Meet Me at Midnight - Review

Meet Me At Midnight

By: Jessica Pennington

Expected Publication: April 7th 2020 by Tor Teen

288 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

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

Goodreads description--They have a love-hate relationship with summer.

Sidney and Asher should have clicked. Two star swimmers forced to spend their summers on a lake together sounds like the perfect match. But it’s the same every year—in between cookouts and boat rides and family-imposed bonfires, Sidney and Asher spend the dog days of summer finding the ultimate ways to prank each other. And now, after their senior year, they’re determined to make it the most epic summer yet.

But their plans are thrown in sudden jeopardy when their feud causes their families to be kicked out of their beloved lake houses. Once in their new accommodations, Sidney expects the prank war to continue as usual. But then she gets a note—Meet me at midnight. And Asher has a proposition for her: join forces for one last summer of epic pranks, against a shared enemy—the woman who kicked them out.

Their truce should make things simpler, but six years of tormenting one another isn’t so easy to ignore. Kind of like the undeniable attraction growing between them.

For some reason I was skeptical of Meet Me at Midnight. I really can't nail down a reason for that. Maybe because I wasn't familiar with the author, but I read new (to me) authors all the time and this isn't really an issue. Regardless after a great start to my 2020 reading, I started feeling myself sliding into a reading slump. I had a bunch of books to choose from, but none of them seemed to fit my mood. Until I decided to give Meet Me at Midnight a chance. Honestly, I was putting it off simply due to the publication date. It didn't publish for 3 more months and I had other review books due sooner. Yet I know myself well enough to know that mood is everything when it comes to my reading. And I'm so glad that I settled on this book.

Sidney and Asher have been vacationing together for years. Their moms went to college together and have kept in touch through the years. Every summer they rent lake houses side by side. The first year Sidney and Asher got along great. Until a catalyst sparked their prank rivalry. I loved this aspect. I've never quite been brave enough to participate in a prank war. One of those "don't dish out what you can't handle" kind of things, but my dad was a huge prankster and he was routinely pranking the guys he worked with when I was growing up. I have to say that I wish there had been a little more actual pranking during the book rather than just a few pranks and a good bit of memories surrounding pranks of the past.

Sidney and Asher have a hate-to-love relationship which I love. I could tell these two had more under the surface of their feud. Figuring out why it got started didn't take too much. But the roller coaster ride of their relationship was so enjoyable. I didn't want to put this book down. They have ups and downs, and ***SPOILER*** (highlight to see)I appreciated that Sidney was the one who screwed up and had to get Asher to forgive her. ***END SPOILER*** I also appreciated that these two had a journey to forgiveness that wasn't just fixed will the snap of their fingers.

I will say that my only real complaint is concerning the parents. It seems that both sets knew that Sidney and Asher's relationship changed from enemies to being together. So how come they were so hands-off? Not only did they not acknowledge the relationship, but they never established or enforced any boundaries between these two. If anything, they seemed to encourage a lack of boundaries.

I enjoyed Meet Me at Midnight so much more than I expected. It was the perfect book for me at just the right time. I ate up Sidney and Asher's relationship...each phase of it. I didn't want to put it down. And I want to certainly check out more from Jessica Pennington. Meet Me at Midnight gets 4 Stars. Have you read Meet Me at Midnight? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 04/05/20

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

Oh the craziness! It's been a mostly good week here. It rained on Tuesday which had us trapped inside. The kids were feeling a bit stir-crazy and thus not very obedient. We've never been the type of family that had to be out and about doing things in order to keep busy or entertained. I do hate that school is canceled because Little Girl loved it so much and it did break up our weeks and days. But this feels like a normal summer week for us. So I don't feel the need to create a ton of activities to keep the kids entertained--or at least not more so than normal. Wednesday the kids made up for their bad behavior on Tuesday by being really nice and playing so well together. It warms my heart to see them starting to really play together well as they get older. Thursday we did take a day trip to visit with my mom for a couple of hours. She had an Easter egg hunt set up for the kids once we got there and they hid and found Easter eggs over and over all morning. I'm glad we got to spend that day with her since the state has issued a stay-at-home order starting yesterday afternoon. We've gotten outside to walk and play every day except Tuesday. We watched Onward on Disney+ Friday night. I've gotten a good bit of reading done. There are 7 days left for my giveaway for A Bad Day for Sunshine (Sunshine Vicram, # 1) by Darynda Jones. Be sure to enter at the link below. And look out for another giveaway coming up this week.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review & Giveaway of A Bad Day for Sunshine (Sunshine Vicram, # 1) by Darynda Jones (4.5 Stars)
Tuesday: March 2020 EOM Wrap Up
Wednesday: Can't Wait for A Bride of Convenience (The Bride Ships, # 3) by Jody Hedlund
Thursday: Review of Selah (The Sugar Baron's Daughter, # 3) by Lisa T Bergren (3.5 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Meet Me at Midnight by Jessica Pennington
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Thursday: Review of The Perfect Escape (The Perfect Escape, # 1) by Suzanne Park

Don’t forget to link up for the 2020 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2020 to sing up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

The Trouble with Hating You

By: Sanji Patel

Expected Publication: May 12th 2020 by Forever

352 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

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 laugh-out-loud romantic comedy debut about first impressions, second chances, and finding the love of your life in the most unexpected way. Liya Thakkar is a successful biochemical engineer, takeout enthusiast, and happily single woman. The moment she realizes her parents' latest dinner party is a setup with the man they want her to marry, she's out the back door in a flash. Imagine her surprise when the same guy shows up at her office a week later -- the new lawyer hired to save her struggling company. What's not surprising: he's not too thrilled to see her either after that humiliating fiasco.

Jay Shah looks good on paper...and off. Especially if you like that whole gorgeous, charming lawyer-in-a-good-suit thing. He's also arrogant and infuriating. As their witty office banter turns into late night chats, Liya starts to think he might be the one man who truly accepts her. But falling for each other means exposing their painful pasts. Will Liya keep running, or will she finally give love a real chance?

Colors of Truth (Carnton, # 1)

By: Tamera Alexander

Expected Publication: July 7th 2020 by Thomas Nelson

400 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

( 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--Based on the real history of Carnton, an antebellum home that served as a Confederate hospital, Colors of Truth follows the journey of an Irish immigrant arriving in a country where her kind isn't wanted, and of a former Federal soldier returning to the scene of a battle that almost destroyed him.

In 1866 Catriona O'Toole arrives in the town of Franklin, Tennessee, searching for her younger brother, Ryan, who, according to his last letter, was headed for Franklin only days before the catastrophic Battle of Franklin. Ryan's last note contained a stack of cash--enough money to bring his entire family across the ocean from Ireland. But after disease and illness tear through County Antrim and the O'Toole family, only Catriona and her seven-year old sister Nora are left to make the journey.

Wade Cunningham, one of ten operatives in the newly formed United States Secret Service Agency, is on the hunt for counterfeiters. A tip leads him to Franklin and to Carnton, the home of wealthy Tennessean John McGavock. The recent murder of a fellow agent mandates that Wade keep his true identity hidden, as well as his past service in the Federal Army. But when he receives a note bearing only the name of the deceased agent, he realizes someone in town already knows who he really is.

As evidence in the case mounts, it eventually points to Catriona, but Wade is slow to want to believe it. Because his heart is swiftly becoming hers. However, Catriona's sole focus is to find her brother and to provide a home and safety for her sister. In doing that, she somehow finds herself part of a burial committee for the over two thousand Confederate soldiers who were hastily buried in a field following the Battle of Franklin--and her deepest fear is that Ryan's body is among those shallow graves.

Throw Like a Girl

By: Sarah Henning

Expected Publication: January 7th 2020 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

368 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via Amazon Vine (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--Friday Night Lights meets Morgan Matson's The Unexpected Everything in this contemporary debut where swoonworthy romance meets underdog sports story.

When softball star Liv Rodinsky throws one ill-advised punch during the most important game of the year, she loses her scholarship to her fancy private school, her boyfriend, and her teammates all in one fell swoop. With no other options, Liv is forced to transfer to the nearest public school, Northland, where she'll have to convince its coach she deserves a spot on the softball team, all while facing both her ex and the teammates of the girl she punched... Every. Single. Day.

Enter Grey, the injured star quarterback with amazing hair and a foolproof plan: if Liv joins the football team as his temporary replacement, he'll make sure she gets a spot on the softball team in the spring. But it will take more than just a flawless spiral for Liv to find acceptance in Northland's halls, and behind that charismatic smile, Grey may not be so perfect after all.

With well-drawn characters and a charming quarterback love interest who's got brains as well as brawn, Throw Like a Girl will have readers swooning from the very first page.

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

Selah - Review

Selah (The Sugar Baron's Daughter, # 3)

By: Lisa T Bergren

Publication: March 3rd 2020 by Bethany House Publishers

352 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

( 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--Selah Banning has come of age on the West Indies island of Nevis, shaped by experiences far beyond the typical upbringing of a young British lady in 1777. She never anticipated that the most tumultuous time of her life might await her in the year ahead.

Jedediah Reed, a young Methodist preacher with a call to serve the slaves of Nevis, has settled at Selah's family's plantation, the Double T. As Selah's heart is drawn to the same people, their shared purpose brings them together--despite her guardians' concern with a romance that promises little security for the future.

As Jedediah's faith and Selah's abolitionist leanings lead to changes on the plantation, the Revolutionary War continues to build in the States. With the threat of starvation and the conflict with island mogul Angus Shubert growing ever stronger, the future of the Double T and its people hangs in the balance.

I'll just be honest. I don't enjoy reading about slavery. It's heartbreaking. And there are just some periods that I don't enjoy reading about. On the one hand, I have felt these stories bring history to life. Yet on the other hand, I like to read to escape the troubles of life and these periods are simply too full of pain.

While I enjoyed Verity more than I expected to, I had a little hesitation going into Selah. I knew I wanted to finish the series, but I wasn't excited about digging in deeper in this particular area. Plus I wasn't sure how the romance would be between Selah and Jedediah. All in all, I have to say that I really enjoyed it.

Selah truly has a heart of gold. She sees people and hearts where others see a means to an end or property. She connects with those who are oppressed. And her heart sees a kindred spirit in Jedediah. He opens her eyes to see God better, and they find a common bond between them. I ended up liking their story a good bit more than I expected.

I do think Jedediah's reasons for needing some space from Selah were a bit bogus. Selah calls him out for his lack of faith quickly but it takes him much too long to come to his senses if we're looking at realism. But of course that wouldn't make for a good story. Or would it?

I enjoyed seeing more of Ian and Verity. I find their story so intriguing. I do feel like I'm missing out since I never read Keturah and I do hope to go back and read it some day if time and opportunity allow.

Selah ended up being more enjoyable than I briefly worried it would be. Even though I don't love reading about the painful period and events involving slavery, I found this book full of hope (is that the right word?) for what could have been. I liked Selah and Jedediah. They had a mission and a bond that inspired, but I could have enjoyed a little more romance. Selah gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Selah? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for A Bride of Convenience

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 Bride of Convenience (The Bride Ships, # 3)

By: Jody Hedlund

Expected Publication: June 30th 2020 by Bethany House Publishers

384 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

( 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--Upon discovering an abandoned baby, Pastor Abe Merivale joins efforts with Zoe Hart, one of the newly arrived bride-ship women, to care for the infant. With mounting pressure to find the baby a home, Abe offers his hand as Zoe's groom. But after a hasty wedding, they soon realize their marriage of convenience is not so convenient after all.

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

March 2020 EOM Wrap Up

I have read 7 books (not including children's books). *These qualify for the 2020 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
The House at the End of the Moor by Michelle Griep
The Marriage Game by Sara Desai
*Hidden Knights (Knights of the Realm, # 3) by Jennifer Anne Davis
Making a Play (The Field Party, # 5) by Abbi Glines
The Perfect Escape (The Perfect Escape, # 1) by Suzanne Park
*Selah (The Sugar Baron's Daughter, # 3) by Lisa T Bergren
Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon

I have reviewed 6 books. *These qualify for the 2019 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
The Runaway Bride (The Bride Ships, # 2) by Jody Hedlund
Bone Crier's Moon (Bone Grace, # 1) by Kathryn Purdie
Regretting You by Colleen Hoover
Shadow Knights (Knights of the Realm, # 2) by Jennifer Anne Davis
A Bad Day for Sunshine (Sunshine Vicram, # 1) by Darynda Jones (with Giveaway)

Other Posts:
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 03/01/20
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 03/08/20
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 03/15/20
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 03/22/20
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 03/29/20
Five-Star One-Word-Title Books
Top Ten Spring 2020 TBR List
Can't Wait for Hidden Knights (Knights of the Realm, # 3) by Jennifer Anne Davis
Can't Wait for The Raven and the Dove (The Raven and the Dove, # 1) by Kaitlyn Davis
Can't Wait for If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane
Can't Wait for A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey
Can't Wait for A Proper Charade by Esther Hatch
2020 Series Enders Reading Challenge - March Wrap Up
February 2020 EOM Wrap Up
Happy 9th Blogoversary Giveaway

Goals:
I am 17 days ahead on of schedule my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 23 out of 52 books (including children's books).
I've read 4 out of 5-10 series enders.