addiction isn't their fault, even as you resent everything about them that made them fall prey to it.

I do wonder if Rorrik is going to turn out to be a Damon Salvatore if you catch my drift. Right now, he seems crazy, but you can also tell that there's more to his story than has been revealed.

I'm torn on wanting to continue the series. Overall, I felt like We Who Will Die was "okay." Pieces of it had me hooked. And pieces still have me curious as to what will come. The language was high, and there were some spicy scenes if you'd rather skip over those. We Who Will Die gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read We Who Will Die? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 01/18/26

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

This was a rough week with behavior. We have them every now and then. And this whole week was rough. Monday, Big Girl had pitching practice. Tuesday, we spent the day with my parents and then got groceries. The Big Kids had martial arts. Wednesday was the best day we had this week with behavior. Thursday, the boys had haircuts, and the Big Kids had martial arts again. Friday wasn't terrible compared to the rest of the week, but it wasn't quite as good as Wednesday. Friday, I had to pick up donuts for Little Boy's birthday party. Saturday was the big day. Little Boy's 5th birthday party was at a local trampoline park. We had a blast, and I'm so thankful for his friends and family that came to celebrate him. His actual birthday is on Wednesday of this week. I can't believe my youngest baby is 5 already! They say the days are long but the years are fast, and I have completely found that to be true. I've been killing my reading so far this month. I've already finished 8 books, but I do find January to be a good reading month for me usually. Now if I can just get myself to write some reviews I'd be doing even better.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of Room to Breathe by Kasie West (3.5 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases of Q1/Q2 2026
Wednesday: Can't Wait for A Foolish Proposal (The Gentlemen's Gamble, # ?) by Kasey Stockton
Thursday: Review of And Then There Was You by Sophie Cousens (4 Stars)
Friday: Homeschool Friday - The Magical Yet

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Reivew of We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Friday: Homeschool Friday - The Lemonade War

NEW BOOKS:

The Duke's Bargain

By: Megan Walker

Expected Publication: May 5, 2026 by Shadow Mountain

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Ruined by scandal, Georgiana bargains with a duke to regain her place in Society. But their pretend friendship sparks real love, risking reputations, duty, and unexpected happily-ever-afters.

Eight months after a stolen kiss ruined her reputation, Miss Georgiana Wood is a recluse, cast out of Society without any hope of ever finding a suitable match. Longing for redemption, she never expects her salvation to arrive in the form of a handsome, temperamental duke.

After a failed bargain left the Duke of Marlow without a promised wife and heir, he must face courtship a final time. He plans to entice his future bride with a priceless family heirloom—one now in the possession of Miss Wood, who agrees to return it if he takes her on three outings in London during the Season to restore her reputation.

As the pair navigate Society’s expectations and whispered gossip, Marlow soon sees a new side to Georgiana—an ally and friend. Her wit and courage, grace and allure far exceed that of the eligible ladies he intended to court, and soon, he’d do almost anything to secure her happiness.

As Marlow wrestles with duty and desire, Georgiana begins to hope that she could be loved not despite her past, but because of who she truly is. When hearts are tested, truth and secrets revealed, will love be enough to risk it all?

Next Level Love

By: Shameez Patel

Narrated By: Shahjehan Khan; Jensen Olaya

Publication: January 20, 2026 by Forever

384 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Multicultural

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--When your favorite player turns out to be your very real boss, the rules are a lot more complicated.

Elizabeth Gordon-Bettencourt is rebuilding her life on her own terms, starting with a new internship, a shot at her dream job as a civil engineer, and a whole lot of distance from her family’s drama. With her life full of change, the one constant is @theanswerisno, a charming gamer who seems to just . . . get her. Even if he has no interest in meeting her in real life.

Elizabeth would feel a lot more confident about her job if her new boss wasn’t so hard to read. Lincoln Carden is quiet, demanding, and adamant about avoiding small talk—especially in the office. What she doesn’t know is that online, he’s someone else entirely: quick, confident, and a little bit flirty. And his favorite player to team up with is @pancakesareelite, the one person who never makes him feel like he has to try so hard. As their two worlds start to collide, Elizabeth and Lincoln start to wonder: with their careers on the line and their online friendship at risk, is a romance IRL worth it?

Two Twisted Crowns (The Shepherd King, # 2)

By: Rachel Gillig

Narrated By: Lisa Cordileone

Publication: October 17, 2023 by Orbit

437 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic, Gothic

Source: Borrowed from the e-library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--In the luscious, dark sequel to One Dark Window, Elspeth must face the consequences of what she's wrought - perfect for readers of Hannah Whitten's For the Wolf and Alexis Henderson's The Year of the Witching.

Elspeth and Ravyn have gathered most of the twelve Providence Cards, but the last, and most important one remains to be found: The Twin Alders.

If they are going to find it before the Solstice and cure the kingdom of the dark magic infecting it, they will need to journey beyond the dangerous mist-cloaked forest that surrounds their kingdom.

And the only one who can lead them there is the monster that shares Elspeth's head. The Nightmare. And he's not eager to share any longer.

The Road of Bones (The Ashen, # 1)

By: Demi Winters

Publication: June 27, 2023 by Delacorte Press

500 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Magic

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--A woman on the run. A crew of Viking mercenaries. A forbidden romance. And the secret which threatens them all.

Silla Nordvig is running for her life.

The queen of Íseldur has sent warriors to bring Silla to Sunnavík, where death awaits her. When her father is killed, his last words set Silla on a perilous quest: travel the treacherous Road of Bones–a thousand-mile stretch haunted by warbands, creatures of darkness, and a mysterious murderer–and go to Kopa, where a shield-house awaits her.

After barely surviving the first stretch of road, a desperate Silla sneaks into a supply wagon belonging to the notorious Bloodaxe Crew. To make it to Kopa, she must win over Axe Eyes, the brooding leader of the Crew, while avoiding the Wolf, his distractingly handsome right-hand man. But the queen’s ruthless assassin has other plans and hunts Silla obsessively.

Will Silla make it safely to Kopa? Or will she fall prey to the perils of the Road of Bones?

Featuring an immersive world blending fairy tale with Vikings, The Road of Bones leads you on an adrenaline-fueled chase with fun banter and a slow-building enemies to lovers romance. The first book in the Ashen Series, you are one click away from reading it!

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 Magical Yet

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 Magical Yet

By: Angela DiTerlizzi

Illustrated By: Lorena Álvarez

Publication: April 14, 2020 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

40 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Book, Inspirational, Growth Mindset

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--This Yet finds a way, even when you don't,
And, Yet knows you will, when you think you won't.

Each of us, from the day we're born, is accompanied by a special companion--the Yet. Can't tie your shoes? Yet! Can't ride a bike? Yet! Can't play the bassoon? Don't worry, Yet is there to help you out.

Told in tight rhyme reminiscent of the great Dr. Seuss himself, this rollicking, inspirational picturebook is perfect for every kid who is frustrated by what they can't do . . . YET!

The Magical Yet is pretty much what you expect it to be. This is a book all about teaching children that just because you can't do something now doesn't mean you won't be able to in the future. If we change our attitudes from "I can't" to "I can't yet" we open up a whole new world of possibilities. And we don't just give up trying to learn something new.

I don't fully love the idea of "The Magical Yet" being an entity. But I did like the idea of showing children all of the things they've already gone from being unable to do to able (ex: walking). I like how hard work and practice, mixed with perseverance and determination, are what is highlighted in this book.

There is a rhyming scheme. Usually ABCB. Sometimes rhyming schemes mess me up when I'm reading aloud because they aren't always the words I'm expecting to come next.

The Magical Yet is a 4.5 Star book for me. The messaging is good. I just don't like that "yet" is a being. I don't know why this feels like such a big deal to me. But keeping on keeping on, trying again and again...all of those messages are ones that I want to reiterate to my children. Have you or your child read The Magical Yet? What did you think? Let me know!

And Then There Was You - Review

And Then There Was You

By: Sophie Cousens

Publication: November 18, 2025 by G.P. Putnam's Sons

384 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--From the New York Times bestselling author of This Time Next Year comes another "what if" romance about a floundering young woman who signs up for an unusual dating service to find The One . . . at a special cost.

Chloe Perfect is thirty-six, and despite her surname, suspects she’s not most men’s idea of the perfect woman. She wears too much corduroy, has an unglamorous job marketing gardening supplies online and her hair refuses to be straightened however much she tries. Between looking after her plants and her bad-tempered grandmother, she finds herself lonely, despairing she will never meet "her person."

So on a whim, she signs up to Perfect Partners, an experimental dating agency with an unusual model. The caveat? There are many, but Chloe must agree not to date anyone else outside of the program for the duration of the trial. Well, she's never had much luck finding someone the "normal" way, anyway.

After a few days, Chloe is matched with Rob, who checks off all her boxes, and she's instantly smitten. But the more seamless the dates, the more seriously she's forced to weigh the moral complexities of their setup.

And when she meets Oliver, another Perfect Partners participant, who quickly takes on the role of her confidante away from Rob, the more Chloe starts to perhaps her person isn’t someone perfect after all. Perhaps it’s someone just as kooky as she is. But is she really prepared to jeopardise the perfect life she's been wanting for so long? And more importantly, can she?

This was not the book I was expecting to read. And I think probably that's why it's received fairly low ratings. I think the publisher has worked hard not to spoil things for the reader. And I haven't read other reviews, so I can't say what other readers took issue with. I don't want to spoil things for future readers because the experience can be part of the journey. But maybe readers going into this book thinking they're getting a mostly contemporary romance and finding themselves thrust into a futuristic, science/realistic fiction book is the cause of the disharmony with readers. At least, that was my issue. And that's spoiler enough, but I will mark other spoilers in the review clearly below.

Chloe went to Oxford. And she had a group of close friends at the time. She is still only in touch with one of them. Her best friend is married and has a baby now. Her writing partner from school, Sean, who expressed feelings for her that she didn't return, has gone on to become a famous Hollywood director. And their other mutual friend, John, she hasn't kept up with because he and Sean were close. Once Sean confessed his feelings and Chloe rejected his advances, Sean got a new girlfriend who wasn't content with his relationship with Chloe. He chose the girlfriend over Chloe. And then moved. Chloe emailed him at some point, and he never replied. Now they are having a class reunion, and Chloe has nothing to show for her last ten years. She still lives at home with her parents. She is single. And she hasn't advanced at her job, meaning she's still a glorified assistant. Her acting career never took off. She hasn't written anything in years. She feels like a loser. So she seeks out a dating service to find someone to take with her to the reunion.

****SPOILERS AHEAD**** (highlight to read) The man that the dating service hooks Chloe up with is actually a BioBot, meaning an AI humanoid robot. He feels like a human. He smells human. And he kisses like a human. So much of Chloe's experience with "Rob" feels real. He reacts to her emotions. He helps her with her goals, professional and fitness. He is designed with Chloe in mind specifically. But he isn't real. He did have a few glitches, which I was thankful for. Otherwise, he seemed too good to be true. And Chloe could feel the draw to him. She could see how someone might choose a BioBot instead of a real human partner. But this isn't what we contemporary romance readers were here for. ****END SPOILER****

I need to proceed on shaking ground here as well, but Sean isn't what Chloe is after either. They were great friends, but for her, it never went past that. She was never drawn to him physically...even if she tried to talk herself into it. Haven't nearly all of us been there? What does happen is that Chloe is reminded of a mysterious person always in the background of all of her college experiences. She thought this mystery person was Sean. And that's why she tried to convince herself that she was in love with him despite feeling nothing physically for him. Yet she comes to discover who this mystery person actually was. And this is the element of the story that I kept reading for. Because, to be honest, once I got to that spoiler paragraph above, I almost bounced. It's one thing for a book to surprise you with a plot twist, but it's another thing for a book to turn into an entirely different genre than you were expecting.

Favorite quotes:

-Was this fiction's fault? Had reading ruined men for her?

I think we've all felt that way at some point.

-"And if you soak too long in nostalgia, you'll drown in it."

-Was there any greater salve for sadness than the cold nose of a friendly dog?

-"I've spent my life not saying the things I should have."

-"Oh, I thought he was trying to hit me in slow motion," Rob said. "My apologies."

-Looking around at people walking through Oxford, she felt a nagging dread about the future, about what the world would look like when everyone had a Rob. But then, seeing the glow of a screen lighting up every face, she wondered if they already did.

-"I don't think I was supposed to be your perfect person," he said, his voice steady. "I think I was meant to show you what it feels like, when it is right. To give you the confidence to trust your instincts again."

-"You're not annoying," he said. "And if you are, I can't wait to be annoyed by you."

-"People are messy and flawed. Unpredictable. Sometimes they get things wrong, do things they can’t explain, articulate themselves poorly. They can be selfish and smelly and irritating.” Chloe grew more animated. “They’ll contradict you, tell you you’re wrong, forget your birthday, and leave their wet towels on the floor however many times you tell them not to. But then— then— they’ll also say something so ridiculous, that will make you cry with laughter until you can’t breathe. They’ll surprise you, disarm you, love you in million tiny ways that you never even thought to imagine. And I love that about us.”

All of that being said, I ended up enjoying And Then There Was You. If you allow yourself to push through a little discomfort of a genre that you weren't expecting, you might find that you enjoy this story, as I did. Mostly, I enjoyed the real story behind the extra stuff I wasn't expecting. I also enjoyed the author's note at the end of the book. And Then There Was You gets 4 Stars. Have you read And Then There Was You? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for A Foolish Proposal

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.

A Foolish Proposal (The Gentlemen's Gamble, # ?)

By: Kasey Stockton

Expected Publication: March 19, 2026 by Golden Owl Press

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--One careless remark. One outrageous proposal. One Season to discover love where they least expect it.

Caroline Whitby needs a husband. Unfortunately, her charmingly infuriating neighbor Tristan Shepherd just ruined her best prospect—and then had the audacity to propose himself. If only she didn’t despise him and his insufferably flirtatious grin.

***The Gentlemen's Gamble is a series about seven men racing to the altar in order to avoid losing a wager. Starting January, the books will release in surprise order so as not to give away who the final bachelor and loser of the wager is.

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

Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases Q1/Q2 2026

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 Most Anticipated Releases Q1/Q2 2026

1. Her Hidden Fire by Cliodhna O'Sullivan
2. First and Forever by Lynn Painter
3. The Last Page by Katie Holt
4. A Love Most Daring by Joanna Barker
5. Bloodsinger (The Fire That Binds, # 2) by Juliette Cross
6. A Novel Engagement (The Gentlemen's Gamble, # ?) by Anneka R Walker
7. A Fortunate Miscalculation (The Gentlemen's Gamble, # ?) by Karen Thornell
8. A Bewildered Bachelor (The Gentlemen's Gamble, # ?) by Holli Jo Monroe
9. A Foolish Porposal (The Gentlemen's Gamble, # ?) by Kasey Stockton
10. An Accidental Marriage (The Gentlemen's Gamble, # ?) by Deborah M Hathaway

Which books are you most anticiapting for the first half of 2026? Let me know!

Room to Breathe - Review

Room to Breathe

By: Kasie West

Expected Publication: January 6, 2026 by Delacorte Romance

272 pages

Genre: Young 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--From the critically acclaimed author of Sunkissed comes a new swoony YA romance. Indy and Beau’s friendship is shattered, but getting accidentally locked in a bathroom together just might be what's needed to reconnect.

When the walls close in, the truth comes out.

When Indy’s life came crashing down, she made a no one could know. To the world, she’s still the same Indy—cool, calm, unshaken. But behind the scenes? It’s chaos.

Her tight-knit crew—Beau, Caroline, and Ava—were once her everything. Now they’re strangers she can’t seem to reach—especially Beau. And the only person she talks to these days is Cody, a skater-boy she used to think was so not her type. Funny how everything changes when your world flips upside down.

And then, as if things couldn’t get weirder, Indy finds herself literally stuck in a school bathroom with Beau. After months of silence, and there’s no escape. If they want out, they’ll have to face the messy truth about what happened between them and find a way back to what they once had. Or maybe even more . . .

Kasie West is an auto-read author for me. I've read nearly all, if not all, of her published books, and I find her to be a consistent author which is nothing to sneeze at. Most of her books are YA with clean romance. That's what genre Room to Breathe is categorized as well.

Room to Breathe is told by a then/now method. I don't always love books written in this method. Although, I do understand why they are done. I didn't love or hate it in Room to Breathe. You might find that you enjoy it more than I did if this isn't something that typically bothers you.

Here's the crux...Indy has had a falling out with her friends. And she find herself locked in a teacher's bathroom at school one afternoon. And she just happens to have gotten locked in with her ex-best friend, Beau. Slight spoilers, but Indy's dad was being investigated when his job noticed some iffy things. I can't remember if Kasie West spells it out for us, but I think it's embezzlement. Because he is being investigated in a criminal case, her parents and the officers have stressed that this isn't something that Indy is allowed to talk about with her friends. No one can know what's going on until the investigation is complete. It even gets to the point where Indy begins to question her own father and stress is building in her household between her parents and generally, everything. This is a lot on a kid. I remember two specific instances where my parents instructed me as a kid to keep quiet about two different situations. And I ended up feeling like I was going to burst. In one instance, I did talk to an acquaintance. We weren't fairly close but she knew my family, and it ended up okay, but apparently she did talk to her dad who then ran into my dad and it was made known that I blabbed. The other instance, I ended up talking to a teacher, and as far as I know it didn't go any further. But secrets like that are hard for anyone to keep. And if it was causing the stress that it was on their family, of course, that stress would leak out to her friends.

Indy wasn't allowed to talk to her friends about what was going on with her. She did begin to make some questionable decisions which didn't help matters. But her friends could have put some weight into their history and given her the benefit of the doubt as well.

As I said, Kasie West is a consistent author. And one thing I find is that while I enjoy her stories, I never put too much weight into them. Like I don't overanalyze them or deconstruct them. I don't say this to put them down because I really enjoy them. But I enjoy them as they are for me, which is almost like a palate cleanser. I love reading them in between heavier books. They are usually light books that you know will have a happily ever after.

Favorite quote:

-But I also could no longer deny, without the distance we’d forced ourselves into over the past two months, that I missed him so much. More than I realized. But missing him wouldn’t fix anything. It was easier to be mad. Because the alternative was sad. And I was worried sad might destroy me. I’d been holding back that feeling for a long time. I’d been holding back a lot of feelings for a long time. The only one I had let flourish over the past several months was anger. And it had flourished. It had blossomed and bloomed and become beautiful.

Room to Breathe was another good book by Kasie West. I enjoyed it. I read it quickly. I can count on her to give me characters that I can like and root for, and Indy and Beau were just that. Room to Breathe gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Room to Breathe? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 01/11/26

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 we started easing back into our normal routine. Big Girl had pitching practice. Tuesday, we spent the day at my parent's house and then did grocery pickup. The Big Kids had martial arts. Wednesday, we started back to school. It was about as good as you could hope for a back to school. My aunt and uncle that live in Colorado were at my parent's house to visit, so I took the kids over there to visit for a while after we finished school. Thursday, we debated on going to the park, but it rained during the night so everything was wet. We did a short school day and then just played around the house. The Big Kids had martial arts again. Friday, we wrapped up school. It wasn't quite as smooth as Wednesday. Saturday, we woke up to some bad weather that had us in our safe place for a while. Thankfully, it passed by without forming a tornado despite the rotation in the clouds and the capability of one. We spent the rest of Saturday cleaning up. I did some blog prep as well.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of Drive Me Crazy by Lizzy Dent (4 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten I Read in 2025
Wednesday: Can't Wait for A Novel Engagement by Anneka R Walker
Thursday: Review of I Want to Trust You, But I Don't by Lysa TerKeurst (4.5 Stars)
Friday: Homeschool Friday - This Book Is On Fire!

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Reivew of Room to Breathe by Kasie West
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Thursday: Review of And Then There Was You by Sophie Cousens
Friday: Homeschool Friday - The Magical Yet

NEW BOOKS:

Firebird (The Fire That Binds, # 1)

By: Juliette Cross

Publication: April 8, 2025 by Bramble

400 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Magic, Dragons

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--A conqueror captivated…
A witch prophesied to save them all…
An unforgiving world where dragons rule Rome.

Julian Dakkia, Roman general and nephew to the emperor, has played his role as conqueror well. Yet, the moment he laid eyes on Malina, he was enthralled by the Dacian dancer. Years later, the fierce beauty stands before him, a captive on a scarred battlefield, her life in danger. He instinctively shifts into his fierce dragon form to save her, an action that may mean his head on the imperial gate.

The rules of their world dictate that he is the conqueror and she is the captured. But he and his dragon know one thing: their bond has nothing to do with the laws of mighty Rome. She belongs to them. And they belong to her.

Fierce and powerful, twenty-one-year old Malina has survived the loss of her family and she is determined to fight until her dying breath. Still, she can’t believe that the centurion who had once bestowed a secret talisman on her is the Roman general of legendary brutality…and now holds her life in his hands. Nor can she deny how her soul has always seemed to answer his. Slowly she learns that Julian is caught in his mad uncle’s machinations for domination, and helps him plot the downfall of the empire itself.

As they navigate a world where flying deathriders conquer and burn, their love will ignite a firestorm that can only end in heartbreak or death. Or both.

Firebird is a fantasy with some dark themes, including elements of master/slave relationship, attempted sexual assault (not between MCs), and dubious consent (not between MCs). Readers who may be sensitive to these elements, please take note.

Bloodsinger (The Fire That Binds, # 2)

By: Juliette Cross

Narrated By: Blair Dade; Kale Williams

Publication: April 7, 2026 by Macmillan Audio

400 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Magic, Dragons

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 spellbinding gift...

A plea answered by the gods...

An unforgiving world where dragons rule Rome.

Lela Bihari’s village was invaded on her wedding night, her betrothed murdered right in front of her. While her sisters were either dragged away or escaped, Lela was sold to Valerius, a consul of Rome.

When she tried to kill Valerius her first night as his slave, her bloodsinger gift manifested… and she was punished for it. Now she’s paraded in front of the other senators for their amusement.

But Trajan Tiberius, the newly elected tribune to the senate, is different. He has no love for the brutality around him. When he frees Lela from enslavement and hides her, Lela is set on a path of vengeance, and using her gift puts her in more danger than ever before.

Now trapped inside the walls of Rome while deathriders circle the skies, how can she possibly trust a Roman dragon? Especially when it is clear Trajan has ulterior schemes of his own? As her powers grow stronger, danger draws closer, and Lela realizes it isn't just her life at stake, but also her heart.

Bloodsinger is a fantasy with some dark themes, including elements of master/slave relationship, attempted sexual assault, and dubious consent—none of which is between the MCs. There is also a scene with self-injury. Listeners who may be sensitive to these elements, please take note.

Reckless (Powerless Trilogy, # 2)

By: Lauren Roberts

Publication: July 2, 2024 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

383 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Paedyn and Kai battle with duty and desire in this highly anticipated second installment in the sizzling and epic romantic fantasy trilogy that’s packed with spicy tension and edge-of-your-seat betrayal.

The kingdom of Ilya is in turmoil…

After surviving the Purging Trials, Ordinary-born Paedyn Gray has killed the King and kickstarted a Resistance throughout the land. Now she’s running from the one person she had wanted to run to.

Kai Azer is now Ilya’s Enforcer, loyal to his brother Kitt, the new King. He has vowed to find Paedyn and bring her to justice.

Across the deadly Scorches, and deep into the hostile city of Dor, Kai pursues the one person he wishes he didn’t have to. But in a city without Elites, the balance between the hunter and hunted shifts—and the battle between duty and desire is deadly.

A Love Most Daring

By: Joanna Barker

Expected Publication: March 3, 2026 by Shadow Mountain

320 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--From best-selling author Joanna Barker: Proper romance meets page-turning mystery in this captivating tale of danger, redemption, and love worth fighting for.

After years of whispered gossip and quiet exile in the countryside, Beatrice Lacey arrives in London determined to reclaim her life. But her resolve is shaken when she witnesses a horrific attack tied to a chilling high-profile murder case gripping the city.

Thrust into sudden danger, Beatrice finds herself under the reluctant protection of Alexander Rawlings—a brooding Bow Street officer with a guarded heart and a fierce sense of duty. Though it's clear he’d rather be chasing the killer than shielding a scandal-stained Society miss, their forced closeness begins to unravel his defenses. In the unnerving moments between danger and discovery, every sharp exchange and lingering glance fans a slow-burning connection—one neither of them expected and neither can resist.

With danger closing in and old wounds resurfacing, trust may be their only refuge—and love their most daring risk of all.

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 - This Book Is On Fire!

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.

This Book Is On Fire!: A Funny And Interactive Story For Kids

Edited By: Ron Keres

Illustrated By: Arthur Lin

Publication: February 26, 2024 by Flypaper Press

48 pages

Genre: Children's, Animal, Humor, Interactive

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--From the creators of the best-selling This Book Is Perfect!, comes a sizzling new story that tackles the trials of dealing with picky eaters…

Meet Finn the Frog, who takes immense pride in his extraordinary book. But even more than that, Finn is renowned for his world-famous kitchen and his exceptional culinary skills. With his self-proclaimed greatness as a chef, he believes he can conquer any cooking challenge. Little does he know, he's about to face one of the most formidable challenges in the culinary world—cooking for a picky kid.

In this fiery and interactive journey, Finn sets out to please his hungry reader with dish after dish. Will his froggy flavors ignite to culinary chaos, or will Finn discover the secret ingredient to win over the finicky eater?

This Book Is On Fire! combines witty storytelling with captivating illustrations, making it an absolute must-have for your bookshelf. Order your copy today and share the laughter with your little ones!

I'm always looking for books that my 8-year-old son will be interested in reading. Since this book seemed humorous, I thought that might be a good place to start.

This Book Is On Fire and Fin the Frog reminds me of The Monster at the End of this Book starring Grover by Jon Stone. Fin is a chef in this book, and he's trying to make food for "you". First, he makes some pasta, but "you" don't like green stuff, even though it's imported from Italy. Next, he makes meatloaf. Only he added a little Mississippi mud to it. So "you" don't like that. So he decides to make his best dish, Brazilian ribeye with whipped potatoes. But the meat's been soaked in pond water. So "you're" not a fan. "You" finally ask for a grilled cheese, but he gets distracted and burns it and catches the book on fire. But hey, "you" like slightly burned grilled cheese sandwiches. It wraps up on the note that not all mistakes are a bad thing.

I can see my kids, especially my youngest, appreciating this book. I don't know that it would have them laughing or giggling, but I can picture it. They sure do love The Monster at the End of this Book. So who knows? The food the frog makes is something the kids would get a kick out of yucking over. But it also reminds me of my son, except he HATES burned grilled cheese sandwiches. And if I ever accidentally burn one somehow it always ends up being his.

This Book Is On Fire gets 4 Stars. Have you or your child read This Book Is On Fire? What did you think? Let me know!

I Want to Trust You But I Don't - Review

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Can't Wait for A Novel Engagement

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.

A Novel Engagement (The Gentlemen's Gamble, # ?)

By: Anneka R Walker

Expected Publication: March 19, 2026 by Anneka R. Walker

? 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--A reckless wager. A forgotten promise. Two enemies in a race to the altar.

With an arranged marriage looming, Rowan Ashworth and Arabella Delafield cannot get past their vexing history—or their growing attraction. He has a vow to keep, and she’s determined to wed anyone but him. Old hurts, mistaken identities, and surprise chemistry turn a childhood promise into a second chance neither expected—and a love neither can outrun.

***The Gentlemen's Gamble is a series about seven men racing to the altar in order to avoid losing a wager. Starting January, the books will release in surprise order so as not to give away who the final bachelor and loser of the wager is.

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

Top Ten Books I Read in 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 Read in 2025

1. Courageous World Changers by Shirley Raye Redmond
2. The Children's Book of Virtues edited by William J. Bennett
3. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis (review coming soon)
4. Shadow & Storms (The Legends of Thezmarr, # 4) by Helen Scheuerer
5. The Duke's Sacred Vow (Brides of the Regency, # 1) by Isabel Jacobs (review coming soon)
6. We Met Like This by Kasie West (review coming soon)
7. I Want to Trust You, But I Don't by Lysa TerKeurst (review coming soon)
8. Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, # 3) by Rebecca Yarros
9. The Last Wish of Bristol Keats (The Courting of Bristol Keats, # 2) by Mary E Pearson (review coming soon)
10. Brimstone (Fae & Alchemy, # 2) by Callie Hart (review coming soon)

*Not including re-reads.

Have you read any of these? Which books were your favorite reads from 2025? Let me know!

Drive Me Crazy - Review

Drive Me Crazy

By: Lizzy Dent

Expected Publication: January 6, 2026 by G.P. Putnam's Sons

368 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Can they navigate the twists and turns of love without crashing and burning?

As one of the first female team principles in Formula 1, Chloe Coleman is determined to prove herself and transform her failing team from underdogs to champions. Nothing can ruin her strategy—except maybe the surprising new addition of a cocky, top-tier driver who’s lost his edge. And he just so happens to be her estranged childhood crush who still sends her heart racing.

Matt Warner needs a comeback. A former champion, he hasn’t won a race since the disastrous crash that landed his best friend and teammate in the hospital. If there’s a silver lining to this scandalous demotion, it’s his fierce and familiar new boss, Chloe. But as the competition heats up, so does an unexpected spark that turns dangerously and passionately hot. With the world watching and pressures of the season mounting, will their chemistry lead them to victory, or spin them out of control?

Drive Me Crazy is the first book I've read that featured the racing industry. I know nothing about Formula 1 racing, so I can't comment on any accuracy, but the author seems highly connected to the sport. The love of the sport did shine through even if I know nothing of it myself. I applaud this.

Chloe has been hired as one of the first ever female team principles in formula one racing. She has her work cut out for her from a world that is predominately men. Many wonder how she made it this far, and many doubt her ability simply based upon her gender. It doesn't help that the owner of the team hired her almost as a publicity stunt trying to drum up last minute sponsorships and at the very least publicity to his near bankrupt team. Unknown to her, the owner also hires someone from Chloe's past that she wouldn't have chosen to work with for anything.

Matt used to be at the top of his game, but a wreck involving a teammate has shaken him and his ability to take risks on the track. Since then, he's having panic attacks and flashbacks while driving which has caused him to be unpredictable at best, and a wreck at worst. He isn't even sure if he wants to keep driving or if it's time for him to retire. But he wants to help Chloe succeed.

Chloe and Matt have history. They grew up friends, and Chloe even gave Matt some pointers to improve his driving back in the day. She was in love with him long ago, but he never seemed to register her in that way. Now Chloe feels like she has to protect her heart from being broken by Matt again, even if he's unaware that he broke it in the first place. Mostly, Matt began to see success in his career, and he left Chloe behind. She was younger than him afterall, and he was only concerned with his own success at the time.

I enjoyed their story. The tension between them that Matt didn't even understand. I can do without the on-page spice. That just isn't what I read for. But I do love relationships. I wish there were more clean romance writers for adults. But I know that isn't where the money is in the industry these days.

Apparently, I highlighted exactly zero times. So I have no quotes to share with you. Which tells me this might be a fun read, but not necessarily a must read book.

Drive Me Crazy was an quick and easy read for me. I enjoyed the story of the main characters. I rooted for them. I do wish for no on-page spicy scenes. That's a personal reading preference for me. But I'm able to skim ahead. Drive Me Crazy gets 4 Stars. Have you read Drive Me Crazy? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 01/04/26

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

We normally hang out with my parents on Tuesday, but I had plans to meet up with a friend from Texas who was visiting her family for Christmas. My parents watched the kids on Monday while we met up for lunch at McAllister's, and then ran by Target. All of our extracurricular activities are out of session for the week. So Tuesday we hung out at home. I took a little Christmas down each day. Husband was off a little early on Wednesday. Thursday, we had a nice day. My mother-in-law cooked a traditional new year's meal for us and we went to her house for a few hours. I finished getting my Christmas decorations down that day. I barely remember Friday. Saturday, we had a nice lazy morning. We watched the news about the Venuzula attack, and then we all worked in the yard cleaning up and doing various tasks. I had an audiobook going in my ear at the same time.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer (3 Stars)
Tuesday: Last Ten Books I Added to My TBR List
Wednesday: December 2025 EOM Wrap Up
Friday: 2025 EOY Wrap Up
Saturday: 2025 EOY Book Survey

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Reivew of Drive Me Crazy by Lizzy Dent
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Thursday: Review of I Want to Trust You But I Don't by Lysa TerKeurst
Friday: Homeschool Friday - This Book Is On Fire!

NEW BOOKS:

Rebel Witch (Crimson Moth, # 2)

By: Kristen Ciccarelli

Publication: February 18, 2025 by Wednesday Books

464 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic

Source: Borrowed from the e-library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--A WITCH...
Rune Winters is on the run. Ever since the boy she loved, Gideon Sharpe, revealed who she was and delivered her into enemy hands, everyone wants her dead. If Rune hopes to survive, she must ally herself with the cruel and dangerous Cressida Roseblood, who’s planning to take back the Republic and reinstate a Reign of Witches—something Cressida needs Rune to accomplish.

A WITCH HUNTER...
Apparently it wasn’t enough for Rune to deceive Gideon; she’s now betrayed him by joining forces with the witch who made his life a living hell. Gideon won’t allow the Republic to fall to the witches and be plunged back into the nightmares of the past. In order to protect this new world he fought for, every last witch must die—especially Rune Winters.

AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE...
When Rune makes Gideon an offer he can’t refuse, the two must pair up to accomplish dangerous goals. The more they’re forced into each other’s company, the more Gideon realizes the feelings he had for Rune aren’t as dead and buried as he thought. Now he’s faced with a terrible choice: sacrifice the girl he loves to stop a monster taking back power, or let Rune live and watch the world he fought so hard for burn.

In Kristen Ciccarelli's Rebel Witch, the exciting conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology, love has never been so deadly.

Toxic Empathy

By: Allie Beth Stuckey

Publication: October 15, 2024 by Sentinel

224 pages

Genre: Non-fiction, Christian, Politics,

Source: Borrowed from the e-library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--A sharp Christian voice makes a bold when politics are driven by empathy rather than truth, innocent people pay the price.We are told that empathy is the highest virtue—the key to being a good person. Is that true? Or has “empathy,” like so many other words of our day— “tolerance,” “justice,” “acceptance”—been hijacked by bad actors who exploit compassion for their own political ends? In Toxic Empathy, Allie Beth Stuckey argues that empathy has become a tool of manipulation by left-wing activists who bully people into believing that they must adopt progressive positions to be loving. She explores the five most heated issues through which toxic empathy is abortion, gender, sexuality, immigration, and social justice. Progressives use catchy mantras to present their perspective as empathetic, like “abortion is healthcare,” “love is love,” or “no human being is illegal,” but in each case, they ignore the other side of the moral equation. For example, abortion is presented as compassionate for the woman, but what about the human life the procedure kills?This book isn’t about killing empathy; it’s about submitting our empathy to God’s definitions of love, goodness, and justice. Stuckey exposes the logical pitfalls and moral consequences of toxic empathy, equipping Christians with research-backed, Biblical truths to dismantle the progressive lies that have permeated our culture— and our church.

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!