Of Blades and Wings - Review

Of Blades and Wings (Flame Cursed Fae, # 1)

By: Eliza Raine

Publication: March 14, 2024 by Logic in Creativity Ltd

298 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, 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--Fae fantasy meets Vikings in this enemies-to-lovers romance about a broken ice-fae princess who must earn her Valkyrie wings, a villainous fire-fae who will stop at nothing to get his revenge, and an ancient war that could see their whole world burn.Princess Madivia is broken. Her fae magic doesn’t work, her illness will kill her, and nobody knows she exists.So when the gods select her to leave her tower in the Ice Court and train to be a Valkyrie at Featherblade, she is sure they’ve made a terrible mistake.So is every other fae at Featherblade. All except the disgraced fire-fae Valkyrie, Kain. His burning gaze never leaves her. Nobody knows what he did to have his wings taken away, but he is as dangerous as the deadly world Maddy has been drawn into.And she has the key to his revenge.If he discovers her secret, it won’t just be Maddy’s life that is in danger. She knows she should avoid him.But, the only thing harder than becoming a Valkyrie? Conquering her searing fascination with the unhinged fire-fae.If she is to survive Featherblade, she must earn her wings. If she is to survive Kain, she must make a choice that could burn their world to ash.This is the first book in the Flame Cursed Fae romantasy series, and is inspired by Norse mythology and sexy fae Vikings. It has villain gets the girl and obsessive burn-the-world-down-for-her (literally) hero vibes. The romance is slow burn and builds in steam and delicious tension.

I hate when a book description tells the truth but twists things in a way that makes the book feel like it's going to be something different than it is. Maddy is hidden by her family. Sure, they might realize that she possesses a magic that can be used to benefit them and harm their enemies. But at this point, they aren't hiding her because they value her. They hide her because they seem to be ashamed of her. She can't do much ice magic. Her family has basically claimed that she is her sister's handmaiden. Her sister has been preparing for the Valkyrie training, but when the Valkyries show up, they take Maddy instead.

Maddy arrives as Featherblade and all the other rooks (Valkyrie candidates) seem to immediately hate her. Valkyries train and fight together, and the weakest link will get them all killed. Maddy doesn't have any visible magic, and she's physically weak. She has a condition that causes her to pass out randomly. And she's afraid of passing out in the middle of a fight, while swimming, or flying, or any other manner of activities that could result in her immediate death. I felt for Maddy. She has the odds stacked against her. And her mental magic that she has to hide almost seems to give her ADHD like symtpoms of inattention and focus as well as maybe some other things. But I liked that Maddy was determined to make this work for her. She never gave up. I particularly liked her motto: Do what you can. Ignore what you can't.

Kain is a mysterious character. We don't know why he's lost his wings or why he is viewed as untrustworthy, yet he remains a teacher. He follows Maddy, but he isn't around all the time. He makes it clear that he views his punishment as unjust, and if possible, he will bring retribution upon those responsible for it. Yet, we don't know who those are. We don't really know why he's keeping tabs on Maddy. We are given a reason eventually, but it is flimsy at best.

I only highlighted a handful of times. One time it was because the sentence was followed by an immediate contradiction.

-It is an excellent defense mechanism, as enemy raiders not only don't know where they are going--they also don't know how to escape when they are caught. And we are raided often, usually by the gold fae.

So...not an excellent defense mechanism after all if you're raided often?

The other quotes were either things that I could see being brought back around in the future, but as of completing the second book in the series, they have not come into play.

I also felt like in a sea of fantasy books that are 600-1000 pages long, it was both annoying and nice to have such a short book. It was nice to be able to finish a book quickly. It was odd and annoying because the story didn't feel like it should have been one book. As a matter of fact, I've already finished book 2, Of Frost and Feather, and those two definitely felt like they could have been smooshed together. The pacing just didn't feel like what I've come to expect from the genre.

I won't say that this book was particularly well written. But I did want to continue reading as soon as I was done with Of Blades & Wings. Given I already had book 2 on hand, I did just that. I will also note that language was excessive. Yet there was only one scene that I remember being spicy in nature. Just putting it out there for those who care. Of Blades and Wings gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Of Blades and Wings? What did you think? Let me know!

All Things Halloween Review - Silver Elite

Silver Elite (Silver Elite, #1)

By: Dani Francis

Publication: May 6, 2025 by Del Rey

512 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Psychic gifts are a death sentence and there are rules to survival: Trust no one. Lie to everyone. And whatever you do, don’t fall for your greatest enemy.

TRUST NO ONE.

Wren Darlington has spent her whole life in hiding, honing her psychic abilities and aiding the rebel Uprising in small ways. On the Continent, being Modified means certain death—and Wren is one of the most powerful Mods in existence. When one careless mistake places her in the hands of the enemy and she’s forced to join Silver Block, their most elite training program, she’s finally handed the perfect opportunity to strike a devastating blow from inside their ranks.

LIE TO EVERYONE.

But training for Silver Block can be deadly, especially when you’re harboring dangerous secrets and living in close quarters with everyone who wants you dead.

AND WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T FALL FOR YOUR GREATEST ENEMY.

As the stakes grow ever higher, Wren must prove herself. But that’s easier said than done when your commanding officer is the ruthless and infuriatingly irresistible Cross Redden, who doesn’t miss anything when it comes to her. And as war rages between Mods like her and those who aim to destroy them, Wren must decide just how far she’s willing to go to protect herself . . . and how much of the Continent is worth saving.

The world of Silver Elite has been killing off anyone with psychic abilities, called Modified or silverbloods. Their veins glow when they're using their powers, so it's not something that is easily hidden. However, Wren is unique. Her veins don't glow. Wren's parents were killed, and her mother entrusted her to a man she called her uncle, but they didn't share any blood. Jim took her into an area covered in darkness at all hours of the day. They lived there for years. Wren learned how to navigate it, and Jim taught her how to use her abilities.

But Uncle Jim gets captured as a suspected rebel participating in the Uprising. And he gets condemned to execution. In an attempt to save him. Wren gets captured as well. And her "sentence" is to go through the training program which ultimately leads to the Silver Elite. She is up against many other cadets who are trying for the program too. And there are challenges, but only in the way of training. Wren is now in the most dangerous place possible. She is surrounded by people who would kill her on the spot if she displayed any psychic abilities. Cross in particular is nearly convinced that she's a Mod, but he isn't certain yet. And keeping his eye on her in the only way to be sure one way or the other.

Some annoyances for me involved Wren's expectations of a relationship/marriage. She claims that she's seen many women bend to the will of men. Yet diversity for diversity's sake is present within the story. So how does that qualify? I also don't like the flippant use of the b-word. There are spicy scenes that I could definitely do without. And language abounds, which I also find unnecessary for a good story.

-..."reckless is not the same as brave."

-"Rushing headfirst into danger is not an act of courage..."

Nearly all of my highlights had to do with things that annoyed me or things I thought would come back around. So there's not much in the way of poetic or memorable quotes.

The best part of this book is the suspense of will she or won't she get caught. And that was on-point. There's one more book in this series, I believe, and I want to read it, but I'm not dying for it immediately. Silver Elite gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Silver Elite? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

All Things Halloween Review - Dire Bound

Dire Bound (The Wolves Ruin, # 1)

By: Sable Sorensen

Publication: May 21, 2025 by Requited

605 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, 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--Only the worthy survive the Bonding Trials. She’ll risk her life—and her heart—to be one of them.

Meryn Cooper has always hated the Bonded, elite warriors who form mental links with the massive, vicious direwolves they ride. While they live in luxury, Meryn struggles to keep her family out of poverty. When her little sister, Saela, is kidnapped—stolen across the border by the immortal monsters her country has spent centuries fighting—Meryn’s world falls apart.

Desperate to cross the front and save her sister, Meryn enlists in the army and is thrown into the deadly Bonding Trials, where any mistake will cost her life.

Now Meryn must survive four months of training at the castle. She is bound to a feral direwolf who refuses to communicate. The other trainees would love to spill her common blood. And her cold and beautiful instructor, Stark Therion, is eager to punish any weakness.

Everything is a competition, and everyone is out to get her—everyone except the dangerously handsome crown prince, whose attention adds another target to her back. In the castle, every smile hides a knife…and the halls hide dark secrets.

It’s bond or bleed. Duel or die. Failure is ruin.

Dire Bound contains mature content including depictions of graphic violence, and is therefore recommended for readers 17+. For a full list of tropes and TWs, please visit the author's website.

If you liked Fourth Wing, then chances are good that you will enjoy Dire Bound.

Meryn's father died serving in the military, and her mother has slowly been losing her mind to visions and hallucinations. Meryn has taken the responsibility of taking care of herself and her younger sister, Saela. Meryn earns extra money by fighting in the fighting pits. She's also in a loose relationship with Lee, who works in the palace. When Saela is kidnapped by the immortal monsters (siphons) of the neighboring nation, Astreona, which has been at war with theirs for 500 years, Meryn knows she has to do whatever she can to be sent to the front so she can find Saela. It just so happens the Bonding Trials are starting, and Meryn needs to enter--not because she wants to bond with a direwolf, but because the trials are her best bet to making her way to the front as soon as possible.

Against her wishes, a direwolf does choose her, but bonding is anything but easy or natural for Meryn. Most of the other trainees are descendants of previous bonded. And they are all about culling the weakest links to make the pack as strong as possible. There are four packs that each channel a specific type of magic from wolf to rider.

Stark is one of the strongest bonded riders, both in magic and in physical ability to fight. And he's in charge of the bonded trials. Meryn can't figure out if he has a personal vendetta against her or if he's actually trying to help her survive. At the same time, things with Lee are progressing. Just because Meryn is in the bonded trials doesn't mean the two of them are over.

Meryn isn't a perfect character. One of her flaws is how quick to pass judgement she is. She judges the Bonded before knowing them. She assumes they walk around flaunting themselves and judging others. She assumes they are evil and don't hesitate to kill or execute others--even when those people are deserters. She resents those who have more than she grew up with. It's understandable in most cases, but that doesn't mean it's right. And she judges things she knows nothing about. She occasionally blurts out her opinion with little thought or consideration for the opinions of those nearby.

Twists were somewhat predictable to me. Although I was surprised a time or two. I found it surprising that Meryn's internal dialogue had moments like, "Please, let some of these people survive tomorrow's test." Um, ma'am, who exactly are you sending that thought out to? Are you, perhaps, praying? Yes, there are "gods/goddesses" in this series, but I felt like this was actually a bloop on the author's part. I don't mind it, but I found it an inconsistency with the character/world.

Another question/inconsistency I saw was that Meryn notes how attractive all of the bonded are. Does that mean the wolves only bond with people who are attractive? Or does the bond itself change people's appearances to make them more attractive than they were before bonding?

Favorite quotes:

-Confidence makes men sloppy. And sloppy men are easy targets.

-"Someday, Meryn...someday, you might come up against someone who has outmaneuvered you. You might not even see it coming."

-"Careful with that smart mouth once you're in the army," Igor warns. "Commanders don't love it when their soldiers talk back."

-I try to separate myself from his glare, but it's like trying to read a book while sitting under a guillotine.

Unlike Fourth Wing, a direwolf does die if their human bonded dies. I felt like this was understood by the authors, but it wasn't talked about enough for me. The choices that people make, the choices the direwolves make, seemed to make little sense when given this knowledge. Choices felt like they should be different at times.

Why did Meryn get to negotiate about being the one who interrogated the siphon caught that one time? She doesn't have bargaining power. She has no power at all. Yet Stark gives in to her in a way that makes zero sense at all. Interrogation is a skill. One Meryn has no experience in.

Dire Bound was a book that was easy to get hooked on the storyline and the plot. But I found myself questioning things so often. Most of my highlights also have notes attached to them--which is actually rare for me. I found so many inconsistencies in character, thought, world-building, or at the very least, things that just didn't make sense to me. This isn't a book that stands up to scrutiny very well. Dire Bound gets 3.5 Stars. I originally rated it 4 Stars in my mind, but upon writing my review and reliving it a little, I decided to bump that rating down. Have you read Dire Bound? What did you think? Let me know!

*Note: Dire Bound does include language and open door bedroom scenes. I prefer to skip over those while reading. But I like to note them in my reviews for other readers who might want to avoid them altogether.

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

All Things Halloween Review - Thorns and Fire

Thorns & Fire (The Ashes of Thezmarr, # 2)

By: Helen Scheuerer

Publication: July 31, 2025 by Alchemy

448 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Magic, Fae

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--Perfect for romantasy fans, Helen Scheuerer’s spellbinding sequel to Iron & Embers, Thorns & Fire, delivers heart-wrenching choices, a found family to root for and a love that defies the odds.

A golden thread joined them, a bond that went deeper than love – and it had nearly destroyed them.

Wren Embervale and Torj Elderbrock share a dark and bloody history. With Thezmarr on the brink of another war, and overwhelmed by the force of their feelings for one another, Torj discovers there is far more to their bond than mere passion. The legendary Warsword is determined to protect Wren at all costs, even if it means lying to her . . . Even if it means losing her forever.

Meanwhile, Wren is struggling to find her place in the world – both as an advanced student of alchemy at the ancient academy of Drevenor, and as one of the heirs to a lost kingdom. With the midrealms once again facing destruction, Wren must decide: loyalty or liberation? Legacy or love?

As new political players emerge, Wren discovers that her gift for alchemy is more powerful than she ever imagined – and that it could tear the kingdoms apart.

Will she and Torj find their way back to each other, or will the ancient magic that binds them become their undoing?

From the author of the bestselling The Legends of Thezmarr series, Thorns & Fire by Helen Scheuerer is the second book in The Ashes of Thezmarr trilogy.

Iron and Embers was one of my most anticipated books from 2025. Yet, I ended up disappointed with the ending, mostly. That being said, I knew I wanted to continue the series, but I also knew I wasn't thrilled about starting Thorns and Fire because of where the characters left off in the previous book. So I didn't run out to pick this one up. I guess this is probably one of those series that it might be better to wait until all of the books are published and then binge-read them one after the other.

Thorns and Fire starts immediately where Iron and Embers left off. Wren has to replicate the solution she made that nullified the alchemy that takes away royal and warsword power. She's under a time crunch as the people's vanguard is gaining traction and followers.

Wren and Torj are broken up. Wren doesn't accept Torj's answers or non-answers, more like. She is determined to get to the bottom of why he broke things off with her. I don't want to spoil anything, but when she does get to the bottom of the answers, I really wasn't happy with her reaction. I'm not saying it wasn't justified or that I would have had a different reaction. But the nature of her search indicated that she knew Torj wasn't being entirely honest with her. So for her to feel betrayed by what she found, I just found that to be too convenient for conflict to drive the plot forward and didn't feel entirely authentic.

Overall, I will say that Thorns and Fire was better than Iron and Embers for me, Language is still a lot. And spice is on page. You can skim that as I do. I do plan to finish this series as I already have book 3, Silver and Smoke in my possession, but so far I've been less impressed compared to The Legends of Thezmarr series which The Ashes of Thezmarr is a spinoff of. Thorns and Fire gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Thorns and Fire? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

All Things Halloween Review - Web of Vows and Vengeance

Web of Vows and Vengeance (The Hirathean Path, # 1)

By: Aria Ashbrook

Publication: February 27, 2026 by Hellhound Press Limited

542 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, 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--Stripped of power. Fuelled by vengeance.

She lost everything because of his lie. Now the only way to save her sister is to win a deadly competition that could cost her the only thing she has left: her life.

When Prince Kyor twisted the truth about his mother’s death, Rose paid the price. Her family was stripped of their magic, cast into the slums, and abandoned by the kingdom they once served. Now her parents are gone, and her younger sister’s future hangs in the balance.

Rose’s only hope is the Tournament of the Gifting, a brutal competition held once a century, where the victor earns a blessing from the Goddess of Life. The catch? Every other contender wields the very power she was robbed of.

And Prince Kyor is among them. Commander of the armies. Rider of a bonded dire wolf. Wielder of lightning. He doesn’t just want to win for vanity – he wants the gift for himself. But what could a man who has it all possibly want?

Thrown into a world of magic, monsters, and merciless trials, Rose must fight not only for survival but for the chance to reclaim her future. Along the way, she’ll find unlikely allies, ruthless rivals, and a dangerous connection with her greatest enemy – one that could ruin or remake her.

Web of Vows and Vengeance is a dark, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romantasy, set in a Nordic-inspired world, featuring deadly trials, found family, gods and goddesses, political intrigue, and an underdog heroine who refuses to stay broken.

This is a story of heartbreak, vengeance, and the kind of power that can never be taken.

I kept seeing Web of Vows and Vengeance praised on Instagram. And then I believe I got it on sale.

I will say that Web of Vows and Vengeance has several tropes that romantasy readers will be familiar with. Enemies to lovers. Deadly trials. Betrayal. But the magical world was unique enough for me that I wasn't bothered by similarities most of the time.

Rose's mother was a healer/midwife. I can't remember if her magic was of a healing kind or if she was just familiar with herbs and tonics in a more non-magical way. But she was called to deliver the queen's baby. Yet complications arose, and the queen begged for Rose's mother to save the baby and not herself. Rose's mother complied, but in the end both baby and mother died in childbirth. Rose was present, if I remember correctly. And for some reason, so was Prince Kyor--though only a child at the time. Prince Kyor was so grieved that he lied to the king and told his father that the queen begged for her life to be saved. As punishment, the king stripped Rose's entire family of their magic as payment for not saving the queen and ordered Rose's newborn brother to be killed as payment for the son's life that he lost. Rose's mother and father both died shortly after. I can't remember exactly what the cause of death for the mother was said to be, but the father fell into drunkenness, which ultimately led to his death. Rose was left to take care of herself and her younger sister Kay while banished to the slums.

Every hundredish years, the Retterheld is a tournament offering a chance to win a gift from the Goddess of Life in this magical world. The would-be participants have to sneak into a guarded temple and offer a sacrifice of tears to enter their name in the tournament. And then the goddess tells her priestesses the names of those whose offering she accepts. Of course, Rose's offering is accepted. And Prince Kyor's offering as well. It isn't hard to understand what Rose hopes to be gifted. She wants a better life for herself and Kay, what was stripped from them. But not many (or any) of the other contestants are willing to share what it is they are hoping to be gifted should they win. And so we are left wondering about that.

The contestants are to be kept separate from their families throughout the contest, yet they aren't without interaction with some outsiders, like staff or training commanders. The contestants need allies to complete several of the challenges. Rose, thankfully, allies herself with the contestants from the Eastern Isles. And over time, Prince Kyor comes to realize he needs to atone for his lies, and he tries to do so by training Rose and helping her in whatever ways he can.

I was annoyed with a few things. All of the side characters that we know anything about their romance situations fit into diversity categories. Also, why does every book that includes deadly trials also have various balls thrown in? Jonas was basically Dain from Fourth Wing. And then that ending frustrated me so much. It ends in what I call a "negative cliffhanger." Those things serve a purpose, but they actually have me dreading the next book in the series rather than dying to know what's going to happen next.

Also, there were several things introduced into this book/world that never got addressed again. One would assume they will come back around as important in other books in the series, yet, I'm having a hard time wondering why Dinah gave Rose the specific dagger that she did yet the only purpose it had in this book was to drive her to the library, where she never did find any information about the blade, or if she did besides a name, it never came into play during her trials at all. She never even used it. Ruben never came back around. How or why one bonds a dire wolf, and what the connection actually means, is never addressed. What's the deal with the ravens? What about this tonic that her mother used to make that she should be taking but isn't? It doesn't seem to be the preventative type of tonic. It's more of a health tonic that she disregards now that she's being fed properly, but why mention it at all if it isn't going to come back around? Why even introduce William? He is a superfluous character if I ever saw one.

Favorite quotes:

-Starvation encourages many nefarious skills. I regret none of my lessons though, only the circumstances that led me to them.

-...no matter how deadly a monster is, you need only fear it when it draws close enough to bite. Which is why I intend to show them all how well the past years have sharpened my teeth.

-‘From my experience,’ he says, ‘one who cannot find happiness within the gifts they have already been given will struggle to be satisfied by more.'

-‘The best thing you can do is know yourself. Know your weaknesses. Know your fears. Know your strengths. Know when you can push yourself, and when you need to slow down. Knowing yourself inside and out, that’s the best preparation you can get.’

-'...a life lived in hate is no life at all.’

Web of Vows and Vengeance wasn't a perfect read for me. It had a slow start, and I kept falling asleep. But once I got invested, I wanted to keep reading. I found a lot of things mentioned once and never addressed again. At this point, I'm giving the authors the benefit of the doubt that all or most of them will come into play in future books, but if not, then that's frustrating. I don't love the forced diversity. You can tell because the ratio of characters is off. And I did get annoyed with the spicy scenes. Once the spice starts, it takes over the storyline a bit too much for my preferences. Also, the ending of the book was a bit stupid (aka, frustrating). In the end, Web of Vows and Vengeance gets 3.5 Stars. If the hanging pieces come into play in the other books, then I might be willing to change this rating. Have you read Web of Vows and Vengeance? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

Trust Fall - Review

Trust Fall

By: Lynn Painter

Publication: September 29, 2026 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

416 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 #1 New York Times bestselling author of Better Than the Movies, Lynn Painter, comes a rags-to-riches rom-com about a small-town girl whose family inherits a fortune and moves to New York City, where she meets a big-city boy hiding an explosive secret.

Julia is just a small-town girl from Nebraska who loves her peaceful life. But when her elderly next-door neighbor—who just happens to be a secret multi-millionaire—leaves everything to Julia and her family after his passing, Julia is swept away to live in a historic brownstone in New York City and attend an elite private school for the super-rich.

It should be a dream come true. Wrong. Julia doesn’t fit in at her new school; worse, she’s failing. Enter Damion, the mysterious and handsome tutor who will get Julia back on track. Except Damion has a secret. He is the great-nephew of the man who left everything to Julia’s family. Damion doesn’t buy for a second that the person who was like a father to him would leave his home to strangers. And he’s determined to prove it.

To uncover the truth, Damion schemes to earn Julia’s trust. Not an easy task with Julia unsure about this rich boy with a rebellious personality. But the more time Damion spends with Julia, the more his plan begins to backfire. Because he is falling for the enemy—and the enemy is falling for him.

As Damion and Julia figure out where they belong, can they see past their differences and act on their feelings, or will the trust Damion has worked so hard to gain fall apart?

I've had an up-and-down relationship with Lynn Painter's writing. I've really enjoyed some of her books, but the language seems to get worse and worse with each one. This book has the f-word 137 times. I just find that super discouraging. I can skim over language, but when it is this excessive, I feel like I need to comment on it. Trust Fall does contain innuendo even if no spicy scenes. Amazon has this listed for 14 years old and up, but I probably wouldn't feel great about my 14-year-old reading it.

The idea of a millionaire elderly man who moved to Nebraska, leaving his fortune to a family who has been nice to him when he has family, seems a little far-fetched. Yet I don't usually like to nitpick unless things are really out there. I can get on board with this given that Damion's parents really need no extra money, and they have terrible attitudes. 

I didn't love the stereotyping in this book. Rich people being mean, judgemental, too much cologne; the poorer people being farmers with mall haircuts. I didn't like the names of the cliques in the "Chilton-esque" school either. The Skins, the Toms. So weird. Maybe I'm getting too old for young adult fiction. 

Favorite quote:

-The brown-eyed recipient of my future.

Julia has social anxiety, and fitting into a new school in a new tax bracket is challenging to the extreme for her. But these days, I think almost everyone has social anxiety. Probably due to social media and parasocial relationships. I really got annoyed with the small-town anti-farm hate. Who do you think feeds the cities? Why does it matter? It was expected and cliche that the mean rich girls would make fun the poor, country girl. Yet Julia's twin brother doesn't have a hard time fitting in at all. Obviously, he wasn't written with social anxiety, but it frustrated me nonetheless.

Another pet peeve is in that a character is quoted "saying a prayer of thanks." To who? 

Trust Fall wasn't terrible, although I find that I have more negative to say than positive. I did like Damion. He wasn't a perfect character, but he was genuinely a good guy. I felt bad for Julia, but it felt expected at the same time. I did read this pretty quickly which always affects my enjoyment of a book positively. Trust Fall gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Trust Fall? What did you think? Let me know!

Without a Clue - Review

Without a Clue

By: Melissa Ferguson

Publication: February 17, 2026 by Thomas Nelson

336 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Romance

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 a mystery writer mysteriously dies on a cruise filled with rabid fans, his protégé (and personal assistant) teams up with a rugged cowboy and fellow writer to crack the case. One part Only Murders in the Building, one part Book Lovers, and a whole lot of laughs, Without a Clue will keep readers guessing and swooning until the very end.

If there's one thing Penelope Mae Dupont prizes most, it's her composure--her ability to stay calm in the face of stress. It's a vital trait in her job as a personal assistant to renowned mystery author Hugh Griffin. But when Pip organizes a book cruise featuring The Fabulous Seven--seven celebrated authors from different genres who have supported each other through thick and thin--her famed composure is in danger of sailing away. One boat, hundreds of devoted readers, and seven Big Personalities. What could possibly go wrong?

Disaster strikes when, on the second day of the cruise, Hugh is found murdered. And, in the face of gross incompetence by the on-board security force, Pip realizes she'll need to be the one to discover who did it. With the ship stranded in the middle of the Atlantic and no help on the horizon, it's up to her to unravel the mystery. Along with her friend Nash--a dreamy Western author who's just as rugged as the cowboys he writes about. As Pip's composure starts to sink faster than a leaky dinghy, Nash becomes her anchor in a storm of clues and red herrings.

With Nash at her side, Penelope dives into the murky depths of the mystery, navigating treacherous waters filled with unexpected twists and turns. No one, not even a desperately hopeful mystery sleuth named Pip, could anticipate the wild ride ahead. Whether she likes it or not, she is on the adventure of a lifetime . . . and maybe, just maybe, she'll find love along the way.

In this laugh-out-loud funny Clue-meets-Emily-Henry rom-com, Penelope Mae Dupont is about to find out that in the world of mystery and romance, you have to risk going overboard to find the truth.

I've had an up and down relationship with Melissa Ferguson's books. Yet I've found that the ones I've loved the most have been the books that she writes about books. Meet Me in the Margins and The Perfect Rom-Com were two that stood out to me in the past. But I'm not a big fan of mysteries, so I put off reading Without a Clue for longer than I intended, and I also started it and put it back down due to a slower beginning. But once I get into the heart of the book, I found it easy to keep going.

I really feel like Melissa Ferguson has written these books about books, about stories, as a way of venting her love for each of the genres. I could be reaching, but that's how it appears to me. As I already said, I'm not the biggest fan of mysteries, and I find that when they are mixed with romance, the plot can overtake the relationships. Or the mystery becomes the major conflict instead of relational conflict. One I appreciate, and the other I don't. Without a Clue was enough romance to suit my preferences there.

Penelope has been a writing assistant for an author for years. She also organizes and keeps things together for a group of seven famous authors. Hugh, the author she's an assistant for, keeps trying to get her to write her own book. She's also developed a crush on one of the other authors who she has a close working relationship with. Yet they never associate outside of work. When Penelope's long-term boyfriend breaks up with her in a public way, she's feeling herself on the verge of an emotional breakdown. This vacation (a celebrity cruise) is just what she thinks she needs. Only Hugh ends up murdered, and Penelope is the only one who can solve the murder.

I can't say more due to spoilers.

Without a Clue was an enjoyable read, and I got into it once I made it about 20%. There was mystery-genre plotting, and romance. I wasn't always sure who I could trust. At the same time, I wasn't surprised by the outcome or ending of the book at all. Without a Clue gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Without a Clue? What did you think? Let me know!

The Best I Never Had - Review

The Best I Never Had

By: Amy Buchanana

Expected Publication: August 18, 2026 by St. Martin's Griffin

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--They staged a romance, faked a breakup, and this time around, anything can happen—even something real.

Thea Pappas has always been the storm in her own life—fiery and unpredictable—traits that led her and her younger sister, Addy, through a series of foster homes. But with Addy's whirlwind engagement, Thea is determined to be the perfect maid of honor, even if she finds it odd that she hadn't heard of the fiancé until the ring was on Addy's finger. She believes she can survive a week in the Blue Ridge Mountains with a group of strangers without causing any trouble.

But upon arrival, Thea realizes these aren't strangers. Among the familiar faces is Owen Hayes—the man who, three years ago, paid her to pretend to be his girlfriend at a family wedding. Now, he's looking at her with the same panicked expression.

Owen's life has always been about control—managing his mother's matchmaking schemes, his family's expectations, and the career path he never truly chose. Thea was his one rebellion, a beautiful lie that ended with a "heart-destroying" fake breakup. Now, with his younger brother's wedding underway and his mother on the prowl, Owen begs Thea to reprise their roles. One week. Same fake breakup. No feelings.

But as old sparks reignite and the lines between pretense and reality blur, Thea and Owen will have to choose: carry on their greatest performance yet or admit the truth—that it was never fake at all.

The Goodreads book description tells us a lot. Thea once fake-dated Owen for cash she desperately needed, and he needed to get his mom off his back about dating. Little does she know that he's been milking a fake-broken heart ever since. But truth be told, he was interested in staying in touch with Thea, and maybe even making a go at something real, but Thea deleted her number from his phone in hopes of a clean break. Now Thea's little sister is marrying Owen's brother. I find it hard to believe that even without knowing his last name, Thea wouldn't have been tipped off about Addy dating his brother, but I didn't want to question it too much. When Thea shows up and realizes that Owen is her sister's soon-to-be new brother-in-law, they decide to continue the charade. They aren't fake-dating again, but they are pretending to be exes. Except this time, Addy specifically asks Thea to stay away from Owen, all the while his mother is constantly trying to throw them together in hopes of getting them back together.

The Best I Never Had has some pet peeves of mine. We've got a pregnant lesbian couple. And there's also a gay male couple that isn't as prominent. Oh, and we have the trifecta with the bisexual (I think) best friend. Diversity for diversity's sake...CHECK! The language was a lot. And the on-page spice was more than my preference. You can skip ahead if this isn't your cup of tea, like me.

Favorite quotes:

-"I like to know what pain I'm getting into before it hits."

-"I--I lash out. When I'm feeling vulnerable. Always have. It's easier to hurt other people than face my own [stuff], but I don't want to do that to you. I don't want to be someone who hurts you. So I'm sorry."

-"I ask for your help trying to connect with the family, then resent you for becoming close with them. I worship you, then get jealous of the things I idolize."

This entire book was a study in how different people handle trauma. For Owen, his dad died, and his mom pushed him to succeed with the company to carry on his father's legacy. He also had to step up and take care of his younger brother. He sacrificed his own wants and needs to take care of others until that became his default, and he rarely ever sought after anything he wanted for himself. Owen's mom was so heartbroken over her husband's death that she couldn't cope and do all of the things she needed to do as a mother. She ended up trying to micromanage and control her sons, at least Owen, to the point of alienating them both and becoming manipulative. Thea was always fiery. Her mom died from a drug overdose. And Thea and Addy went into the foster care system. Thea had a habit of lashing out in anger over everything when she felt vulnerable, and this pushed many people away. Addy grew up with such a complex over moving from place to place that she could barely be herself for fear of constant rejection from others, at least until Harrison. These are all messed-up people that sound exactly like real people with flaws, messed-up backstories, and childlike coping mechanisms.

I ended up enjoying the overall story of The Best I Never Had. I felt like some pieces didn't make a lot of sense. Owen's mom went from being Team Thea to Anti-Thea pretty easily. I was annoyed with Addy for wanting Thea to get close to the family and then getting mad at her for doing exactly that, but all of that was at least addressed. Owen and Thea had a good relationship development, and I liked that they mostly handled their situation with maturity. Until the forced conflict, anyway. The Best I Never Had did check a bunch of the diversity checkboxes. Diversity for diversity's sake has always annoyed me. But in the end, I'm giving The Best I Never Had 3.5 Stars. Have you read The Best I Never Had? What did you think? Let me know!

First and Forever - Review

First and Forever

By: Lynn Painter

Expected Publication: May 12, 2026 by Berkley

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

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

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

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

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

First and Forever feels like it's inspired by T. Swift and T. Kelce. I'm not a fan of either by the way. And I will say that I liked First and Forever more than what I know of the other two. For one, Duffy is just a football fan, not a celebrity. Yet she has an incident with the team mascot that makes her a viral celebrity. Connor is a football player celebrity. The two have a brief encounter on a talk show and have a flirty banter. Connor and his team's PR people push him to ask Duffy out on a date. He does. And he finds that he's enjoying himself.

Duffy is a non-celebrity, and she is intimidated by the negative attention she's gotten from the mascot incident. And so she is hesitant to accept a first date with Connor. Yet she goes and does enjoy herself as well. The two keep getting deterred from a second date. And I have to say that I never understood the point of the fake dating for her father's sake, given they were already headed in the direction of real dating. It was just an unnecessary plot point if you ask me.

First and Forever was a fun book that didn't feel high-stakes to me. Most of the spicy action was off-page, which I did appreciate. Language, however, was very much on-page. So many unnecessary f-bombs. I just don't understand why this is present.

First and Forever was a sweet read without much required from me in the form of investment. It was fine. I read it quickly. But I don't think it'll be a book I remember very well in the coming months. First and Forever gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read First and Forever? What did you think? Let me know!

Fallen City - Review

Fallen City (Fallen City Duology, # 1)

By: Adrienne Young

Publication: November 4, 2025 by Saturday Books

416 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mythology

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--In the great walled city of Isara, political turmoil ignites a rebellion one hundred years in the making. But when a legionnaire falls in love with a Magistrate's daughter, their love will threaten the fate of the city and the will of the gods.

Luca Matius has one purpose—to carry on the family name, maintaining its presence in the Forum once his powerful and cruel uncle dies. But his noviceship with the city's Philosopher places him in the middle of a catastrophe that will alter the destiny of his people.

Maris Casoeria was raised amidst the strategic maneuvers of the Citadel's inner workings, and she knows what her future holds—a lifetime of service to a corrupt city. But her years of serving as a novice to the last Priestess who possesses the stolen magic of the Old War has made her envision a different kind of future for the city. When she meets Luca, a fated chain of events is set into motion that will divinely entangle their lives.

As a secret comes to light and throws the city into chaos, Luca and Maris hatch a plot to create a calculated alliance that could tip the scales of power. But when an execution forces Luca to become the symbol of rebellion, he and Maris are thrown onto opposite sides of a holy war. As their fates diverge, they learn they are at the center of a story the gods are writing. And even if they can find their way back to each other, there may be nothing left.

Fallen City took a little longer for me to get hooked into the story than I wanted. The back and forth in chronology with "Then" and "Now" chapters is one of my least favorite ways to experience a book. I do recognize that there are pros to telling a story this way, but I hate being pulled out of what is happening in either time to be thrust back and forth into the other period.

At the beginning of Fallen City the depth of the relationship between the FMC and MMC is really unknown. Obviously, that is for a reason. But if these two had the debth of the relationship that is described as the story continues, it would make sense that the reader might pick up on some of that beyond this seemingly random boy or girl that the other is concerned about. It felt to me like they had this connection with the other but that it wasn't all that deep. Obviously, the reader is supposed to discover that over the course of the book, but again, this is one of my least favorite methods of storytelling.

All of that being said, once I did get invested in Fallen City, I wanted to keep reading. I am never as fully invested in the political manuevering of any particular fictional world as I am the romantic storylines. And I won't say that the politics took over, but I was always looking for more interaction between the main characters.

Fallen City does end in a slight ciffhanger and there is planned a second book, Chosen Son, that releases in fall 2026. That being said, I will probably read book 2, but I can't say that I'm dying to get my hands on it either. Fallen City gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Fallen City? What did you think? 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!

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!

The Proposition of the Season - Review

The Proposition of the Season (Fairfax Sisters, # 3)

By: Michelle Kenney

Publication: February 6, 2026 by One More Chapter

285 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--'How I love a story of sisters, and Michelle Kenney has conjured up four sparky modern-minded Fairfax girls. The dialogue is quick-fire, plot complex and satisfying, the men heroic and rich' Jane Dunn, Sunday Times bestselling author Perfect for Bridgerton and Jane Austen fans! Fall in love with your favourite new Regency series, with this third installment from the Fairfax family…

‘And you’ve come here today to read me a lecture in all my deplorable habits?’

‘No…’ she stalled, wracking her brain for inspiration and failing, ‘I’ve come here to ask you to marry me!’

After three disastrous seasons, bookish Josephine Fairfax believes that she is long past the age of finding her perfect fictional hero. But when her brother’s loathsome Monstrous Marriage Masterplan results in her youngest sister Matilda’s engagement to the vastly unsuitable Lord Huntingly, even she must draw the line.

Josephine may be the bluestocking sister, but she is still a Fairfax who will sacrifice anything for family, even proposing marriage to a man who may be the most dangerous gentleman in the ton…

Each book in the Fairfax Sisters series can be read as a standalone.

The Proposition of the Season started out a little slow for me. It wasn't long before the main character was writing in her journal to a fictional character, Fitzwilliam (Darcy one would presume since she loves Jane Austen). I just find this a little juvenile. Obviously, writing in a journal is one thing. And the point was to show how deeply affected Josephine is by the fictional stories that she's read and what she is looking for in a match. But I felt it was a little unrealistic given her age. Just a little annoyance.

I haven't read the previous books in this series. The previous two have featured Josephine's older sisters, Sophie and Phoebe. So I did feel like I was missing a little information. But what's most important to know is that Josephine's oldest brother, Sir Thomas, is determined to marry his sisters off as quickly as possible. He seems to be only concerned with money, even though the estate was never mentioned to be struggling exactly. He just seems to be obsessed with how much money his sisters are costing him and how he can't wait to marry them off. Even going so far as to engage their youngest sister, Matilda, to a man whose reputation has been damaged by scandal--scandal that paints him as a potential murderer.

Josephine is so determined to rescue her younger sister from this fate, that she reaches out to Lord Huntingly to offer herself as an alternative to Matilda since it is the family name he is seeking in the match. Huntingly is so awed by Josephine that he agrees. Josephine then spends the rest of the book bouncing back and forth between being drawn to Huntingly and being scared she's going to be married to a murderer.

Instead of asking him any direct questions, she makes assumptions and then spends a large amount of time going behind his back to ask all kinds of questions from everyone but him. I mean sure he might not be truthful with her, but at least ask the man what he knows and what happened before judging him one way or the other. Sheesh. I get that this is part of the period culture. People rarely spoke directly it seems.

In the meantime, Josephine has somewhat idealized her brother Fred's friend, Sir Francis. He is well read and seems to value Josephine's mind despite many considering her a spinster bluestocking. Yet he hasn't made any offers or any indication that he thinks of her beyond his friend's sister. We do come to learn more about Sir Francis. **Highlight for spoiler: I do wish he hadn't been involved in the situation with Huntingly's father and Eliza. I felt that was a little too on the nose. Having him be a rogue and womanizer was enough in my book. I didn't feel like him being connected to the downfall of Huntingly himself was necessary. End spoiler.

Also, I was annoyed with Fred. Why did he have be included in the admiration that everyone apparently feels for Sir Francis? Things were subtle which I do appreciate, but I'm also so sick of this being pushed on us in nearly every book. And I often choose historical regency fiction so that I can avoid this topic.

I'm unsure whether I will continue this series. I'm vaguely interested in Matilda's story. She is a bit of a wild child so her story could go in so many directions. And I do wonder if the series will eventually follow any of the brothers. I would obviously skip Fred's if he's ever given one. But it is called "Fairfax Sisters," so likely not.

Favorite quote:

-"I trust the flavour is to your liking, sir?" ..."Indeed," he replied, taking a drink with dancing eyes, "the flavour is very much to my liking. A small wedding, no objection to restoration work, and a skilled hostess--you are in danger of making me like the flavour a great deal, Miss Fairfax."

All of that being said, once I got passed the beginning and a few things that annoyed me slightly, I really did enjoy the overall story. The FMC & MMC didn't have a ton of on-page interactions, which I would have preferred more of, but I still read it fairly quickly. The rate I read and my desire to keep reading has me wanting to rate this around 4 Stars, however, the issues I had with the characters and overall plot brought The Proposition of the Season down to 3.5 Stars. Have you read The Proposition of the Season? What did you think? Let me know!

Nothing Like the Movies - Review

Nothing Like the Movies (Better Than the Movies, # 2)

By: Lynn Painter

Publication: September 24, 2024 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

448 pages

Genre: Young 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--In this highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling Better than the Movies, Wes and Liz struggle to balance their feelings for each other with the growing pains of being a college student.

For a few beautiful months, Wes had his dream girl: strong-willed girl-next-door Liz. But right as the two were about to set off to UCLA to start their freshman year together, tragedy struck. Wes was left dealing with the fallout, which ultimately meant losing Liz in the process.

Flash forward months and months later and Wes and Liz find themselves in college, together. In a healthier place now, Wes knows he broke Liz’s heart when he ended things, but he is determined to make her fall back in love with him.

Wes knows Liz better than anyone, and he has a foolproof plan to win her back with the rom-com worthy big gestures she loves. Only…Liz will have none of it. Wes has to scheme like a rom-com hero to figure out how to see her. Even worse, Liz has a new friend…a guy friend.

Still, Wes won’t give up, adapting his clever plans and going hard to get Liz’s attention and win back her affection. But after his best efforts get him nowhere, Wes is left wondering if their relationship is really over for good.

I requested Nothing Like the Movies for review without really realizing that it was the second book in a series. It took me way too long to get my hands on the first book, but I finally got it read and reviewed (Better Than the Movies). So I finally got around to reading Nothing Like the Movies.

Wes and Liz actually start Nothing Like the Movies broken up. The reader doesn't really know what happened between them. Honestly, Liz doesn't even know why Wes broke up with her. But it's been about two years since they first came to college together. We do know that Wes's dad died, and he returned home to help out for a while. But lo and behold he shows back up at UCLA and a party that Liz's roommates are hosting. Liz panics and tells him that she's dating Clark, her current best friend. Clark goes along with Liz because he has her back.

Not only is Liz still majorly into music, but she's also developed a love of photography and, more specifically, sports photography. She currently has an internship with a great mentor who has her working closely with the baseball team, for which Wes is a pitcher. This puts them in close proximity. Not to mention that Wes is determined to win Liz back, even though he likes Clark. He just doesn't see them as having chemistry, and he knows that Liz is the one for him.

Personally, I thought there was a little unnecessary drama in this book. It fits the typical book patterns that I'm used to. There's a conflict, one character decides to self-sacrifice to save the other character, but only ends up hurting themselves and the other character worse. The truth ends up coming out. I appreciated that Liz didn't just let this slide, and I liked her real-world response in wondering if this behavior would repeat itself should another conflict arise in the future. Yet, I also think that people just aren't this self-sacrificing in real life. We very often don't break up with someone else for their good. A breakup might ultimately benefit the other person, but there has to be a benefit to us as well to actually end a relationship. At least, that's been my experience in observing human nature.

Believe it or not, I didn't highlight hardly anything. This might be due to the fact that I kept switching back and forth between reading this book and listening to it on audio. Both are equally good. I will say that I was negatively impressed with the amount of cursing in Nothing Like the Movies. I don't remember there being as much of this in Better Than the Movies. Maybe that is because the characters are supposed to be older, or maybe I blocked it out in my reading of the first book. Either way, it stood out negatively to me in this book. I tend to skim over language unless it's excessive.

Nothing Like the Movies was a decent wrap-up to Wes and Liz's story. I felt like some of the conflict was forced. I mean, if there was going to be a second book, there would have to be additional conflict. But I didn't exactly find all of it to be plausible, even if I devoured the book. In the end, I'm giving Nothing Like the Movies 3.5 Stars. Have you read Nothing Like the Movies? What did you think? 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!

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!

A Presumptuous Hope - Review

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

By: Jennie Goutet

Publication: September 12, 2024 by Millefeuille Press

272 pages

Genre: Adult, Regency, Historical Fiction, Clean Romance

Source: Listened to for free from the author's YouTube channel (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Who declared that every lady of a certain age must of a certainty wish for marriage? Who said a handsome man of fortune might command any woman he pleases for the role of wife?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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