Can't Wait for The Christmas Yes List

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

The Christmas Yes List

By: Melissa Ferguson

Expected Publication: October 6, 2026 by Thomas Nelson

352 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Get ready for a laugh-out-loud holiday romance that's brimming with witty banter and heartwarming cheer by the bestselling author of Meet Me in the Margins, Melissa Ferguson.

Chronic people-pleaser Chloe Hollis is determined to finally learn how to get over her fear of rejection. Her unconventional solution? She must collect ten "nos" before Christmas Day by asking strangers for the most ridiculous favors she can dream up. But her plan goes hilariously off-track when she meets James Dutton.

James, a rule-following workaholic, has decided to do the exact opposite of he's saying "yes" to every opportunity that comes his way in hopes of finally embracing life--and maybe a little Christmas spirit.

As they continue to get tangled up in each other's wild experiment, Chloe and James find themselves in a whirlwind of festive, awkward, and delightful situations. But no one is more surprised than they are to realize they're falling in love.

With sparkling humor and swoon-worthy heart, this delightful Christmas rom-com is a feel-good story about facing fear head-on, choosing growth over comfort, and finding the courage to say "yes" to the things--and the people--that truly matter.

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

Homeschool Friday - Juniper's Christmas

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.

Juniper's Christmas

By: Erin Colfer

Publication: October 31, 2023 by Roaring Brook Press

368 pages

Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Christmas

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--From the acclaimed, mega-bestselling Eoin Colfer comes a heartwarming, adventurous Christmas the perfect gift for readers of all ages who believe in the power of hope, kindness, and holiday magic.

Eleven-year-old Juniper Lane is thrown into a Christmas adventure like no other when she seeks the help of a mysterious woodsman living in her local park, who she suspects is Santa himself, and accidentally gets exposed to North Pole magic. Join a boisterous cast of characters―including a neighbor who always believed in Santa, a young reindeer in training, and a cutthroat crime boss out to steal Santa’s magic―on an unpredictable journey bursting with Eoin Colfer’s signature exuberance and merriment. Complete with cheerful, festive illustrations, this is a beautifully packaged tale of wonder, sure to inspire the Christmas spirit in the whole family.

Celebrate the holidays with a story of hope, magic, and saving Santa Claus, from a celebrated author beloved for his spirited storytelling. Juniper’s Christmas is the perfect holiday read, year after year.

I have been wanting to read a seasonal read-aloud book with my kids for a few years. It never lined up for us to start a new read-aloud at a time that made sense to begin a Christmas book until this past year. We started Juniper's Christmas on December 5th, but we didn't finish until March 11th. We typically read every other night, but when activities make us late for bed, we skip reading those nights. So, it took WAY too long to read this book.

The book starts with Juniper's mom, Jennifer, going missing. Juniper is immediately thrust into a highly stressful and traumatic life event. Her father died shortly before the events of this book. So she has no guardian to look after her. Her parents have both been involved in charitable work, so a homeless lady, Duchess, who is familiar with the family and has babysat for Juniper before, steps in as her temporary guardian until Jennifer can be found. However, Juniper stumbles upon a man Duchess says can help her, and Juniper is convinced that he is Santa Claus, who has been missing for nearly 10 years. There are many layers to this book.

The high stakes had my kids invested in what was happening and what had happened to Juniper's mom from the beginning. The fictional world revolving around Santa Claus was done respectfully. I wasn't worried about my kids' belief being shattered. There is plenty of magic to be had, but I stressed ahead of time that this was a fictional story.

Why has Santa been missing for 10 years? What happened to Juniper's mom? Will the charity event that Juniper's dad was always involved in around Christmas continue? Or will it be shut down by selfish adults and thieves? What will happen now that Juniper has bonded with a reindeer? To top things off, Santa must pull out the wish list letters from his sack this year or Christmas will be destroyed forever. Many questions needed to be answered. Many challenges were wrapped together into one big ball. However, even with all of that, there were too many lulls in the story for my liking. That being said, our reading pace could have caused this particular feeling.

The writing style wasn't my favorite. It's hard to describe why. For one, I regularly stumbled when reading aloud because the words I expected to come next weren't the actual words. I imagine that many of the words used were based on some actual language I'm unfamiliar with. Skara, gifslaad, timboble, Tomescu, Sarika, etc. Being unfamiliar with the language of origin caused me to stumble even more. These would have been even more difficult words for a child reading this book on their own. A few comments were made that are mountain out of molehill things with ideology, but I noted them anyway. Nothing too severe or inappropriate for children, but noted regardless.

Favorite quote:

-"Mean words are the fruit of a sad tree," so Juniper couldn't help wondering what sad thing was making Rusty so mean.

-People are not born mean, and usually the journey from kind to mean is a long and torturous one filled with harsh life lessons...

Juniper's Christmas started off with a bang in the emotional stakes of Juniper's mom going missing. This created a desire to keep reading to find out what happened to her. However, I personally found there to be some lulls in the story, and I wasn't as interested in Trude Madden or her part of the story. Juniper's Christmas wasn't quite the Christmas story I was looking for. My 9-year-old daughter enjoyed it more than my 7-year-old son. Juniper's Christmas was just okay for me, so it gets 3 Stars. Have you or your child read Juniper's Christmas? What did you think? Let me know!

A Sea View Christmas - Review

A Sea View Christmas (On Devonshire Shores, # 4)

By: Julie Klassen

Expected Publication: September 2, 2025 by Bethany House Publishers

240 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian 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--With a promise to her youngest sister, Sarah Summers declares that this year's Christmas at Sea View will exceed all expectations. But the arrival of Callum Henshall--dashing Scottish widower and returning guest--blows a flurry of doubts into her mind. Sarah had discouraged his attentions before and is once again torn between attraction and duty. Yet even while she's busy managing the family's guest house, alluring thoughts of a second chance at love weave their way into her practical heart.

Meanwhile, seventeen-year-old Georgiana eagerly anticipates the exciting Christmas of her dreams after last year's dull, disappointing holiday filled with endless chores. She enjoys all the promised parties, music, and dancing, but is taken by surprise when young love comes knocking. Does the festive romance of a Sea View Christmas hold the key to a happily-ever-after for both sisters?

Return to Sidmouth for this highly anticipated holiday companion novella to the Summers sisters' lives and loves on the charming Devonshire shore.

I've never read Julie Klassen before, and I'm coming into this book at the end of the series. But the description pulled me in. I'm not always excited about holiday-themed books, but for some reason, I can tolerate them more in historical fiction than in modern times.

Even though this was the last book in a series, as most historical fiction series are, these are really companion novels that follow different sets of main characters. Sarah is our leading female character in A Sea View Christmas, and apparently, she was pretty front and center in the first book in this series, The Sisters of Sea View, but that book did mostly focus on Viola. Emily is the sister most focused on in book 2. Claire is the leading lady of book 3. And then book 4 returns to Sarah and her Scottish suitor. I hate that I missed out on the initial part of their story, but I enjoyed every moment of A Sea View Christmas.

Last Christmas wasn't a normal year, and Sarah has promised to do Christmas right this year for Georgiana. The inn that the family runs is always a good amount of work. Their mother isn't in the best of health, and so Sarah wonders if she can leave the inn for her own happiness. She isn't sure it's possible. Callum has been given reasons to hope that Sarah might return his regard. He wants to pursue every opportunity to spend time with Sarah to see if she might accept his proposal, since she essentially sent him away before. His intentions are obvious. It's just up to Sarah whether she feels like she can leave her mother and younger sisters behind.

This story was layered, and the side characters were often front and center just as much as the main couple. I did love Georgiana and Collin, and I hope that we'll get her/their story eventually as well. Shoot, I'd love to see Cora get a book, also.

Favorite quotes:

-Sarah thought for a moment, then confessed, "I have not often felt God's presence these last few years. I know He has not changed. I'm the one who has grown distant, busy trying to manage everything and everyone on my own." The truth of the admission pressed hard on her heart. "And yet, I have also seen God's provision in ways I never would have asked for or imagined. He is faithful, even when I am not."

-"Sarah Jane Summers. Do you hold my life in your hands, or does God?"

Initially, I thought I probably wouldn't go back and read the previous books in the series, but as I sit down to write this review, I find that I might. I will definitely check out more books by Julie Klassen in the future. I enjoyed every moment of Sarah and Callem's journey. And I look forward to seeing if Georgie or Cora get a book in the future as well. A Sea View Christmas gets 4 Stars. Have you read A Sea View Christmas? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - He Is Here

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.

He is Here!: 25 Days Of Christmas Devotions

By: Browning Montgomery Wood

Publication: August 1, 2022 by Christian Faith Publishing, Inc

80 pages

Genre: Holiday, Christmas, Seasonal, Christian, Devotion

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--This story would change the world like no other. An unknown woman, in an unknown village would give birth to a seemingly unknown and insignificant son, but this event would interrupt time like nothing has before it and nothing has since. After 21 centuries His name is still known around the world. His influence is unmatched, and the writings surrounding his birth, his life and his message fill libraries around the world! His birth and the message that came with it is a point of dispute to this day. This is certain though, prophets, priests, and kings for thousands of years and hundreds of generations have longed to see this day arrive. It is Christmas, and He is Here!

I've been reading devotions to my children at bedtime for a few years. But I've never done a Christmas-focused one and the timing looked like it was going to work out for me to be able to do He's Here! with my children during the Christmas season. Right off the bad, I knew we wouldn't finish the book within the 25 days because my husband puts them to bed every other night. At first, I thought I would double up and read two devotions a night to finish by Christmas, but I soon realized that would not work for my middle child who struggles with his attention span. 

The cover of He's Here! pulled me in, but I also immediately thought "children's devotion." Granted, I could have been projecting because that was what I was looking for. But I can't find anywhere that specifically states the target audience age for this devotion. That being said, I did think a few of the devotions were above my children's level. So maybe this is for older children or adults. I'm unsure since I haven't seen anything on Goodreads, Amazon, or Edelweiss that specifically states an age range.

I did enjoy He's Here! as a devotion. The introduction says the author, Browning Montgomery Wood, wants the reader to look at Christmas in a new way. I can't say that I did that. I can't say that there were any new revelations for me within this devotion. My children didn't have any questions, and no questions were included for me to prompt them. (I'm not great about asking questions to provoke thinking.) Although, I did highlight a few quotes that I particularly liked.

Favorite quote:

-She will nurse God at her breast--He who has always brought forth the bounty of earth's supply (Psalm 145). She will clothe God--He who is robed in the stars and the sun (Psalm 104). She will change God's linens--He who has cleaned up after the sin and filth of mankind and His people for ages past (2 Chronicles 7:14). She will sing to God--the Lord who sings over us, the song of salvation (Zephaniah 3:17). Yes, indeed, grace has come to Mary...she is about to be the mother of God.

My favorite devotions were: "He's Popping Up Everywhere!" and "Wonderful Counselor." 

Now, I did have one big issue with this devotion, and that's the last one "Be Born in Me!" Browning Montgomery Wood spends the entire day's devotion leading up to telling the reader how to be saved, how to be "born again". And she falls short. She does a great job laying things out. She explains Jesus's purpose: to save, not condemn (John 3:17). She lays out the problem: "We are all spiritually dead because of our sin and trespasses" (Ephesians 2:1). She includes passages. John 10:10 highlights that Jesus came to give abundant life. She rightly shows that Jesus told Nicodemus that he needed to be born again (John 3:3). She directs the reader to Romans to walk through the understanding of how to be born again. Romans 3:23 rightly shows us that everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Romans 6:23 rightly shows us that the price of sin is death--which is separation from God. Romans 5:8 shows that Christ paid the debt for us which we couldn't do for ourselves because we're sinners. And here's the problem. She skips over the rest of Romans chapter 6 which talks about being buried with Christ through baptism into His death and being raised from dead by the glory of the Father, so that we should also walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4). She skipped all of that and jumped over to Romans 10:9-10 which talks about confessing Jesus. Scripture must harmonize. You can't pick and choose verses to apply and ones that do not. You can't skip verses like Mark 16:16, Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, 1 Peter 3:21 and say that all you have to do is believe and confess. The "accept Jesus into your heart as your personal savior"...the "just pray this prayer and you're saved" gospel falls short. It doesn't harmonize the entirety of Scripture to give someone a full understanding. Thus, I had to edit while reading this one to my kids--which wasn't too hard to do. But it breaks my heart that some readers out there don't know Scripture enough to know that. It's misleading. I'm not trying to judge her heart. At the same time, it's imperative to read Scripture for yourself and not trust the word of an individual. It's up to each person to work out their own salvation (Philippians 2:12) meaning each person is responsible for their own salvation and can't blame someone else for teaching them false doctrine. 

In the end He's Here wasn't exactly what I was looking for. I'd hoped to have a Christmas-focused devotion for my children ages 7-9. Some of the devotions were a little over their understanding. And I felt discouraged that the last day's devotion short-changed the truth of Scripture and excluded baptism from the steps necessary for salvation. Because of that, I'm giving He's Here!: 25 Days of Christmas Devotions 4 Stars. Have you read He's Here!? What did you think? Let me know! 

Cruel Winter With You - Review

Cruel Winter With You (Under the Mistletoe Collection, # 1)

By: Ali Hazelwood

Publication: November 12, 2024 by Amazon Original Stories

73 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Christmas

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--For two former childhood friends, a blustery winter storm stirs some frosty—and scorching—memories in a delightful short story by #1 New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood.

All newly minted pediatrician Jamie Malek wants is to borrow a roasting pan for Christmas dinner. Unfortunately, that requires her to interact with Marc—her best friend’s troublemaking brother, who’s now a tech billionaire. He’s the one who got away. She’s the one who broke his heart. Outside, a howling blizzard. Inside, a crackling fire. Suddenly, being snowbound with the man she never expected to see again might not be such a bad way to spend a winter’s night.

Ali Hazelwood’s Cruel Winter with You is part of Under the Mistletoe, a stirring collection of December romances that thrill and tingle all the way. They can be read or listened to in one swoony sitting.

I got the Under the Mistletoe short story collection from Amazon Prime. I love that I can both read these books and listen to the audio exactly where I left off reading. Love this technology. I was able to read a little, and then listen in the car going to pick my kid up from school. Now, I will say that this is only the second of this series that I've read. And I haven't read them in order. I read book 4, Merriment and Mayhem first and was disappointed in it. My biggest issue is that with a short story, the characters don't feel like they have adequate time to get to know each other before jumping to the spicy scenes that actually feel like the point of these books--based upon these two. 

That being said, Cruel Winter With You felt different. Because the characters have a history with each other, the chemistry between them felt realistic even though the page count was so low. And I say "so low" 72 pages is a good bit better than 50 like the other one of these I read. I can't help but continue to compare them since they are a collection.

Jamie shows up next door to her best friend's parent's house hoping to ask to borrow a roasting pan. However, the weather is ridiculous, and the only one home is Marc. Marc is Jamie's best friend's brother and her ex. These two have so much history, baggage, and tension. I really appreciated how much Ali Hazelwood accomplished in relationship building in such a short amount of pages. I was hooked. And I would have loved a full-length book for these two characters.

I don't read for the spicy stuff so be warned if that's an issue for you. Thankfully, it didn't take up 30% of the book as it did with Merriment and Mayhem.

Cruel Winter with You gets 4 Stars. I really appreciated the amount of development in the characters in such a short space of pages especially considering they were stuck in a house and the events happened basically in 24 hours (minus flashbacks). Have you read Cruel Winter with You? What did you think? Let me know!

PS. I haven't read any of the others in this series, but I'm not sure they're worth it. I think this might have been the best one of the entire collection, and I might decide to end on a high note. Have any of you read the others? Are they worth a read/listen? 

Merriment and Mayhem - Review

Merriment and Mayhem (Under the Mistletoe Collection, # 4)

By: Alexandria Bellefleur

Publication: November 12, 2024 by Amazon Original Stories

58 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday

Source: Amazon Prime

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--This Christmas, a hot fireman makes a holiday rescue and sparks fly in this funny, sexy holiday short story by bestselling author Alexandria Bellefleur.

When Everleigh Dangerfield’s baking disaster necessitates a call to 911, firefighter Griffin Brantley douses the flames in the kitchen, but the ones he stokes in Everleigh are an entirely different story. Unfortunately, Everleigh’s only visiting and doesn’t do casual hookups, no matter how smoldering the temptation. But Everleigh’s holiday mishaps have just begun. And Griffin is seemingly always on call. If Everleigh is game for a change of plans, he can give her the merriest Christmas of her life.

Alexandria Bellefleur’s Merriment and Mayhem is part of Under the Mistletoe, a stirring collection of December romances that thrill and tingle all the way. They can be read or listened to in one swoony sitting.

I didn't request this book from NetGalley when I saw it available for review because I don't usually do short stories. But when I saw it free on Amazon for Prime I figured I would snag it for a short Christmas story. I didn't even read the description. This was doubly exciting when I realized that I also had access to the audiobook which would sync with my reading. So I could read when I had time and then switch to the audiobook while driving or cooking. 

The beginning of Merriment and Mayhem was good. I liked the repeated 911 calls that forced Everleigh and Griffin together. I liked that there was an instant attraction that prompted Griffin to pursue Everleigh. But I felt like the pacing was completely off. I don't know this author at all. And I know this was always intended to be a short story, but so many pieces were mentioned that went nowhere. It felt like this was written for a longer story and things were cut or not addressed to force it to fit the short story needs. 

Because it was a short story, Everleigh flipped quickly from rejecting Griffin to being "so, so tired of pretending this is not what I want." Thankfully there were no declarations of deeper feelings at this point.

However, it felt like half the story was the sex scene. Granted it was only about the last 30%. Regardless, I wasn't a fan of these two jumping into the sheets. It felt jarring to me. Too much, too soon. Of course, as a Christian, my preference would be for them to wait until they get married, but that's not today's culture. I spent this entire section of the book skipping ahead and rolling my eyes. 

I also felt like the language was excessive for this story. And all of these things put together turned me off the idea of searching for more books by this author. 

Merriment and Mayhem's pacing felt completely wrong to me. The plot and details didn't fit the story length. The characters went from one thing and then completely flipped to a different thing. And things progressed in their relationship (physically and relationally) entirely too fast. Thankfully no "I love yous" were thrown out, but one character is considering a move to be with the other after three/four encounters. Merriment and Mayhem gets 2 Stars. Have you read Merriment and Mayhem ? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for A Holly Jolly Diwali

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

A Holly Jolly Diwali

By: Sonya Lalli

Expected Publication: October 5th 2021 by Berkley Books

336 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--One type-A data analyst discovers her free-spirited side on an impulsive journey from bustling Mumbai to the gorgeous beaches of Goa and finds love waiting for her on Christmas morning.

Twenty-nine-year-old Niki Randhawa has always made practical decisions. Despite her love for music and art, she became an analyst for the stability. She's always stuck close to home, in case her family needed her. And she's always dated guys that seem good on paper, rather than the ones who give her butterflies. When she's laid off, Niki realizes that practical hasn't exactly paid off for her. So for the first time ever, she throws caution to the wind and books a last-minute flight for her friend Diya's wedding.

Niki arrives in India just in time to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, where she meets London musician Sameer Mukherji. Maybe it's the splendor of Mumbai or the magic of the holiday season, but Niki is immediately drawn to Sam. At the wedding, the champagne flows and their flirtatious banter makes it clear that the attraction is mutual.

When Niki and Sam join Diya, her husband and their friends on a group honeymoon, their connection grows deeper. Free-spirited Sam helps Niki get in touch with her passionate and creative side, and with her Indian roots. When she gets a new job offer back home, Niki must decide what she wants out of the next chapter of her life--to cling to the straight and narrow like always, or to take a leap of faith and live the kind of bold life the old Niki never would have dreamed of.

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

A Holiday by Gaslight - Review

A Holiday by Gaslight

By: Mimi Matthews

Expected Publication: November 13th 2018 by Perfectly Proper Press

175 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction, Holiday, Christmas, Victorian

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A Courtship of Convenience

Sophie Appersett is quite willing to marry outside of her class to ensure the survival of her family. But the darkly handsome Mr. Edward Sharpe is no run-of-the-mill London merchant. He’s grim and silent. A man of little emotion—or perhaps no emotion at all. After two months of courtship, she’s ready to put an end to things.

A Last Chance for Love

But severing ties with her taciturn suitor isn’t as straightforward as Sophie envisioned. Her parents are outraged. And then there’s Charles Darwin, Prince Albert, and that dratted gaslight. What’s a girl to do except invite Mr. Sharpe to Appersett House for Christmas and give him one last chance to win her? Only this time there’ll be no false formality. This time they’ll get to know each other for who they really are.

This is my second Mimi Matthews book, and I feel like I can now say that she is an author that can easily pull me in and make me quickly care about her characters. A Holiday by Gaslight starts in the middle of scene between Ned Sharpe and Sophie Appersett. They've been courting, and Sophie has decided to break things off despite the financially stable position that marrying Ned would put her in. I mean if that doesn't make you interested and immediately asking questions about these characters and what will happen between them I don't quite know what will.

I pretty much liked everything about this novella. I could easily appreciate Sophie's stance of breaking off an engagement to a man that won't interact with her. She knows that her family needs her marriage to a man with stable finances, but she won't lower herself to marrying for convenience without even a hint of the possibility of being happy or content in the marriage. Ned isn't from the same class as Sophie so he isn't sure how he should behave exactly and the bad advice he's received has kept him closed off. This was a great concept to me because a lack of communication between couples due to cultural hindrances is so much of the conflict in books from this time period. I also loved the inclusion of so many timely advances in technology and society.

I thought I was going to find Sophie's sister extremely annoying but in the end I really just wanted more of her story. Her thought process. Etc.

I find that I don't have anything at all negative to say about A Holiday by Gaslight other than wanting more of it. I loved the characters. I loved the setting. I loved the historically accurate tidbits included. A Holiday by Gaslight gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read A Holiday by Gaslight? What did you think? Let me know!