Can't Wait for Marrying the Matchmaker

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.

Marrying the Matchmaker (A Shanahan Match, # 4)

By: Jody Hedlund

Expected Publication: February 3, 2026 by Bethany House Publishers

336 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--As the middle child of the Shanahan family, Zaira does her best to keep the peace. She doesn't share her dream of becoming a published author with her family to spare herself their disapproval. When she's caught in a scandal involving the local matchmaker, Bellamy McKenna, she must put her storytelling ability to good use and feign a match with him to avoid wagging tongues and her parents' anger.

Feeling the growing pressure to marry as a well-known, yet single matchmaker to St. Louis's Irish community, Bellamy reluctantly agrees to a temporary match with Zaira. But even though the matchmakers in his family might be able to find love for others, they have a history of disastrous relationships for themselves. When secrets and danger force Zaira and Bellamy to work together, is it finally the matchmaker's turn to be lucky in love?

Hedlund delivers another captivating romance with sizzling chemistry in this romantic conclusion to her beloved matchmaking series.

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

Top Ten Longest Books I've Read

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 Books with a High Page Count.

1. The Holy Bible - Of course the page count is going to depend on which translation you use and the size font etc. But I've read the Bible yearly for the last 14ish years. I have kind of lost count at this point.
2. A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, # 3) by George RR Martin - 1177 pages
3. A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire, # 5) by George RR Martin - 1125 pages
4. A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire, # 4) by George RR Martin - 1060 pages
5. Heat of the Everflame (Kindred's Curse, # 3) by Penn Cole - 1026 pages (review coming soon)
6. A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire, # 2) by George RR Martin - 1009 pages
7. Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass, # 7) by Sarah J Maas - 989 pages
8. Iron Flame (The Empyrean, # 2) by Rebecca Yarros - 886 pages
9. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, # 5) by JK Rowling - 870 pages
10. A Wild Hope (Wild Swan Trilogy, # 1) by Celeste De Blasis - 843 pages

What are the longest books you've read? Let me know!

PS I did this same post back in 2018. It's interesting to go back and see which books are the same and which ones have been knocked off that list in favor of some of the longer ones on this list.

On Wings of Blood - Review

On Wings of Blood (Bloodwing Academy, # 1)

By: Briar Boleyn

Publication: October 25, 2024 by Starwater Press (Indie)

523 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Dragons, Vampires

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--I didn't sign up for this.

A half-fae in a school of highblood vampires? That's a recipe for torment.

I'm Medra Pendragon—last of the dragon riders, or so they tell me. Funny thing is, there are no dragons left. Not a single one. But somehow, that hasn't stopped the vampires from deciding I'm worth capturing. Now I'm stuck at Bloodwing Academy, where the highbloods run everything and blightborn like me? We're just blood in their veins, pawns in their games.

But that's not even the worst part. Enter Blake Drakharrow. Cold, arrogant, and way too gorgeous for his own good. He's been tormenting me since the moment we met, and now, thanks to some ancient ritual, we're betrothed. He acts like he owns me, but I'm not going down without a fight.

Bloodwing isn't just a school—it's a battlefield. Highbloods fight for power, and if you're weak? You're dead.

Between deadly competitions, lies that could get me executed, and a dragon-shaped secret looming over my head, all I have to do is survive. Easy, right? Except I'm starting to think the real danger isn't the academy—it's what I'm becoming in this twisted game of power.

And Blake? He might just be the one who pushes me over the edge.

They think they can control me. They think they can use me.

But they have no idea what they've awakened.

After feeling let down by the ending of Briar Boleyn's previous series, Blood of a Fae—especially the final book—I planned to skip her new series. But when On Wings of Blood kept appearing everywhere, my curiosity got the better of me. ***Spoilers for the Blood of a Fae series follow, as they are necessary to understand where Bloodwing Academy begins.***

That being said, Medra was a side character included in the last book in that series. She was born a half-fae, half-human. But she grew exponentially quickly, meaning years in the matter of months. She also grew up with all of the major people who loved her most being gone. Her father was dead. Her mother died giving birth to her. Her aunt and uncle were off fighting a war. She couldn't connect with the guardian left in charge of her. She did finally connect with Odessa, who also died before the end of that book. Then Medra sacrifices herself to the point of death to take out her grandfather, who needed to die. All of that is her backstory before she wakes up on a pile of corpses in On Wings of Blood. Yet, I felt like nearly none of this history was brought with her into On Wings of Blood. Some of it is mentioned, but I didn't see clues of these experiences in Medra's character. I didn't see her fear of losing people. I didn't see her fear of being alone. I didn't see her struggle to connect like she did in the previous series. I didn't see her inexperience and immaturity, which surely were present in the previous series but not in this one. I didn't see her trauma. In all honesty, she felt like an entirely different character.

But let's assume most people haven't read the previous series and just pick up with what we experience in On Wings of Blood. Medra is captured by a man who immediately takes her before the rulers of Sangratha. Even though this land has no king, there's obviously one man who holds the most power, and he chooses to bind Medra to his nephew, Blake. Blake isn't happy about this. Not to mention that he's already betrothed to another woman from his youth, whom he grew up with. Viktor Drakharrow believes that Medra might be a long-lost dragon rider. Her fae features (that he doesn't know are fae) mark her as such. The only issue is that dragons have long since died out. Medra uses this to her advantage. She is just trying to survive. She is told that she will attend Bloodwing Academy, where she might end up dead after all.

Some pieces of On Wings of Blood didn't make a lot of sense. Why couldn't Blake feed off Medra because their bond wasn't strong enough? How were they supposed to strengthen their bond? Did Blake want to strengthen their bond to make things work between them? Or was he determined to just let her die at some point in the school? We know that isn't entirely the case, because he stopped it from happening during sparring on their first day. His feelings weren't always clear, even though he narrates. Why did Medra think going to Theo's party was a good idea? She randomly gets bored and then goes off to a party where she knows no one who likes her will be there. And doesn't expect anything to go wrong? This felt like bad writing, honestly. It didn't feel authentic to anything Medra had thought or experienced up until that point. It felt like the author needed some conflict to happen, and so she needed Medra to go rather than Medra really wanting to go. Much less Florence. Having her go made even less sense than Medra going alone. There are a few other things, but I don't want to discuss them because I might spoil too much.

Favorite quotes:

-"Let it be known that this bond is unbreakable, as enduring as the strength of our realm. By my will and the power of our ancient rites, Blake Drakharrow and Medra Pendragon are now bound together in fate and duty, forever unyielding, irrevoably united. As the dragon flies and the blood endures, so shall your destinies be intertwined. Your bond is forged. Through fire and shadows, you shall be one. What is spoken in unbroken. What is bound cannot be unbound."

-"Blood is the beginning just as blood is the end. Blood will have blood. Your essence has not been shared completely. The mark is the first stage."

-"If there was a way, it would have involved blood magic. Blood magic is powerful because it can break bonds that other magic cannot."

-By blood and breath, by night and sky, The binding of souls I sever, Let what was trapped be freed to fly, No longer bound forever. From heart to soul, from blood to bone, Let life return where stone has grown. What's chained away shall now take flight, Awakened be the soul tonight.

I was worried about spice. There was one scene. It's easily skipped without missing too much. Language is high. The f-word abounds.

The relationship with Blake was both the driving force for me and one of the most confusing. Of course, I'm dying to know what's going to happen next, considering the cliffhanger ending. I also worry that as the series continues, I’ll find more and more things that don't make sense or writing that I find to be weak. That was what I struggled with in the previous series.

All things considered, I still give On Wings of Blood 4 Stars. Despite some issues that left me questioning as I read, and noticing some writing shortcuts, I found the book engaging enough to continue the series. While the push on diversity sometimes felt forced to me, the unanswered questions and the cliffhanger ending keep me invested. If you enjoy character-driven fantasy with plenty of twists, On Wings of Blood might be worth picking up. I’m curious to see how the story develops. Have you read On Wings of Blood? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 08/17/25

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

I'm recapping two weeks since I forgot to post my Sunday Post last week. Monday the 4th, I took the kids to get new tennis shoes for back to school. Tuesday the 5th, my mom and I took the kids to Gulf Shores to visit my sister and niece. We met up with them at Chickfila for lunch. Then we went back to their apartment. We let the kids swim in the pool at their apartment complex. Then they had a little time to play at the apartment before we had to leave to come home. Wednesady the 6th we had a normal day at home. Thursday the 7th, the boys had haircuts that morning. I don't really remember Friday or Saturday that much. I've been fighting sinus gunk since Tuesday the 5th. Monday the 11th was our first day back to school. Big Girl had pitching practice that afternoon. She did really well. Tuesday the 12th, we did some school in the morning and then spent the rest of the day with my parents. It was a rocky morning, but then we had a good period. It ended a bit rocky again. The big kids went to martial arts. Wednesday, was also a challenge. Getting back into the routine of school is expected to have some bumps in the road. Big Boy had batting practice. Our co-op is paused for fall because the church that hosts us is having some rennovations. I plan to do some field trips and park dates on Thursdays in the fall. We didn't go anywhere this time because it was supposed to rain. The big kids had martial arts again. Friday we finished our first week of school. Man this felt like a long week. But we ended the school week on a good note. Saturday was a chill day. I always need some time to recover from the weekend. That's the weekends for me. I have been blowing through some books. I'm reading and listening to one at the same time and so I'm knocking out two at a time.

Side note: My husband has been creating some music. His newest album released on Friday. Check it out on YouTube Music. It streams on all streaming services and can be purchased on Amazon Music too.

THE PAST TWO WEEKS

Monday 8/4: Review of A Wild Hope by Celeste De Blasis (3 Stars)
Friday 8/8: Homeschool Friday - Have Courage by Cheri J Meiners (4.5 Stars)
Monday 8/11: Review of Powerless (The Powerless Trilogy, # 1) by Lauren Roberts (3.5 Stars)
Wednesday 8/13: Can't Wait for A Carol for Mrs. Dickens by Rebecca Connolly
Friday 8/15: Homeschool Friday - Noses Are Not for Picking by Elizabeth Verdick (3.5 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of On Wings of Blood (Bloodwing Academy, # 1) by Briar Boleyn
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait Wednesday?
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Voices Are Not for Yelling

NEW BOOKS:

A Christmas for Mrs. Dickens

By: Rebecca Connolly

Expected Publication: September 23, 2025 by Shadow Mountain Publishing

176 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christmas

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--Catherine Dickens, wife of Charles Dickens, experiences her own Christmas Eve transformation as she magically travels through her cherished memories to rediscover her lost love of Christmas.

By 1851, all of London has fallen in love with A Christmas Carol, heralding Charles Dickens as “the man who invented Christmas.” But for his wife, Catherine, Christmas is less of a reason for celebration and more of a burden. Between hosting lavish parties, decorating her home, and caring for her eight children—with one more on the way—she feels more like Scrooge than herself this year.

But everything changes after a chance encounter with a kitchen cook, who reminds her that Christmas can be a time of miracles and magic, if she is willing to open her heart.

Armed with a magical sprig of holly, Kate embarks on three transformative journeys into her past, hoping to reconnect with the love she once felt for the holiday—and with herself. But can these memories be enough to reignite her Christmas spirit? Or are such miraculous transformations only meant for the characters in her husband’s beloved tales?

Inspired by real individuals, A Carol for Mrs. Dickens reminds us that the true spirit of the holiday lies in love, faith, and the joy of giving.

Against a Crescent Storm (The Balkan Legends, # 3)

By: AL Sowards

Expected Publication: November 4, 2025 by Shadow Mountain Publishing

368 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian 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--The Serbs defied the world’s most powerful ruler, and now Danilo and Maja must fight to save their people and their newly forged love before the sultan exacts his revenge.

The Balkans, 1389

Three years ago, Danilo’s people won their freedom from the hated Ottoman Empire, but with enemies on every side, the Serbs’ hard-earned peace remains fragile. Knowing the sultan will soon come for revenge, Danilo sets out to gain key allies for the coming war—and to escape the haunting grief of personal loss.

War has orphaned Maja and her brother, but they’ve moved forward from the turbulent aftermath of battle by crafting religious mosaics. Yet after being cheated and robbed, they are desperate for help. Rescue comes from Danilo, the man who once saved them from slavery to the Turks. What begins as an offer for safe escort is soon complicated by threats from a Hungarian noble who suspects them of conspiracy and from Iskandar, an Ottoman spy consumed by a vendetta against Danilo and a dangerous obsession with Maja.

As their journey grows more perilous, Danilo and Maja are drawn together by shared grief and affection. Yet upon returning home, Danilo finds that his župan, unaware of Danilo’s growing emotional entanglement with Maja, plans to use Danilo’s hand in marriage as a tool to forge a crucial alliance. Danilo is soon torn between love for Maja and loyalty to his family and people.

As tensions escalate, sabotage and vicious rumors weaken Christian unity, and hope of victory in the Balkans grows dim. Allies and enemies converge on the fields of Kosovo, where an epic battle will shape the destiny of nations for centuries to come.

Winterset

By: Tiffany Odekirk

Expected Publication: October 7, 2025 by Shadow Mountain

272 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Regency

( 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 hidden past. A house with secrets. And one chance for two wounded hearts to find love together.

Northern England, Late Fall, 1820

Katherine Lockwood is hiding for her life in the most unlikely of places: the forgotten priest holes in the abandoned Winterset Grange manor house. When Kate learns that Winterset’s long-absent owner, Mr. Oliver Jennings, is about to return, she is desperate to find a way to make him leave, even if it means “haunting” him from behind her protective walls.

After a grand tour of the Continent, Oliver returns home to England determined to make the most of his inheritance. But from the moment he arrives, nothing is as he expected. His manor is in disrepair, the steward hired to care for his estate is a thief, and to top it all off, Winterset is haunted. Undeterred, Oliver resolves to reclaim his life, piece by piece.

When Oliver discovers the hidden rooms, he’s shocked and pleased that his “ghost” is actually a beautiful young woman. Captivated by Kate and her story, he invites her to stay at Winterset under his protection.

Yet, danger persists as the man who threatens Kate’s safety learns of her ruse and attempts to exact his revenge. Kate and Oliver find themselves ensnared in a perilous game of cat and mouse against a powerful opponent while also trying to untangle their blossoming feelings in this enthralling gothic Regency romance.

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 - Noses Are Not for Picking

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review/review for each.

Noses Are Not for Picking

By: Elizabeth Verdick

Illustrated By: Marieka Heinlen

Publication: September 12, 2014 by Free Spirit Publishing

24 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Manners, Parenting

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.

Description--We’ve all seen it—the nose-picking habit starts as early as the toddler years, and no child is the exception. Young children pick their noses for a variety of reasons, from colds to allergies to curiosity or boredom. This board book for toddlers and preschoolers is the answer to the age-old question “How can I get my child not to pick, especially not in public?”

With gentle humor and kid-friendly support, this board book for toddlers and preschoolers helps guide little ones away from nose picking toward healthier habits, like using a tissue and washing their hands. Catchy words help children remember what to do; vibrant full-color illustrations bring the words to life. Throughout, the positive message shines through: noses are for breathing, sniffing, smelling . . . but not for picking!

Noses Are Not for Picking does have a rhyming scheme. The book starts with asking the question what are noses for. And a few options are given--breathing and smelling. Then instruction was given that noses are not for picking and fingers are not for licking. It goes on to give instructions for getting a tissue just in case the child did pick their noses because germs can make you sick. That's smart since kids will go ahead and pick their noses even if instructed not to. The phrase "wipe, toss, wash, dry" is repeated. Repetition helps solidify concepts for the child's brain. 

This is a quick and simple book. It spends more time talking about using a tissue for different tissue needs than focusing on simply not picking. The content is for younger children--probably under the age of four. 

Noses Are Not for Picking gets 3.5 Stars. Have you or your child read Noses Are Not for Picking? What did you think? Let me know!