But I Smile Anyway…

No way has October left the building already?

Another busy one. (Yes, I know. When is the world of Ritu not busy?) School has finished for the October half-term, and I have been preparing for the release date of In God’s Hand, which is on 5th November! It is Diwali and Halloween today, so Happy Diwaloween! But, as Sikhs, we celebrate Bandi Chorr Diwas, which falls tomorrow, on 1st November. I also got diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, so there’s another interesting string to my bow.

The big question is, what did I read, and did I manage to write anything?

I started the month with one NetGalley ARC and finished it with NONE! I have been reading physical books from my TBR shelf, and it’s been great perusing my shelves to choose my next read!

I tried very hard to write something for my next project, but if I am honest with you, school has taken over my brain, at the moment. Plus I’m getting to grips with promoting In God’s Hands! Words will flow, soon enough! And, I’m having some interesting new ideas, right now, that may or may not be connected to the current series…

I read eleven books in total. Making my yearly total 97 so far!

Someone Like You by Sandy Barker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have a real soft spot for this series and loved jumping back onto Matchmaking Land with Poppy and her gang!
This time, matchmaker extraordinaire Poppy has to match Raff, recently crowned Britain’s Best Baker, without him knowing by one of his best friends and her co-worker, with the assistance of his other best friend, Gaby.
Matching without someone knowing is hard enough, but adding a friend discovering feelings for their friend after the matchmaking journey has begun is a whole lot more crazy.
Throughout the story, we have Poppy’s POV, and I found it lovely. She is the thread through the series, and we get to learn more about how she is getting on in life, as well as some important characters from previous books.
We have romance, friends to lovers and CHRISTMAS! What’s not to love?
It’s a fantastic addition to the series!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Releasing 12th November, 2024

The Ex-Mas Holidays by Zoe Allison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve wanted to read this for a while, and when I realized the second book, which is kind of linked, was due out, I sped it further up my TBR pile, and I am so glad I did!
Two exes (I’m not spoiler-ing there, it’s in the title!), Maya and Sam end up bumping into one another in a rather inopportune way, and this paves the path for an interesting set of circumstances where we see them both struggle with old feelings, new feelings and a whole load of barriers that come in their way, in the name of a girlfriend (Sam) and a father who has high aspirations (Maya).
Slow burn, lots of sizzle, dry wit and humour, and cuteness overload, and all in a snowy, Christmassy setting!
I truly adored this book, and now I cannot wait to dive into the next one, The Wedding Engagement, as I want to know what happens to the other characters in this fab read!

The Wedding Engagement: An utterly laugh-out-loud brother’s-best-friend rom-com, brand-new for 2024! by Zoe Allison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my, Zoe Allison, what spice!
I was thrilled to read The Wedding Engagement and to learn what happened to Liv and Arran, whom I had already met in her previous book, The Ex-Mas Holidays.
Liv and Arran have known each other since childhood. Arran is Liv’s twin brother’s best friend, and she’s been holding somewhat of a candle for him for a while.
Arran has not long got out of a relationship, with a broken engagement, and a gorgeous little boy, Jayce, in his life.
There is chemistry between these characters, though they both have their reasons for not taking the first step towards admitting any attraction. Then they get thrown together to help arrange the Sten do for Liv’s brother, Sam, and her best friend, Maya.
The sizzle starts and can be felt intensely, coming to an (ahem) climax in the second half of the book.
A typical friends-to-lovers story filled with slow-burn chemistry that a reader can really feel! I raced through this book in a couple of sittings and LOVED it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for an ARC.

Released 8th October, 2024

Marriage & Masti by Nisha Sharma
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the third in the If Shakespeare Were An Auntie series, and I think this was the spiciest yet!
The third couple in the friendship circle finally gets together, as Veera and Deepak find themselves in a strange situation that crosses family and cultural expectations, as well as business aspirations.
Veera and Deepak are both best friends, and genuinely lovely people. They just can’t see beyond that friendship, and when they do, they can’t fathom the fact that the other may be feeling the same.
Loved it!

A Wish in the Wind: The Wishing Tree Series Book 17 by Kay Bratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love the Wishing Tree series, and Kay Bratt’s next instalment was another feel-good story that added layers to the community stories.
Hunter Glenn has moved to the area with his daughter, Ava, to rebuild his life after his marriage broke up.
Nicole has been in Linden Falls for a while and feels optimistic about the future.
And a small slip of paper that escapes from the Wishing Tree finds its way to the right place to ensure happiness for all.
It was lovely to catch up with Neva and the rest of the residents, too.
Another feel-good story to warm the heart.

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Queenie has been sitting on my TBR pile for a while now, and I didn’t want to watch the series before reading the book.
A story with a lot of angst and confusion within the mind of the MC, Queenie, a 25-year-old black woman, working in journalism, coping with a failed relationship, and trying to work out how to live alone. She bounces from one disastrous hookup to another, damaging herself more and more as she goes.
I was compelled to read more, however one thing I don’t agree with is the constant use of the word ‘funny’ to describe this book. It is not light-hearted, or traditionally romantic, nor is it funny in a way that should be the first word to describe it. There are laugh-out-loud moments, but it’s not a comedic masterpiece.
That label, to me, seems to detract from the story being told.
Enjoyed the read, though!

The Cosy Cat Society by Charlie Lyndhurst
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am a cat mum/nan so that title would draw me in before anything else!
The Cosy Cat Society centres around a cat sanctuary, its owner, Sacha, and several key volunteers who spend much of their time supporting a just cause.
When it becomes apparent that there is an even bigger worry about the sanctuary’s future, Sacha tries to keep it from the others until it becomes apparent that a problem shared is a problem halved.
The same goes for the rest of the volunteers, who each have their own worries that they need the help of their friends to work through.
It is a delightful read, cleverly intertwining the stories of several characters and highlighting the plight of many of our feline friends.
And there is a little romance within, too!
The kitties and I approve!

Liv Is Not A Loser by Lauren Ford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A new author and a promising debut.
Liv is at an age where most of her friends are settled, and here she is, still in a part-time job doing nothing much, and in her 7th year of trying to finish her degree. There is no relationship on the horizon and nowhere to live, thanks to being ceremoniously evicted with brief notice.
The story revolves around a list Liv makes with her brother, Joe, his boyfriend, Seth, and their friend, Henry, to pull her out of loser territory.
It is an easy-to-read story with a friends-to-lovers feel, including a bit of ‘will they won’t they?’ and plenty of family dynamics.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve had this on my TBR for a while, now, and boy, am I glad I’ve finally read it.
The Help is a fantastic story told sensitively, showing the precarious relationship between the white folk of Jackson, Mississippi, and their household help.
Told through the voices of Aibileen and Minny, two of the maids, and Miss Skeeter, a white woman who has a conscience and who wishes to find out what happened to one of her family’s own former maids, who brought her up.
I felt many emotions, reading this, from rage, to sympathy, to solidarity.
Well written and heartrending.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another of my TBR books was finally pulled from the shelf to read, and I was not disappointed!
A fantastically written tale of Evelyn Hugo, an ageing Hollywood siren who is ready to tell all about her life to Monique, a little-known journalist at Vivant magazine.
I loved how we were immersed in Hugo’s memories with the first-person telling of the story as she began to recount her upbringing, rise to fame, and need for fame and fortune alongside her seven husbands. There were also little chapters showing Monique’s present life situation.
Interspersed with short excerpts from newspapers and magazines, the story is strengthened as the reader is made to feel the pressure of the paparazzi on those whose lives play out in front of cameras and their heartaches at not being able to live their true lives all the time, for fear of repercussions.
From the beginning, Hugo hints at a connection between her story and Monique, the young journalist, which leaves the reader guessing what that may be.
I couldn’t put this book down, and I almost wish I had read it sooner! It lives up to the hype!

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another one I finally got to after what feels like years of it being on my TBR pile.
There’s been a lot of hype about Hamnet. Some reviews are mind-blowing, some are not, so I was determined not to let these other ones fill my mind before I made my mind up.
And I must say the entire premise entirely took me in.
Hamnet is a deeply fascinating tale loosely based on the story of William Shakespeare’s son, Hamnet, who passed away at 11. It gives some fabricated details to a story that does not have much background other than that Hamnet did exist; he died at eleven, and Shakespeare wrote Hamlet not long after.
I appreciated that Shakespeare’s name was not used directly in the entire book so as not to detract from the main story of that little boy and his family, the possible lead-up to his death, and their coping after.

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

Bye September, and my birthday month!

It’s been another busy one, with me starting back at school in a new class, Lil Princess starting 6th Form, (not so) Lil Man passing his driving test, and me turning 49. When did that happen? I was just 30 the other day!

The big question is, what did I read, and did I continue to get words down?

I started the month with 6 NetGalley ARCs. Finally, I started with less than the previous month. And I read them ALL! (And added a couple more…) This would not have happened, had I not caught COVID and been laid down for 5 days, which meant a really badly timed absence from school, as the children were just starting… but I couldn’t do much more than rest because I was so ill, so I read!

I got feedback for book 3, In God’s Hands, from the publisher, and we have been working on a cover. Eeek! (The release date is 5 November; keep your eyes peeled!) However, there are no new words because, well, school! And, a cover reveal happened, too!

Preorder: https://mybook.to/InGodsHands

I read ten books, of which nine were ARCs, and, shh, but right now, I am reading one, and have one on my arc list, meaning I have been able to start books that are sitting there on my Kindle or shelf, patiently waiting to be read!

All I Want For Christmas by Karen Swan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Karen Swan’s books truly intoxicated me, and this Christmas love story weaved through another tale of discovery was pure magic.
Darcy has moved to Copenhagen to finish her PhD studies. It’s a good thing because, given a breakup, she needs to remove herself from certain aspects of her life. Love and celebrating Christmas are the last things on her list, and a chance project to research a particularly juicy discovery gives her the opportunity to bury her mind in other directions.
However, her wonderful housemate, Freja, is in the throes of her own early love story and, not wanting to leave her friend behind, creates a profile for Darcy on a dating app for well-to-do folk.
Max is one of those suggestions on the app.
He’s wealthy, intelligent, in a good job, broodingly handsome, and moody. Sparks of attraction fly, but his close connection to her research makes it challenging to explore that attraction.
She kisses a few frogs on her journey of discovery, both personal and professional, and unearths some well-hidden home truths along the way.
I love the details of the art world. The history behind various artworks is always fascinating, and how this is entwined in the writing gives the story another dimension.
Did I want to shake Darcy and a specific other character several times? Why, yes, I did! But then, the book would have been far too short, and Darcy wouldn’t have been allowed to finish her essential research!
Fantastically written and a wonderful read!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an ARC.

Releasing 15th October, 2024

Maybe Next Christmas by Emma Heatherington
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve become accustomed to reading an Emma Heatherington before Christmas and this was another lovely heartwarming story.
Hotel manager Bea and nurse Ollie meet by chance as they wait for a flight from Heathrow back to Ireland to visit family.
Both feel an instant connection, however circumstances mean they are not of the right mindset to explore.
The story follows a year in both their lives, where coincidence and fate meet, and conspire to bring these two back together.
This was a wonderful tale, a beautiful book and a true feel good festive love story, laced with the emotional difficulties encountered as the characters traverse through their individual difficulties.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for an ARC.

Releasing 24th October, 2024

The Christmas Dog Sitters by Lucy Mitchell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have to tell you, I LOVE a Lucy Mitchell book. I’ve read all her wonderful stories, and I sighed and giggled throughout them.
I was delighted to read The Christmas Dog Sitters and thoroughly enjoyed visiting Harp Brook.
Rachel, our MC, has had a tough year. From a relationship break to losing her beloved cat, followed by the devastating loss of her best friend, and ending up with no job and in a leaky flat, surrounded by memories, she’s not had the best time.
Armed with the power of WhatsApp groups, her family conspires to get her back on her feet with an invitation to Harp Brook, where she is asked to dog-sit in a beautiful mansion and have a relaxing three-week break.
However, looking after delightfully wild octogenarian Grandpa Eric, a rather strict brother-in-law’s rules how to live in his house, a young cleaner with a problem, construction work, accompanied by a rather handsome but somewhat gruff builder, strange vibes coming from the local community, constant WhatsApp messages and Facetime calls from family members, and an over-exuberant, Houdini of a cocker spaniel called Humphrey into, doesn’t quite equate to a relaxing break.
I have to say, I raced through this book in one sitting. An element of mystery added another layer to this brilliant RomCom. (Don’t ask me about it, or it won’t stay a mystery!)
Rachel’s grief burrows deep inside you as a reader. I wanted to reach into the book and hug her, and I only wanted the best for her.
Builder Ben was the sweetheart we all needed – and I always love a hero who can cook!
Lucy creates a fantastic supporting cast whenever she writes. Rachel’s mum, the Aunty gang, and cousins who add to the various WhatsApp chats are hilarious in parts and so reminiscent of groups I have on my phone! Everyone thinks they can solve the world’s problems via messages and GIFs!
Two firm favourites did emerge, though.
Grandpa Eric is a brilliant character with his wild hair, and he wishes to have a Christmas adventure while still able. The love he shows Rachel, along with the sense of loss and grief many elderly folk feel, as the world around them thinks they are now incapable of anything other than sitting in a chair with a blanket over their knees and a cup of tea, just pulled at my heartstrings.
Humphrey, the gorgeous dog Rachel went to dog sit, initially is a total loon! He appears to be a devil, but that is just the disguise he wears, as he shows himself to be a veritable angel—a real mischievous cutie.
An incredible, heartwarming, feel-good story. Please pick it up now!

Released 19th September, 2024

The Christmas Cottage by Sarah Morgan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sarah Morgan writes amazing stories; this was another one with heartbreak and tragedy woven through the storyline and an ultimate festive, feel-good ending.
The story centres around Imogen, a young woman who has worked hard all her life to create a feeling of security around herself—something that she did not have growing up. Christmas is coming, and she doesn’t know how to handle the questions and curiosity of colleagues who have a wonderful family to spend time with. She’s gone to the extent of creating a fictitious family, boyfriend, and even pet to stave off feelings of pity from others.
But everything comes to a head when she has an awful conversation with her one existing family member.
Sent off on an enforced break by her concerned boss, Imogen ends up in a beautiful cottage hosted by a dear client for the month.
Then things start to unravel further as questions are asked, and the answers to mysteries are slowly revealed.
The story is told through the POV of several key characters, which adds to the story.
There is a dishy, caring vet, and a wonderful golden retriever named Ralph. Oh, and Alpacas!
My only wish? I had more of a conclusion about what happens with Imogen’s mother.
Wonderfully written and easy to read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for an ARC.

Releasing 24th October, 2024

Under the Mistletoe with You by Lizzie Huxley-Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

TW of seizures and light transphobia.
A light-hearted MM romance with the added joy of Christmas, cake and animals!
Christopher is in the first year of starting his own business, a small cafe in a tiny Welsh village. It’s been hard, not feeling a part of the tight-knit community and far from his family.
But with the aid of one ally, a stash of Christmas films and a hunky actor in said films, he’s got through.
Just as the festive season kicks in, he’s looking forward to a break, with his small flat rented out to someone for a few days, allowing him the chance to visit his loved ones.
Then British weather happens. Snow falls. Planes, trains and automobiles grind to a halt. Everyone’s except the soon to arrive lodger, who raps on the door, and Christopher finds himself face to face, not with a woman, but a man. A familiar, handsome male. Who he’s been drooling over the last few months. Nash Nadeau, the Rom Com heartthrob.
Neither can they leave, nor can they realistically fit into his teeny flat above the cafe, but they’re going to have to manage because there are no other options!
Oh, what fun! Forced proximity to the hilt!
I enjoyed the difficulties these two had to go through, as they navigated their own feelings, as well as those around them, as a community rallies together to get through the freak snowstorm!
There is another book featuring Christopher, but I could read this as a stand-alone with no problems.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC.

Releasing 24th October, 2024

I’m on the blog tour on 27th October! Pop over to see what I thought!

Releasing 21st October, 2024

There’s Something About Mira by Sonali Dev
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sonali Dev writes beautiful stories and I have read a good few of them.
There’s Something About Mira is a heartrending tale of a woman torn between her family and her own wishes. It’s never easy, as a child of immigrants, to navigate the new world around you, stepping around your parent’s delicate threads of connection back ‘home’, and trying to create your own threads as a person with East/Wets heritage.
As her marriage looms, Mira has a lot on her shoulders. She has to consider everyone’s thoughts and feelings as she tries to plan for her future.
Druv is perfect. Everyone says so, and he really does seem it. But his wonderful job is always getting in the way.
Then, the one chance they had, pre-wedding, to spend time together gets snatched away, and Mira goes away herself (agreed by the relevant powers who oversee her whole life, though somewhat begrudgingly and with the blessing of her intended).
While out in New York, she rekindles her relationship with her brother and gets tangled up in a lost-and-found incident when she happens across an intriguing ring and necklace. She then meets Krish, someone who can help her with the mystery she is determined to solve, as well as may be other things.
Oh, the way this story unfolded was just brilliant. The family dynamics, as well as learning how to be true to yourself, were played perfectly. There are some key themes that are still considered somewhat taboo within the South Asian culture, even now, especially with some of the older generations, and they are dealt with, with such sensitivity.
I loved it! #TeamMira!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC.

Releasing March 4th 2025

Have We Met? by Camille Baker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This has been on my TBR for a while, so I figured I would give it a go.
It’s a cute second-chance romance story with loss at the heart.
Cori has moved away from her family to start fresh, reeling from her best friend’s death after an illness.
She only knows a distant cousin there, has no job, and hasn’t lived alone for a long time, so there i far too much time to wallow in grief.
Then, along with her cousin and friends, including another Cory, she begins to venture out.
A strange app appears on her phone, supposedly to guide her to her perfect partner. However, there is a little twist: The app tells her that her future lies with someone she has encountered before.
Of course, you gotta kiss a few frogs before your Prince Charming is revealed, but what happens when you think you might want your Prince to be someone different?
It’s an easy read with a bit of mild spice and a feel-good ending!

In Italy for Love by Leonie Mack
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Want a sweet romance with seriousness, a sprinkling of spice and some feisty pets?
Well, In Italy Love may just be for you!
Julia upped sticks from Australia for love and a handsome Italian man. Fast forward a short while, and things aren’t all sweetness and light. She finds herself without a home, money, or support. At least she has Arco, her pup.
Making her way home, she stops in a tiny village, Cividale del Friuli, hoping to wait for an elusive passport to arrive and some clarity about her life before she heads home.
That’s when things go a bit awry. Meeting Alex, a busker of sorts, and making an out-of-character suggestion of dinner sparks a journey in a totally different direction to what she had imagined, especially as he ends up entangled in her temporary stay in Friuli. Along with his cat, Attilla.
It is a gorgeous autumnal read with its fair share of emotion and giggles, too.
Thoroughly enjoyed this.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC

Releasing 22nd October, 2024

The Bookshop at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve enjoyed my forays to the Cornish Cove of Driftwood Bay thanks to Kim Nash, and couldn’t wait for the next visit.
This time we get to know Nancy. She’s lived there all her life and gone from teaching to her dream of opening up a bookshop in the little village, thanks to an inheritance. It’s wonderful, being surrounded by books and all she loves, however, there are other things she needs to consider as a businesswoman, like plans, and finance, and she’d rather not.
Then she meets, or rather collides with Dennis, a visitor to the area, and grandson of the legendary potty-mouthed Vi, and her world is turned a bit on its side.
This is a cute, easy read of a romance, with its fair share of trials, as Nancy struggles to trust, as does Dennis. And all the while, everyone else knows what is staring them both in the face.
I loved visiting the Bay again, meeting new characters, and catching up with others we’d met, previously, too.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Releasing 28th October, 2024

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