Can't Wait for Tempest

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.

Tempest (The Lyrian Sea, #1)

By: Victoria Aveyard

Expected Publication: September 8, 2026 by Harper Voyager

464 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Pirates, Romantasy

( 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 #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Aveyard comes an epic adventure of love and betrayal, amid a brutal war for the high seas.

May the sea always sing for you

Cat Rose knows what it is to live in two worlds, in two times. Before—as Lady Catrine Rose of the Meridian Empire, chained to a loathsome lord with a dwindling fortune. And after—as the Widow Rose, queen of a pirate tavern in the Lyrian Sea, determined to be the master of her own fate.

But tides turn and winds change. The Meridian Empire looms on the horizon, the full weight of her navy falling on the Lyrian, bent on reclaiming the wealthy colonies and crushing the pirate republic once and for all. Ship after ship is captured, save for one, captained by a pirate who continually evades both noose and blade: the legendary Valerian Kane.

With his fearsome ship and uncanny connection to the song of the sea, Valerian is the only man who might rally the pirates who remain. The only man who threatens the Empire. And the only man Cat has ever loved, blazing in and out of her life like a star.

Desperate for victory, the Empire offers Cat a devastating choice: bring them Valerian or hang. In truth, no choice at all.

But Cat Rose is nothing if not a survivor.

A storm is rising on the Lyrian Sea—the question is, what will it leave in its wake?

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

Brimstone - Review

Brimstome (Fae & Alchemy, # 2)

By: Callie Hart

Publication: November 18, 2025 by Forever

672 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Fae, Romantasy 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--Duty. Blood. Honour. Power.

Saeris Fane doesn't want power. The very last thing she needs is her name whispered on an entire court's lips, but now that she's been crowned queen of the Blood Court, she's discovering that a queen's life is not her own. A heavy weight rests upon her shoulders.

Her ward - and her brother - need her back in her homeland . . . but the changes that have strengthened Saeris have also made her weak. Born under blazing suns, Saeris will surely die if she makes her way home through the Quicksilver. Which means that, once again, she must send someone else in her stead . . .

'Keep your mouth shut. Stick to the shadows. And for the love of all seven Gods, do NOT crack any jokes.'

Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate has defeated armies and survived all manner of horrors, but traveling back to Zilvaren with Carrion Swift might just be the death of him. The male just will not shut up. Hidden dangers await them down the narrow alleyways of the Silver City. Unfolding secrets pose impossible threats. Fisher must wrangle the smuggler and accomplish his goals quickly if he wants to see his mate again.

A darkness falls across Yvelia. The realm and their friends are in danger. Together, Saeris and Fisher will pass through fire and brimstone to save them.

Guys, I'll just be honest...I don't remember too much about Quicksilver. Like the details. I remember the beginning and some of the middle and ending. So the start of Brimstone felt a little confusing for me. I'll also say, that despite being interested in what was happening, I fell asleep almost every time I picked this book up. I just could not stay awake. And only reading snippets at a time made this read take so long for me to get through. And that always affects my enjoyment of a book. Not to mention that Brimstone is 672 pages.

Saeris used to be human. Now she's turned half fae, half vampire. This was necessary to prevent her from dying. Because she isn't a full vampire, she isn't exactly controlled by their blood thirst. And because she killed Malcolm, she's the new Queen of the vampires. The entire court can be put under a command not to hurt her or her friends. Seems odd. Seems like everyone would be out to kill the current ruler in order to obtain that power for themselves. But whatever. Saeris and Kingfisher spend a lot of time at the Blood Court, but they also switch back to Cahlish periodically. They have to figure out what to do with the Blood Court, but there's also a weird rot that is spreading across the fae lands at a rapid pace. Oh and, Fisher and Carrion go back to Zilvaren to get Hayden for Saeris.

I don't know how many books are planned for this series, but I think Brimstone falls into the catergory that most second books in a series do. They deviate (because they have to) from some of the things that caused readers to fall in love with the first book. The main characters usually have to spend some time away from each other. Thankfully, there was no weird drama that caused a rift for Fisher and Saeris. There was only distance that seperated them.

The physical scenes were easy for me to skim by. But the language was a lot. Like a lot.

I will say...this is probably a spoiler, but I just have to comment on this. We all know that in fae lore, having the real name of a fae or fairy means that you have control over them. So in a lot of fae books, having a fae's true name is a big thing. This was brought up in Brimstone. It was assumed by many that Fisher and Saeris would get married since they are godsbound and mates. But Fisher informs Saeris that you need a fae's true name in order to get married, but he doesn't even know his true name. Well you'll probably not be surprised to know that Saeris does learn his true name. What will surprise you is that now that we've been calling him Fisher or Kingfisher for two novels, all of a sudden Saeris "can't think of him by any other name" and so she starts calling him by his real name. And despite the fact that he's gone by Kingfisher for HUNDREDS OF YEARS and never even known his real name, he takes no issue with this. And THEN she starts calling him a shortened, nickname version of his real name. I don't like it. Kingfisher/Fisher is such an iconic name. That would be like changing Xaden or Rhysand or Rowan at this point to something completely different. Or you find out that Harry's parents actual named him Benedict. You just can't take an iconic name and change it after 1000 pages.

Another complaint, I have argued about Colleen Hoover using letters to give big information dumps. In this case, Fisher's mom left Saeris a book that basically tells her what they need to do because she was an oracle/seer/could see the future. As the reader, we don't have access to the knowledge that Saeris has. We only know that Fisher's mom left this book that details what Saeris needs to do at different points. Yet it doesn't seem like she spells out exactly what Saeris needs to do, but she seems to have enough information to know what she needs to do next. I just feel like this is cheating in some way. It feels like a cop out.

I'd also be remiss not to mention that Onyx...well, I feel quite strongly about a specific scene with him. IYKYK. I'm not a fan of what went down there. This better have big pay off at some point.

Favorite quotes:

-“Can you— look, can you just behave yourself out there?” I murmured under my breath. He looked bemused, the faintest hint of a dimple forming in his right cheek. “I can,” he answered. “I can’t promise that I will.”

-“No, Carrion. I won’t.” “Why not?” He sounded like I’d just kicked him. “There’s only one way to learn how to endure pain the way I have. You have to suffer through it. Again, and again, and again. It galvanizes you. Tempers you like steel. But I wouldn’t wish the kind of pain I’ve lived through on anyone. I’ve borne it because I had to and for no other reason. Feel the pain you’ve been given, Carrion. Don’t be fool enough to ask for more. It’s a curse I would spare you from, believe me.”

-Meanwhile, I dream that I’d been turned into a goat, and I wake up with a mouth drier than the glass flats, covered in suspect pox marks!”

-I swear myself to you, Saeris Fane. I will carry out your bidding so long as there is breath left in me. And when I pass from this place and move on to the next, I will carry your banners there and storm the gates of heaven in your name if you wish it.”

-“I shouldn’t tell you this, since you seem blissfully unaware of the power you hold over me, but… I will give you whatever you want, Saeris Fane. Always. No matter what it costs me.”

Even with those complaints, I didn't feel like Brimstone was a bad book. Now, I still can't rate it 5 Stars or anything like that. It falls into a fairly typical second book in a series feel which are so rarely my favorites. Most of the time the second in a series ends up being my least favorite books. We will see where Brimstone falls when the series is complete. I'm giving Brimstone 4 Stars. Have you read Brimstone? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 04/19/26

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.

I can barely remember the week before this last one. I missed prepping my Sunday Post for last week because we were getting ready to go out of town. We left Saturday morning the 11th. We arrived in Gatlinburg, TN Saturday afternoon. We pretty much got settled into the room and grabbed some dinner. Sunday, we slept in a little. Then we went to lunch. We went by a lady that makes balloon animals that my parents have met on previous trips to Gatlinburg. My mom and I split off to go get groceries for the week. And Husband took the kids to the waterpark at the resort. Monday, we went horseback riding at Jayell Ranch. We had a good time, and we all got a laugh out of our various horse experiences. We also did the zip lines at Jayell Ranch. They are long enough and high enough to feel daring without being a high and long as some places like Ober. After that we grabbed lunch at JT Hannah. After an afternoon nap, we did Hillbilly Golf. Tuesday, we went to Lazer Port to do go carts, lazer tag, and glow in the dark mini golf. Then we went to Mama's Farmhouse Kitchen. We went back to Hillbilly Golf after dinner in the room because they have a half price deal if you return within three days. Wednesday, we spent the main part of the day at the waterpark at the resort. That night we went to the Hatfield and McCoy's Dinner Fued show. Thursday, we went to Ober and did the bobsled (what we used to call the alpine slide), mountain coaster, ice skating, and various activities there. We were pretty exhausted by the time we got home that night. Friday was our last full day in TN so we drove through Cade's Cove. We saw several turkeys and deer, and we saw one bear in the distance. The bear activity seemed to be quite frequent as there were signs everywhere about various trails closed due to bear activity. We had lunch at Mel's Diner. And then we took the kids to play in the creek. After that it was mostly packing to head home. We got up early for a Saturday and hit Sawyer's for breakfast on the way home. We got home around 3:30 in the afternoon. It was passed time to be able to pick Scout up from boarding so we'll get him today. We all miss him like crazy. But it was nice to get the house back in order and unpack. This coming week will be busy with ball games. The kids mananged to all three have games on Monday and Thursday. The boys are participating in a midseason tournament which means if either of them win one or both games this week they will likely play Friday and/or Saturday as well. So we jump right back into things. But we only have about 4 weeks of school left until summer break which is kind of crazy to think about.

THE PAST TWO WEEKS

Monday 4/6: Review of Bloodsinger (Fire That Binds, # 2) by Juliette Cross (3.5 Stars)
Wednesday 4/8: Can't Wait for Storm Breaker (Storm Breaker, # 1) by Nisha J Tuli
Monday 4/13: Review of A Deal with a Debutante (London's Most Eligble, # 1) by Chelsea Bobulski (3.5 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Reivew of Brimstone (Fae & Alchemy, # 2) by Callie Hart
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Lucky Goes to School

NEW BOOKS:

Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games, # 0.5)

By: Suzanne Collins

Publication: March 18, 2025 by Scholastic Press

400 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Fantasy, Science Fiction

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--When you've been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for?

As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.

Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.

When Haymitch's name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He's torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who's nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town.

As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he's been set up to fail. But there's something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.

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!

A Deal with a Debutante - Review

A Deal with a Debutante (London's Most Eligible, # 1)

By: Chelsea Bobulski

Publication: April 7, 2026 by Haven

304 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--She’s running from London’s marriage mart. He’s running out of time to save his estate. Neither planned on falling in love—but their hearts have other plans.

American heiress Calliope Hart is thrust into London’s high society against her will, all because her mother is determined to marry her off to an aristocrat. Despite being named “the debutante of the season” back in New York, Calliope wants nothing more than to avoid becoming another pawn in the social game.

Edward Chase, the Earl of Hayward, is on the brink of financial ruin. To save his estate, he must marry, and Calliope Hart is his last hope. When he boldly declares his intentions, she swiftly rejects him, making it clear she has no interest in marrying for convenience. Undeterred, Edward offers a deal: He will escort Calliope to all the best sights of London that she’s been dying to see if she agrees to visit his estate and consider what they could accomplish together.

What begins as a business arrangement soon sparks something much more complicated—an undeniable chemistry neither can ignore. But as their hearts begin to soften, both must confront their fears: Can Calliope trust Edward with her heart, and can Edward truly win her love when she’s convinced he only wants her fortune?

Calliope is an American debutante from a "new rich" family. Her family has everything they need to move around the social structure of New York. Except that Calliope's mother wants to be invited into the Knickerbocker's club, and Calliope needs to hail from a well-known family or marry into one. Thus, her mother's desire for Calliope to marry an English aristocrat. Calliope, for her part, wants nothing more than to return to New York, where she can resume time spent with her friends as well as the work of writing articles she hopes to later compile into a book about historical sites. Calliope loved New York, but unlike another book I recently DNF'd where the character acted like every other place in the world could never compare with New York and therefore ridiculed those places, I appreciated that Calliope had a love for her home while also being able to see the beauty and history of other places.

Edward hoped that by being direct with Calliope on what he had to offer and what he hoped to gain in return, she would appreciate him. Unfortunately, he sounded a little too much like those who had mocked her and the other American debutantes who were in the marriage mart in England to snag titled husbands. Edward had to work to backtrack and prove himself. He made a deal to take Calliope to tour historical locations in London as well as show her his home estate, which needed her dowry to sustain it and the families dependant upon it for survival.

Calliope and Edward spend a lot of time together, but how can she ever trust the feelings building between them when he needs her for something? Those questions were exacerbated by a long-time friend who travels to England to ask Calliope for her hand in marriage, which offers her a chance to return to New York and her friends and family, as well as her work.

I will say that I don't usually love this period in history when it comes to novels. I can't remember seeing a specific date included, but the inclusion of the motorcar leads me to believe it's Edwardian. The rules of society are closely related to the Regency and Victorian, but more modern. I am no expert, but The Gilded Age is one I tend to steer clear of for various reasons. That being said, I wasn't too put off by the period, and I would consider reading other books in this series should there be more published.

I read A Deal with a Debutante quickly. It was easy to root for the characters, but I found myself skimming some passages of description that didn't always suit my reading preferences. I want to be so immersed in the story that I'm neither looking to skip ahead nor wanting to slow things down. I didn't quite feel like the pacing of A Deal with a Debutante was exactly right. Or maybe some extra stuff could have been trimmed a little. I'm giving A Deal with a Debutante 3.5 Stars. Have you read A Deal with a Debutante? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Storm Breaker

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.

Storm Breaker (Storm Breaker, # 1)

By: Nisha J Tuli

Expected Publication: May 5, 2026 by Mayhem Books

416 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Fantasy, Romantasy

( 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 publisher who brought you Fourth Wing comes your next romantasy obsession...

For nineteen-year-old Poet Graves, New Manhattan has always promised safety―if she obeys. Raised within the ruling Houses and betrothed to a powerful heir, she enters Amery Academy knowing her future has already been decided.

But Amery is nothing like she imagined. Its trials are brutal, its loyalties conditional, and its rules designed to expose weakness. As Poet struggles to survive, she must hide the truth that could get her executed: the storms don’t fear her―they answer back.

When a dangerous outsider from beyond the city walls enters the academy, Poet is drawn to him despite everything she’s been taught to believe. He threatens the life she’s been promised. And choosing him could cost her not just her future, but her freedom.

A gripping dystopian romance filled with forbidden power, ruthless challenges, and a heroine who refuses to burn quietly―perfect for fans of Divergent and The Hunger Games.

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

Bloodsinger - Review

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.

I listened to the audio version of Bloodsinger which means that spelling or names and places is hard to get right. Also, I don't have any quotes to share or notes to refer back to. I enjoyed the dual narrators. They both did a good job and most of all enhanced the story and didn't take away from it at all.

Lela is Malina's sister that we met in Firebird. She was on the cusp of her wedding when her village was attacked, and her betrothed was killed in front of her. As the description states, she was sold as a slave to Valerius who tortured and abused her and made her wear a muzzle after her attempt to kill him with her bloodsinger gift. With one taste of anyone's blood she can command them to do what she wishes. But she has been abused and mistreated to the point of not having much faith in herself.

Trajan is invivted to Valerius's house often. After Julian's betrayal, Trajan has to stay close to the leaders to prove himself even though doubt is immediately thrust upon him simply because he used to be under Julian's command. And it's true, he has been plotting with Julian to take down Inniculus and the other vile dragon shifters that would take his place. He does everything he can to help Lela escape. Although, he knows Malina, he has no idea that Lela is her sister.

Trajan was sweet and took his time building his relationship with Lela given everything she's been through. Of course, there is on-page action which I usually skim over. And there's cursing which I also prefer to skip. It's more annoying to me in audiobooks because my eyes can jump over it while reading, but hearing it aloud is harder to ignore. Another frustration is that the endearments I complained about in the first book are the same used in this book even though the characters are different. Sure endearments can be cultural, but this is one of my pet peeves and an easy way to distinguish unique voices from character to character.

Bloodsinger was good. I listened to it quickly, and I did hate to have to put it down. I felt slightly less connection to the characters as well as the frustrations I mentioned above with the endearments having the lead characters sounding too simular to the characters from the previous book. I am excited about the sneak peek given into the next book in the series, and I look forward to continuing to unravel this world. Bloodsinger gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read or listened to Bloodsinger? If so, what did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 04/05/26

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 night, Little Boy had a ball game, and I had to work the concession stand for Big Boy's team. They lost 4 to 8. Big Girl and Little Boy spent the night with my parent's. Tuesday was a super busy day. Big Boy had some testing to do in the morning. We went to my parents' house after that. I picked up groceries before heading home. I still had to do school with Big Boy when we got home. The Big Kids had martial arts belt testing Tuesday evening. They are testing for their senior blue belt. We barely made it to ball games for them to play. Big Boy's team won 19 to 11. Big Girl's team lost 8-9. Wednesday was a normal day, and Big Girl had pitching practice. Thursday was another busy day. The Big Kids had their homeschool nature class. Little Boy and I did some school. Then he had some chores that I had to help him with. Then I did some baking. I made sourdough bread, sourdough discard cheddar garlic biscuits, cornbread, cream of chicken soup, and southern cornbread dressing. Then Little Boy had a game that night. They won 17-4. Friday, Little Boy didn't have school, and Husband was off work. We did a slightly easier day with homeschool. And then Big Boy had a game. They won 19 to 7. Husband's family came in from out of town, and we did our family Easter celebrations on Saturday. We dyed Easter eggs, did an egg hunt, and had a big lunch. The crazy kiddos have been swimming already, several times. So they did that while their cousins were here too. Happy Easter to everyone! Jesus is risen indeed! Praise God!

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of Empire of Flame and Thorns (Flame and Thorns, # 1) by Marion Blackwood (4 Stars)
Tuesday: March 2026 EOM Wrap Up
Wednesday: Can't Wait for North Country by KA Tucker

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Reivew of Bloodsinger (Fire that Binds, # 2) by Juliette Cross
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Friday: Homeschool Friday -

NEW BOOKS:

No new books this week, but I did receive a signed copy of a book I've already read as a thank you for my review.

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!

Can't Wait for North Country

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.

North Country

By: KA Tucker

Expected Publication: June 16, 2026 by K.A. Tucker Books Ltd.

398 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Second Chance

( 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 USA Today and international bestselling author of the Simple Wild comes a sweeping second-chance, forbidden romance set against the rugged beauty of northern Canada.

Emery McAllister once dreamed of leaving Cold River with the boy next door, but one devastating night destroyed their future and left her heart carefully guarded. Twenty years later, she’s built a life of control: running the town’s police detachment, raising her daughter, and keeping a fragile peace with her ex-husband, the mayor.

She’s certain she has moved on until the day she has dreaded—and secretly hoped for—finally arrives.

Logan Landry is home.

After two decades behind bars for being in the wrong place at the wrong time—and the choices that haunted him ever since—Logan returns to his family’s bison ranch carrying the weight of everything he lost, but especially Emery. Friendship is all he dares hope for now, but seeing her ignites a fire he thought long extinguished.

When a teenage girl disappears and old wounds reopen, Logan becomes Cold River’s favorite suspect, despite his airtight alibi. As distrust closes in, Emery must choose between the life she’s built … and the love she can’t let go.

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

March 2026 EOM Wrap Up

I read 10 books (not including children's books).
When Calls the Heart (Canadian West, # 1) by Janette Oke
Next Level Love by Shameez Patel
Stranger Things Have Happened by Kasie West
A Bewildered Bachelor (A Gentleman's Gamble, # 5) by HolliJo Monroe
Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, # 4) by Rebecca Yarros (re-read)
The Beginning (The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls, # 1) by MJ Thomas
I Am Devotional: 100 Devotions About the Names of God by Diane Stortz
Embrace (Off the Ice, # 4) by Bal Khabra
An Honorable Love (A Gentleman's Gamble, # 6) by Audra Wells
Seek the Traitor's Son (The Burning Empire, # 1) by Veronica Roth

I have reviewed 4 books (not including mini reviews of children's books).
A Love Most Daring (Bow Street, # 3) by Joanna Barker
Next Level Love by Shameez Patel
The Duke's Sacred Vow (Brides of the Regency, # 1) by Isabel Jacobs
Firebird (The Fire that Binds, # 1) by Juliette Cross
Empire of Flame and Thorns (Flame and Thorns, # 1) by Marion Blackwood

Other Posts:
Sunday Post - 03/01/26
Sunday Post - 03/08/26
Sunday Post - 03/15/26
Sunday Post - 03/22/26
Top Ten Books with Titles Featuring Ordinal Numbers
Top Ten Green Book Covers
Top Ten Spring 2026 TBR List
Can't Wait for A Love Once Lost (The Bridwells' Grand Tour, # 1)) by Jennie Goutet
Can't Wait for A Most Unfortunate Happenstance (Supposed Scandal, # 6) by Esther Hatch
Can't Wait for Ruling Out Robyn (Men of the Isles, # 3) by Deborah M. Hathaway
Can't Wait for No Match Found by Martha Keyes
Homeschool Friday - The Great Toy Escape
Homeschool Friday - Mater's Birthday Surprise
Homeschool Firday - Lucky Goes to School

Goals:
I'm a few days ahead on my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 46 out of 110 books (including children's books).

Empire of Flame and Thorns - Review

Empire of Flame and Thorns (Flame and Thorns, # 1)

By: Marion Blackwood

Publication: October 21, 2024 by Black Dagger Publishing

366 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Dragons, Fae, Romantasy

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 fae rebel. A ruthless dragon commander.

And a deadly trial that will turn their lives upside down.

Trapped in the Seelie Court by a forest of thorns, Selena Hale lives at the mercy of the dragon shifters. Her only chance to gain her freedom is by entering the Atonement Trials: a deadly competition that pits fae magic users against each other. Only three people can win, and Selena intends to be one of them.

There is only one problem. Draven Ryat, the ruthless commander of the dragon shifter army, is determined to make her lose.

He symbolizes everything that she hates, and if he finds out that she is also a member of the secret fae rebellion, he will not only mess with her chances to win, he will kill her. But the more time she spends with him, the more she finds herself inexplicably drawn to him.

And nothing is more dangerous in a lethal trial than a distracted heart.

Especially one that beats for the enemy…

I know that not all main characters are going to be like me. But I always try to see myself in the characters. Or at the very least understand the character's actions. Selena is very different from me. And her decisions are very different from ones I would make. Selena is a fae that's roughly 160ish years old. In this world the fae who were once the ruling class have become subservient to the dragon shifters. The fae in Selena's city are assigned jobs and are alloted one meal per day. Selena is working for the rebellion, but she's never trusted with much outside of guard duty or lookout. Selena has emotion magic which means she can manipulate what people feel, not by creating emotion, but basically by turning up or down what they already feel. This can't be done without people knowing for the most part as when a fae uses their power, their eyes glow. Yet people continually accuse Selena of manipulating their emotions. She isn't trusted by nearly everyone. And that leaves her with a desire to connect to others. She ends up trying to be a people pleaser for the most part. She even has a non-existent relationship with her parents because she couldn't control her power when she was younger, and they blame her for the rifts in their marriage where they can't trust their own emotions.

Selena decides that joining the Attonement Trials will be the only way to prove her worth to the rebellion and earn their trust. The Attonement Trials are a set of trials/games that have three winners each year which are finally allowed to leave their home city to travel to other cities and anywhere they want. Basically they earn their freedom. I have a lot of questions about this because the Emporer and Emperess seem to have a lot more land and cities to rule over, why is it only this city that has the Attonement Trials? Is this where all the fae of the entire realm live? Also, how is there a forest under a forest? But that's a side note for another paragraph. I had questions that I wondered why these didn't occur to the characters, but you know...that would ruin the plot.

So then there's Draven. He is a dragon shifter from the Black Dragon clan. He's the leader of the clan, and the commander of the forces. He stumbles upon the rebellion meeting that Selena is a lookout for, Selena tries to distract him so the leaders of the rebellion can escape, and she throws a drink in Draven's face. He goes after her and of course recognizes her as one of the contestants of the Attonement Trials. He actively works to sabotage her. And he's attracted to her smart mouth and how she tends to treat him differently from how she treats everyone else. She doesn't like him so she doesn't care what he thinks about her, and therefore, she tends to think and speak however she wants without care of how he will receive it. The two have many interactions and I appreciate that the characters only "like" each other, not love each other by the end of the book. Because even though they do have enough interactions to create a like they have not have enough interactions of substance to create love. Obviously, there is more to Draven than we've seen up to this point. I am curious about what more there is to his story and his limitations.

There are on-page physical scenes that I prefer to skim. That's not why I read books. Language was also high. The world seems to have religious "gods" that are referenced, but we know nothing about them except references to one of their body parts in a derogitory fashion. All of these things are drawbacks for me. But not dealbreakers necessarily.

Favorite quotes:

-I still remember the vicious smugness in my teacher's voice as he told us that this is what we deserve. That it is our turn to live in poverty. To live as slaves. Our turn to suffer so that we might pay for our ancestors' crimes.

This is so stupid. How can an entire society go along with doing to others what was done to them? This isn't "fair", if that's what is trying to be portrayed. I can tell the author and the character doesn't agree, but it's also just stupid that this is the backstory.

-But I don't. Because no matter how much I try to convince myself otherwise, I still desperately want people to like me. I want them to trust me. I want to be accepted. So I force a smile and pick up my plate and say, "Sure." Pain and frustration swirl like a restless storm behind my rib cage as I walk away with my plate. I hate that I am this way. I hate that I desperately want people's approval. I hate that I make myself less so that others won't feel uncomfortable around me.

Oh my goodness. I can understand...intellectually...how someone might feel this way. I think I might even know one or two people personally who feel this way. But it frustrates me to no end. Trying to get people to like you by not being truthful isn't helping those people to like you at all. I'm trying not to judge her too harshly. I'm trying to enter the stage of life where I love people where they are...characters in books as well. But since this is fiction, I don't have to read characters like this. But thankfully, this goes to further the plot between Selena and Draven that she doesn't act like this with him.

-Being slim and being fit are not the same thing.

I read Empire of Flame and Thorns quickly. I found most of the issue with the main character's decision making, and the things being used to build a relationship between the main characters. But I wasn't expecting too much, so the book exceeded my expectations. And my desire to keep reading and ability to do so in the moment helped my overall enjoyment of the book. I am giving Empire of Flame and Thorns a tentative 4 Stars. Have you read Empire and Flame and Thorns? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 03/29/26

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 week was our public school's spring break. I originally planned for us to take this week off school, but we had the flu a couple of weeks ago and didn't get much done, and we're going on a trip next month that will have us gone for a week. So I decided that we would push through and do school this week. It was still a slightly lighter week for us because we didn't have any baseball or softball games. So Monday was a normal day. Tuesday, the kids had hair appointments. I rarely take all three at one time to get cuts, but that's just how it worked out this week. Then we went to my parents' house. We got groceries on the way home. Tuesday night the Big Kids had martial arts. Belt testing is coming up this week so I'm looking forward to pausing for a month to just focus on baseball and softball. Wednesday was another normal day. Big Girl did have pitching lessons. Those were a little emotional. It's hard to explain why even when she throws a strike she might still get corrections on her form. It's necessary, and that's what lessons are for. Thursday, I had a hair appointment so the kids went to my mother-in-law's house. Then we had a friend's birthday party and Easter egg hunt we went to. And then the Big Kids had martial arts again. Friday, Big Boy had a doctor's appointment to have a wart frozen off his toe. He hasn't been handling the over the counter medicine well. Having it frozen off was more painful, but hopefully it is a one time thing versus daily treatments. I grabbed Chickfila on the way home for lunch. Saturday, I spent the day cleaning the pool again. I got all the leaves out from the winter last week, but the oak blooms have been falling now, and cleaning the pool is a weakly event when our robot cleaner isn't working.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of Firebird (The Fire that Binds, # 1) by Juliette Cross (4 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Spring 2026 TBR List
Wednesday: Can't Wait for No Match Found by Martha Keyes
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Lucky Goes to School

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Reivew of Firebird (Fire that Binds, # 1) by Juliette Cross
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Lucky Goes to School

NEW BOOKS:

Soulgazer (The Magpie and the Wolf Duology, # 1)

By: Maggie Rapier

Publication: July 8, 2025 by Ace

451 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Pirates

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--Every legend has a beginning.

With their freedom on the line, a young woman and a rakish pirate take their fate into their own hands as they attempt to find a lost mythical isle with the power to save their entire world.

Saoirse yearns to be powerless. Cursed from childhood with a volatile magic, she's managed to imprison it within, living under constant terror that one day it will break free. And it does, changing everything.

Horrified at her loss of control, Saoirse’s parents offer her hand to the cold and ruthless Stone King. Knowing she'll never survive such a cruel man, Saoirse realizes there is only one path forward…she must break her curse.

On the eve of her wedding, Saoirse seeks out the legendary Wolf of the Wild—Faolan, a feral, silver-tongued pirate. He swears to help rid her of the deadly magic, if she’ll use it to locate a lost mythical isle first. Crafted by the slaughtered gods, it’s the only land that could absorb her power.

But Saoirse knows better than to trust a pirate’s word. With the wrath of her disgraced father and scorned betrothed chasing them, Saoirse adds one last condition to protect if Faolan wants her on his ship, he'll have to marry her first.

Wolftamer (The Magpie and the Wolf Duology, # 2)

By: Maggie Rapier

Expected Publication: August 25, 2026 by Ace

448 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Pirates

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--Legends don't die.

Saoirse and Foalan's quest for freedom turns into a battle for the fate of their entire world, in this aching and lush conclusion to the Magpie and the Wolf duology.

Faolan has escaped death. Twice.

After a lifetime chasing freedom and legends, he was finally on the brink of becoming one himself when it all went up in flames. Stranded on the Isle of Lost Souls, bound by an oath he did not make, Faolan is plagued by dreams of drowning and a past he swore never to revisit. The pirate in him wants nothing more than to raise hell and run away—but with no ship, and no way to untether his wife, Saoirse, from the land she’s pledged herself to, Faolan is trapped.

And everyone knows who tamed the Wolf.

When their sinister rival King Maccus unveils an ancient godly relic—one with the power to unbalance their entire world—Faolan knows the game has changed. There’s only one person who can hunt down the missing relics before Maccus can, and the Wolf of the Wild will do anything to protect his wife.

Even if that means leaving her behind.

The Matchmaker's Cottage

By: Kat Sloane

Expected Publication: August 11, 2026 by Berkley

400 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 cozy fall romance wrapped in small-town charm reunites the owner of a bed-and-breakfast with her childhood sweetheart for a celebrity matchmaking scheme which has them both seeing stars.

Julia Schaeffer might run the most romantic little bed-and-breakfast in Upstate New York, but as far as that infuriating Ethan Duchamp is concerned, this older, wiser Julia has a strict “no vacancy” policy. Sure, she’s teetering on the edge of a financial cliff, and his half-baked plan to pair up his celebrity clients at her inn will undoubtedly be good for business…but how much forced proximity with the man who abandoned her is she supposed to take?

Ethan needs this to work. The dreamy, autumnal—and blissfully secluded—cottage from his childhood summers is the ideal setting for playing matchmaker to Hollywood’s next power couple. It’s the only way to save his PR career from the tabloid toilet. He knew that the inn and Julia’s warm, comforting homemade touch would inspire real feelings—he just didn’t expect them to be his. Again.

But as old wounds reopen, and their connection rekindles, Julia and Ethan are forced to confront the truths they’ve both tried to bury. In a town where nothing stays hidden for long, they’ll have to decide if they can rebuild what was lost—or if their second chance will be derailed by scars that have yet to heal.

Wild Reverence

By: Rebecca Ross

Publication: September 2, 2025 by Saturday Books

527 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

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--Dear Matilda, I wrote.
I let the words flow for her.
And when the ink dried,
I gave my very heart
to the fire.

Born in the firelit domain of the under realm, Matilda is the youngest goddess of her clan, blessed with humble messenger magic she uses to carry words and letters through the realms. But the gods will kill for power, and Matilda holds a secret she must hide from even her dearest allies.

And there is a mortal who dreams of her, though they have never met in the waking world. Ten years ago, Vincent of Beckett wrote to Matilda on the darkest night of his life—begging the goddess he befriended in dreams to help him. His request went unanswered, and Vincent became a hardened, irreverent lord of the river who has long forgotten Matilda . . . until she comes tumbling into his bedroom window with a letter for him.

Matilda and Vincent were fated to find each other beyond dreams. But to rewrite the blood-soaked ways of the gods, Matilda will have to face something she fears even more than losing her magic: finally allowing herself to be loved.

Lost and Found

By: Tarah DeWitt

Publication: July 14, 2026 by St. Martin's Griffin

336 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 stunning novel of romance and redemption set in the Spunes, OR world, filled with heartbreak and hope from "master of emotion" (Rachel Lynn Solomon) USA Today bestselling author Tarah DeWitt.

Bea always wanted to be a mom. But she never expected she’d have to lose her best friend to do it. Armed with nothing but her best friend’s eggs and a bucket list to complete, Bea’s world is a sea of changes.

When she needs a place to stay, her longtime friend Silas steps in to help. A firefighter grappling with the aftermath of an accident, Silas has his own challenges to work through that have left him cautious and vulnerable.

At first, they expect nothing. But as these two former sunshines knit together in a love that has been unfulfilled until now, a new beginning comes out of the ashes of the past—one that will lead to a love that can withstand all the slings and arrows, joys and triumphs, that life can throw.

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 - Lucky Goes to School

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.

Lucky Goes to School

By: Gail Herman

Illustrated By: Norman Gorbaty

Publication: July 9, 2001 by Penguin Young Readers

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Level-2

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--When Lucky's owner goes to school, where will Lucky go? Who will he meet? Find out in this fun-filled Level 2 reader.

Lucky Goes to School is one of our Level-2 readers. This one was given to us and not one that I bought. Lucky wakes up one morning, and his boy has to go off to school. Lucky is worried he will be bored all day without his boy. He walks his boy to school and meets many other dogs. They go to the park and play together, doing various doggie things. And then it's time to go back and pick up Lucky's boy. Then they go home happy because tomorrow is another day of school.

Sometimes as a homeschool mom, I'm sad when books build up typical school. Of course, these books are written for the kids that are going to traditional school rather than homeschooled kids. I think it can make my children feel like they're missing out. But that's life. Someone is always missing out on an experience. Traditionally schooled kids are missing out on the homeschool experience. It's opportunity costs. But I've dived off into the weeds on this one.

My son read this book just fine. I don't think there were any words he struggled with. He didn't dread reading it, but he wasn't excited about it either. There wasn't a specific moral for him to take away, either. Lucky Goes to School! gets 3 Stars. Have you or your child read Lucky Goes to School? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for No Match Found

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.

No Match Found

By: Martha Keyes

Expected Publication: June 3, 2026

? pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--She built the perfect algorithm for love, but it didn’t predict him.

Vivian Hale has spent her adult life proving that love isn’t luck—it’s data. As the CEO of Matchify, the world’s most advanced matchmaking app, she’s built an empire on the science of compatibility. Love isn’t about fate; it’s about probability.

Grant Wilder doesn’t believe in perfect matches. The investigative journalist has spent his career exposing scams, and Matchify is next on his list. People want to believe love can be calculated, but he knows better. His instincts have never failed him—except, maybe, when it comes to Vivian.

She trusts the numbers. He trusts his gut. And the more they clash, the more undeniable their chemistry becomes. But according to Matchify’s algorithm, they’re completely incompatible. And numbers don’t lie… right?

No Match Found is a closed-door romantic comedy full of wit, office antics, and toe-curling romance.

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

Top Ten Spring 2026 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 Spring 2026 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. Her Hidden Fire (Her Hidden Fire, # 1) by Cliodhna O'Sullivan
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. First and Forever by Lynn Painter

This is getting embarrassing! Eight out of these ten books were on my Fall 2025 & Winter 2025 TBR list. Which books are you hoping to read this spring? 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!