Enchanting the Heiress - Review

Enchanting the Heiress (Hearts on the Heath, # 3)

By: Kristi Ann Hunter

Expected Publication: March 1st 2022 by Bethany House Publishers

352 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian 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--Harriet Hancock likes to make the lives of those around her better whether they like it or not. So, she is surprised when her friend Sophia Whitworth has ideas of her own on how to make Harriet happier--by throwing her together with Sophia's brother, stable hand Jonas Fitzroy. When Harriet discovers his natural way with words, she hatches a plan that would benefit them both.

Holding a grudge against Harriet for her meddling in Sophia's life, it is only because of his sister that Jonas agrees to approach Harriet about a possible artistic project. What he doesn't expect is for her to request his help writing a book. As they work together, they start to see each other in a different light, but when the truth of Harriet's schemes is revealed, she'll find her good intentions for once have gone too far.

For some reason, I wasn't excited about reading Harriet's story. And then, when I found out that she was paired up with Jonas, I was honestly even less excited about this story. Yet I wanted to complete the series, and I have found Kristi Ann Hunter to be a favorite author. I shouldn't have worried. Kristi Ann Hunter proved my worries unfounded. Thankfully, Enchanting the Heiress didn't take too long to hook my interest, and I quickly read the entire book.

I don't know that I've read a story quite like this one before even though parts here and there would be similar to other stories. Harriet has a desire deep within her to make the lives of others around her better. She sees a need and she steps in to fill it. She hears of a desire and she manipulates people like a chessboard to get others in the right place for those desires to be fulfilled. In some ways, this is a selfless and wonderful quality to possess. A desire to make better the lives of others is applaudable. Yet, Jonas takes issue with what he sees as Harriet meddling where she doesn't belong.

Jonas is content. He's happy and thankful to be stable and stationary after traveling with the circus. He isn't ambitious. He doesn't feel like he needs much of anything. He doesn't feel a draw to many people to form relationships, and he doesn't seek to improve his circumstances like many would. Yet Sophia can't stand to see her brother's talents go to waste. Sophia is the one who recruits Harriet to help Jonas, but Harriet decides to go about things in her own way.

I loved their journey. And in some ways Enchanting the Heiress was about how to craft a story. I always appreciate books where insight is given into the writing and publishing process. Of course, Harriet never truly desired to write a book.

Favorite quotes:

-"I had other dreams only because I didn't know about this one."

-"...love doesn't demand what it wants. Instead, it will sacrifice itself to give the other person what they need."

-Life always held room for improvement, didn't it?

-Why was it so difficult for people to understand that helping others was its own reward? It was a purpose in and of itself.

-"I hardly think my independence is affecting the construction of your sentences."

-He'd never been a coward, and he wasn't going to start now.

-"Respect can be restored. A lost opportunity cannot."

Enchanting the Heiress was so much more enjoyable than I feared. I don't really know why I was initially put off by Harriet. I'd probably need to go back and re-read the prior books in the series, but I liked just about every aspect of this story. I also reviewed another book recently where I commented on the number of Scripture used. I'm pretty sure Enchanting the Heiress had more than that book, but for someone who might take issue with this, none of the Scripture felt preachy. All of it felt relevant to the characters. Enchanting the Heiress gets 4 Stars. Have you read Enchanting the Heiress? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Part of Your World

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.

Part of Your World

By: Abby Jimenez

Expected Publication: April 19th 2022 by Forever

400 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

( 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--The New York Times bestselling author of Life's Too Short delivers a refreshingly modern fairy tale perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and Emily Henry.

After a wild bet, gourmet grilled-cheese sandwich, and cuddle with a baby goat, Alexis Montgomery has had her world turned upside down. The cause: Daniel Grant, a ridiculously hot carpenter who’s ten years younger than her and as casual as they come—the complete opposite of sophisticated city-girl Alexis. And yet their chemistry is undeniable.

While her ultra-wealthy parents want her to carry on the family legacy of world-renowned surgeons, Alexis doesn’t need glory or fame. She’s fine with being a “mere” ER doctor. And every minute she spends with Daniel and the tight-knit town where he lives, she’s discovering just what’s really important. Yet letting their relationship become anything more than a short-term fling would mean turning her back on her family and giving up the opportunity to help thousands of people.

Bringing Daniel into her world is impossible, and yet she can’t just give up the joy she’s found with him either. With so many differences between them, how can Alexis possibly choose between her world and his?

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

Always Jane - Review

Always Jane

By: Jenn Bennett

Publication: March 29th 2022 by Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers

384 pages

Genre: Young 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 chauffer’s daughter finds herself in the middle of a love triangle with the sons of her boss’s wealthy next-door neighbors in this delightfully romantic story from the author of Alex, Approximately, Jenn Bennett.

Love—and Fen Sarafian—do not care about your summer plans.

Eighteen-year-old chauffeur’s daughter Jane Marlow grew up among the domestic staff of a wealthy LA rock producer, within reach of bands she idolizes, but never a VIP. Every summer, Jane and her father head to the Sierras to work at the producer’s luxury lodge at Lake Condor—a resort town and the site of a major musical festival.

The legendary family who runs the festival are the Sarafians, and Jane’s had a longtime crush on their oldest son, Eddie—doltish but sweet. So when a long-distance romance finally sparks between them, she doesn’t hesitate to cross class lines.

But Jane’s feelings about Eddie are thrown into question after she returns to the lake and reconnects with his alluringly intense brother, the dark horse of her placid summer plans. A fellow lover of music—and hater of the game—Fen Sarafian has been ousted from the family and is slumming it at a vinyl record shop. He burns for Jane like a house on fire and will do anything to sabotage his older brother, even if it means taking a wrecking ball to a multi-million-dollar music festival. Or Jane’s heart.

Always Jane was darker than the bright pink and blue cover with the couple and the cute dog running around their feet would lead you to believe. This was not a "cheery" story which I would have assumed given the cover art.

Let's start with Fen. He is the 2nd son of a music industry promoter. His dad's parenting philosophy is to promote success by putting his oldest two kids in competition against one another. Eddie (the oldest) turned to ruthlessness, and Fen chose to bow out. As a result, Fen's relationships with both his father and Eddie have suffered. Eddie seems to have been spoiled, never having to suffer any real consequences in his life. And Fen has taken the brunt of more than one of Eddie's mistakes. Since the two have been competing almost all their lives, Fen is pretty heartbroken to find out that Jane has been seeing Eddie in secret. He knew that she had a crush on Eddie a few summers ago, but he thought that had changed.

Speaking of a few summers ago, Jane suffered an injury when she fell off the dam and into the lake. She hit her head which caused some brain damage affecting her speech. She can talk just fine, but she often has difficulty finding the word she wants to say even if it's a pretty basic word. She has in fact had a crush on Eddie for a long time. Mostly, it seems her crush was superficial, focused on his handsome face more than anything. She insults his intelligence in her own mind even while she's dating him. I mean I liked Jane, but this bugged me. Not all people are going to be on the same level intellectually. I'm aware. But shouldn't you at least aim to be in a relationship with someone who can compliment you or be on similar levels. I certainly would hate to be in a relationship with someone I considered dumb, and maybe even worse than that, I would hate to be in a relationship with someone who thought I was the dumb one. Regardless, I was a little miffed at Jane here.

Jane is also struggling with a few things like some rumors concerning her parentage. Apparently, her biological father could potentially be someone else. Jane is aware of the rumors, and we're never really given a straight answer to this question, but that didn't completely bother me. I suppose the struggle was the point in this case, not the resolution. And hey, not all problems have solutions. But this added depth to Jane as a character.

I usually do not abide cheating books at all. I simply do not find any interest in reading about characters who cannot end one relationship before moving on to the next. So in some ways, I found myself gritting my teeth because Jane should have done the right thing in this situation. At the same time, Eddie was so completely unworthy of Jane with his lies and secrecy that I didn't feel too bad for him. Regardless if cheating is an issue for you, then you might consider knowing up front that it exists. Perhaps what I personally took issue with even more than the actual cheating is the lie that I have been finding in books that if something feels right then it can't possibly be wrong. As a society, we have got to get this out of our heads. I get so frustrated by this lie being perpetuated. Feel good does not equal right, especially when things like morals or ethics are involved. What feels good is often a lie--or at the very least deceiving.

I feel like I should have quite a bit more to say about Always Jane, but it did take me nearly two weeks to write my review. Whoops.

Favorite quotes:

-"...your problem is that you always use a nuclear weapon when a simple knife to the back would suffice." "I like to make sure my adversary is dead."

-"Your brain doesn't speak for all brains."

-...my body was so delighted to see his body--hello, friend...

-"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," she said, grinning. "I'm years ahead. We've got kids already. We travel the world and leave them with Ms. Makruhi. There's cake every weekend. Frida does not sleep with us."

Always Jane was not really at all what I expected it to be. I did enjoy it while I was reading it. I was able to block out some things I normally take issue with in order to just read and enjoy the book, but now that it's over and time to write my review, those things I skipped over aren't as easy to ignore. There's cheating, there's the lie of what feels good has to be right, and there was diversity for diversity's sake which I always find annoying. I did root for Jane and Fen. And Eddie being a kind of crappy human being made it easier not to feel too guilty over the cheating and stuff. Obviously that's just because this is fiction. I do applaud Jenn Bennett for not getting too descriptive (for me). Always Jane gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Always Jane? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 04/03/22

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.

Ball games started this past Monday. Little Girl's team did not do as well as they did during their practice game a few weeks ago. We didn't keep score, but they definitely lost. However, Little Boy's team killed it. Little Boy is just naturally athletic, and Little Girl has to work a little harder on these skills. Tuesday, the big kids had dentist appointments. No cavities. YAY! I took Little Girl to school to check in and then went to the house to work on painting and various tasks. Wednesday, I worked at the house between Baby Boy's morning nap and getting Little Boy from school. Thursday, Little Girl lost another tooth. I think this was her 6th tooth. She's been losing them left and right. It seems like as soon as one comes out another one gets loose. It was also Little Girl's team's turn to "volunteer" at the concession stand at the ball park. I went to work that for two hours. And then Friday, Little Boy's game was cancelled due to some kind of damage to the field they were scheduled to play on (we'd had bad weather Wednesday night), but Little Girl also had a game. The coach told us the score was 4-2, but we lost. Even still the girls played so much better than they did on Monday. Saturday ended up being a rough parenting day. Have you ever had those days where one person is in a bad mood and it radiates out to everyone else? Well that's kind of what happened. And even though I kept trying to reset the day and we did have some good moments, it was overall a challenging and difficult day. Also, Friday was my nephew's birthday. He doesn't read my blog, but I'm wishing him a happy birthday all the same.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: 11th Blog Anniversary Giveaway - Week 4
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Edward and Amelia by Anneka R Walker
Thursday: Review of Bargaining for the Barrister by Anneka R Walker (4 Stars)
Friday: March 2022 EOM Wrap Up

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Always Jane by Jenn Bennett
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2022 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:

To Tame a Cowboy (Colorado Cowboys, # 3)

By: Jody Hedlund

Publication: May 3rd 2022 by Bethany House Publishers

368 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian 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--Brody McQuaid is a broken man, and he knows it. While his body survived the war, his soul did not. Besides loving his little niece, his only other sense of purpose comes from saving the wild horses that roam South Park. Ranchers in the area have taken to killing the horses, which are competing with their cattle to feed on the open grass.

Savannah Marshall is a veterinarian on her family's Colorado ranch. She longs to keep her father happy following the tragic death of her older brother, including marrying a man of his choosing. But days before her wedding, she gets cold feet and disappears to South Park. As she learns more about the destruction of the horses, she joins Brody in an attempt to save the wild creatures. But when Savannah's family and the resentments of the area cattlemen catch up with them both, Brody and Savannah will have to tame their fears if they've any hope to let love run free.

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!

March 2022 EOM Wrap Up

I read 4 books (not including children's books). *These qualify for the 2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
Enchanting the Heiress (Hearts on the Heath, # 3) by Kristi Ann Hunter (potential series Ender)
Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World: How One Family Learned That Saying No Can Lead to Life's Biggest Yes by Kristen Welch
Always Jane by Jenn Bennett
Meet Me in the Middle by Alex Light

I have reviewed 3 books. *These qualify for the 2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
The Heart's Charge (Hanger's Horsemen, # 2) by Karen Witemeyer
A Brush with Love by Mazey Eddings
Bargaining for the Barrister by Anneka Walker

Other Posts:
Sunday Post - 03/13/22
Sunday Post - 03/20/22
Sunday Post - 03/27/22
Top Ten Spring 2022 TBR List
Can't Wait for In a New York Minute by Kate Spencer
Can't Wait for An Unfamiliar Duke (Georgian Gentlemen, # 4) by Sian Ann Bessey
Can't Wait for In Honor's Defense (Hanger's Horsemen, # 3) by Karen Witemeyer
Can't Wait for Never Rescue a Rogue (The Merriwell Sisters, # 2) by Virginia Heath
Can't Wait for Edward and Amelia by Karen Thornell
February 2022 EOM Wrap Up
2022 Series Enders Reading Challenge - March Wrap Up
11th Blog Anniversary Giveaway Week 1
11th Blog Anniversary Giveaway Week 2
11th Blog Anniversary Giveaway Week 3
11th Blog Anniversary Giveaway Week 4

Goals:
I'm ahead on my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 13 out of 52 books (including children's books).
I've read potentially 2 out of 5-10 series enders.