But I Smile Anyway...

Book and a Brew with Ritu – The Car Share by @LucyMitchAuth @BloodHoundBooks #NewRelease #BookReview

23 Apr 2024 5 Comments

by Ritu in Book & A Brew With Ritu, Reviews Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Book Review, Lucy Mitchell, New Release, The Car Share

One of my oldest blogging friends!

Today, I am thrilled to welcome back my dear friend and romance author, Lucy Mitchell, to my blog for a cuppa and a bit of a chat and update about all things writerly, especially her newest release, The Car Share.

Hello, and welcome back to But I Smile Anyway, Lucy!

Let’s get you set with a drink first. Tea, hot chocolate, or maybe a masala chai? I’m hesitating with the coffee, as I have seen the recent Insta storis with your daughter’s fantastic barista-style art and alas, I cannot offer that, however, the Tassimo does a mean Cappuccino or Latte if you want. 😊

I’ll have a cappuccino, thank you. ☕️

I’ve got all sorts of nibbles here. I know you’ve sampled the cakes before, but I also have some fresh pakoras here. A recently perfected recipe, if you fancy 😉

Maybe some pakoras, then cake? 🧁

I think we should start with a little update. The last time you were here with me, you were celebrating the release of I’ll Miss You This Christmas, your first book with your publisher, Bloodhound Books. I know your second with them, Instructions For Falling In Love, was also rereleased a few months ago. How’s it all been going?

It’s been a busy time. I am getting ready to launch The Car Share (23 April 2024), editing Book 4 – Second Chances at the Little Love Café (August 2024), and finishing writing a Christmas romance (possibly book 5). I also have new book ideas queuing in my mind. I love being an author, so I am very happy. Lots of lovely Lucy Mitchell books to look forward to!

And I must mention that great podcast you, Lucy K and Bettina had recorded. I listened to each of those episodes and loved them! When are the plans for the second series to come out?

We are starting to record a second podcast series of Love at First Write in May so watch this space. I’m already watching!

I know you have become a bit of a TikToker, too. I try my hand, but I can’t get in the swing of the regular posts! I love your little videos. What do you think gets the most attention – the review posts or the writer situation/advice type ones?

Notebook obsessions are my top-performing posts. I have tried all sorts but for some reason everyone likes a notebook addict type of TikTok. Well, are you even a writer if you don’t have a notebook obsession?

Any recommendations from your recent reads?

I have loved Bettina Hunt’s ‘Sing For Me’, Kim Nash’s ‘Finding Family at the Cornish Cove’ and ‘Knowing Me Knowing You’ by Jeevani Charika. Oh, I have read them all, and they are definitely worth a read. I just finished an arc of Jeevani’s The Winner Bakes it all which is also brilliant!

And how many stories have you got on the go, right now? I know you, it’s hard for you to concentrate on just one project!

I have multiple projects on the go, plus a secret project. Everyone should have a secret project on the go 😀 I find it hard to write more than one at a time, but a secret project? That sounds intriguing… 🤫🤔😉

I think we need to come round to the book of the moment. The Car Share. Lucy, I loved it! I feel honoured to have been an early reader, before lots of editing, and I was enamoured of the story from the off. Reading the polished version was fantastic. Where did you come up with the idea of romance during a car share? A bit of close proximity, there…

I have spent years commuting to and from work. I have done buses, trains, and cars in my time. Commuter friendships and conversations have always stuck in my mind. I love how much is overshared in a car on the way to and from work.

I have also spent the last two years taking my youngest teenager and her mates to college. Those car-share journeys have given me so much novel fodder. Teenagers keep things real; their love lives are chaotic, and their feedback on my music tastes and driving skills was brutal – haha! I’m at the beginning of this experience, as I often ferry my 16-year-old daughter and her friends around. The conversations can be enlightening, and yes, definitely plenty of fodder!

And football? I’m not a footy fan, but I think you weaved women’s enjoyment of the sport into the story well. Were you a wannabe Lioness growing up?

I was a tomboy growing up in the 80’s. I used to play football in the street with the boys, and I would have loved to play for a team. The lads would let me play as I looked like a boy, and I was fast up the wing. I was 11/12, and up until this point in my life, I had never heard of ‘deodorant.’ All I will say is that after I came in from a street football match, my mother took me aside and said, ‘I think it’s time for me to buy you some deodorant’ – lol! He he!

Sadly, I was encouraged to get into cross-country running instead in the 80’s. Bleurgh!

It did not have the same appeal, as back in the 80s, we had to do it in tiny gym knickers (not shorts), we wore spikes (weird-looking running shoes with screw-in spikes) and not nice-looking football boots, and there was not a ball or a net in sight.

The only similarities were the weather and mud! I remember those days… hiding in bushes so we could skip a lap or two. My gym knickers were a fetching maroon with a pink Airtex top – thanks, St M’s for the wonderful uniform! – and running and I did not gel well, at all!

I love women’s football and I love the Lionesses – so inspiring!

One element I related to, was the fact that both your characters, Leah, and Mateo, had parents in a residential home. It can be a tireless, sometimes thankless, task ensuring your loved one is always visited, looked after, and happy, even though they may not always remember you. We have been through this with my grandma-in-law. Have you experienced this situation, yourself?

My husband’s grandparents were in residential homes, and we spent many years with our kids going to visit them. They were lovely places. Sad at times but nice residential homes with angel-like staff. I agree. It would be bittersweet visiting Grandma-in-law. The other residents loved when we took my kids, as it was a dementia and Alzhimers ward. Some thought they were their childhood friends were coming to play. I often remember my son getting the foam football out and there was a footy match in the lounge with half the players using Zimmer frames! Then, there were those lonely souls who were upset or crying. It tugged at my heartstrings.

And I’m sure my readers would love to know… is there an update on the cafe story, or is there something else you are working on?

Book 4 – Second Chances at the Little Love Café – August 2024. Oh, my goodness – you and your readers are going to love it! I have packed a lot of emotions and feelings into one tiny seaside café. I CANNOT wait!

The cups have run dry, time for more writing… Thanks for the chat and nibbles, Ritu 😊

You’re welcome, Lucy. It was a pleasure having you visit! And, I can’t wait for the other books, now, too! 😊

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of The Car Share, as well as an unedited version, so I have seen how this story has blossomed. Please find my review below, as well as the buy links and some more information about my fabulous guest, Lucy!

The Blurb

Embark on a heart warming romantic journey in this delightful comedy that proves it doesn’t matter where you’re going — it’s who you have beside you on the way…

After Lia’s old car breathes its last, the single mum must reluctantly take the bus to work… and face unwarranted attention from a troublesome teenager.

It’s all too much to take — she’s been depressed since her fiancé’s death and even quit her beloved women’s football team. But it’s Happy Car Sharers to the rescue after her friends get her set up on the app. Mateo, meanwhile, has recently moved to town, and his long walk to the train station is a literal pain due to an ankle injury.

Soon he and Lia are riding each morning with a charmingly bossy driver and a rotation of colorful fellow passengers. It’s not love at first sight. Technically it’s not even first they’ve seen each other before at the nursing home where both their fathers live and Mateo plays piano for the residents. But with each trip they get to know each other better . . . and the more they know, the more they find to like.

With both of them consumed by personal losses and pressing family responsibilities — and another man getting in the way — can romance lie on the road ahead for these commuting companions?

The Car Share is a humorous exploration of love, loss, and the unexpected detours that lead us to where we truly belong.

My Review

The Car Share by Lucy Mitchell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am a massive fan of Lucy Mitchell’s writing and was thrilled to be asked to read an ARC of this beautiful story, essentially about two broken souls who have lost the meaning of their lives after traumatic events.
An extremely random meeting, forcing them together as co-passengers in a car share scheme, creates tension and misunderstanding, but ultimately, it results in a level of understanding, compassion, and support for both of them.
Lia is a character I had a lot of time for. She’s a single mum who tragically loses the love of her life. She loses track of her past passions, choosing to live her life through her memories and for her little daughter, Daisy. Having to say goodbye to one of her most precious possessions and links to her boyfriend, Lia joins a car-sharing app and finds herself sharing the vehicle with someone she already knows, kind of.
I loved Mateo, too. He’s a sensitive soul who has been taken advantage of. Battling with his own upset, alongside seeing his father deteriorate in front of his eyes, makes for a sad man who has forgotten all the unique talents he had that made him stand out.
This car share, driven by the unforgettable Stella, catalyses much change.
Stella is brilliant! Her interactions with her troublesome teens bring much-needed laughter into the car, as those in the passenger seats need something to draw them out of their funks.
Both main characters have passions that have been forgotten, but somehow, they are what brings them together.
Lucy has dealt with the sensitive issues of ageing and loss extremely sensitively and cultivated a beautiful romance that stems from forced proximity. Still, ultimately, that closeness is needed for them to understand one another and themselves truly.
Beautiful!!!

These are the buy links for #TheCarShare

amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CTHQMD6B

And here’s a little about Lucy.

I live in a house with two teenagers, an over-excited Labrador, a gang of unruly cats and a rugby-mad Welsh husband. On the morning of my 40th birthday, I decided to follow my dream of writing books. I’ve always enjoyed writing funny stuff and my mum still has the letters I used to write to her when I was at university and turned aspects of my student life into a comedy. When I am not writing, I am eating scampi & chips at my local pub, reading romance books or co-hosting the podcast – Love At First Write.

Follow Lucy:
linktr.ee/LucyMitchAuth

Lost Esther’s #WritingPrompt

03 Apr 2024 22 Comments

by Ritu in My Writing Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Creative Writing, Esther Chilton, Lost, Writing Prompt

Hi all!

It’s been a while, but I just read one of Esther’s prompts, and it led me to want to post a story I wrote a little while back. I think it would be ideal for her prompt below. If you want to take part, please go and visit her post, here!

Lost

Something has been lost. Perhaps it’s something expensive like a piece of jewellery. Or it may seem worthless – like a letter. But maybe it’s a love letter or a letter from a grandparent who has now died, so it’s precious to the owner of the letter. A person could be lost – in a new city or country. Or a parent might have lost their child while out somewhere. Interpret it how you wish.
Esther Chilton

Lost and Found

The rusted bunch of keys were unearthed as Coco, our chocolate labrador, enthusiastically dug up the flowerbed at my in-laws house.
"Oh, Coco, that really wasn't a good idea!" I sighed, watching a prize rose bush tilt to one side. They weren't best enamoured of our decision to get a dog, and it had taken a lot of convincing to allow us to bring Coco to their garden.
It was around then I heard a thud, which sounded unlike the rest of the muted thumps that followed the clods of soil she had already flung everywhere.
The caked-on mud began to flake off as I gingerly picked up the mystery bunch of keys.
Whose were these?
What were they for?
How long had they been there?
"Oh, my goodness!" Great. She had to come out, now, didn't she? "My roses! That was the rose bush Neville planted for me when we moved in!" Shirley, my mother-in-law, rushed over to inspect the damage. "You stupid mutt. See, Tilly, this is why-"
Her voice halted as she noticed what was in my hand.
"Where did you find those?" Shirley reached over to pick up the keys.
"Are you okay, Mum? You're looking a bit pale."
Keys forgotten, I was more concerned by the look of shock on her face. She hadn't coped well since losing Neville, my father-in-law.
Leading her to the patio, I settled her on a chair, Coco bounding along and settling beside me, not wanting to miss anything.
Shirley just sat there, staring at the keys.
"Tilly, please, tell me where you found these?"
"Well, actually, it wasn't me." I glanced over at our canine excavator. "It was Coco."
Then, something happened that I would never have guessed.
She slipped off the chair and wrapped her arms around the dog, who, eager to join in with any enthusiastic affection, licked Shirley's face.
"You clever, clever thing." Her voice was muffled, what with her face being buried in Coco's fur.
All I could do was look on in confusion as the woman who hated dogs spent what felt like forever, showering more affection on Coco, than I'd even seen her give to her own son!
Eventually, she stood up, a small smile playing across her lips.
"Come with me, Tilly." She led me to an old brick building at the back of the garden, covered in ivy and other creeping plants. I'd never paid much attention to the construction before.
In fact, I hadn't realised there was even a door behind all the greenery growing over it.
Pulling at some of the vines, Shirley uncovered a door covered in flaky paint. She brushed off the mud from the keys and slowly selected one to unlock the door.
A satisfying click signalled the unlocking.
The door creaked as she pushed it open into a cavernous space. The only light came from the open door.
She felt along a wall and tried to flick a light switch, but nothing happened.
"Hold on, mum." I fished my phone out of my pocket and switched on the torch.
There was what appeared to be the usual accumulation of junk found in sheds and garages, but everything was caked in decades of dust.
Shirley honed in on a specific corner, followed by Coco the explorer, keen to discover new delights.
She lifted a dust sheet and revealed a leather-bound trunk.
Another key chosen, she inserted it into the lock on the trunk, and, as the unlocking click sounded, I heard her sudden intake of breath.
I helped her to lift the lid, which needed a little coaxing, and then stepped back.
I didn't know what was in there, but it felt like she needed some space. My phone was still providing the light, so I kept my arm outstretched so she could look inside.
Later, over a cup of tea, Shirley told me the story of her great, great grandmother, Amelia Featherstone, who lived a life unheard of in her time, travelling the world, exploring unknown locations. She had amassed a collection of artefacts that had been stored in that trunk, and two others; priceless items that held both sentimental and monetary value.
The trunks had been passed down over the generations, and she had been so excited at the thought of passing these trunks onto her children, but, the keys to both the outbuilding, and the shed, disappeared many years ago, not long after she and Neville had married, and moved into her parents' house.
"Oh, Neville. He must have dropped the keys when he planted the roses for me." She looked upwards as if addressing him. "You never forgave yourself for losing those keys. They were the last link between me and my family history. But look," she held her hand out, displaying the keys, "they were never lost, simply being kept safe by your beautiful roses."
She sat back in her chair. "You know, Tilly, life works in mysterious ways. There was a time, before Neville's business took off, that we struggled."
This was news to me. I'd never seen the woman struggle once, since marrying into the family. They'd always appeared affluent, Harry had a blissful childhood, or so he said
"Had these keys been with us, I fear we may have had to sell the items inside, to survive. Thankfully, this was all before the children were born. Somehow, we muddled through, and look, we still have all of Amelia's treasures, too"
She placed her hand on Coco's head, again, who sat, patiently, awaiting a treat. "She's a good girl. Maybe I need to get a pup, too."

Ritu 2024

March 2024 Books #AmReading

31 Mar 2024 9 Comments

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

March ending means we have passed a quarter of the year. I am not quite sure where the time is flying…

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

I started the month with 5 NetGalley ARCs and around another 30K to write on book three…

I barely wrote anything. Life was hard this month, with a very busy work schedule.

I read not as much as I hoped.

And I ended up with eleven Netgalley ARCS still to read! I need to control this urge to say yes to everything!

Maybe, Perhaps, Possibly by Joanna Glen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Maybe, Perhaps, Possibly is a slow moving, but deep story about two unique individuals; Addie and Sol.
Both have been sheltered from a lot of reality by their families. Both have very different, strange family dynamics, and it takes their courage to step away from the expectations piled upon them to find one another.
I don’t quite know how to describe the story, but it takes a while, then digs deeper into your soul as you read, and become more and more immersed in the ‘puffin-esque’ (is that even a word!) of their developing relationship.
A beautiful story about two misfits, and how they end up fitting one another perfectly.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ARC.

Releasing 20th June, 2024

Finding Family at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another gorgeous read from Kim Nash, with book two in the Driftwood Series.
I always enjoy being able to revisit characters and settings in a good series, and this was no different, with the first book’s mc, Meredith, featuring within book two, but fear not! It can be read as a stand alone, too.
In Finding Family at the Cornish Cove, we get to know more about Gemma, the local cafe owner. She’s embarking on a huge change in her life, renovating the much loved cafe that her mother had started, many years ago. Having had a tumultuous few years in her own life, losing her beloved mother, then the breakdown of her marriage, this new direction is both exciting and scary.
Along the way, she meets Occy, a feisty teen, who has gaps in her own family, and Occy’s fireman father, Jude, who quite possibly could be something more, but the both of them are once bitten twice shy, and they embark upon a friendship that they both need, too.
I loved learning more about the community, and the characters I had met before, as well as delving into Gemma’s life more. Learning about her sister, Lucy, their close relationship, and how they navigated the loss of their mother, and how she impacted upon their life was beautiful.
The developing relationship between Gemma and Occy is also a joy to read. Kim has really delved into the complexities of modern family life, and shone a light on the impact of one person shouldering the responsibility of being a parent, and how that can affect people in different ways.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and can’t wait to delve into the third book, so I can visit Driftwood Bay, and imagine myself back in this beautiful Cornish village.

Making Memories at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Not content with getting us all obsessed with lighthouses, now Kim Nash has turned our heads to dancing!
I have thoroughly enjoyed the last two books in the Cornish Cove series, and this third was a wonderful addition. In Makin Memories, we focus on Lydia, the mother of the first Cove main character, Meredith.
Lydia is a woman of a certain age. In her seventies, she has been divorced several times and finally wants to put herself first. She is sent a box of old belongings that starts a cascade of memories from when she fell pregnant with Mere, and feelings arise once it starts.
Lydia loved dancing competitively, though no one knew this. An opportunity to take part in a competition brings many thoughts back to the forefront of her mind, including how she could improve her relationship with her daughter and whether, at 71, she is too old for romance.
What a lovely story! Easy to read and such fun, with plenty of revisits to the characters from the first two books, but enough in them for you to read as a stand-alone.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Releasing 17th April, 2024

Silent Tears: A Female led Charity Anthology on the cultural struggles of women worldwide. by Faiqa Mansab
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Not just saying this because I feature, but I read the other stories within this anthology and, what an impact, showing strong and fearless women, dealing with everyday situations!
Some beautiful words, and I was struck, especially by certain lines within the story by Faiqa Mansab.
A brilliant read, for a most worthy cause.
Please, if you get a chance, order this book, as all proceeds go to charity.

𝟭𝟬𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗗𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬 via Anuera 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗳𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝘆𝗴𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗮𝘇𝗮 (𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 1.2 Million ).

𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻, 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 , 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲.

“𝙎𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚, 𝙫𝙪𝙡𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙩.
𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙖 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚, 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝.”

Order here: rb.gy/c2x57e

The Typo by Emily Kerr
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have enjoyed some of Emily Kerr’s books already, so I was looking forward to reading The Typo.
A simple typo that could have been ignored ends up connecting two individuals who are unknown to one another.
Amy thinks she is a failed violinist, trudging along in her life as a marketing manager for an Edinburgh theatre that is possibly about to close.
An email that lands in her inbox because of a typo means she somehow ends up searching for the person who should have received it.
Cameron is on a boat in the Antarctic when he receives a message from a stranger who forwards an amazing opportunity to him.
I enjoyed the story and how the two strangers built a relationship via email despite not knowing one another.
Their being strangers ends up being a significant factor in their character development, as their closeness develops and they realise they aren’t being true to themselves or the other, which spurs them on to do different things with their lives that they have been too afraid to try and do.
Could there have been more romance?
Probably.
They didn’t finally meet until very late in the book, so we don’t get a chance to see their relationship develop in the same way that we see their friendship begin to blossom, but a cute ending.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Fiction for an ARC.

Releasing May 3rd, 2024

Love Letters at the Borrow a Bookshop by Kiley Dunbar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I won’t share my full review here as lovely Kiley is popping over for a Book and a Brew around release date to chat about her newest book, so I will keep it for then!

Releasing April 25th 2024

Absolute 5-stars from me, but you will have to wait for my review, as I have the lovely Lucy on my Blog for a Book & a Brew soon, to chat about the book.

Releasing 23rd April, 2024

The Suite Life by Portia MacIntosh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is probably the second of Portia Macintosh’s books that I have read, and it was as easy and entertaining as the first.
Gigi is in a bit of a bind. She has a beautiful opportunity to visit Maui, where her sister is getting married in a proper destination wedding, complete with a venue and hotel that costs an arm and a leg, and possibly a lot more besides.
However, she will have to contend with her ex being there, with his new influencer girlfriend, as he is her brother-in-law’s best friend and best man. And she has no date of her own.
Instead of owning her single status, Gigi announces that she has a surprise plus-one joining her there and then finds herself in a bind as she tries to procure an impressive date with only a few days until she flies out.
Hilarity ensues as she suffers some horrendous dates, and then she opts to find someone in Maui.
While there, she gets an upgrade to her room, which is more than a kingsize bed. She finds herself in a suite suitable for a billionaire, with everyone waiting hand on foot for her and the undying adoration of far too many males around her.
She makes one friend, Donnie, who seems to be the only average person around, and the story develops as she continues her search for the perfect date.
There are some funny moments throughout the story, and it’s a quick, easy holiday read that made me want to go to Maui to see the gorgeous views and maybe experience some of that billionaire suite life!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Releasing 16th April, 2024

The Winner Bakes It All by Jeevani Charika
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another wonderful romance by Jeevani Charika, which has a dash of culture, and a sprinkle of health knowledge and a pinch of hate-to-love!
The Winner Bakes It All is a great example of rivalry to love, where our FMC, Elodie, is desperately trying to make her business venture a success. She’s a talented baker and cake decorator and has a small unit in the arcade of shops in her small town. An opportunity arises for expansion, and she is excited. Finally, wanting to be able to prove her family wrong, she waits to sign a new lease.
Then Mal happens.
Mal is a man bun-toting gym bro with a penchant for all things Keto. He’s appeared on the scene with a signed lease for the very space Elodie has been waiting for.
The story unfolds with a lot of negativity, and to top it off, a battle for an exclusive catering contract is thrown into the mix (-ing bowl? Sorry!)
I love cake, baking, and admiring those who can create amazing edible art through cake decorating. So, loving Elodie was going to be easy, wasn’t it? I felt for her as she strives to make those around her believe that her dream isn’t just a fad or a placeholder until something better or ‘proper’ comes along.
And Mal… what a sweetheart in muscly disguise! Here’s me, the antithesis of anything healthy. (I’m Sitting here eating a coconut and raspberry sponge for breakfast!) Yet, somehow, I found myself sympathising with a gym-bro, lol! Thanks, Jeevani!
I also learned something about the Ketogenic diet, referred to throughout the story. I have tried it as a weight loss aid, but I didn’t realise there were medical conditions that could be controlled, too!
An exciting cast of side characters, including Elodies’ right-hand man, Marty, her not-too-nice brother, Travis, Mal’s business partner and best friend, Jake, and a high-maintenance influencer, Saffron, added another layer of depth to the story.
Oh, and I didn’t like Leon!
If you love cake, healthy eating, and drama, this book is for you!
Oh, and I am now humming ABBA tunes. Thanks again, Jeevani!
Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for an ARC.

Releasing 4th June, 2024

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

Book & A Brew with Ritu and Jenni Keer @JenniKeer At The Stroke Of Midnight #BookReview #BookAndABrew @BoldwoodBooks

12 Mar 2024 6 Comments

by Ritu in Book & A Brew With Ritu, Reviews Tags: At The Stroke Of Midnight, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Book & A Brew With Ritu, Book Review, Jenni Keer

Today, I am extremely excited to have a fantastic author, and relatively new writer friend of
mine, Jenni Keer, over to talk about her latest release, At the Stroke of Midnight.

Hello, and welcome to But I Smile Anyway, Jenni! Let’s get you set with a drink first.
I have the usual assortment of hot drinks available, or I could even make you up a masala
chai, if you feel adventurous.

Thanks for inviting me over, Ritu. (settles into a comfy chair ) I’m definitely up for trying a
masala chai. A vital part of being an author is being open to new experiences, as you never
know what will end up in your books… Oh, I agree!

And I have some fantastic Danish cookies here and a rather fabulous carrot cake. Or,
I just fried up some fresh pakoras if you fancied a savoury nibble.

I’m definitely a savoury girl, so pass the pakoras and leave me the plate! That said, there
is definitely a time and place for something sweet – usually when I’m stressed or tired.
(Which, as a mum, wife and author, is quite often.) My waistline can definitely relate to that!

I’ve read a couple of your books now, so far (and am intending on reading your
backlist when I get a chance!) and loved them. What or who inspired you to start
writing?

How kind! To cut a long story relatively short, I started reading for pleasure again when I became mum to a litter of boys. I had a three-year-old, 18 month old and newborn twins and it was my choice to be a full-time mum when they were little. It was a stressful time, as you can imagine, but books helped me to escape. I began to write short stories, encouraged by a friend and quickly realised that I was born to write novels. It only took me forty years to work this out – haha – although I do believe you need to live a life before you start writing about it. Funnily enough, I always believed I would get published, but had no idea if it would take me five years or fifty. (Spoiler alert – it took nine.)

It was twenty years for me, from start of writing, to publishing my first, and two years after that, I was approached by my publisher, so I can hard relate!

Both the books I have read are set in a more historical age. Is this your preferred genre?

My heart is definitely in the past. My first two books were contemporary romances, but I was probably influenced by the feel-good fiction I was reading then. When I got braver, I embraced my love of historical and haven’t looked back. That said, who knows what I might be tempted to write in the future. If a story begs to be told, I will write it. You’ll notice my books are all stand-alone and quite different.

I always ask this one, but do you have a special place where you write? An office, a writing nook? Or are you one of those writers who can grab their notebook or laptop and write pretty much anywhere?

I have a desk in the corridor between the downstairs shower room and the living room. This space also has a utility sink, is where my three cats congregate, and where my husband also has a small desk. But it is my base rather than my preferred writing space because it’s like Piccadilly Circus. We are a busy household of six adults, and if it’s not boys (they are still boys to me…) going backwards and forwards to the shower, then the cats are demanding doors to be opened for no reason (because they never go through the damn things), or my non-technical husband asking me how to use Word. ARGHHHH! I need head space to write so I am more often to be found in the bedroom, curled up in an armchair or, my absolute favourite place to write, in the garden. I don’t need silence, (in fact, I’m often listening to
music through headphones, which strangely helps me to focus), but I can’t write with interruptions. One shout of, “Mum, where’s my work shirt?” and I’ve lost the plot.

Do you have a favourite out of all your books written so far? Do you have any finished manuscripts that you think would never see the light of day?

My favourite(s) are always my most recent novels, which makes sense. They are foremost in my mind, and because I hope that my writing gets better with time, I like to think they are also my best work. I am particularly proud of No. 23 Burlington Square and At The Stroke of Midnight, but ask me in two years’ time, and my answer will have changed. And yes, there are at least four finished or nearly finished novels that will never be published, and I am fine with this. No writing is a waste of time. You always learn something from a disaster – even if it is how not to do it!!!

Let’s get back to your latest release, At The Stroke Of Midnight. I loved the Groundhog Day feel to the story. Was there something specific that sparked the idea for this novel?

It was the coming together of several things buzzing about my busy head. I’ve always liked the idea of a Groundhog Day novel and, having put my own spin on the Sliding Doors concept with Burlington Square, it felt like the right time to write this book. Agatha Christie is a huge influence, and I love the twenties as an era (before everything spiralled out of control in the thirties) so I took things from there.

If you had to relive a particular 24 hours in your life, which specific day would that be?

I recently talked with my marketing team about this, as we were thinking of questions that would engage readers after reading At The Stroke of Midnight, but I felt that everyone would want to go back to save the life of someone they loved or be with someone they had lost, and this focuses our attentions on bleak periods in our life. Instead, I like to look forward and think about what I might do if I had to live tomorrow over and over again for a limited time. I think I would visit as many museums, country houses, and interesting locations as I could access given time constraints. Then I would read all the books on my tbr and then watch every film and TV series that I never seem to have the time for. Bill Murray learned the piano, but that doesn’t appeal to me. I want to do all the research and then have it “good to go” in my head when I manage to reset the day. In between all this, I would eat the best food in the best restaurants and put it all on the credit card, so I wouldn’t have to pay and wouldn’t gain the weight! Haha. (helps herself to another pakora.)

Oh, I love this idea! I think, in some ways, I would want to relive my wedding day, as we had so many guests, being a typical Indian wedding, and spent so long organising it, it all went by in a flash. I’d try and spend time with different guests every time at the reception and truly relish being a princess for a day!

I read a few reviews, prior to our little chat. How does it feel to be compared to Agatha Christie?

As I’ve already indicated, I am a massive fan, so it is the best compliment ever!!!! She was an absolute genius and has been a great inspiration. I don’t write like her, and my voice is very different, but, boy, did she come up with the best twists IN THE HISTORY OF BOOK TWISTS. So, yeah, this has made me smile.

A real compliment!

Another one of my standard questions… what is next on the horizon? Anything you can share with my readers about what is coming next from you?

I have written my autumn book and it is a witchy one, with a twist on one of my favourite tropes; marriage of convenience. I don’t have a confirmed title, and it is in my editor’s capable hands, so I am busy with the one after that. Honestly, I don’t know how I hold all of this in my tiny head… but, just to tease, I have been looking at the sinking of the Titanic and done some WW1 research.

Now that sounds intriguing! I’ll be queuing for a copy!

Thank you so much for popping over for a visit, Jenni!

Thank you so much for having me, Ritu. (hands back empty plate ) The pleasure was all
mine.
You are most welcome, and it would be wonderful if you fancied a return visit. 😊

Another wonderful teaser there from Jenni, and I can’t wait to read these next ones!

The Blurb

It’s 1923 and in a decade that promises excitement and liberation, Pearl Glenham and her father are invited to a mysterious country house party on the Dorset coast, by a total stranger.

Her father claims not to have any prior association with Highcliffe House, but upon arrival, it is apparent that he has a shared history with several of the guests, although he won’t admit it. Belatedly discovering that her father was blackmailed into attending, Pearl’s worries are compounded when their host fails to arrive…

Intimidated by everyone at the party, she escapes to the nearby cove and stumbles upon a mysterious mercury clock hidden in a cave. This strange encounter sets in motion a series of events that will culminate in an horrific house fire, claiming the lives of all the guests, including Pearl herself.

But then Pearl wakes up back in the cave, seemingly destined never to live past midnight. She can repeat the day. But can she change its outcome?

Buy Link: mybook.to/strokemidnightsocial

Buy Links: mybook.to/burlingtonsqsocial

My Review

At the Stroke of Midnight by Jenni Keer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another amazingly told story by Jenni Keer is about a young woman swept up in a web of secrets spun by her father and others.
Set in the 1920s, we meet Pearl Glenham, a simple woman who asks for nothing. She and her father are invited to a dinner party somewhere she has never heard of- apparently, neither has her father.
Things start to become strange after they arrive, and she suspects she is not being told the truth. Then, a chance accident leads to her reliving the same 24 hours again and again as she tries her hardest to work out what is really going on.
An intriguing cast of characters, and an amazing storyline. I was hooked!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

About the Author

Jenni Keer is a history graduate who embarked on a career in contract flooring before falling
in love and moving to the Suffolk countryside. Her lifelong passion for reading became a
passion for writing and she had two contemporary romance novels published in 2019. She
has now embraced her love of the past to write twisty, turny historicals, and The Legacy of
Halesham Hall was shortlisted for the Romantic Historical Novel of the Year in 2023. Her
latest release, No 23 Burlington Square, is a historical sliding doors tale set in 1927 and was
published last October.
Living with four grown up children and three cats (but just the one husband) she is
frustrated by their inability to appreciate that when she’s staring into space, she’s actually
working, and that watching television counts as research. Much younger in her head than
she is on paper, she adores any excuse for fancy-dress and is part of a disco formation dance
team.
At The Stroke of Midnight is out 12 th March.

February 2024 Books #AmReading

29 Feb 2024 Leave a comment

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

Can you believe February has come to a close? And one with an extra day thrown in for reading, since it was a Leap Year!

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

I started the month with 6 NetGalley ARCs and around another 50K to write on book three…

I ended with 5 NetGalley arcs, a poetry book to read for a friend, and around 30k to write on book 3. That’s not too bad, considering I read 8 arcs this month, so it is my problem of accepting arcs to read that means my actual TBR is not getting any smaller!

Shout Out To My Ex by Sandy Barker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sandy Barker is another of my ‘Must Read’ authors. Having read the first in the Ever After Agency series with much joy, it was a no-brainer to read the second, Shout Out To M Ex.
Cassie loves her fashion designer sister, Elle, very much and hates seeing her failing in her relationship goals, even though her professional star is rising. She contacts the agency to see if they can help her locate and possibly reignite a flame that burned bright and then extinguished ten years ago, suddenly.
To put it plainly, she wants them to find Elle’s first love, Leo, who, despite them being love’s dream for four years, suddenly upped and left, with no contact. It seems Elle cannot move forward in love unless she gets closure or finds the one who got away.
But this all needs to be done secretively.
Engineering a meeting between Elle and Lorenzo (Leo) is the first step once he has been located. The rest just gets better and better as we learn more about Leo, his reasons for disappearing for such a long time, and the wily ways of PR managers as they twist the truth to benefit their clients.
Set in the dramatic, colourful world of fashion, we see so much uncovered as Poppy, Nasrin, and the gang at the agency come up with ideas to overcome the endless blocks that keep being thrown at them, including a fake engagement.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Elle and Leo’s story and felt all the butterflies with Elle as she navigated her feelings towards the one who got away.
Though it can be read easily as a standalone, I loved that we were revisiting the story of Poppy, who works at the elite matchmaking agency, as well as coming on board for another matchmaking journey that she has been tasked with piloting, and Tristan, her husband, who, she meets and marries in the first book.
And it; is always great to read about other key characters who were in past books.
Roll on book 3!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC

Released 14th February, 2024

The Bordeaux Book Club: A BRAND NEW gorgeous, escapist romance from TOP TEN BESTSELLER Gillian Harvey for 2024 by Gillian Harvey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love books, and I’m rather partial to a Gillian Harvey story. So when you combine the two, there is no way I’m going to pass up reading it. And when the Bordeaux Book Club popped up, it was an immediate must-read.
Set in Bordeaux and surrounding areas, five ex-pats begin to meet up for a book club. They feel more comfortable communicating through their mother tongue rather than stumbling through a French one, murdering the language as they go.
Grace is a fifty-something woman who is a bit of an enigma. She lives alone, is well-established in the area and has her fingers in all the pies, seemingly knowing everyone and everything. The book club is her initial idea.
Leah is a wife and mum to a sullen teenage daughter. She’s moved here with her family with the idea of living a sustainable life, growing their own produce to eat and sell, chickens for eggs, etc., but not everything is falling into place as easily as they hoped. Grace is her acquaintance, and she goes along to support her.
George is in the middle of a job, renovating a property for a client and living in the area for around a year. He doesn’t know many people and decides the Book Club might be an interesting place to meet others.
Monica is a young mum. Her husband’s job has brought them to the area, living in a beautiful apartment, but unfortunately this job also leaves her alone with their new baby for long stretches of time. The book club feels like a way to reconnect with adults rather than have a life filled with the four walls of her home and only a baby for company.
Alfie is a young man who moved to Bordeaux with his mum. He’s quiet and an unlikely participant in the book club. He keeps himself to himself, but a series of strange phone calls and a slip of the tongue from his girlfriend, Camille, bring his own tragic situation to the forefront.
Each member has his or her own tale to tell, which unravels as the story is told while the books are discussed within the book club. And it is beautiful to see how friendships are forged between some unlikely characters and how they become support networks for one another.
Another emotion-filled tale with such a wide range of characters that there is someone there for most readers to identify with. I, for one, was drawn to Leah, who is feeling a bit lost, but it is her struggles to deal with her teenage daughter that really hit home with me.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

View all my reviews

Releasing March 15th, 2024

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a novel concept for a book in which Lauren, the MC, somehow ends up with an attic that keeps generating new husbands for her.
Lauren is an unmarried young woman coming home from an innocent night out with her friends when she stumbles up the stairs to her flat and finds a random stranger already in her home.
After a bit of confusion, she discovers that she is in an alternate universe where she is married, but she can’t remember how or when she met her husband, their wedding, or anything else.
Then she finds out that the attic is doing a ‘thing’, where if the husband disappears up there, he disappears, sending her another in his place.
It’s not like Groundhog Day, where you relive the same 24 hours again and again. Instead, life continues, and her life changes with every husband’s change.
I was intrigued by the whole idea of this. She could search and search for perfection, sending the faulty hubby back to the attic for another, but let’s be honest. It’s not a sustainable life? Is it?
I loved reading and just had to get to the end to find out what Lauren chooses to do because I’m not sure I could live an infinite loop of husbands…
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for an ARC.

Releasing 4th April, 2024

The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up by Laura Pearson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

TW: Domestic Abuse
Oh, what a sensitively written, tragically beautiful book!
We start off with the main character, Shelley, slowly waking up in the hospital.
As she comes around, she slowly pieces together information regarding how she ended up in the ICU of her local hospital.
But a huge chunk of her life has been erased. In fact, she believes it is 2017 when it is actually 2024.
There is a dual timeline as we see how Shelley’s life progresses, from childhood to the cyclical life patterns that abusive relationships can trigger.
I don’t want to go into much detail, but it is truly sad to see how she finds herself in a situation much like her mother and the end result. However, as we read on, there are silver linings which give us and her hope.
There are some wonderful supporting characters that grace the pages of this book, from Granny Rose to Shelley’s best friend, Dee, and then there’s Matt. Another beautiful soul whose importance in her life becomes clearer as the story progresses.
I loved this so much I read it in a day!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Releasing 6th April, 2024

Funny Story by Emily Henry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was extremely excited to be approved for this arc, seeing as I have loved all of Emily Henry’s books so far.
We fall into this ‘funny’ story with our main character, Daphne, having just found out her fiance, Peter, is breaking up with her and getting together with Petra, his childhood best friend. What’s ‘funnier’ is that she ends up moving in with Miles, who happens to be the guy Petra broke up with in order to get together with Peter.
Daphne is a woman who’s had a lot thrown at her in life, with an absent father and a long list of places she and her mother moved to over the years. The one constant in her life was books. And her job as a librarian is perfect for her. She’s used to disappointment and not feeling good enough.
Then, when things start to change with regard to her feelings for Miles, who happens to be rather hot and is living in the room next door, she isn’t sure if this is the right thing to happen or not.
I don’t want to regurgitate the story, but what I will say is that it was filled with lots of brilliant, imperfect characters, and oh, my, the spice was definitely present in a few scenes! I had to shield my Kindle away from other train passengers when reading one particular scene! (And my face!)
A fantastically written story about a woman who needs to learn to trust again and to believe in herself and the people around her who really do care. And to remember that we never know what will happen next, but we cannot live afraid of ‘what ifs’. We all have our own way of telling our story…
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for an ARC.

Releasing 25th April, 2024

Love at First Knight by Megan Clawson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Falling Hard For The Royal Guard was a fun book to read, so when I saw that Megan Clawson had another book coming, I was keen to read it.
Centred around the Tower of London, again, Love at First Knight is the story of Daisy, a LARPing enthusiast.
Well, her and her whole family.
Daisy is a simple girl, nothing to write home about, looks-wise, quiet, shy and boring in her eyes, who finds it increasingly difficult to deal with social situations, instead finding solace in her little job helping her father in his ‘hobby’ shop in a sleepy Lincolnshire village and taking the form of her LARP character, Lady A. But then, her twin brother throws a curveball, finding an advert for a job in London that he feels she would be perfect at, helping at a Knight School at the Tower of London for the summer.
After a lot of persuasion, she finally took the steps to build her confidence and took the job. But she doesn’t foresee the one big possible hindrance.
Viscount Theodore Fairfax.
A spoilt media-hungry royal, she ends up being assigned to mentor.
A pompous royal who seems to find pleasure in causing her discomfort.
A rude royal who tramples over others’ emotions with no apparent realisation of what he leaves in his wake.
A handsome royal who can’t help but get under her skin.
Okay, so I won’t rehash the story. After all, this is a review, not a synopsis! But it was an entertaining read.
Daisy is a character who appears to have some form of neurodiversity, meaning she finds it hard in social situations and has a fear of being out there. Of being herself.
Theodore, or Teddy, as he becomes affectionately known, is another kind of character. He shows the darker side of being a part of a famous family.
And then there is the inevitable happily ever after, attained after a complex set of events.
I love the historical details woven into the threads of the story, as well as the detailing about LARPing. It all sounds like a right larp; sorry, lark!
There is a colourful cast of supporting characters, including Bobble, Daisy’s London flatmate, who is as eccentric as she is loveable.
A little unbelievable, but hey, that’s what stories are for, aren’t they? To take us out of the realms of our boring normality so we can live a modern fairytale as we dive into our books?
If you like a bit of a fairytale, then I would recommend this. I certainly enjoyed it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for an ARC.

Releasing 25th April, 2024

A Wedding in the Sun by Leonie Mack
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve read a few of Leoni Mack’s books, and I love the feel-good factor and armchair travel involved, as well as the hefty dose of romance and tension within.
A Wedding In The Sun is no different in those areas, but there is a totally different kind of enemies-to-lovers/forbidden love scene going on here.
We are given a dual POV of Jo and Adrián, two people being forced to go to the wedding of their exes to one another, and a calamitous journey that should have taken a couple of hours lasts days, with so many unfortunate incidents peppered throughout, including a storm, lost luggage, a lift with Godspeed bikers, hospitals, the police, that it is a miracle that they arrive at their final destination!
But you come to love Jo, a woman of a certain age who has finally realised she needs closure and to learn to live for herself, too.
And Adrián would light a fire under anyone, let’s be honest. A Spanish longhaired hunky dude who plays guitar and is a fantastically loving father, on top.
Throw in two temperamental teens and a young child who is filled with confusion, seeing his divorced parents develop different lives adds more layers.
Oh, and the fiery Catalonian temperament of the Spanish family gives it a good sprinkle of heat, too!
Beautiful descriptions of the different places they have to stay, as well as the simmering tension between the two, make this a fantastic read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Releasing 17th May, 2024

The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh, what a brilliant book!
I wouldn’t have put it down if I had an empty day because I loved every minute of this story.
Delphie, our unfortunate heroine (I say unfortunate because of the situation she finds herself in), begins the story tragically by dying on us readers, literally within the first few paragraphs!
The story follows her attempt to get her life back after being set an interesting, and maybe impossible, challenge by her afterlife coach.
You see, she meets her soulmate in the corridors of the afterlife before he is somehow snatched from her. She is given an opportunity to live again if she can find this man back in the alive world within ten days and she can get him to kiss her.
I shall not tell you about the story. What kind of review would it be, if I just added all manner of spoilers, but what I will say is that this is a proper romcom! I laughed, cried, and awwed many times!
The supporting cast of characters is brilliant, too, with Mr Yoon, Dephie’s non-verbal neighbour, Cooper, the neighbour she never thought she’d want to know, and her colleagues at the pharmacy where she works.
How she accomplishes her task is a bit mad, and all without telling anyone exactly what she is doing and why, because, let’s face it, who’s going to believe a woman who says she’s come back from the dead and just needs a kiss to stay alive?
Such a fun read!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for an ARC.

Releasing 20th June, 2024

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