January & February 2023 EOM Wrap Ups

January Wrap Up

I read 7 books (not including children's books). *These qualify for the 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
Falling for the Cowgirl (Colorado Cowboys, # 4) by Jody Hedlund
Charlotte's Web by EB White
Twisted Twenty-Six (Stephanie Plum, # 26) by Janet Evanovich
Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn
Scotland's Melody by Katie Stewart Stone
The Call of the Sea by Sian Ann Bessey
Mr. Gardiner and the Governess (Clairvoir Castle Romances, # 1) by Sally Britton

I have reviewed 4 books. *These qualify for the 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
Forgiving What You Can't Forget by Lysa TerKeurst
A Hard Day for a Hangover (Sunshine Vicram, # 3) by Darynda Jones
*Reforming Lord Niel (Inglewood, # 5) by Sally Britton
Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn

Other Posts:
Sunday Post - 01/01/23
Sunday Post - 01/08/23
Sunday Post - 01/15/23
Sunday Post - 01/22/23
Top Ten Books I Read in 2022
Top Ten Most Anticpated Releases Q1/Q2 2023
Can't Wait for The Only Game in Town by Lacie Waldon
Can't Wait for The Last Chance Cowboy (Colorado Cowboys, # 5) by Jody Hedlund
Can't Wait for Return to Satterthwaite Court (Somerset Stories, # 3) by Mimi Matthews
Can't Wait for Happy Place by Emily Henry
2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge - January Wrap Up
2022 EOY Wrap Up
2022 Book Survey

Goals:
I'm a few days ahead on my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 7 out of 52 books (not including children's books).
I've read 0 out of 5-10 series enders.

February Wrap Up

I read 10 books (not including children's books). *These qualify for the 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
Built to Last by Erin Hahn
*The Last Chance Cowboy (Colorado Cowboys, # 5) by Jody Hedlund
A Companion for the Count (Clairvoir Castle Romances, # 2) by Sally Britton
Borrow My Heart (Borrow My Heart, # 1) by Kasie West
Sacred Marriage: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy? by Gary L Thomas
Sir Andrew and the Authoress (Clairvoir Castle Romances, # 3) by Sally Britton
Her Unsuitable Match (Supposed Scandal, # 1) by Sally Britton
Letters for Phoebe (Promise of Forever After, # 1) by Sally Britton
The Only Game in Town by Lacie Waldon
His Unexpected Heiress (Entangled Inheritance, # 2) by Sally Britton

I have reviewed 5 books. *These qualify for the 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
Scotland's Melody by Katie Stewart Stone
The Reluctant Baronet by Elizabeth Watkins
Falling for the Cowgirl (Colorado Cowboys, # 4) by Jody Hedlund
*The Last Chance Cowboy (Colorado Cowboys, # 5) by Jody Hedlund
A Forgotten Fall (A Lord for All Seasons, # 3) by Nadine Millard (DNF @ 60%)

Other Posts:
Sunday Post - 02/05/23
Sunday Post - 02/12/23
Sunday Post - 02/19/23
Sunday Post - 02/26/23
Can't Wait for Borrow My Heart (Borrow My Heart, # 1) by Kasie West
Can't Wait for To Have and to Heist by Sara Desai
Can't Wait for Rocky Mountain Rendezvous (Sisters of the Rockies, # 1) by Misty M Beller
Can't Wait for Painting the Summer (Return to Inglewood, # 1) by Sally Britton
2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge - February Wrap Up

Goals:
I'm a few days ahead on my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 17 out of 52 books (not including children's books).
I've read 1 out of 5-10 series enders.

Can't Wait for A Soul of Ash and Blood

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 Soul of Ash and Blood (Blood and Ash, # 5)

By: Jennifer L Armentrout

Expected Publication: July 18, 2023

608 pages

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Vampires, Werewolves, Paranormal

( 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--#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits the first novel in her phenomenal Blood and Ash series. But this time…it’s Hawke’s turn to tell the story.

Filled with new scenes, insights, and a few surprises, A Soul of Ash and Blood is a must-read for fans of From Blood and Ash and the love story of Poppy and Hawke.

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

The Forgotten Fall - DNF Review

A Forgotten Fall (A Lord for All Seasons, # 3)

By: Nadine Millard

Expected Publication: September 16, 2022

? pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

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--All she's ever wanted is freedom, challenge, and adventure. But the longer she spends with the wounded soldier from her past the more she realizes she might just want him.

Francesca Templeworth has never met a man that didn’t somehow disappoint her. While other girls her age dreamed of love and romance and marriage, she wanted adventure and challenges and freedom.

No man has ever held her interest. No man but Adam Fairchild, who’d gone off to war and had never come back.

Adam Fairchild has spent years running from the demons he encountered on the battlefield of war, from a past that he no longer remembers, and a present reality that feels too heavy a burden to carry. Returning to Halton he hopes to find a safe haven. What he finds instead is Francesca Templeworth, a pretty girl with a sharp wit who’s turned into a beautiful woman with a smart mouth.

All Adam wants is to hide himself away, miserable in the darkness. But he didn’t count on the most stubborn woman in all of Christendom insisting on dragging him back into the light.

Francesca can’t fight her attraction to Adam any more than Adam can fight is own to her. But until he learns to let go of the past, what hope do they have of a future together?

Adam is the one man she’s never forgotten. But the question is, will he let himself fall?

Initially the description of The Forgotten Fall sounded interesting. I didn't get very far before I felt torn over the writing. On the one hand, I was curious about the family that can't seem to abide by society's rules. Yet it became clear that Cheska's inability to follow the rules of polite society would likely land her in a sexual situation. Her disdain for any kind of rule is only a recipe for her to break the ones that are convenient at the time.

Obviously Adam has been through trauma considering he went to war, was injured, and lost his brother and father before he made it home. And then he only sought to drown his sorrows in alcohol. Magically, one interaction with Francesca is enough to make him want to turn things around and start living. One addiction to another essentially.

I can't discount Adam's trauma. And I've never been one to be opposed to love helping someone through a difficult time or changing their opinions of their struggles. But I also believe that we can't live our lives completely for others and sometimes the work we have to do on ourselves is outside of others. I'm not describing this very well.

Basically, my struggle with the writing is that the characters felt like victims of their own lives and emotions. As if they had no control over anything that happened to them, any choices were made by default based upon their emotions. Perhaps the last 40% would have changed pace and the characters would have said "no" to their emotions and used their "thinking brain" (aka their frontal lobe) to make decisions. Writing from an emotional standpoint can easily suck readers into the characters, but the characters need to have a spine. They need to do more than feel.

Unfortunately, I decided to DNF The Forgotten Fall at 60%. I always wonder if the remainder of the book would have redeemed it for me, but I just do not have extra time to read something I'm not enjoying. I found myself sighing and holding my breath not because I was anxious to keep reading and find out what was going to happen next, but because I truly wanted to be doing anything other than reading this book. I know that sounds harsh. I'm sure there are readers out there that would love this book, but the characters were too much of victims for me--when they had a right to be and even when they didn't. Have you read The Forgotten Fall? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 02/26/23

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.

We started the week off in Gulf Shores visiting my sister and her family. We came home and had just a little bit of time before the last basketball practice of the season. Tuesday, Little Boy had his 2 year old check up with the pediatrician. All is well. He's in the top 10% for height with an estimated adult height of 6 ft or 6 ft 1. Wednesday was a normal day. Thursday, I did my grocery pick up and got a zpack from the pharmacy called in from my doctor. We also went to a local playground at the church where the kids played basketball. My niece and brother-in-law that we stayed with ended up having COVID. My niece was running a fever from Saturday off and on while we were there. My brother-in-law didn't start running one until Monday. Thankfully, none of us have gotten sick. (I had my sinus infection prior to going. Although I did take a test just to verify that I was negative. I am, thankfully, feeling better.) Thursday night, Little Boy had his first baseball practice of the season. Friday was a normal day. Saturday, the kids had their last basketball game of the season.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of The Last Chance Cowboy (Colorado Cowboys, # 5) by Jody Hedlund (4 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Paint the Summer (Return to Inglewood, # 1) by Sally Britton
Saturday: 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge - February Wrap Up

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: DNF Review of A Forgotten Fall (A Lord for All Seasons, # 3) by Nadine Millard
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday?

Don’t forget to link up for the 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2023 to sign 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!

NEW BOOKS:

No new books this week.

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!

2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge - February Wrap Up

Time for our Monthly Wrap Up for the 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge hosted by Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know and Holly @ Words Fueled by Love!

Sandy finished The Last Chance Cowboy (Colorado Cowboys, # 5) by Jody Hedlund.

Which series enders did you finish? Link the up below. Don't forget to include the title, your name, & your blog name (Ex: Requiem - Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know) Also, the February giveaway runs from February 25th - March 25th. On March 25th we will use random.org and the linky entries to pull a grand prize winner.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter