“A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. “
Colin Powell
Thanks for that Spidey.
I’ve been doing a lot of dreaming over the last few years.
There are the dreams of a bigger, more organised house, the dreams of being able to jet off to wherever we fancy for holidays, the dreams of being able to see my nephews without the need for a flight, the dreams of becoming a writer…
Some dreams can come true just by time passing, some need a little effort, some need some initiative.
So, the holiday one… well, one day we’ll be able to have saved up enough that we can just swan off whenever…
The house one, Marie Kondo is helping me organise, and we are in the throes of deciding… extension or move?
Seeing my nephews… well, they are in a different country. It’s never going to be easy, but at least I can feel happy at the fact that we will see them in May, and I can finally cuddle my newest baby nephew, who will be two months off being a year old by then!
But the writer dream… well, that’s the one that is mine, and one that only I can push for.
So I have tried my hardest. That first book is written, it has been read by two, and is being read by a couple of others too. And I have entered it into a literary competition, and sent off my first agent submission… eek!
I’m not totally oblivious to the fact that there is a high chance that I shan’t get signed after just one submission, so I shall submit to more… but in case there is still nothing, I have been gathering quotes for professional edits and critiques… so if it happens, I am ready for the Indie adventure.
It’s not easy though. Going Indie can cost you a lot, so my next aim is to slowly fill my writer’s pot with any spare money I have, and I have even requested to Hubby Dearest that instead of presents for me, a donation to the pot would be the best gift!
And to improve my craft, I have started a writers course, to develop my art…
See. I am working on my dreams!
So… tell me, what is your biggest dream, right now, and what are you doing to try and make it come true?
Well, imagine my surprise to receive this notification in my email yesterday…
Hi Ritu
Congratulations! You have been nominated for Best Book Blogger at the Annual Bloggers Bash Awards 2019!
Well! I have to say, I wasn’t expecting that! Not really considered myself to be a Book Blogger, but obviously one of you lovely folks out there thinks so, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Not expecting a win, let alone placing in this category, as it is such a big one, with a lot of blogs out there who are simply amazing at the whole book blogging thing, but still… you never know!
One nominee from each category will be shortlisted and put forward for the Best Overall Blog category by a set of judges and the committee. The nominations process will be open until 31stMarch 2019. All nominations will then be open to a public vote, which will open on 10thApril 2019 and will close on 24thApril 2019.
And speaking of the Bash… have you nominated/got your tickets? If not, here is all the info you need, at the moment!
The Annual Bloggers Bash is a yearly blogging event which takes place on Saturday 15thJune 2019 at the Grange Wellington Hotel in London. We’re now in our 5thyear and have had attendees from all over the UK, Europe, the US, Canada and even Australia!
To find out more about this year’s event, click on the link below to be taken to our website.
We have already sold a number of tickets for the event, and with limited spaces we are selling them on a first come, first served basis. Early Bird prices for the day are set at the bargain price of just £20, purchased via PayPal.
And in that time I have managed to devour eleven (yes, that’s ELEVEN!) books.
I can thank my mile-long TBR list, as well as some fantastic new manuscripts that NetGalley approved for me to be an ARC reader!
Now I’m just going to pop a little photo here to show you what I have been reading…
See.
Told you I’d been busy! There was, of course, a reason for my ability to read so much, during term time. I credit that to a horrible sickness bug that rendered me prone to my bed, when not hugging the lavatory… but you don’t want to know about that!
So, the books.
I am giving you my reviews and a link to my GoodReads review, and if not available yet, a publication date.
My first book by Ruth Hogan, and I really enjoyed it. A tale of a mother and a daughter, told by one person, but two perspectives. Tilly the young girl, and Tilda the adult. Queenie Malone’s Paradise Hotel is a story about ghosts. Past and present, and the ability to see them. Their ability to help a confused young woman to see her past more clearly, and her present and future with no regrets. A touching read that made me think a little of Sixth Sense!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Two Roads books for allowing me to have an arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
A beautiful set of short stories from a favourite author of mine! Great to dip into when you can’t commit to a longer book, but want something that will give you that tingle.
Wildflower Heart is the first of Grace Greene’s books that I have read, and I was far from disappointed.
A story of a damaged woman, scarred, physically and emotionally, from situations in her life, including the disappearance and subsequent death of her mother, and then the loss of her husband, in a gruesome accident which injured her as well. After a long time she finds herself healing in some way, due to Wildflower House, the project her father buys as his forever home, in his retirement. I don’t want to go into too much detail, but suffice to say, I felt sadness, joy, anger, frustration and hope whilst reading. I am now keenly awaiting the sequel, wanting to know what happens next in Kara’s Wildflower journey!
Many thanks to NetGalley, and Grace Greene for the Arc, in exchange for an honest review.
I’m not quite sure what I was expecting when I requested this book, but I have to say I was intrigued… I did have to read it in small spurts rather than in one or two sittings, as some areas were rather graphic! I certainly have more of an idea about particular erotic activities now! And I definitely had to be careful that my child wasn’t trying to read over my shoulder! A sometimes funny, sometimes uncomfortable read, but a page-turner, nonetheless! Published 21/02/19
My rating: 5 of 5 stars Okay, so yesterday I spent the day reading Pretty Broken Things in anticipation of reading Fierce Fragile Hearts, and I am glad I did.
What a touching, often heart-wrenching story, told, this time, from the viewpoint of Suzanne, a victim of childhood abuse.
We experience the maturing of a friendship between three girls growing into women, and share with Suzanne the slow acceptance of what happened, and how she learns to deal with the cards life dealt her, all the time, an inner strength growing within her.
I really enjoyed reading this book and devoured it in a few hours.
Thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for providing me with an Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars I literally read this in the space of two sittings in one day!
An easy to read story about Bryony Masters, who is trying desperately to find her older sister who ran away when she was a little girl.
I loved how it was kept lighthearted, with the manner in which she decides to find her sister, and the antics of her and the great characters who support her.
Of course, there is a love interest to keep the romantics among us happy too.
And Biggie Small, the pug – what an adorable character! I wanted to be able to pet him myself and take selfies too!
With thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review
My rating: 2 of 5 stars I wish I could give this more but I’m sorry. I can’t. A sad story, but I felt annoyed so much. This happening in the 2000s… It feeds on all the stereotypes of an arranged marriage. I wanted Harleen to get a backbone. And the editing… Not good.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars What a beautiful book! I was most definitely Enchantée! I do love a bit of historical fiction. Add a dash of magic, a sprinkling of romance and a splash of conflict, and you have a most wonderful, and (sorry to use the word again) enchanting story. I have heard an awful lot about this book and seen it in the ‘to be read’ piles of a few others I follow and was so grateful to have been given the opportunity to read something so magical in advance. The story of Camille and her sister, left bereft by the death of their parents, with a brother sinking deep into debt, and the claws, of a mysterious debtor, kept me gripped. Weaving in the revolution, the beauty of Paris, the mystique of Versailles and the pure magic of those who had the knowledge, the story captivated me. I was, of course, bowled over by the dashing Lazare – a hero who had morals as well as looks. There are a host of secondary characters who intrigue a reader too, Recommend it? Yes, definitely!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Published 21/02/19
And there you have it.
Lots of Ritu Reads, sometimes recommends, sometimes not!
