Reviews | But I Smile Anyway...

June 2023 Books #AmReading

30 Jun 2023 14 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Am Reading, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Book Reviews, Goodreads, Netgalley, reading

Not only was I reading this month, but also nervously awaiting reviews of my own book, number 2 in the Ristay Series, Straight As A Jalebi, out on June 1st! Heaven knows how I concentrated on other people’s books when I was so anxious about my own!

Coming Home by Smitha Vishwanath
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Coming Home is a book about self-discovery.
Shanaya is a woman in her late twenties, navigating life in Dubai with a great job in finance. Her life is turned upside down after the sudden death of her mother from cancer.
She returns to India to be with her father and sister and to find herself, too.
Is it a love story?
I’m not sure I would place it solely in the romance category, as the tale has more layers. But there definitely is a slow-burn romance in the offing, too.
Though she is independent, Shanaya has been instructed to meet Suresh, a doctor, who has been deemed a suitable proposal for her. But life in a different country means they have yet to meet. They do meet. But is that the romance which will change her life?
Or is there something more about Jay, an American Indian, heading a project she inadvertently becomes involved in?
I loved the ashram Shanaya visited. I’d love to go someplace like that!
Shanaya has some good friends throughout the story, who we meet, each with their own backstory that helps to give the story more depth.
An interesting story.

Begin Again: The most relatable book of 2023 by Helly Acton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don’t think anyone expects a kebab to be their final downfall, or at least not in how it affects Frankie Mackenzie.
She feels stuck in her life. Inn her job, relationship status, and location. Basically, adulthood sucks.
Then after what she feels is a disastrous first date, She meets with an untimely death.
But, lucky (or unlucky) for her, she’s granted a second chance at life, but with a twist.
She’s given the chance to revisit some major crossroads in her life, to see which change she should have made, and the opportunity to step back into her life with a possibly more positive outcome.
I guess we all have those moments of ‘what if?’ in our lives. Decisions we wish we had taken rather than the ones we did.
I loved how this story explored how the grass may look greener, but it isn’t always, and that we can make our lives what we want from whatever point we decide to make changes.
Frankie’s death by kebab incident allows her to reassess her life and what is important to her, and of course, there is the romantic side, too.
Is Toby really the ‘one that got away? Should she have stuck with rich playboy Callum? Or is nerdy Oli all that he seems, or more?
I romped through this on one sun-soaked day and enjoyed it immensely!

Releasing 6th July, 2023

Tastes Like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had to giggle at the end of this when reading the acknowledgements, especially the line about aunties asking if it was like 50 Shades… As I read some steamier bits, I thought the EXACT same thing!
OMG. Does that mean I am an aunty now??
Okay, back to the book!
I only recently read Dating Dr Dil, so the cast of characters was fresh in my mind and Tastes Like Shakkar was another fantastic addition to the Shakespearean-styled series that Nisha Sharma has crafted.
This time we go Taming of the Shrew.
Bobbi is an event planner hoping to take the reins of the family business she has worked hard to support over the years. But things aren’t going as smoothly as planned, and she needs to prove herself to her uncle while planning her best friend Kareena’s wedding.
Bunty is trying everything he can to avoid becoming the successor to his family business – frozen naan bread. And not any old naan bread, but the best in the US! Instead, he wants to focus on his passion, cooking. Plus, he has to support his best friend through his wedding to the above-mentioned Kareena.
This means they need to be together a lot. And that is a problem because they really don’t get on.
Well, there is crazy hot chemistry, but it’s like a lust/hate relationship… or is it?
I loved the plus-sized heroine, Bobbi, and Bunty, the Punjabi chef/son of the Naan King!
Nisha Sharma touched on some great topics through this story, especially the expectations of society when it comes to looks and familial expectations.
And she took the spice factor to another level!
I am eagerly awaiting the third book, taking the story further with another possible couple within this friendship!
Many thanks to NetGalley and, Harper Voyage, Avon Books for an arc.

Releasing 1st August, 2023

The Women Who Wouldn’t Leave by Victoria Scott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another beautiful story from author Victoria Scott.
Connie has run away from her life in London, back to her mother’s house in a small village, away from prying eyes.
She grew up on the estate before leaving for the bright lights in the capital to live with her father.
She doesn’t know much about the people there, though she knows of them, and neither does she have any interest in getting to know them better.
Matilda has lived in her house on the estate since it was built. She has been there for decades, yet she still doesn’t know her neighbours and isn’t interested in getting to know them. She has her house, her memories and her animals.
Both women have secrets that they’d rather keep to themselves. However, an accident somehow builds a bridge of communication that becomes stronger as time goes on, especially when there is a fear of both women losing their safe spaces.
I loved this beautiful story of friendship and resilience.
Both these characters have a tragedy-filled story behind them, which is heartrending to read, and though they are polar opposites, I loved how they connected and the development of their relationship, despite being from such different generations.
The whole community on the estate is an interesting bunch, and the animals, though noisy, were what ultimately brought them together.
A fantastic read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for an ARC.

Releasing 3rd August, 2023

Join me near publication day, to have a catch up with Mandy when we meet for a Book & A Brew!

The book review will follow, there. Obviously it’s ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!

Releasing 15th August, 2023

The Stolen Hours by Karen Swan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was extremely excited to read this second book in Karen’s Swan’s series. The first showed what a departure it was from her usual stand-alone stories. However, the level of detail and evident research made that a compelling read.
The Stolen Hours was no different. Written at a parallel time to the first, we see events unfold through the eyes of the second of a trio of friends from St Kilda. The first was Effie’s view. This time we learned more about Mhaira.
The oldest daughter of the postmaster, and one of many children, it is high time for her to marry.
Since the island is small and there are scarce prospects, a man is suggested from one of the neighbouring isles.
She meets him and finds some attraction, but confusion sets in as certain feelings she experiences may not be appropriate, especially as they are not all for the man to be her intended.
Back on the isle, there are further problems, which we already know, as a reader, if the first book has been read. Mhaira has several more worries of her own on top of that.
I don’t want to spill the beans, as that would ruin it for a prospective reader.
The journey we started at the end of book one is extended further at the end of this book, with the mystery surrounding the factor’s death on the island, the day the inhabitants had to evacuate, which is left unsolved, obviously to be revealed during the next book, I guess, but we are given plenty more backstory for the characters we got to know in the first book, as well as more of a glimpse into their futures on the mainland.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and cannot wait for the next book!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an ARC.

Releasing 20th July, 2023

Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a retelling of a classic Shakespearean play, Romeo and Juliet, with a twist.
Rosaline is a character mentioned briefly in the play, and this novel builds a whole other side to the story of the romance, which is Romeo and Juliet.
It’s like a twisted fairytale, as everything romantic and heartwrenching is proven to be incorrect and, in fact, tortured, horrific and incredibly sad in those versions of events.
We, as a reader, if we know the original play, are made to question so much. There is enough ambiguity within the play to make a lot of what happens in Fair Rosaline a distinct possibility.
The point is, do we want to believe that there could have been a more sinister plot at play behind the scenes?
I have studied different texts like this, for example, Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, by Tom Stoppard, based upon two characters mentioned in passing in Hamlet. and they create fascinating backstories which may not have been on our Bard’s mind but can add another level of depth to an already well-known story.
I have to say it did hook me and made me feel a bit upset at the thought of Romeo not being who we always thought he was!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books, Manilla Press, for an ARC.

Releasing 3rd August, 2023

The Dance Deception by Becky Ward
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have enjoyed a few books set in reality tv life, specifically using a dance competition as the base for the story, so I was excited to read this.
Kate, our main character, is in a funk at work, and having lost her boyfriend to a colleague, ends up entering a dance competition and leaving her job, with no prospects beyond the possibility of winning the £25,000 prize.
Enter a hot dance partner (or 2). There were ups and downs, followed by a decent conclusion.
Unfortunately, it left me a little flat on the storyline. I wasn’t really given a chance to know the characters. However, I was given plenty of detail when it came to their sexual activity!
You are mere paragraphs into the story before things become rater steamy, and this is more the flavour of the book. Open door scenes aplenty, but not so much substance.
It was an easy read but not necessarily something I would pick up again.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for an ARC.

Releasing 3rd August, 2023

Bad Men: The feminist serial killer you didn’t know you were waiting for by Julie Mae Cohen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve read a few thrillers recently with the whole #MeToo as its motive for women serial killers, so when I read the book blurb, I was intrigued, especially as there was an alternative dimension to this story, compared with the others.
Saffy is one of the protagonists. She is quite a contradiction in terms. A wealthy heiress, she would stoop at nothing to protect her younger sister. Having been wronged in the past, it feels like her mission to rid the world of as many Bad Men as she can. It’s not a pastime, like her charitable work, that she can add to any CV, but she is proud of what she does and the intricate planning involved in all her missions.
What she does feel a bit of a hypocrite about is her crush.
Jonathon is a real crime podcaster, specifically investigating serial killers, and an author, writing about cases he has investigated and, at times, even helped to solve when the police were hitting dead ends. He should be a mortal enemy. Someone able to read her like a book. Someone she should be steering clear of.
But she just can’t help herself.
I read it pretty fast as I turned the pages, learning how Saffy started on her #MeToo crusade before the hashtag even existed and then how their paths crossed and become intertwined.
Lots of twists and turns kept me reading!
I enjoyed it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books, Zaffre, for an ARC.

Releasing 20th July, 2023

Saving the Good News Gazette by Jessie Wells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read The Good News Gazette when I really needed something light-hearted and positive, and it was just the tonic, so I was extremely excited to get a chance to read this sequel to Saving the Good News Gazette.
I mean, who doesn’t want a feel-good paper and a lot of wonderful people in the community clubbing together to make things happen?
This time we enter the story with Zoe, our editor, a year or so into her journey of publishing her own little paper with her friend, Ollie.
There is a little worry about advertising and revenue, but they are hopeful. As with the last one, somehow, Zoe gets reeled into helping with another huge project to save the community’s cinema from being knocked down by a developer.
But she has other things on her mind, in the shape of her boyfriend, Sam, and his rival, and her now work colleague, Daniel…
Plus, there’s a movie being filmed in the village, and the local hooligans are threatening to sabotage any positive steps the community make with their project.
this is a review, not a synopsis, so let me stop there and say I loved this one every bit as much as the first. It was a joy to rekindle relationships with the characters and follow the simmering passions in Zoe’s life!
I have to say that the ending was a bit of a cliff-hanger, but at least that means I know more is coming!
Many thanks to NetGalley, and Harper Collins, UK One More Chapter for an arc.

Releasing 4th August, 2023

So, tell me what you have been reading, and what caught your eye from the above!

Book and a Brew with Ritu – What Would Jane Austen Do by @lcorbettaauthor #NewRelease #BookReview @0neMoreChapter_

20 Jun 2023 8 Comments

by Ritu in Book & A Brew With Ritu, Reviews Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Book and a brew with Ritu, Book Review, Linda Corbett, New Release, What Would Jane Austen Do?

Loving this series!

Today, I am thrilled to welcome Linda Corbett, a fantastic author, and writer friend of mine, to chat about her latest release, What Would Jane Austen do?

Today, I am thrilled to welcome a dear friend and relatively new to publishing author, Linda Corbett on my blog for a cuppa and a bit of a chat about all things bookish, but especially her latest release, What Would Jane Austen Do?

Hello, and welcome to But I Smile Anyway, Linda!! Let’s get you set with a drink, first. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, or maybe a masala chai. I know our hero loved a coffee. I do have a Tassimo if you prefer a fancy coffee?

Thank you, Ritu, for inviting me to your blog! I’m one of those odd people that don’t do hot drinks even though I invented a coffee-drinking hero, so if you’ve got anything in the cold drinks line, that would be fabulous. Or is it too early for a celebratory glass of Prosecco as we both have books coming out in the same month?

I think that Prosecco may be in order in that case!

We can do some lovely homemade biscuits, or my daughter, Lil Princess made fairy cakes! If you’re feeling adventurous, I can get out the chevda, too. It’s a type or Bombay mix!

Homemade fairy cakes sound delicious, thank you!

Now, I know that your latest release brings you up to a tally of two (very good!) published books. Tell us more about your journey to become a published author.

It’s been rather a rollercoaster of a journey over the last ten years. I wrote my first (not very good) attempt at a novel back in 2012, and that’s definitely staying in the drawer! Two years later, I wrote another book that got one full request from an agent. Then another two books followed that got a couple of full requests in between all the rejections. The problem with getting lots of boilerplate rejections is that you have no idea where you’re going wrong: you don’t know what you don’t know. At one point, I paid for a manuscript appraisal – very informative but obviously a significant cost. I missed out on joining the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme in 2017 but joined in 2018, and getting detailed critiques as part of the membership fee was enormously helpful. Then in 2020, I was awarded the Katie Fforde Bursary, which gave me a massive boost of confidence and the impetus to write what became book five. However, it was on the sixth attempt, after 221 rejections, I got that magic yes!

What a journey! That YES was absolutely magic!

Do you have a favourite out of the two that have been published? I know that with your love of guinea pigs, your first book, Love You From A to Z, must be extra special!

Ooh, that’s a tough question! As you know, I’m ever so slightly obsessed with guinea pigs and anything piggy-related, so of course, Love You From A-Z holds a special place in my heart, and it was also my debut novel. However, over the course of writing What Would Jane Austen Do? I’ve become very attached to those characters too, so I don’t think I could possibly choose. Do you have a favourite?

I think I’m a bit like you. It’s hard to choose one, isn’t it? I suppose, with my two so far being linked, I have lived with these characters for a long time, and writing book three too, means that they are all forever in my mind! But Marriage Unarranged is definitely special because that’s where it started!

I always like to ask about your writing space, if you have one. Is it somewhere peaceful, or are you overrun with your fur babies?

I’d love to tell you I had a cosy writing nook or a desk with a fabulous view of the countryside, but that would be a total fib! Being very short means that conventional desks are the wrong height, so I write on my laptop – usually on the sofa, occasionally in the garden. The guinea pigs are in another room, although I can still hear them squeaking when they think they need more treats or attention. Or every time the fridge door opens!

And, has romance always been your favourite genre to read, and write?

I like to read a variety of books – something that makes me laugh out loud is always a tonic, and I enjoy a good mystery or cosy crime, but I always come back to romance. In today’s world where the news is often full of unrest and bad news, you can’t beat a happy ever after, can you? As far as writing is concerned, other than a few short stories, my previous novel attempts are firmly in the romance genre. However, I’d love to have a go at writing a cosy crime one day. Possibly with guinea pigs in…

Now, that I would pay to read!!

Before I go off on more of a tangent, let’s have a catch-up about your latest release, What Would Jane Austen do? I was lucky enough to get an ARC and I loved it! Thank you! (Review below!) What made you want to write a book that ties with the legendary Jane Austen? I can see that Maddy, your main character, takes much solace from her words.

I am a Jane Austen fan, but I can’t claim any credit for the title – that was the brainchild of my lovely editor. She suggested it and asked what I thought. Around the same time, my friend was telling me about her visit to West Horsley Place where they filmed the BBC series Ghosts. Have you been there? It’s a fabulous place! Anyway, the house had been inherited by Bamber Gascoigne from his great-aunt, the Duchess of Roxburghe. It clearly sparked my imagination and these two strands combined. So… Maddy is a massive Jane Austen fan and out-of-the-blue, she inherits a house in the country. Even after she’s lost her job, she takes comfort from Jane Austen’s advice and is very protective of Ms Austen’s reputation. I had great fun dropping in little hints, references and quotes from the Austen canon, but have been assured by readers that you don’t need detailed knowledge of Ms Austen’s works in order to enjoy the book.

Do you think it would be easy living with a writer as moody as our fictional Crime fiction author Cameron Massey (or Luke to those who know him well!)? I loved the irony of his pen first name being an anagram for Romance, though he seems to detest the genre!

I think you’d have to be a strong character to live with Cameron Massey! He enjoys a bit of verbal sparring and detests lukewarm opinions, but luckily my heroine, Maddy, has strong opinions of her own, even though in the early part of the story, the two of them don’t always agree! And of course, she gets to know the real man behind the snarky author image.

And, what would you do if you were to inherit a sprawling mansion, as Maddy does? Would you happily move there for a year, or say no thank you?

As long as it wasn’t completely falling apart, I’d jump at the chance! I’m married to an IT and DIY Expert so he’d have the house sorted in no time. However, had I been living there by myself as Maddy is, I’m not sure I’d have been quite so keen. Luckily for Maddy, she makes lots of new friends so she’s not lonely for too long.

And I’m sure my readers would love to know… what do you have in the pipeline? Is there anything up your sleeves, already?

I am currently tinkering with the book I wrote before Love You From A-Z, but at the same time I’m finding it hard to leave behind the villagers of Cotlington. They’ve been in my head for so long now that they feel like real people! Do you find that as a writer? I’m also tempted to start something new as I’d really like to write another book with guinea pigs in. Decisions, decisions…

I can absolutely relate to that! When I finished Marriage Uarranged, the characters wouldn’t leave me alone. The next two books were never planned, but there you go! And, I do have a few other ideas, including another partly written story that I’d love to complete!

Now, I hope the Prosecco was chilled enough, Linda! I can’t believe we’ve finished a bottle!

Thank you for inviting me, Ritu.

My pleasure 😊

Peeps, I can’t wait to read whatever Linda brings out, next, and the idea of popping back to Cotlington is tempting!

Purchase links follow.

The Blurb

It’s a truth often acknowledged that when a journalist and Jane Austen fan girl ends up living next door to a cynical but handsome crime writer, romantic sparks will fly! When Maddy Shaw is told her Dear Jane column has been cancelled she has no choice but to look outside of London’s rental market. That is until she’s left an idyllic country home by the black sheep of the family, long-not-so-lost Cousin Nigel. But of course there’s a stipulation… and not only is Maddy made chair of the committee for the annual village literary festival, she also has to put up with bestselling crime author –and romance sceptic – Cameron Massey as her new neighbour. When Maddy challenges Cameron to write romantic fiction, which he claims is so easy to do, sparks fly both on and off the page…

Available in ebook & paperback

mybook.to/WhatWouldJaneAustenDo

My Review

What Would Jane Austen Do? by Linda Corbett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You know when you read a book and want to start it all over to feel all the feels?
Well, that was my reaction to What Would Jane Austen Do?
I loved Linda Corbett’s debut and was excited to get my teeth into this second novel, and I was not disappointed.
Maddy Shaw is reeling after losing her agony aunt column, Dear Jane, in a national magazine. She attends one last interview commitment, meeting an extremely moody crime writer with an extremely simple view of romance. (Topical since so many out there have been trying to rubbish our beloved romance genre!)
Life is not going her way, considering she may have to move out of her flatshare with her best friend in London since she has no income until an unexpected bequest in the will of a deceased relative leaves her with rather a lot more than she could ever have expected, considering she never met the infamous Cousin Nigel.
Armed with her meagre belongings, Maddy moves into Meadowhall, a large house, for the requisite twelve months, fully intending to sell up and leave when the year ends, but you know what? You never know what the future will hold…
I loved everything about this book, from the fantastically appropriate Jane Austen quotes that started each chapter to learning more about the lodger she ends up taking in to keep herself financially afloat. Luke has a lot more about him that I won’t mention. You need to read about that yourself!
As the story unfolds, Cousin Nigel is also a dark horse, revealing secret after secret posthumously.
There is the literary festival, which I loved, ghost hunting, and a gorgeous canine hero who will steal your heart!
Many thanks to NetGalley, and Harper Collins, One More Chapter for an ARC.

Author Bio

Linda Corbett lives in Surrey with her husband Andrew and three permanently hungry guinea pigs. As well as being an author, Linda is a member and former Treasurer of Shine Surrey – a volunteer-led charity that supports individuals and families living with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. For many years she also wrote a regular column for Link, a disability magazine, illustrating the humorous aspects of life with a complex disability, and she is a passionate advocate of disability representation in fiction. When not writing, Linda can be found papercrafting, gardening, or cuddling guinea pigs. What Would Jane Austen Do is her second published novel.

Find Linda by clicking the following links!

Social Media Links

https://www.facebook.com/lindacorbettauthor

Tweets by lcorbettauthor

https://www.instagram.com/lindacorbettauthor

May 2023 Books #AmReading

31 May 2023 13 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Am Reading, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Book Reviews, Goodreads, Netgalley, reading

I don’t think I am even going to comment on what ARCs I have, because whenever I think I get to the end of my pile, an other arrives! Still, I am not complaining. It means I have all the more books to share with you!

Keep Her Secret by Mark Edwards
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another captivating read by best-selling psychological thriller author Mark Edwards!
Matthew is in a good place, having rekindled his university romance with his old girlfriend, Helena.
Only, on a trip to Iceland, faced with losing her life, Helena confesses to something which has far-reaching consequences for both their lives.
I can’t say much more about the story because then I would give the twists away, but I can say that I was hooked from the moment I picked this book up! I was reading in the bath, as you do, and before I knew it, the water was cold, and I was nearly at page one hundred! Needless to say, it didn’t take me long at all to finish this book!
I won’t say it was an easy read – which psychological thriller is? But it swallowed you whole, and you just want to keep reading to find out which twist will be revealed next!
There were moments I felt so sorry for Helena, but then doubts crept in and then would get swept away again… And I did feel for Matthew, dragged into a situation that he would never have been in had he not met Helena again after all these years.
But the ending. Wow.
And I always thought rollercoasters had a firm end in sight…

Released 30th May, 2023

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve not read any books by Kuang before, so this was a new-to-me author.
A trainwreck story about an author who hasn’t achieved success, whereas her counterpart has hit the big time.
Being cherry-picked as the diverse writer of the moment, Athena has experienced none of the disappointments and rejections that the average writer does, like her friend June.
June and Athena have spent an inordinate time together, despite not really being friends, and then one day, on a night out, Athena is suddenly not there any more.
A too-tempting opportunity arises, and soon, June, now known as Juniper Song, is also hailed as a literary success, but not without huge bumps and attacks on her conscience following the big time.
This book delves deep into the psyche of an anxious writer and the publishing world. It is very interestingly written but quite niche in its appeal to a mass market.
There are some extreme situations, but they have been executed well.

Released 16th May, 2023

Just Like That: The perfect feel-good romance to make you smile by Nina Kaye
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nina Kaye has done it again with this captivating read!
Jess is an event manager. Not any old event manager but a brilliant one. She’s heading places in her industry. People are trying to headhunt her.
Then a tragedy in her personal life means she has to scale back on her work, leaving her with some less than favourable minor events to organise, rather than the big glitzy ones she has been used to.
And to top it off, she gets to her new main client and has to deal with a grumpy grouch of a man, there too, who seems hell-bent on making her life a misery… or is he?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially as it had not only a build-up of romance and enemies to lovers but cute animals! And how could it not, since the majority of it is set in a wildlife reserve?
Jess is torn between wanting to be the best in her job and fulfilling family duties. I truly felt for her throughout.
Then you have Nick, the grouchy grouch head keeper at the reserve, with whom she has to work closely… Tensions simmer and are built up fantastically through Kaye’s writing.
There is a very sensitive portrayal of learning how to live with a disability and how caring for someone suddenly incapacitated can take its toll on your life.
A fantastic read that I would recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for an ARC.

Releasing 1st June, 2023 (like my book, Straight As A Jalebi!)

Unladylike Lessons in Love: spicy and romantic Regency debut for 2023 perfect for fans of Bridgerton by Amita Murray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ever since Bridgerton hit the screens, I have searched out Regency Romance novels, devouring the Julia Quinn books and several others.
The premise for this book intrigued me, with a woman, the illegitimate child of an English nobleman and his Indian second wife, or mistress, as the rest of the Ton would say, and how she navigates the world of the wealthy in upper-class London.
Lila Marleigh is a fantastic character, full of spunk. She’s carved out her own place in society as the hostess of salon nights, where gambling and drinking take place, as well as some more (in)discreet meetings of lovers and the suchlike.
You can tell she has resigned herself to a life alone regarding relationships, but she has a huge heart, which shows in how she treats her staff, and those around her.
Things go awry with the arrival of a certain ice-blue-eyed gentleman to her salon nights. Ivan looks like he might be trouble, wrapped up in a nobleman’s guise…
I have to say I devoured this in a day and enjoyed the diversity at play, as well as the storyline. And this is another example of how racy those Recency folk were, too!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for an ARC.

Releasing 30th May, 2023

The Little Italian Hotel by Phaedra Patrick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fabulous summer read!
Ginny Splinter spends her days advising the public about all matters in their lives and her evenings enjoying time with her husband, Adrian.
They appear to have a perfect marriage and are on the eve of celebrating their silver wedding anniversary, as well as the impending wedding of their daughter.
Until Adrian drops a bombshell that almost destroys Ginny.
Instead, she picks up the pieces of her life and finds herself on a three-week holiday in a little rustic hotel with four total strangers, each with their own heartache.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Ginny is at that time in her life, about to hit 50, thinking that everything is just as it should be. I guess it’s rare to be in such a position, so when everything comes crashing down around her, I felt huge empathy for her.
The little hotel the motley crew end up in is quaint, lived in, and filled with some secret power that allows each of these guests to open up and accept their lot in life.
I loved Edna, the octagenarian, who brings so much wisdom to the group, what with all her experiences in life.
Did the ending totally convince me? I’m not sure. Maybe I would have liked it tied up a little more unless, of course, Phaedra Patrick is planning a sequel to let us all know what happens!
However, a beautiful book that I raced through easily in a day.
Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for an ARC.

Releasing 20th July, 2023

Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An engaging, frustrating, but great story!
Samantha Gales has returned to Martha’s Vineyard to help her dad and step-mum with some ‘supervision ‘ of her younger teenage brother while they leave for a few weeks. Life hasn’t been easy for her, losing out on a promotion and ending up with no job.
Arriving at home, she is thrown against a hot, bookish guy on the ferry, and a not-so-typical relationship begins.
You see, Sam is not so typical, either. As a woman diagnosed with dyslexia as a teenager, she has struggled to find her niche in life, and that is where the kitchen welcomed her. So to find herself strangely drawn to a guy who appears to love books and one who appears to be way out of her league, that is a frightening situation,
Bennet, or Ben, is in Martha’s Vineyard for the summer with a mystery to solve and hadn’t foreseen meeting a woman in his plans.
I don’t want to tell you the story; this is a review, but needless to say, it was a good read. A woman who has felt rejection keenly over the years, I feel Sam’s pain purely because characters on a page won’t sit still for her. She is a brilliant chef, yet still gets overlooked for so much, not knowing whether her condition or gender are to blame for her stilted rise to success.
And Ben is just a darling! He has his issues, obviously, but to see someone so caring and considerate, despite his own issues, was a pleasure.
There are a couple of steamy scenes, which added a bit of spice, too! And there are those key ‘will-they/won’t they?’ moments, too!
Recently, there has been a slew of books with some neurodivergent MCs at the help. It makes my heart happy to see these stories out there, considering how many people operate in a non-neurotypical manner. Way to go, diversity and inclusive literature!

Releasing 20th July, 2023

Tough Crowd by Andi Osho
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was thrilled to be asked to read Andi Osho’s latest offering, having enjoyed her debut very much,
Tough Crown is well written, funny, and emotional journey for the female MC Abi, who is battling negativity from her mother for her chosen path, becoming a comedian, as well as navigating a new relationship that brings her into new territory of not only being girlfriend but needing the approval of children…
I loved Abi. She knows what she wants in life, and despite everything, is trying her hardest, even though there are successes all around her, sometimes ready to make her vow never to cross a stage again. And to be thrown into the role of ‘Dad’s new girlfriend’, well, that’s gotta be pretty tough for someone who never thought they wanted kids!
There is a great supporting cast, including Will, her new beau, who could be The One, but with some excess baggage.
The kids, Elle and Elsie are two opposite characters, but they truly make Abi work for her own money, Elle especially.
But I loved Abi’s father. Only has a small role within the book, but he is a star, ever her cheerleader, and someone who has his own mini-character arc within the book.
This a good insight into the stand-up comedy circuit gigs and how those comedians struggle to make it big… if only it were that easy to just stand on stage and rattle off a few jokes…
A great read. Again. Well done, Andi Oshi!
Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for an ARC.

Releasing 20th July, 2023

A Midlife Gamble by Cary J. Hansson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was honoured to be sent an ARC of this book to complete the Midlife trilogy I have devoured.
It is always great to revisit characters who feel like old friends, and this one is no different.
We meet Kat, Helen and Caro again, after that fateful holiday, where their friendship showed its frailty after thirty years.
However, friendship, true friendship, can overcome even the biggest hurdles.
There are old moments revisited, new battles to overcome, as well as a brilliant surprise trip to Vegas, where so much happens.
Ultimately a book about friendship, growing older and how friendships have to change, and the importance of trust and honesty.
Rather like the beautiful Japanese are of Kintsugi, repairing broken things with threads of gold, we see the fragments of this friendship slowly being glued back together with gold… but is gold strong enough to keep it together?

Published 17th May, 2023

What Would Jane Austen Do? by Linda Corbett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You can read my review soon when the lovey Linda comes to visit me for a Book & A Brew with Ritu!

Releasing 16th June, 2023

Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Okay, so I admit to having this on my TBR shelf a tad longer than I wanted, but finally got to read it, and I enjoyed it!
Kareena is older than the average Single Indian Female and has a deadline looming. If she doesn’t get engaged or married, she forfeits a chunk of money that would help her with her dream of buying a certain house.
Prem is a cardiologist who might mend broken hearts but not emotionally broken ones. He has no belief in love, even though that’s what his name stands for. He’s about to lose grasp of an investor through an unfortunate incident that went viral, and his dreams of a special medical centre are fading.
Of course, they meet/clash/whatever you call it.
And they find themselves in a bit of a predicament, where they could use each other, only they appear to hate one another and have totally opposite views on love and marriage.
But do they?
Honestly, I love a book with South Asian characters. I love the whole familial dynamics at play, being able to recognise so many of the characteristics of different members of the extended family and the expectations put upon youngsters by the elders.
Nisha Sharma has written a great story here with the Shakespearean classic, Taming of the Shrew, as the backbone of the story.
There is much to love, a fantastic extended cast of characters, and the promise of more stories spun around the same faces you root for.
Oh, and it is a bit steamy, too, if you catch my drift! If you can look beyond a rather funny nickname for a certain appendage, you will surely enjoy!

Instant Karma by Kay Bratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I adore these Hart’s Ridge books by Kay Bratt and was thrilled to get a copy of Instant Karma, book 5 in the series, as an ARC.
This time, along with keeping up with Taylor Gray, the main character whose thread runs through all these books, we get to know more about her sister, Jo, and her son. Until now, readers haven’t had a chance to get to know much about her, other than that she is a single mother, so getting the background on her was another stepping stone to being immersed in the Gray family.
It was wonderful to see how Kate, Taylor’s mother, continues to build on her dream of an animal sanctuary, meaning we get to meet all wonderful animals, too!
Since there is always a crime or mystery to solve, we also have a chance to peep into the life of Faire, one of the long-term residents of Hart’s Reige, but someone who has become an almost recluse, with her bird, Baby, as her main company. Fearful of a lonely future, with not much money left in her coffers, Faire offers a room in her house to a lodge, which brings more than just rent money to the table.
Another truly wonderful read!
I can’t wait for number 6, and am even more excited knowing there are 8 in total!

Releasing 29th July, 2023, Kiltie will be joining me for another Book & A Brew, though it might be with Bubbles!

Another ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me! I will share the review with you in that post!

The List by Yomi Adegoke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ola and Michael are the #BlackLove poster couple. A hot, young pairing who seems to have it all, with just weeks to their wedding, when Ola finds something extremely disturbing about her fiance.
Someone on Twitter has been collating a Google Spreadsheet named The List, with men on there deemed toxic.
And her man is on there.
A topical book, given all the slurs and allegations that get slung around due to the internet’s openness, damaging innocent people’s reputations.
Equally as important is the fact that though some men may be innocent, there are plenty who aren’t, yet still get the chance to either sweep accusations under the carpet or, within a few months, have managed to shine their tarnished images once again and appear unblemished.
I enjoyed this book, and though the middle may have been a little slower, the build-up was fantastic, and the ending… well. Wow. Honestly wasn’t expecting that!
Many thanks to NetGalley and 4th Estate for an ARC.

Releasing 20th July, 2023

A Game of Romance and Ruin by Ruby Roe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My, oh my, Ruby Roe, you naughty girl!
I thought the first book was risque, but I was mistaken.
Graphic Sapphic taken to another level!
A Game of R&R is book two in the Girl Games series, and though it could be read as a stand-alone, it is better if you read the first to get the backstory, which is referred to on multiple occasions throughout book 2.
The story is an extremely steamy but emotional second chance romance for Stirling and Morrigan, who have a chequered history with one another.
One is a scorned lover, the other a hacked-off princess. But they both feel a magnetic pull between them, regardless of all situations. And as a reader, we feel that pull, too!
Roe’s world-building is fantastically intricate, and the level of detail involved in the story is mindblowing.
I loved getting back into this series,
It had me gripped from the off.
But choose carefully where you are sitting to read it! 🥵🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Releasing 22nd June, 2023

Releasing 11h July, 2023

No review yet as Gillian and her fab newest release will be featured on a Book & A Brew with Ritu in the near future!

Releasing 2nd October, 2023.

Another one where I will hold my review until Jodie visits for a Book & a Brew with Ritu in September! Another lovely. quick read!

So, tell me what you have been reading, and what caught your eye from the above!

Keep Her Secret by Mark Edwards @mredwards #BlogTour #BookReview @fmcmassociates

30 May 2023 5 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blog Tour, Blogger, Blogging, Book Review, Keep Her Secret, Mark Edwards

Today I am bringing you a fantastic psychological thriller by four million copy best selling author Mark Edwards, Keep Her Secrets.

The Blurb

The perfect girlfriend. The dream holiday. The most deadly secret …

Standing on top of a mountain in Iceland, Matthew can’t believe his luck. Not only is he finally taking the trip of his dreams, but joining him for the trip is his college girlfriend, Helena. He knew the moment he saw her at their college reunion, after all those years, that he wanted a second chance. While they’ve only been back together for a week,
he knows this is it. She’s the one. That is, until Helena takes one step back, trying to get the perfect picture, and falls …
As Matthew scrambles to the edge he finds Helena precariously hooked by her rucksack belt on a small ledge. Desperate to get help, Matthew nearly misses Helena cry, ‘I deserve this’, just before she is rescued.
Suddenly Matthew’s perfect girlfriend isn’t looking so perfect after all… but when she confesses her secret to him, he knows he’ll do anything to keep her safe. Only to discover that he wasn’t the only one listening to her confession.

With blackmail in the air, Matthew must decide – how far is too far to keep her secret?

My Review

Keep Her Secret by Mark Edwards
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another captivating read by best-selling psychological thriller author Mark Edwards!
Matthew is in a good place, having rekindled his university romance with his old girlfriend, Helena.
Only, on a trip to Iceland, faced with losing her life, Helena confesses to something which has far-reaching consequences for both their lives.
I can’t say much more about the story because then I would give the twists away, but I can say that I was hooked from the moment I picked this book up! I was reading in the bath, as you do, and before I knew it, the water was cold, and I was nearly at page one hundred! Needless to say, it didn’t take me long at all to finish this book!
I won’t say it was an easy read – which psychological thriller is? But it swallowed you whole, and you just want to keep reading to find out which twist will be revealed next!
There were moments I felt so sorry for Helena, but then doubts crept in and would get swept away again… And I did feel for Matthew, dragged into a situation he would never have been in had he not met Helena again after all these years.
But the ending. Wow.
And I always thought rollercoasters had a firm end in sight…

About the Author

Mark Edwards writes psychological thrillers in which scary things happen to ordinary people. He has sold over 4 million books since his first solo novel, The Magpies, was published in 2013 and has topped the bestseller lists
numerous times. His other novels include Follow You Home, Here To Stay and The House Guest. He has also published six books co-authored with Louise Voss. His most recent book is The Hollows, published in July 2021.
Mark lives in the West Midlands, England, with his wife, their three children and two cats.

He tweets at @MrEdwards

Website: markedwardsauthor.com

Book and a Brew with Ritu – Instant Karma Book 5 in the Hart’s Ridge Series by @kaybratt #NewRelease #BookReview #BookAndABrew

26 May 2023 10 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Book & A Brew With Ritu, Book Review, Hart's Ridge, Instant Karma, Kay Bratt

Yes, we are back with another Book & A Brew with Ritu post!.

Today, I am thrilled to welcome a dear friend and hugely prolific author, Kay Bratt, to my blog for a cuppa and a bit of a chat about all things bookish, but especially her latest release, Instant Karma, book five in her Hart’s Ridge series. It’s out TODAY!

Hello, and welcome to But I Smile Anyway, Kay! I will apologise in advance, but I am feeling a fangirl moment happening over here! Let’s get you set with a drink first. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, or maybe a masala chai. I do have a Tassimo if you prefer a fancy coffee? Or maybe a sweet, iced tea? I know that is big over the pond, and I have been practising!

Ha! You know how I love my Southern sweet tea! But I grew up drinking hot tea, black with tons of sugar, and it’s still my comfort drink. Let’s go with that.

We can have some lovely homemade biscuits or my daughter, Lil Princess made fairy cakes! If you’re feeling adventurous, I can bring out some pakoras!

I’m all about fairies! Have you seen some of my fairy houses I’ve put out this year? I really do it for the grandkids. Making those memories of the silly Nana who had fairy houses tucked around her yard and fairy doors on trees.

Oh, what a special thing to do! Well then, it better be fairy cakes!

I am so thrilled to have you over, Kay. You have been a real inspiration to me over the last few years. When I was invited to join the Book Tribe group on Facebook by Amanda Prowse (My Book Friends, now), I didn’t realise how many friendships I would make, as well as learning about so many more amazing authors, you being one! I’ve read many of your books, and you write on such varied themes. Can you tell us a little bit about how and why you started writing?

First, let me say that when you talk about making friends with us authors, you really mean it. It’s not just an author/reader relationship. We are truly friends and can feel the love you send over the pond to most of us. And we were so happy to welcome you into the circle of being a published author! You worked so hard on your first book, and it was exciting to see it so well received.

Thank you so much. I really appreciate that. 😊

Like you, as a child, I loved to write short stories and poetry.

Do you remember your first short story? Tell us about it!

You know, I don’t remember my exact first story, but I will never forget an early poem which was about the relationship between my brother and me as children! I wrote it when I was around 9 years old. It was a typical love-hate relationship, so the poem showed that, too! And one memorable story I wrote was a fictional account of getting married and how I was feeling as a young British Asian girl. It won Highly Commended in a writing competition at school, too! I guess that segued into my Chickpea Curry Lit-style novels!

I remember mine! It was written when I was 11. My sister and I had just gone through a terrible tragedy in which we saw our best friend mowed down and killed by a car as we were all crossing the highway. The teacher knew I was shut down and asked me to write it out, to express it on paper.

I’ve always found that writing my feelings out helps immensely, so I am not bogged down with negative or worrying thoughts or energies. I guess it is why I blog.

As a young adult, journaling was the way that I worked through the hard things I was dealing with in life. I took that into my adulthood, and when I spent nearly five years living in China and volunteering in the local orphanage, those journal entries became my first published book, called Silent Tears; A Journey of Hope. A few years later, I was back on home ground and off and running with my writing career. I now have 31 books published, with three more to come before the end of 2023.

You really are an inspiration to me, Kay. And you’ve explored quite a range of genres in your writing too. Is there a favourite of the different genres you have written?

While now I concentrate on writing women’s fiction and small-town mystery, I truly loved writing historical fiction set during the Cultural Revolution in China in the mid to late 60s. The research I lost myself in was fascinating, especially because of China’s closed-door policy. Most of the world had no idea about the travesties that were happening there at the time. That book is called The Palest Ink.

Ritu, when writing your first novel, did you enjoy the research you put into it?

I did. A lot of the background, including locations and general information, as well as stigmas and family relationships, were things I live with daily. Though none of the books I write are autobiographical in any way, there is still a lot of ‘me’ in them. But I did research to make sure my memory wasn’t skewed since the books are set in the year 2000 and onwards. It was like a trip down memory lane, getting old photos out, as well as talking to different people to make sure I was on the right track. With my soon-to-be-released book, Straight As a Jalebi, given the MM romance within it, I also had to research India Legislation, as well as get sensitivity readers to make sure I was on the right track. And now, I am interviewing people to help me formulate the basis of the storyline for book three!

I would love to give you a little space to talk about the fantastic work you do with rescuing and fostering animals, especially about your special fur babies. I know they take up a huge space in your heart, as well as a lot of your time. It amazes me how you still manage to write so much, given all you do for them!

I’m a director with a small rescue called Yorkie Rescue of the Carolinas, and I use my platform to advocate for displaced pups. We have also fostered more than a dozen dogs, with some of them ending up permanent Bratt Pack members. I’ve been known to put myself in dangerous situations to make life better for a dog and have negotiated myself out of trouble for it more than I can count.

I love to read the positive updates, but it can break a person’s heart when you post about some of the pups in need of homes!

I always like to ask about your writing space. Is it somewhere peaceful, or are you overrun with your fur babies?

Because I’m an empty nester, it’s peaceful for the most part, but my three fur kids are always with me in my office. They nudge me now and then to remind me to take a break and walk around, take them outside and stretch our legs.

Ritu, what is your writing space like?

I am lucky enough to have a lovely writing and reading space on a floor of my own in our home! We live in a dormer bungalow which means most of the living space is downstairs. However, the attic was converted into a strange-shaped room with a little toilet up there, too. Usually, I can be up here undisturbed, but Sonu Singh does like to come and sit with me, either to keep me company or to miaow at me, asking for treats! Sometimes he commandeers my chair or gets on the desk to block my work, but for the most part, he lays there being my furry muse!

Now, I could talk about animals all day. I know Sonu Singh would love that, but the reason you are here is so we can have a little catch-up about your latest release, Instant Karma. This is the fifth book in an eight-book series, set in the fictional town of Hart’s Ridge. I have loved each of the books so far. Again, this is a genre different to your past books. Each one has a link to a crime story that might or might not be inspired by a real event. How do you go about researching these crimes?

The research comes naturally to me because I’m a true crime addict! I love shows like Forensic Files, 48 Hours, Snapped, and all those good ones. For the first book in the series, I was on the interstate doing a six-hour round trip to pick up grandkids and was listening to HLN on satellite radio and heard the episode about a girl who was driving home from work and missing. I thought it would make a great novel, and my character, Joni Stott, was born.

Oh, it was a great read, so your inspiration worked well!

I love Taylor Gray, the female main character who is the thread to tie all the books together. I love how you have woven her character development into each book, as well as introducing us to the different members of her family as the series develops. Do you feel a special affinity to any of them, in particular?

Taylor is probably the one I connect with the most, as from the time I was growing up until I turned around 50, I was the sibling that was the natural-born peacemaker and tried to bring everyone together for family events. I finally realized that it took too much of my own emotional energy, and I eventually let the pieces of our fractured family fall where they may.

Taylor came from a broken family, and I did too, and like her, I worked hard to climb out of the mire and make something of myself. I have this one vivid memory that lingers around me all the time. I was around eighteen and had fled the apartment that I shared with my husband after he’d physically attacked me. He took my purse, my car keys, and there weren’t cell phones then. I ended up sitting outside a gas station on the curb, crying as I hugged my knees and wished I had somewhere safe to go. People passed me, looking at my face, then looking away quickly. I wished so badly that one would stop and just ask if they could help.

I was financially broke and emotionally broken, but something inside me wouldn’t let me give up. I went back and did another five years with my abuser, but I kept improving myself as I worked through each situation. Now, three decades later, I’m married to a wonderful man (just had our 29^th anniversary). I’ve had a successful career in Human Resources, a fulfilling mission in China, and I’ve sold over a million books.

Who would’ve thought!?

As I said, you are an inspiration!

Back to the Hart’s Ridge series, all three of Taylor’s sisters have tiny bits of personality from my own sisters, though I’ll never tell which ones to which sister! That could get me in a load of trouble! I do like to explore family issues that are loosely inspired by my own experiences. For example, you’ll see many of my books have a mother-daughter conflict and the journey to forgiveness they take, and I think that’s my soul yearning for a better relationship with my own mom.

Ritu, does your book have any of your life experiences mirrored in the themes?

I think, as writers, there is always a bit of us in our writing. I can recognise traits that I have given to certain characters that may or may not mirror people I know, but there is no one character who is based on one person. Though the father figure, Mohinder has a lot of qualities like my own Pops. And I may have heard of events that inspire my stories, but none so far have mirrored my life or that of anyone I know. The third one will be closer to home as its main subject is infertility, and we went through quite a journey to fall pregnant. My two kids are my miracles. They are hard work as teens, but like blessings to us. While the story won’t be mine, it brings back a lot of feelings from a very tough time in my life, so is hard but also cathartic to write.

A bit of a topic change again! There are always dogs in the books, which I love, and this time we even get a horse and a special bird, too, called Baby. Do you try and write an animal character into each book you write?

I really don’t intentionally set out to write an animal character, but it sort of happens as I’m fleshing out the characters. Animals are a big part of my own life, and I think I can’t imagine a set of people where at least one of them doesn’t have a pet. Animals are such amazing gifts from God, put here to bring people comfort.

Oh, I 100% agree with you on that! Sonu Singh has been a godsend to us, and we would love a canine companion, but while we are all working or at school, it would be unfair to have a pet who has to be carted to care everyday or home alone for long times. We just enjoy any time we get with friends and the neighbour’s pups!

I was honoured and thrilled to have a little mention as a character in book 4, Borrowed Time (check me out as a lawyer!), and I saw Ritu mentioned at the beginning of this book, too. Thank you for that, Kay. You truly made my day when I read that! She even had curly hair and loved to smile!

Yes! I had fun putting you in there, Ritu! I’m so glad you recognized her, and hopefully, you picked up on the soft and encouraging personality I gave her that mirrors yours!

You’re making me blush!

Do your books include any cameos from your real-life family or friends? Don’t you find yourself sometimes wanting to stick someone in there and be mean to them? (ha .. kidding..maybe)

Hee hee! Cheeky! There are so many times when I want to, but I just know it will get back to that person in a roundabout way! I did tell my lovely beautician that a character in book three may have a similarity to her… but no meanness!

Now, I know there are at least three books left in the series. Are these all you are working on at the moment, or do you have other projects on the go? (I don’t know how you do it all, honestly!) I know my readers would love to know!

Nope! I’m also working on writing a prequel to the series, as well as a book in an upcoming multi-author series. This is the year of writing myself into the ground, but I have big plans to relax a bit more next year. My close friend tells me I say that every year, but we’ll see!

I look forward to that! And I also agree that you need to have a little breathing space, as well, as much as I love your books, I know how much it can take out of you to write.

Looks like your teacup is empty there. I would offer you a top-up, but with our time differences, I know it may be hard to stay up for another!

Thank you so much for popping over, Kay, it has been a pleasure to have you here on But I Smile Anyway. 😊

Very thankful that you invited me, Ritu, and happy you are in my life.

The feeling is mutual, Kay!

Peeps, I do hope you get the Hart’s Ridge bug, because it is a pleasure to catch!

Now, as I mentioned before, I was lucky enough to read an ARC of Instant Karma, so let me share the blurb and my review.

The Blurb

In Instant Karma, the fifth book of the Hart’s Ridge small-town mystery series by Kay Bratt, Deputy Taylor Gray is hoping for a break after the recent crime wave that hit her town. But when a stranger shows up unexpectedly, she realizes that danger never takes a holiday.

Meanwhile, Cate Gray is cautiously optimistic in her hope for a solid future, and when karma finally seems to be on her side, she dares to dream of her own happily ever after.

But in Hart’s Ridge, nothing is ever as it seems. As secrets are uncovered and tensions rise, readers will be on the edge of their seats, unable to put down this suspenseful tale.

If you’re a fan of small-town mysteries with well-drawn characters and an engrossing plot, then you won’t want to miss Instant Karma, the latest book in the Hart’s Ridge series.

Instant Karma is book five of the new Hart’s Ridge small-town mystery series, written by Kay Bratt, million-copy best-selling author of Wish Me Home and True to Me.

My Review

Buy a copy of Just Friends For Now, HERE!

Author Bio

As a writer, Kay used writing to help her navigate a tumultuous childhood, followed by a decade of abuse as an adult. After working her way through the hard years, Kay emerged a survivor and a pursuer of peace–and finally found the courage to share her stories. She is the author of more than a dozen full length books, with ten of those published by Lake Union Publishing. Kay writes women’s fiction and historical fiction, and her books have fueled many exciting book club discussions. Her works have been translated into German, Korean, Chinese, Czechoslovakian, and Estonian.

As a rescuer, Kay currently focuses her efforts on animal rescue and is the Director of Advocacy for Yorkie Rescue of the Carolinas. As a child advocate, she spent a number of years volunteering in a Chinese orphanage, as well as provided assistance for several nonprofit organizations that support children in China, including An Orphan’s Wish (AOW), Pearl River Outreach, and Love Without Boundaries. In the USA, she actively served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for abused and neglected children in Georgia, and spear-headed numerous outreach programs for underprivileged children in the South Carolina area.

As a wanderer, Kay has lived in nearly three dozen different homes, on two continents and in states from coast to coast in the USA. She’s traveled to Mexico, Thailand, Malaysia, China, Philippines, Central America, Bahamas, and Australia. Currently she and her soulmate of more than 25 years enjoy life in their forever home on the banks of Lake Hartwell in Georgia, USA.
Kay has been described as southern, spicy, and a little sassy. Social media forces her to overshare and you don’t want to miss some of the antics that goes on with her and the Bratt Pack.

Find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and then buckle up and enjoy the ride. You can find a full list of her published works at www.kaybratt.com — To be notified when new books are released, please sign up for my monthly email newsletter at www.kaybratt.com